Chapter Nine: Birds of A Feather…
"Not good enough people!" Roared Harry. "Do you want to beat Slytherin or not?
"Darn Slut-therins," murmured Catherina slumped on her broom.
Harry glared at her and flew to where she was.
"Your humor is not appreciated," snarled Harry.
Ginny groaned.
"Will you two give it a rest?" She asked tucking the Quaffle under her armpit. "You have been at it throughout the whole practice."
The rest of the team nodded.
"Well, if Potter actually listened to my suggestions we wouldn't have to argue," defended Catherina.
"Oh shut up!"
"Why don't you join the annual broom race, Potter, and leave me alone."
"Who is the team Captain?" Harry asked. "That's right, I am! Not you!"
"That doesn't mean you shouldn't listen to your teammates," argued Ron.
"You're taking her side?" Harry shouted.
"Stop shouting!" Ron yelled.
"You guys are giving me a headache!" Katie Bell whined loudly.
"Ok!" Harry yelled. "We'll do what Cat says, all right?"
"Thank you," Catherina said smugly. "Now, can we actually do some practicing?"
All the players got in their positions.
"Listen Ron, Katie, Ginny and I are going to do the Chasers Hawkshead Attacking Formation," announced Cat catching the Quaffle that Ginny had thrown at her. "I want you to practice that Starfish and Stick thing I explained to you earlier."
Ron looked at her blankly. Catherina rolled her eyes and sighed deeply.
"The Starfish and Stick is a form of Keeper Defense, Ronald…that would be you. The Keeper, you, holds the broom horizontally…yes; how you're holding it now, ok yeah one hand on the handle, Ron just one hand…. Ronald, be careful! Try to get one foot curled around the handle. Will you just try it, Weasley?"
Ron was hanging from the broom with both hands. He kept shaking his head at Catherina.
"Ron…try it! Just one foot…"
Ron tried lifting his foot over the broom and lost his grip. He was hanging from one hand on the broom. Catherina flew towards him and helped him get in position.
"Ok, yeah, that's it. One hand and one foot curled on the broom's handle. Now, stretch out your other arm… and the other leg. There you go, Ron!"
"Do I really have to be stretched out like this?" Ron asked sweating.
"Yes, because otherwise it wouldn't be Starfish and Stick, it would be Fish and Stick. Oh, by the way Ron, The Starfish Without Stick should never be attempted."
Ron swallowed.
"Now get back on your broom."
"What?"
"Just do it, Ron!" Harry yelled.
Ronald with a lot of effort managed to sit on his broom. Catherina flew towards Ginny and Katie Bell who were waiting for them. She began to whisper something to them but looked up at Andrew Kirke and Jack Sloper and groaned.
"Kirke, Sloper! What are you guys doing?"
Kirke and Sloper were hitting each other on the arm with the clubs.
"Um, nothing," answered Sloper quickly dodging Sloper's club.
Sloper laughed goofily.
"Why aren't you both practicing the Bludger Backbeat?" Harry questioned angrily.
"The what, boss?" Sloper asked.
Harry grimaced.
"One: don't call me that. Two: the Bludger Backbeat is a move, which the Beater, that is you and Kirke over there, strikes the Bludger with a backhanded club swing. This sends the Bludger behind you rather than in front of you. We want this so we can confuse the other team. Do you understand?" Harry explained slowly.
Kirke and Sloper nodded. Harry signaled Hermione who was down on the ground to let the Bludgers and the snitch lose. Hermione let them go. Harry flew off into the sky trying to catch a glimpse of the snitch. The cold air was biting at his ears and cheeks.
"Ready, Ron?" Catherina asked loudly.
Ron nodded nervously. Catherina flew to the other side of the Quidditch pitch, followed by Ginny and Katie Bell.
"Okay Ron, you're going to try and block the Quaffle using the Starfish and Stick technique," explained Catherina.
Catherina flew ahead at high speed. Her black hair was flying behind her. Ginny and Katie Bell flew parallel to each other behind Cat. They formed the shape of an arrowhead. Catherina's stern face, Ginny's flaming red hair and Katie Bell's mischievous smile formed such an intimidating group that way before Cat had even reached the scoring area Ron had flown away from the hoops and had thrown his arms over his head when Cat flew at him cursing in Italian. Harry sighed as Ron flew as fast as he could, petrified that Catherina would catch him and skin him alive as she was threatening to do.
"That's enough!" Harry roared.
Cat and Ron skidded to a halt.
"You are supposed to be practicing!"
"And you are supposed to be looking for the Snitch," snarled Black. "You're definitely not breaking the record."
"Well, you keep distracting me!"
"So now it's my fault?" Retorted Cat flying towards him.
"This is a problem," added Katie Bell.
"If you guys keep distracting each other we can't play!" Ginny announced.
Harry announced it as the end of the practice. He had to change because he and Cat had detention to serve. They walked into McGonagall's office together. McGonagall glanced at them and led them down to the dungeons without a single word.
"You will be scrubbing cauldrons without magic," declared Professor McGonagall. "You will begin now."
McGonagall turned on her heels and walked out the door. Harry and Catherina began scrubbing in silence. Harry sighed. Catherina looked up at him.
"Dumbledore told me to tell you something," she said scrubbing the inside of a cauldron.
She stopped to tie her long black hair in a ponytail.
"Tell me what?" Harry asked without looking up.
"That you need to resume your Occlumency lessons."
Harry dropped his scrub brush and looked up at Cat incredulously.
"How is it that you know everything?"
She shrugged.
"I'm not taking Occlumency lessons with Snape," Harry snarled.
"You're not. The Headmaster himself will teach you. He is quite a Legilimens."
"That's good news."
Catherina returned to her cauldron. She was scrubbing with such fury that Harry thought she would scrub a hole at the bottom.
