Hey there kiddies. Sorry for the long wait but I've been real busy like. I just graduated and I'm leaving tomorrow to go home to Florida/Alabama for a funeral. So I've been working like a little worker bee to get this chappie ready for ya'll. So enjoy it, dammit. Once again I thank ya'll for your support and REVIEWS! Did I mention the reviews? Ya'll should really work on those reviews. REVIEW! Don't forget to check out the drawing of Kat on my profile page. Thanks! – Bex

Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter (but oh! if I did... ahem... anyway) nor any of the other people or wizarding world. Just my amazing character of Kathryn Adara Riddle. Everything and everyone else is the brilliance of J.K Rowling. I'm not worthy! I'm not worthy!

Chapter Eight: New

"My normal hesitation is gone
And I really gravitate to your will
Are you here to fetch me out?
'Cause I've never had this taste in my mouth
Oh you're not old
And you're not familiar
Recently discovered and I''m learning about you
New, you're so new
You, you're new

And you're consuming me violently
And your reverence shamelessly tempting me
Who sent this maniac?
'Cause I never had this taste in the past"

"New" No Doubt

"When do you think she'll wake up?" said a faraway yapping voice.

"Dunno, she looks dead to me." said another, louder and clearer this time.

"Well, after night I'd be dead tired too."

"Oh mi gosh, did you see Harry?"

"Yeah, I always fancied him to be a boxer bloke." More squealing voices erupted to that comment. Kat blearily opened her eyes and rolled over.

"Oi! Sleeping Beauty, who are you again?"

"None of your damn business." she said groggily sitting up and rubbing her eyes.

"Excuse me, but as you're in my robe and sleeping in our dorm, I reckon it is our business." Parvati said standing.

"Yeah? Well ya can keep on reckonin' cause you ain't gonna get any info from me. Even if I knew myself."

"What do you mean?"

"I mean, that Harry just came to my house last night and brought me back here."

"Harry went all the way to America to get you?"

"That's right Princess."

"And you just gave in, and went with a strange person that you've never seen before?"

"Wouldn't you? I mean look at the guy." Kat grinned standing, thinking maybe that excuse made more sense than the one in her head. "Where's the John?" she asked stretching completely oblivious to their shocked faces.

"John who?" one said confused.

"Oh good Lord." Kat said exasperated. "The John, the pot, the crapper, the toilet, the restroom." she said slowly and accurately.

"Oh..." the girls chorused. "Oh the main landing to your right.

"Thanks." Kat got up and walked through the door, as soon as it was closed, she heard giggles and screams of mirth. Kat rolled her eyes and made her way to the restroom. When she got back to her dormitory it was empty. She was relieved not to have to talk with Parvati, but she began to wonder where Harry was, and what she was going to do today. After all, she was at a school for magic, at least that's what Harry told her, and at the moment he was the only person she trusted. It was hard for her to admit that, even to herself. Trust was something you developed over time, not over night, but there was just a spark in Harry that eased Kat's distrust in men. She was relaxed and she could be... she could be herself with him.

As she was contemplating this, Harry was making his way up to the girl's dorms. Under his invisibility cloak, stealthily climbing the banister, Harry had time to think about Kat. Why was he so drawn to her? He just met her, and it felt like he's known her for years, he felt as it he knew her as long as Hermione. He pondered about her deep cerulean eyes, full lips, her raspy voice cooing his name. Suddenly he lost his balance, fell from the banister, and slid down the ramp that used to be the stairs.

"Bollocks!" he cried, spread eagled at the bottom of the stair case.

"Harry?" he looked up to see Kat perched on the top stair, ready to fly down to help him, he noticed her white knuckles gripping the banister.

"I'm alright." but her face was the color of parchment as she looked at him. "What?"

"Where's your legs?" she whispered with huge eyes.

"Oh." he grinned, he pecked off the cloak that was twisted around his lower half. "Invisibility cloak." he beamed picking himself off the ground.

