Hi Guys sorry this one took a little longer, i'm in Italy at the moment and have less time to write. We're starting to see progress with this chapter. Stay tuned, on with the show.

Chapter 9

Hogwarts End of Term Report, Autumn Term for Catherine Edwards.

First term exam scores.

Astronomy E Charms O

Defence Against the Dark Arts E Herbology E

History of Magic A Transfiguration O

Potions A Flying O

Head of House Report: Professor McGonagall Head of Gryffindor house.

Catherine has had a somewhat difficult start to life at Hogwarts. I suspect contrary to expectation she has not I feel settled in as well as one would hope with her peers. She is certainly not without friends, however I do worry that she is resisting attempts to become close with her peers, as to why she would do this I am unable to ascertain. Other than some social difficulties, Catherine (or Cat as she insists everyone calls her,) has taken to magic like a duck to water. She is extremely naturally talented and easily picks up new spells with surprising ease. Her practical work in all her subjects is exemplary, her understanding of theory is perhaps a little way behind her practical aptitude but she is still certainly far ahead of the curve. At this point in the year I would suggest that she perhaps focus a little more on her written work as well as reading around the subjects to ensure she achieves the lofty heights of her potential in the end of year exams. I like to set my pupils a challenge in my reports, so for Catherine I would suggest an honest attempt to make close friends. She does not show it but I feel that Catherine is missing home quite keenly and having good friends would certainly help ease the pain of her separation. On a lighter note Cat has shown aptitude in a number of extra-curricular activities but most impressively she was one of only two first year students to be given permission to practise with their house teams. While she is not currently on the first team as there are no available spots in the starting line-up she does practise with the team and the captain informs me that she is an exceptional flyer and should the need arise could fulfil the roles of chaser or seeker admirably for Gryffindor. While it is unlikely that she will take a starting position until third year when one of the Gryffindor chasers graduates, it would probably be worth her while to purchase her own racing broom to practise with next year, and in the future there are a range of summer Quidditch camps which she should consider. To sum up Catherine has adapted reasonably well to her first term at Hogwarts, academically she is second in her year and displays astonishing natural flair for performing magic. Her Quidditch ability is an exceptional talent, but she needs to make more effort socially or I fear she may find Hogwarts to be quite a lonely experience.

Audrey handed the report to Jack across the dining table without looking at him. Instead she focused on the second envelope which Rodney had brought, this one with what she now recognised as her daughters handwriting (when using a quill at any rate). It was far less polished than the flowing elegant hand of her professor and there was the hint of an ink spot dotted across the page which had been hastily dabbed at.

Jack had watched his wife read the letter from Hogwarts first with a confused expression and then with what she clearly hoped was a calm expression. Jack was immediately gripped by worry what could the letter have said that Audrey would be worried about concerning him. He thought back to the letters they had received, every Friday morning like clockwork, from Catherine. He had noticed that the first seven or eight had been very long and full of excitement and wonder at Hogwarts and the things she was learning, then around Halloween they had become much shorter and more generic in their content. Instead of a long treatise on being graded down in potions for unknown reasons or complaining about being unable to decipher either the stutter or the shaky handwriting of her defense professor; her parents were treated to simple statements on what she had done that day and questions on how they were and whether they had heard from Simon. Now reading Cat's report, both Jack and Audrey couldn't help but worry that their daughter was keeping her feelings from her parents. Jack couldn't decide why she might be doing that if she was lonely as her teacher suspected. And why was she lonely? True she hadn't been exactly the most popular girl at her last school but she had had Simon and a few others who she was relatively close to. As Jack continued his musings with a cup of tea, Audrey wiped off the marmalade knife on her napkin and broke the wax seal on the envelope from her daughter and hoped for some answers.

Dear Mum and Dad.

I'll need to make this a quick one as I have agreed to help a friend in the library look up something. It's something of a long shot but have you ever heard of Nicolas Flamel? Hermione is a muggleborn like me and so it is possible that she heard it in the muggle world. She is however a voracious reader and asked me to help her search the books she has read this year for a reference to him.

In other news Oliver Wood, (I'm sure I mentioned the Quidditch captain) says that I need to buy a broom before next year so that I am not at such a disadvantage in practise, he also suggested that I join a summer Quidditch camp because he thinks I'll be really good if I practise. There aren't any in the London area the closest would probably be Wimbourne Wasps or Puddlemere United in Dorset or Tutshill Tornadoes in Chepstow near Wales…? Anyway that sounds like a lot of fun and apparently they're only a week-long so it wouldn't cut into our summer hols too much.

Ok right I've got to go. I can't wait to see you I can't believe there's only a week left of term, it feels like I only got here yesterday. See you soon.