"What's eating you?" Harry pried.
"Nothing," answered Cat.
Harry and Catherina picked another cauldron to scrub.
"It's not fair," muttered Cat.
Harry sensing that Catherina wanted to talk about something decided to participate in the conversation. Who knows, he thought. I might learn something.
"What isn't fair?" Harry asked softly.
"What happened to Sirius," she answered. "And to Mum."
Harry swallowed. He knew there would be a moment where he would have to talk about Sirius again. He hadn't known, however, that it would be in the dungeons while he was scrubbing cauldrons. He especially hadn't known that it would be with Catherina Black. Harry looked up at her. Her bottom lip was sticking out and hr eyes were filled with tears. Harry's heart ached. It felt like someone was squeezing it and was enjoying how it felt to see it ooze out from the gaps between his fingers. Harry resisted the urge to touch her.
"He lost two of his best friends and then got blamed for their deaths. Can you imagine how it was to be thirteen years in Azkaban?" Cat asked with a sudden terror in her eyes.
She knew something she wasn't letting on. Harry could feel it.
"And you would?" Harry dared to ask.
She once again shrugged. Harry rolled his eyes. She is definitely hiding something, Harry thought. She always shrugs when she doesn't want to tell you something but doesn't dare to lie about it.
"Then having to hide all those years…running away because you were being persecuted for something you didn't even do! Then to live in that horrible place," she added with a grimace. "Then my mom killed herself. I miss her so much sometimes," she whispered. "You must miss him a lot."
Harry didn't answer but nodded. Why is she doing this? Wondered Harry angrily.
"He was the only one who understood you, wasn't he? The one you could tell something without worrying about him making a fuss."
Harry bit his tongue. He was trying hard not to lash out at her.
"And now with the prophecy. I mean, who can you talk to…"
"What is that you want, Black?" Harry yelled. "is this even about Sirius? Is it about me?"
Catherina didn't even flinch at Harry's outburst. She gave a sigh filled with impatience. Catherina tucked a lose strand of hair behind her ear.
"It's about both of you actually," she said watching Harry seething. "You need to let go of your emotions now so you can control them later."
"Let me guess," spat Harry through clenched teeth. "Dumbledore told you to talk to me."
Harry was furious. He was angry with Sirius for dying. He was angry with Dumbledore for thinking he knew everything and he was angry at Cat for knowing everything. But mostly he was angry with himself for letting Black read him like a book. He was holding back the tears that were threatening to pour from his bright green eyes. His throat hurt incredibly from trying not to sob and crumple on the cold cement floor.
"Harry," said Catherina softly. "When my mom died I was so angry with the world…but I had to deal with it. You can't just hold everything inside. You have to move on."
She knelt beside him and placed a hand on his shoulder. When he didn't look up she tucked a finger under his chin. Her eyes were dull and opaque. The life that had made them so bright and beautiful…the sparkle that had made his heart race and his breath short was gone. Harry wondered what had happened to it.
"You see, Harry," she spoke softly. "Your greatest strength is also your greatest weakness."
"Oh, yeah? What's that?" Harry shouted upset.
Cat leaned forward and placed a hand on Harry's chest.
"Your heart," she whispered.
Catherina looked down at the cauldron that Harry had been scrubbing. She got up.
"Looks like you're done," she said and walked towards the door.
Harry looked at the cauldron. He then reached for another cauldron that he knew was clean. Harry started scrubbing it.
"Not yet."
"I'll see you tomorrow then," she replied eyeing the cauldron dubiously.
"Sure," replied Harry. "Good night."
Catherina walked out. Harry sat motionlessly listening to her footsteps. As soon as they had faded away Harry broke out in sobs. He cried fro himself and the unfairness of the prophecy. He cried for Sirius and his untimely death. He cried for all those who had died and suffered because of Voldemort. He cried for Cat's mum and whatever made her kill herself and he cried for Catherina. Cat who was left with nothing like him and he cried for whatever she had to go through that made her the cold and closed soul she was today. Harry stopped sobbing and sat up. Tears still ran down his cheeks. He licked his lips and through them he could taste the saltiness of sadness. Harry sniffed and wiped his face with the back of his hands. He stood up and slowly went up the stairs leading to the seventh floor where Gryffindor Tower was located. Soon enough, Harry had reached the common room. He dug into his pockets in search o a handkerchief to clean his tear-stricken face before entering the common room. He didn't want anyone to know he had been crying. Harry pulled out something from his pocket. It was a necklace made of a silvery substance. Harry thought it was almost like liquid. He entered the Gryffindor Common Room still holding up the necklace.
"You found it!" Exclaimed Cat walking towards him.
She snatched the necklace from him. Catherina strung a pendant on it and put it on.
"I've been looking for it for ages!"
Harry stared at her pendant. It was an amethyst crystal but wrapped around it was a silver dragon with red crystals for eyes. Harry found himself hypnotized by them.
"I said: thank you, Potter," interrupted Cat.
"Oh, right," stuttered Harry. "You're welcome."
Catherina smiled and hurried up the steps leading to the girls' dormitory. Harry walked up the stairs leading to his determined to get a good night's sleep and to think of a way getting his hands on Black's necklace.
The next morning during breakfast Harry, Hermione, Catherina and Ron started at the front cover of the Daily Prophet.
"Another one?" Ron asked shoving a spoonful of scrambled eggs into his mouth. "What number is this one? Four?"
"Three," corrected Hermione. "Three in the month of November."
"Then it's four with Dolohov who was murdered in October," pointed out Ron exasperated.
"They still don't know who did it?" Catherina asked stabbing a strip of bacon with her fork.
"They don't have a single clue," snarled Hermione. "Things are looking slim for the Minister of Magic."