"Jesus H Christ! Don't ever scare me like that again." she expelled a long breath that she had been holding. "I thought that... hell I dunno what the hell I thought, but that scared the Be-Jesus outta me." she walked down the stairs toward him. "What do ya need an invisibility cloak for anyway?"

"Well, I didn't want anybody to see me sneaking up the girl's staircase."

"Ah." she looked around at the vacant room. "Well, I don't think that'll be an issue at the moment."

"Me either." they eyed each other grinning. Harry realized that she was still in his shirt, and it was hanging off her shoulder again exposing the strap of a black bra. He cleared his throat, "Er, I have a treat for you, as it is your birthday today."

"Aww, really?" she beamed.

"Really, but first we have Defense Against the Dark Arts class, which normally would be brilliant, but today I have a bad feeling about it." Harry said launching himself up the banister and balancing going slowly but surely up the stairs.

"Why's that?" she said ascending the stairs slowly, keeping pace with him.

"Because of what Dumbledore said." he said. "Something about a visitor and to keep my temper. There's few people that can make me lose my temper to the point where Dumbledore will warn me."

"Uh huh." she sounded skeptical. "Well why do you need to take that class anyway?"

"So I can be an Au– a kind of police officer."

"Honey, you wanna be a copper after you've been battlin' evil your whole life? I mean that's great that you've found somthin' that you're good at, but damn." They had reached the girls dormitory.

"Listen, my mum and dad were Aurors and I want to follow in their footsteps, it's the least I can do for them, and Sirius." he said heatedly. He looked down into her face, where he saw Sirius himself reflected back. "Er, why don't you go get dressed, and we'll go down to breakfast, huh?"

"Alrighty." she grinned, understanding his shortness with her. She picked up her clothes that had magically been returned at the foot of her bed. "I'll be out in two shakes." she said vanishing behind the changing screen.

"Two shakes of what?" Harry said craning his head.

"Of a lamb's tail silly." she said after a moment, coming out from the divider fastening the buckle of her studded belt.

"Right, remind me not to ask you to explain anymore of your clever slang."

"Okie dokie." she winked at him as she plopped down on her bed to put on her shoes. "What were we talkin' 'bout?" she asked shoving her foot into her shoe.

"Er, about Defense Against the Dark Arts." he said sitting down beside her.

"Right." she said lacing a shoe. "Who's the teacher?"

"Professor Tonks." he said temporarily blinded by her neon shoelaces.

"What is he like?"

"She's brilliant." he smiled down at her. "She's strange, even in the wizarding world because she's a Metamorphmagus, which means that she can change her appearance on a whim."

"Bitchin'." Kat said perking up. "How many wizards can do it?" she loved to learn new things.

"Not that many, that's why she's so valuable for the Order."

"Order?" He explained to her what the Order was in great detail. By the time he was finished they had made their way to the entrance hall.

"Take a picture buddy, it'll last longer." Kat snarled at a tall boy with a tuft a sandy hair that was gawking at her.

"I wouldn't suggest your saying that to him." he said in an undertone to her. "Morning Colin," he said addressing at the gangly boy. Finally they arrived in the Great Hall, Kat had slowed the process, stopping at pictures and conversing with the occupants. As they entered the Great Hall, McGonagall caught Harry's eye and nodded sternly. Kat gasped as she took in the beautiful hall. The biting wind was almost tangible through the enchanted roof of the hall. Harry steered Kat over to the Gryffindor table and nestled themselves down beside Ron and Hermione. Kat did a very good job of avoiding saying anything sharp to the many students who were staring rudely and whispering loudly.

"Who are you then?" Dean said leaning across the table.

"You'll find out soon enough." Harry intercepted Kat who had her mouth open in response. "Here," he grasped a piece of bacon and shoved it into her open mouth.

"Don't ya start up with that. Ya know I'll just kick your ass." Kat winked at Harry as he smiled through his eggs, his emerald eyes twinkling cheekily. "Mornin' Andy." she turned to the red head and smiled.

