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

Kate and Harry had decided to keep their engagement a secret so Kate turned the diamond to the inside of her palm during the day so it looked like an ordinary ring. No one seemed to pay much attention to it anyway. Soon Errol flew in with everyone's Hogwarts letters.

Harry, Kate, Hermoine, and Ron were all excited; this was going to be their last year of school. Hermoine and Harry were to be Head Girl and Boy this year, Hermoine seemed to be the only one excited about this particular responsibility.

Hermoine and Kate were again outside talking. Harry asked Ron if he knew what they talked about. Ron basically said he had no idea. They both shrugged their shoulders and decided to get in a bit of flying time and went upstairs to grab their brooms.

They arrived at school an hour before everyone else because Arthur dropped them off via the Knight Bus again. They were all sitting down in the dining hall when people started to come in from their long trip.

Ginny got up and rushed over to Neville when she saw him. They sat down together a few seats down from Harry and Kate.

They all greeted everyone and talked happily about their summers. Soon they all quieted down as Professor McGonagall led the first years to the front of the hall to be sorted. Harry looked to find the new teacher but he didn't see one sitting up at the teacher's table.

After all the first years were sorted, a man walked into the room and every eye was upon him as he walked to the teacher's table and took the empty chair that the Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher always occupied.

Professor Dumbledore stood up to give his normal start of the year speech. He then introduced their new teacher, Professor Truman. Harry and Kate looked at each other; they both thought that he seemed like the type that didn't like to even get dirty much less fight off evil.

Professor Dumbledore then made a startling announcement when the previous murmurs had died down. "There is not going to be separate quidditch teams this year."

Everyone started mumbling to each other trying to figure out what was going on but quieted down quickly when the professor started talking again. They didn't want to miss want he might announce.

"There will be one Hogwarts team this year as several schools have opted to participate in an international quidditch competition. Tryouts for the Hogwarts team will be held the first week in October and I believe the first match will be hosted by Beauxbaxtons in France." With that Dumbledore waved his hand and the food arrived, but most students were too excited to eat too much.

Professor Snape was in a particurally vindictive mood and so he separated them all. He placed Harry in the back by himself, Ron with Seamus, Hermoine with Neville, and with a wicked grin he placed Kate with Draco Malfoy.

Draco threw a scathing grin Harry's way. Harry tried to ignore him even though he was worried about what Malfoy might try to do to Kate.

Snape then waved his dark wand and ingredients for a new potion appeared on the board behind him and snapped at them to get to work.

Soon after everyone started, Professor McGonagall walked in and quietly asked to speak with Snape for a moment. He left the room and Malfoy seized his opportunity.

Malfoy leaned over and put his arm around Kate and whispered something in her ear. Kate turned and slapped him hard across the face and she hadn't realized she had used her left hand until she saw that her ring had cut him pretty deeply.

Malfoy touched his cheek and when his hand came away with blood, he was pissed. Malfoy called her a foul name and she went to hit him again but Harry got to him first and spun him around and punched him right in the face. Malfoy fell to the floor with a thud, out cold again.

In a matter of seconds the Slytherins and Gryffindors were in a complete brawl. Professors Snape and McGonagall rushed back into the room and Snape waved his wand causing a loud screeching noise to be emitted which made everyone stop to cover their ears. When Snape had everyone's attention, he gave everyone detention which the Gryffindors knew that if Professor McGonagall had not been in there, it just would have been the Gryffindors in detention.

Snape noting Malfoy's limp form on the floor moved Kate over to another table by herself and sent Malfoy to the hospital wing with Crabbe and Goyle.

Detention was nothing but a farce. The Gryffindors were being forced to mop the floor in the great hall by hand, no magic allowed, while the Slytherins watched with great joy.

Malfoy was looking pretty amused at the sight in front of him.

Snape was busy talking with Filch and Malfoy was about to walk over to Harry, but Professor McGonagall briskly walked in and went immediately over to Snape and started complaining about the unfair treatment being dealt to her students.

