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Chapter FourCatrin looked belligerently at the stone gargoyle that hid the passageway to Dumbledore's office. "Do you really want me to go through all this again," she asked the gargoyle. She and Ginny had had an interesting encounter with this gargoyle during their third year, and had ended up tickling it until it let them into Dumbledore's office. Catrin knew that it recognised her, from the way it twitched when she mentioned tickling. She reached for the gargoyle's ribs, but it jumped aside before she could get to it. "Thank you."
She walked up the stairs to Dumbledore's office, looking around. There was so much to see whenever she came here, and everything seemed to have changed whenever she came. Of course, she had only been there a few times, so she didn't really think it was enough to base a theory on. When she walked into the circular room that was Dumbledore's office, she stumbled upon a meeting.
"Miss Kismet, please, sit down, sit down," Dumbledore indicated her to the only empty seat, one next to Draco Malfoy. He was draped across his seat and the spare, his arm resting on the back of the empty chair. Catrin sat down, she managed to place herself next to Ginny on one side, the devil on the other.
"Now. We were just beginning our meeting about the camp that everybody in this room shall be attending in a few weeks. I want you all to know, that at this camp there will be many responsibilities, most of them will be similar to what we uphold as our standards here at Hogwarts, but I believe that there will be some that are not anywhere in the Hogwarts curriculum," Dumbledore smiled over his half-moon spectacles, and continued talking. "Now, first matters first. I believe that all of you have been informed of the transport you are to be taking to your camp. Of course, with the wide range of creatures that we can ride, we have narrowed your selection down to two. You will be riding either Winged horses, generously supplied by Emery Kismet, or Hippogriffs, supplied by Hagrid, there. Now, who is in favour of riding Hippogriffs?"
Four hands raised, Catrin's included. Hippogriffs might not have been the most favourable mode of transport, but Catrin liked them. She looked around to see who else was present.
There was Harry, Hermione, Ron and Ginny on her left. To the far left sat Ernie MacMillan and another two Hufflepuffs who Catrin did not know. On her right sat Draco, and two other smirking Slytherins, Blaise Zabini, Pansy Parkinson and Dominic Roucght. Furthest two her right were two Ravenclaws, Amanda Clearwater, Penelope's sister and equal when it came to brains, and Cho Chang. That made thirteen in all, and Catrin could see that the Hippogriff side had just lost.
"Well then, since we all seem to want winged horses so much, I will contact Emery now. Minerva? Will you continue to tell our students what will be expected of them?" Dumbledore turned to McGonagall who had been sitting behind them.
"Certainly Headmaster." Professor McGonagall turned to the group. "You are Hogwart's elite. You have been chosen out of the hundreds at this school to represent us in an international camp. You are expected to be on your best behaviour, and this means for the duration of the camp, not just for the first few days…" Catrin zoned out McGonagall's voice as she sat there, horribly aware of Draco's arm that was almost around her.
Next to Catrin, Ginny had zoned out too. She was thinking of the Yule ball. Blue robes…maybe green…but she would definitely need to get something new.
She was actually rather happy with her family's financial status since her father's promotion. He was now deputy-Head of the Ministry of Magic…and he earned quite a bit. Fudge had seen to it that he got his promotion, after fighting through thick and thin to clean up the mess the MoM had made last year, and in fourth year. Voldemort was very much a threat, and Cornelius saying that it was preposterous almost had him ousted from the position.
It was nice to be rich, or at least well off, for once. Ginny knew that she would never forget getting hand-me-downs for most of her life, but she could sure as hell try, and if she didn't have any appropriate dress robes for the Yule, she would drag Catrin to Hogsmeade to help her pick out more.
Ginny snapped back to reality quickly, before anyone had a chance to rat on her.
