Disclaimer: Do not own Harry Potter.

Warnings: This centers around Harry and my own character.

Pairings: Mainly HarryxOC, RonxHermoine

A/N: I wrote the majority of this story back before book six came out – the original is still on another website – but I went back over to it today and realized that I could do so much better – so here is my attempt. This chapter is unbeta'd.

New to Hogwarts

By: akirk85029

It was soon time to return to school. The kids had all gotten up early and packed wishing they still had a little bit more time to sleep. Arthur was taking the kids back to school on the Knight Bus again and Bill and Fleur were going to walk the Grangers back into town so they could go home.

Everyone was outside and said good-bye as Arthur got all the school bound people on board the bus. A few seconds later they were unloading off the bus in Hogsmeade right outside the gates to Hogwarts and they started their long walk back to the castle.

During the return dinner at Hogwarts, they learned that Defense Against the Dark Arts classes were going to be moved back to normal hours of the day, which everyone was grateful for.

After dinner Malfoy was going to try something but Harry and Kate were surrounded by most of the Gryffindors as they all headed out that he had decided to wait for a better time.

Everyone was paying more attention in class now that Professor Moody was back, that and the fact that he had an all seeing eye that rolled around in its socket. Harry, Kate, Hermoine, and Ron were back in the front of class again. Professor Moody decided to start with lecturing them on Vampires.

After class, Ron asked "does anyone else know that Professor Damon was one?"

"I don't think so," Hermoine replied, "I think that class was more for our benefit."

Only after a few weeks back Harry started up the Quidditch practices, he wanted his first year as captain to be a successful one. They seemed to only be able to practice when Professor McGonagall stepped in because Professor Snape would continually write notes for the Slytherin team to have use of the field for practice almost every night. Harry saw Professor Moody down on the Quidditch field watching them. Harry knew that Moody was most likely there to watch over him than actually being interested in their practice. Harry ended up having the team practice until dinner each time they could practice because he wanted to them to learn some new maneuvers for their next game.

It was all too soon the start of February and they were playing against Hufflepuff this time. The Hufflepuffs had an entirely new team this year.

Again, the match had started out well, Ginny had grabbed the quaffle as it was being thrown between Hufflepuff chasers and threw it to Kate who immediately scored their first goal of the game. The score quickly reached sixty to ten, Gryffindor. Harry was frantically searching for the snitch as Hufflepuff had soon scored another goal and then Harry finally saw it, it was across the field and Harry flew after it. The Hufflepuff seeker was watching him knowing that Harry would spot it first and followed suit. They were soon neck in neck as they raced for the snitch, but Harry got there first. The crowed roared with excitement.

Valentine's Day arrived all to quickly which had everyone that was allowed to go, in Hogsmeade for that day. Harry, Kate, Ron, and Hermoine were in The Three Broomsticks having some butterbeer when they saw Hagrid come in and noticed that he was in a cheery mood. They all waved at him.

"Hello everyone, beautiful day ain't it?" Hagrid grinned.

"Did you get something from Madame Maxine?" Hermoine asked.

Hagrid winked at them and bid them a good day and went on about his business. Hagrid didn't spend too much time off the Hogwarts grounds because of his half brother, who he needed to keep hidden, so it was rare surprise to see Hagrid.

Soon they were all off walking through the town when Ron stopped dead in his tracks. They looked to see why he stopped and they realized why when they saw Ron's sister. Ginny was with Neville and they looked like they were having a very nice Valentine's lunch together.

Ron was about to head over there to give Neville a piece of his mind when Hermoine grabbed his hand and dragged him the opposite way. Ron grudgingly surrendered to Hermoine.

Harry and Kate thought about sneaking off but they noticed that Professor Moody was following them when they heard his wooden leg hit a trash bin.

Malfoy was really bad the next day in Potions class. Professor Snape of course was ignoring anything Malfoy did. Malfoy proceeded to send a note over to Harry with a crude picture on it and Harry hid it before Kate could see what it was.

After the class ended Malfoy made his way over to Harry and started making some snide comments which led Harry to punch Malfoy and ended up knocking him out cold which subsequently landed him in detention with Professor Snape that evening.

Kate didn't even ask Harry what that was about, she had seen the picture that Harry had tried to hide. Ron was laughing as they walked back to the common room commenting on how that had been the best thing he had ever witnessed.

The Gryffindor team was sickened when Slytherin won their next game. The Slytherins had slaughtered their opponent which put them back in the running for the Cup, which also meant that the Gryffindors were going to have to play Slytherin one more time. Harry almost wished they didn't have to, but he wanted to beat Malfoy again so bad.

