Ed Kuper Normal Ed Kuper 4 16 2003-07-14T22:02:00Z 2003-08-05T04:13:00Z 11 3483 19858 Ed Kuper 165 39 24387 9.3821
(Disclaimer and author's notes at bottom.)
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Chapter 1: Of Meetings and Sortings and Names
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Kathleen Potter (better known as Katz) walked into her room, threw her purse on the bed, and sat down at her desk. After opening her laptop, turning it on, and logging onto the Internet, she signed on to her MSN Messenger. Seeing that all her buds were on, she pulled up an IM screen and added all of them.
J has been added to the conversation.
JL has been added to the conversation.
RS has been added to the conversation.
KP: Hey all!
JL: Hi Katz!
RS: Kathy!
J: Wassup?
KP: The sky, you know. Oh! Have you read Chapter 8 of DV?
RS: I have. I didn't like it.
JL: I didn't like it either.
J: Neither did I. I mean, there were some funny parts, but then came that part where Harry was drunk and.... Grr.
KP: I hate Rhyssen for doing that.
JL: So do I.
KP: I don't think I could ever read DV again. Or, for that matter, DD and DS, knowing what's gonna happen.
RS: I could probably read them, I'd just have a terribly heavy heart.
J: Think of what Sirius'll do to him.
RS: Think of what HERMIONE'll do to him.
KP: I'm already mad at Cassie Claire for breaking them up.
RS: Me too. I mean, Harry and Hermione belong together.
JL: I beg to differ.
KP: Jess, we know you think Draco and Herm go together.... Sadly enough, I'm split between Draco and Harry for her, too. But H/Hr is my top priority.
JL: Well, Katz, I still beg to differ.
J: Don't forget the END of Chptr. 8!
RS: *shudders* I can't believe Ron is the one Voldie's after.... Honestly, I'd think it was Draco or Harry. But RON! It's just... the craziest plot-twisting-device-thingy ever!
KP: I totally agree.
J: Hey guys, I g2g. Ttyl, though.
KP: Bye!
RS: Bye!
JL: Bye!
J has left the conversation.
KP: Still... the nerve of Lucius, breaking up a party like that.
JL: He's a perv, all right.
RS: He already WAS a perv. Remember in DD, when he came on to Hermione?
KP: Yuck. Can we not talk about this?
JL: Okay.
RS: How's TAoHG going?
KP: Good, good. I'm stuck on chapter 3, though.
RS: What part?
KP: The kiss part. I'm not very good at describing kissy scenes. *cough*
RS: I can help you... I think.
KP: Great!
JL: I g2g. Ttyl!
KP: Bye Jess!
RS: Bye.
JL has left the conversation.
RS: I just don't see how you could like D/Hr.
KP: I dunno.... It's weird, 'cause I like some R/Hr stories too. But I can't STAND H/G.
RS: Neither can I.
KP: How's AGOC going?
RS: Okay. Hey, my mum wants to use the compy, so I'll bbl, okay?
KP: Okay. Bye!
RS: Bye!
RS has left the conversation.
Katz logged off and shut her computer down. As soon as she did, the phone rang.
"Potter residence."
"Does a Miss Kathleen Potter live here?"
"Speaking."
"Congratulations, you have won a three day trip to London, England! You'll get to see historic sites such as Parliament, Westminster Abbey, Buckingham Palace, and many more!'
"I didn't enter any contests."
"So? You should be happy you won. I suggest you go; this is a once in a lifetime experience."
"All right, I'll go."
"Report to St. Louis International Airport at ten o'clock tomorrow morning. Go to the ticket desk and tell them your name. They'll tell you which gate to go to and give you your ticket."
"Tomorrow?"
"Yes, tomorrow. Be there, or be square." The caller hung up.
Katz stared at the phone for a minute. This was getting freaky. Sighing, she put the phone in its jack and rose from her chair. Pulling out her suitcase, she began to pack.
