Chapter 8 – The New Year
'I can't believe there not up yet we are going to be late.' Arabella continued to banging on the doors of all three sleeping males. However when it came to Harry's she was always a little softer. "You all the have the count of three till I come in there and make you all sorry you were born male!!"
Once she had completed the sentence all three former sleeping occupants rushed out of their respective rooms. "Now Bella, there is no need to resort to threats we are coming." Remus said.
Arabella began to mutter something under her breath that was in auditable to the rest of the group. "Ok I want you three, dressed in 10 minutes with your trunks by the door when you come down, on the way to breakfast."
"Yes Bella." They all answered in unison while smirking.
Breakfast was a quick event and due to the late sleepers of the house they were running late and if they didn't leave soon they would end up missing the train.
"Ok Katherine do you have everything?"
"Yes Mum I have everything; remember you repacked my trunk last night to make sure."
"Well I was just making sure."
"Are you sure you don't want us to come with you." asked her father.
"Well that would be a bit hard as neither of you can do magic, it all cool Hagrid told me exactly what I have to do, don't worry I will see you at Christmas now I better go before I am late." Katherine departed from her parents at the entrance of the train station. She reached the platform in no time. Hagrid had told her what she needed to do 'now all you gotta do is walk straight through the wall between platforms nine and ten, and if ya is feelin a bit nervous I would take a bit of a run to starts with.' She looked at the wall, was she crazy to even consider doing this it was a solid brick wall for Christ's sake.
It would seem as she was not the only person running late, as a group of people came pushing large trolleys with similar items to hers down the platform. As they came closer she recognized two of the company as Harry and Remus, another was a very beautiful young woman and the other was a very large black dog, which seemed to draw her attention. They quickly glanced around and not noticing anyone was watching they disappeared from the platform through the very solid looking black stone wall.
After they had gone, she gathered the courage and ran through the wall to her surprise instead of coming to a sudden halt she appeared on the other side surrounded by lots of other people. She saw that the only people she knew were talking with a large family of red heads. She made her way down the platform
After loading her trunk she made her way down the carriages looking for a place to sit. She reached the second last compartment to be met by a boy about her age trying to capture a green toad that was doing its best job to be totally evasive.
She stepped in and caught the toad with one hand, handing it back to the boy. "Hi do you mind if I sit in here every where else is full."
"Of course not and thankyou for the help with Trevor, he always seems to be getting away from me."
"No problem, Katherine Summers nice to meet you."
"Neville Longbottom; Gryffindor house, what's your house?"
"No clue I am new this year."
Once saying farewell to the Weasleys, the Hogwarts students and teachers got onto the train; Remus Arabella and Sirius made there way down the train to the last compartment, which was reserved for teachers, leaving the students to find there own seats as none of them really wanted to be seated with teachers for the entire trip, despite the friendship the shared.
Harry Ron and Hermione moved down the train all the compartments seemed to be already full, they came to the second last to find it only had two occupants Harry recognized them both; one was Neville Longbottom and the other was Katherine Summers who he had met in Diagon Alley with Remus.
"Hey do you guys mind if we share with you?" Harry asked.
"Nah Harry, come on in. This is Katherine Summers."
"Yeah we have already met" interrupted Katherine.
"Well we haven't been probably introduced I'm Hermione Granger and this is Ron Weasley."
"Nice to meet you, as Neville said I'm Katherine; so are you guys all in the same house?"
"Yep Gryffindor the best house ever" interjected Ron.
"Biased aren't we, but you do have a point they are all extremely nice, well the ones I have met." She smiled.
"So what school are you coming here from?"
"Well, St Margot's in London."
"But that's a Muggle school isn't it?" asked Hermione.
"Well yes...."
"Then how can you be comin to Hogwarts?" butted in Ron.
"It's a very interesting story actually...." So she told them all about how Dumbledore and McGonagall arrived on her door step one day after school and her meetings with them. How they had tested her abilities in a wide range of subjects and told her what classes she would be taking.
"This is amazing I have never heard of anything like it, Hogwarts A History doesn't mention any precedent for this." Hermione was shocked.
"Well I hope you're in Gryffindor then" added Neville.
The doors to the compartment swag open to reveal a boy with bleach blonde hair and to others, which appeared to be more gorillas then human.
"Well look what we have here the Gryffindor misfits, a Mudblood, a Weasel, a Squib and the bloody pathetic Potter, oh and look you found someone else to join your band of social outcasts. So Potter who is this?"
"Malfoy get out of here."
"What are you going to do Weasley? You would be wise to heed my warning and socialise with a more respectable party." He said to Katherine.
"If you are referring to yourself then I think you have the chain wrong; I would be going down rather then up in your case."