Harry had his team start practicing every move they could think of to get out of nasty situations because he could bet on the Slytherins playing dirty during their next game.

It was finally Easter, which meant the final game of the year for the Quidditch Cup. Gryffindor only needed to win by twenty points to win the Cup, but they all knew how much Slytherin would cheat to win. Harry's job was to find the snitch as soon as possible.

Kate scored the first goal of the game, which meant that every bludger was being sent her way. Harry kept flying around but he couldn't help but look at the game every once in a while to make sure everyone was okay.

Slytherin made the next score, which only seemed to strengthen their idea of brutality. Ginny got hit in the leg by a beater which gave her a penalty shot, which she made with ease. Gryffindor was now up again.

The quaffle was being thrown back and forth between different sides; no one was quite sure who was going to finally score. Harry finally saw the snitch over near the Gryffindor goal posts and flew for it. Malfoy was so into doing everyone else's job that he didn't even notice Harry.

Harry grabbed the snitch and the stadium seemed to shake with the cheers from the crowd. Everyone's attention was focused on Harry, so Malfoy was able to work his way back up to Kate again with one of the beater's clubs. He swung it right into the back of her head.

Kate was only a few feet from the ground when she had fallen completely unconscious. Malfoy was gone by the time Neville had found her. Harry was looking around for Kate and knew something was wrong when he couldn't spot her right away. He then noticed that Neville was running off the field carrying someone and Harry couldn't breathe, his heart seemed to stop beating as he swiftly followed Neville.

Kate was sitting back home, her parents were talking in the next room. Kate was supposed to be asleep, she was only nine. She could hear her mother crying.

"John, I want to go home and see my sister again. I never told her I was sorry for what I said." Meg cried onto her husband's shoulder.

"I know Meg, but do we really want to take that chance. You know the prophecy; he will kill her if he finds her." John said exhausted.

"Our daughter deserves to know all her cousins and my family." Meg cried.

John hugged his wife. "I agree darling, but what choice do we have. I would rather have my daughter alive, here, safe. No one that knows who we were in England knows us here, so we are safe as long as we keep a low profile." John pleaded.

Meg nodded her head in acknowledgement and continued to cry on John's shoulder.

Kate woke up with a pounding headache. "What happened?" she tried to say, but her mouth was so dry that it didn't even sound like anything came out.

Harry handed her a glass of water.

"Your head was badly hit. I can only assume that someone was trying to use your head as a bludger. Luckily Neville found you when he did and brought you to me so quickly. I have healed the bones, but your head will hurt badly for the next week or so. I want you to stay here for the night though." Madame Pomfrey told her and went off to see to Ginny, who had finally come in about her leg.

Kate turned to Harry. "I was having a dream about my parents."

Harry finally started to breath normally again and grabbed her hand to hold it again. He felt better now that she was talking to him.

Kate started to tell him about her dream. Hermoine and Ron came in as Kate was talking to Harry and they listened to her memory as well.

"Do you know what your parents did while they were here?" Hermoine asked.

Kate shook her head no. They pondered this for a little while longer and Ron finally joked that maybe they were Unspeakables. After some time Madame Pomfrey kicked all those that were not bed ridden out for the night.

Kate found Harry the next morning and asked if she could borrow Hedwig. He agreed and walked with her up to the owlery. He called Hedwig down to him as Kate wrote her note asking her aunt to explain some things. They tied the note around Hedwig's leg and Harry told her where to go. They watched through the window as Hedwig flew out of sight.

During breakfast, Dumbledore greatly criticized what had happened to Kate and advised that if the person who did it was caught he or she would be expelled as that kind of disregard for another person's life would not be allowed on school grounds. Everyone was sure that Malfoy had done it, but no one could actually prove it.

Kate was allowed to miss that day's classes because she still had such a bad headache. She ended up sleeping most of the day. Hermoine had taken notes for her and Kate was grateful. She had never missed any classes before.

Malfoy had been on his best behavior since, well ever, almost like he couldn't take the chance of being expelled.

During the evenings Harry would massage Kate's shoulder's to help relieve some stress. She still had a dull ringing in her ears even now, and Madame Pomfrey had assured her that it would go away in a few days' time, but Harry and Hermoine still had to take notes for her as she could not hear well enough yet.

April was fading away into May and soon Hedwig had returned with a reply letter from Molly. Kate read it out loud, "I will explain everything when you return home for the summer. Don't worry too much about it now, dear. Give Ron and Ginny my love. Love, Aunt Molly."

That wasn't the answer Kate was expecting and she sat back down on the couch next to Harry and laid her head on his shoulder. After a while even Hermoine couldn't study anymore and they all went to bed for the night.