Half an hour later, her suitcase was packed and she was starting on her carry-on bag. Deciding to take her laptop, she put it in its case and stuck it in a backpack. Then she grabbed her art kit, sketch pad, and pencils. After a brief discussion with her common sense, she stuffed her CDs in the backpack to, along with a player and earphones. Deciding she needed something to read, she put in all four of her Harry Potter books. Then she added a notebook and pens to the nearly full backpack. After stuffing her purse inside, she zipped up the backpack and headed to dinner.
***The Next Morning***
Katz woke up at eight thirty. After showering and throwing on some casual clothes, she called a taxi to take her to the airport.
When the taxi arrived, the driver put her suitcase in the trunk and gave her a cheerful smile. She climbed into the backseat and was quiet the whole ride. When she arrived at the airport, she grabbed her suitcase and backpack and paid the driver. He grinned and accepted her money.
She walked up to the airport door. Inside, the airport was just like any other airport: full of men, women, and children off to different places in the world.
She opened the door, stepped inside, and found herself in a place unlike any airport she had ever seen. In fact, it looked nothing like an airport. It looked like a train station. She walked up to a guard.
"Excuse me, could you tell me where I am?"
The guard looked at her like she was crazy. "Think you're being funny do you? Well, you're at King's Cross Station, miss. And I'd stop the lost little girl act if I were you."
Katz glared at him. "I am not little, and I am not lost. At least, I don't think I am." She looked around. She was right at the barrier between platforms nine and ten. "Hmmph." She went and got a trolley, since her suitcase was getting heavy.
"Draco dear, are you sure you don't want me to give you any extra money for the cart?" Katz swung around. Three blonde people were walking toward the barrier. The boy was pushing a trunk and an owl along on a trolley. Katz blinked and stared. The woman was fawning over her son, straightening his clothes and the like. They reached the barrier, casually leaned against it, and disappeared. Her eyes went wide.
"This is freaky," she muttered. "Should I try it, or not?" Her common sense said not to try it, but then again, her common sense was sometimes wrong.
She began pushing her trolley towards the barrier. When she was almost there, she closed her eyes, preparing for the impact. But it never came. When she opened her eyes, she found a bright red steam engine staring back at her. Looking down at her trolley, she saw that her suitcase had been replaced by a trunk, a cage with an owl in it, and a basket that undoubtedly held a cat. She felt something long and thin in her pocket. Pulling it out, she found that it was a wand.
"This is really freaky. I am so not a witch. This is a trick. Oh well. I'll just play along. But if things start getting weird, then I am so out of here." She pushed her trolley to one of the end compartments and checked it. It was empty. Picking up her trunk, she shoved it into the compartment. Then she put her owl and cat in there. She went and rolled her trolley to rest somewhere by the wall, then went back to her compartment, pulled a book out of her backpack, and sat down.
Forty-five minutes later, the door opened. A girl with short, choppy, light brown hair with auburn highlights stood there.
"Can I sit here?" she asked. "Everywhere else is full."
"Sure," Katz said. She noticed that the girl had a backpack, along with a guitar case. The girl came in, sat down, and began rummaging through her backpack. "Do you play guitar?"
The girl looked up and smiled. "Yeah, I do. Do you play any instruments?"
"Nope. I've tried, but I just don't understand anything. I'm Kathleen, by the way. Kathleen S. Potter, but most people call me Katz."
The girl gasped. "Kathy?"
"Yeah, some people call me that, too."
"No... Kathy?"
"Yes, Kathy."
The girl looked exasperated. "Kathy! It's me!"
"Who?"
The girl stuck out her hand. "Rhapsody Sabine. Most people call me Appy."
Katz gasped and shook her hand. "Appy?"
Rhapsody grinned. "Yeah, Appy. I can't believe I'm meeting you at last."
"I can't believe it either." The train whistle gave a piercing shriek as the train began to move.
Katz rummaged around in her backpack and pulled out her laptop just as Appy pulled out her laptop. Simultaneously, they logged onto the Internet and MSN Messenger. Seeing that Jen and Jess were online, she quickly set up an IM screen and added them both to it.
