Confusion?

Chapter Two

The feast was almost over and Professor Digbit was about to announce the top exam marks for each girl and boy of each year.

Catharine was incredibly nervous.

"This year the first years had some incredible results on their exams," announced Digbit, "but we can only choose one. So, the top girl in first year is Alicia Mac Donald!"

Cheers exploded. "Well-deserved, Alicia!" shouted Charlie Mac Sween, a second year. Alicia was a very friendly first year and was quite popular.

"Thank you, Charlie, and the top boy is Adam Cameron!"

There were no cheers for Adam. He was a large boy who didn't have many friends and spent most of his free time in the library. No one was surprised he won. Catharine had never spoken to Adam but she felt sorry for the big guy, so she shouted "Way to go, Adam!" Adam gave her a huge smile as if this was the happiest moment of his life!

Digbit continued with the top marks in second year, then onto third year. By now, Catharine was so nervous she wanted the top marks more than anything. "The fourth year high marks were extremely close but, by half a point, the girl with the top exam marks is Vanessa Savoy!"

Catharine felt her heart sink. Was she losing her hearing? That must have been an error. Did Digbit just announce that Vanessa had the top marks on the exams? Vanessa?

"The top boy," Digbit continued, "is Robert Dungbottom!" Robert got up and hugged Vanessa. Vanessa kissed him on his forehead.

What was going on? Did one of her best friends just take her spot as the girl with the top marks and just kissed her boyfriend? Okay, maybe it was jut a kiss on the forehead but Robert was hers! When Robert and Vanessa sat down, Catharine shot both of them dirty looks.

***

Catharine had been having a terrible summer. She had written countless owls to Melanie and had not received a single reply!

This morning, Robert came over to her house and said, "Since you'll be moving in two or three days, we might as well break up. I don't really want to carry on a long distance relationship." He gave her a quick kiss and was gone.

Catharine wasn't speaking to Vanessa since she stole her spot as top girl, but Catharine was feeling so lonely and really needed some company. Catharine decided to surprise Vanessa with an apology.

She took some floo powder clearly said, "Vanessa Savoy's house!"

She landed PLOMP in Vanessa's living room and guess what two people were snogging on the chesterfield?

Vanessa and Robert!

"Doesn't take long, does it, Robert?" asked Catharine

Vanessa managed to stammer out, "Catty, we didn't ... I mean ... Catty, I'm sorry!"

"Whatever!" replied Catharine, almost in tears. She realised she had forgotten to bring floo powder for the trip back. She would have to walk! Catharine stormed out the front door.

***

When Catharine arrived at home, there was a letter waiting for her:

Catharine,

Voldemort is back! Do you know what this means? I am in trouble! BIG TROUBLE. My family is on the run. I am sorry I can't reply to any of your owls (let alone read them!) Please don't send anymore to me for the time being, I just can't risk them getting caught!

I miss you very much! I can't believe you are going to Hogwarts! When it's okay for us to owl each other you have to tell me everything! Oh shit! I think someone or something is coming! I gotta go! I can't explain anything now just, when you get to Hogwarts, find DRACO MALFOY! He can explain everything!

XXXXX,

Yours,

Melanie Mac Neil

***

Catharine thought her life couldn't get any worse. Boy, was she wrong. She didn't have anyone. Her brother and his little friend Raymond seemed to torment her to no end. Last night (Raymond spent the night), she had found an enchanted snake in her bed. It was disgusting. This morning she found spiders sprinkled on her Chameleon Flakes (they constantly changed color, and like most Muggle cereals, were extremely sugary.) If there was on thing Catharine was terrified of it was spiders. She screamed louder than the Shrieking Shack!

Catharine was sitting on her bed, flipping through Witch Weekly (page forty three had an amazing beauty charm she absolutely had to try - not that she needed it of course ), when she remembered she was moving ... tomorrow! She had completely forgot! Not only was she moving soon, but there was only a fortnight until the start of term at Hogwarts.

Catharine started to pack.

She was packing when she found a picture of her, Melanie, Vanessa and Robert waving at the beach. Boy, she missed them. Catharine felt a tear roll down her check.

***

Catharine finally arrived in London.

Her new house was HUGE! It was practically a mansion. It was bewitched to look smaller than it really was. It had eight and a half floors, but it looked like a three-story Victorian House from the outside.

There was only one thing wrong with their new house, Catharine's mother seemed to point out all the time: there were Muggles everywhere. They had to be very careful about using magic in public.

Catharine's father had grown up in London and was happy to be home.

***

It was finally Thursday. Today, Catharine would be going to Diagon Alley. It had all the best robe shops. Catharine had been to Diagon Alley a few times with her grandparents (who both lived in London) and once with Melanie. She found it much better than the small boutiques back home.

She looked at her uniform list.

Three sets of plain work robes (black)

One plain pointed hat

One pair of protective gloves (dragon hide or similar)

One winter cloak (black, silver fastenings)

One set of dress robes (colour of choice)

Was that all? That seemed like a pretty flexible uniform. Constance even had rules on makeup and hairstyles. It did not matter whether it got too hot or too cold. The uniform was always the same.

She also needed to get:

The Standard Book of Spells (Grade Five) by Miranda Goshawk

A History of Magic by Bathilda Bagshot

One Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi by Phyllida Spore

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them by Newt Scander

Intermediate Divination by Agatha Clearwater

Defence Against the Dark Arts for Dummies by Herbert McDuffle

The Encyclopaedia of Advanced, Ridiculously Complicated, Next to Impossible, Lengthy Spells by L. MacEachen

The Illustrated Guide to Dark Curses by Drusilla Paik

1 Wand

1 Cauldron (pewter, standard size two)

1 set glass or crystal phials

1 telescope

1 set brass scales

Wow, that wouldn't come cheap. True, Catharine already had most of the equipment and about half of the books, but it would still be pretty costly.

Catharine and her family set off to Madam Malkins: Robes For All Occasions. Kent and Catharine started being fitted for Hogwarts' robes. Her parents went off to Flourish and Blotts to purchase their schoolbooks.

Just then a very pretty girl with wild brown hair, about Catharine's age, walked into the shop. This girl was Hermione.