"Watch where you're going!"

Harry Potter snapped out of his thoughts. "I'm sorry," he apologized, scratching his head of hedgy black hair. He helped the girl pick up her books and introduced himself. "I'm Harry Potter." He stared at her questioningly with stunning emerald green eyes.

"I don't need your help," the girl snapped. "And I don't need to be told who you are, either. It's obvious." Her eyes trailed upto the lightning-bolt shaped scar on Harry's forehead. She was what Ron would have called 'drop-dead gorgeous', with shoulder-length midnight black hair and purple highlights, and dark blue, almost black eyes. She was slender and strong, and not too tall and not too short. But the strange thing about her was that she had a real ink-black lily clip in her purple-streaked hair. It was probably charmed to stay fresh.

Harry ignored her comment. "So, you know who I am. Who're you? I've never seen you around before," he said, staring boldly into her mysterious eyes.

"Of course you've never seen me before," the girl replied, quite irritated. "I'm a transfer student from Salem University. Catherine Morgan Artemis Saber, that's Miss Saber to you." The train whistled loudly. "Great. Now I'm late. Hopefully I'll never see you again, Potter. Have a nice day. Don't look out for me!" With those words, she left with her streaked hair and dark eyes.

"That girl's a definite Slytherin," Harry muttered as he got on the train with his stuff. He looked for Ronald Weasley and Hermione Granger, his two best friends, and finally found them in a compartment with Neville Longbottom, Ginevra Weasley (Ron's little sister), and Luna Lovegood.

"Hiya, Harry!" Ron greeted his mate, throwing him a chocolate frog. "What took you?"

"Well," Harry answered, taking a seat next to Neville. He told them all about the girl called Catherine Saber.

"She sounds really scary," Neville said with a shiver. "I don't want to run into her when she's in a bad mood."

"I don't ever want to run into her," Ginny agreed thoughtfully. "A total Slytherin, if you'd ask me." Luna nodded dreamily. Hermione was too busy looking at papers to reply.

"Hermione, what're you doing?" Harry asked, glancing at the bushy-haired female.

"Well, Harry," Hermione replied, her eyes sparkling. "I'm just checking my results from the O. W. L. 's. I can't believe I actually got 14 O. W. L. 's!"

"Well, we can," Ron said, grinning. "As you always say, Herm, 'There's no such thing as too much studying.'" Harry, Ginny, and Neville laughed. Hermione couldn't help but smile.

Unfortunately for the happy Gryffindors and Ravenclaw, Malfoy and his new gang chose that time to strike. Vincent Crabbe and Gregory Goyle had transferred to Durmstrang, leaving Malfoy to team up with Blaise Zabini, the only Slytherin sixth year that would willingly take the two baboons' place.

"Hello, Scarhead. Nice to see you haven't improved, Weasel and Weaslette. My, you have grown, Imperius Boy! Good afternoon, Mudblood. I didn't notice you here, Loony Lovegood. Well, it's not that hard not to," Malfoy said, smirking. Zabini snickered.

"Sod off, Malfoy," Neville stood upto the Slytherin Prince boldly. The insult about his parents had made him be the true Gryffindor at heart.

"What're you going to do, Longbottom? Run off to your dear, forgotten mummy?" Malfoy sneered. Neville had to be restrained by Harry and Ron from strangling Malfoy. Not that they would have minded, but Neville would probably get expelled for his actions.

"Come on, Draco. We're wasting time with these loons," a cool, silky voice called behind the two Slytherins. Blaise gave a blinding smile as a figure approached.

"You again," Harry said, gritting his teeth.

"Aren't you going to introduce me to your little friends, Potter?" Catherine Saber asked sweetly, her navy blue eyes flashing. Ron drooled. Hermione looked really mad. Blaise was looking at the transfer student with a look of adornment.

"I'm Hermione Granger, and I suggest you get out of this compartment in fear that Ron might lose his eyeballs," Hermione ordered coldly. Ron snapped out of his thoughts.