"Mr. Kismet, we're delighted to have you here. Shall we make an appointment for us to meet you at your stables," Dumbledore said. Ginny looked over at Catrin, who clearly recognised the man. "Allow me to introduce the students you will be teaching during the camp. From left to right, Cho Chang and Amanda Clearwater, our two Ravenclaws. Then we have Dominic Roucght, Pansy Parkinson and Draco Malfoy, all Slytherins. Catrin I'm sure you know," Catrin nodded at her uncle, "but further on we have Virginia Weasly, Harry Potter, Ronald Weasly and Hermione Granger, all Gryffindors. Last, but most certainly not least, we have Ernie Mac Millan, Robert Trump and Coco Fidalies, our Hufflepuffs."
Everybody nodded politely at the tall man standing in front of them.
"I'm pleased to meet you all. Now, when would be a good time for everybody to come to my stables? It is absolutely necessary that we find the right mount for each person, as incorrect pairings can have…disastrous effects," Emery Kismet smiled, flashing white teeth. Catrin smiled at his generosity. She had been to his stable a few times, and it was huge, but he still managed to remember every horse in the stable.
Dumbledore and Emery started making arrangements, and soon the meeting was over. Catrin yawned, tiredly, and stood up when Ginny offered and arm to pull her up.
"Feeling better kitty-cat?" Ginny asked in a mocking tone.
Catrin bantered with her, "Sure thing Fa— Mr. Kismet, what a surprise!"
Emery Kismet was standing in front of Ginny and Catrin. "Hello Catrin, Virginia was it?"
"Call me Ginny," Ginny replied, shaking his hand. She looked around for Harry, Ron and Hermione but they were talking to Professor McGonagall.
"Fine then, Ginny. I hope you don't mind if I steal my niece for a second?" Emery smiled and Ginny relented.
"Sure, I don't need her anyway," Ginny grinned when Catrin's uncle laughed.
"That's what we said when she was born," he whispered conspiratorially.
"Hey, the person you're talking about is right here, excuse me," Catrin said.
"Sorry, Catrin. See you round," Ginny walked over to where Ron and Harry seemed to be arguing playfully.
"Catrin, I'm sorry to drag you away from your friends like this, but I was wondering if you had heard from your mother lately," Emery was Catrin's mother's brother, and was very close to her, despite practically being her emotional and relative counterpart.
"No. We never really communicate much during the school year, although, come to think of it, they've been…unusually quiet," Catrin said. Emery sighed.
"Both of them? Your father as well?"
Catrin nodded. She knew that her father wasn't the most liked people by Emery, but he was still a compassionate man, and worried about everything.
"This is bad, you know that."
"I do…I just realised, they would have contacted me while I was sick…just to, oh you know what they're like. They like to remind me what is appropriate in 'society', these days, God, I am totally sick of their bullshii—"
"Enough, Catrin. I'll try to contact them, see if they want to meet with me for, coffee or something. God knows they need to relax. Can you ask the Weasly boy to help you ask the ministry?" Emery asked. Catrin nodded. Emery patted her on the head. "Good girl, now, I'll see you next week." He hugged her goodbye and walked back to Dumbledore.
Catrin wandered over to where Ginny was talking with Ron. She listened to their conversation, laughing at their total lack of consideration for one another.
"And you, are a total PRICK!" Ginny told her brother.
Ron scowled back at her, "Virginia Weasly, respect your elders!"
"Shut it, both of you," Hermione told them. Catrin dragged Ginny one way while Harry dragged Ron the other.
"Slimeball. What did Mr. Kismet want to talk to you about?" asked Ginny.
"Oh, the usual. You know, not hearing from your parents in almost a month, and neither has he, strange suspicions of dark magic at our house, wishing that they get taken by the Dark Lord so I don't have to deal with them any longer…like I said, the usual."
Ginny laughed. "Come on, let's go to Potions."
Potions passed somewhat like a dream for Catrin. Catrin was preparing to sneak out the door at the end of the class so she could go and study, but Snape stopped her first.
"Miss Kismet, could I see you for a moment?" he asked, surprisingly polite. Catrin turned around and Ginny mouthed that she would wait outside.
"Sure Professor, what did you want?" asked Catrin. Catrin's palms began sweating.
"Miss Kismet. I am sure you know that I talked to Virginia Weasly about the potion you brewed the other night. She was under the impression that you were alone, were you?" he asked, smiling in a sinister way.