J has been added to the conversation.
JL has been added to the conversation.
KP: Hey guys!
J: Hey!
JL: Hi!
KP: You won't BELIEVE what happened to me!
J: What happened?
So Katz told them the whole story, and at the end, their replies were as follows.
J: WHAT??? So, you're on the Hogwarts Express?
KP: Yup.
JL: What compartment number are you in?
KP: Hang on, I'll go check. Brb.
Katz stood up and went outside to go check.
KP: I'm in compartment 27.
JL: You won't believe this, but the same thing happened to me. I was so hyped when I got the call. I've always wanted to go to England.
J: Same thing happened to me, too!
JL: I'm in compartment 16.
J: I'm in 13.
KP: Hey, why don't you guys come on down to my compartment? I'll ask Appy real quick.
Katz asked, and Appy replied, "Yeah, sure!"
KP: Appy says sure. Come on down!
JL: Wait. Appy?
KP: Rhapsody, you know!
JL: You mean Appy's here too? OMG!
KP: Come on guys! I don't have forever!
J: Coming. Be right there.
JL: Same.
J has left the conversation.
JL has left the conversation.
Katz went and checked her e-mail, and then her reviews. Suddenly, there was a knock on the door. She stood up and opened it. There stood two girls, both with backpacks, though one had a guitar as well.
The one with the guitar had layered shoulder-length brown hair with honey colored streaks in it. The other girl had knee-length dark brown hair, almost black.
The girl with the dark brown hair grinned. "Are you Katz?" she asked.
"Yep. This is Appy," Katz said, gesturing.
"Jessica Lee. Call me Sunny, Angel, or Jess." She stuck out her hand.
The girl with the guitar stepped up. "Jennifer M. Patch. Call me Jen." She stuck out her hand as well. Katz shook them both in turn, then invited them in. They came in and sat down.
***Jen's POV***
Jen stared at Katz. She looked different than what she had pictured her as. She had pictured Katz with auburn hair and green or blue eyes. In real life, Katz had dark blonde hair and dark gray-blue eyes that were almost black. She wore a pair of oval forest green glasses. Jen couldn't tell how long Katz's hair was, because she was wearing it up.
"So what house do you think you'll be in?" Katz asked, startling Jen out of her reverie.
"Uh... Gryffindor or Hufflepuff. I hope I'm in Gryffindor," Jen replied.
"I think I'll be in Slytherin," said Jess.
"Ravenclaw," Appy said offhandedly.
"I'll be in Ravenclaw or Gryffindor."
They chatted on like this until the lunch cart came around.
***Katz's POV***
"Would you ladies like anything off the cart?" the lady asked.
Katz stuck her hand in her pocket and felt a great many coins in her pocket. She pulled them out, saying, "We'll take sixteen of everything." They all stared at her. Katz shrugged.
"That'll be sixteen Galleons, seven Sickles, and three Knuts."
Katz paid the lady and carried everything back into the compartment. Appy, Jess, and Jen all stared at her. She gave everyone four of everything. They kept staring at her.
Finally, Katz asked, "What?"
The others all looked at each other before Jess voiced the question they all had been thinking of. "Where'd you get all that money?"
Katz was puzzled, too. "I dunno. I just stuck my hand in my pocket, and there it was." They all raised their eyebrows. "It's true!"
"Okay. Whatever you say." But they still looked doubtful. Katz rolled her eyes, opened her laptop, and bit into a pumpkin pasty. She began to work on 'The Angst of Hermione Granger'.
After a few moments, she looked up. "Appy, what d'you think of this?" she asked. Appy came over to look.
"Pretty good. But you should put in more detail."
"But I suck at... that kind of detail."
Appy gave her a couple ideas, and Jen chimed in. For the rest of the ride, they chatted about various stories and such.
