In Front Of Me

Draco glared at Harry, who looked to a large headed Ron for help.

"Mr. Malfoy?" Dumbledore asked, a bit amused at what he was wearing.

"What? How do you know Potter didn't start it?" Draco shouted, enraged.

Professor McGonagall gestured toward the wall and said, "Well then, we'll get the answer because these walls can in fact talk." Draco rolled his eyes in disbelief. Dumbledore, as if sensing his doubt spoke.

"Excuse me, could you please tell me who's responsible for what's happened here?" Dumbledore asked the stone wall. They waited for the wall to respond. When It finally did, Draco, Ron and Harry's eyes went wide.

"That one. Right there. Wearing that silly outfit," the wall said in a confident voice. To Harry, the wall spoke just as he would have imagined.

"Are you sure?" Dumbledore asked.

"Yes, of course. I saw him with my own two...I saw him. I swear," the wall said. Dumbledore nodded, and turned back to an astonished Draco.

"Well Mr. Malfoy? Let's hear that explanation," McGonagall said.

They were all brought to the Infirmary. Draco was given clothes to wear and treatment for his burns. Harry's boils were being treated, and Ron's head resized.

Well Potter, I guess I won that one," Malfoy said superiorly while he lay in his bed.

"Like hell you did. Harry won," Ron said.

"And how do you figure that?" Malfoy asked.

"Well he didn't end up wearing a bikini. Oh and your bodyguards did an excellent job. One was petrified, and the other doesn't even know his own name," Ron shot back.

"Ron, just drop it," Harry said, upset he was going to be punished.

"Yeah Weasel, don't go getting a big head now. My bodyguards, as you so colorfully put it, are just fine," Malfoy returned, laughing snobbishly.

"Yeah I guess it won't matter will it? Goyle isn't exactly a genius anyway," Ron said laughing. Malfoy was about to get up to start more trouble when Dumbledore and McGonagall entered.

"Well, I hope you're all feeling better," McGonagall stopped to give Harry a sharp look. "I also hope," she continued, "that you all realize the trouble you're in." Harry's heart sank.

"Mr. Malfoy, because you failed to confess, we got the full account of the situation just now," Dumbledore said.

"I don't believe this! You're going to believe a wall over me? Do you know who I am? Do you realize what my father is going to say?" Malfoy said, fuming.

"Settle down Mr. Malfoy. You won't be expelled, although it's going against my better judgment," McGonagall said.

"What about Harry and me?" Ron asked, afraid of what would happen to them.

"You will be punished accordingly," Dumbledore said, a twinkling in his eyes.

"Also, Mr. Malfoy, your punishment will be in our hands because Professor Snape has given us permission to punish you as we see fit," McGonagall said. Malfoy sulked, knowing he couldn't get out of it this time.

"Mr. Potter, and Mr. Weasley, as well as Mr. Crabbe and Mr. Goyle will receive detention for a month," McGonagall said.

"What about me? What kinds of horrible things will I have to do? Clean toilets with my bare hands? Polish trophies? Oh, I know. You're going to lock me up with Potter. Well, I'm sure we'll get along just fine," Malfoy said sarcastically.

"Mr. Malfoy, I don't think you are in the position to be smart with your mouth," McGonagall said sternly.

"Well, then what do I have to do? Really, the suspense is killing me," Draco said expressionlessly.

"Mr. Malfoy, we have been informed that a new student will be coming to our school in two days," Dumbledore said.

"Yeah, so what? What does that have to do with me?" Draco asked arrogantly.

"Needless to say, she will need a guide. Someone to show her around, just until she learns more about Hogwarts," Dumbledore informed him. Draco smirked, but McGonagall cut in.

"We will judge when the student has become fully adjusted to Hogwarts. You will be courteous, kind, and patient," McGonagall said strictly.

"Being nice is really bad for my health you know," Draco said grinning.

"This is not a joke," McGonagall said.

"Ok, so I show her the classrooms, and tell her some history and I'm done. Not a big deal. It will probably only last a few days," Draco said dismissing his punishment.

"Actually, it will last for about a month. You will spend each day with the student and help them to adjust to life here. Any mess ups and expulsion might not be totally impossible," McGonagall. Draco groaned. An entire month with some stranger who was totally reliant on what he said. He could use it to his advantage, or he could just blow it off.

"That's not fair. Potter and Weasley don't have to spend every waking moment with some naive, soon to be in Gryffindor new student," Draco complained.

"Mr. Potter and Mr. Weasley will also be punished. You will get a more complex punishment because you were the most at fault," McGonagall said sharply. Draco groaned again and was escorted to his dorm along with Crabbe, now able to move, and a somewhat still clueless Goyle.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

"Katalina! You're going to be late!" her mother shouted at her still sleeping daughter. Kat rolled over listlessly, trying to get a grip on her surroundings. It was her first day. She was nervous as she got dressed in a muggle shirt and jeans, and grabbed her trunk.

"Now, don't be nervous, you'll do fine," her father said as he ate his breakfast. Kat rubbed her eyes, then brushed her long hair, pulling it back from her face. Her mother and father kissed her goodbye, and sent her off to her new school, and her new life.