"Good morning Kat." he smiled."This came for you." he said to Harry, handing him a the Prophet before turning back to Kat. "Did you sleep well?"

"'Course I did! Harry tucked me in." she beamed happily. Ron's head spun back around to face Harry.

"You what? In the girl's dormitories? Harry..."

"Come now Ron when did you become so much like your dear brother Percy? I only helped her find her bed."

"And you helped me in too."

"You're not helping." Harry whispered into her ear, but she just grinned up at him.

"How'd you get up there anyway? Remember in fifth year, we couldn't get up there." Ron asked Harry.

"Erm, climbed." Harry grinned.

"May I have your attention please!" Professor McGonagall clanked her goblet with her knife. The Hall fell silent.

"Good morning." she said slowly rising slowly from her chair. "As you all know I have kept you up to date with Lord Voldemort's activities." several people still winced at the Dark Lord's name, even though she had said it countless times. "Last night someone, having to do with Voldemort came to Hogwarts. Kathryn, please stand." Kat looked defiant as she stood, raising her chin. "This is Lord Voldermort's granddaughter." gasps broke out among the students, some glared at her fearfully. "She has no idea who he is, much less where he is, so please do not pester her for his location. She just discovered that she is in fact a witch, and came from America. She is here at Hogwarts as most of you are," she gazed severely over the awed audience, "for protection." She nodded at Harry, "Welcome, to Hogwarts Kathryn." she raised her goblet. "Your classes will begin in a quarter of an hour, good day." she sat down and was immediately caught in conversation with Filch, who was whispering urgently to her and glaring disapprovingly at Kat.

"Kat," Harry whispered, as people were starting to leave the Hall fearfully glancing at her as they walked passed. "Kat!" he spoke loudly, shaking her from her shock. "We need to go to Defense Against the Dark Arts, we have to hurry." He nodded to Ron and Hermione as they left. Harry reached out and took her hand. "Kat, please don't be frightened." he whispered knowing that would certainly get her back to normal.

"I ain't scared, ya just don't know what its like! This is so overwhelmin'." she plopped down next to Harry.

"Hmm, well the thing is Kat, I do know what it feels like." he whispered.

"How? Tell me." she said pleadingly.

"Oh, I wish I could, but we have to leave." he maneuvered his body so that she was staring into his face. " Are you ready for this?" At first she looked confused, but then she saw the smile on Harry's face. She was ready for learning something new, learning anything as strange and compelling as magic. Really, she'd be willing to learn anything that would take her mind off the truth.

"'Course I am darlin', let's go." she stood up, her barrier was up with usual strength, he checked his watch. "Bollocks! We have five minutes."

"Heeeeey!" she shrieked at she was yanked around the castle. "Harry!" she clung to him as the staircase decided to shift positions as they were aboard.

"It's alright, they do this all the time." he sat there tapping his foot and checking his watch incessantly. "It's rather inconvenient actually."

"I reckon that's an understatement." Kat said in awe as they glided across the vast space of the castle.

"Through here." he grabbed her hand and pulled her through a tapestry. She looked up at him confused. "Shortcut." he grinned. "That change of route wasn't all bollocks." he said as he turned into the correct floor. "Made it. With a minute to spare." he said in triumph as he entered the classroom. "Come along." his hand was sweaty in hers as he lead her over to his table with Ron and Hermione who both were red in the face. "What?" he whispered as the bell to signal the start of class rang.

"Hem, hem." Harry's head whipped around so fast that he had a crick in it. But that was the least of his worries. There sitting in the corner clutching a clip board with her pudgy little fingers clad in rings was Madame Umbridge, complete with velvet bow atop her iron colored mousey hair.

"What in the bloody hell –" Harry's mouth was quickly covered by Hermione's hand.

"Watch it Harry, you can't afford to get into any trouble." she said severely. "I hate the old toad as much as you, but just be careful." Harry couldn't believe that the old bag actually came back to Hogwarts.

"Wotcher, class." Tonks trooped in from her office levitating a stack of graded papers and a plan book.