"You would be wise to watch your tongue, especially when you don't know who you are dealing with."
"And I would advise the same of you, your confidence is not an accent."
Malfoy Crabbe and Golye withdrew their wands and trained them on the four occupants of the carriage, who followed with the same action.
"I would advise Malfoy that you consider your odds very carefully, there are four of us here while you are only have two of the stupidest people in our year to back you up."
"Potter, are you forgetting that Longbottom is one of the people who is covering you back."
Remus, Arabella and Sirius heard the raised voices in the other compartment. Since Remus was the most likely choice of the three, he was left to see to the about situation that was occurring in the other room.
"What appears to be going on here Harry, Mr Malfoy?"
"Nothing Professor." Spat Draco, "We were merely catching up on the event of each others lives occurring over the summer. See ya Potter." The three Slytherin left heading towards the front of the train, no doubtingly to torment other students.
"Harry what happened in here?"
"Nothing Remus, just Malfoy and his usual end of summer greeting."
"Alright Harry, hello again Neville, Hermione, Ron and Katherine."
"Hello Professor Lupin." Said Katherine
"Well I best get back to my cart, behave your selves and have fun."
The rest of the time pasted quickly, some time after the lady who brought the food cart around left, Neville, Ron and Harry decided that they should say hello to the other 6th year students; leaving Hermione and Katherine alone in the carriage.
"So Hermione tell me about Hogwarts, I only really know what Hagrid told me?"
"Well if you want to know about Hogwarts you would do best to read Hogwarts A History, it really is a fascinating book."
"I'll do that, so what are the people at Hogwarts like? I mean I haven't met many of them is there anything I should know?"
Hermione began to tell Katherine all about the students at Hogwarts, which she was acquainted with.
"Thanks I really appreciate everything, now I don't feel so nervous."
"My pleasure Katherine."
"Call me Kat saying Katherine all the time is just tiering, I do hope that despite what house I get into we can still be friends?"
"Of course."
"Well you girls better get changed, we'll be there soon."
"Thanks Ron."
The girls quickly changed in their school robes, and the boys came back into the cart for the last 10 minutes of the ride.
"First years this way first years this way."
"Hello Hagrid."
"Well hello Katherine, Professor Dumbledore told me that you are to come with the first years. Harry Ron Hermione Neville I will see you guys soon I hope." He winked at them.
"Ok well I guess I will see you guys later."
"Bye Katherine, and see you soon Hagrid." Hermione, Ron, Harry and Neville quickly said good bye to Katherine and left for the carriages waiting just outside the station.
The first years and Katherine followed Hagrid, down the path to the boats waiting to take them to Hogwarts. The students didn't need to worry about rowing the boats as they were charmed to take them across the lake. All the first years doubled up and took a boat until Katherine and Hagrid were left, "how about the two of us share a boat? Wouldn't want you to be all on yeh own now would we."
"Thanks Hagrid." She smiled.
The trip took no time at all and soon they were being lead by Professor McGonagall into a room just outside the doors to the Great Hall.
"Now soon you will pass through these doors and join your house mates, but first you must be shorted into your houses; they are Hufflepuff, Gryffindor, Ravenclaw and Slytherin."
The student body was seated at the four house tables and everyone was talking among themselves, about not only their holidays, but also the new teachers that were seated at the staff table.
"I'm glad Professor Lupin is back to teach."
"You and me both Hermione, plus it also means we get to see more of Snuffles." Said Harry.
"I still cant believe we did so well in defence the amount of extra studying we had to do was incredible, not that I am saying that was bad, but that women didn't teach us anything last year at all."
"You will have no argument from me 'mione" said Ron. He couldn't wait for the sorting to be over that way they could eat.
The door opened and the Deputy Headmistress lead in to the hall a bunch of nervous first years and a girl how appeared to be in her 6th year. The murmurs started about the mystery girl at once however ceased when Professor McGonagall began.
"You will each step forward when you name is called and the sorting hat will placed on your head and you will be sorted in your houses."
Adams Jessica - Ravenclaw
Bernard Christopher - Slytherin
Barns Michael - Gryffindor
Davidson Laura - Slytherin and the sorting went on until only one girl was left the mysterious girl who had been on everyone's mind since she walked into the room.
"Summers Katherine" called McGonagall.
'Ok so this isn't so hard.' She took her seat on the three legged stool and awaked judgment.
'Well I see we have a special treat this year, the gifted child, I wondered when I would get to see you. You do realise we have all been waiting for you.'
'Huh we... actually I have no idea what you are talking about but that seems to happen to me a lot lately. I don't suppose that you would be so kind as to enlighten me to why you think I am so special.'
