"Bye, girls! Have a great start of term!" I awoke to Mr. Weasley's shouts. Today was my first day of school. I groggily, but excitedly got up to see Hermione already dressed and zooming around the room. Ginny, like me, had still been asleep.
"Good, you're up! We'll be leaving in an hour. I only just got out of the bathroom myself." Said Hermione rather quickly. I rubbed my eyes as I picked up my navy thermal and jeans for the day. The rain was still pouring outside as it had been for the last few days.
"I'll get you when I'm out of the bathroom, Gin." I said as I dragged my feet out of the room.
"Uhuhh." Said Ginny in a sleepy voice. I showered as quickly as I could, got dressed, then brushed and towel dried my hair. The waist-long dark red hair fell loosely around my sides as I looked in the mirror, familiar hazel eyes looking back. How I wished that the original owner of my hazel colored eyes could be the one taking me to the station. But he and mum were never coming back, and this was, yet again, another thing they'd be missing. I put on the silver chain that carried my mother's engagement ring on it, tucked it in my shirt, and took a deep breath, prepared to face the long day ahead. Half an hour later Ginny and I walked down to the kitchen to be met by Hermione and the rest of the Weasleys- minus Mr. Weasley and Percy.
"Where'd Dad go?" asked Ginny as we sat down on either side of the twins.
"He had to leave early," said Mrs. Weasley putting toast and eggs on our plates, "It appears Alastor Moody got into a bit of a tough spot last night, so your father went to go smooth it over."
"Mad-Eye Moody? Isn't he that nutter that-"
"Your father thinks very highly of Moody, George." Said Mr. Weasley cutting him off.
"Yeah, well, dad also collects plugs, doesn't he." Joked Fred. She gave the twins a stern look before turning back to the sink. Breakfast went on with much conversation, mainly Bill explaining just who Mad-Eye Moody was to the rest of us, as well as much talk about the new term.
"Oh, Catherine, I almost forgot!" started Mrs. Weasley, grabbing a camera, "Gwen wrote me last night and asked if I'd take some pictures of your first day for her." A big flash went off as everyone at the table grimaced.
"Honestly, are you trying to blind us?" exclaimed the twins as they rubbed their eyes.
"Alright now you and Harry." She said ignoring them, "Yes by the fireplace." Harry and I got up and walked over to the hearth. He still looked drained from our talk the previous night about the odd nightmare he'd had about Voldemort and Wormtail. I'd sworn not to tell Ron and Hermione that the person Voldemort was plotting to kill was Harry, but I'd made him swear he'd tell them sooner or later. Of course having a crazed nutter like Voldemort, no matter how powerless he seemed at the moment, put me on edge very much.
"You alright, Harry?" I whispered as he straightened up.
"Yeah, fine. Just going to miss summer is all." Which I knew was a lie.
"Alright, smile." Said Mrs. Weasley before taking the picture. It was followed by one with the girls, one with just me and Fred, one with the rest of the boys, and one with Mrs. Weasley herself. We were soon picked up by Muggle taxis that Mrs. Weasley had dialed, with some help from Hermione, on a payphone in the village. The drive was long and uncomfortable, and so we were all quite relieved once we'd made it to the train station.
"How're you feeling?" asked Fred. As we pushed our carts side by side.
"A little nervous," I admitted with a worried look, "Fred, what if I don't get into Gryffindor?"
"You're kidding right? You're the definition of a Gryffindor. You haven't doubted it before, and I don't doubt it for a second." He said with his Fred-ish grin. It was sweet and reassuring, but I was genuinely worried. I'd had my heart set on Gryffindor, and I'd never once thought about the possibility of not making it.
"But what if I don't?" I whispered, a little embarrassed by my worries.
"Then I'll have to fly my broom to your bedroom window and visit you, won't I?" he said giving me a kiss on the cheek. The goofy grin was as inevitable as the blush that crept onto my face. We all loaded our trunks, then returned to the platform to say goodbye to Bill, Charlie, and Mrs. Weasley.
"I'll be seeing the lot of you sooner than you think," said Charlie with a knowing grin.
"Why?" asked Fred with sudden interest.
"You'll see. Just don't tell Percy I mentioned it or he'll be giving me a stern reprimand." Replied Charlie sarcastically.
"I wish I could go back to school this year." Said Bill looking at the train pensively.
"How come?" asked George from behind me.
"You'll just be having an interesting year is all." Teased Bill.