Lots of love

Cat-herine.

Xxx

"Hey Cat you ready?" Hermione walked over to where she was sat by a window in the common room.

"Almost, just sending a letter." She stuck her tongue out of the corner of her mouth as she concentrated melting the wax with her wand before sealing the envelope. "Here you go Rodney, to mum and dad. You might as well stay there until I arrive." Rodney hooted and nibbled her finger affectionately before swooping out of the window and rapidly reducing to a golden speck in the pale winter sky.

The two girls chatted nonchalantly as they descended the stairs and headed towards the library, both expertly hopping the trick step and ducking behind a tapestry to use a secret passage to avoid Peeves. Their conversation was light, talking about plans for the holidays and an essay for Transfiguration which was due tomorrow. Hermione and Catherine had looked to be becoming good friends in their first two months at Hogwarts, but they were both hampered by the notion that the other didn't particularly like them. Hermione had found friends in Harry and Ron after the much whispered about, but never confirmed, troll incident. Catherine on the other hand was friendly with practically everyone in the house. A lot of people really liked her, Neville thought she and Hermione were the nicest people in Gryffindor, as they were the only ones who either didn't make fun of him or tried to make him feel welcome. It didn't stop her feeling a pang of loneliness at times when she saw Hermione immediately go and sit down with Harry and Ron by the fire when they returned from a study session in the library. Cat felt like second place to Harry and Ron, while Hermione felt like Cat tolerated her rather than actually liked her. Despite being a good Quidditch player and practising as a reserve for the team, Cat hadn't had much contact with Harry, for one simple reason. She couldn't stand Ron, he was rude, lazy and had table manners which turned her stomach the one time she had sat with Hermione at meals. She knew something important must have happened at Halloween because Ron was still rude to them calling them Gryffindor's resident nerds or bookworms. Yet now instead of hating Ron, Hermione hung out with him. She suspected it had more to do with Harry but still.

The two girls arrived at the library for what they had agreed would be their final weekend search for Flamel, before the holiday. Cat still had no idea why Hermione was looking for a man named Flamel. She knew it had something to do with the three headed dog that was on the third floor-corridor. She had gone on many a wander before curfew exploring the castle and when returning late one night she had ducked into the door to avoid Filch, and then rapidly exited saving her life, while nearly killing Filch as she bowled into him. She lost her house twenty points and had a detention with Snape cleaning cauldrons for her trouble. Hermione had not specifically asked her to help but Cat who was Gryffindor's only other regular library-goer had worked out that Hermione was getting frustrated at not finding something and asked if she wanted any help. She didn't press Hermione over why she was looking for him other than that it wasn't Hermione's secret to tell. They stayed in the library for two hours before dinner but were no closer to finding him and Cat had almost reached the point of grabbing random books and scanning the index's for his name. Hermione slammed a heavy leather-bound book onto the table with a sharp exhalation, which startled Cat who had rested her chin on a book while scanning another's index.

"I can't believe we can't find him. What is the point of this library?" Cat chuckled a little at Hermione's comment.

"Now I know you don't mean that." She smirked at the bushy haired girl who pouted before smiling slightly and reached for another book, this one on alchemy. Cat stopped her hand and motioned to the cuckoo clock hanging above Madame Pince's counter. "It's nearly half six we should head to dinner now. Maybe we can spend another half hour before curfew."

"I can't I promised Ron and Harry I'd help them with McGonagall's essay after dinner.

Cat shrugged it off affecting an air of nonchalance. "Ok so do you want me to keep looking till the holiday or shall we give up?"

"I think I'll remember it at some point, I'm sure I've read it somewhere before."

"Right, now we've all been fed and watered, it's time for our two Christmas day traditions." Dumbledore merrily smiled at the four sitting around a table with him in his office. They all looked frankly quite ridiculous. Dumbledore was resplendent in silver starred robes until you noticed the flowered bonnet on his head. McGonagall looked somewhat less ridiculous in a silk top hat which she had transfigured to match the colour of her emerald robes. To her right professor sprout sported a multi-coloured jester's hat complete with little bells at the tips. The diminutive figure of Flitwick in dark blue robes and a sombrero, upon which a toy steam train went round and round, completed the rather strange picture. Snape was point-blank refusing to don the pink beret he won in his cracker.

