Don't you just love double-postings? On with the story!
Chapter 5 – The start of term
"Welcome to another year at Hogwarts. As usual, we will be starting with the Sorting of the First-years, but we also have another student first." Dumbledore explained. "Miss Orenda has been in a coma for the last five years, but she has learnt what she needed to pass her OWL tests and pass into Sixth-year with those of her own age. First however, she must be Sorted."
A stooped, haggard young man stepped forward, placing a stool and a hat before the Head Table. Kathryn frowned, a younger Argus Filch perhaps?
Professor Kennan stepped forward, holding a scroll. He did not open it to give the first name.
"Sixth-year student, Orenda, Kathryn." He announced, picking up the hat after it had finished singing.
Several murmurs fluttered through the room. Wasn't she the one who had awoken from a coma this summer? How had she passed the OWLs with so little time and training?
Kathryn swallowed and stepped forward, radiating a sense of cool confidence as she sat on the stool, crossing her legs comfortably.
"Ah, how interesting. Another Orenda, but so very different. Mother's prophetic dreams. Loyalty, intense loyalty. And brains, oh, those in abundance, how else could you pass eleven OWLs with only three weeks training? A vengeful streak, definitely. And bravery. So many traits of so many houses. Where can I put you?" The Sorting Hat mused.
'Put me in Slytherin and I will personally make sure the next time you sing, you'll be cheeping like peacocks in mating season. I am not going into such a bigoted, sectarianist...' Kathryn began to think.
"Ah, that answers it. You have courage, and vengeance, but a distinct hatred of separation of people for whatever reasons. You prize heart and mind and skill, not blood or looks or relations. There's only one place to put you, Kathryn. That is... GRYFFINDOR!" The Sorting Hat yelled for all to hear.
Kathryn grinned, pulling the Hat off and racing down to where her friends sat, resisting the urge to somersault in happiness. Sirius, however, had let out a whoop of "YES!" and the others were all cheering loudly.
But as she sat down, and the cheering died down, she heard a distinct mutter.
"Another Mudblood in Gryffindor House. Never does have any pride." A scornful voice commented.
Kathryn balled her fists. She would ignore the voice. She would.
But as the First-years were Sorted, the voice made more and more snide comments, and she found her resolve weakening. Finally as the last First- year was Sorted into Gryffindor ("Wright, Dyana!"), a final comment was made.
"Mudbloods, each a disgrace to the name of wizard. They shouldn't even be here!" It snidely muttered.
Kathryn flew to her feet. "ENOUGH!" She yelled, flinging out a hand.
Lucius Malfoy flew up into the air.
A deathly silence fell upon the hall.
"Lucius Malfoy, ah, I should have guessed." Kathryn snarled. "Care to voice your views about those with Muggle heritage any louder? I'm pretty sure the teachers would love to hear the despicable words flowing from your foul mouth."
"Get me down from here, you filthy bi–"
"Silencio!" She yelled. His voice disappeared. "I don't think you wanted to finish that sentence, Malfoy. And don't complain. I'm not torturing you, am I? Not as you will no doubt do to Muggles in the not so distant future."
His mouth snapped closed.
"Struck a nerve, did I? I'd like to inform you now that blood is not important. The phrase 'Mudblood' which you seem all too familiar with is pathetic, stupid, and obsolete. No one cares what blood you have! All that matters is that you have magic! Do you think magic cares about what blood a person has?" Kathryn was beginning to yell, her musically hinted voice heightening. "Because it doesn't! And in fact, you'll find that those with mixed blood, such as I, are frequently more powerful, pureblood is of ages past, of magic inherited. The blood of a Muggle-born? It is fresh, new, vibrant. Nothing has diluted it, nothing polluted it. A child of pureblood and Muggle-born? One of the strongest. That's why I was attacked, after all, wasn't it?"
There were people staring. One teacher, clearly Head of Slytherin House, wanted to stop her, but Dumbledore waved him down. Many of the Slytherins were looking down.