"It's nice to meet you too, Mudblood," Catherine smirked. "Catherine Saber."

"Get out!" Harry shouted, losing his temper.

"Your wish is our command, Potty," Blaise mocked. The three walked away, leaving them in peace. Catherine waved graciously as Malfoy offered her his arm.

Hermione threw a death glare at her. Ron looked shocked. "Mione, what's gotten into you?" he asked. Hermione just gave him a heartwarming smile.

"Nothing," she answered. Ginny giggled. Neville and Harry rolled their eyes.

"Seriously, when are you two going to get together?" the redheaded girl asked, grinning from ear to ear.

"Get together?!" Ron and Hermione exclaimed.

"Yes! Don't keep us waiting forever! You guys have crushed on each other since first year, and you still can't tell each other your feelings!" Luna said, surprising the others. Ron's ears went red.

"I don't like her!" he said, but staring at Hermione with adoring blue eyes.

"Excuse me?" the brown-eyed girl asked, hands on her hips. "Hmph. I have never been more mortally miffed in my whole entire life, Ronald Arthur Weasley." She marched out of the compartment. Ron was horrified.

"What'd I say?" he asked fearfully. Ginny sighed in defeat, and leaned on Neville's shoulder.

"Nothing," Harry said, shaking his head. "Absolutely nothing."

It was a long train ride without Hermione. Ginny, Luna, and Neville were always fun, but they didn't replace the bold bookworm. It seemed like days before the Hogwarts Express stopped at Hogsmeade Station.

"C'mon, mate. I'm hungry here," Ron said to Harry as his stomach growled in agreement.

"Aw, Ickle Ronnikins feeling hungry? How cute!" Catherine teased as she passed by. Ron knew he had been insulted, but couldn't help but stare after her lovingly.

Hermione passed by, and seeing Ron's glazed look, she tossed her head of bushy brown hair and walked away with Parvati and Lavender to find a carriage. Harry sighed.

"C'mon, Ron. You said you were hungry," he said, leading his best friend into a thestral-drawn carriage.

It was a quiet ride, even worse than the train. Harry and Ron were both glad when the thestrals skidded to a stop at Hogwarts.

"Finally, back home," Harry breathed. The two Gryffindors climbed out of the carriage and headed for the Great Hall.

They went to the Gryffindor Table, near where Hermione was sitting. However, when the two reached their female friend, she left to sit to the right of Lavender.

"How rude was that?" Ron demanded as he sat down. Harry shrugged, watching the Sorting. He spotted a very familiar face in the crowd of first years.

"Please welcome our transfer student from Salem University, Miss Catherine Saber. She will be in sixth year. I do not think you need any reminding to make sure she feels right at home," Professor Dumbledore announced, his blue eyes twinkling merrily.

Catherine smirked and gracefully sat on the stool. Professor McGonagall put the Sorting Hat on her delicate head. Harry had predicted that it'd be only a matter of seconds before it would shout, "SLYTHERIN!", but he was wrong.

'Ah. A transfer student. Catherine Saber, is it?'

"What's it to you?" Catherine snapped.

'Nasty temper. Not loyal at all, are you? But very clever, indeed. You have the strength and courage of a lion, I see. And the cunning and wickedness of a Slytherin.'

"Check, check, check, check, and check," the girl said. "Now hurry up and sort me!"

'Hold your horses! Fine, fine! I'll think fast. Hufflepuff is out of the question. Too unique for Ravenclaw. Too outstanding for Gryffindor. That leaves...'

"SLYTHERIN!"

"Finally!" Catherine said, rolling her dark eyes.

"Anyone could see that coming," Hermione said loudly. "With that horrible prejudice she shows for everyone."

"I suggest you keep your big mouth shut, Granger, if you know what's good for you," Catherine said with an air of someone who was talking about the weather. "You never know what will happen. You never know." Hermione glared daggers at her.

"So this is how it goes," Dumbledore muttered softly.