"I think I read they're thinking of replacing him if he doesn't find out how all these Death Eaters are appearing at the Ministry of Magic's front door," added Ron.
"Slim indeed," commented Catherina with a smile.
Hermione folded the newspaper.
"Who do you think they'll replace him with?" Ron asked her.
"Not your brother, that's for sure," she answered.
"Shut up, I don't want to talk about Percy," spat Ron.
"Where is he, anyways?" Hermione inquired leaning her elbows on the table.
"I don't know. Mum goes into hysterics every time someone mentions him and dad just changes the subject. Now can we change the subject too?"
"Weird," muttered Harry and Hermione.
"Weird, indeed," said Catherina with a frown.
Harry passed the day worrying, worrying about something he couldn't quite put his finger on. During Advanced Potion he had managed to pay attention long enough to write down the assignment. During Advanced Transfiguration Hermione kept elbowing him. But it was during Advanced Charms that it had happened. Harry had been reading chapter twenty-seven when he experienced a head-splitting pain from his scar. He fell from his chair and gasped for air. It was hot. It was so hot. Everything was blurry and red.
"Why didn't you tell me before?" Roared Harry.
"I didn't know she was important my lord," answered the man kneeling before him.
Harry stood up from his chair. He pulled out his wand and pointed at the man.
"You have managed to disappoint me again, Lucius," hissed Harry.
"Forgive me, My Lord, I didn't know."
"Crucio!" Harry shouted.
Lucius Malfoy screamed and squirmed. Harry laughed. He lowered his wand and watched Malfoy twitch on the ground.
"Are you sure she's at Hogwarts?"
"Yes, My Lord."
Harry laughed sinisterly. The laughter echoed in Harry's head like a ball from wall to wall in an empty room.
"Harry!" Shouted a girl and shook him by the shoulders.
She was staring at him. Her eyes were wild and her hair seemed to be filled with lightning.
"What did you see?" She asked urgently.
Harry went into a fit of coughs. He was facing the ground and spat a glob of blood onto it.
"He knows," Harry managed to say and coughed. He pushed himself up off the floor.
"About you? About the other part of the prophecy?" She whispered.
Harry shook his head and coughed again. He couldn't catch his breath.
"About you," Harry said and looked up at the girl with the brilliant violet eyes.
Her eyes opened wide in panic. She pulled Hermione down next to her.
"Hermione, Ron, take Harry to the Hospital Wing. I'm going to get Dumbledore."
Catherina rushed out of the classroom. The students kept murmuring and pointing. Professor Flitwick observed Harry nervously and silently. Ron and Hermione struggled to get Harry to his feet. They helped him to get to the Hospital Wing. Headmaster Albus Dumbledore was already waiting for him and stroking his beard.
"Now," said Dumbledore. "Tell me everything."
Harry told him everything between fits of coughs.
"Harry you must remain here," ordered Professor Dumbledore.
"Where is she?" Harry asked.
"You will begin Occlumency lessons tonight," informed Dumbledore avoiding his gaze.
"Where's Cat?" Harry asked angrily.
"I will see you tonight, Mr. Potter," Dumbledore said stopping at the door briefly before moving and closing the double doors behind him.
"I want to know where Catherina is!" Harry shouted at Ron, Hermione and Madam Pomfrey but no one answered him. "We have to find her," he told them.
Ron and Hermione pushed him back onto the Hospital bed.
"No, Harry," said Hermione.
"She's safe," informed Madam Pomfrey. "Here, drink this and you will have a dreamless sleep."
"No!" Harry shouted and slapped away her hand.
Harry stood up on the bed and lashed out at Madam Pomfrey.
"Children," Madam Pomfrey signaled Ron and Hermione.
Ron and Hermione pinned Harry down on the bed. Madam Pomfrey was trying to force feed the potion to Harry. He struggled to get lose. Harry kicked Madam Pomfrey on the stomach and bit Hermione's hand. Ron and Hermione drew their wands.
"Do you know who I am?" Yelled Harry. "You can't stop me!"
Harry laughed maniacally. Hermione pointed her wand at him. She was crying.
"Harry, don't make me do this," she warned.
"Come on, Harry," pleaded Ron. "Work with us here."
Harry lifted his wand and pointed at Ron.
"No! I obey no one!" Harry shouted with a voice he didn't recognize as his own. "I am Lord Vol-"
"Stupefy!" Hermione shouted.
Harry gasped as a tear fell down his cheek. He realized what he almost has said as he fell to the ground. Madam Pomfrey forced the potion down his throat.
"I'm so sorry, Harry!" Hermione cried, as Harry was lost in darkness.
"I want to see him," announced a voice.
"You can't. Dumbledore's orders," declared Madam Pomfrey.
"Fine. Then I'll wait for the Headmaster."
"Fine."
Harry yawned. He wasn't aware of where he was. What happened? He wondered and opened his eyes slowly. He could see white curtains surrounding him. Harry moved and his head throbbed dangerously. It was threatening to explode. He remembered now. He slowly got up and groaned.
"You're up," said a voice from behind the curtains.
Harry smiled at the pointlessness of the comment.
"I hear Dumbledore has it forbidden that we speak," said Harry imitating her way of talking and rubbing his eyes. "He's probably afraid you'll try to kill me."
"Or the other way around," she retorted.
Harry winced. He had forgotten all about the Voldemort possessing him thing for a second.
"Black, I thought I told you to stay away from him for a while," said Professor Dumbledore.
"I just want to talk to him."
"You want to know what he saw," said Dumbledore slyly.
"Nonsense. I just need a minute with him."
"Twenty seconds."
"Forty-five."
"Ten," finished Dumbledore.
Catherina hesitated. She seemed to think about it.
"Deal."