Snape then walked over and sent all the Slytherins to the dining hall where mops were waiting for them courtesy of Professor McGonagall.

Harry smiled at Malfoy as he walked away. Malfoy mouthed something to him but Harry didn't really care enough to pay attention.

Madame Hooch was holding the quidditch try-outs and many people turned up to watch. Madame Hooch kept mixing different people up on different teams and made them play against each other. She was trying to find the right combination. She soon had to throw out all the Slytherin players after try-outs started because they would not play with the new team but would continually turn things around and hurt their own teammates. When the Slytherin players left the field it brightened the moods of all the other students.

The try-outs ended up lasting all day and Madame Hooch said that they would receive the news the next day as to who had made the school team.

During dinner that night Dumbledore explained that only the students on the quidditch team would actually be visiting the other schools and the rest of the school would watch in the main dining hall as Professor Dumbledore would put a spell on the wall there which would allow them to see everything that was happening during the game.

Harry thought this sounded like television and thought that this was particularly funny.

After dinner Harry, Kate, Ron, and Hermoine went to their common room to discus the possibilities of international travel.

Everyone was starting to get nervous at the start of dinner the next day as the announcements were going to be made on who had made the school team.

Professor Dumbledore stood up and introduced Madame Hooch, who walked over to the podium and read the names of those who had made the team. "In the position of Seeker, Harry Potter Gryffindor. For Keeper, Jacob Douglas Ravenclaw. For Beaters, Henry Bell Hufflepuff and Kyle Bently Ravenclaw. And for the Chasers, Chloe Brandtly Hufflepuff, Ginger King Ravenclaw, and Kate Davison Gryffindor."

Everyone clapped and cheered enthusiastically. Ron looked a little solemn despite being happy for Harry and Kate.

Professor Dumbledore then informed them that the first match was to take place on October twenty-ninth and that the team would leave for France the day before the match and would be back two days after the match to allow for a day of seeing the sights. He also stated that the winner of this match would then play Spain on November twentieth.

Everyone went back in the common room after dinner, cheering Harry and Kate as they entered.

After things started to settle down, Hermoine finally pointed out something. "The Slytherins seemed to take it real well, that none of them are on the team."

Harry, Ron, and Kate looked at her and agreed.

"Well, maybe they realize how bad they are?" Ron offered with hope.

"I think they tried not to get on, Harry promise us you'll be careful. I have a bad feeling." Hermoine stated.

"I'm not going to live in fear and not do anything I want to do because Voldemort might possibly try something!" Harry replied forcefully.

"I know Harry, its just that I'm worried." Hermoine said.

Kate looked at Harry, "She didn't mean anything by it. She's just concerned." But Kate was thinking a little more about the prophecy, would he come after her while everyone thought he might try and get to Harry. She hadn't told any of them about what Molly had told her but then again she agreed with Harry's statement, why should she live her life in fear. If she was going to die, she might as well live as full of a life as possible.

Harry had apologized to Hermoine and they all soon started in on their homework. Harry and Kate were trying to get ahead because quidditch practices were going to be intense as the first game was at the end of the month.

Professor Dumbledore had set up the 'window' on the wall in the dining hall before he had left, as he was accompanying the students to France.

Madame Maxine greeted them all when they arrived at Beauxbaxtons. She introduced her house team and Dumbledore introduced his. They were given a brief tour of the school. It was not as big as Hogwarts, but was still of an ample size. They were all shown to their guest rooms in the guest wing. Harry was surprised to learn that they had a complete wing for guests.

Later that night Harry had been able to sneak into Kate's room and at least they were able to do something that would release some of the nervous energy they were feeling. They woke up extra early so Harry could go back to his own room unnoticed and they changed into their new quidditch robes, which were gray with the emblem of Hogwarts on them.

