Teotihuacan

Chapter Five-Dance

Harry and I waited after class and we ended up doing 50 lines of "I will not use spells inside a classroom". Harry and I were sitting next to each other.

My hair fell over my left shoulder and dangled above the parchment.

I just finished line 32 when Harry nudged me. He was sitting close to me.

"Why'd you stand up for me?" he asked quietly.

"Because what are friends for?" I asked, smiling.

He smiled back.

A new feeling began rising in me. I began to realize that I was starting to like Harry now. My thoughts kept showing me images of Ron but I was starting to like Harry now. How could I explain this? What about Hermione?

Harry leaned close.

"Why'd you really take the blame?" he asked.

I looked at him and sighed.

"You wouldn't understand if I told you…I'm not even sure I understand it myself,"

Harry's emerald green eyes twinkled behind his glasses.

"Try me,"

I took a deep breath…and launched into the whole story.

When I was finished, Harry was watching me.

"I know it sounds crazy, but that's what happened," I said slowly.

Harry took a deep breath. His eyes were locked on mine.

"I believe you," he replied.

I looked at him, shocked.

"You believe me? But doesn't this sound crazy and insane to you?"

"Yeah, but I've had experience with time before," Harry said, his lip twitching. "So it doesn't sound that insane."

I tilted my head. "You have?"

He grinned. "Yes. In our third year, Hermione had a Time-Turner. We went back to save someone innocent,"

I nodded and glanced down at my parchment. A flash went off and I saw Harry's face. He mouthed the words "Help me."

I shut my eyes and grabbed the edge of the table.

"Katie? Are you alright?" Harry's voice came through filled with concern and anxiety.

I felt his hand on my arms. I opened my eyes, but another flash went off. This time it was Ron's face and he mouthed the same words.

"Katie?" Harry's voice continued but this time his voice sounded far away.

I shut my eyes again and then re-opened them. A third flash went off and it was Hermione. I slid off the chair.

HARRY.

Katie slid off her chair. She was lying on her side with one arm draped over her side, the other one stretched out. Her hair had fallen over her face. I pushed my seat back and crouched down beside her.

"Katie?" I demanded, gently shaking her.

After a few moments, she moaned and blinked. She propped herself up on her elbows.

"What happened?" she asked.

"I don't know…you just slid off the seat," I said, as I helped her back into her seat.

"Wow…my head feels like it was hit with a hammer," Katie moaned rubbing her head.

"Are you sure you're okay?" I asked, peering at her concerned.

"Yeah," Katie said as she shook her head.

"That was definitely weird," I said, eyeing her closely.

"It was," Katie said.

There was an awkward silence between us. I began scolding myself because I began wondering what it would be like to date Katie…but my heart was with Hermione. Plus, I had a feeling Ron liked her.

I leaned close.

"I think Ron likes you," I said, breaking into a grin.

"Really?" Katie asked, beaming.

I nodded.

"I can tell. I see the way he looks at you,"

Katie smiled.

"He seems like a nice, sweet person,"

"He is,"

Silence again.

"Well, I'm done," Katie replied, stretching.

"All of those lines?" I asked, shocked.

Katie nodded again.

"Yeah!"

After we did our lines, we met up with Hermione and Ron in Transfiguration.

Katie was sitting next to Ron. Hermione and I were sitting next to each other.

Katie seemed to be fitting in nicely…the rest of the Gryffindor's made her feel welcomed….as well as the Ravenclaw's and Hufflepuff's.

Malfoy started on Katie, but McGonagall heard him and deducted 30 points from Slytherin and made him stay after class for 3 days for detention.

Malfoy was rather subdued after that, but he kept throwing Katie malicious expressions.

Katie and I began talking. Hermione pulled Ron aside and they too began talking.

"Hey…you like her…don't you?" Hermione whispered.

I saw Ron nod.

"Well, I think she's insecure so you might want to give her a chance to see that her thoughts about herself are wrong," Hermione replied.

Ron nodded again.

"Thanks, 'Mione,"

Katie and I had begun walking a head of them. They hurried to catch up with us.

KATIE.

It felt like I was fitting in better. I still could not believe what was about to happen in just a few days…but I made a vow to stop it from happening.

