The Ferret and the Photograph

To Doclover – Thanks for the review, glad u like it! Yes, I will keep updating soon J

Disclaimer: I wish someone would tell Rowling how innocent, HP worshipping fan fiction authors are harassed by lawyers into writing disclaimers that say, 'I Don't Own Anything.'

"So what did he want," asked Vandyll as they strolled across the grounds. "I hope you didn't get into trouble on my account?" asked Dennis.

"No, he just awarded me twenty points, mad, eh?" said Kitty, "And, he called me by my middle name, Lily."

"He, WHAT?" yelled Harry, who was passing by, "I don't believe this!"

Several first years looked around in alarm, as Harry stomped over to Kitty. "He spent, the last three years hating me, reminding me of how he loathed dad, and you come along, and on your first day earn points from him?" he said. Kitty nodded.

"Hello Harry Potter, I'm Luna Lovegood, and umm it would be dishonest of me not to tell you right now that there is a wrackspurt perched atop your head," said Luna her misty eyes on Harry. Harry exchanged glances with Kitty whose look clearly said, "She's gone round the bend." Dennis stifled a laugh.

"Well, if you guys will excuse me, I have an important appointment, I must attend," said Kitty and she sat down on the grass under a tree and propped open Remus's diary and began writing.

Later, at dinner, Kitty sat at the Gryffindor table with Harry, Ron and Hermione, and helped herself to lamb chops and potatoes. "Hey Weasley! Weasley!" a familiar, but unwelcome voice called, "Your dad's in the Daily Prophet, hang on, listen to this,

Arnold Weasley, who was charged with possession of a flying car two years ago, was yesterday involved in a tussle with several Muggle law-keepers ("policemen") over a number of highly aggressive dustbins. Mr. Weasley appears to have rushed to the aid of "Mad-Eye" Moody, the aged ex-Auror who retired from the Ministry when no longer able to tell the difference between a handshake and attempted murder. Unsurprisingly, Mr. Weasley found, upon arrival at Mr. Moody's heavily guarded house, that Mr. Moody had once again raised a false alarm. Mr. Weasley was forced to modify several memories before he could escape from the policemen, but refused to answer Daily Prophet questions about why he had involved the Ministry in such an undignified and potentially embarrassing scene.

Imagine not even getting his name correct. And here's a picture of your parents outside their house - if you can call it a house! Your mother could do with losing a bit of weight, couldn't she?" Malfoy laughed. Ron, who was shaking with fury, was being held back by Harry, lest he lunged at Malfoy.

"Just walk away," Kitty whispered to Harry and Ron, as Mafoy flashed a smirk at her. The next thing they heard was a loud bang, and a roar that echoed throughout the entrance hall.

Professor Moody was limping down the marble staircase. His wand was out and it was pointing right at a pure white ferret, which was shivering on the stone-flagged floor, exactly where Malfoy had been standing. Moody continued bouncing the ferret higher and higher withhis wand, amidst peals of laughter.

"Professor Moody," cried Professor Mcgonagall, rushing over, "Is that a student?" Moody nodded grimly. "We never ever use Transfiguration as a punishment," said Mcgonagall, waving her wand at the ferret, who turned into Malfoy, his platinum blonde hair all over his pale face. Malfoy, whose pale eyes were watering with pain and humiliation, looked malevolently up at Moody and muttered something in which the words "my father" were distinguishable.

"I want to fix that in my memory forever," said Ron, his eyes closed and an uplifted expression on his face. "Draco Malfoy, the amazing bouncing ferret." Harry, Hermione and Kitty laughed loudly.

"So did you have a lesson with Moody yet?" asked Harry. "Yeah, but it wasn't anything great as you might think. He just taught us the disarming spell, which everyone but me have mastered," said Kitty, looking downcast. "Hey, you'll get the hang of it soon," said Harry, comfortingly.

The next two days passed, without any great incident, unless you counted Hermione pestering Kitty to join SPEW, and campaign for elf rights. Also Snape had become much nicer to Kitty from his next class onwards.

"Ten points to Lil—Ms. Potter," said Snape, as Kitty managed to successfully brew a Cheering Solution. After class, while Dennis, Vandyll, Luna and the rest of the first years left the class, Kitty hung back pretending to settle her potion ingredients neatly in her bag.

"I suspect you have a reason for lingering," said Snape. "Yes, sir, I—um forgive me for asking but, could you tell me why you call me Lily?" Snape fixed her with a piercing glare, and then sighed.

"I knew your mother when she was here in school, we were childhood friends—"

"She was your friend?" said Kitty, before she could stop herself. Snape chuckled, taking Kitty by surprise and went on, "Yes, Kitty, she was." Kitty gasped as he took her name. "We used to live nearby, and she was in my year. I call you Lily sometimes, because you look a lot like her, you know, with your dark red hair, and green eyes. I hope you don't mind?" he asked.

"Sir," she chose her words carefully, "If you knew my mother, you must have known my father too. What were they like?" Snape swallowed a lump in his throat. "Yes, I did know him."

"And?" said Kitty eagerly. "And nothing. Your father was an arrogant bully who, along with his gang of faithful followers used to pick on those smaller and weaker than them. Your mother on the other hand, was just the opposite. She was caring and kind, and always helping the first years; she was one of the best in class, a dab hand at potions, not better than me though, and was made Head Girl in her last year."

"Actually, I have a picture of her with me, I can show you what she looked like," said Snape as he rummaged in his desk and fished out a tattered, photograph with yellowing edges. On it was a beautiful red-haired woman, with eyes just like Kitty's and beside her, stood—

"And that's me," finished Snape, pointing to the man standing beside Lily Evans,"We took that photograph when we graduated from Hogwarts. When you were born, I don't know if anyone ever told you this, but Lily wanted me to be your godfather. Your father did not agree, so they made Lupin take the vow. And then of course, in a few weeks, she —they—she died."

Kitty shifted her feet awkwardly and then said, "Um, professor, can I keep this photograph, please?" "Sure," said Snape as he got to his feet, "you have more right to it than me."

That night, Kitty hardly slept as she couldn't stop thinking about what Snape had told her.