"The characters are not of my own creation but belong to JK Rowling, merely the plot is mine. No 'real' profit is being made."


Chapter 1

Transferring here from Beauxbaton was so aggravating. It’s so different here, the house setup is confusing. Hmm… well, at least I’m near Harry. He’s so hot!

A book smacked down on Professor Snape’s desk. The class jumped. Snape smirked as he approached the Gryffindor tables.

“I will ask again, Miss de la Rosa, now that I have your attention. What is the difference between Monkshood and Wolfsbane?” He smirked wider, folding his arms across his narrow chest.

“I don’t know sir, but I’m sure they’ll make a better shampoo than whatever you’re currently using. You’re oilier than a finely tuned car.”

“HOW DARE YOU!!” The color rose in Snape’s face like a thermometer, “Detention AND 10 points from Gryffindor! You will pay attention in my class, and no more cheek!”

Katarina gave an over exaggerated nod and sat back in her chair, grinning triumphantly. Snape turned around and continued instructing the class on how bezoar stones are essential ingredients to most poison antidotes, still slightly pink in the face.

Harry looked over at her. “Hey, you’re the new girl, aren’t you?” He stuck his hand out and said, “I’m Harry Potter.”

Calmly, she shook his hand, smiling graciously. “Nice to finally meet you. I am Katarina de la Rosa. I am from Spain.” She did her best to look collected, despite the fact that her heart was salsa dancing inside her chest.

Harry looked surprised. “Wow. That’s a pretty name. What does it mean? Sorry,” he added hastily, “I don’t know very much Spanish.” He looked a bit sheepish.
Katarina laughed quietly, “It means Katherine Rose, but you can call me Kat.”
Harry smiled warmly. “Welcome to Hogwarts, Katherine.”

She blushed. “Gracias, thank you.”

Potions class ended, several students feeling as if they’d been in there for a millennium, with two scroll lengths on the different kinds of poisons and their antidotes for homework. Kat walked alone, staring at her timetable as she walked to the Great Hall for lunch.

“Katherine, wait up!”

She spun around, her dark-chocolate brown, wavy hair fanning out to catch up to the rest of her. Absently she pulled her robe, which was slightly too big for her curved, slim figure. Her oak brown eyes were quizzical as they shone behind black-rimmed glasses.

“Yes?”

Harry ran up, skirting to a halt in front of her. “Um… yeah. Hermione, Ron and I were wondering if you wanted to have lunch with us.” Immediately a carrot top boy and a bushy haired girl popped into view behind Harry, looking very welcoming.
Kat looked Harry up and down, considering his request. Harry scratched his head, the muscles in his arm flexing. Let’s see… 5’10”, well built, sexy black bed head, kelly-green eyes, slightly unbuttoned shirt… yep, its official. He’s gorgeous. “Sure,” she chirped happily, “I’d love to.”

The group walked off, towards the Great Hall, Ron moaning about how he was going to die of starvation, and Hermione attempting to explain that he was clearly not starving so terribly if he could whine so loudly. A large lunch awaited them among the hum of the students that had already gathered in the room. The tables were so laden with food that they bowed with the weight. The four of them sat down and started filling their plates, chatting up the people surrounding them. Kat was listening patiently as Hermione unloaded every factual detail she knew about Spain, when someone tapped her abruptly on the shoulder.

“Greetings,” uttered a smooth male voice in a cold, indifferent drawl. Kat turned around, coming face to face with a pale boy with platinum blond hair and a permanent smirk. “Draco Malfoy, Slytherin.” He gestured to shake her hand, and she remained still, not quite sure what to make of him. “Welcome to Hogwarts. Since you’re new, I’ll give you a bit of free advice. You don’t need to hang out with sewer rats like these,” he mocked, indicating the Gryffindor table with a spindly porcelain hand, “When you can join a group of more refined individuals.”

Kat snorted, “Like you?”

Draco licked his lips. “Precisely.” He flashed a grin, showing off his pearlescent teeth.

