Chapter 2

September the First

September First came along quickly for the proffesors, as well as the students who attended Hogwarts.

On that fateful day, Dumbledore assembled his instructors in the staff room once again.

"Dear Colleagues, let me begin by introducing to you, Ms. Kitty Petro," he proclaimed, starting the meeting. He stepped aside to reveal a blond, petite fifteen year old girl.

"This is the famous Kitty Petro? A young girl?" Xiomara Hooch observed, frowning. "Dumbledore, surely you must be joking!"

Kitty, by way of introduction, simply stepped over, handily lifted Xiomara Hooch up with one hand by the front of her robes, and tossed her into the back wall.

"Anyone else here need convincing I'm Kitty Petro?" Kitty demanded, giving them all a steely blue glare.

All the professors simply shook their heads, as Madam Hooch got back up and retook her seat, rubbing her shoulder.

"Good," Kitty observed with a cocky grin. She looked upon her now most attentive audience. "I'm sure you all are eager to hear just who I am going to take back home with me."

Not surprisingly, the nervous, unsettled instructors all nodded.

"Well, then I won't keep all you waiting. My two personal favorites among you all are who I am selecting," Kitty declared. "My first choice is Xiomara Hooch, over there," she explained, pointing her finger at Xiomara.

"Life is decidedly unfair sometimes," Xiomara Hooch muttered and stood up.

"Now wait just one minute here!" Minerva McGonagall protested, her lips thinning and her cheeks coloring in her indignation.

"Oh, and you, my friend," Kitty then added, smiling sweetly at Minerva McGonagall. "You are my other favorite, dear lady."

"Congratulations on being selected, ladies," Snape said in a voice that mixed happiness and obvious sarcasm.

"Save it, Snape," Kitty growled at the Potion Master.

"And what of our students?" Xiomara asked, looked over at Kitty.

"Very good, Minerva," Kitty congratulated her. "As for them, I've chosen Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, Hermione Granger, and Draco Malfoy," Kitty told them.

"Oh, now there's a real surprise. She selected our famous Harry Potter," Snape drawled, crossing his arms.

Kitty arched a blond eyebrow, and oddly, she snapped her fingers. In the blink of an eye, Professor Snape now sat in a full-length dress in Gryffindor's colors: red and gold.

"Oh, how enchanting, Severus," Minerva said in obvious amusement.

"Thank you," Kitty said with an evil grin.

"Very funny, Miss. Do you mind telling me why you felt the need to do this?" Snape questioned harshly, his dark eyes indignant.

"Three reasons, really," Kitty replied, stifling a yawn. "First and foremost, you are a stupid git." Kitty shot him a clever glance, which caused Snape to grit his teeth in impotent rage.

"Second, because you blatantly favor your Slytherins over every other house, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff and your true favorite, Gryffindor," Kitty went on smoothly, irritating Snape more and more with each statement.

"Finally, Number Three, you bloody well deserved it." Kitty looked the Potions Master directly in the eyes, challenging him.

"I'm with her," Xiomara said quietly to Poppy, who could only nod in agreement.

Quite amazingly, a moment later a large, adult lion shouldered the staff room door open and padded quietly inside… much to the Hogwarts instructors' dismay.

"Excuse me, but it's time, Professor McGonagall, to go and greet the new First Years," the lion gruffly said, just before it transfigured itself into Harry Potter.

"Oh, I say! Mr. Potter, I had no idea that you're a Animagus," Xiomara Hooch exclaimed in obvious surprise.

"No, Madame Hooch, I'm not, really. But, what I can do is morph," he told the startled Broomstick instructor.

"Really? How extraordinary, Harry my boy! Now, what was it that you do again, if you please?" Dumbledore asked, clearly intrigued.

"Well, sir… I'm able to---somehow---change the structure of my DNA. Like I said, I don't know precisely how, but all I have to do is, well, sort of picture what I wish to become, and I… well, become it."

Minerva McGonagall looked at him, her eyes wide and disbelieving. Harry sighed patiently, then interjected---as nicely as he could manage, "Professor, the first years?"

"Oh, yes… quite. Thank you, Mr. Potter," Minerva replied, shaking herself out of her reverie. "If you'll all kindly excuse me." Minerva exited the staff room, taking up her usual responsibilities again.

Dumbledore then spoke up, "I believe that we should head down for the arrival of our returning students ourselves."

Dumbledore looked over to his "guest". "You are welcome to partake in our feast, Ms. Petro, if you'd care to."

"Thank you, Albus. I would enjoy that very much," Kitty responded, nodding her head. She then turned to Harry, and commanded, "Harry, do tell the other students I've selected to meet me on the grounds tomorrow morning, please."

Harry nodded in acceptance. "Of course, Kitty."