As the two witches walked down the empty corridors, Kate tried to engage in a small conversation with Kathryn, but the girl wasn't having it. Every answer she gave her was short and snippy, and Kate's patience was starting to run thin.

"So why did you and your parents mov-"

"Are we there yet or no?"

Kate clamped her mouth shut, her teeth pressing into each other as she tried to calm down some before she answered. "We're almost there." She breathed, her eyes turning as cold as ice. Kathryn had no idea who she was messing with, and if she made one more rude comment, the girl was going to get an ear full from the Prefect.

"Good," Kathryn said, sticking her nose up in the air slightly and Kate restrain herself from smacking the girl.

Although, maybe that would knock some manners into her.

The sound of a woman singing opera echoed about the area as Kate watched the girl in anger while they ascended the last moving staircase and approached the portrait of the Fat Lady. Upon seeing the two witches, the Fat Lady ceased her entertainment and smiled at the girls. Kate took a deep breath, putting on the mask of a happy fifth-year Prefect as the Fat Lady asked them about her singing. "You sounded lovely, as always," Kate answered, smiling politely at the portrait. "This is Kathryn Rowell; she's a transf-"

"Oh yes, I heard!" The portrait gushed, "Welcome to Hogwarts my de- OH!" She focused her attention on the fourth year witch with excitement, only to gasp in shock at the girl's attire. "My Merlin! What-" she cast a side glance at Kate who gave her a warning look, "a beautiful young lady you are." She gave Kathryn an uneasy smile, and the girl sneered at the woman.

"Pumpkin Pasties," Kate said quickly, and the portrait swung open, the Fat Lady glaring at Kathryn as she did. As Kate went to open the door, Kathryn pushed past her, slamming the wooden door open as she sauntered into the common room as if she owned the place. Kate huffed in annoyance, and once she stepped past the threshold, she slammed the door behind her. The loud bang of the door echoed about the cozy room and Kathryn gave Kate a look of disapproval; Kate glared back.

"Okay, this isn't going to work with this better-than-everyone-else attitude of yours so I'd suggest learning now that-" She started, crossing her arms over her chest as she glared at Kathryn.

"No, you'd better learn now that I AM better than everyone else." Kathryn cut her off mid-sentence, her gaze turning icy as the two witches glared daggers at each other. The tension in the room was rising, and both witches subconsciously reached for their wands. The willow wood of her wand was smooth in her hand. The anger and annoyance that was coursing through Kate's veins seemed to transfer to the phoenix feather core for it was pulsing softly against her calloused hand. "You are to leave me be unless I approach you. Whatever I ask you of, you do."

"I'm not your-"

"Do NOT interrupt me when I am speaking!" Kathryn screeched. "I will not be treated like a child. This is my house now, so you'll do as I say. My parents are VERY powerful people and with one word I can make your life outside of and in Hogwarts a living hell, not just for you but your friends and your family as well. Is that clear?"

Kate narrowed her eyes at the fourth year; the two witches tightened their grips on their wands. "Is that clear?!" Kathryn yelled, her eyes a whirlwind of fury as she raised her wand at the Prefect, a sandstorm wrecking havoc within them. Kate raised her wand as well, the pulsing intensifying.

The sounds of voices yelling and laughing appeared and Kate realized that Carter and Lauren, the two seventh year Prefects, were taking the first years back to the common room from dinner. Kate glanced behind her as the door to the common room swung open, only to furrow her eyebrows in confusion when Shawn skipped into the homey room, a group of first-year Gryffindor skipping after him. Kate turned her attention back to the fourth year in front of her only to see a billow of robes disappearing to the girl's dorms on the floor above.

"Welcome to the Gryffindor Common room!" Shawn exclaimed, and Kate quickly tucked away her wand as some of the first years gasp in awe at the cosy room surrounding them. "Now remember, the only way you can enter is if you remember the password okay? What's the password?"

"PUMPKIN PASTIES!" The first year's choruses and Shawn clapped his hands like a seal.

The common room door opened again and a tired witch entered, her raven black hair was tied back into a ponytail and she stopped by Kate on her way towards the Girl's Dorms. "Sprout asked the seventh years to stay back." She said, a yawn escaping her peach coloured lips as she waved goodnight to Kate before slinking up the stone stairs and disappearing around the corner.

"Alright, now boys dormitories are on the staircase to the right, girls you're on the left. And no, boys you cannot go up to the girl's dorms, I've already tried that. You get sent right back down. . ." They laughed as Shawn shooed them to bed, wishing them all goodnight and good dreams before he made his way over to her.

"Dance with me." He demanded happily, pulling Kate onto his arms as the entrance to the common room opened again, and the other students piled into the chamber. Laughter filled the room as the rest of Gryffindor house either headed to bed or lounged on some of the sofas sitting in front of the fireplace as Luke ballroom danced with Kate.

"Shawn. . ." Kate cast a stiff glance at a couple cuddling on one of the sofas in front of a roaring fire as the two of them danced passed. "You need to get some sleep."

"Sleep!" She looked up to see Shawn looking down at her with an astonished look painted across his face. Kate nodded at him, a concerned smile gracing her lips. "Sleep. I couldn't sleep tonight! Not for all the jewels in the crown."

Kate sighed in defeat. Realising that this was a battle she wouldn't be able to win she allowed Shawn to dance her about the common room until his eyes started to droop. He let out a big yawn and Kate gently ballroom danced him to the stairs to the boys' dorms where Paul was waiting for them, his golden coif dropping slightly as he dozed. Kate nudged him with her foot, taking him away from his sleep

"Get some rest Shawn, I'll see you in the morning." She whispered, passing his drowsy forum to Paul, who was waiting at the base of the stairs for his sugar high dorm mate. "You too Paul."

He nodded mechanically, his eyelids already starting to flutter as he led Shawn up the staircase leading to the boys' dorms "Night Kate."

"Goodnight." She whispered, watching the duo stumble up the cream stone steps. Mumbles could be heard as they finally reached the top and Kate couldn't help but chuckle as Shawn tried to argue with Paul that he could have danced all night if she had let him. Kate stayed at the base of the stairs until the two wizards disappeared around the corner and out of eyesight. Only then did she let the smile slip from her face.