She entered quickly and sat next to Harry.
"The trick is to use an image that will symbolize a wall. A wall seems to work most of the time," she whispered quickly.
Harry laughed.
"You are all right, right?" She asked and placed a hand on his face.
"I'm fine," Harry answered taking her hand in his.
"You're ten seconds are up," announced Dumbledore parting the curtains.
He glanced briefly at Cat and Harry's hands. Harry let her go abruptly.
"Now, if you don't mind, Black," he said guiding her out of the hospital wing. "I have a lesson to teach."
"Close your mind, Harry!" Catherina shouted as she reached the door.
"I thought it was 'clear your mind'!" Harry yelled back.
"Bah! Since when do you listen to Snape?"
Professor Dumbledore shoved her out and closed the double doors.
"Now we have some peace and quiet," said Dumbledore with a sigh.
He flicked his wand and the beds immediately were up against the wall.
"As much as I hate to admit it, she is right. Harry, are you ready?"
Harry thought about what had to him these past months. He also thought about what had happened to him today. He had gone into Lord Voldemort's mind again. It happened before and once Voldemort had realized that Harry was inside his head. He knew that Harry and him had that bond. Had Voldemort known that Harry had seen that scene this morning? Was it accidental? Or was it intentional? If Voldemort wanted Harry to see that then it must be important. But is it true or just another lie? And if it were true why would Voldemort have wanted him to see that?
"Harry?" Professor Dumbledore interrupted.
Harry nodded.
"I'm alright. Let's go," he said and pulled out his wand.
"When is the mail ever early?" Complained Catherina.
Hermione rolled her eyes.
"It's been snowing lately. Owls can't fly so well when it's snowing. The snow makes their wings heavy and…"
"I shouldn't have asked!" Catherina shouted.
"Oh…you little…" began Hermione but chose to eat her breakfast instead.
Hermione kept stabbing at her sausages and they managed to run away from her fork and roll all over the plate. Catherina kept tapping the table with her index finger will Hermione failed horribly to capture the fugitive sausages. Suddenly a ruffle of wings that sounded like an avalanche filled the Great Hall. Owls flew overhead, dropping their morning mail on the owner's heads. A tawny owl dropped a large package in front of Catherina sending Hermione's sausages rolling down the table. The sausages stopped in front of Neville.
"Oh, gosh darn it," muttered Hermione.
"Are these your sausages?" Neville shouted.
"Yes, they are!" Hermione shouted and went to collect her precious sausages.
Catherina took the piece of paper that was tied to the owl's leg. The owl flew away. Cat unrolled the scroll. Her eyes skimmed through the note quickly. The package wriggled and made a muffled sound. Harry thought it sounded a lot like music being played in the neighbor's house.
"Who wrote you?" Harry asked.
Catherina laughed as the package made the same sound again. She handed Harry the note.
"Hold on! Hold on!" Catherina said as she began unwrapping the package.
No sooner had she ripped off all the brown paper of the unidentified object. The thing sprang to life and let out a stream of musical notes.
"It's nice to see you too, Max!" Exclaimed Catherina.
"Well, I'll be da…" Ron began but was interrupted by Hermione's comment of: "That's a guitar!"
Harry scratched his head in an attempt to somehow get rid of the confusion. He read the note.
Dear Catherina,
I have to do an Odysseus for a while. I have sent you Max. Please take care of him. Miss you tons.
Emilian
P.s. Keep Stroke.
"Who is Emilian?" Harry asked as he watched Catherina struggle with keeping Max hidden.
"A cousin," she said stuffing the enchanted guitar under the table.
Harry, Hermione and Ron looked at her questioningly.
"God!" Yelled Cat. "Must you guys know everything?"
"Yes," the said in unison.
Catherina groaned loudly and banged her forehead against the table three times before holding her head with both hands. Hermione looked on horrified.
"So who is this guy Emilian?" Ron asked.
"Actually Emilian is a she," Cat said with a smile. "Rebecca Emilian to be exact. She lives in the states," finished Catherina reaching down to whack Max.
The magical guitar was not pleased and let out a screech.
"The states?" Harry and Ron asked then looked at each other.
"The United States," added Hermione with a roll of her eyes.
The trio ate breakfast all the while bombarding Catherina with questions about her mysterious cousin but she kept ignoring them. Answering them as she pleased. All of a sudden Cat bent down to the floor and went under the table. Hermione frowned. Catherina crawled out of the table.
"He's gone!" Black whispered urgently.
"Don't worry. An enchanted guitar can't go unnoticed for very long," commented Ron.
"That's the problem Weasley!" Catherina shouted with her hands on her head.
"Don't worry," whispered Harry craning his neck to see if he could spot the guitar.
"We'll help you find him," assured Hermione getting up from the table.
"We have class, Hermione," hissed Ron.
"Ronald!" Hermione warned raising a hand.
Hermione walked over and wrapped an arm around Harry's waist.
"Come on," she said and stirred him around towards the exit.
Ron and Catherina followed.
The trio searched outside the Great Hall and beneath the staircases hoping to find Max huddled in a corner.
"MAX!" Catherina bellowed. "When I find you I am going to cut your strings into a million pieces!"
"Oh Potter, you rotter, oh what have you done," sang a voice accompanied by the sweet sound of cords being strummed. "You're killing off…DEATH EATERS YOU THINK IT"S GOOD FUN!"
Peeves appeared suddenly floating above Catherina, Hermione, Ron and Harry. Following on the ground was Max singing. Catherina stormed towards the guitar. Max made a sound that must have been a yelp and tried to hop away. Catherina grabbed it by the neck and tucked it under her arm.
"What is he talking about?" Harry muttered.
No one answered. Hermione pulled out the Daily Prophet from inside her robes.
