Chapter 3

Harry hears the news

Harry, Ron and Hermione were in the process of entering the Main Hall of Hogwarts when they saw Professor McGonagall heading toward them.

"Good morning, Professor," Harry offered.

"Good morning, Mr. Potter," she replied in a quiet unsettled voice, that made Harry shiver, wondering what was wrong.

"Um, is something wrong, Professor?" Harry asked politely, yet hesitantly curious.

"No. Of course not, Mr. Potter," she responded, her hands fluttering slightly. "Now, I've a bit of advice for the three of you. Please play close attention to what is said before and during the Welcoming Feast," she suggested firmly. "Now, off with you! It will soon be time for the arrival of the First Years. Scoot!"

"What do you think all that was about, asked Ron, as they made their way to the Great Hall.

"No idea," Harry said shortly, anticipating the feast. The three of them made their way into the Hall and took their seats in the middle of the Gryffindor table beside Neville on one side, and Dean Thomas on the other.

"Harry," Hermione said a moment later, her dark eyebrows quirked up. "Look at the head table, there. Do you see that girl? That one sitting between Madam Hooch and Proffesor Snape? Why, she cannot be more than fifteen. I wonder why she's sitting with the instructors, don't you?"

"You're right, Hermione," Ron said, frowning. "It is sort of strange now, isn't it?" Harry said nothing, but he too was full of curiosity.

The three didn't have any time to talk more on that subject, for just then Professor McGonagall appeared at the door, leading a line of the new first years… new students to Hogwarts. The Sorting Hat was produced, and the twenty new students were sorted into their Houses.

After that was completed, Professor Dumbledore got to his feet, and declared, "I will ask you to remain seated after the conclusion of our usual most excellent feast." Dumbledore paused, then smiled at them all. "Until that time… I have but two more words I wish to impart to you: Let's eat!"

Later, after the feast had wound down, Dumbledore again stood up. "My compliments to our housekeeping staff for yet another tremendously successful feast." He paused to sip his drink.

"I will first introduce you all to Miss Kitty Petro," he announced grandly. Everyone began to talk at once and conversation buzzed thoroughout the Hall.
"Please, I am sure everyone here knows all too well who this young lady is,"
he continued. "But, I think it would be best to hear what she has to say from Kitty herself. Kitty?"

She nodded, pushed her chair back, and got to her feet. "Whether you know it or not… all of you are part of one of the most famous Muggle books in present times," Kitty told them. She reached over to in front of Dumbledore and retrieved one of her books. "The series is about Harry Potter."

She looked over at Harry. "I am going to take my six of you, my favorite ones, home with me, in order to train them. Those I've selected will be the following: three from Gryffindor, one from Slytherin, as well as two of your teachers." There were astonished gasps at the last item.

"Excuse me… you must be joking," Draco Malfoy proclaimed sardonically. "Only one Slytherin, and yet you take three of those pathetic Gryffindors… why, that's madness! And, on top of all that, you want two teachers as well? You're mental!"

Kitty gave him an icy look. "As I recall, Mr. Malfoy," Kitty began sweetly, even though her eyes were like stone. "You made a rather splendid ferret. Would you care for another round?"

Malfoy's face paled, then his cheeks went pink, and then he shut his mouth.

Kitty looked back to the assembly and continued, "As I was saying---before Mr. Malfoy so rudely interrupted me---I am recruiting two teachers because they are particular favorites of mine."

"I suppose you all would like to know who I've selected, hmm?" Kitty asked, and smiled when there was much nervous nodding about the Hall.

"First, the students I've selected. From Gryffindor House," Kitty began. "I have selected Harry Potter, Hermione Granger, and Ron Weasley."

Those of the Gryffindors not selected, began to breathe again. Frowning slightly, Ron said to Harry, "I suppose that tells us why McGonagall was giving we three that strange look, eh?"

Kitty looked up from the Gryffindor table and continued her say, "Now… from the Slytherin House (most everyone except those at the Slytherin table laughed), Mr. Draco Malfoy."

The normally noisy hall was strangely quiet. By this time, however, the import of what Kitty had just told them began to sink in.

"What?" both Hermione Granger as well as a stunned Draco Malfoy exclaimed at the same time. Ron, Harry, as well as Hermione cast dark looks Malfoy's way. Malfoy's expression was no better.

Kitty told them all in a loud voice, "I will brook no arguments! You four are my favorites, so you are going, period. You may not like one another now, but mark my words, you are going to be friends. Of that I can assure you!"

"Yeah, right," Draco drawled, his eyes glittering malevolently. "Like that will bloody happen…"

Kitty smiled, shook her head, then put two fingers in her mouth and whistled shrilly. At her signal, the doors to the Hall opened, and---much to everyone's surprise---someone who appeared to be Draco and Hermione came waltzing down the aisle, and stopped just in front of Kitty. "This, friends, is Hermione and Draco, in three years time," Kitty explained.