"I shall start and then clockwise I think with Minerva next." Dumbledore waved his hand and four wrapped gifts floated across the table to their recipients. What followed were the customary exclamations of pleasure or surprise at the thoughtfulness or usefulness of the gifts. Dumbledore prided himself on what he considered a talent for choosing excellent presents. A pair of tickets to see the England vs France Quidditch match, for McGonagall, an exceedingly rare lily for professor sprout which would bloom only in the light of a harvest moon, a little muggle mechanical toy shaped like a bird which would drink water perpetually for Flitwick and a flask of powdered basilisk venom for Snape. He was least pleased with the gifts to Minerva and Severus as he thought they were too generic and while he knew Snape needed it for his research he felt it lacked the familiar touch he aimed for. His presents were of a mostly confectionary nature, which for a man with far too many books, hats and little desk ornaments was absolutely fine. After the last of the wrapping paper was vanished and the last thankyou said, Dumbledore cleared his throat and addressed them in the manner he always conducted his heads of house meetings. "So how's the year going so far? I've read the reports your sending home and it all looks fairly peachy…" The five senior teachers discussed exam results, predicted grades, the rising cost of OWL and NEWT exams, the Weasley twins' latest pranks long into the afternoon. The bell tolling in the clock tower announced it was almost time for dinner, not that anyone really had the room for it after Christmas lunch.

"A word please, Severus, McGonagall. I shan't detain you long from your refreshment." Dumbledore looked down his nose over his spectacles at his two most trusted lieutenants. "I was just wondering how are two, how shall I put them…special cases are doing."

"You mean Potter and Ri-Edwards?" Snape dispassionately stated. Dumbledore nodded his confirmation. "Edward's I do not know what to make of if I am honest, Potter on the other hand is just his father reborn, just as arrogant and troublesome with just as blatant disregard for the rules and safety of others."

Dumbledore noticed that McGongall's lips had thinned so as to be almost invisible and he guessed that beneath the surface a battle raged.

"Enough Severus, I do however wonder, if the boy is truly his father at his least mature, or perhaps young Harry is a completely different young man and deserves your unbiased consideration. Something to think about." He turned to look at McGonagall who looked somewhat more calm. I do hope that she and Severus never come to wands over their disagreements, the results would not be pretty. How are they settling in Minerva? I read your report for the Edwards family but there was no report for young Harry."

"Harry appears to be settling in fine despite," McGonagall fixed the headmaster with a steely gaze, "the suspected emotional abuse he has suffered since you placed him with the Dursley's. Lord above knows why…yes yes there are some blood bound protections, I know. As for miss Edward's I am actually slightly more worried. You attribute her father's character to isolation. I am worried that Catherine is not making friends easily and is quite a lonely child. I am not sure what it is exactly that stops her but she seems to drift from one person to the other as a welcome acquaintance but not a close friend."

"You fear that the feelings of rejection and isolation could…"

"I don't know what I think, she's not just his daughter. She's also Mr and Mrs Edwards's daughter but still it isn't good for a child to be so friendless. I had hoped she would become close to Miss Granger but she has attached herself to Potter and the youngest Weasley, once again leaving Catherine on the outside looking in. "

"Professor." Snape cut in. "Without sounding callous but, shouldn't we, for the time being at least…let these children try to sort out their own friendships, without us lowering ourselves to playing match maker between eleven and twelve-year olds?"

"Perhaps your right Severus, Merlin knows we do not have the time to do this for every student so why these two." Dumbledore sighed. "Very well then we shall let events pass as they may, for now. Minerva, Severus I trust you to keep an eye on these two. You know my thoughts, the boy who lived and the dark lord's daughter they could determine the fate of our world." He said gravely, Snape shivered as the shadow's seemed to lengthen in the flickering candlelight. "Thank-you and merry Christmas. I need to floo Nicholas and Perenelle, they wish to make some more elixir. Good evening." The light returned to normal as did the twinkle which had fled from Dumbledore's solemn blue eyes.

"Merry Christmas Professor."

"Wake up Cat"

What dad? Five more minutes.

"Come on wake up Cat!" Someone began shaking her gently and rubbing her arm as she lay on her side.

"Come on Cat it's Christmas."

"Five more minute's dad." She mumbled snuggling into her pillow.

"OY! Wake up, it's Christmas and Harry is saying I can't open my presents until you are up!"

Cat jerked awake at the irritated shout of someone who was most definitely not her father. It all came flooding back and the slight smile which Harry noticed, graced her sleeping features, disappeared with a droop. She seemed to fold in upon herself as she curled up with her quilt and pillow on the sofa in the Gryffindor common room. Harry had overheard from McGonagall talking to Flitwick, that Cat would be staying after all. Harry had been happy to hear this as for one he quite liked Cat and thought she was fun and two there were so few people staying other than himself and the Weasley's it would be nice to have extra company for his first Christmas away from the Dursley's. He could see however that he was the only one who was happy about the change in arrangements and he felt a pang of envy that Cat had somewhere with people who loved her, that she was sad enough not to be going home to.