After they changed Harry and Kate walked down to the quidditch field with their Firebolts in hand. They were there for a good hour before any of the other teammates started to show up.

Madame Hooch was slated to be the referee for this game so she didn't get to talk to her team before the game. They all lined up on one side of the quidditch field as their opponents did the same on the other side, and as they did this the 'window' at Hogwarts lit up and showed the field.

They all went into position and Madame Hooch released the bludgers and the snitch. She then threw the quaffle in the air and blew her whistle.

Kate was there first. She grabbed the quaffle and flew quickly down the field. She was almost upseated by a bludger but quickly recovered and threw the first goal, in which everyone back at Hogwarts cheered, except the Slytherins of course who only clapped nonchalantly.

Hogwarts was soon up fifty to twenty. Kate had to continually dodge bludgers as the French team seemed to pelt them her way all the time. Soon it seemed that the sun was starting to set, they had been out all day and there was no sign of the snitch. Harry was starting to get irritated.

Hogwarts was up one hundred ten to seventy. Harry had turned to look at the crowd and saw a faint glitter of something near one of the stands and he flew for it. He had his hand around the snitch before anyone knew what had happened. It took a second before it registered to everyone that the game was over and Hogwarts had won.

The dining hall back home erupted in cheers. Madame Maxine shook Dumbledore's hand and congratulated him.

The next day Dumbledore instructed them to dress in muggle clothing. Harry and Kate thought Dumbledore looked funny in his khakis pants and Hawaiian shirt but didn't say anything. He then told them that as a privilege for being on the team, they would be allowed to visit a town in each country and learn about different cultures and of course they would be chaperoned. Harry and Kate got stuck with Dumbledore.

The town they were to visit was an hour ride away in the city of Nice. Harry and Kate were allowed a little privacy whenever they went into a store because Dumbledore would wander off and look at different things, but he was never too far off. Kate had managed to order lunch for them as she spoke a little French.

Harry and Kate were eating lunch when a wedding in a nearby church had let out. They watched and then an idea hit them. What other countries were they going to be visiting; surely not all were as strict on the age limit for marriage. They talked for a little while, but quickly realized they were going to have to wait until they found out all the countries that they were going to visit.

The next day they all arrived back at Hogwarts and had a hero's welcome. Ron and Hermoine came running up to them so excited at winning the first international match. Hermoine talked with Kate about the trip to Nice as Hermoine had traveled through France a couple of years ago. Ron and Harry talked about the match and how Ron thought it was wrong of them to send the bludgers to Kate all the time.

Everyone finally seemed to settle down by dinner. Dumbledore announced that if they were successful against Spain in the next match, they would be playing against America on December fifteenth. Harry and Kate looked at each other; they knew they could get information there, as there was no language barrier.

Dumbledore continued that the next match after that would be held at Hogwarts on January twenty-sixth, then in Italy on February eighteenth, then in Scotland on March tenth. If they won all those matches they would not need to compete in April and May's matches as they would already have one guaranteed spot in the Final, which was to take place in Ireland on June twenty-eighth, which would be a day after the end of year exams so everyone on the quidditch team would have take them early.

Dumbledore finished his speech and as the food appeared the hall seemed to be alive with excitement again.

The next day they had Care of Magical Creatures and Hagrid was beaming at Harry and Kate. He was so proud of them. He then proceeded to teach the class about Kackle's, which looked like different colored fur balls. A Hufflepuff girl found out the hard way that it was not just a fur ball; it had fangs and had almost bitten a finger off the poor girl.

Hagrid eventually calmed her down and then proceeded with his lesson after he was sure she was alright. He explained that they don't like to be touched but they do like to be sung to. When they were sung to they seemed to purr, but the purring sounded more like cackles, which they assumed was how they got their name.

Harry, Ron, Kate, and Hermoine stuck after class for a bit to ask Hagrid about his brother, but Hagrid just said he's learning more every day and told them to get going, he didn't want them to be late for their next class.

