The next morning, sunlight streaming through the big window in her room, awoke Cat from her fitful sleep. She went to the bathroom to find her eyes red and her coffee coloured hair mussed. Tucking her hair into the back of her bathrobe, she splashed her face with cold water to wake herself up, hoping it would also alleviate the redness in her eyes. After dressing and combing her hair, she went down to breakfast. Her aunt and cousin were waiting for her in the breakfast room, sitting at a table laid out with platters of toast, eggs, and bacon. Cat groaned quietly as she looked at the fare. Guess I shouldn't be expecting cappuccinos and croissants. I'm not in Italy anymore. She sat at the table and helped herself to some toast and bacon. She was definitely not a fan of eggs. Her aunt gave her a brief glance before starting in on her own breakfast but Draco's glare was relentless. Cat ate her breakfast quietly, having no real idea of what she was supposed to talk about with her Aunt or whether speaking was even permissible during meals. Finally, Narcissa pushed her plate away, apparently finished and cleared her throat to get the attention of Draco and Cat. "We will be going to get your school things at Diagon Alley today. Your letters arrived just before breakfast."
Cat took the letter her aunt was now holding out to her. It was heavy, yellowish parchment, addressed to her at Malfoy Manor in green ink. Turning it over she saw the wax seal bearing the Hogwarts coat of arms. She broke the seal and opened it to read,
HOGWARTS SCHOOL OF WITCHCRAFT AND WIZARDRY
Headmaster: Albus Dumbledore
(Order of Merlin, First Class, Grand Sorc., Chf. Warlock,
Supreme Mugwump, International Confed. of Wizards)
Dear Ms. Malfoy
We are pleased to inform you that you have a place at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Due to your particular circumstances some special arrangements must be made. When you reach the school, you will cross the lake with the first years. You will also be sorted with them. When your House has been determined, you will join your fellow sixth year girls in the dormitories.
I have reviewed the curriculum of your previous educational institution and found it adequate for you to continue to the sixth year. Please find enclosed a list of all necessary books and equipment.
Term begins on 1 September. We await your owl by no later than 31 July.
Yours sincerely,
Minerva McGonagall
Deputy Headmistress
Cat read the letter with relief, one of her fears was that she would have to be held back because of differing education. She then moved on to the second page which read:
HOGWARTS SCHOOL OF WITCHCRAFT AND WIZARDRY
Uniform
Sixth year students will require:
1. Three sets of plain work robes (black)
2. One plain pointed hat (black) for day wear
3. One pair of protective gloves (dragon hide or similar)
4. One winter cloak (black, silver fastenings)
Please note that all pupils' clothes should carry name tags
Set Books
(It has been determined that your current text books will, for the most part be sufficient, the following will be required, however)
The Standard Book of Spells (Grade 6) by Miranda Goshawk
Advance Transfiguration by Emeric Switch
Advanced Defensive Magic: Theory and Practice by Alden Morris
Other Equipment
Please ensure you have all of these items
1 wand
1 cauldron (pewter, standard size 2)
1 set glass or crystal phials
1 telescope
1 set brass scales
Students may also bring an owl OR a cat OR a toad
Cat folded the letters back up and returned them to their envelope. The only things she needed were new robes, as hers definitely wouldn't be warm enough for a Scottish winter, and the three books in the list.
"Get whatever you need now, we'll be leaving in 10 minutes." Narcissa rose from her seat and walked off in the direction of her bedroom, as did Draco. Cat went to her room, spending just enough time there to grab her money bag, which she tied to the rope belt at her waist, and her wand, which she slipped up her right sleeve. She met her aunt and cousin in the family room in front of the large fireplace. "We'll be flooing to The Leaky Cauldron. Here take a pinch." Cat reached out and took some powder between her fingers. Draco went first, followed by Cat and finally Narcissa. Cat arrived in the pub shortly after Draco to find him lying on the floor, covered in soot. Holding back a snicker, she dusted off her own robes and moved out of her Aunt's way. When all she arrived, Narcissa performed a cleaning charm on her son and the little group started towards the back door. When the arch to Diagon Alley was opened, Cat watched in an awe that she tried her best to hide. There were a few places like this in Italy, Cat knew, but there weren't any near Firenze, where she had lived and they'd ordered all her school things by mail, except for her wand, which they'd gotten custom made by a little known wand maker in San Lorenzo. When she'd gone in to the shop, the proprietor Mr. Floccari, had asked her to look at the various pieces of wood and core ingredients that he'd laid out for her and told her to pick out the ones she felt a connection with. She'd run her fingers over each piece of wood until she got to a long piece of rowan wood. It had felt smooth and soft under her fingers and she'd gotten a good feeling from it. She'd then made her way over to the core ingredients, passing buy the softly shining unicorn hairs and fiery-coloured phoenix feathers. When she first set eyes upon the beautiful silver feathers labelled Occamy Feathers she'd known exactly what was going into the core of her wand.
"Hello....Earth to Caterina!" The sound of Draco's mocking voice cut through Cat's reverie. She shook her head to dispel the memories and looked at her cousin.
"What?" She snapped angrily.
"Mum just left to do her own shopping and she said to stick together. And regardless of your intentions, I'm not going to stand around here all day. Let's get going."
Cat scowled at her cousin but motioned for him to lead the way.
"We'll get your stuff first, so what do you need?" Draco asked in a voice that was uncharacteristically kind. Well....not as sarcastic as usual anyway.
"I just need robes and books."
"Good, then we can get this over with quickly. We'll go to Madam Malkin's first. This way." He stepped out into the crowd, followed closely by Cat, who didn't want to get lost.