"Morning Edward's, what's up?" Harry sat down on the sofa and took his glasses off to polish the lenses, while squinting at the blonde girl next to him.

"Huh oh nothing?" Cat came out of her private world at his voice and attempted to force a smile.

"I thought you were going home anyway, instead of hanging around like you normally do." Harry and Cat both looked at Ron unsure of what he meant by that, but he was too busy inspecting a package to notice.

"No my uh" She glanced quickly at Harry and then continued. "My parents won a holiday for two, to Florence and they've always to go there so well they asked if I'd mind terribly spending Christmas at Hogwarts instead of going home." She said all of this with a fixed grin, and she honestly was trying to be happy about it. After all her parents had always talked about going off on a weekend getaway to Tuscany, but they'd never really had the money to do it and she wasn't sure what she was upset about, Hogwarts while a bit drafty in some of the corridors, was beautiful and at the moment was completely covered in a blanket of snow making the mountains shine in the sunlight, the frozen lake a pale blue expanse stretching to the horizon. It was breathtakingly beautiful if you took the time to see it. It was enough to make your heart ache and then she realised why her heart was aching. She missed her mum and dad. They were the closest people to her and she had looked forward to Christmas practically since she stepped off the train in September. And now they were going off without her, the three musketeers became two.

Harry didn't believe the face which said she was happy but the bright violet eyes which looked really sad and refused to meet his green ones. He decided not to press her as it was obvious where she really wanted to be.

"Come on sleepy, let's let Ron open his present's then go down for breakf... um lunch." Harry laughed looking at his watch and seeing it was almost eleven.

"Brunch then." Cat replied with a small smile and stood up revealing the same pair of jeans and woolly jumper she wore the day before. "Tell Ron he can start opening them I just want to go wash and change." Harry watched her retreating back as she skipped up the stairs.

"Hey mate you going to open yours?" Ron asked through a mouthful of chocolate frog. He had started as soon as he heard Cat's parting words and had already revealed a woolly jumper and a pack of sweets.

"I've got presents?" Harry asked, surprised that someone had sent him something.

"Take a look." Harry crouched down beside the tree and took a package from a small pile. It was quite large and squishy. He opened it to reveal a forest green cable nit jumper with a yellow 'H' with a packet of fudge. He realised that the jumper was hand knitted but was of slightly superior quality to the maroon one that Ron had just shrugged into. From Hermione he received a packet of Chocolate frogs, with a card saying that she thought about getting him a book, but decided he'd be tired of reading after looking for Flamel. He chuckled at that, and thought it was really quite thoughtful. He got a fifty p coin from the Dursley's which he gave to Ron. A wooden flute from Hagrid and most surprisingly a book from Cat, who was just walking down the stairs looking refreshed. "101 stupid Quidditch stunts to impress girls?" Harry looked at Cat with a confused expression as she sat down on the sofa next to him and reached for one of her own presents.

"I thought it might give you some ideas for the Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff games." She replied without looking up from the pale violet hooded cloak that she had removed the tissue paper from a Malkin's box. It was beautiful and the satin was so soft, she knew it must have been really expensive and she hoped her mum had used the Gringotts' draft book from Tom Riddle's vault rather than her own money. The second package she picked up definitely felt more like a present from her dad. It was a new pair of football boots and a ball. They were black with three white stripes, red piping and red laces. She hadn't played football since the summer and she realised she missed it. Quidditch was fun but she didn't play in the matches and she rarely broke a sweat while actually flying. Wood's fitness training regimen was something else entirely but she knew without playing twice a week for school and her borough, she was getting lazy and unfit. Dean Thomas also mentioned missing football so she thought she might ask him for a kick around when term started.

After getting irritated first explaining again what football was to Ron and then trying to explain why people might want to play a sport which involves running around, Cat pointed out to Harry that he had missed his last present.

It was about the size of a rugby ball, but soft and yielded to the touch, Harry assumed it was clothes, probably more hand-me-downs of Dudley's. Instead it revealed a silvery almost watery material which upon closer inspection proved to be a cloak. It shimmered in the fire light and dim winter sun streaming through the tower windows. Cat thought it was the most beautiful fabric she had ever seen and it entranced her. "Put it on, Harry." She whispered without realising she said it or why the sudden compulsion to see it worn.

Harry looked at her, shrugged and swept it round and over himself.

Dear Reader

Please Review.

I could do with your comments to motivate me/criticism to refine my writing. Thankyou for your consideration.

Sincerely

The Author