"Thanks for everything, Mrs. Weasley." I said giving her a final hug.
"Oh it was no trouble, dear. I'd invite you all back home for Christmas, but I imagine you'll all be wanting to stay at Hogwarts for some…winter…festivities, and such." She replied vaguely. The twins gave her two very skeptical looks before dragging me onto the train with them.
"Oi! Harry! I'll meet up with you later, alright?" I called as I headed down the opposite end of the train.
"Sounds good!" he called back with a smile.
"Alright. We've got to find Lee." Said George as we made our way back to the compartment.
"Yeah, he's our best mate." Added Fred.
"And Fred's told him all about you." Teased George. The two began a playful game of "who can smack the other in a more clever fashion" with me caught in the middle.
"Am I going to have to separate you both?" I said as we walked into our compartment.
"Good luck doing that." Said a boy who was sitting in it. He was dark skinned with a kind smile and dark dreadlocks hanging around his face. "You must be Catherine then?"
"I take it you're Lee?" I asked shaking his hand.
"Yeah. Been with this lot for quite some time." He said motioning to Fred and George as they plopped down on opposing sides of the compartment. I sat down next to Fred, across from George and Lee, as we began to talk about the new year.
"So they promoted you to sixth year? How old are you?" asked Lee.
"Well I'm fifteen. I'll be sixteen on November tenth. I guess my test scores would translate to passing OWLs." I replied as Fred continued to stroke my hand gently.
"That's brilliant." He replied. "Fred's never dated a smart girl. Well I mean they did have some brains, just not as substantial as yours."
"That's comforting." I laughed as Fred grimaced at the rest of us chuckling.
"Yeah. He's never dated a girl with as much talent in Quidditch either. Wait 'til you see her play, Lee! She's fantastic." Beamed George.
"I'll be the judge of that." Said someone as the compartment door slid open. A girl with dark skin, dark hair, and narrow eyes was standing there in her robes, glaring at Fred's and my intertwined fingers.
"And you are?" I asked, already knowing who she was.
"Angelina Johnson. I'll be the next captain of the Gryffindor team. Though I doubt they'd put you in the house of the brave and the bold." She replied heatedly.
"They can't be too selective if you're got int." I replied calmly. Her jaw clenched as she attempted to glower at me. I merely chuckled, as did the others in the compartment, at the transparency of her behavior.
"So, Fred, how was your summer? I can't wait to show you my new dress robes! They're practically scandalous." She said, obviously deciding she couldn't best me at wits.
"It was good. Spent a lot of time with Catherine here." He said putting his arm around me.
"Is that so?" she said with an icy tone, "And does Catherine have a surname or does she only go by one name, like troll or kelpie."
"Potter. Catherine Potter. Two words, as in future chaser." I replied coolly. Her eyes widened.
"So then you're-"
"Harry's sister. Yeah." I replied lifting an eyebrow at her hardened gaze. Out of the corner of my eye I saw a tall, pretty blonde girl come up next to Angelina.
"I didn't know Harry had a sister." said the girl.
"He only found out recently," I replied kindly, "I'm Catherine. Most people just call me Rin though."
"Why? Is your full name too hard to remember?" tried Angelina.
"It's because it rolls off the tongue, unlike matronly names such as Angelina." I retorted. The girl giggled.
"Ignore my rude friend here. I'm Alicia Spinnet." She said with a smile. Angelina turned at glowered at her friend.
"Alicia!" she screeched before storming off.
"It was nice meeting you! See you around!" she called as she ran after her friend. When they were gone, the boys started cracking up- Lee and George actually wiping away tears.
"Wow. I've n-never seen Angelina take to someone s-so warmly before." Joked George, still laughing.
"I will never forget the look on her face." Laughed Fred.
"S'what she gets for starting with me." I smirked.
"Doubt you'll be in Gryffindor, now?" asked Fred. I smiled and gave him a kiss, earning a few wolf whistles from the two clowns across from us.
"I'm going to go change," I said getting up, "You lot coming?"
"To watch or help you?" Asked George wiggling his eyebrows, making Lee laugh. Fred glared at his brother before looking back at me.
"We'll catch up in a sec." he replied. I walked down the train to where the changing rooms were. It was a secluded part of the train with a few dressing rooms here and there, and doors at either end, sealing it off from the other cars. They were all empty so finding one was easy as pie. Five minutes later I was walking out wearing my plain black robes, which had yet to bare any house colors.