'Arh so they haven't told you yet, oh well it's not my place as I can see that you have been told before. Despite that matter I think we should get to the present task at hand, assigning you a house. You would do well in any of the houses that is for sure. You are loyal to a fault a trait prided by any Hufflepuff. Cunning and sneaky especially when it comes to words.' The sound of the old hat laughing filled her head. 'I am able to see everything about you including that incident with one of your teachers a few years back I must commend you on that job.'
'Why thank you I did admire that one myself. However I would not want to be in Slytherin, could you please put me somewhere else.'
'Well now my girl I haven't finished yet but I shall remember that. You are smart and pride yourself on achieving your tasks set in front on you making Rowel Ravenclaw proud to have you in her house. However despite all these things I find about you the qualities of honour and justice seem to stick out. Mmm yes you are a difficult student indeed that last time I had this much trouble was with our young celebrity Mr Potter. Well I shall have to think about this, just give me a minute.'
"What the hell is going on I mean she been up there longer then you were Harry."
"You don't have to tell me Ron I am here to, I have no idea what is happening, and but the looks of things neither do any of the teachers I mean look at Snape's face, I never thought I would see the day when he was shocked and that is nothing compared to McGonagall's."
'Well you are difficult as I said you would do well in any house, but your sense of justice and honour only would fit best in one house indeed.'
'Well as long as it isn't Slytherin I don't really care which house I am in.'
'You have no need to worry I shalt be placing you there but you would do well to remember this that ones that seem to be rotten may surprise you when you peel the outer layers away. Now since you have been up here for so long and the rest of the school seems to be wondering if I can still do my job...' "GRYFFINDOR"
The applause was amazing all the houses were cheering, some because the girl that had been so hard to place was indeed placed, that they were now able to eat, and that the sorting hat was still able to do its job, however there was also the basic reason that Gryffindor had a new member.
"Now that we are all seated, I have a few start of term notices that must be taken care of, Mr Filch has asked me to make special note that if any of the Weasley Wizard Wheezes are found on any student they will be in very serious trouble." Dumbledore couldn't help but smile, by Angus insistence for this to be said he had just ensured the twins legacy to live on and had given them the tools to do so.
"Secondly the forbidden forest is now and had always been strictly forbidden to all students. As you may have noticed we have a new student that is joining our 6th year students Ms Katherine Summers and I hope you will make her extremely welcome. And finally I am happy to announce that Professor Lupin has agreed to rejoin our teaching staff as the defence against dark arts teacher. (The applause was huge, they would finally have a teacher how actually knew something.) Also in addition to Professor Lupin's appointment he has brought along his pet dog Snuffles, who I am told is very friendly with student, however I would advise that you do not try too many pranks on him; his bit is worse then his bark as I have been told. Now sadly Professor Trelawney was killed these holidays and will be greatly missed. So Professor Figg has agreed to fill the position of Divination teacher. With all that said marbles taste nothing like chocolate."
And within seconds the great hall was filled with food.
"Hermione I have a question at the sorting today, the sorting hat said that Harry was a celebrity, what did it mean?" Kat asked.
"Umm, well it really is a long story, maybe you should ask him."
"Some how I don't think he would tell me, would you please I'd really don't want to say the wrong thing."
"Ok." Hermione got out of her four post bed and crawled onto Katherine's, she pulled the curtains closed to ensure that they wouldn't wake the other girls in there dormitory and she told her about the story behind the boy who lived.
In the morning the Gryffindors where all seated at the tables, awaiting there timetables to be handed out by Hermione and Ron the 6th year prefects.
Hermione had received owls in all her subjects therefore she had been accepted into all the classes she had been previously been taking.
Arithmancy Charms Transfiguration Potions Defence against the dark arts Astrology Care of Magic History of Magic Herbology
Harry had also pulled through with all the classes he had needed for becoming an Auror so had Ron, which surprised not only them but also Professor Snape because the trio had all been accepted into Owl Potions. The boys would be taking all the same subjects as in there fifth year except for History of Magic and Astrology, which pleased them both greatly however it seems that despite everything they were destined to take another year of Divination. Maybe it would not be too bad because Arabella was taking it.
Katherine's timetable was similar to the boys she would be taking the same subjects as they were. 'Well at least I won't have to find my way along the corridors on my own.'
"Kat I can't believe you choose Divination it is a really horrible subject, sorry Harry I know Bella is taking it but still I don't think much of it."
"Don't worry 'mione I think she would agree with you most of the time."
"Hey, none of this was my choice, since I didn't take the OWLS test; so therefore Professor Dumbledore and McGonagall choose my subjects on the results of the tests they did over the summer on me."
TBC
An: I just wanted to thank all the guys that reviewed i love hearing anything you have to say. Next chapter entitled encounter with Snape (one of my favourite chapters) if u would like to read it u know what u have to do :D review....