Chapter 4

Harry's Sister: Thank you so much for the review.

MusicalHermione: Thank you for your wonderful review. It's no problem for me at all to write emails, I like doing it, just like I like getting reviews… hint, hint. Lol. Anyway, if you like thins story, maybe you can tell me what you think of Curse Of Time? The URL is; http : // www . fanfiction . net / read . php ? storyid = 1303656

Gwynny stuffed all of her things into her bag quickly the next morning… at 6 o'clock nonetheless. That was yet another difference between her and her family; She liked to get up early, they liked to sleep in. Although, Gwynny admitted, Dad says Mum used to be a real early bird. It was because she had 6 older brothers, and liked the peace and quiet the mornings could provide. Mind you, so would I if I had 6 brothers. 6! One's enough. And speaking of brothers… She shrunk her textbooks, and put them in her pocket, along with some parchment, a few quills, and a bottle of ink. Knowing Ron, Gina and Mere, something's gonna happen to my books, parchment etc, so I should put some in my pocket. Otherwise, I'll be in trouble first day of classes. She walked down the stairs, pretending not to notice Gina whisper a spell as she went past. She knew this was the only morning they'd be up early for the rest of the term. She walked into the Common Room, and sat down with a book.

***

"Welcome to first year Transfiguration." Professor McGonagall said. "In this class, I don't expect you all to get 100% every time, I don't expect you all to be perfect. What I do expect, Miss Malfoy," She glared at Lorelei Malfoy, who had been talking to another Slytherin girl, giggling, and flipping her hair, "Is that you all pay attention, do the homework, and, more importantly, do your best. In this class, I won't tolerate any disruptions, and if there are any, I will deduct points and you will get detention. Push your luck, and you won't be welcome back. I'd just like to point out now, that Transfiguration is a core subject. Don't do it, and you fail the first year. Which means you'll either be kept down, while everyone else goes up to the second, or, you will have to transfer schools, because if I kick you out, you don't come back for the rest of the year. Miss Malfoy, if you can't listen to me when I'm speaking, maybe 15 points from Slytherin will help." She snapped. Lorelei's jaw dropped.

"You have got to be joking." She protested.

"No. You were warned. And that's another 5 points." She swept back up to the front, ignoring Lorelei's protestations. "Today, you will be copying notes off of the board. I don't want anyone starting the practical aspects of this class until I'm sure you know all of the theory. Transfiguration is a dangerous subject, and not one to be taken lightly." For the rest of the lesson they copied notes off the board, Gwynny squinting the whole time. Why does she have to write so small? She despaired.

~*~

Kati watched her brother save yet another perfect goal from their Chasers.

"C'mon!" She yelled at the Chasers, "Surely you can do better than that! Didn't you practice at all over the holidays?"

"Give us a break." Ana Martin shouted back, "Some of us here are muggle-borns!" Kati grinned,

"Sorry! But Dan, you and Marci aren't." She screamed back, looking pointedly at Dan Longbottom and Marci Bell.

"I didn't have time." Marci said, flying closer.

"That's not good enough." Kati said, going into what her Dad called Kati-Bee-Oliver-Wood mode. "Every year we practice, practice, practice. And every year, we win the Quidditch Cup. You know why?"

"Because we love the sport?" Ron asked.

"No,"

"Because all the other teams are awful?" Dan added, getting in on the fun,

"Because me an' Gina are such good Beaters?" Mere asked.

"No!" Kati said, frustrated.

"Because all the other teams lurve us?" Marci asked, fluttering her lashes.

"Maybe it's because we have such a great Seeker." Ana suggested.

"No, no and no!" Kati yelled, "Oh, and thanks." She added, "It's because we work hard, we…"

"PRACTICE!" The rest of the team chorused.

"Honestly, Kati, we're just doing it to annoy you." Gina said, rolling her eyes.

"And we have team spirit!" She continued doggedly. "The reason the Slytherins never win is because they don't work together! Hufflepuff doesn't practice enough, and the Ravenclaw beaters are a joke! I mean… argh! I think we're done for tonight. Wednesday morning, 6:30 am. Be there." She stomped off, ignoring the protests.

~*~

Gwynny sat in the Common Room, toasting her warm feet by the fire. She was wearing a rather nice pair of maroon socks, her brother Ron's, given to him by Uncle Ron, who thought it was a great joke to give Ron things in the one colour he most hated. Gwynny didn't like to question her uncle, she was quite sure he was mad. Ron came into the room, followed by his friend Dan. He was steaming.

"Gwynny, where are my socks?" He asked angrily.

"I don't know, Ron. Whatever gave you the idea I would?" Gwynny asked innocently. The whole Common Room snickered, finding it funny that Gwynny was lying so blatantly. There was a huge pile of sock next to her, most of them clearly labeled 'Ronald Potter', although there were a few 'Harry Potter', 'Katharine Potter', and Virginia Potter' mixed in to help even things out.

"You are such a liar! They're right next to you!" He exclaimed.

"I honestly have no idea what you're talking about, Ron. I don't have any of your socks. What's wrong? Have you got a fever? You're delirious. Hold on, I'll go get Madam Pomfrey." She left, trying not to blush… no such luck, unfortunately.

~*~

Kati rummaged through her trunk.

"Have you seen my socks, Marci?" She asked frantically.

"Nope, sorry."

"But where can they be?" She wailed. "I put them in my bureau!"

"Gwynny!" She heard Ron's voice yell. Something in Kati's mind clicked.

"Of course!" She exclaimed. "Gwynny!" She ran down the stairs. Ron was sitting in a pile of socks. Kati grabbed the three pairs labeled 'Katharine Potter' and grinned at Ron, "Thanks for sorting out Gwynny. Now I won't look like the bad guy." She said teasingly, and, pulling on the socks, then her shoes, she went outside for Care Of Magical Creatures.

***

Kati stood there, shivering in the cold wind that had suddenly blown up.

"Where's Hagrid?" One Slytherin girl whispered.

"Probably off getting drunk, the great oaf." Desmona sneered. Kati turned around, eyes flashing, only to have them widen in delight at the two men who were walking towards them.

"Mr. Dog Star, Uncle Moony!" She exclaimed. Everyone turned around, to see two of them most famous men in the Wizarding World, Sirius Black and Remus Lupin.

~Preview of Chapter 5~

"Welcome to Care of Magical Creatures." Mr. Dog Star said. "Unfortunately, Professor Hagrid is unable to attend this lesson, for reasons I may not divulge. So, Professor Lupin and myself will be taking the class indefinitely. My name is Professor Black. I will be expecting all of you to treat Professor Lupin and I with the utmost respect." Kati giggled at the look on his face, he looked utterly serious, but there was a twinkle in his eye too reminiscent of the man she'd met when she was 3 for her to be frightened. "Today we will be learning about the Serpanthri. The Serpanthri is a wood demon that, like the Succubus, can take any form it feels will catch its victim's desire. In fact, it is related to the Succubus, and the Dementor in many ways, being both a spiritual, and emotional vampire.