"I was too distracted with Cat's mystery package that I didn't read the Prophet," she said unfolding it and reading the front page.
Hermione gasped and turned white. She stuttered before handing the newspaper to Ron.
"Um, Harry," whispered Hermione. "There's been another…"
"Let me guess," said Harry glancing nervously around him. "Another Death Eater showed up at the Ministry's doorstep?"
"Not just any old Death Eater, Harry," said Ron turning around the front cover so Harry could have a good look at it. "Lucius Malfoy."
Harry swallowed hard. He couldn't believe his luck.
"What Potter? You're saying you didn't do it? I bet you would have loved to have Malfoy dead!" Jeered Peeves
"Drop it, Peeves," warned Catherina.
"Why? He did it before he could do it again!"
"I DIDN'T KILL ANYONE!"
"Peeves if you don't shut up I'll…" began to threaten Cat.
"You'll what? Blink you're pretty eyelashes until I faint?"
"No," spat Black. "I'll go get the Bloody Baron to set you right."
Peeves gasped and frowned. He didn't like being threatened. He blew a raspberry and snatched Max from Catherina's grasp. Cat roared.
"You give him back NOW! You will rue the day you messed with me Poltergeist!"
"You'll have to catch me first! Hit it Max!" Exclaimed Peeves as he flew down the hallway with Max on his arms.
The enchanted guitar made a sound between a bark and meow and started playing "Ride of the Valkyries."
Catherina started off after Peeves with Hermione, Ron and Harry on her heels. The trio heard a crash and screams amongst Max's playing. Harry bumped into Catherina's back. He blushed but Cat didn't seem to notice as Harry placed his hands around her waist. She was too busy glaring at something ahead of her. Peeves was chucking chalk at some Hufflepuffs and Max kept hopping to the tune of "Ride of the Valkyries." Catherina lunged herself at it but Max managed to hop away in the nick of time. Cat punched the ground and got up and went after Peeves and Max, who had given chase again. Harry followed her. Hermione and Ron panted and fell behind. Catherina stopped suddenly and took a step backwards towards Harry. He had his hands on his knees, trying to catch her breath. Harry felt that Cat was trying to hide behind him in a way.
"What?" He asked between pants.
"Black, Potter," said Professor McGonagall sternly and hiding something behind her. "Oh, Miss Granger and Mr. Weasley too."
Ron and Hermione had just reached them. They too were panting. Ron followed Harry's suit and Hermione leaned on him for balance.
"How nice it is to see all four of you. You were absent without leave from my class," McGonagall informed and brought the hidden object into view.
"Sorry, It won't happen again, sir," assured Catherina and reached for the acoustic guitar in McGonagall's hand but McGonagall pulled it away.
"So this creation is yours?" McGonagall inquired with a slight curl in her upper lip.
Catherina opened and closed her mouth like a fish out of water. She finally closed it and looked at Harry pleadingly. She was biting her lower lip. Harry stood close behind her.
"I don't know what to do for you, Black," he whispered in her ear.
"So, Black? Is this yours?" McGonagall asked shaking the enchanted guitar roughly.
Max started to play a whiny sort of music. Cat frowned and stuck out her bottom lip.
"Stop it," she said. "You're making him cry."
"You understand that thing?" Ron asked incredulously.
Cat glared at him and turned to Professor McGonagall. The professor handed the guitar to Catherina. Max did a happy little note and Cat smiled.
"Cat keep that thing out of trouble," warned McGonagall. "Unless you want me to use it as firewood and you two better play a good game this evening."
Harry and Catherina groaned and slapped their foreheads in unison.
"The game!" They exclaimed looking at each other.
The trio excused themselves from Professor McGonagall and headed to their Advanced Charms lessons. Catherina had to run first to the girls' dormitory to hide Max. Ten minutes into the lesson Cat walked in. She was followed by murmurs and whispers. Black sat down between Harry and Ron.
"What?" She whispered to them.
"Everyone knows about Max," informed Harry irritated.
"What do you mean everyone?" She asked taking out her book from her bag, a piece of parchment, a quill and an inkbottle.
"I mean everyone," uttered Harry finally.
Catherina sighed and chose to take notes instead. Harry and Catherina were let off early from classes because they had a game tonight. It was Ravenclaw versus Gryffindor. If they won this game this would put them in a tie in second place with Hufflepuff. Slytherin was in first place, of course. Soon it was game time. The Gryffindor Quidditch Team had gathered in the locker room for a pre-game pep talk. It was immediately known that the new team captain wasn't very good at these.
"You just have to uh, give it your best shot and…uh, um and win!" Harry finished lamely.
Ginny tried hard to repress a chuckle and when she couldn't help it she tried hiding her face in Catherina's shoulder, who was standing beside her, smiling.
"I think what Potter, meant to say," began Catherina stepping forward and taking a stand next to Harry. "Was that we are going to murder Ravenclaw because it's a simple fact that we are the best team!"
The team cheered.
"We have the best seeker!" Catherina exclaimed patting Harry on the shoulder. "Not to mention one marvelous keeper!"
Ron's ears turned scarlet.
"And what about our chasers?" Catherina shouted.
Ginny and Katie Bell imitated dogs' barking.
"They're the fastest…the toughest…the smartest…the strongest…. darn it! They are the best Chasers that I've ever seen!"
The team cheered.
"So let's go out there and stomp 'em!" Roared Catherina.
Harry walked towards the middle of the pitch. There, Roger Davies the captain of the Ravenclaw team and Madam Hooch were waiting for him. Harry shook hands with Davies. Catherina snuck up behind him and shook Davies hand also.
"So Davies," she muttered. "Ready to eat muck?"
