(A/N: A good friend of mine, Rachelie-Poo, hath pointedth outteth to me that this story be similar to that of Favian Fynn's. Okay, there's a good reason for that and I hope this doesn't disappoint anyone. This story was started many moons and suns ago, indeed before dinosaurs roamed the earth. The Favian Fynn story was actually just an offshoot of this, because this story is really, really long. That one is a mite different and a tad Mary-Sueish, if we face the facts. Speaking of Mary Sue, Kate is not a Mary Sue. Some things will seem Mary-Sueish but a lot of those actually happened, without the Hogwarts business. I say no more on this, lest I give the story away. =-O. Oh, and kudos to my nifty CrazayLaday, because she's just cool. And to my beloved Karlminion for giving me many smiles a day.)
It was night once they got outside and a booming voice from a huge man that Kate found vaguely familiar called first years to him.
"Firs' years! Firs' years over here! All right there, Harry?"
"Who is he?" Kate asked Harry curiously.
"Hagrid."
"Oh," she was nonplussed.
"C'mon, follow me- any more firs' years? Mind yer step, now! Firs' years, follow me!"
The group of frightened first years stumbled behind Hagrid, following an abrupt and narrow path. It was so dark that Kate could barely see a thing, and everyone was wearing black. Everyone looked like a floating head in this thick darkness.
"Yeh'll get yer firs' sight o' Hogwarts in a sec," Hagrid called over his shoulder, "jus' round this bend here."
There was a collective "ooooooh!"
The path had stopped in front of a large black lake. Across the way, atop what seemed to be a mountain, was a castle, windows glowing with light. It truly looked the part of a fairytale.
Quite a few little boats sat bobbing in the water.
"No more'n four to a boat!"
Harry, Ron, and Kate were followed into their boat by Hermione. Neville, who had been following Hermione now looked lost and followed Hagrid timidly into his.
"Everyone in?" Hagrid and Neville were alone in theirs. "Right then- FORWARD!"
There was a great silence over the fleet of boats as they glided across the glassy water staring at the sparkling building across the way. Soon they had gone under an overhang and landed on shore. The students stumbled out of the boats, jittery with nerves.
Hagrid was checking the boats as they left them. "Oy, you there! Is this your toad?"
"Trevor!" Neville ran forward and took his toad from Hagrid. Then they clambered into a stone passageway after Hagrid. They stood before the castle and scurried to keep up with Hagrid. They walked up a flight of stone stairs and crowded around the huge oak front doors.
"Everyone here? You there, still got yer toad?"
Hagrid raised a gargantuan fist and knocked three times on the castle door.
The door swung open and Professor McGonagall stood before them in emerald green robes. She looked even stricter than on the first night Kate had met her.
"Professor McGonagall, the firs' years."
"Thank you, Hagrid, I will take them from here."
She pulled the door open wider and the first years filed into the entrance hall. It was so large that Kate thought that her new house could have fit comfortably inside. More flaming torches lit this hall and shadows danced around like sprites. Kate couldn't find the ceiling even as she mounted the marble stairs, holding her robes carefully up. She breathed in smelling the warm scent of fire and wood. McGonagall, Kate realized in a second, was not going up the stairs. Kate felt really stupid, but pretended to just be looking and then scurried after the group.
Kate could hear hundreds of voices coming from behind a door to the right, but McGonagall took them into a small chamber off of the hall. The first years smooshed in, closer together than normal, a mark of their fright.
"Welcome to Hogwarts," said Professor McGonagall. "The start-of-term banquet will begin shortly, but before you take your seats in the Great Hall, you will be sorted into your houses. The Sorting is a very important ceremony because, while you are here, your house will be something like your family within Hogwarts. You will have classes with the rest of your house, sleep in your house dormitory, and spend free time in your house common room.
"The four houses are called Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin." Kate saw Malfoy nudge his two cronies and nod. "Each house has its own noble history and each has produced outstanding witches and wizards. While you are at Hogwarts, your triumphs will earn your house points, while any rule-breaking," she paused to scrutinize the shivering first years, "will lose house points. At the end of the year, the house with the most points is awarded the house cup, a great honor. I hope each of you will be a credit to whichever house becomes yours.
