Chapter Two: Kitty Cat vs. Hermione

"Excuse me?" Harry whispered to Lupin.

A sudden uncomfortable silence fell in the room.

"You can call me Cat," announced the girl.

She smiled at him while she twirled a strand of jet-black hair between her fingers.

"Not to sound rude or anything, but, who are you?" Harry asked suspiciously.

The girl blinked.

"It's a long story."

"I'm in no hurry. I have all day," he insisted.

Harry wasn't too sure about this girl and now she was avoiding his questions. He had a right to know, after all, this house was his now. Wasn't it?

"Unfortunately for you, I don't. I have a meeting with The Order which is about to start any minute now," said Cat coolly. "However I'm sure your friends will be more than glad to fill you in. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have a meeting to attend to," and with this she turned on her heels and walked out of the room closing the door behind her.

Harry's mouth hanged open. He glanced around and saw Lupin, Ron and Hermione all staring sheepishly at him. Harry turned to Lupin.

"She's right you know. There is a meeting, which reminds me, I have to go." Lupin paused for a moment and looked at Hermione and Ron. "Um, why don't you guys tell Harry all about it," and before any of them could get a word in, he was out of there.

Harry was in utter disbelief. He was being left in the dark…again. His anger slowly started to take over. He wasn't going to let that happen. Not again. It was his lack of information that got Sirius dead. But maybe it was my stupidity too, thought Harry. However, that wasn't the case. He wanted answers and he was going to get them.

"Hermione," Harry called.

She flinched. This wasn't the first time Harry had been angry with them.

"I want you to tell me everything."

"Okay," Hermione wheezed.

She started to pace around the room all the while biting her lower lip.

"Wel,l as you already know, her real name is Catherina Black but she used to go by the name of Catherina Bonaccelli." She paused to let the information sink in.

Harry said nothing, so she continued.

"She is 16 years old and for some reason she was accepted into The Order and don't ask why, we already did."

"What did they say?"

"To mind our own business," answered Ron.

"Alright. What else?" Harry inquired.

No one spoke.

"And?" Harry yelled impatiently.

"I don't know how to say this…Ron, you tell him." Hermione pushed Ron forward.

"Um, well…she…she's."

"She's what?" Harry interrupted.

"She's Sirius' daughter," finished Ron quickly.

He braced himself. Ron knew what was coming.

"What?" Harry shouted. "How? That's impossible! He would have mentioned her, wouldn't he?"

"The deal is Harry," whispered Hermione. "He didn't know he had a daughter."

"So how do you know if she really is his daughter?"

"We don't," informed Ron. "But Dumbledore believes her so I guess it's true."

"Fine, that's perfect. So what else do you know?"

"What do you mean?"

"WHAT DO YOU THINK I MEAN? WHAT DO YOU KNOW ABOUT HER? ABOUT VOLDEMORT!"

Ron and Hermione winced.

"I don't…" stammered Ron.

"They won't tell us anything about You-Know-Who," breathed Hermione.

"So, what about her?" Harry asked.

"That's about it."

"So that's all you know?"

"I guess," assumed Hermione.

"Basically what you're telling me is that you're living with a complete stranger?"

"Actually, if truth be told Harry, I'm not sure even Dumbledore knows everything about her." At this, Harry flopped down on the armchair.

Why did everything happen to him? It's not like he goes out looking for it. He wasn't worried about her being dangerous. Harry was sure Dumbledore wouldn't have allowed her to stay if he doubted where her loyalty lay. Dumbledore trusted her and he had to accept her even if he didn't like her, just like Snape.

"How is she like?" Harry asked.

"She's very mean, from what I've seen," declared Hermione. "She's also a little… what's the word?"

"Cold?" Ron answered.

"Yup, that's it," acknowledged Hermione. "She doesn't speak much."

"Well, Hermione, there hasn't been much of an opportunity for conversation," Ron assumed. "By the way, she isn't mean and if you're talking about Kreacher, he deserves what he gets."

"He does not! He is still a living being Ron!" Hermione exclaimed.

"A very disgusting, ugly, stupid, living being," murmured Ron.

"Alright! Enough, I don't want to hear it!" Harry screamed.