"Hem, hem." Umbridge said more persistently. The stack of papers cascaded down to the floor and scattered across the floor. "Good morning Nymphadora." Tonks' blue eyes squinted in dislike. "Hem, I've been assigned to evaluate you on how your prepare your seventh years for their NEWT exams." Her toad like eyes caught Kat's slightly confused, but defiant ones. "Ah, Miss Riddle, stand please." she said staring at her. "We once again have a new celebrity at Hogwarts."

"I don't reckon celebrity would be the right word." Kat said.

"No? Then sorry, correct my very unbecoming phrase." she giggled girlishly.

"Alright Ms. Sarcastic," a few people gasped at her boldness of word. "I'd use the word side-show. I feel like some bearded lady at the circus." their gasps morphed into giggles, but one eye-popping glance from Umbridge silenced them.

"Hem, that'll be enough Miss Riddle." breathed Umbridge puffing like a toad.

"Aye, aye captain!" she shouted mockingly and plopped down on the stone bench beside Harry crossing her arms. Umbridge, along with the rest of the students stared at Kat in awe, no other student (besides Harry when he lost his temper) had mocked her (to her face anyway).

"Fifteen points from Gryffindor, for your severe cheek Miss Riddle. Do not do it again." she said slowly, deliberately drawing attention to her. She was unfazed by her dangerously sickly sweet stare.

"Sure." she muttered through clenched teeth, returning her blazing glare.

"Manners Miss Riddle." her voice lost that girlish tone and became more churlish. She turned to Professor Tonks and held her in a conversation, once again maintaining the falsely sweet giggle.

"Good thing that she can't actually take points from us, now then huh?" Ron grinned over at Harry.

"Right." Tonks had gotten herself under control and was once again in front of the class and enchanted the board to scribble down instructions for a complex cloaking charm. "Now, see, this is best used during a duel. Especially if you wanna scare the knickers off your opponent." Tonks grinned winking at the class.

"Hem, hem." Umbridge tutted from the back of the room where she had perched herself.

"Well, more like terrifying them into submission, so it'll be easier for you lot to actually win a duel, eh?" Tonks took no heed to Umbridge's huffing and hemming as the class giggled appreciatively. "What this spell actually is, is a masker." she looked around the class at the blank faces. "You'll chant the incantation or simply do it non-verbal, that's always a bonus. And you'll disappear, but the form of your body will stay in place for roughly ten seconds while you can mill about doing what you need." the class erupted into astonished giggles and whispers.

"Observe." she stepped out into an open space and readied her wand. "Fauxius Corpius!" she shouted. Tonks' form still stood there and did a sort of an Irish jig. While the class laughed at her, suddenly a scream emitted from the far side of the room. Tonks (the real Tonks) appeared by Lavender Brown sporting a large black velvet bow and iron colored hair. "Taa Daa!" she squealed as she shook the Umbridge-ness out of her head and trooped to the front of the room.

"That was pretty much the coolest thing I ever did see!" Kat whispered in awe, her eyes alight with new knowledge.

"Hem, hem. Now Nymphadora, that's quite enough." Umbridge had stood up, but it didn't really make much a difference. "I can handle the snub at the beginning of class, but the complete disregard for my authority I cannot overlook." she said with a huff.

"I dunno how she can overlook anythin' with those peepers." Kat said, just loud enough for everyone to hear. The class broke out into laughter once more at Umbridge's expense.

"That'll be 50 points once again taken from Gryffindor." Umbridge said in a singsong voice.

"You can't take points from me." Kat said defiantly. Inside she was reeling, what's the deal with points and what in the hell was a Gryffindor?

"Oh?" Umbridge sputtered. "Well, how about I talk to, to–" she remembered that McGonagall was now the headmistress. "How about the Minister of Magic you silly little girl!"

