Disclaimer- JK Rowling has all rights to Harry Potter. I only own the character of Kate, and the plot of this story.
"Miss needs to go to her classes," said a small house elf that was standing in the doorway of the nearly empty room. Kate sat in an overstuffed chair, looking out at Hogwarts extensive grounds.
The house elf walked over to Kate and began to pull on her 'The Clash' band shirt. Kate ignored it until the house elf repeated, "You need to go to class, Miss. Everybody is waiting for you. They all want to see you, but they won't be nice."
Kate was getting annoyed with the house elf's chatter, and said, "Leave me alone! I don't want to go to class!"
Suddenly, the house elf turned into Hermione. Hermione was scowling deeply as she said, "How dare you talk to a house elf like that? You are such a pureblood snob! Nobody likes you; they all think that you are a spoiled, rich snob!"
Hermione then disappeared as quickly as she arrived. Kate closed her eyes and sighed. When she opened her eyes, she was at the front of a classroom. Everybody was gaping at her.
Kate looked down and saw that she was wearing the costume of a jester. This alone was a scary thought, since Kate was deeply afraid of clowns. Kate screamed as everyone in front of her started pointing at her and laughing.
"Kate, Kate!" said someone in a faraway sounding voice. Kate opened her eyes to find Parvati and Lavender staring at her. The clock next to her bed declared that it was 8 am. Kate rubbed her eyes and forced herself to sit up.
She had not gone to classes yet at all. It was all a bad dream; a result of her nervousness about her first day of classes at a new school. Kate was relieved that none of her dream was true, for that would have been terrible.
Kate got herself out of bed and walked into her bathroom. She took a shower using her jasmine scented shampoo and conditioner. When she stepped out of the shower, she wrapped a fluffy crimson towel around her, and walked over to her dresser.
After closely examining all possible clothing choices, Kate selected a pair of black dress pants. Over a plain black v-neck shirt, she wore a black and white tweed blazer. Kate thought that she looked grown up and sophisticated.
By the time that she was done getting dressed and putting on he make up, Hermione was the only person left in their dormitory. Kate, being nervous that Hermione would start lecturing her again, started to quicken her pace at getting her new Vans skater sneakers on. Hermione, however, had different plans.
"Kate," Hermione said. Kate looked up at her, wondering what she would say.
"Listen, I'm sorry about yesterday. You were not really bossing the house elf around. In fact, you were being quite polite. It is just that ever since my fourth year, when I was at the Quidditch World Cup, and I saw a house elf being horribly mistreated, I get a bit defensive over them. They never stand up for themselves, so I feel that I have to do it for them," Hermione apologized.
Kate was just staring at Hermione in awe. As soon as she met Hermione, she knew that she wasn't the type of person who would easily admit when she was wrong, yet here she was, apologizing to Kate. Remembering her manners, Kate replied, "That is alright, Hermione. Thank you very much for apologizing. I must admit, it was quite unexpected."
Hermione gave a nervous laugh and said, "Your welcome, just don't expect it all the time. Well, do you want to head down to our classes?"
The two girls headed down to the Great Hall for breakfast. When they had reached their destination, they saw that the hall was filled with noisy students. Kate quickly sat down with Harry, Hermione, and Ron.
Suddenly, much to Kate's surprise, a large group of owls flew into the dining hall. Kate quickly spotted her own pure black owl, Midnight, coming towards her with a large parcel clutched in his talons. Midnight dropped the parcel so that it did not land in her i pain au chocolat. /i
The parcel was wrapped in a lovely gold wrapping paper, and tied with a burgundy ribbon. Kate carefully opened it, unlike Harry and Ron, who were shredding their parcels. On top was a note from Kate's parents.
i Dearest Kate,
How is your new school? We were, of course, appalled to find out that you were placed in that horrid Gryffindor house. We talked to your headmaster, asking him to switch you into Slytherin, but he refused. He claimed that your house was permanent, except for the case of married couples. If two students are ever married, then one must switch into the others house. However that is not the case for you yet. Perhaps in the future, though. There are a number of excellent gentlemen who we are already looking into. Don't worry, dear. We shall make sure that whoever you marry is fabulously wealthy as well as wonderfully connected. There is already one particular person whom we have in mind. Don't waste your time asking who it is though, for it will be a smashing surprise. Well, now we must say farewell. And please remember to bring honor to the Aberdeen name. Any nonsense will not be tolerated.
Your Parents,
Mother and Father /i
This letter angered Kate. How dare they try to set her up with an arranged marriage? Most pure blood families always have arranged marriages, which was a fact of life for the elite and wealthy. Kate, however, had always thought that some how she could escape this fate.
What scared Kate even more than the idea that it was an arranged marriage and that she wasn't marrying her true love, was that most pure bloods were snobs. She would be forced to live the life of a house wife in a cold manor, where she could never have a job. A rule that all pure blood families went by was that an heir was needed by the time that the wife turned twenty one. Kate didn't want that life, but had no choice but to take it.
Harry, noticing Kate's angry expression when she read her letter, asked her about it. In response, Kate shoved the letter to him and directed her attention to the nearly forgotten parcel in front of her.
What she pulled out of the carefully unwrapped box was extraordinary. In fact, Kate took one look at it and quickly shoved it back into its box before anyone could have a chance to see what it was.
Meanwhile, Harry, who had not noticed her gift, was shocked about the letter. Ron and Hermione were wearing identical looks of surprise, revealing that they too had read the letter.
"You are going to have an arranged marriage?" Harry asked incredulously.
"Yes," replied Kate. "It is the fate of all wealthy pure blood wizards. I, personally, disagree with it very much. Believe me, if I could, I would refuse to do it though."
"Why don't you just run away after you leave Hogwarts or something?" Ron suggested.
"I can't run away and I can't refuse. There is an old and ancient curse placed on these traditional arranged marriages. If you run away, or refuse, the rest of your life will be cursed. You will soon fall into debt, and start to have mysterious 'accidents'. My cousin tried to escape an arranged marriage, and quickly fell into debt. The loan sharks got her, and her body was found in the ocean," Kate said darkly.
"Well perhaps it won't be that bad. Look at the book Vanity Fair," Hermione said, referencing the book that she had seen on Kate's nightstand. "George Osbourne and Amelia Sedley had an arranged marriage."
"Oh, great comparison, Hermione!" Kate said, her voice laced with sarcasm. "George died in the battle of Waterloo, leaving Amelia all alone in the world. Anyway, even if he had lived, he would have left her. Remember the note that he gave to Rebecca? 'Save me from a dreary fate and come with me so we can dance across Europe'? I don't really fancy having my life like that."
"Oh yeah, I forgot about that," Hermione mumbled under her breath as she blushed at her mistake.
Before they could talk any longer about Kate's problems, the large grandfather clock started ringing, indicating that it was time to go. The four friends got out of their chairs and left for Transfiguration, their first class of the day.
Authors note: I really like this chapter. Are you wondering what was in the parcel? I guess that you'll just have to read onto find out!
b Please review
Please review
Please review
Please review
Please review
Please review
Please review
Please review
Please review /b
Ashmee- I know what you mean. It kept getting stuck in my head and I almost started singing it in math class!
MerndaSaysDownWithWormtail- thanks! I'm doing a Draco/ other character fanfic because Kate is kind of modeled after me. I love Draco so much though!
OverRatedRocker- Actually, for a girl 5'9" is sort of tall. I know that because I am that height and I am the tallest girl in my whole school. I don't know though, maybe I go to school with a bunch of short people!