Harry pushed her back with a frown at that moment Madam Hooch blew her whistle. The players flew into the air. Harry immediately focused on trying to find the snitch. He flew from one side of the pitch to the other.
Harry could hear the cheers and boos from the crowd. He blocked them out. There is no time for distractions, Harry thought as Catherina flew by him again with Quaffle underneath her arm and winked at him. Harry watched closely. He had a feeling Catherina had something up her sleeve. Catherina whistled and Ginny came up behind her. Cat made as if she was going to throw the Quaffle at Katie Bell but threw it over he shoulder at Ginny who caught it. Two of the Ravenclaw chasers had fallen for her trick leaving a clear path for Ginny to score.
"And she scores! Another amazing move from the new Gryffindor Chaser Catherina Black! Let me tell you, that Ginny is definitely a Weasley! They got Quidditch in their blood unlike some people I know who buy their way into teams…" Announced Lee Jordan.
"JORDAN!" Shouted McGonagall. "You comment on the game only…not the players…not the teams…the GAME!"
"Sorry…well anyways another awesome goal by Katie Bell!"
Harry hadn't found the snitch yet. Every time he focused on the task at hand Catherina will zoom by him and he had to turn around and watch her…he had to! The game was tied: 120 – 120. Catherina Black smiled. She imitated a birdcall. Ginny and Katie Bell looked at each other and nodded. Katie Bell and Ginny were flying, one on each side, of him. Roger Davies had the Quaffle. He kept glancing nervously at Ginny and Katie Bell wondering why hadn't they tried to take away the Quaffle from him. Catherina sped off towards Davies.
Catherina and Roger were facing each other; neither of them was giving in an inch. Catherina was close enough to touch him, she faked a punch, and Roger Davies scared flew downwards and dropped the Quaffle in the process. Andrew Kirke and Sloper were failing to do their job. Cat had the three Ravenclaw Chasers on her back. She glanced quickly over her shoulder and flew upwards, straight into the sky. She kept going until she was away from everyone's sight. Catherina didn't come back down immediately.
Some murmuring began. The rules were clear. The chasers weren't to leave the limits of the pitch during the game. Suddenly Cat came plummeting down: her body first, then the broom. Harry gasped. The girls in the crowd screamed. Harry flew after her as fast as he could and a couple of seconds before she hit the ground he managed to grab her by the forearm. Harry pulled her up carefully and landed before Madam Hooch and Professor McGonagall. Professor McGonagall called Hagrid over. Harry kept staring at the unconscious Catherina in his arms.
"What happened, Potter?" Professor McGonagall asked him.
Harry just stared at Cat as a tear ran down to the point of his nose. It suspended there for half a second then fell to its end on Cat's now pale cheek.
"Potter," McGonagall said placing a hand on his shoulder. "Let Hagrid take her to the Hospital Wing. She'll be fine."
Hagrid walked up to Harry and took Catherina from his arms.
"She'll be fine 'Arry," he assured and walked off with the girl.
"Ok, Harry I know you're upset but you have to finish the game," informed Madam Hooch.
Harry nodded and glanced at his team. He tried to smile with confidence and flew into the sky renewing his quest for the golden snitch. Ginny made the last score before Harry finally caught the snitch. Ginny and Katie Bell congratulated him but he just nodded at him and tried to get away as soon as possible but the Gryffindors had invaded the pitch and were now surrounding him. Someone grabbed Harry by the arm and steered him away from the crowd.
"Come on," said Ron nervously. "Let's go see what's wrong with Catherina."
Hermione, Ginny, Katie Bell, Andrew Kirke and Jack Sloper caught up with them. They were all worried about Cat and wanted to see her also. The teenagers all walked up to the hospital wing. Once there, Madam Pomfrey did not let them in because Headmaster Dumbledore was inside with her. They all complained loudly.
"Sorry kids," said Madam Pomfrey finally.
Professor Dumbledore walked out of the hospital wing closing the doors behind him. He glanced briefly at Harry before turning towards the rest of the crowd.
"Miss Black is fine," said Dumbledore with a nod. "You can all now return to your common room."
Ginny sighed and said goodbye to Hermione. Katie Bell, Ginny, Kirke and Sloper headed off to Gryffindor Tower. Hermione, Ron and Harry stayed behind. Dumbledore nodded at Harry and led him inside. Catherina was on the bed propped up by a couple of fluffy white pillows.
"Get that stuff away from me!" She shouted at Madam Pomfrey.
Harry smiled. He was a little hesitant to walk up to her but Dumbledore nudged him and he tripped. Catherina looked away from Madam Pomfrey to Harry. She glared at Dumbledore.
"What's he doing here?" She asked him with a snarl.
"Whether you choose to believe it or not, you have made friends and friends worry about friends," Dumbledore said solemnly. "I will be outside if you need me."
Dumbledore walked out of the hospital wing with Madam Pomfrey. She had left the potion on Cat's bedside table. As soon as the door slammed shut Catherina poured its contents into the flowerpot next to her. Harry walked up to her bed nervously. He pulled a chair closer to the bed and sat down.
"What do you want?" She asked bringing her knees to her chest.
"I wanted to see you that's all," answered Harry softly.
He couldn't stop staring at her. Not long ago he had thought she was dead. It scared him so much he went numb. Harry wished he never had to go through that again.
"I'm fine," she said looking at him dubiously. "Why are you still here?"
"Because I'm scared," Harry answered without thinking. "Aren't you scared?"
Catherina shook her head as tears poured from her eyes and down her cheeks nonstop.
"No. I'm not afraid of anything," she whispered and hid her face on her pillow.
"I'll stay until you fall asleep," whispered Harry and tucked her in.