"What?" Kat giggled. "I think I'm taller than you and that's sayin' somethin'." she stood and put her hands on her hips getting angrier as she continued to talk. "And as I may be a girl, at least I look human. Has anyone let you in on the li'l secret that you strongly resemble a toad?" the class sucked in a collective gasp as they waited for Umbridge's response. Her eyes popped and she opened her mouth to retort but a loud crack made everyone jump.

"HARRY POTTER!" Dobby the house elf stood atop Tonks' cluttered desk. "Your presence is requested by the headmistress it is. That and of Miss Riddle!" he squeaked.

"Ah, so she will be dealt with. I expect detention and, and..."

"No homework Harry. Good luck." Tonks interjected.

"Miss Riddle the next time you come to my class room I suggest you find some manners."

"I'll be sure to look for them... ma'am." she slammed the door.

"I – I – you amaze me." Harry said staring at her with big eyes. "Noone ever talked to Umbridge like that, well to her face."

"Well I just did." Kat raised her chin and crossed her arms.

"I don't think people are ready for you."

"Are you ready for me Harry Potter?" she grinned cheekily, her barrier melting in the blaze of his smile.

"HARRY POTTER!" they both jumped, they had forgotten about Dobby. "Harry Potter must hurry."

"Why Dobby?" asked Harry. "Not that I'm complaining."

"Holy shit! What in the Hell is that?" Kat said stepping closer to Harry, grabbing his arm.

"This is a house elf." Harry said. "His name is Dobby. Dobby meet Kat."

"She does not look like a cat to Dobby." he said peering up at her.

"A house elf? Like the Keebler Elf? Do ya make cookies li'l guy?" they both looked at her quizzically.

"Does the cat want cookies? We is making some in the kitchens for the feast tonight."

"Feast?"

"The Halloween Feast. I almost forgot about that."

"A feast? What the hell, alright, never mind... ain't we 'sposed to be hurryin'?"

"Yes, Dobby was sent because Dobby could pop in and pop back, but you is slowing him down miss."

"Oh, so sorry." Kat giggled. It's more like a purr really, Harry thought.

"Come! Come! Headmistress is waiting." Dobby squealed pulling their hands, setting them in motion.

"Damn, I sure am bein' rushed this mornin'." Kat said breathlessly as they mounted the staircase, which luckily didn't shift this time.

"Welcome to my life." Harry grinned over at her. Kat either didn't have a response, or didn't have enough breath for one, because she was silent as they raced up the last stair case. When they ascended to the topmost stair, Harry at once saw McGonagall pacing at the entrance to her study.

"Harry, Kathryn, hurry please." Harry had never heard her this frantic before. "What's taken you so long?"

"Umbridge, rank old toad." McGonagall dismissed that explanation with a wave of her hand. "What's happened Professor?"

"You'll see. Dumbledore will explain." She looked at Kat kindly and put a hand on her shoulder. "Follow me dear." Dear? Harry pondered. It must be really bad. He had never in his seven years would have guessed that McGonagall would've used 'dear' as a term of endearment. They followed McGonagall through the passage way and up to face Dumbledore's portrait.

"What is it?" Harry asked, dreading the answer.

"Kathryn, I'm sorry to tell you this, but Margaret... Margaret is dead."

"How? Why?" she kneaded her face. "When?" she was near tears. Once again the shock of death from this unknown man shook Kat to the core.

"Death Eaters?" Harry asked seriously as he squeezed Kat's hand.

"Yes, that's what Voldemort's henchmen are called." he said softly for Kat's benefit. "The Death Eaters, I suppose were looking for you and when you were not there, and Margaret was, they took their wrath on her."

"Why?" she croaked out.

"Because they're evil bastards." Harry said heatedly.

"That must've been what happened last night with our dream?" Kat asked through her hands.

"Dream?" Dumbledore looked over to Harry.

"Yeah, er, we woke last night from this vision of Voldemort torturing the Death Eaters."

"Why didn't you tell me about this earlier?"

"Well, I hardly though that sort of a dream was important enough to wake you in the middle of the night." Dumbledore regarded Harry sternly over his glasses.

