Chapter 3 - of muggles and magic



The following morning Harry, Hermione and Ron headed down to the great hall for breakfast. As they were eating the post came as usual.

Harry looked up at the owls expectantly then realised he was been stupid as no one would be sending him a letter anyway. A large eagle owl dropped Hermione's copy of the daily profit in front of her. She smiled and picked it up. Harry, who was sitting next to her, peered over her shoulder to read the headlines.

He gasped and dropped his spoon. Ron and Hermione looked strangely at him. Ignoring their glances Harry grabbed the copy of the daily profit and pointing to a rather large, still picture in the middle of the page said

"That's her that's Kathy"



"she isn't that bad looking either really" said Hermione.

Ron whistled when he saw the picture "What are you on Hermione, she's gorgeous"

Ron returning to his breakfast asked through a mouthful of toast.

"So what's she in the daily profit for anyway"

Hermione slowly started to read the article.

MUGGLE BREWS MAGIC

Yesterday Kathryn Louise Atkinson surprised the muggle population of A small town just north of London when she preceded to turn a large Stone into a tortoise. This was a result of her parents denying her a Pet tortoise of her own. This has aroused the suspicions of many muggles And may lead to....

Hermione broke off. There had been a loud clatter from the teachers' table. Everyone in the hall had looked in that direction. They saw that Professor McGonagall had also been reading a copy of the daily profit, which was still in her hand, and had knocked her plate and goblet to the floor. There was a moments pause then she dropped the daily profit and made a quick exit out of the hall. Many students now returned to their breakfasts but Harry Ron and Hermione, being Harry Ron and Hermione, just had to keep watching for a little longer.

Professor Dumbledore picked up the paper that McGonagall had just dropped, he seemed to scan the paper quickly, then, he too, dropped the paper and made the same hasty exit as Professor McGonagall.

The trio cast each other questioning looks grabbed a handful of toast their copy of the daily profit and then exited the great hall by the same route as the two professors had previously.

Once out into the corridor they had finished shoving their toast into their mouths and were on their way back to the gryffindor common room to discuss the events before lessons when they were distracted. Someone was shouting they looked to the door on their right it was slightly ajar, suddenly realisation hit them, they looked at each other in disbelief. Dumbledore never shouted at anyone. They froze to the spot trying to catch his words.

"How could you be so stupid?"

He bawled and his voice echoed off the walls. There was a short pause in which they were sure they could hear someone crying. They looked at each other in total amazement.

"What were you thinking?"

He shouted again this time they defiantly heard someone crying. Suddenly the main doors flew open and in marched Cornelius fudge, minister of magic. He saw the three of them standing there and was just about to ask where Dumbledore was when another roar burst out.

"I can't believe you didn't tell me!"

"Never mind" Fudge said to the three of them before entering the room and shutting the door firmly behind him.

The sound from inside was now almost completely blocked or at least muffled enough so that they could no longer here any words.

Harry turned to Hermione "What was all that about?"

Ron who was almost trembling stated in a hushed voice "I've never seen Dumbledore loose his temper like that!"

Hermione looked worried "I don't know I just don't know" she whispered "But it must be serious if Fudge is getting involved...I bet it's to do with that article.." But Hermione stopped in mid-sentence the door opened and a very flustered Professor McGonagall came out she spotted the three of them and instantly straightened her posture. But her red cheeks were a dead give- away that she had been crying.

"What are you three doing here?" she said in a very hard sounding tone "Go on get back to your common room"

They could see that she was obviously in no mood for arguments and made their way in silence back to gryffindor tower.

The rest of the day went smoothly and was uneventful even the potions lesson they didn't loose any points or gain any detentions. Ron was just pointing this fact out to Harry and Hermione on the way to the great hall for dinner when Harry stopped dead in his tracks.

Standing there in the main entrance hall was Kathy Ron and Hermione recognised her instantly from the photo in the daily profit. Harry ran over to her.

"What are you doing here?" he gasped

She seemed slightly taken aback at first but then recognised him and gave a smile. "I'm not quite sure but I could ask you the same question."

Harry smiled back "I go to school here.." but before he could finish whatever it was that he was going to say Ron tapped him on the shoulder and gave a small cough.

"Oh" said Harry "these are my friends Ron and Hermione." He gestured towards each of them in turn.

"Pleased to meet you" she said with a small smile as she shook Ron's Hand. But her expression soon changed to a look of surprise when she saw Harry gazing longingly into her eyes.

Before she could say anything to him the stone gargoyle by which they were standing moved aside and Professor McGonagall came out as soon as she saw Harry her eyes seemed to flame.

"Potter what are you doing?" She practically shouted, "Get into the great hall right now I don't want to see you lurking about again!"

Ron and Hermione didn't need telling twice they turned round and headed towards the entrance to the great hall. Harry stopped a moment to wave at Kathy but Professor McGonagall bellowed "OUT" rather loud so he turned and quickly ran to catch up with Ron and Hermione.



During dinner Hermione noticed that Ginny was missing, which seemed to worry Ron a bit but Harry assured him by saying that she was old enough to take care of herself.

On the way back to gryffindor tower Harry saw that Kathy was no longer in the entrance hall he gave a loud sigh and continued on his way.