Harry closed his eyes. He leaned his head back on the chair. How is he going to face Kreacher? He didn't have the guts or the courage to do it. Harry didn't know if he could control himself. He was afraid, but not for himself. At that moment something came into the room. It was looking for something, all the while murmuring to itself. It hadn't noticed Harry, Hermione or Ron.

"Where is it? I must find it before that horrible girl does. How ugly she is!" It whispered.

"You better not let her hear you say that, Kreacher," warned Ron. "You know she's not very fond of you."

"Shut up! You filthy muggle-lover!" he screeched.

Hermione had to hold Ron back from jumping at Kreacher.

"Ron, no!" pleaded Hermione. "You know he doesn't know what he's talking about."

Kreacher began to cackle. He turned around to run and bumped into someone, falling down to the floor. He looked up and saw a pair of green eyes. Kreacher's mouth opened in a silent "O". He yelped as he crawled away.

"That's right Kreacher, run," advised Harry. "I'll give you a five-second head start," said Harry.

Kreacher just trembled.

"One…"

Kreacher didn't move. He didn't think Harry was serious.

"Two…"

He still wasn't moving.

"Three…"

Kreacher's expression changed.

Fear washed over him. He had finally realized that Harry would kill him, if he got the chance. Kreacher jumped up and ran out of the room like a bullet. He stopped on the corridor just outside the doorway and looked down the hall just in time to see Kreacher turn to the left. Harry ran after him. Rage had taken over and there was no holding back. Harry ran down the dark hallway and past all the paintings on the walls. He caught up with Kreacher right past the stairs. He found him in the hall where Kreacher's ancestors' heads were hanged up on the wall. It was a dead end. A cynical smile crept on Harry's face.

"Nowhere to run now Kreacher!"

"Please, sir. Please, don't kill me!" Kreacher pleaded, getting on his knees.

Harry reached over and grabbed Kreacher by the neck. He started to choke him. Harry had forgotten that house-elves have magic of their own and before Harry realized this, Kreacher, with a loud crack, had blown him to the other side of the hallway. Harry got up and cleaned his bloody nose with the sleeve of his maroon jumper.

"You'll pay for that one!" Harry screamed.

Harry began to run towards Kreacher but something was pulling him back by his jumper. It was Hermione and Ron.

"No, Harry! Don't kill him!" Hermione cried.

Harry kept pulling.

"Ron!" Hermione yelled.

She looked at Ron reproachfully.

"Um, yeah…what she said," said Ron.

Kreacher was cowering on the corner of the hall. Then a thundering of footsteps came from the stairs.

"Lupin! Help!" Hermione pleaded.

Lupin ran towards Harry and grabbed him in a bear hug. Lupin looked weak but the truth was otherwise.

"What's going on here?" Moody demanded. "You have interrupted our meeting!"

"Looks like the parasite is finally getting what he deserves," declared Tonks.

"How dare you!" Hermione growled.

She looked at Tonks with disgust.

"Harry, calm down," Mrs. Weasley said.

She tried to reason with Harry but he kept trying to get away.

"Look George," Fred pointed out.

"Oh, yes, Fred. This is even better than watching Quidditch."

"Let's see some blood!" The twins chanted.

Mrs. Weasley turned around and smacked both of them on the back of their heads.

"You'll think because you're in the order now, you will mature a little, but, oh no!

That would be asking for a miracle, wouldn't it?" Mrs. Weasley reprimanded.

"What is this? We were having a very important meeting," said Catherina.

"Oh, miss! Mistress, help me!" Kreacher begged.

He daringly ran past Harry and dropped to his knees in front of Catherina.

"Now, if memory serves me right, the last time we spoke you referred to me as: "stupid, ugly git" not "mistress"," said Cat.

"Cat, Harry wants to kill Kreacher!" Hermione informed.

"And?"

"And! He's your house-elf. Are you not going to tell him anything?"

"Well, he's not dead. Get up," she ordered.

Cat helped Kreacher up with her foot.

"Go clean the kitchen."

Kreacher gladly obliged and skipped down the stairs.

"All's solved, all's well," Black said with a wave of her hand and everyone went down the stairs, all except Harry, Hermione and Ron.

"I can't believe you," muttered Hermione to Cat.

"He's not hurt, Hermione," defended Ron.

"That's right," said Cat.

As she passed by Harry, she stopped.

"House-elves have a weak chest," she whispered in his ear.