"Anyway, can ya'll tell me exactly why they would just up and kill an innocent woman?" Kat said.

"Kat, it's really not that hard to understand, Margaret, your aunt, was an Auror, she worked for the light side. The Death Eaters, your grandfather's workers, are evil. They thrive in torturing and murdering innocent people." Harry said simply. Kat shot a dirty look at him, but before she got to reply Dumbledore intervened.

"The Ministry wants to get involved since it was our Eaters over on American soil."

"Bugger." Harry said under his breath.

"Indeed." Dumbledore said sighing.

"So what does this gotta do with moi?" Kat asked.

"Well, you're at the roots of this great problem tree." Harry started.

"Problem tree?"

"Bad analogy." Dumbledore said grinning. "You'll have to forgive tactless Harry." Kat smiled at the regale old man. "The Ministry wants to question you, Harry, and myself."

"When?"

"Whenever they contact us." he said.

"What about Aunt Mags?"

"We'll have her remains transported back here and a proper burial will be held." she nodded taking a deep breath, attempting to shake herself out of the weakness of almost crying. "Now, you two have two free hours before lunch, I'm sure you have something you can do?" the old man winked and disappeared out of the side of his portrait.

"That man is a few cards sort of a full deck." Kat said shaking her head. Harry almost laughed, but then said,

"Yeah, but he's the only wizard Voldemort's afraid of."

"No shit?"

"No shit." Harry said grinning. He nodded to McGonagall and escorted Kat out of the room. "I reckon I can show you your surprise now, that is, if you still want it?"

"Hell's bells of course I want it! Gimme gimme!"

"Alright, this way madame." he said leading her to the entry hall.

"Oh, merci monsieur, tu êtes très gentil." she said in faultless French.

"Er..." Harry stopped in his tracks.

"What?"

"I didn't know you could speak French."

"You don't know a lot 'bout me Harry Potter." she said walking through the hall. Harry shook his head, and had to walk briskly to catch her up.

"Would I be too forward to say that I would like to get to know you better?" he gulped.

"Honey, you ain't never gonna be too forward with me." she smiled and held out her hand to him.

X

"Where in the Hell are you takin' me?" Kat asked a few minutes later. Harry loved the way she said 'Hell', it was more like the word 'hale'.

"Your surprise remember?" he said as they trudged up a hill towards the lake.

"Alright." she said rubbing her arms for warmth as the blustery air snaked it's way through the thick robe.

"That was so brilliant! What you said to Umbridge, honestly you're completely mad to say something like that."

"Naw, I just stand up when everyone sits down." Harry was, once again, amazed by her. There was no way around her, she was there and if anybody didn't like it, as she would say 'that's too damn bad.' He grinned to himself as Kat gasped at the view. The sun, who was at her zenith, reflected off the water, and created a mirror of the sky. "Beautiful." she whispered.

"I know," he said. She looked up at him excitedly, he cleared his throat to gain his composure. "Right, to the boat then."

"Boat?" her smile vanishing. "I've never been in a boat before."

"Really?"

"Really." she confirmed.

"Well, we're about to change that." he smiled at her.

"We're gonna go out in that li'l thang?" Kat asked skeptically as they came upon the small wooden rowboat, moored unsteadily in the choppy water.

"Absolutely, you're not really at Hogwarts until you're been across the lake in one of these." she made sort of a purring sound as she smiled sweetly at him, that made his knees quake. "In the boat you get." he gestured to her.

"Okay, I trust you Harry." that was the first time she ever uttered those words to anyone, much less think them.

"You should." he said helping her into the dinghy. He pushed off and leapt into the small wooden frame. He remembered his first year when four people could fit easily inside, now it was a squeeze to fit just two. "I'm sorry for your loss." Harry said softly, breaking the silence as they slowly moved toward the center of the lake.

"Thanks." she sighed. "Ya know, I used to call her Mags the Hag." she grinned. "She was a mean ol' lady, but I tell ya what, I still feel real guilty–" her voice broke, "real guilty for her dyin'."

