Chapter twenty two

Over the next few days, Cathy asked Harry more about his world and he tried to explain everything in a way she would understand and of course he showed her more magic. Harry found out she lived in Godric's Hollow, her parents did and her grandparents had as well. So two days before the wedding, she told Harry she would like to meet his friends and attend the wedding, so Harry told Ron the following day that he was bringing a date.

Harry knocked on her door and Cathy opened it a few second later, 'Hi,' he smiled.

'Hi yourself,' Cathy slipped her arms around Harry and they instantly kissed, 'I have to admit, I'm a little nervous.'

'You'll be fine and Aberforth is a good bloke. Now remember what I said about apparition, you will feel like you're suffocating, but it's over very fast.'

'I remember, just make sure you hold me tight.'

'I won't let go,' Harry wrapped his arms around Cathy, 'So are you ready.'

'Yes, show me how you travel.'

'Hold tight,' Harry turned on the spot and a few seconds later they stopped and he felt Cathy sag against him, 'You're fine, just breathe normally.'

'I see what you mean,' Cathy took a couple of deep breaths, 'I'm okay, but where are we?'

'It's a magical town called Hogsmeade, but before you meet Aberforth I wanted to show you something,' Harry kept his arm around Cathy and walked up towards some large gates, 'Tell me what you see.'

'I destroyed castle, looks old.' Harry handed her a picture, 'Oh, so this is what it really looks like because I can tell that's you, how old were you?'

'Twelve, a friend, Colin, he took that picture of Hermione, Ron and I in our second year and Hogwarts is in the background. Oh here she comes,' Harry smiled as he watched Minerva McGonagall walk down the drive, 'Hello Minerva.'

'Harry, it's nice to see you again and for something that is not dangerous. So this must be Cathy,' she removed the wards and let them step through. 'I'm Minerva McGonagall, headmistress of Hogwarts, it's a pleasure to meet you.'

'It's a pleasure to meet you as well, but I saw like a shimmer when you waved your wand, what was that?'

'The school is enchanted so no one can get in without my permission, they have to be remove before anyone through. Now I'll remove the other enchantments now you are inside the gates,' Minerva waved her wand again, 'There you go, that is what Hogwarts really looks like.'

'Oh that is miraculous and it's beautiful. You must have had a wonderful time going to school here Harry?'

'Not a lot of them, but I did have a few. I'll explain that another time. Now Minerva used to be the transfiguration teacher. Remember when I turned the table into a rug, that's what transfiguration is.'

'Yes, I couldn't believe that. So if we have children, they will learn all that when they go here?'

'Yes, there is another transfiguration teacher of course, but we teach the children all aspects of magic and how to use it safely. You can imagine, a school of hundreds of children all using magic, so accidents do happen and sometimes they aren't accidents either.'

'Like when Malfoy tried to curse me that time Minerva and accidentally hit Hermione and her teeth grew, or when crouch turned Malfoy into a ferret.'

'Yes, like those and I'm sure you'll scare Cathy with some things children do to each other. But at least we do not have muggle fighting, since you left that is Harry.'

'It only happened once Minerva and he wouldn't stop putting down Ron's family, I had to hit him. Hard to believe he's studying to be a healer now, still a git though.'

'Harry,' Minerva said sternly, 'You helped him and he's not going to let that second chance pass him by. Do you know that Mr. Malfoy recently got married?'

'No, I didn't, I don't take an interest in him even if he wasn't like the others. So who ended up with the ferret?'

Minerva shook her head, 'Astoria Greengrass, you might remember her younger sister, Daphne. Now Astoria was never part of those children that wanted to follow Lord Voldemorts ways.'

'Good to know, so she might be able to keep Malfoy in line. Anyway, it was nice of you to do this Minerva, now I'll let you get back to your students.'

'I don't mind Harry and I like the occasional visits from you, especially when it means no danger, which doesn't happen very often.'

'Just my life Minerva. So Cathy, ready to meet Aberforth?'

'Yes, it was nice to meet you,' Cathy shook Minerva's hand, 'If we have children, then I know they will be looked after.'

'I will make sure they are, say hello to Aberforth.'

Harry hugged Minerva then stepped back through the gates with Cathy and they both watched Minerva redo the enchantments around the school. They both waved then walked slowly up the lane to the old pub.