Cat pulled back and started to leave.

"What?" Harry asked.

She looked behind her and smiled.

"Next time, aim at the chest," advised Cat and walked down the hallway and down the steps.

Hermione snorted in disbelief.

"Did you just hear what I did?" She asked Ron and Harry.

"Yeah," answered Harry.

It was all that he could manage to say at the moment. Harry was dumfounded. He had been trying not to dislike her but it was hard. She was so…cocky, yet there was something about her…

"She's so pretty," sighed Ron unconsciously.

"What!" Hermione asked.

"Um, nothing," said Ron realizing his mistake.

"Ron, you are so typical." Hermione rolled her eyes. "She's not that pretty, right Harry?"

Harry had a blank expression and glassy eyes.

"Harry?"

"Sorry, what you said?" Harry said coming back from his daze.

Hermione shook her head.

"Boys."

Days went by in cleaning the house and just hanging around the fire. Harry soon found out that Cat was a wonderful storyteller. She will talk about the time she lived in Greece although he knew some things she either exaggerated or made up all together. Soon Harry's birthday came. He woke up early that morning and was received by everyone down in the kitchen with presents for him. Mrs. Weasley had made him another jumper. Harry smiled and put it on immediately. Hermione had bought him an empty book. She called it a journal and said that it would help him deal with his suppressed feelings. He was about to tell her what exactly were his "suppressed" feelings but thought better about it and just took the book and thanked her. Catherina told him to have a happy birthday and that she was sorry she couldn't get him anything for she wasn't allowed to leave the house. Also unlike Hermione and Ron she hadn't known about his birthday until a couple of days before such event.

The Twins had given him one of their inventions. They called it The Invisible Guardian. It was a little black box. You will hide the box somewhere near the object or place you wanted to guard. It had three settings: Subtle, Edgy and Extremely Hostile. The Guardian would project a hologram of a knight and this knight would act depending on the setting it is put on. On the Subtle setting it would simply stand and prohibit entrance while providing some smart and funny remarks for the intruder. On the Edgy setting The Guardian will insult anyone who comes near its vicinity and might just chase the intruder away if it gets too close. On the Extremely Hostile setting…well, it was extremely hostile. The Twins placed The Invisible Guardian underneath the kitchen table and handed Harry a small remote control. They told him they had stolen that one from their Dad and altered it to fit their needs.

Fred told Harry to press the purple button that was between the white one and the red one.

"This will activate the Edgy setting," George told him.

Harry pressed the button and all of a sudden appeared a knight. It didn't look like a hologram and he suddenly thought that this must have taken the Twins months to perfect. Mrs. Weasley noticed the knight and walked up to it.

"What is this?" She asked Fred, George and Harry.

She stared at The Invisible Guardian. The knight shifted and faced Mrs. Weasley.

"I am who I am," it said to Mrs. Weasley. "Now back off, lady!"

Harry smiled and The Twins congratulated themselves on a job well done. Mrs. Weasley started shouting and told them she wasn't going to allow them to give their present to Harry. The Twins put away the little black box and winked at Harry. Mrs. Weasley told Harry that she would make a cake for dinner and that they should find something to do for the rest of the day because she didn't want anyone in the kitchen. Harry, Ron, and Hermione decided to go to the living room. Hermione started reading a book and Ron and Harry played a game of wizard chess. Ginny took turns to play also. The Twins left to attend to their shop and put away The Invisible Guardian before Mrs. Weasley got the chance to confiscate it.

Everyone was at the dinner table. Hermione and Ginny were engrossed in a conversation, while Mrs. Weasley passed around the empty plates.

"What are you thinking about, Harry?" Ron asked.

"Nothing," he lied.

Harry had been thinking about Sirius, not to mention his daughter. They did have the same black hair. Her face kind of reminded him of Sirius. But the eyes must have come from her mother's side.

"There you are," growled Moody. "What took you so long?"

Catherina came down the steps. She sat down between the Twins and Lupin, in front of Moody.

"I was putting on makeup," said Cat.

Ron had a confused look upon his face.

"But, you don't have any makeup on," said Ron.

The twins stared at Ron and shook their heads.

"Honestly Ron," said George.

"You get thicker by the minute," finished Fred.