"The Sorting Ceremony will take place in a few minutes in front of the rest of the school. I suggest you all smarten yourselves up as much as you can while you are waiting." Kate wondered how she could smarten herself up with nothing around her like books. Professor McGonagall looked around at the first years again, her eyes staying longest on parts that seemed untidy. Kate subconsciously pushed on her glasses, realizing how huge they were. She felt surprisingly small, suddenly, for usually feeling so enormous.
"I shall return when we are ready for you," said Professor McGonagall. "Please wait quietly."
When she left, Kate felt like she might vomit. What was this sorting going to be?
"How exactly do they sort us into houses?" Harry asked Ron from next to her. Kate turned to listen carefully.
"Some sort of test, I think. Fred says it hurts a lot, but I think he was joking."
"Oh great." Kate moaned softly. "I hate tests."
Behind her, Hermione Granger was whispering quickly about everything she had learned over the summer. Kate willed her to please shut up. She had certainly been nervous before. When her gut started clenching, she thought that her ulcerative colitis was flaring up, but she realized it was just normal nausea. What was the test?
Kate cried out as someone barreled into her from behind. Neville had squealed as the rest of the first years made noises of fear. Soon Kate saw the cause of it. About twenty ghosts, all pearly-white and translucent, had just trailed into the room through a wall. They didn't seem to notice the first years at all, but were instead, in the midst of arguing.
"Forgive and forget, I say," said a fat little monk; "we ought to give him a second chance-" He was cut off by a ghost wearing a ruff and tights.
"My dear Friar, haven't we given Peeves all the chances he deserves? He gives us all a bad name and you know, he's not really even a ghost- I say, what are you all doing here?" He suddenly noticed the huddled group of trembling students.
"We're first years." Kate spoke up, not seeing a reason to be afraid.
"New students!" The Fat Friar smiled at her.
"Yes, we're about to be Sorted." She was about to ask what the Sorting was exactly, but the Friar continued.
"How exciting. What is your name?"
"Kathryn Slate." She explained.
"I'd shake your hand, but I'm afraid that would be quite impossible." He chuckled. "I hope to see you in Hufflepuff! My old house, you know."
"Move along now," said a sharp voice. "The Sorting Ceremony's about to begin." Professor McGonagall had returned.
"Oh, that one will be in Gryffindor," said a ghost from behind.
"I sense intelligence, certainly Ravenclaw-"
"Now form a line," Professor McGonagall told them, "and follow me."
The ghosts went through the wall, the Friar pausing to wink at Kate and disappearing.
Kate's nerves had calmed as she walked along. She was thinking back to the ghosts and how friendly they were. She smiled to herself. Harry, on the other hand, looked a pale as a sheet. Ron as well. She was behind Ron and in front of a tall black boy, who nodded to her, looking terrified.
They entered the Great Hall. It was magnificent. She had read Hogwarts, A History and was prepared for the ceiling to be interesting, but not breath-taking. It was as though they truly were outside looking at the starry night sky. She heard Hermione whisper this and realized that she and Hermione were probably the only two to have read it in this grade. There were four long tables with students sitting in front of golden plates, goblets and silverware. Floating above the tables were candles giving the room a golden glow. To avoid looking at the students, who were staring and whispering, she looked elsewhere.
At the front of the room was a long table where the teachers were sitting. She first noted Professor Dumbledore, with his silver beard and his kindly eyes, which twinkled behind half-moon spectacles. She didn't recognize any others and was distracted from further inspection by Professor McGonagall as she placed a four-legged stool in front of them. On top of the stool was a pointed hat that was actually quite unappealing. Patched, frayed, and dirty, it certainly had no place on someone's head.
Maybe it can read minds. Kate thought desperately. Everyone in the Great Hall was staring at the hat, as though expecting it to do something. Then, a rip near the brim of the hat, opened wide and began to sing:
"Oh you may not think I'm pretty,
But don't judge on what you see,
I'll eat myself if you can find
A smarter hat than me.