"Your master, though I suspect you were a little young then, knew of my potential for great magic. Of prophetic dreams, of strength, of intelligence. He would do anything to get that magic for himself. So he waited until I was playing and I ran into the forest. There, he grabbed me, and demanded I hand over my magic." Kathryn had a faint smile on her lips. "I think it's about time everyone knew the truth of what happened, don't you? A little incident with a Dementor made it all too clear. I refused to hand over my magic to Voldemort." Lucius flinched. Kathryn's tone became mocking. "What, scared of your master's name? It's not even that good a name. I suspect he believes the truth that fear of a name only increases fear of the object itself. Well listen to this. Lord Voldemort. I'm not scared to say it. I'm not scared of his name, or of him. After all, he has a habit of screwing up."
This caused a number of frowns. What did 'screwing up' mean?
"Lord Voldemort tortured me using the Cruciatus curse." This caused even more murmurs, and a few angry mutters of outrage. "He used it on an eleven- year-old kid, not even at Hogwarts yet. Wonder why. What possible harm could an eleven-year-old cause him? Whatever else I may have done, he wasn't going to take any chances. He scarred my skin, a sign, I suspect, to promise that I would not awaken. Then he poured the Draught of Living Death down my throat. I sank into a coma." Kathryn explained. "But someone screwed up, didn't they? Because no one's supposed to wake up from the Draught of Living Death, are they? No one's supposed to even still be seen as alive. I was still seen as alive, just comatose. And Voldemort made his biggest mistake. A coma is just like a very long sleep. And my mother's Muggle ancestors had an interesting habit. They could dream of the future. Which is exactly what I did. I lived as though I had been born seven years from now. I lived as a Muggle of the future. And it taught me a number of things I wouldn't know here. Songs, healing, martial arts. And a little about your world, as a Muggle fictional book. In those, I heard of the future, of one particular character. And I would tell you what happened, but I can't change it, no matter how much I want to. Let's just say this. Moldyvort has a thing for trying to murder defenceless kids. Oh, and your beloved leader is a half-blood, though you won't believe it."
Kathryn sat down, removing the Silencing Charm.
"Liar! You liar! Bitch, Mudblood, fu–"
"MALFOY, FINISH THAT WORD, OR SENTENCE, AND YOU WILL FIND YOURSELF SINGING SOPRANINO FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE!" Kathryn roared.
"Enough, Miss Orenda, Mr. Malfoy." Dumbledore stated. "Miss Orenda, please let him down."
Now Kathryn looked confused. "I didn't put him up there sir. I just silenced him. I thought someone else..."
"You put him up there, Miss Orenda."
"Then how the hell do I get him down? I don't know how I put him up!"
"You threw out your hand, Kat." Sirius offered helpfully.
Kat flung out her hand again, smacking the air beneath it down, as though ceasing the levitation spell.
Malfoy fell on the floor with a loud thump!
"Miss Orenda, I understand that you have been through an ordeal, but please refrain from making accusations you cannot prove..."
"Give it another year or so. You'll have all the proof you need!" Kathryn snapped. Her temper was exceptionally quick and fiery, one of her major faults.
"But we have none now, so refrain from doing so, no matter what you know of the future." Dumbledore said firmly, ignoring the look Kathryn shot Malfoy, promising trouble. "Mr. Malfoy, ten points from Slytherin and a detention for using such foul language. I will not tolerate it in this school, understand?"
"Yes sir." Then he glared. "Aren't you going to punish her?"
"What for? Expressing her anger at your foul mouth and explaining her story? Using magic she did not know she had? Requesting you stay silent while she thoroughly explained herself? Certainly not. Sit down." Dumbledore ordered. Malfoy obeyed. Dumbledore turned his attention to the rest of the school. "Now, to more serious issues, I have a few words to say. One, Miss Orenda, do not tell any more of the future or give accusations you cannot prove. Two, enjoy the feast."
He clapped his hands and an amazing feast appeared on each table. Everyone immediately tucked in.
Sirius stared at Kathryn. "That was some speech."
"That family needs a thorough lesson in decent language." Kathryn scowled.
"Definitely. Is Malfoy really a Death Eater?"
"If he isn't yet, he will be. He's a self-absorbed bastard, that one. Oh, well, even he'll get his comeuppance. Until that time..." A light filled her eyes. "I'm gonna take my vengeance for me and the rest of the poor First-years he called Mudbloods in any way I choose."
"Is he really that bad?" Lily asked.
"Let's put it this way. He'll kill and torment Muggles for fun. No other reason."
"God, he is." Lily breathed. "I never liked that slimy git anyway."
"Which one, Snape or Malfoy?"