"Catherine!" I heard behind me. When I turned I saw Cedric Diggory walking over to me with a big smile. "Hi, how are you?"
"I'm good. How about you?" I asked politely.
"Much better now. I didn't see you after the cup. Did you all get out alright?" he asked. I felt like this was all small talk before an intended ask-out. I was hoping I was wrong. Not that Cedric wasn't cute- he definitely was- but I was happily committed, and this would just make things awkward.
"Erm yeah. We were fine." I replied shortly.
"That's good. I just wanted to make sure," he said shifting his weight and scratching the back of his neck, "Umm listen, I was wondering…" here it comes, "You see we're allowed to go on visits to Hogsmede village near school, and I was wondering…" here it comes, "If maybe you'd like to go with me. Sometime. Like on a date." Boom.
"Oh…Cedric, that's very kind of you to ask. But you see I have a boyfriend." I replied as kindly as I could. He looked a little disappointed and surprised.
"Really? Oh, that's unfortunate. I mean, not for you. Good for you, unfortunate for me. I mean- umm who is he?" he rambled.
"Me." Called Fred's voice coming out of one of the dressing rooms. My eyes grew a little. I did not see that coming. He put his arm around me and looked down at Cedric, jaw clenched.
"Oh hi, Fred. Well, good for you, mate. I'll be heading back to my compartment then. See you around, Catherine." He said waving. When he had closed the door to the compartment I turned to Fred and giggled.
"What's so funny?" asked Fred softly.
"My wonderful boyfriend is what." I said giving him a long kiss on the lips. He opened his mouth and rested his hands on my waist. I pushed him backwards against one of the changing room doors; we were the only ones here. He opened the door from behind him and dragged us in. Once the door was locked he had me up against the wall kissing me deeper and deeper. I slid my tongue smoothly against his bottom lip teasingly, waiting to feel his reaction. He slid his right back, playing with mine. The kiss grew deeper and more heated as we knotted our fingers in each others' hair. His grip on my hips grew a little tighter when he began to move his hands. They traveled up my back, down my sides, and onto my thighs. It seemed we were thinking the same thing as he hoisted me up and I wrapped my legs around his waist. It grew more and more passionate as Fred's tie came off, and our shirts grew slightly askew and unbuttoned, never once breaking the kiss. I wanted nothing more in that moment than Fred.
"Oh! Sorry!" We jumped off each other and found Hermione at the open door, "I erm…the door wasn't properly locked I expect." She walked out with an embarrassed blush on her cheeks. I was gasping for breath as I turned to Fred. He was gasping as well, his face flushed, and hair a mess.
"That was…" he said not coming up with words.
"Worthy of leaving Fred Weasley speechless?" I supplied as I tried to steady my breathing.
"Goal for next time- leave Rin speechless." joked Fred as his chest heaved.
"If you insist." I smiled slyly as I leaned into him.
"Would you take a look at that." Muttered Fred amused. I turned and saw what Fred was looking at. The mirror in the compartment had gotten fogged up during mine and Fred's…romantic entanglement.
"Wow, that was pretty…intense." I remarked.
"Good intense?" Asked Fred skeptically, a hint of worry in his tone. I turned back to him and gave him another peck on his tender lips.
"Wonderful intense." I smiled. We walked back to the compartment hand in hand with goofy grins plastered on our faces.
"No need to ask what you've been up to." Laughed George when we walked in.
We walked off the train and onto the platform once the trained had stop. There was a chill on the wind, reminding me of crisp moonlight games of Quidditch.
"First years this way! First years over 'ere!" I heard across the platform. The man there was enormous with a big bushy brown beard, and kind looking eyes. I got closer. This man, this person was familiar. I knew him.
"Rin?" asked George behind me. Suddenly it hit me. He was the man who had saved Harry and me from the house! He was the one who had taken me to Gwen! I walked quickly across the platform until I reached him. His eyes grew wide when he saw me.
"You remember me, then?" I asked hopefully. He, aside from Sirius, was the only one who'd seen them and knew what had come to them.
"How could I not? You look just like year mother." He said as his beetle-like eyes grew watery.
"Oi, Rin!" called Fred as he, George, and Lee caught up with me. You're not technically a first year. You don't have to go on the boat ride.
"She'd be missing' out on a true Hogwarts experience if she did." Said the man, whose name I vaguely remembered to be…Hagrid!