***Later***
As the train slowed to a halt, the girls began to gather their things. Katz had just slung her backpack over her shoulder when a loud voice over the speakers said, "Please leave your trunk and all other items and/or animals on the train. They will be taken to the castle separately." Katz glared at the ceiling.
"I'm taking my backpack with me, thank you very much."
"Katz, you heard the man," Jen said.
"I'm taking it with me. The house elves might break my laptop, or ruin my sketch pad or books."
Appy sighed. "You know they won't do that."
"Yeah, and Mrs. Weasley is in love with Voldemort."
"She is?" Jen asked sarcastically.
"That was my sarcastic voice, Jen."
"I knew that. That was my sarcastic voice, too."
"Okay, people. Are we done with the sarcastic voices now?" asked Jess.
"I'm not leaving my backpack."
"Yes you are."
"No I'm not!"
"YES, you are!" all three other girls yelled.
"NO, I'm NOT!"
"Do you want a detention?" Jess asked.
Katz shook her head. "No."
"Then leave it!"
Katz sighed. "All right. Fine."
They stepped off the train and saw the extremely large shape of Hagrid standing near them.
"Firs' years! Firs' years, over here!" They began to walk toward the carriages, but stopped when Hagrid yelled, "Oi! Yeh four, yer teh come wi' me and the firs' years."
Katz paled. If they had to go with Hagrid and the first years, then that meant they had to cross the lake. Even though she had conquered her fear of deep water at age thirteen, eight feet was nothing compared to the lake. The lake was fathoms deep. She gulped.
"What's wrong?" Jen asked.
"It's - it's deep," Katz managed to say.
"Katz, come on."
Katz gulped again and put on a brave face. "All right. But if I drown, I'm blaming you and Hagrid."
They started off. When they saw the castle, Katz was awed. "Wow. The movie castle is nothing compared to this." The other girls chimed in their agreements.
When they arrived at the castle, Professor McGonagall greeted them with a smile. "Hello misses Lee, Patch, Potter, and Sabine. How are you today?"
"Fine," chorused the girls. The first years seemed rather disgruntled at this rare show of kindness from McGonagall. She made her usual speech, then went off.
"Who're you?" asked an imperious-looking blonde girl.
"Katz," replied Katz.
"What kind of a name is that?" the girl asked with disgust.
"A perfectly good one," Jen said.
"Especially for one who likes cats," supplied Jess.
"My real name is Kathleen. But I wouldn't call me that if I were you."
"Or else you'll suffer the consequences," Appy chipped in.
"And who're you?" asked a young, ginger-haired boy in the direction of Jess.
"Jessica Lee."
"And... you are?" the impertinent young blonde asked Appy.
"Rhapsody Sabine."
"And you, my fair little first year, are cruisin' for a bruisin' if you keep acting like that," added Katz with a glare.
"Oh? And are your friends gonna help you lose?"
"Jenna...," the boy muttered.
"Shut up, Sammy!"
"I think you should take Sammy's advice, Jenna. I was taught many things in my old school, and whipping someone's arse is one of them."
"Ahem." They all whirled around. There stood McGonagall. "They are ready for you. Follow me. Transfer students in front, please!" They all followed her into the Great Hall, Appy, Jess, Jen, and Katz in front. When they looked up, they saw only the starry sky.
"Holy cheezits," Katz muttered.
"The ceiling's enchanted to look like the night sky. I read about it in Hogwarts, A History," Appy said with a small grin. The other three girls chuckled.
They reached the front of the Hall, where Dumbledore stood. "Today," he began, "we have four transfer students coming to us from across the Atlantic. Girls, please step up to the Sorting Hat in alphabetical order, tell us your name, year, and previous school, then sit on the stool."
Jess walked up to the stool. "Jessica Lee, sixth year, Oregon Academy of Magic." She sat down, and McGonagall placed the hat on her head.
"SLYTHERIN!"
Jess strutted off to the Slytherin table, an annoying smirk on her face.
Jen stepped up to the stool. "Jennifer M. Patch, sixth year, British Columbia Academy of Magic." She sat down, and McGonagall placed the hat on her head.
