Chapter 4 - A muggle in our midst



Harry, Ron and Hermione returned to gryffindor tower with mixed feelings, mainly about Harry. Hermione was thinking about how much Harry liked Kathryn. Ron was thinking that Harry was taking this way too seriously after all she was just a girl. And Harry himself was wondering why McGonagall was so angry with him.

Hermione reached the portrait of the fat lady first and muttered the password. Sensing the tense mood the fat lady didn't say anything to them just swung open.



Harry's jaw dropped standing in front on him were Ginny and Kathy.

"Ermm, this is Kathy" Ginny said "Kathy this is Harry, Ron my brother and Hermione."

"We've already met" said Ron gruffly

"Oh" said Ginny "Well McGonagall put her in gryffindor" she replied beaming "She's in my dorm"

Harry gave a small smile and went slightly pink, Kathy smiled back and also blushed.

"It's late" said Kathy "I've had a busy day and I'm a little tired" She smiled again and then headed for the dorm.

"She's a muggle" said Harry thoughtfully "What's McGonagall doing putting her in here"

Hermione looked and Harry and said "Well she clearly showed magical powers, so I suppose it would be too risky to leave her in the muggle world, ask her tomorrow" Hermione gave Harry a smile and also headed for the dorms. The remaining three friends just shrugged at each other and also went to bed.



At breakfast the following morning the five of them were sat around the gryffindor table while Kathy told them about what happened.

"....so after I'd changed the stone....erm transfigured I mean, I still have a lot to learn," she added with a worried smile

"It's okay" said Ginny "we'll help you, go on"

Harry was still ogling over how gorgeous she looked with her light brown hair pinned up in a bun.

"well several men suddenly came in and whisked me off here it was all rather scary, Professor Dumbledore talked to me and said that somehow I'd been missed off the Hogwarts list, he seemed almost angry at that, but he was very kind to me." she gave Harry a reassuring glance as he'd looked a bit concerned at her last statement. Then taking a deep breath she continued, "Professor McGonagall gave me a wand and then Professor Dumbledore said he wanted to test my powers. I seemed to do everything he asked satisfactory as he smiled at me and said that I'd be okay in with my own year."

Ginny smiled and said "This is where I come in"

"Yeah" Replied Kathy "Professor McGonagall said that I'd be best in gryffindor where she could keep her eye on me, and we went back into the main hall where she introduced me to Ginny and asked her to show me around."

Harry grinned, "I'm so glad that you were put in gryffindor"

She smiled back making Harry blush

"Well" said Ginny "We'd better be off, we need to get to the lessons early, potions first" she groaned

"Oh I'm sure that this Professor Snape can't be all that bad"

The other four just looked at each other and grinned "Well you'll find out soon enough" replied Ron with a sly look on his face. With that Ginny and Kathy got up and left.

The two of them were walking down the corridor giggling at one of Ginny's most recent comment about Snape.

"What, are you two doing" came a voice from behind them. Spinning around quickly Ginny let out a small groan she already knew what was coming. It was Snape.

"Oh" he said stopping his thoughts "You must be Miss Atkinson".

"And you must be Professor Snape" she replied, Ginny grimaced he would surly take some points off for that.

Snape was just about to open his mouth to say something when he stopped and looked intently at Kathy again. She was still grinning from ear to ear, he looked deep into her eyes with a unreadable expression. Then he almost smiled. Suddenly breaking from his reverie.

"Well, well the muggle in our midst has a sense of humour" he gave her a smile then continued "I hope you're settling in alright" Then realising what he had said scowled at himself "I'll see you both in Potions I don't expect either of you to be late" and swept off down the corridor.

Ginny was dumbfounded "He was almost nice" she said "He didn't take any points off, AND he smiled"

"See I told you that he wasn't that bad" She replied

Ginny giggled "I think Snapey has a crush on you"

Kathy looked at her with a curious twinkle in her eyes "I think you're off your rocker" She said matter of factly. Both girls started giggling again and continued back to gryffindor tower.

The morning's lessons consisted of Potions with Snape followed by Defence against the dark arts with Professor Lupin who had returned the previous year.

Potions went without too much of a hitch with a little help from Ginny, and Snape (who was been unreasonable kind to her), Kathy has managed to complete her potion to an acceptable standard. Lupin was also extremely kind to Kathy during the defence against the dark arts class, but, as Ginny explained, that was perfectly normal for him. He didn't continue until he was sure that she understood, something which she was very grateful of.

At lunch time they had arranged to meet up with Harry, Ron and Hermione. Harry was very eager to hear about her first day while everyone else was more concerned with Snape's reaction. But either way they all ended up laughing in the end. The lunch break was soon over and the friends agreed to meet up in the common room at the end of lessons.

Ginny and Kathy headed over towards the greenhouses for herbology, while Harry Hermione and Ron made their way to the dungeons to endure Snape.



Back in the common room later that evening they were sat around the fire still feeling very full from the dinner they had just eaten. It was well past curfew and several of the gryffindors had already made their way up to the dormitories. Harry smiled in the fire light before saying

"Who fancies going exploring" Hermione looked indignantly at him

"You know what happened last year, We could be expelled" Ginny agreed with her and Ron said nothing.

Kathy just stood there and looked at Harry for a while "I don't agree with breaking the rules," she said sternly "I'm only here on a temporary basis I don't want to be sent home" It was clear from her expression that she disapproved her face was almost angry and uncannily mimicked that of Professor McGonagall.

It was Hermione who mentioned this, "You look just like professor McGonagall with that expression" she said with a giggle, Ginny joined in, she looked at Ron for his opinion.

"Especially with your hair up like that" he said in a mumble.

The comment obviously affected her as she took the bun out and let her hair fall loose. "What's wrong with you" she asked Ron

Ginny giggled again "He had one too many desserts at dinner"

"Oh" she replied as Ron slumped over holding his stomach.

"So" Harry butted in "Are you going to come with me or not" he said to Kathy.

She looked at him thoughtfully and not wanting to be compared to Professor McGonagall again agreed.

"Be careful" Hermione said as Harry threw the invisibility cloak over the two of them and sneaked out of the portrait hole.

They got about halfway down the corridor and Harry realized that he'd forgot the marauders map. Sighing he explained that they'd have to go back to it. They turned back and tucking the invisibility cloak under his arm headed back to the portrait of the fat lady. When they got there Harry turned to look at her and got caught in her deep eyes once again. She smiled at him and was just about to say the password when the fat lady spoke out.

"Well aren't you going to kiss her"

Harry turned to look at the picture who gave him a small smile. He realised that he was blushing furiously. Swinging round to look at Kathy he noticed that she was also going slightly pink.

"Well get one with it then" the fat lady said again.

This time neither of them turned to look at the portrait but Harry reached out and kissed her gently on the check. Withdrawing he looked into her eyes. They were now sparkling like sapphires on a beach in the bright summer sun. She leaned over, putting her arms around Harry's neck and gave him a long gentle kiss.

"POTTER, ATKINSON" what are you doing. They both turned to see Professor McGonagall marching down the corridor towards them.