A few minutes later Cat was standing on a stool, a well-dressed witch bustling around her with wand and measuring tape. When she was fitted, the witch magicked up two more sets of robes and a cloak, and found her a hat. Cat paid for her uniform and she and Draco made to leave the shop. On the way to the exit, Draco stopped short, staring at three kids who'd just walked in. The one in the lead and the only girl was speaking to her two companions, her voice clearly audible, "I've grown some so Mum and Dad gave me some money to get new robes. It shouldn't take a minute. Oh Ron, don't give me that loo-" She stopped mid-sentence when her eyes fell on Draco and Cat. Teh two boys stepped in front of the girl, the tall redhead with fists balled tight, "What're you doing here Malfoy?" He growled through gritted teeth.
Draco stood up straight, managing somehow to look down his nose at the much taller boy, "I should think that would be obvious Weasley. We are in a robe shop after all. Or didn't you see the sign?"
The red-haired boy's ears turned pink and he growled under his breath. He looked as if he wanted to attack Draco but the brown-haired girl laid a hand on his arm, restraining him.
"Come on Ron, he's not worth it. Just let it go." She said quietly.
Cat watched this exchange with some amusement from her position just behind Draco until she noticed the black-haired boy looking at her with what was clearly a certain guarded curiosity. She wondered silently at the deep sadness she could see in his green eyes. Meanwhile, Draco and the tall boy continued to glare daggers at each other until Cat decided to interrupt, "If looks could kill... Come on Draco, we still need to get out books." She finally managed to drag her cousin outside, making sure to stay between him and the tall Ron-character.
***
Once Malfoy and his companion and left, Hermione turned on Ron, "Ron you can't let him get to you like that. You just make it easier for him." It was about the thousandth time she'd said it but he still didn't seem to want to listen to her.
"I know Hermione, it's just that he makes me so mad! And you heard what he said to Harry at the end of last year! He wants Harry dead and thinks he's just the man for the job. He needs to be taken down a few pegs."
"Well you're not helping anything by giving him cannon fodder, are you?"
This was the point where Harry generally tuned his two best friends out. They'd been having the same argument, essentially, since their first year. Instead, Harry turned his mind to the girl who had been with Malfoy. He wondered idly who she was. A relative perhaps? Family friend? Malfoy's girlfriend? Harry shuddered at the thought and decided not to follow that line of thinking. He tuned back into reality to see Hermione having her robes fitted while Ron sat in a chair off to the side, reading a magazine. He looked up and saw Harry, "Oi! Harry, what're you doing?" For Harry was still standing in the entrance seemingly starring off into space. Harry could feel his cheeks burning as he rushed over to sit beside Ron, "I was, er, just thinking."
"Right, well, ok, I guess." Ron gave him a doubtful glance but turned back to his magazine. Finally Hermione's robes were finished and they left to meet up with the Weasleys.
***
"What was that all about?" Cat inquired curiously of her cousin once back on the street.
"That was Harry Potter and his little band. I hate them and they hate me. And I wouldn't have it any other way." He grinned maliciously. Almost immediately the grin faded however to be replaced with a malevolent scowl, "He's the reason my father's in prison and he's going to pay."
Cat decided not to reply to this comment, instead taking Draco's brooding silence as an opportunity to look around. She tried to make her actions as subtle as possible, she didn't want to look like a tourist after all.
Finally Draco looked up gesturing vaguely towards a shop to their right, "There, Flourish and Blotts, book store." Cat allowed Draco to lead the way inside. Getting their books was relatively eventless and they left the shop a short time latter.
Back on the street, Draco reverted to sullen silence evidently still thinking about revenge. Meanwhile, a brightly painted sign across the street has caught Cat's eye. 'Magical Menagerie' it read and it got Cat thinking. Maybe I should get an owl. I could send letters to my friends back home. Nodding to herself, she turned back to her cousin. "I'm just going to look in there. I'll be right back."
Draco nodded absently and sat down on a bench to wait. Cat crossed the street and entered the shop, looking around curiously. She spotted several cages across one wall holding owls of every size, shape and colour. She walked over to examine them a little more closely but decided none was for her. Seeing the proprietor of the shop standing a little ways away, cleaning a cage, she beckoned her over. "Excuse me ma'am, but do you have any other owls?"
"Of course my dear, we keep the rarer breeds down that aisle there, here I'll show you." Cat started to follow the woman when a little ball of blue-grey fur tumbled out of a basket to her left. Cat bent down to discover it was a kitten. Part of it's ear was missing and a bit of blood trickled down the side of it's head.
"Hello little one." Cat cooed as she picked up the little scrap. It hissed a bit at first but seemed to decide she wasn't a threat and settled for watching her out of bright blue eyes. "Bit of a fighter aren't you?" She smiled slightly than turned to the saleswoman, "You know what, forget the owl. I'll take this cat." The woman looked a little disappointed by the fact that a cat costs much less than an owl, until Cat pointed out that she'd also need some cat food and a carrier for her new pet, "Is it a boy or a girl, if you could tell me?"
"Male. You may want to watch him around other cats, he's a bit aggressive." Cat smiled and nodded, then paid for her new acquisitions.
When she met her cousin outside he seemed to have finally come out of his trance, "What is that?" he exclaimed.
"It's a cat, or have you gone as blind as Big Red from the robe shop?"
"Very funny. Why'd you buy a cat? What's its name?"
"It's my money Draco, I'll spend it how I like. And his name....his name is Marco."