"Malfoy in particular, but Snape..."
"Is an ungrateful, greasy sycophant?"
"Yeah, that just about sums him up."
"Can we talk about something else? This is depressing." Kathryn complained, taking a bite of roast beef.
"Okay. What's this magic you've got?" Sirius asked.
"No idea. 'Spect Dumbledore'll tell me when he's ready." Kathryn shrugged. "Or sooner, I might get pissed off otherwise."
"Okay, even my language isn't as bad as yours." James informed her.
"Sorry. But it's everyday speak where I was."
"Then the future has a singularly foul mouth."
"You can say that again."
"The future has a..."
"Not literally, you dolt!" Kathryn shrieked.
Lily giggled as Radella rolled her eyes. Alura looked thoughtful.
The feast had no other exceptionally interesting features, except the constant glances thrown the way of Kathryn, Lily, Radella and Alura. Or those shot in the direction of James, Sirius and Remus, for that matter (Peter never really got a look at). (A/N: I don't like Peter anyway, stupid rat! And neither does Kathryn. Hee hee hee.)
After all, they were all highly attractive, though as different as any four girls, and three boys, could be. One redhead, one (natural) platinum- blonde, one brunette and one dark golden-blonde. And even though Sirius and James were both dark-haired, there were also differences, mainly in the fact that one had extremely messy dark hair and the other had elegantly floppy black hair, while the third had light brown hair, sun-streaked from time in the sun. All were highly attractive, and none really seemed to notice it. And that heightened their attractiveness, as well as their brains, even more.
Kathryn certainly didn't notice. She was still used to being different, plain (though even in her coma she wasn't really), and didn't observe the change in attitude, even though she knew she looked different. She also figured that the bootleg, low-waisted dark jeans, black, heeled boots and white strappy top had something to do with it, even under her robes – her fashion was much more twenty-first century. So it showed a little more flesh. And it was way more comfortable.
"So, what subjects're you taking?" Kathryn asked the others.
"I'm gonna be an Auror, so I'm taking Transfiguration, Charms, Potions, Defence Against the Dark Arts, Herbology and the miscellaneous one specifically aimed at those wanting to be Aurors. Known as Auror Atudies." James grinned.
"You're taking six NEWTs?" Radella asked incredulously.
"Yeah, why?" James frowned.
"Oh, no reason. It just seems like a lot of work." She shrugged.
"I'm taking six too." Sirius offered.
"And me." Kathryn grinned. "Same ones actually."
Lily now frowned. "You taking the same as well, Sirius?"
"Yep."
"How is it that the four of us have chosen exactly the same subjects?" Lily wanted to know.
"You and James are soulmates?" Offered Sirius.
"You and Kathryn are?" James shot back.
All four blushed elegantly. Remus watched with amusement and nudged Frank Longbottom, the fifth boy who shared their dormitory (A/N: Yeah I know the whole Frank being in their dorm has been done to death, but work with me here, okay?) and murmured:
"Looks like we're gonna have some cases of hormone-poisoning this year."
Unfortunately for him, Kathryn heard. "Better than a case of testosterone-poisoning though, isn't it? After all, at least we won't have to clear away any blood and guts after them."
Remus raised a brow. "It depends on your..."
"Oh no, no! I do not like the way your mind works." Kathryn shuddered.
"Definition of testosterone-poisoning." Remus finished.
Everyone laughed as Kathryn turned scarlet. "Hey, the boys I knew in my coma all seemed to have filthy minds. Even the ones who thought I was a spy. Weird people."
"Yeah, but the people who were closest to you, you most likely made up. They were part of the coma. But the major things, possibly people you didn't know so well, they were probably the real Muggle future."
"You mean there's no chance of the Americans voting someone into power who actually has a brain? Damn." Kathryn complained.
"I thought you weren't going to tell us about the future." James pointed out.
"How likely is it that the Muggle president of America is going to affect you later in life?" Kathryn asked, then bit her lip. 'It won't affect you at all...'
"Something up, Kat?" Sirius asked.
She shrugged her feeling off. "No nothing at all."