"GRYFFINDOR, like duh!" Everyone stared at the hat as Jen walked over to the Gryffindor table, a very large, very cheesy grin on her face.
Katz stepped up to the stool. "Kathleen S. Potter, but you better call me Katz, sixth year, Missouri Academy of Magic." She sat down, and McGonagall placed the hat on her head.
"GRYFFINDOR!"
Katz jumped up, bowed, turned to McGonagall, and said, "Thank you very much, Professor McGoonagall." (A/n: Intended misspelling.)
She then skipped to the Gryffindor table, a cheesy grin not unlike Jen's on her face.
Appy stepped up to stool. "Rhapsody Sabine, sixth year, Illinois Academy of Magic." She sat down, and McGonagall placed the hat on her head.
"RAVENCLAW!"
Appy stood up and said, "First, I'd like to thank the hat. I would also like to thank my best buds in the whole world, Katz, Jess, and Jen. Then I'd like to thank all of the teachers and the students." She blew a couple kisses and headed down to the Ravenclaw table, whispering to Katz as she passed, "Except Snape and all the Slytherins except Jess." Katz chortled.
***The Slytherin Table***
As Jess sat down, the boy to the right of her said, "Hello, Jessica. May I introduce myself and my friends? I'm Draco Malfoy. These are my friends, Crabbe and Goyle."
"Pleased to meet you."
"Might I add that you have the most stunning brown eyes?"
"Are you flirting with me?"
Draco looked offended. "Malfoys never flirt."
"Whatever." Draco changed the subject.
"You seem to be friends with Potter, Sabine, and Patch."
"I am. They're the best buds ever."
Draco coughed. "Slytherins never hang out with Gryffindors or Ravenclaws."
Jess glared at him. "Listen, Draco, I know what you're trying to do. I'm going to hang out with my friends no matter what. If I'm laughed at, then they can just bug off."
Draco looked quite taken aback. But he soon regained his composure. "You will be known as a traitor to Slytherin House."
"Oh, goody," Jess said, her voice dripping with sarcasm.
"Draco, stop scaring the new girl," said a voice to her left. Jess turned to see a boy with short, spikey brown hair with the tips frosted blonde smiling at her. "I'm Jeremy Butcher."
"Jessica Lee. It's a pleasure."
They talked for the remainder of the Sorting, listened to Dumbledore's speech, and ate the food when it appeared in front of them.
***The Ravenclaw Table***
As Appy sat down, the girl to her left said, "Hello, Rhapsody."
"Hello.... I'm sorry, I didn't catch your name."
"Cho Chang."
"You're Cho Chang?" Appy's eyes had grown large.
"Yeah. Why?"
"Omigosh! I mean, it's just.... Never mind."
"Okay, whatever."
"Hey," said a voice to her right. Appy turned to find a boy with blonde hair and blue eyes looking at her, a smile on his face. "That was some speech you made there. Nobody's ever done that before."
Appy blushed. "Well," she stammered, "I suppose there's a first time for everything, right?"
The boy nodded. "I'm Sean Connelly."
"Rhapsody Sabine."
"It's a pleasure," they said simultaneously, then laughed.
For the rest of the Sorting, they talked. And after Dumbledore's speech, they ate.
***The Gryffindor Table***
Jen sat down at the Gryffindor table and watched Katz get Sorted. When Katz came and sat down by her, she grinned. "Fancy meeting you here, Professor McGoonagall," she said.
Katz chuckled, partly because of what Jen had said, and partly because of what Appy had said as she passed by on her way to the Ravenclaw table.
"Hello, Jennifer. Hello, Kathleen." The girls looked at the person who had spoken to them from across the table.
"Holy cheezits!" Katz all but yelled. The girl looked puzzled.
"Excuse me?"
"I said, holy cheezits."
"I'm sorry, but I don't think cheese-whatevers are holy."
"Cheezits. And it means the same thing as holy cow. Also, don't call me Kathleen. It's Kat, Kathy, or Katz."