You can keep your bowlers black,
Your top hats sleek and tall,
For I'm the Hogwarts Sorting Hat
And I can cap them all.
There's nothing hidden in your head
The Sorting Hat can't see,
So try me on and I will tell you
Where you ought to be.
You might belong in Gryffindor,
Where dwell the brave at heart,
Their daring, nerve, and chivalry
Set Gryffindors apart;
You might belong in Hufflepuff,
Where they are just and loyal,
Those patient Hufflepuffs are true
And unafraid of toil;
Or yet in wise old Ravenclaw,
If you've a ready mind,
Where those of wit and learning,
Will always find their kind;
Or perhaps in Slytherin
You'll make your real friends,
Those cunning folk use any means
To achieve their ends.
So put me on! Don't be afraid!
And don't get in a flap!
You're in safe hands (though I have none)
For I'm a Thinking Cap!"
Kate joined the hall in applause. What a brilliant hat! What a glorious day! No test! Just a mind-reading. Wait… it could read her mind and see what unkind thoughts she had. Oh no! It would know about the time she wanted Meghan to cry and the time that she wanted some girl to get smacked by a tennis racket. It would see every cruel action she wanted to do, but harbored inside. It would know that she was no saint.
Oh well. It was probably better than going up and taking a written exam in front of the school.
McGonagall stepped forward holding a long roll or parchment.
"When I call your name, you will put on the hat and sit on the stool to be sorted," she said. "Abbott, Hannah!"
A pink-faced girl with blonde pigtails stumbled out of line, put on the hat, which covered most of her face, and sat down. After a few seconds the hat cried out-
"HUFFLEPUFF!" The table on the right cheered, and the Fat Friar waved merrily. Hannah went to join her new table.
"Bones, Susan!"
"HUFFLEPUFF!" Susan ran to sit next to Hannah.
"Boot, Terry!"
"RAVENCLAW!" A table second from the left applauded.
"Brocklehurst, Mandy!"
"RAVENCLAW!"
Was it Kate's imagination or did every house come in twos?
"Brown, Lavender!"
"GRYFFINDOR!" Kate saw Ron's twin brothers cat-calling.
"Bulstrode, Millicent!"
"SLYTHERIN!"
Kate saw the Slytherin table and tried not to think of them as unpleasant, but they certainly didn't look kindly. Kate listened to a few more names and realized that there were varying times that it took for the hat to decide. Some people were immediately sorted while others took a longer time. Kate wondered why, but figured she might find out soon. At least, she hoped she did.
"Granger, Hermione!"
Hermione was very quick to get to the stool and she practically jammed the hat onto her head with eagerness. Kate made a mental note not to look so excited. It was kind of sickening to see.
"GRYFFINDOR!" Ron moaned from in front of her, shoulders sagging.
Kate was observing the tables, trying to memorize faces for later. She heard Neville Longbottom being sent to Gryffindor when people began laughing. She looked up and saw Neville running back to the stool, hat still on head.
When she heard "Malfoy, Draco!" called, she listened eagerly, but didn't need to wait long.
"SLYTHERIN!"
"No surprise." Ron muttered to her.
Crabbe and Goyle were already situated there.
Few people were left at this point. When Kate started hearing the P's going, she listened until….
"Potter, Harry!"
Harry stepped reluctantly forward, and then whispers began to invade the hall.
"Potter, as in Harry Potter?"
"The Harry Potter?"
Everyone in the hall watched him intently. Kate felt kind of bad for him. He disappeared beneath the hat. It seemed to take a long time for him. Kate jumped as the hat exclaimed: "GRYFFINDOR!" The Gryffindor table burst into fervent applause, half of the table standing excitedly. She saw the Prefect Weasley, Percy, shaking Harry's hand.
Kate noticed the hall slowly quieted down and then, her heart jumped because….