The feast continued a little longer, and then Dumbledore stood up. "Welcome to another year at Hogwarts, my fine young students. First and foremost, I would like to tell the First-years, and remind older students that there is a reason that the Forbidden Forest on our grounds is forbidden. (A/S/N: Thriodien: Yeah well we got that from the title! A/N: Tanydwr: Shut Thriodien, this is my fic! And what the hell does A/S/N mean? Thriodien: Author's Sister's Note! Tanydwr: Great!) As I have constantly informed the Marauders, with whom I'm sure you are all familiar with, if not you soon will be," the Marauders gave a few waves and grins, "it is not the Warm, Sweet, Cuddly Forest Filled With Creatures Who Want to be Your Friends. So please, stay out of it. Secondly, I would like to inform you that there will be a Christmas Ball, open only to students in Fourth-year and above. And lastly, the new Quidditch Captain for Gryffindor, who lost theirs last year, is James Potter. You will report to your Head of House tomorrow with the rest of the remaining team. Enjoy this year and learn plenty." He smiled. "Heads of House, please lead the First-years to your common rooms and dormitories. Dismissed."
As soon as he said, 'Dismissed' a huge horn sounded, and florescent signs saying 'Students dismissed' floated in the Great Hall, over each table and exit. As if that was not enough, a voice, much like an announcer at an airport's, told the students, "Common room doors will be opening shortly. Please do not miss the chance to learn the password and get into your rooms. If you do not, you will not get in. Have a nice day." It repeated this over and over and over again.
Everyone laughed as they obeyed instructions. The teachers looked worried, but noted that everything stopped as soon as the last student left the room.
Dumbledore chuckled. "Those Marauders. What will they think of next?"
"Password's Othello." Lily announced. It had been her turn to think up the password for now, and she had read a lot of Shakespeare over the holidays.
Kathryn grinned. "'To be thus is nothing..." She began.
"'But to be safely thus.'" Lily grinned. "But that's Macbeth."
"Well I didn't choose it to study at GCSE." Kathryn informed her. "We were just told, you're doing Macbeth. And then I go and write an essay that was probably longer than the play itself..."
"You what?" Sirius asked. "You were in a coma, in a semi-made-up world, and you wrote essays?"
"I'm an intelligent girl, Sirius, don't tell me you hadn't noticed." Kathryn grinned. "I didn't change just because I was in a different world."
"Yeah, but essays?" He looked horrified as they entered the common room.
Kathryn grinned. The common room was exactly as she expected. Warm, cosy, comfortable. Lily led the First-year girls up to their dorms, while Remus led the boys. Kathryn collapsed on the nearest sofa.
"Good prank. Nice, clean fun, no mess, no one in the hospital wing." Kathryn approved.
"Ah, anything to win approval from the sweet lady of wandless magic." Sirius teased with a dramatic bow, then promptly flopped next to her.
"Yeah, how come you didn't tell us?" Alura asked.
Kat rolled her eyes. "I didn't know about anything other than my prophetic dreams. I guess that must be why Voldemort wanted my power. And when he couldn't take it, he incapacitated me in the aim of stopping me using the magic on the side of good." She grinned. "But he screwed up. I bet you anything Snape's dad brewed the potion."
"Why?"
"Because he'll be a Death Eater. If he's still alive, that is. He may be dead. Anyway, the Snapes have a thing for potions, but not all work as well as others." She shrugged, stretching her long frame.
Radella grinned as she caught one of the Seventh-years staring at Kathryn as she did so. He busied himself as soon as he realised she was looking.
"Y'know, Kat? I think there may soon be a Kathryn Orenda fan club to join the Sirius Black fan club, the James Potter fan club and the Lily Evans fan club."
Lily arrived in time to hear the last comment. She shuddered. "Lily Evans fan club. Eurgh! They scare me."
"Definitely." Alura agreed.
"Why were you talking about them?" Lily asked.
"Because I think Kathryn's gonna get one."
Lily laughed. "It wouldn't surprise me. After your little speech today? There were First-years staring at you like you were the next Hercules. Not to mention Muggle-borns."
"And boys. Christopher Darwin in Seventh-year was staring." Radella offered.
"He shares a dorm with my twin brothers, right?" Kathryn asked, a wicked smile crossing her face.
"You wouldn't..." Radella began.
"Accidentally on purpose tell my brothers he was checking me out? Of course, I would. What's the point in big brothers if you can't use them to your advantage?"
"You are Mystique, aren't you?"