Everyone laughed excluding Cat. She just looked around. Then Black looked at Ron and smiled. Ron blushed furiously. Harry looked at Hermione and saw that she was giving Catherina the most hateful look he had ever seen.

"Let's eat then," said Mrs. Weasley.

With a wave of her hand everyone was being served. Tonks used her wand to get the pitcher of pumpkin juice across the table, but it stopped half way, spilling on Hermione. Hermione jumped immediately. At this, Cat let out a chuckle. Hermione glared at her. Catherina, however, smiled sweetly and innocently.

"It looks good on you," said Cat in a very honest tone.

Everyone turned away. They tried to hide their smiles but failed miserably. Hermione was furious. She stormed out of the kitchen. Ginny got up and went after her.

"Oh, she'll be fine," assured Mrs. Weasley. "Eat up, everyone."

They chattered more than they ate, all but Cat who seemed more interested in the food than in the conversation. Harry decided that he should talk to her. He at least owed her that much. After all, he had almost cost her a servant. Harry got up and sat on the chair next to her. Cat was staring blankly at the inside of her cup.

"What are you thinking about?" He asked.

"Nothing important," she said without looking up.

"You know, in some countries, it's rude not to look at a person when they are speaking to you."

This time Cat looked up. She stared at him for a while.

"Why are you talking to me?"

"Why shouldn't I?"

"You didn't answer my question."

"Neither did you."

They said nothing for a while. Harry and Black looked at each other. Cat looked away.

"I was thinking about my…Sirius," she said, looking at the floor. "Or at least trying to."

Harry said nothing.

"I never met him. How was he like?"

She looked up. Harry didn't know what to say. He stood quiet for a couple of seconds.

"He was a great man, that's all I can say."

He thought he would be ready to speak about Sirius, but now he knew he wasn't.

"I still don't think you should be talking to me," she said.

"Why?"

"I don't think your friend will like it very much," Cat said nodding towards Hermione who had finally come down and was helping Mrs. Weasley and Ginny make Hot Chocolate.

"Who? Hermione?"

Harry sighed.

"Pay her no mind. She's paranoid."

"She's right though. You're too trustful with strangers."

"But you're not a stranger."

"I might as well be," said Cat and got up.

She took Harry's cup and disappeared into the kitchen.

"I see you're getting acquainted," said a voice behind him.

Harry turned around.

"Oh, Professor Lupin, I was just…"

"Don't worry about it…so, what do you think of her?"

"I don't know she's…strange."

Lupin laughed out loud.

"Just like her mother. She doesn't trust you yet."

"Mother? You know her mother?"

"Knew, actually," he said sadly. "But I don't think I'm the right person to tell you about it," said Lupin pointing towards Cat who was walking towards them with two cups of Hot Chocolate.

"Why don't you ask her?"

"You think she'll tell me?"

"You never know if you don't ask."

"Here you go Harry," said Cat handing Harry the cup. "Mrs. Weasley did it." Harry lifted the cup to his mouth.

"Wait!" Growled someone in the room.

Limping towards Harry, Lupin and Cat was Alastor "Mad-Eye" Moody.

"Boy! Have I thought you nothing?" Moody screamed snatching away Harry's cup.

"Never, ever drink anything from another person! Never!"

Harry was in shock. He didn't know whether to laugh or cry. Maybe both.

"Let me try it," volunteered Cat.

She reached for the cup but Moody pulled it away.

"Why would you do that? You're the one trying to poison him," accused Moody.

"I am not," said Cat calmly. "And to prove it, let me taste it and if it's poison… then we'll all see what happens."

Moody handed her the cup. She took a sip and swallowed. Cat handed Harry the cup.

"See, no poison."

All of a sudden Cat grabbed her chest and fell backwards on the floor. Everyone gasped. Lupin kneeled next to Cat.

"Cat! Cat! Catherina!" He screamed while he shook her by the shoulders.

"Oh my! She's dead! She's dead!" Mrs. Weasley screamed.

Harry couldn't believe his luck. Another person was going to die because of him. Sirius died because of his stupidity, Cedric died because Voldemort was trying to get to him, and now Cat because someone was trying to poison him.

Catherina opened her eyes and looked straight at Lupin.

"You know, I hit the floor harder than I thought I would," she said and started laughing.