"Slate, Kathryn!" McGonagall watched for her. Kate was so surprised that she almost didn't move. She started walking and took the hat slowly, putting it onto her head. She exhaled as it slipped all the way down. No one was watching her, Harry had made sure of that, and for that she was grateful.
"Kate, hello." Said a small voice in her ear.
"Hi." She whispered.
"Whew, you're just as difficult as your young friend, Harry. I see much courage, a very talented mind, determination to work and you are loyal to your friends. Your ambitions aren't your first priority though. I suppose that rules Slytherin out. That leaves three. I don't see you simply sitting around and reading or sitting back and letting others make noise. No, soon a metamorphosis is coming, so it'd better be GRYFFINDOR!"
Kate removed the hat, saying a silent thanks and goodbye. McGonagall leaned over to speak to her. "During dessert, Madam Pomfrey will take you to the hospital wing to heal you and then she'll bring you back, all right?" Kate nodded and walked to the Gryffindor table. She seated herself next to Harry and smiled at the ghost in ruff and tights that she had earlier met. She breathed slowly out and smiled at Harry. The black boy that had stood behind Kate in line was next; he was also put into Gryffindor. When Ron went up, he looked wont to vomit. Kate sensed that the hat was saying something along the lines of "another Weasley," and then….
"GRYFFINDOR!"
Kate and Harry clapped loudly as Ron sat across from Kate, looking relieved and ready to faint.
"Well done, Ron, excellent." Said the prefect boy pompously. And finally, the Sorting was over. Kate sighed and rested her arms on the table, glad that nobody could see how chubby they were, being covered in sleeves. Albus Dumbledore stood and was beaming at the students. He opened his arms wide, as though trying to hug all of them.
"Welcome!" He cried. "Welcome to a new year at Hogwarts! Before we begin our banquet, I would like to say a few words. And here they are: Nitwit! Blubber! Oddment! Tweak!
"Thank you!"
He sat down. Everybody clapped and cheered. Kate wasn't sure what to make of that, but she laughed anyway. Harry leaned to talk to Percy.
"Is he- a bit mad?"
"Mad? He's a genius! Best wizard in the world! But he is a bit mad, yes. Potatoes, Harry?"
Kate jumped as well, noticing that all of the dishes were full of food. She hadn't been planning on eating anything but vegetables, but couldn't resist what had been put in front of her. Kate served herself a little bit of everything she liked and had forced herself not to eat all of it. Around her people snarfed their food, but Kate was determined to lose weight quickly. Now that she was going to be off of the prednisone, she would be free! Instead of eating lots of food, she drank lots of the sweet liquid in her goblet.
"That does look good," said the ghost sadly.
"Can't you-?"
"I haven't eaten for nearly four hundred years," said the ghost. "I don't need to, of course, but one does miss it. I don't think I've introduced myself, though I have met your fine young friend, Kathryn. I knew you would be a Gryffindor." He smiled at Kate who blushed. "I am Sir Nicholas de Mimsy-Porpington. Resident ghost of Gryffindor Tower."
"I know who you are!" Ron blurted. "My brothers told me about you- you're Nearly Headless Nick!"
"I would prefer you to call me Sir Nicholas de-" Sir Nicholas began stiffly, but Seamus Finnigan, a sandy-haired boy interrupted.
"Nearly Headless? How can you be nearly headless?"
Sir Nicholas looked extremely unhappy.
"Like this," he tugged his left ear and his whole head swung off his neck and fell onto his shoulder as though it had a string holding it on.
"Urgh, what loser tried to decapitate you?" Kate asked, looking horrified.
"Who knows?" But his face had lit up as he flipped it back onto his neck. "So, I hope you're going to help us win the house championship this year! Gryffindors have never gone so long without winning. Slytherins have got the cup six years in a row! The Bloody Baron's becoming almost unbearable- he's the Slytherin ghost."
"Oh, we'll kick his butt." Kate said, not touching food anymore. She had left it on her plate, wondering what had possessed her to take so much. Kate turned to look at the Bloody Baron and saw a gaunt looking ghost covered in silver bloodstains. She noticed that Malfoy was seated next to him, not looking at all pleased.