'This is the Hogshead, a pub that Aberforth owns. I stayed here for a while, after I left Hogwarts. It might not be a very bright place, but I trust Aberforth and needed some peace and quiet, I got that here because Ab threatened anyone that tried to see me. Anyway, let's get in.' they stepped inside the small dark pub and over to the bar, 'Aberforth Dumbledore, meet Cathy Cooper.'

'It's a pleasure to meet you Miss Cooper.'

'It's nice to meet you as well Mr. Dumbledore, Harry speaks of you often.'

'All good I hope, let's go into the back so we can talk. Arnold, look after the place and no free drinks for friends.'

'Yes Ab, you told me.'

Aberforth led Harry and Cathy into his flat, 'That picture of the girl, it moved.'

'I explained about that Cathy, but that girl is Arianna Dumbledore, Ab's younger sister.'

'She died a long time ago, that's how she looked when she died.'

'Oh I'm sorry Mr. Dumbledore, she was very pretty.'

'She was and you can call me Aberforth, let's sit down,' they all sat on the sofa, 'So how are you handling all the news about our world?'

'It's a lot to take in, but I think I'm coping with it.'

'I just apparated with her for the first time.'

'Yes, it takes a while to get used to that and Harry, you know that's not technically allowed since you are only dating.'

'I checked the laws on that and since Cathy and I are talking about marriage, it is allowed. But since we haven't been together long, we still need to get to know each other properly.'

'Stretching the laws Harry and you an auror. But to come to places like Hogsmeade, you had to apparate otherwise it would have taken you hours to drive, if you can drive.'

'I can, don't like to though, I'd rather apparate and it's faster.'

'You mean we came hours in that few seconds?'

'Yes, we were in west of England, now we're in Scotland, in the highlands of Scotland.'

'That's incredible.'

'It is,' Ab smiled, 'Have you told your friends about Cathy?'

'Just that I'm seeing someone and she's coming to the wedding. Their all dying to meet this mystery woman I'm seeing. Hermione keeps sending me owls asking me everything. Ron bugs me at work every day, wanting to know her name, it's so he can do some checking. But in two days they will meet my lady.'

'You haven't told them I'm a, what was that name again?'

'Muggle, but no, I haven't. I want to see if anyone picks it up straight away and when they do, it will be Hermione.'

'You said she had non magical parents, is that why she will know I'm a muggle?'

'No, she's just smart, the brightest witch around. She will read a book and can quote you word for word from it, even if she hadn't read it in years. She works for the magical law enforcement, but not catching criminals, she works on our laws.'

'And she's doing a wonderful job, getting rid of some of those old bad laws.'

'Do I get an introduction?'

Harry, Aberforth and Cathy all stared up at the picture, 'Albus, how did you know Harry was bringing his lady friend here to meet me?'

'Minerva told me and thought I might like a visit dear brother.'

'Alright you two, don't start,' Harry took Cathy's hand, 'This is Albus Dumbledore, my friend and former headmaster of Hogwarts. Remember what I told you, he was my mentor and died a few years ago.'

'Died, he died and he's talking, from a picture.'

'Certain important people will have their portraits done and they can talk. They also have all their memories up till the time they died. Every headmaster or headmistress of Hogwarts has a portrait that hangs in their office, or former office. I had Minerva charm my sister's portrait so I could visit my brother.'

'This is incredible, but it's nice to meet you Mr. Dumbledore.'

'Oh I haven't been called that in a long time, it was always Professor Dumbledore, or like Harry, just Dumbledore even after I asked him to call me Albus.'

'To me you're Dumbledore. But this might surprise you Cathy, how Dumbledore looks is how he looked when he died and he was one hundred and thirty seven years old when he died.'

'Oh my, why did he live so old?'

'The more powerful the witch or wizard, the longer they live. Now I wasn't very good at school, but I am powerful. I am one hundred and thirty nine years old, but I know my life is winding down, another couple of years and I will join my family.'

'I will be waiting for you brother.'

Cathy stood there with her mouth hanging open listening to the two old wizards talking, one alive, one not and realised she still had a lot to learn about Harry's world, more than she ever thought possible.'