"I didn't have anyone helping me, if that's what you mean," Catrin replied cautiously.
"I understand that. Unfortunately, some other potion ingredients seem to be missing from my store cupboard, and, unless you took them, I know of nobody else who was in here. Unless there was someone with you, to justify that you took nothing…that I suppose you would be in serious trouble."
That was what this was all about, thought Catrin, missing ingredients. "Well, Professor, Draco Malfoy stopped by…while I was making the potion. I'm sure he could insure that I didn't take anything."
"Wonderful, but what about the person I sent to watch you?" Snape asked, glaring. His eyes looked sinister, and his hooked nose made him look like…a snake.
"They never came, sir." Catrin replied, feeling that the use of extra formality would be better.
"Ah. Now, I shall have a word with him. Miss Kismet, did you put anything other than the specified ingredients in your potion?" he asked.
Catrin shook her head emphatically. "No, Professor."
"I see. On the test subject, it worked surprisingly well. Were there any extra conditions that you applied to your potion that weren't listed in the book?" One eyebrow was raised, and Catrin had a sinking sensation in her stomach, this was going to be bad.
"I'm sure you heard, Professor, that I spent a few days in the Infirmary after making that potions. Really, the only other conditions that I applied to it were heat and…nothing else."
"Thank you, Miss Kismet. You may go." Snape sat down at his desk and rubbed his temple with his hands. As Catrin started walking out the door, she stopped.
"Professor?"
"What?" he replied.
"I may have added a touch too much Mandrake…it looked too," Catrin strained to remember her reasons for adding more mandrake earlier that week, "green." She fled.
"You know, Catrin, that the potion was probably meant to look green at that stage," Ginny told Catrin that evening while they were studying in their room.
"I know, I couldn't think of anything else to say. I can't even remember why originally I added more…" Catrin chewed on her lip as she figured out another Arithmancy problem. "This sucks. I formally suck at Arithmancy."
"You know, this is a lot like Algebra," Ginny said. Catrin looked up.
"I never said I was good at Algebra."
"Hermione is, come on, let's go nag her to help us," Ginny got up and grabbed a few of her books. Catrin did the same, grabbing Fidget from his lookout spot on top of the hangings.
The walked into the common room to find Harry, Hermione and Ron in the middle of a heated argument.
"Weren't you even listening to Professor Binns today?" Hermione asked.
"Nobody ever does," Ron said under his breath, Hermione pretended not to hear him.
"JRR Tolkein was the only Muggle ever to find out about the Wizarding world, write a book about it and not have his memory obliviated! He just changed facts when he wrote Lord of the Rings and made it more believable!"
"What about Eoin Colfer?" Harry asked, annoyed.
"He was a SQUIB!" Hermione yelled back. At second glance, Harry and Ron were really just standing on one side, Ron listening to the two of them argue, and Harry actually yelling back.
"I hate to interrupt your little lover's spat, but we do have a paper to write. Harry, let's let Hermione write the paper on Tolkein, then we can put all our names on it," Ron said, acting as a mediator.
"Oh, sure," Hermione rolled her eyes, "how about you two write the paper and I put my name on it!"
"Catrin," Ginny said in a loud stage whisper, "I think we came to the wrong place. This looks like a re-run of the Three Stooges."
Hermione burst out laughing, but Harry looked annoyed.
"What did you call me?" he asked, eyes narrowed.
Ginny stood up as tall as she could, (which was about as tall as Harry) and raised her own eyebrows, "I called you a stooge."
Harry jumped on her, knocking her backwards into a chair. "Take it back! Take it back!" he yelled, tickling her mercilessly. Ginny laughed and laughed and shrieked that she 'would not if it were a matter of life and death.'
Catrin walked over to Hermione and Ron, who were both in fits of giggles. "Ginny asked Harry to the Yule, didn't she?"
Ron nodded, and Catrin joined them laughing.