Kate and Harry were sitting outside with Hermoine and Ron enjoying the sunshine. Hermoine and Kate were setting up their study schedule for their end of year exams.

"You know this time next year, we'll be preparing for the N.E.W.T.'s, that's so exciting." Hermoine exclaimed.

"Yeah," Ron replied, "at least that will be our last test ever."

Kate and Harry grinned; it was always fun to watch Ron and Hermoine quibble. Harry was starting to wonder what Voldemort was up to. No one had heard anything about him all year. Harry hoped he could have one year without having too much of the peace disturbed.

Harry was almost happy until he saw Malfoy heading their way. Everyone around them seemed to get quiet as they noticed Malfoy too.

As Malfoy walked by he called out "Hey Kate, how's your head feeling?"

Everyone immediately stood up reading for a fight.

Harry faced Malfoy, "Why don't you be a man Malfoy and fess up!" Harry said angrily.

"How're you going to prove it Potter!" Malfoy retorted.

Harry raised his fist, but before he could do anything he heard his name being called by Professor McGonagall. Malfoy smiled at him and Professor McGonagall called Harry again, so he reluctantly turned around and walked up to the castle.

Malfoy started laughing and turned to continue where he was heading, but before he could finish turning Kate had kicked him right in the groin as hard as she could. Malfoy fell to the ground almost crying. Crabbe and Goyle started to step up to her, but any Gryffindor within distance started to step forward to protect her. Crabbe and Goyle backed off and dragged Malfoy off cursing in a high pitched voice.

Everyone else watched in hysterics. Ron was laughing so hard he almost fell over. Harry came back after a lecture from Professor McGonagall about allowing Malfoy to get to him, when Ron told him what happened.

Harry and Ron were again waiting outside after having finished their last final when Neville came by and gave a copy of the Daily Prophet to Harry.

"Read it Harry." Neville said in an almost panicked voice. Harry and Ron read the paper.

'The Ministry is upset at the news that several of the Death Eaters have escaped from Azkaban' was the headline.

Harry started to get an uneasy feeling. Something was going on and he knew that he wasn't going to like it.

"Well," Ron said, "I was wondereing how long we were going to be able to actually hold them."

"Yeah," Harry replied, "but the paper doesn't say which ones escaped."

They all looked at each other. Harry saw Kate and Hermoine heading their way and Harry gave the paper back to Neville and told him that they would talk later. Harry didn't want to make Kate worry about him.

During dinner Dumbledore announced that Gryffindor had won the House Cup once again, beating Slytherin by only twenty points this year.

Ron asked Ginny how she thought she did on the O.W.L.'s, but she shrugged her shoulders and said "I don't know."

Ron was beginning to get used to the idea of Neville and Ginny together as he watched her turn and whisper something into Neville's ear. Ron leaned over to Hermoine and kissed her cheek blushing as Hermoine smiled at him.

Kate was laughing at something Harry had said when Dumbledore announced that it was time for the festivities to end.

Everyone walked back to their common rooms and talked excitedly about their plans for the summer.

Hermoine and her parents were going on a trip to New York City and had invited Ron to join them. He just hoped that his parents would allow him to go.

Harry was dismal about having to spend the first part of his summer with the Dursleys, but Ron's mother had invited him to spend the second half with them again. This would be the first time that Harry wished his birthday would hurry up and come and go.

Everyone eventually crawled into their beds at about midnight.

Kate must have just fallen asleep when she heard someone calling her name. She thought she was imaging it, but it seemed to keep getting louder. Kate finally got up unable to ignore it. She then noticed that the voice seemed to be coming from outside her dorm room. She didn't bother putting on a robe, she doubted she would run into anyone this time of night and besides her nightclothes were not that revealing, she mused to herself.

As Kate left her dorm room and headed down into the common room she realized that the voice was coming from somewhere outside the Gryffindor tower. She thought about going back to get her robe, but the voice seemed to be getting more urgent.

Kate walked out through the oversized portrait and down the stairs following the sound of the voice. She made it down into the great hall and realized that the voice was coming from somewhere outside. Something about this didn't seem right, but the voice sounded so urgent, like they really needed help. Kate finally opened the heavy door and headed outside.

Harry woke up suddenly, he felt that something wasn't quite right but didn't know what. He put on his glasses, got up, and went over to the pitcher of water in front of the window to get a glass of water and when he looked outside he saw what looked like Kate walking on the grounds. Harry saw a figure that looked like it was floating towards her.

Harry knew at that instant that something was terribly wrong. Harry threw the window open and yelled at her to run. He only managed to wake up all the boys in his dorm room.

"What is it Harry?" Ron asked sleepily.

Harry didn't answer he ran as fast as he could out of his dorm room towards Kate.