Catherina sobbed into her pillow. Harry wanted to know what had happened to Cat. It must have been something terrible, Harry thought. Catherina the fearless, Harry thought sadly. He didn't want her to cry. Harry was still unsure what to do with a crying girl. He patted her back and told her that everything will be fine. This seemed to calm her down. Soon Catherina had fallen asleep. Harry walked out silently and found Hermione waiting for him. She didn't look too pleased.
"We have to talk," she said firmly and started walking away.
Harry hurried to catch up to her. They walked silently up the stairs when they finally reached the seventh floor. Hermione led Harry towards the Gryffindor Tower. They both stopped in front of the portrait of the Fat Lady.
"Password?" The Fat Lady asked.
"Liar, jerk," snarled Hermione.
Harry scratched his head and looked at Hermione in confusion.
"That's not the password," said Harry.
"Hmmm, must have been thinking about you then…Billywig," she finished.
The portrait swung open to reveal a circular hole in the wall. Harry and Hermione climbed through. Hermione suddenly turned towards Harry. Her eyes were sending invisible daggers through his heart.
"How dare you, Harry!" Hermione hissed. "How dare you do this to me?"
"Do what?" Harry asked calmly.
"God, if you don't like me then tell me but don't you go ahead and turn me into the school idiot!"
Harry sat down on the armchair closest to the fire with a sigh.
"I don't know what you're talking about."
"I'm talking about you and me and Catherina," said Hermione waving her arms around dramatically. "In case you haven't noticed everyone knows you're in love with her!"
"What is this Hermione? Some love triangle?" Harry asked searching for something inside his robe.
"That's exactly what it is!" Hermione shrieked before breaking out in sobs.
Harry pulled out a napkin and handed it to Hermione. Hermione was stunned for two seconds but snatched the napkin from Harry's hand, blew her nose very loudly, sent Harry some more invisible daggers and threw the used napkin at his face.
"I am through with you!"
Hermione stormed to her dormitory. Harry didn't move for 10 seconds. He grabbed the mucus filled napkin from his face between his index finger and thumb and threw it into the fire. Harry coughed and cursed colorfully.
"Good afternoon students," greeted Professor Weasley with a broad smile.
The Gryffindor and Ravenclaw girls swooned. Catherina coughed loudly.
"And those who prefer not to be called students," Professor Weasley remarked walking over towards Black. "I'm glad to hear you're felling better."
"Really? You would be the first," muttered Cat.
"Cat, I was told you have a large knowledge about ancient magic," began the professor. "Maybe you can tell us something."
"Ancient wizards actually but why? Is the class going to be about that?"
"In a way," said Professor Weasley sitting on the chair in front of his desk and propping his legs on top of the desk.
Catherina shifted in her seat and twirled a strand of her jet-black hair around her finger all the while biting her lower lip.
"Well, if we're going to talk about ancient magic we should start talking about the most ancient of them all. Egypt was one of the very first all Wizarding-folk communities. In Egypt, magic or heka, as they called it was one of the forces used by the creator to make the world. Through heka, symbolic actions could have practical effects. All deities and people possessed this force in some degree, but there were rules about why and how it could be used," began Catherina and paused.
Professor Weasley nodded.
"I'll take it from here Black, thank you very much," he said. "Now take out your quill and parchments so you can take down some notes. You will be needing them in the near future."
The professor waited for the students to be ready before beginning.
"Priests were the main practitioners of magic in pharaonic Egypt, where they were seen as guardians of a secret knowledge given by the gods to humanity to 'ward off the blows of fate'. The most respected users of magic were the lector priests, who could read the ancient books of magic kept in temple and palace libraries. Such men were credited with the power to bring wax animals to life, or roll back the waters of a lake," continued Professor Weasley. "Real lector priests performed magical rituals to protect their king, and to help the dead to rebirth. By the first millennium BC, their role seems to have been taken over by magicians. Healing magic was a specialty of the priests who served Sekhmet, the fearsome goddess of plague."
He paused as the sound of the scratching of quills on paper filled the room.
"Does anyone know who follows in status the priest in charge of the healing in ancient Egypt?"
Catherina raised her hand. The professor pointed at her.
"Lower in status were the scorpion-charmers," said Catherina and paused but the professor waved at her to continue. " They used magic to rid an area of poisonous reptiles and insects. Midwives and nurses also included magic among their skills, and wise women might be consulted about which ghost or deity was causing a person trouble."
"Very good," said Professor Weasley. "Ten points for Gryffindor. So I'm going to go ahead and finish this introduction off. Amulets were another source of magic power, obtainable from 'protection-makers', who could be male or female. None of these uses of magic was disapproved of - either by the state or the priesthood. Only foreigners were regularly accused of using evil magic. It is not until the Roman period that there is much evidence of individual magicians practicing harmful magic for financial reward. Isn't that right, Black?"
Catherina looked up from her notes with a steely gaze. She nodded and returned to her parchment.
"Now who can tell me what were the ancient Egyptian wizards' wands made of?"
The professor looked around and sighed at the group. Catherina sucked her teeth and answered: "They were made of metal."
"You seem to know a lot about ancient magic, Black," hissed Hermione. "Why is that?"
"I read a lot," she answered without missing a beat.
"Only a small percentage of Egyptians were fully literate, so written magic was the most prestigious kind of all. Private collections of spells were treasured possessions, handed down within families. Protective or healing spells written on papyrus were sometimes folded up and worn on the body but most likely each family carried their own book of spells…a Grimoire of sorts," continued Professor Weasley. "A spell usually consisted of two parts: the words to be spoken and a description of the actions to be taken. To be effective all the words, especially the secret names of deities, had to be pronounced correctly. The words might be spoken to activate the power of an amulet, a figurine, or a potion."
Harry frowned. He thought about Cat's amulet. As the professor went on about the different spells ancient Egyptian wizards used Harry told Ron about the amulet since Hermione was still not talking to him.