"How did he get covered in blood?" Seamus asked with great interest.
"I've never asked," said Nearly Headless Nick delicately.
When everyone had eaten to their stomach's desire, if not more, the food faded from the plates, leaving them as immaculate as before. Kate was still hungry, but refused to eat. She was getting slightly dizzy, but knew soon the affects of prednisone would be gone. Seconds later, deserts piled onto the plates. Kate was very glad that she was about to leave. She looked up expectantly to the staff table. A woman with kindly brown eyes rose from the table and nodded to Kate, who rose saying a humble "excuse me" without an explanation and followed Madam Pomfrey out of the Great Hall and into a dark corridor. She lit a few torches with a wave of her wand and beckoned Kate to follow her upstairs.
"I am Madam Pomfrey, dear." Wrinkles were sketched into her visage that spoke of kind smiles and laughter.
"I'm Kathryn Slate, but everyone calls me Kate."
"What manner of Muggle medication were you on?"
"Oral and… um… anal." She said miserably.
"What were their names?"
"Prednisone and steroidal enemas."
"I read about those a few weeks ago when Professor McGonagall told me of your ulcerative colitis. Awful treatments, but I suppose they do what they're supposed to, for awhile, at least."
Kate looked at the walls which were covered in portraits and paintings. Kate wasn't surprised to see them moving, talking, pointing, waving and snoring. Madam Pomfrey opened the door to the hospital wing.
"Oh, Madam Pomfrey?"
"Yes?"
"Thank you for doing this. I really, really, really appreciate it." Kate said sincerely. "Especially taking time out of your dinner to do this."
"Oh it's nothing, dear." Madam Pomfrey smiled appreciatively. "Now, I need you to take your pants off."
"Pants as in underwear too?" Kate asked, not surprised.
"Yes."
Kate unzipped her jeans and pulled off her underwear. Madam Pomfrey had her lie down on a bed. She poked Kate's stomach and then made an affirmative noise. She took her wand and said a spell.
"All right, I can see where you are infected. I'm going to have you drink this."
"Okay." Kate expected an awful tasting liquid, because everything she had eaten for this blasted disease had been disgusting. The drink, though, was quite delicious and soothing. Madam Pomfrey said "Suivez" and touched her wand to Kate's intestinal area. Kate felt as though a fire in her stomach had been put out.
"All right, you're all done." Kate pulled her pants back up. "The prednisone has also been washed out of your system, so give it a month or two and your body will be completely back to how it used to be, minus the disease."
"Thank you a million times!" Kate was thrilled.
"No problem. Now, let's get back to the feast before Professor Dumbledore finishes his speech."
Kate followed Madam Pomfrey back into the Great Hall with an ecstatic look upon her face. She reseated herself next to Harry. The desert had just been finished as she sat down. She didn't care. She was healthy!
"Where did-." Harry started.
"Sh!" Percy hushed the first years.
Albus Dumbledore had again gotten to his feet.
"Ahem, just a few more words now that we are all fed and watered. I have a few start-of-term notices to give you.
"First years should note that the forest on the grounds is forbidden to all pupils. And a few of our older students would do well to remember that as well."
Dumbledore's eyes darted to the Weasley twins, who were suppressing smiles.
"I have also been asked by Mr. Filch, the caretaker, to remind you all that no magic should be used between classes in the corridors.
"Quidditch trials will be held in the second week of the term. Anyone interested in playing for their house teams should contact Madam Hooch.
"And finally, I must tell you that this year, the third-floor corridor on the right-hand side is out of bounds to everyone who does not wish to die a very painful death."
Kate and Harry laughed at this last comment, though they were some of the few who did.
"He's not serious?" Harry asked Percy quietly.
"Must be," Percy was frowning at Dumbledore. "It's odd because he usually gives us a reason why we're not allowed to go somewhere- the forest's full of dangerous beasts, everyone knows that. I do think he might have told us prefects, at least."
Kate resisted rolling her eyes at this last comment.
"And now, before we go to bed, let us sing the school song!"