"Kitty Kat?" asked the red haired boy sitting next to the girl.
"No. Absolutely not. And if you do call me that, I will beat you to death with an evil purple stuffed bunny named Captain Lint."
(A/n: The insane mind of Katz has now invaded Hogwarts.)
"I beg your pardon?"
"I'm not repeating it. You should have listened the first time."
"Uh... right. I'm Ron. Ron Weasley."
Jen's eyes went wide. Katz didn't look so surprised.
"I'm Hermione Granger," said the girl.
"Harry Potter," said the boy on the other side of the girl. At this, Katz's eyes widened as well. However, her eyes did not make the familiar upward flick to his forehead.
"Well, Harry. It's a pleasure to meet you, Hermione and Ron," she said pleasantly. "Also, please remind your red-headed friend here to never, ever call me 'Kitty Kat' if he wants to see the next sunrise." She smiled sweetly while Jen hid a smile behind her hand.
"I'm Jen. Not Jenny, Jen," said Jen.
"It's a pleasure," said the 'Dream Team.'
"Tell me Katz, where'd you get your name?" Harry asked.
Jen heard him think, 'Wonder if she's of any relation to me.'
"My parents gave it to me. And my friends started calling me Katz when they found out how much I like cats. The name stuck."
"...."
"He's wondering if your related to him," Jen whispered almost inaudibly.
"And if you're wondering, I'm not related to you at all. Unless, of course, we're very distant cousins," Katz said with a small grin. Harry, Ron, and Hermione stared at her.
"How-how did you know?"
Katz shrugged. "Dunno. Intuition, I guess."
Dumbledore stood up and made his usual speech. After he finished, the food appeared. After they finished eating, they all stood up.
"Come on, I'll show you where the dorms are," said Hermione.
"What about the Common Room?" She looked surprised.
"You know about the Common Room?"
"Who doesn't?"
"Uh, right. Come along, then."
They went up seven flights of stairs, Katz making note of everything. When they arrived in front of the Fat Lady, Katz stared.
Damn. No wonder they called her the Fat Lady.
"Feather boas and combat boots," said Hermione. The Fat Lady opened, and they all went inside and went to bed.
**The Ravenclaws**
Appy stood up with all the other Ravenclaws. She followed them all up many flights of stairs, making note of landmarks. When they arrived in front of a painting of a man with a book in his hand and an ink stain on his cheek, Appy looked at it wonderingly.
"Sugar Quill," said Cho.
The portrait swung aside, and they entered a room full of blue. Cho led Appy up to her dorm, and they all went went to bed.
***The Slytherins***
Jess rose with Draco and the others and headed down to the dungeons. They arrived before a blank stretch of wall, where Draco called, "Triple-cursed wash water." The wall opened, and they all trooped inside. Jess followed Pansy Parkinson up to the girls' dorms, and there, climbing into her bed, she fell fast asleep.
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DISCLAIMER: This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling,
various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner
Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended. MSN Messenger is a copyright
of MSN.com. The Draco series belongs to Cassandra Claire, along with Draco's ducky socks and other items.
Katz's comment, "Yeah, and Mrs. Weasley is in love with Voldemort," belongs to me, along with her fear of
deep water and 'holy cheezits'. 'Captain Lint' belongs to Biz the Insane, but the evil purple stuffed
bunnies are mine. And 'Professor McGoonagall' is Nancey's.
Author notes: Acknowledgements:
Thank you, Jen, Jess, and Lily for being in my fic and filling out your questionaires so nicely. Also, thanks for
saying, "WRITE!" everytime I chatted with you guys and giving me ideas. I love y'all! (But not in that
way.)
Jen: Jennifer M. Patch (Jen)
Jess: Jessica Lee (Jess)
Lily: Rhapsody Sabine (Appy)
Me: Kathleen S. Potter (Katz/Kathy)
This chapter is dedicated to my friends, Jen, Jenny D., Lily, Jess, Janani, and Nancey.