Soon the twins followed, then the whole room. Lupin helped her up. Mrs. Weasley came over to Cat.

"Don't you do that ever again! You scared me half to death!" Mrs. Weasley said.

"Oh, come on, Mum. She got us good," said Ron.

"Are you okay?" Harry asked Cat.

"I'm fine, really," she assured.

"Well, now the chocolate is cold," complained Harry.

"Look at the bright side Harry. At least it's not poisoned."

Cat took Harry's cup.

"I'll get you more, but don't get used to it."

She turned and walked into the kitchen.

"See? Now she trusts you," said Lupin to Harry.

The professor frowned.

"Kind of," Lupin added.

He patted Harry's shoulder. Harry wasn't sure gaining Cat's trust was a good thing or a bad thing. He had a feeling that he may find out things he was better off not knowing. Cat walked back in the room and handed Harry his cup.

"Thanks," said Harry.

"Well, I'll leave you guys to it," said Lupin and left to talk to Moody and Tonks.

"Cat," said Harry interrupting the silence. "Can I ask you a question?"

"You just did."

"You know what I mean," said Harry.

"Depends on the question."

"Hey Cat!" George screamed from the other side of the room.

The twins made their way towards Cat and Harry.

"We've got great news," announced Fred.

"Yes, indeed. We have decided that…" said George. "I'm too excited to tell them, you do it Fred."

"We've decided to make Cat…"

"Our official apprentice!" The twins announced in unison.

"Your what?" Cat asked.

"You know, we're going to teach you how to do pranks," said George.

"Don't get me wrong, the one you pulled off a while ago…" Fred said.

"Best one ever!" George complimented.

"Well, not as good as us…" Fred contradicted.

"But good never the less," finished George.

"Come on, George, let's tell everyone." The twins left.

"They're not serious…are they?" Cat asked Harry.

"With the twins, you never know," said Harry.

"Oh, boy."

"You have no idea what you've gotten yourself into," Ron said to Cat.

"Where did you come from?" Harry asked.

"Oh, me? I've been here for a while."

"I've gotten myself into? I haven't gotten myself into anything," protested Cat.

"Sure, but you didn't stop them," said Ron.

"Trying to stop the Twins is like trying to stop a freight train."

"I got to go to the…um, I'll be right back," said Harry and hurried up the steps.

Cat continued to drink her chocolate all the while eyeing the twins. Ron kept glancing from the twins to Cat.

"They're up to something, aren't they?" Ron asked.

"I don't know, and if I did, why should I tell you?" Cat said without taking her eyes off Fred and George.

The twins were huddled together in a corner, obviously having a very private conversation.

"I wonder what they're talking about," said Ron.

"I don't," said Cat.

"You just feel like contradicting me, don't you?"

"Of course not. Maybe you should go talk to your friend, Hermione," cautioned Cat.

"Sorry?"

"I don't think she's too thrilled that we're getting along," Cat whispered to Ron and touched his shoulder.

"We are?" Ron asked surprised.

"Are we not?" Cat asked, twirling a strand of her jet-black hair between her fingers.

She smiled at Ron and looked at Hermione. Her face was red and her hands were bunched up in fists. Hermione marched towards Ron and Cat.

"Who do you think you are?" Hermione bellowed.

All heads turned towards Ron, Hermione and Cat.

"Well, the last time I checked I was Catherina Black," responded Cat coolly.

"This is why nobody likes you!"

"Ask me if I care," said Cat. "Go ahead, Granger, ask me if I care."

Hermione jumped on Cat. Cat was knocked down onto the floor, Hermione on top of her.

"Alright! Go Kitty! Go!" Fred cheered. "George, get the popcorn!"

George Disapparated. Cat grabbed Hermione by the arms and turned her over. She sat on top of Hermione and pinned her arms, immobilizing her. Then she whispered in her ear:

"Give him up Hermione. You'll never win."

Lupin pulled Cat off from Hermione and Tonks was holding back Hermione. Hermione yelled furiously while Cat laughed delightedly.

"That's enough!" Moody yelled.

"Cat, stop it!" Lupin yelled. "Come on, Cat, go to your room."

Cat didn't move.

"Go!"

Cat went up the stairs and disappeared.

"What? It's over?" George asked. "Oh man! And I had just finished making popcorn."

Then he shrugged and sat down to eat it.