After all of our classes, we headed to the Gryffindor common room. Immediately, when I stepped into it, I was overwhelmed.

"You do have common rooms for the houses in your school, right?" Harry asked, intrigued.

"Of course, but they aren't as nice as this," I said.

Harry smiled and shook his head

"Well, we should get some sleep," Hermione said.

"Yeah. I'm tired," Ron said, yawning and stretching

"Good night, Hermione and Katie," Harry said, as he went over to Hermione and gave her a kiss on the cheek and he gave me a wink before heading to the boy's dorm. Ron gave me a big grin and I grinned back. Ron followed Harry.

Hermione came over to me and pulled me aside.

"Hey, I think Ron likes you," she said, smiling brightly.

My face lit up.

"Really? 'Cause Harry told me the same thing," I replied, smiling.

Hermione seemed stunned, but then recovered herself.

"Well, that's good! Ron's a good person. He's very caring and understanding," Hermione said, softly.

"I can tell," I said, softly. "Let's go to bed. I'm beat!"

Hermione nodded, and she led me to the girl's dorm, even though I remembered where it was.

My luggage arrived the next day…thankfully.

I had changed into a navy skirt and a white V necked style shirt. My hair was fluffed around my shoulders.

"You look really nice, Katie," Ron said, nervously clearing his throat.

"Thanks," I said, softly.

We headed to Transfiguration.

"Today we're going to transform a pen into a needle," Professor McGonagall said. "Point your wands at the pens and say, "Hysaret!"

The class pointed their wands at the pens and a low murmur of the spell "Hysaret" went around. My pen remained the same.

"Oh crud," I said, frowning.

"Don't worry. Try flick and swish," I offered.

I did that. Still nothing. I was starting to get exasperated and frustrated.

"I suck at everything," I wailed, as I put down my wand.

"No. You just need help and practice," I said, brightly.

I managed a small smile.

I'm going to help you practice during lunch," Hermione said, firmly.

Again, I smiled.

After Transfiguration, we headed to Charms. I wasn't so great in there either, but didn't give up and asked Hermione if she could help me with that as well.

During lunch, we found an empty classroom and she began helping me with the Transfiguration Charm.

As the afternoon wore on, I managed to get the knack of the charm and was soon successfully changing pens into needles.

I brightened up a great deal.

Just before dinner, Professor Dumbledore made another announcement.

"As February approaches, you all know what goes on during that month, so, we've decided to host a Valentines Day Dance on February 14th,"

Moans, murmurs and giggles from girls floated across the Hall.

Harry grinned at Hermione. She grinned back.

Ron was nervously looking at me.

"I totally can't wait for the dance! I bet you and Harry are going together," I said to Hermione.

Hermione nodded and blushed.

"Ron? You and I can go together…is that alright?" I asked him.

Ron's face lit up again.

"Sure! That's perfect!"

I grinned. "Great,"

Ron grinned back too.

As February 14th began coming closer, I began getting more nervous and worried about the fire. It was only not even a few hours away if I recalled correctly.

Hermione thought I was going to snap.

"Are you alright, Katie? Ron doesn't dance, so don't worry if you can't dance…he'll more than likely chew your ear off," Hermione said, her lip twitching.

I decided to tell her about the visions I had, plus what had happened.

When I was done, she seemed shocked and I had hope she had believed me like Harry had.

"Wow. Are you sure there' s going to be a fire in the Gryffindor common room?" she asked. "And what do you think those visions you had meant?"

I sighed.

"Yes. I'm very sure," I said. "I think it was you, Ron and Harry calling for help."

Hermione looked pale.

"Do you know who started the fire?"

"No. The Gryffindor tower collapsed,"

Hermione looked even paler.

"Then we're going to have to keep all the Gryffindor's out of the tower," she replied firmly.

"You believe me?" I asked, stunned and relieved.

"Of course! Did you tell Ron or Harry?" Hermione asked.

"I told Harry and now you…Ron doesn't know," I replied.

"Then we're going to have to tell him tonight too. Come on. The boys are waiting downstairs. You look lovely," Hermione replied, grinning.

I was dressed in a light pink dress robe. My hair was in curlers that were lent to Hermione by Lavender Brown.