Kat smiled sweetly, standing up. Looking him in the eye, she scrutinized him while he gave what he hoped was an enticing smile. “Oh, well thank you for your delightful invitation, but I am disinclined to acquiesce your request.” Kat’s attention briefly snapped to the sound behind her. Hermione had snorted in her pumpkin juice and was giggling. Kat grinned glad that Hermione had caught the muggle movie quote.
She continued, extremely satisfied that Draco’s face had twisted into a perplexed look, “It means no. I prefer to socialize with the so-called sewer rats than the high society slugs that seem to infest this school. You’ve put yourself on such a high, tiny pedestal that if you were to pull me up onto it with you, I’d make sure you were the one to fall, and it’s a long way down.”

Draco grimaced. Kat grinned wider, her next words laced with dripping, acidic sarcasm, “I’m sorry Draco, but I like people who don’t have superiority complexes the size of a country. When you’re ready to be knocked down another peg, you let me know. We may make a normal person out of you yet.” She gingerly ruffled his hair, adding to his irritation, and sat back at the table. Draco stomped off to the Slytherin table, absolutely fuming. Any Gryffindors within earshot of the exchange were cracking up.

Kat bowed in her seat. “Thank you, thank you…” Lunch was finished without any major interruptions, and the group split off to attend their afternoon class. Kat, Harry and Ron said goodbye as they headed off to Divination.

“Oooohh….” Professor Trelawney held one hand, palm out, to her forehead. The other she waved in front of Harry, her many wooden bracelets clacking noisily together. “Harry Potter,” she gasped, “I see the Grim in your future. You are in grave danger!”

Harry tried to keep his face serious as he fought the urge to snigger. Looking over at Kat, he noted how rigid and bewildered she looked, chewing frantically at her lip.

Once Trelawney left, he rolled his eyes and smiling, he whispered, “Don’t worry Kat, you’ll get used to that. She predicts my untimely demise at least once a week.”

Kat visibly relaxed, returning his smile, and then she went rigid with fright as Trelawney reappeared next to her. “Katherine Rose! I sense a kindred spirit in you! We shall be very close, you and I.”

Kat slumped, exhaling deeply as Trelawney drifted over to her overstuffed throne at the head of the room. Quickly sweeping the room, Kat detected the looks of envious hatred Lavender and Privati were glowering in her direction.

“Umm…Kat?”

“Hmm?” Harry snapped her out of her reverie.

“Can I have my hand back? You kinda grabbed it when Trelawney spooked you.”

Kat smiled nervously. “Yeah. Sorry.” She relinquished his hand and began writing notes. She scribbled down the assignment and began sucking idly on a sugar quill, completely adrift in thought. Ron chanced to look up from his own notes to see that Harry and Kat were mirroring each other, neither aware of the other’s actions. He smiled privately and continued writing.

Later, the boys and Kat met up with Hermione in the Common Room. The four of them slid gratefully into a cluster of squishy armchairs in the corner of the room.

“Ugh…” Kat mumbled, “My brain hurts. Is school always so much work? It seems like my old school was a little more laid back. Either that or summer break tarnished my memories with long lazy afternoons of doing absolutely nothing.”

Ron nodded. “5th year will be just like any other year I’ve had, what with ‘Mione always breathing down my neck about doing my homework on time.”

Hermione hopped up, moved to a nearby table, and began pulling out her work. As she pulled out each book with a rough tug, she glared daggers at Ron. He visibly flinched, as if nicked by a real dagger. In the meantime, Kat’s eyes clouded over. She sat, entranced, for a few seconds before her sight snapped back into focus and she distinctly stated, “Duck.”

“Duck?” Harry asked.

hehe this seems like it could be alot of fun to read!!

Oh man, this is brilliant. I cannot wait for the next chapter. You sure know how to write a cliffhanger. Update soon :) I'll be waiting patiently.

Whoa, this is awesome! I really like the way you describe things. This is very interesting. I can't wait to read more! ;)