"Yes, the very embodiment. No one knows what is going on in my mind." Kathryn grinned. "I'm all mysterious."
Sirius, Remus, James and Peter had all been talking. Sirius grinned.
"We have our own nicknames for you now." He announced. "And Kat, be glad that Remus overruled me."
"Why?"
"Coz I was gonna call you Tose."
"Tose?"
"As in comatose."
Kathryn groaned and slapped him lightly.
"And we've given you respectful ones." James added.
"Oh?" Lily frowned.
"You're all named after famous witches in history."
"Oh, how nice. Who am I?" Lily asked.
"Medea. Radella's Nimuë and Alura's Morgana." James explained.
"And me?" Kathryn asked.
"The Lady Mystique. Who else?" Sirius grinned. "I mean she is one of your ancestors."
"Oh well, we'll always know who you're talking about as Mystique then, 'coz it's the girls' nickname for me too." Kathryn shrugged. "And I've never heard of the Lady Mystique."
"She's the one from whom your wandless magic comes. She said that her descendant of pure and magic name shall regain her powers in order to protect a future she knows of and then change it once she could."
"That'll be July 2003 then. Great. I've gotta wait twenty-three years." Kathryn rolled her eyes. She yawned. "Anyway, ladies, where's the dorm? I think I need some sleep."
Lily grinned. "Yeah, they'll probably decide on some really awful subjects for tomorrow morning."
"Aren't you glad it'll be a Friday and we then have the weekend?" James teased.
Lily ignored him. "Della, Lura, you coming?"
"Nah, I'm gonna see how many boys burst into tears because you two have left." Radella decided.
Sirius rolled his eyes. "Surely they aren't that sad. Isn't it better to just be a friend?"
Radella stared. "When did you decide on that? I thought you believed in knowing nothing about the girls you date." "Only because when I realise I don't really feel the spark I want I don't hurt them so much." Sirius shrugged. "I can't seem to find the one I really like. Anyway, I'm going to bed."
"Me too." James jumped up.
Remus grinned. "I'll keep a look out for how many girls cry because you two've left the room."
"Yeah right, whatever, Moony." Sirius shook his head.
The four friends walked up the stairs. Due to some strange factor in building the towers, the Sixth and Seventh-years' girls' and boys' dorms were opposite one another, though on the same floor. Bathrooms were at either end, adjoined by a door into the dorm, but also another onto the corridor used for cleaning purposes. Lily had decided long ago that the Founders had had an evil sense of humour when making these, or else teenagers weren't as crazed as they were now. Whatever the reason, there was frequently trouble, especially now that Enchanted, as the girls were known, plus Alice Phenners, and the Marauders, plus Frank Longbottom, were opposite each other.
It wouldn't be long before the trouble (of any sort) began.
###
------------"You stupid little boy!" A man snarled. "You – stupid – boy!"
The boy cringed, curling his body around his midsection. "I-I-I didn't do it! I didn't do anything!"
"Not do anything? You ruined Dudley's birthday!"
"I didn't. It just – It just exploded is all. I-I didn't d-do it!"
The man hit the boy savagely. The boy let out a whimper of pain as more blows landed on him. Bleeding, bruised, half-dead, the boy looked up. There was a strange fire in his eyes.
"Do what you want, Uncle Vernon. You can't keep beating me forever." The boy said.
The man, Vernon Dursley, cracked the boy once more round the head. His head cracked on the wall. He left the child to slump to the ground, unconscious.
"Petunia! Where are you?" He yelled.
"Here, why, Vernon?"
"The boy has been a fool and fallen down the stairs again." He lied. "I'll see you later."
"Oh, I'll come and check." There was a hint of fear in her voice. Did she know the truth of what happened?
A thin, bony woman came in from the garden, and gasped. Her husband had left the house to go to work.
"Oh, Harry." She murmured, tears on her cheeks. She never let anyone see the truth – that she cared for her nephew. But no one was here now. "Don't anger him again. I don't care if your parents were freaks. Please, gain their magic. Then at least you'll be safe from him."
------------
Kathryn gasped and shuddered awake. A trickle of sweat rolled down her face, mingling with tears. She sat up, terrified. She looked over at Lily's bed, curtains closed.
'Oh, Lily, I can't let that happen. I swear, I'll not let him be beaten...' She promised.