Professor Morales greeted them when they arrived in Spain. He was a jolly man, who seemed to enjoy talking to people. The Spanish school was even smaller than the French one.

The day of the match arrived and everyone got in their places. Professor Dominguez was refereeing this match. The Spanish team got the quaffle first this time and scored first, so everyone seemed to step up their game.

It was soon turned around with Kate's last goal making Hogwarts ahead sixty to fifty. The game went back and forth with England ahead, then Spain, then back to England again. Then finally Harry spotted the snitch in the sunlight. He went for it and caught it.

Professor Morales seemed to loose his cool there for a second when Hogwarts won their second match, but he quickly recomposed himself.

The next day the students went to Barcelone. Harry and Kate were not as into this trip, they were waiting for the trip to America next month. They wandered around with Dumbledore close behind and went into a couple of shops but were soon ready to head back home.

Everyone cheered them on as they arrived back home just in time for dinner. They were all ecstatic, only four more games to win and then they were for sure in the final.

Hermoine seemed to be less worried when she knew that Dumbledore was with them during each trip to a city. She envied them though for being able to travel and meet new people. Hermoine asked a great deal about Spain, but Kate and Harry hadn't paid too much attention and were unable to answer a lot of her questions.

Neville and Ginny greeted them as they passed. Ginny seemed to be genuinely happy with Neville. They ended up sitting next to Ron and Hermoine. Dinner was an extraordinary time, everyone was chatting excitedly.

Harry, Kate, Ron, and Hermoine were back in the back of the classroom again. Professor Truman was so boring. He seemed to dust the classroom most of the time while giving his lectures. Kate and Hermoine still took notes while Harry and Ron would quietly talk about new quidditch moves to try.

This class almost seemed to last longer than Potions. Finally the class ended and everyone almost ran out of the classroom. They made it back to their common room and Kate and Hermoine started on their homework as Ron and Harry played a game of Exploding Snap.

All the students on the house team had to take their mid-terms early as they would be heading to America while everyone else was taking theirs. Kate was sure she did exceptionally well on her tests.

Soon they were off to America. The school there, Kate told Harry, was in Virginia. They arrived and Professor Thompson greeted them all and welcomed Kate back. Several students greeted Kate as she passed, but didn't talk too long because she was now on the opposite team.

During dinner several girls started to try and talk to Harry, but when he put his arm around Kate some of them had looks of defeat on their face. Harry wasn't sure what had happened, not that he was really worried about it, and Kate explained to him that they realized he was taken and she giggled. Harry smiled at her. Kate was pleased to learn that Professor Taylor would be refereeing this match, she explained to Harry that she was a good teacher and fair too.

The match started out well with Kate scoring the first goal, which brought boo's from the crowd. Several bludgers were knocked her way again but she was able to avoid them easily. She was starting to get really good at it. She and her fellow Chasers started putting some of their new moves into effect and scored three more times before the other team broke their pattern.

Soon the score was tied seventy to seventy. Harry soon saw the snitch and was heading for it realizing that the American Seeker was heading for it too. Harry grabbed the snitch a second before she did and Hogwarts exploded with applause back home. They had won their third match in a row.

The next day when they went into town Harry and Kate stopped into a coffee shop and got to a computer and went online and did some research. Dumbledore sat several feet away but their computer screen was turned the opposite way so he couldn't see what they were doing.

They finally found it. Scotland, it seems, allows people to marry when their sixteen without parental permission. They printed out the paperwork and Harry hid it in his jacket. They decided to wait until they were back in the burrow before filling everything out.

Ron and Hermoine were waiting for them when they got back and they packed immediately as they were all needing to be at the Hogwarts gates to wait for Mr. Weasley to pick them up. Most people were already getting onto the carriages to head for the Hogwarts Express. People kept cheering for Harry and Kate when they passed them.

Soon they were at the gates and they were only there for a few seconds when the Knight Bus appeared and took them back to the burrow.