Hermione was dressed in a light purple dress robe and her hair was straight and pulled into a French twist.

She had applied light purple eye shadow on and clear lipgloss. I too had light pink eye shadow and clear lipgloss on.

Hermione and I left the girl's dorm and met up with the boys in the common room.

Immediately, when Ron spied me, he began blushing and he became speechless.

Harry looked Hermione up and down.

"Say, where did you come from?" he asked, jokingly. "You're not Hermione."

She playfully smacked him upside the back of the head.

"You're funny," she said, linking arms with him.

"Ain't I?" he asked grinning.

They winked at each other and then looked at Ron and I. We linked arms. Ron met Hermione's gaze and waved energetically like a kid going off to camp for the first time.

Laughing softly, we left the Gryffindor common room and headed down to the Great Hall.

The Great Hall was decorated in red and white balloons, streamers, and heart shaped cardboard cutouts. The enchanted ceiling had a midnight sky with sparkling stars.

The house tables were stacked against one wall and mini private tables were set up instead. There were at least 50 tables, each holding six people, three couples per table.

We found a table and sat down.

Harry and Hermione were sitting next to each other, then Ron and I. Lavender and another boy from Hufflepuff were the last couple at our table.

"We will have dinner first, then dancing till midnight!" Professor Dumbledore said.

Everyone clapped.

He looked down at his plate.

"Chicken Cutlets,"

They appeared. He was using the same ordering way as we did in our fourth year during the Yule Ball.

Murmurs of different types of food went around the Great Hall. Hermione ordered lamb chops and mashed potatoes. Harry ordered pork chops

I ordered chicken with broccoli. Ron ordered roast beef.

"So, Katie, tell me more about yourself…what's your family like?" Ron asked, clearing his throat.

"My mum died when I was four. She was found a few miles from our house. Someone stabbed her while she was out grocery shopping," I replied, taking a bite of the chicken. "I live with my father now."

Ron looked stricken. "I'm so sorry,"

I smiled. "Thanks,"

But then my smile faded. "After me mum died, I developed this weird gift,"

"What kind of gift?" Harry asked.

I hesitated.

"It's partly why people tormented me too…besides the name calling," I said, quietly.

"You can trust us. We won't tell anyone," Hermione said, gently. "We're not like the other people."

I smiled. "I know,"

She took a deep breath. "I hear messages from…the other side if you will,"

Ron frowned; Harry tilted his head and I understood what she meant.

"You mean those that passed away talk to you?" Hermione asked, slowly.

I nodded.

"Wow," Ron said.

"It became more pronounced when hit 16. My grandmother passed away and when I was at her funeral, she opened her eyes and said, "Please help me". The doctors couldn't find out what caused her to pass away. She told me it was a gallbladder stone the size of a silver dollar. My father thought I was crazy, but after I found out what caused his partner's brother's death, and it turned out to be true, he believed me," I replied.

(AN: the line: "Please help me" was taken from the FOX TV show Tru Calling.)

"Blimey," Ron breathed.

"Well, you don't have to worry. Your secret is safe with us," Harry said

"I know. You guys are great," I said.

Hermione put a hand on my shoulder and then began talking to Harry.

Ron and I began talking too.

Then, Harry looked up.

"Yeah. Ooh, look…Malfoy's actually here with a girl. I would think he'd be happier coming with Crabbe or Goyle," Harry muttered.

I followed his gaze.

Malfoy was sitting with Pansy Parkinson.

Crabbe and Goyle were not there.

I snorted. "Maybe Crabbe and Goyle are off having their own Valentines Day Dance,"

Harry burst out laughing. Ron was watching us curiously. Hermione leaned over me and told him what I said. He too, burst out laughing and Katie joined in too.

"Yeah…there's magical nights ahead for them," Ron snorted.

We giggled more.

About an hour later, the plates were cleared and the music began. Professor Dumbledore got a local musical band called "The Mystical". They were actually better than the Weird Sisters back in our fourth year.

Ron and I were still sitting at the table talking. Harry and Hermione were dancing. They rotated in the spot.

I saw Ron and I had decided to get up from the table and we began walking out of the Hall.

I couldn't be happier, but that image kept nagging me.