"I know exactly how you feel." Harry said quietly dropping his head and clasping his hands tightly.

"How so?"

"Two years ago your father was killed, and it was my fault."

"What?"

"I was a pawn to Voldemort, I went exactly where he wanted me to go, I lured Sirius to me."

"Wh–."

"Let me finish." Harry said sighing. "I've bottled this up for so long and I finally have someone to talk to." Kat nodded, tears welling up in her eyes, understanding that they can trust each other. "Sirius came, and he fought for me, he died for me."

"Then it ain't your fault darlin'." Kat said softly moving closer to him.

"Yeah it was, I was stupid, pig-headed, immature..."

"Probably scared outta your mind." Kat said placing a hand on his lips. "I don't rightly know your situation, but it sounds like you couldn't of controlled it. I can control who I am – that's why she's dead."

"You think I can control being the famous 'boy who lived'?" he looked heatedly into her eyes. "That's how people judge me, my parents were killed and somehow I lived, and that makes me famous because Voldemort's powers were drained when he tried to kill me." she regarded him thoughtfully for a moment, soaking in the depressing information.

"I know how you feel."

"How?" Kat grinned at him, how their roles had suddenly reversed.

"Being known for defeating someone. They don't give a flyin' fuck if you're a nice person, or don't want the attention, or if you're just a normal teenager– which turns out I ain't."

"I think normality is a bit overrated."

"Agreed." she said nodding. "I'm known as the crazy know-it-all bitch that beats everyone's ass."

"Why?"

"Because I'm the crazy know-it-all bitch that beats everyone's ass." a raspy bitter laugh burst from her lips. She shook her head as her laughter quickly developed into dry sobs. "I dunno why I act like I do. Like I know every damn thing God put on this earth."

"Because you're scared." Harry said knowingly. Kat whipped her head up and gazed at him in amazement.

"You're right Harry." her eyes welling up in tears. "I'm scared outta my mind." her voice cracked but she kept her head up.

"You don't have to be." Harry said earnestly. Their eyes caught and latched onto each other. "You don't have to be." Harry repeated quietly. Their lips were like magnets as they drew together past that final inch of space between them. As their lips touched pure energy surged though them, an electric shock. Harry's hands were massive as they pressed against her face. "Don't look down." Harry whispered as they parted for air. But of course Kat opened her eyes and shrieked at what she saw. They were about ten feet above the boat, during the moment of pure ecstacy they had floated.

"Oh my God." Kat screeched into Harry's ear as she pressed herself against him in fear.

"It's alright." he used his wand to slowly levitate down, still holding her close to him.

"That. Was. So. Fuckin'. Awesome." Kat said situated on Harry's lap.

"Which bit? The kissing bit, or the floating bit?" Harry asked.

"Both bits actually." Kat purred turning her face to his. "But, I reckon we should try to keep our feet on the ground this time."

"It'll be hard, but we'll give it another go." Kat's giggle was cut short as Harry's mouth enveloped hers in another fiery kiss. A few moments later the lunch bell interrupted them.

"What's that?" Kat said her eyes were still closed as her head rested on Harry's chest.

"Lunch." Kat shrugged her shoulders indicating that she didn't really care where she went at the moment. "Oi." Harry shouted suddenly, Kat looked at him startled. "I forgot your present."

"A present? For me?"

"Yeah, it is your birthday isn't it?"

"Yeah, but I haven't gotten a present since I was like seven." Kat said incredulously.

"Well plan on having one this year." Harry said digging through his bag. "Here it is, sorry I didn't wrap it." he said handing the picture frame over to her.

"Oh." was all she managed to choke out as she gazed into the face of her father.

"I wanted to get you a picture of them together, but it turns out they were rather secretive so I couldn't find one. But I looked really ha–." Kat's lips pressed against his fervently.

"Thanks." she whispered nuzzling his neck. A bell rang out across the grounds.

"What's that?"

"Lunch is over." Harry said into her hair. "Are you hungry?" he asked off handly.