Kathryn hadn't had any clear prophetic dreams since her coma. It seemed that dreaming for so long had sapped at that power. But now, they were happening again.
She got out her diary. Her mother had said that it was always a good idea to write down dreams before you forgot them, and that it had always helped her. But her mother had said her dreams were fragmental, and rarely clear – this had been all too clear.
Sighing, she finished writing and locked her diary. She looked at her alarm clock, magicked by her mother to run without electricity. It read six o'clock. She knew she wasn't going to get back to sleep. In fact, she was suffering from a little insomnia. Comas could do that to you.
She got up and entered the bathroom. She ran a shower, revelling in the hot bullets of water pummelling her skin. When she left the shower, she dressed, pulling on jeans and a long-sleeved crimson top. As an afterthought she added her robes, complete with wand in pocket.
The Great Hall was empty, but she wasn't hungry yet. Instead, she began exploring. After all, she didn't know enough about the layout of Hogwarts yet.
She headed towards the Owlery to start with. It was quiet and peaceful. She was startled to find that Horus wasn't there. She didn't remember sending him out on a delivery. Then again, maybe he just wasn't back from his night hunt yet.
She soon found the kitchens (but didn't enter them due to lack of hunger) and the Library. That was an interesting room, but she didn't want to be in there yet. She was enjoying her exploration until she came onto a sickening discovery.
"My God!" She yelled, running.
A small boy, most likely a First-year, had been brutally attacked. Blood covered his face and caked his robes. He looked like he'd been for a little early morning exploration too.
Instantly she checked his pulse and breathing. Both were present, but shaky.
"What happened to you?" She wondered as she levitated him, heading straight for the Hospital Wing. "Why couldn't I have seen this? Why couldn't I have stopped it?"
As she left, a snarling voice murmured, "So she has the weakness of compassion. So like a Gryffindor, and her ancestors."
"Be careful, friend. Compassion is not always a weakness. It has been known to bring out strength in people otherwise dormant." Another voice advised. Kathryn shrieked as she entered the Hospital Wing. "Madam Pomfrey!"
"What?" A young woman asked. She was pretty, but had a very matronly look about her.
"I found him on the fifth floor. He's been viciously beaten. Pulse and breathing are present but shaky. He's lost so much blood." Kathryn gasped.
"Bloody Hell!" The woman swore as she saw the child.
Kathryn stared. She hadn't expected such an outburst from the woman.
"Name?"
"I'm Kathryn Orenda, but I don't know his. I mean, all the blood, and I don't know many of the First-years anyway..."
"Kathryn, help me with him, will you? I trust the skill in Healing runs in the family."
"I don't know. But I'll help. Poor kid."
Together, Madam Pomfrey and Kathryn cleaned the boy's faces and attended his wounds. Eventually, once his nose had mended and the blood cleared, Kathryn recognised him.
"He's one of the new Gryffindor First-years! Jenkins, or something. Oh, if I find out who did this..."
"Kathryn, control your anger. Please, go an inform Professor Dumbledore of this attack. The prefects and Heads will need to be warned if any more such attacks occur."
Kathryn nodded and left. However, she was muttering under breath, "I bet you anything it was those crazy Slytherins. Probably Malfoy, or Lestrange, or Bellatrix, even Narcissa. Or Snape, of course." Lily and James and Sirius had pointed each of these out to her, Sirius had been especially bitter.
She got to the gargoyle she recognised as being the one to guard Dumbledore's office. She had had very graphic images from the novel, probably based on actual knowledge. She wondered what the password could be.
"Um, sherbet lemon?" She tried.
No movement.
"Sugar quill? Cockroach cluster? Honeyduke's Chocolate?" She added at random. No movement.
"For cryin' out loud!" She exclaimed stamping a foot. "Dairy Milk? Milky Way? Kit Kat?"
The gargoyle sprang aside.
"Kit Kat? Good grief." She muttered, rolling her eyes.
She entered, knocking on Dumbledore's office door.
"Come in." A soft voice ordered.
She obeyed. "Professor? Madam Pomfrey sent me. One of the Gryffindor First-years has been very badly beaten up. I found him this morning."
Dumbledore stared at her. "There's blood on your hands and face." He observed.
"What?" She frowned, looking down. "Oh, I was helping Madam Pomfrey stabilise him. And I forgot to wash my hands. I was in a rush... Wait. My face?"