The future Draco and Hermione looked at each other, smiled, and then Draco gave Hermione a light push, saying, "You're it!"

"Ha. Now, that's hardly fair, Draco!" she yelled while laughing and took off running after him.

"I guess you know why I was put in Slytherin, then," he replied, laughing. Then the two ran about---now, in midair, and soon Hermione closed on Draco and began to seriously tickle him.

"No! No tickling!" Malfoy said and began to laugh hilariously.

"Come on, Hermione, leave poor Draco alone. You know how ticklish he is," a voice said and when everybody looked over to see the future Harry.

"Harry! Oh, I say, please help me!" Draco laughed as Hermione continued to tickle him.

"Coming, Draco," Harry said and succeeded in pulling the giggling Hermione away.

"Thanks, mate," Draco said, breathing heavy. Then he gave Harry his hand.

"Unbelieveble, isn't it?" a fourth voice said. Everybody now saw the future Ron make his way down to his friends. "After Kitty got Draco to stop believing that he was better than everybody else, he's actually not a bad friend."

"Is this proof enough to you all that you will become friends?" Kitty asked the four seventeen year old teens that were gazing now at the proof.

"Well, yes. I suppose," Hermione said.

"You four may go outside," Kitty said. "I suggest that those that are not traveling with me head back to their dormitories now. Those of you that are coming with me will stay where they are," Kitty added and sat back down.

"There you have it. I believe that our young guest has made a most excellent point," Dumbledore said.

A fourth year Ravenclaw girl shot her hand up in the air.

"Yes?" Dumbledore asked.

"Yes, sir. Ms. Petro has told us what students will be coming with her…but, I think that we all would like to know which of our teachers Ms. Petro intends to take with her."

Many a student nodded in agreement with the girl.

"Very well, then," Kitty said briskly. "I have chosen Professor Minerva McGonagall and Madam Xiomara Hooch," she declared a moment later. "There. All happy now?" she asked a bit tartly.

Hermione looked over to Professor McGonagall. She had began to rub her fingers at her temples like she had a major headache. Madam Hooch had her face down on the table as if hiding herself from the assembled students.

"Any more questions, then?" she asked politely. Not a hand was raised. "Very well then. Hopefully, all of your questions have been answered. So… that being the case, it's time for you all to be off to bed," Dumbledore said.

The Trio woodenly made their way up to the staff table.

"P–P-Professor McGonagall? Are you all right?" Hermione asked, looking nervously at Minerva.

"Of course, Miss Granger," the Professor said tartly. "Why shouldn't I be? I have just been told I am going to spend the rest of my days with you four and Xiomara Hooch."

"Hey! I heard that!" Xiomara said, her head finally coming up off of the table.

"Good, then at least your hearing is still good," McGonagall snapped. "You four simply have no idea---no idea at all!---what that woman has made me do!"

"Yes, thanks to me, Ms. Perfect now has a tattoo of the Hogwarts crest," Amanda declared with a grin. The crest consisted of the Gryffindor lion, the Slytherin serpent, the Hufflepuff badger, and the Ravenclaw raven on a shield, emblazoned with an H.

"Yes. And that's certainly not the only thing she gotten me to do," Minerva said quietly, begrudgingly.

"Why, Minerva… do you mean that you still have your belly button pierced?" Xiomara said in surprise.

The trio of Gryffindors looked at McGonagall, their eyes wide. "You've pierced your belly button?" Ron asked in awe, looking on his Transfiguration teacher. "How cool is that?"

"I'm afraid I had one two many glasses of Ogden's Old Firewhiskey that night," Minerva murmured.

"Professor! Why… I don't believe that for a moment!" Hermione said, clearly shocked.

Kitty snapped her fingers, and Minerva now stood in a muggle cropped T-shirt that showed off her belly, as well as a pair of jeans. The trio looked on the tiny gold bead that pierced her belly button.

"Well, well… One thing I can say, Professor," Draco observed as he came to the table. "Nice abs. You should show your tummy off more often."

"Well, since she's shown you her tummy, let's show you the rest, shall we?" Xiomara Hooch said, as she gently made Minerva turn her around. She lifted the back of her shirt so they could see the tattoo. It was even in color.

" Xiomara Hooch! I'll thank you to stop this embarrassing display immediately!" Minerva growled, pushing Xiomara away, and pulling her abbreviated shirt down primly. "Kitty dear, would you please return my proper clothing?"

Kitty snapped her fingers again, and said, "I am picking you all up down by the lake tomorrow at 8 o´clock in the evening. Be there." Then she left.

But when Minerva came into her room a grey tabby cat looked up from the floor at her. "So, if this Kitty really wants me to come with her, then i must?" Minerva asked, and much to her surprise, the cat that nodded yes. "Do be a dear, and please wake me when it's time to leave," Minerva told the feline, as she yawned.