When Harry finally gave up tickling Ginny, Catrin whisked Ginny away to 'help' with her potions homework. Ron and Hermione took it as their duty to interrogate Harry.
"Harry, you do realise that if you break Ginny's hear there will be at least six people out to get you, if you count Fred and George as separate people," Ron told his best friend.
"Oh, sure, say that about Ginny. I hate this, I have no siblings, nobody can make death threats to my girlfriends," Harry complained, avoiding the subject.
"Harry, that is utterly stupid. Firstly, you don't threaten girls about breaking your brother's heart, at least, if you're a guy you don't. Secondly, practically half the girls at Hogwarts would defend you. I bet that every time Ginny goes into a bathroom at least one girl will say 'If you break Harry's heart I will hunt you down and rip you limb from limb' to her, geez, they say it enough to me," Hermione said.
"Really?" Ron asked, interested, "They threaten you about breaking Harry's heart?"
"All the time."
"Do you two want to know what I honestly think?" Harry asked Ron and Hermione.
"What?" asked Ron, at the same moment Hermione said "Not really."
"Your both nutters, that what I think," Harry told them firmly.
Ron started laughing, "Now he's thinking, my sister must be getting to his brain." Hermione tried not to laugh, but this unsuccessfully made her laugh more.
Harry threw his Divination book at them.
Catrin slipped out of the common room after dinner that evening. She had told Ginny she was going to study, and Ginny knew where to find her if she needed her, but sometimes, Catrin relished being alone. She made her way through the halls and over stairways, careful to skip the trick steps and jump the places in the floor that like to catch an unwary student by the ankle and send them reeling. It was so much fun, running around the school missing these things.
Her first year she and Ginny had staged races on some of the trickier stair-cases and stickier floors. They would race up and down, dodging one way or the other, bumping into each other until ultimately they were both stuck, had been stopped by a teacher or had collapsed, giggling and exhausted.
Catrin skipped to the side to avoid a sinking stone as she remembered these things. It was then that they had found their rooms.
It was, really, purely by accident. Catrin had stumbled across the sunlit room one day when hiding from Ginny. Unfortunately, after searching and giving up, Ginny decided to hide from her and found another room. Upon returning to the common room and talking about it, they realized that with the shifting of the castle, they were really in the same place, just at different times and in different shifts. It was the same room Catrin had studied in when she was sick, but now there was little sunlight and candles were floating around the room. Sometimes, Catrin thought, it is good to be alone.
She was struggling with a particularly hard arithmancy problem when the door to the room creaked open. She looked up, and scowled even more.
"Hello Kismet," Draco Malfoy said, pleased with himself.
"Ron, have you seen Catrin? I was meant to meet her back here, but she's not in our dorm," Ginny asked her brother, who was working with Hermione and Harry on their essay.
"Nope. She hasn't come in," Ron said, getting back to reading through Hermione's notes.
"Oh, I know where she'll be then. I'll be back soon," Ginny slipped out of the portrait hole and made her way to where she suspected Catrin would be studying.
Catrin met her half way there. "Sorry I'm late Gin, I didn't mean to be. Bloody Malfoy came and decided to bother me about potions."
Ginny looked sideways at her friend, "He's been bothering you a lot lately, then?" she asked.
Catrin rolled he eyes. "He seems to be there every time I'm in a bad mood."
"And you were in a bad mood today because of…" Ginny let the sentence hang.
"Arithmancy," Catrin supplied, "bottlebrush" she told the Fat Lady, and walked through the portrait hole. Ginny waved to Ron and Hermione (Harry had disappeared) and walked with Ginny up to their room. "Ah, and which aspect of Arithmancy?"
"Everything," growled Catrin.
"Really?" Ginny raised an eyebrow quizzically.
"Yeah, and when he got there, nothing got done, coming to the bathroom?" she asked Ginny. Both girls grabbed their towels, pyjamas and toothbrushes, making their way to the Fourth-Fifth-Year-Girls' bathrooms.