Kate saw that the other teachers looked as though they had to fake their smiles at this point. Dumbledore looked jubilant. Kate was excited for anything and everything.
Dumbledore gave his wand a flick and a long golden ribbon shot out of the end, rising above the tables and forming into words.
"Everyone pick their favorite tune," the old wizard cried, "and off we go!"
The school started at once. Kate paused to choose a favorite tune and decided on Loreena McKennit's "The Mystic's Dream." It was a cacophony of sound:
"Hogwarts, Hogwarts, Hoggy Warty Hogwarts,
Teach us something please,
Whether we be old and bald
Or young with scabby knees,
Our heads could do with filling
With some interesting stuff,
For now they're bare and full of air,
Dead flies and bits of fluff,
So teach us things worth knowing,
Bring back what we've forgot,
Just do your best, we'll do the rest,
And learn until our brains all rot!"
Everybody finished at different times. Kate was laughing as Fred and George Weasley finished last. Professor Dumbledore conducted their last few lines with solemn motions from his wand. Everyone clapped at the end Dumbledore wiped his eyes.
"Ah, music, a magic beyond all we do here! And now, bedtime. Off you trot!"
The Gryffindor first years followed Percy out of the Great Hall fighting their way through the groups of students. Harry had a deliciously tired look about him. Kate was so eager to be living that she didn't feel at all sleepy. She doubted this elation would last long. As soon as her head hit the pillow, she'd probably pass out.
"Kate, where did you go?" He asked, snapping out of his reverie. Ron and Harry both watched her curiously.
"Oh, right. See, I have, had a disease called ulcerative colitis and Muggle medicines suck so Madam Pomfrey cured me!"
"Oh!" Harry smiled at her.
"Oh." Ron seemed confused. "Why do they… suck?"
"Who knows, they're just evil." Kate shrugged, thinking of a thousand reasons.
Kate's brain began to slow with impending sleep. A smile was melted into her face as she drifted unseeingly down the corridor. The group stopped and Kate looked to see why.
A bundle of sticks was floating in midair, supported by seemingly nothing. Percy took a cautious step towards them and they started hurling themselves at him.
"Peeves," Percy whispered to the first years. "A poltergeist."
"Good movie." Kate said blandly.
"Peeves! Show yourself!" Percy called.
It sounded as though Peeves were blowing raspberries in response to Percy's request.
"Do you want me to go to the Bloody Baron?"
There was a pop, similar to the sound of McGonagall appearing and disappearing in Kate's kitchen. A little man with teasing dark eyes and a wide cackling mouth appeared, floating midair Indian-style. He clutched the sticks to his chest, grinning manically.
"Oooooooooooh!" He laughed. "Ickle firsties! What fun!"
He swooped suddenly at them and they reflexively ducked.
"Go away, Peeves, or the Baron'll hear about this, I mean it!" Percy growled.
Peeves stuck his tongue out and vanished, dropping the walking sticks on Neville's head. Neville's eyes were wide and he whimpered. Kate listened to Peeves flying away, shaking paintings and coats of armor as he passed.
"You want to watch out for Peeves. The Bloody Baron's the only one who can control him, he won't even listen to us prefects." They continued walking. "Here we are."
At the end of the hall there was a portrait of an obese woman in a pink, silk dress. Her auburn hair hung in ringlets around her wide, yet elegant face.
"Password?" She asked lazily.
"Caput Draconis." Percy responded, and the painting swung forward to reveal a round hole in the wall. They all crawled through, though Neville needed some help. On the other end was the Gryffindor common room. It was a pleasant round room full of squashy armchairs in front of a roaring fire.
Kate, Hermione, Lavender Brown, and Parvati Patil all went up the stairs to the girls' dormitory. In their room were four canopy beds, dripping in red velvet. Their things were sitting next to their beds. Kate pulled her pajamas out and changed quickly into her oversized Cincinnati Bearcats shirt and pink pants.
"Goodnight everyone." Kate said softly.
"Goodnight." The other three chimed. And they were off into a snoring world of sleep.