"Alright," I smiled, "but on one condition."
"Oi! Splash that one!" hissed Fred at George as they harassed the first years in other boats. It was only the four of us in ours, seeing as they were pretty small boats. It was truly a miracle Hagrid managed to squeeze in one by himself. Lee steered the boat, coming close to other ones, only turning at the last second as the first years gave out little squeals of terror. Hagrid merely chuckled as he led us all around a bend and toward the most glorious sight I'd ever seen. Hogwarts. It was more beautiful than Gwen and Remus had described it. I felt overwhelming warmth come over me as I thought about how this was a sight my mum and dad had seen as children many years ago. I could almost feel them looking up at the castle with me.
"It's almost like seeing it for the first time all over again." Said George softly.
"Only better." Said Fred taking my hand and smiling.
"Awww." Teased Lee and George in unison. And then, as luck would have it, it began to pour. But we, unlike the first years, knew magic. The twins conjured up a couple of umbrellas and held them over us. We laughed as the first years began to scream at the downpour. I couldn't have asked for a more perfect moment. When we walked through the doors I gaped at the grandeur before me. This place was perfect. It wasn't cold and stern like the institute had been. It was warm and friendly, and-
"Look out!" yelled Fred as he moved me to one side, narrowly missing a water balloon. He grabbed me as we, George, and Lee dodged the rest of them. Most landed on the already soaked and pathetic looking first years, before an older and stern looking woman stormed into the entrance hall and made the guilty poltergeist stop. She turned to us four, the taller ones who stuck out like sore thumbs among the small first years.
"Weasley, Weasley, Jordan, why are you lot here and not at your table?" she asked.
"We were just helping Rin here get settled, Professor McGonagall." Answered George.
"Yeah. Didn't want her to start off on the wrong foot with her impressionable classmates here." Said Fred motioning to the first years whom he had just been tormenting for the better part of an hour.
"I see. Well go to your seats now. The sorting is about to begin. Miss Potter, come with me." She said walking away. George and Lee gave me quick hugs and reassuring smiles. Fred hugged me tightly and gave me a kiss on the cheek.
"I'll save you a seat." He said before disappearing through the doors. The first years lined up behind me as Professor McGonagall led us into the hall. I felt eyes from every direction and table land on me. I didn't expect anything less as I was very noticeable, what with being a foot taller than the other kids.
"When I call your name, you will sit on this stool, put on the hat, and be sorted into your corresponding house." She instructed. I felt eyes burning into my face from the head table. I looked up to see Professor Dumbledore giving me a nice smile. The twinkle in his eye was reassuring, but it was not his hard gaze I could feel. Further down the table I saw a man dressed in all black with greasy black hair, and a hooked nose. I couldn't decipher the look he was giving me. Something between loathing and curiosity if I'd had to guess. So that was the potions master Harry had mentioned. Silly for him to carry on a grudge like that, I thought as names continued to be called out after the hat had finished its song, only reinforcing my desire to be a Gryffindor.
"Potter, Catherine." Called the Professor after Natalie McDonald had been sorted into Gryffindor. With any luck I'd be joining her. Whispers filled the hall as now everyone zeroed in on me. Potter's sister- Much too pretty to be Potter's sister- Where do you think she's been- I like her hair- Imagine she gets Slytherin or something?
I took a deep breath before sitting on the stool. No fear. Gryffindors don't show fear. Let alone towards a hat. Almost immediately I heard the hat start talking.
"Hmm, another Potter. My, my, I never thought I'd see the day. I remember your father and mother. She was as nervous as you…hmm not as cunning though. Clever mind, could be Ravenclaw. Loyal...very loyal, not sure about Hufflepuff…Again, very cunning. Could be Slytherin. No no…Ah wait, but there it is. Bold, Brave, Fierce. All screaming to be recognized. Just like your father then. Well alright then if you're sure, GRYFFINDOR!"
I beamed and hopped off the stool as the Gryffindor table began to applaud and cheer.
"We got Potters! We got Potters!" cheered Fred and George. I hugged Harry when I reached him and was about to sit, before Fred picked me up and spun me around in a hug.
"I think we're good, love." I laughed.
"Told you I'd save you a seat." He beamed brightly at me and set me down between him and Harry. The happiness I was feeling was astounding. I was definitely going to be spending all my time with the people I cared about. And at that moment it didn't even matter that I'd be sharing a room with Angelina.