The bathroom was a modest affair, with blue tiled walls and several different rooms. There was one room that had baths in it (each bath was separated by a small partition, like a cubical). Each bath had several taps that emitted different scented and acting bubbles. Catrin's favourite were the ones that smelt like strawberries and cream and left foam on top of the water, while Ginny liked the bouncy grape ones.
The main room had toilet cubicals and a long line of sinks in it. During lunch and when people had free periods this room would be full of bustling girls all hurrying to get their makeup done, charm their bracelets or fix their hair while polluting everyone else's lungs while they were at it. (While there was a hair holding charm, it was a little more effort than most people wanted to put into their hair if they only needed it to stay for the next few hours. Besides, the charm stayed for at least twenty-four hours, so they had to sleep with their hair like it was. When overshot, the charm turned your hair rock solid.)
"So, what happened?" Ginny asked, as she and Catrin walked into the room that held the bathtubs. They each went into a cubical and talked over the wall.
"Nothing. He came, he sat down at the window and read his book—"
"Malfoy can read?" Ginny asked, lathering her hair up with Catrin's kiwi-lime shampoo. Catrin threw over the shampoo in response.
"So, after struggling witht his problem, probably making all sorts of hacked off noises, he came over and helped me with it. I didn't think I'd live to see the day that a Malfoy would willingly help anybody," Catrin said, rinsing the last of the conditioner out of her hair.
"Mmm, I agree. Anyway, I got all my arithmancy done, and I finished my potions essay." Ginny threw back Catrin's shampoo and conditioner, and soaked in the water.
Catrin got out of her tub, "Really? I want you to do my potions essay for me, but I think professor Snape may have given me something extra for the potion I did Monday. Apparently it was a big hit," Catrin wrapped her towel around herself and got one of the smaller bathroom towels to dry her hair.
Ginny heard Catrin getting out and decided to get out as well. "Yeah. Anyway, Hermione did the rest of my Arithmancy, so apparently I owe her one Potions essay."
They joined up in the mutual dressing room.
"Really? So, what's happening on the living end of the line? You heard all about my end," Catrin pulled on her pyjamas, purple silk with teddy bears all over it.
Ginny smiled shyly. "Well, I guess you ought to know. Harry asked me to the Yule. Okay, I asked Harry."
Catrin mocked surprise, "So that wasn't just a show by my deathbed?"
There was muffled crying from one of the bath cubicals.
"No, anyway, you going with anyone?" Ginny raised her eyebrows suggestively.
"No, not the anyone you're thinking of. But, Colin asked me to go with him," Catrin told her, beginning to braid her hair. Ginny took over Catrin's hair.
"Really?" There was more muffled crying. "Such a shame to think that Colin and Harry are both taken," she said loudly. They could hear some gasps from behind the door.
"Yes, such a shame!" Catrin practically yelled back, getting Ginny's idea. She waited as Ginny dumped their wet towels in the laundry basket, and held onto the door handle.
"GO!" Ginny mouthed and Catrin shoved open the door, feeling it push against several bodies.
Catrin and Ginny stepped gracefully over the fallen group of girls, some of them wrapped in nothing but a towel. There were several red, puffy faces, as if they'd been crying.
"It's not nice to eavesdrop you know," Ginny smiled sweetly and led Catrin out of the bathroom.
"Why is it, that we manage to catch them every time?"
A/N:
Wheeeeeee! I had fun writing this one. The two review that I got sustained me. *glares* at all those people who read and didn't review. I mean, it's not like I ask for reviews, do I really have to? Flame me, for all I care. Catrin and Ginny won't mind.
FF.net needs a hit counter. That way I can see how many people actually viewed it.
Nevermind.
I've suddenly changed the plot halfway through, the main plot is the same, some funky things changed though. I might post a cookie. I like cookies.
Anyway. Go read Boy Meets Boy. And Mega Tokyo. Very funny comics.
So, thankyou to Avadriel for you review of chapter three! If you're nice and review I'll put your name down.
Maybe.
So, that's all from me. There was a tiny sneak preview of the girl's bathroom in this chapter. I couldn't resist. Yule ball in…uh…one chapter? Only if you're good.
Ta
Matrices