Dumbledore smiled. He handed her a mirror.
"Cr – crikey." She swiftly changed her choice of words. "Scourgify." She pointed at her face and then each hand. All traces of blood were gone. "Thanks, professor. Imagine if I'd gone into the Great Hall like that."
"Do you have any idea of who attacked him?"
"Nothing that can be proved." Kathryn replied carefully. "I have my suspicions. I'm not sure about who he was. Jenkins, or something?"
"Gareth Jackson?"
"Yes, that's it. Is he Muggle-born?"
"Yes, why...?"
"Slytherins. Most likely, Sixth or Seventh-years. The ones who have such a crazily strong belief in purity of blood. I'd say we're looking at Malfoy, Lestrange, the Black sisters and Snape. Most likely."
"Why?"
"I know what they're going to do. They could already be doing it."
"What?"
"It's the future. Can I tell you?"
"I guess not. But I will keep an eye on those students."
"Not Andromeda Black."
"She graduated three years ago."
"She did? Good."
"Why?"
"She, like Sirius, is one of the few human members of the Black household left."
"That's no way to speak of others."
"What, does the truth bite?" Kathryn wanted to know. "Believe me, I know how bad a portrait of Sirius' mum can be, I've no inclination to meet her in person."
"Kathryn, keep your suspicions to yourself, or at least to those you believe you can trust. And keep an eye out for those students. I do not want anything of this sort happening again." Dumbledore was serious. Then he brightened. "On a lighter note, congratulations on becoming a Gryffindor. I noticed you have become friends with both Enchanted and the Marauders."
"The teachers know of the girls' nickname too?" Kathryn grinned. "I'm not just friends with the girls. I am a member of Enchanted. And now there's an equal footing." Her grin was wicked.
"What of your magic, did you care to ask me?"
"Yeah, that was another thing. I had a prophetic dream."
"What of?"
"Harry Potter." She had told Dumbledore a lot, including Harry's life and parents. "He was only seven, eight years old. Vernon Dursley was beating him. Said something about him ruining Dudley's birthday. It was probably some burst of magic he had no way of controlling! And the bastard was beating him! Oh, sorry professor." She looked sheepish.
"I'm a little hard of hearing, Kathryn, please speak up." Dumbledore informed her, eyes twinkling.
"He knocked the poor kid unconscious and then told his wife he fell down the stairs, again. Petunia looked like she knew what had happened, but too afraid to say anything. And it was obvious that Harry had been beaten before. And now finding that kid in the corridor... I hate this!" Kathryn burst out. "What is the use of having prophetic dreams if I can't help anyone?"
Then it struck her. "But maybe I can." She remembered a spell used in a fiction book called Lady Knight by Tamora Pierce. Of course, it wasn't written yet, but the author's books had been among her favourites. (A/N: They're really good, but that's the last book of a third quartet! Read the first one Alanna: The First Adventure in The Song of the Lioness quartet! Lady Knight isn't until later! Anyway, on with this story...) One of the characters had placed a spell on another, causing every beating he dished out to others to be rebounded back on him.
"Kathryn?"
"Professor. I'm fine. But I will not allow Harry to be abused. I don't care, I will protect him from that at least, or he will not cope with what his future lays in store for him."
"Very well. Now I suggest you go down to breakfast, your friends will worry."
"Thanks, Professor Dumbledore."
"I'm glad I was able to help. If you experience any more developments in your magical powers, or prophetic dreams, don't hesitate to ask. At any time."
"I won't."
She ducked out of Dumbledore's office, feeling lighter-hearted than she had when entering.
Now, to find a spell to stop Vernon Dursley from becoming an abusive monster. Oh, but first, breakfast.
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A/N: Like it? Please tell me!!! I accept anonymous reviews. At least I hope I do. SO, read, review, suggest, flame, I don't care! I've only had three so far!I really don't mind flames. I don't take them seriously, so I think they're hilarious. Especially if I don't even know the person. So feel welcome to flame. Coz I could do with a laugh!
I post these weekly, every Friday evening. Also, I'm British, so don't complain about spelling, it's all correct in my country! I didn't realise how many differences there were until I started reading FanFiction. Anyway, enough about my crazy obsession with correct spelling and grammar!
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Lol (by which I mean lots of love),
Tanydwr