"Really?" Ron whispered. "It could be just a regular old amulet."
"Some of the ivory wands may have been used to draw a protective circle around the area where a woman was to give birth, or to nurse her child. The wands were engraved with the dangerous beings invoked by the magician to fight on behalf of the mother and child. They are shown stabbing, strangling or biting evil forces, which are represented by snakes and foreigners," went on Professor Weasley in the background obviously excited about the subject.
"With Black?" Harry pointed out. "I don't think so."
"Supernatural 'fighters, such as the lion-dwarf Bes and the hippopotamus goddess Taweret, were represented on furniture and household items. Their job was to protect the home, especially at night when the forces of chaos were felt to be at their most powerful!" Exclaimed Professor Weasley.
Catherina looked up and shook her head before returning to her parchment and taking more notes.
"Well, Harry," said Ron in a low whisper. "What do you have in mind?"
"Bes and Taweret also feature in amuletic jewelry. Egyptians of all classes wore protective amulets, which could take the form of powerful deities or animals, or use royal names and symbols. Other amulets were designed to magically endow the wearer with desirable qualities, such as long life, prosperity and good health. Modern amulets are a little different from the ancient ones since they are almost undecipherable from regular amulets and necklaces,"
"We need to get a hold on that amulet," whispered Harry also.
"Though magic was mainly used to protect or heal, the Egyptian state also practiced destructive magic. The names of foreign enemies and Egyptian traitors were inscribed on clay pots, tablets, or figurines of bound prisoners. These objects were then burned, broken, or buried in cemeteries to weaken or destroy the enemy," ranted Professor Weasley.
"But we won't know what to do with it, Harry!" Ron whispered urgently.
"In major temples, priests and priestesses performed a ceremony to curse enemies of the divine order, such as the chaos serpent Apophis - who was eternally at war with the creator sun god. Images of Apophis were drawn on papyrus or modeled in wax, and these images were spat on, trampled, stabbed and burned. Anything that remained was dissolved in buckets of urine. The fiercest gods and goddesses of the Egyptian pantheon were summoned to fight with, and destroy, every part of Apophis, including his soul and his heka. Human enemies of the kings of Egypt could also be cursed during this ceremony," finished Professor Weasley.
"That's why we need Hermione," said Harry."
"Ok, I hope you took good notes because you will be needing them for next lesson."
"She won't help you," muttered Ron. "She's angry with me too for some reason."
Hermione raised her hand.
"Why? What are we going to do next lesson?"
"See? She can't resist a mystery," retorted Harry.
"You'll see," said Professor Weasley as the bell rang. "Ok, class dismissed."
"Don't bother speaking to me Harry," said Hermione avoiding Harry who kept following her around the common room.
"Hermione, I already apologized a million times!" Harry whined jumping over the armchair and trapping Hermione against the wall.
"It doesn't count if you don't mean it," she spat through clenched teeth.
"Hermione, we've been best friends for six years! Six years! Are you going to throw all that away?"
Hermione crossed her arms in front of her chest. She tucked a strand of her brown hair behind an ear and sighed.
"What do you want?" She asked. "My notes from Defense Against the Darks Arts or do you want help on that essay on Conjuring Spells for Transfiguration due on Thursday?"
Harry shook his head.
"No," he said. "Besides that's not due for three days. Ron and I were wondering…"
"What?" Ron shouted from an armchair and got up.
"NO! I wasn't wondering anything," said Ron to Hermione. "He was doing all the wondering."
"Fine," said Harry frowning. "I was wondering if you would be interested in deciphering a little mystery."
Hermione unfolded her arms and tilted her head to one side.
"A mystery you say?"
Harry and Ron nodded. Hermione smiled and her eyes twinkled.
"Now that's a different story."
Harry, Hermione and Ron discussed the mysteries surrounding Cat. Hermione had argued with Harry at first. She didn't quite understand why Harry wanted to snoop around when it was known that Catherina was Harry's "lover girl". Harry did not find that amusing. The trio went over the possibilities on how to get a hold on that amulet. While they discussed this they were reminded of the room back at Grimmauld Place. The friends made a vow that if they couldn't get the amulet that they would definitely go into that room during Christmas vacation.
The next morning Harry, Hermione, Ron and Catherina were having breakfast, patiently waiting for the morning mail. Harry was anxious to see if another Death Eater had died. The owls arrived and dropped the mail to their owner's. Harry was glad to see that it hadn't happened again as he handed the Daily Prophet to Hermione once he had looked at the front cover. Catherina had received a letter and once she finished reading it she made a sound Harry had never heard her do before: she squealed.
"She's in London!" Catherina exclaimed she then leaned in and whispered: "at Grimmauld Place."
"Who?" Ron asked.
"My cousin!"
"Black!" Called Professor McGonagall.
She had Max tucked underneath her arm.
"I'm confiscating this," informed McGonagall once she reached the teenagers.
"Why?" Catherina asked sadly.
"You can have one pet, only one pet and it should either be a toad, a rat, an owl or a cat. An enchanted guitar doesn't appear anywhere in the rule book!" Professor McGonagall said firmly.
"Oh, come on Professor!"
"No! That's it Black…no more second chances," she said and walked away with Max.
"Now what am I supposed to tell Reh!" Whined Catherina.
Harry smiled. He had seen two sides of Black in a matter of seconds. Maybe she isn't such a mystery after all, he thought. Professor Dumbledore walked towards them with Max in one hand. He handed it to Cat. Catherina smiled and hugged the enchanted guitar. Dumbledore took Cat's letter and read it. He laughed.
"What is it Professor?" Hermione asked.
"Oh well, Reh and Cat," began the professor with an all-knowing smile. "Birds of a father…"
