LIFE OF SHADOWS

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Chapter 4-

The three musketeers

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"I lived a life of shadows, never felt the sun on my face."

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Katrina sighed, glaring at her bowl of porridge. Blinking, she glanced at the staff table then at her watch, a hesitant expression on her face. Should she go yet? Maybe it was too early… sighing again, the youth looked back at her food, pushing aside her porridge and grabbing a slice of toast instead. She frowned, looking around for some other flavour of jam apart from Pumpkin. Locating a blackcurrant jar she pulled it towards herself but found that she was unable to open it. After wrestling with it for what seemed like over an hour she gave up with a humph defeat, leaning back in her chair, just in time to trip up the same prefect who had talked to her that morning.

Eyes widening, Katrina hopped off her chair and leant down next to Hermione, her sepia locks obscuring her face and preventing Hermione from seeing the guilty expression painted upon Katrinas face.

"I'm so sorry… I-"

"Never mind," Hermione said, cutting her off and getting unsteadily to her feet. Looking up Katrina noticed that Harry Potter and Ron whats-his-face were standing behind the two girls, watching with matching amused expressions on their faces. Casting her mind around for something safe to talk about she smiled, thinking up a foolproof plan.

 "So, any of you play Quidditch?" She asked, raising her eyebrows at the three. Ron and Hermione grinned and pointed to Harry silently, who looked highly embarrassed.

"Both Harry and me are on the Gryffindor Quidditch team and Harry here is the youngest seeker in a century."

"Really?" Katrina asked, looking interested, inwardly cheering that her plan was working.

"I play chaser… dunno if I'm good enough to be on a team though" She said out loud, twirling a lock of hair absent mindedly.

"Angelina Johnson is leaving this year I think… you could try out for chaser spot." Ron said out loud, a thoughtful look on his face.

"Yeah, I could give it a try." Katrina replied smiling.

"Ron here likes the Chudley Cannons." Harry couldn't help saying, watching with a grin as Ron kicked into defensive mode.

"Chudley Cannons, eh?" Katrina said, holding back a laugh. Seeing the look on Rons face she managed to keep it in.

"They're okay, I'm sure they'll win…one day…" She couldn't help saying, almost falling over in a fit of laughter. Once she stopped Katrina couldn't help noticing the slightly hurt look on Hermiones face. Maybe it was just her imagination but maybe they were leaving Hermione out a bit…

"So, what do you do in your spare time?" Katrina asked, turning to Hermione with a questioning look on her face.

"She studies." Harry supplied, not noticing how quiet Hermione had gone.

"And dates famous Quidditch players." Ron couldn't help adding, his face darkening considerably.

"Famous Quidditch players, eh? Who would that be now?" Katrina asked, grinning at Hermione who had gone rather red.

"I… um… erm…" She stuttered, looking around desperately for a distraction.

"I wonder how Hagrid is." She said finally and looking rather pleased with herself for coming up with a diversion.

"Yeah…" Harry said thoughtfully, scratching his chin.

"Hagrid?" Katrina asked, a confused look on her face.

"Oh yeah, sorry I forgot you're new…" Harry said indifferently.

"He's our half giant friend." Ron answered grinning.

"With a disturbing habit of breeding dragons and liking deadly creatures."

After hearing this Katrina looked more than a little worried.

"But don't worry, Hagrid's a sport." Ron said winking at her.

"I'll take your word for it." Katrina said, still a little suspicious.

"Oh, about how much homework do we get in one day?" She asked, a question she had been wondering about.

"More then you can cope." Ron said grimly, a serious look on his face.

"Don't scare her Ron." Hermione scolded lightly, wagging a finger at him.

"If you do it on time it's fine… hey that rhymed!" Hermione exclaimed, mentally making a note to charm Harry and Rons homework timetables to yell that during exam weeks.

"Oh, catch up with you later, I have to go talk to Professor Dumbledore about my timetable." Katrina said, waving at them and walking towards the table where all the Staff were assembled.

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Katrina made her way back to Gryffindor Table, going over her conversation with the Headmaster in her head. He had said that he had given her the same classes as Harry Potter and Ron Weasley and a few with Hermione Granger, although Harry and Ron would probably be in them too. A thoughtful expression appeared on her face as she remembered her Godfathers unusual smirk, as if he knew something she didn't. Which was probably true. She guess she didn't really mind having someone choose her classes for her… she just prayed that Harry, Ron and Hermione had chosen good classes… with nice teachers. Hearing someone call her name Katrina spun around but instead bumped into someone behind her, scattering the persons belongings all over the floor in the process. It was a girl. A girl with slightly slanted eyes and long, thick silky hair which was worn loose around her shoulders.

"Oh, whoops, wasn't looking where I was going." Katrina said hastily, attempting to pick up some of the girls things. What had gotten into her that morning? She was turning into a klutz 101.

"Terribly sorry." She said apologetically, offering her hand to the girl.

"I'm Katrina Milano by the way." She added, feeling like a clumsy oaf and wondering whether anyone had been watching her. The girl simply sneered at her, picking up the rest of her possessions and putting them safely away in her bag.

"Right."

She said, flicking her hair haughtily

"I."

She lingered, her eyes glancing at Katrina from head to toe

"Am Cho Chang."