"I could eat." she mumbled now nibbling his ear lobe, a great shiver ran through Harry.

"Me too." he roared flipping her over so he was on top, leaning against the rough hewn spar, cold water spewed up around the sides. A raspy scream of laughter was quickly extinguished by Harry's lips, but even as they parted Kat was still laughing hysterically.

"This is the best birthday ever." Kat sighed after a few minutes.

"And it's only one." Harry grinned down at her. She pulled his head down and she let his lips hungrily, it felt so right. Never had either of them felt so fitting before, as they explored each others mouth's eagerly. Time flew by as they laid in each other's arms, talking about their lives. Kat told him about her life, of wrangling horses, being the top of her class, having no friends but her French teacher, and she was very close to telling him about Billy, but thought better of it. Harry told her almost everything that happened last year, with Dumbledore and Snape (they both hated him, Kat only knew him from her dreams but she hated him) and the year before, he got to explain to her about Umbridge. As he talked Kat listened eagerly, she was fascinated by the whole magic concept. Harry told her about the castle and how jammed pack the library is with books on the History of Magic. The sun was beginning to sink in the ruby tinted sky, when a tawny owl swooped down upon them. Kat screamed raspily, but Harry just took the scroll from the bird's talons and read it.

"Potter, Miss Riddle. I need to speak with you, as soon as possible. I'll be in my office." Harry read slowly.

"Is this bad?" she asked tentatively peering up into Harry's face.

"I hope not, probably something else to do with the Ministry thing tomorrow." Harry flicked his wand so they were moving towards the shore with out even really removing himself from her. Their kisses were so intense, so rapid, so full of passion, neither of them knew how to stop themselves, they were abruptly interrupted as the boat hit shore, jolting their heads together, causing Harry to bite Kat's lip. "Sorry." he whispered, but Kat was glaring at something over his shoulder.

"Can I help you?" Kat asked scathingly to a pudgy girl with blonde hair.

"What..." she gave Kat a dirty look, then turned to Harry who was wading through the water mooring the boat. "What's all this Harry? McGonagall wanted to see you, didn't you know?"

"Sorry Hannah, that's where we were headed."

"I would like to know what's going on." she said in an authoritative tone.

"Aw, that's too damn bad." Kat said standing unsteadily in the boat, the wind whipping around her . Hannah watched in awe as Harry easily lifted Kat out of the boat and held her closely as he sat her down.

"See you at the feast." Harry said absent mindedly as they started walking back to the castle drying his pants as he walked.

"Who in the Hell was that?"

"Hannah Abbot, seventh year prefect."

"What's a prefect?"

"Like a hall monitor, they can take House points away and can report to a teacher to get you detention.

"Hmm, so basically power hungry bitches?' Kat said grinning.

"You could say that." Harry said thinking of Percy. "But some of them are good mates." remembering of Hermione (now head girl Hermione) and Ron. "Actually I hope Hannah doesn't report us to Hermione." he said concerned.

"See I told ya that they were power hungry bitches." Kat said grinning.

"I hope she doesn't take points." thinking that Hermione would never really take points from here, he would just have to hear a long lecture.

"Points?"

"The house, there's four of them, with the most points at the end of the term, June, wins the house cup." Kat nodded slowly. "Oh, bollocks, I still have to explain Quidditch to you."

"Quid-itch?" I don't even wanna know." she giggled raspily. "How 'bout Bushy Britches? That's something I'm interested in." Harry sighed.

"What d'you want to know?" he asked as they passed the noisy great hall where the feast was being held.

"Who is she for one."

"Well, she's been my best friend for almost seven years. Er, she's dead clever and she goes by the name of Hermione not 'Bushy Britches'" he smiled at her.

"Her-my-oh-nee? What kinda – Oh hell, I like Bushy Britches better, easier to pronounce." she grinned evilly. "And more fun."

"Right." Harry couldn't help himself but to grin along with her as they once again stopped before the great gargoyle.