Confusion?

Chapter Five

When Flitwick and Catharine arrived at Hogwarts, she was immediately taken to Professor Dumbledore's office. Flitwick called a very dirty old hat covered with patches "The Sorting Hat" and said it would place Catharine in that house which she belonged. He said all she would have to do was to put the hat on.

When she put the hat on it started to whisper to her.

"Ooo... you have a great thirst for knowledge - much like a Ravenclaw. I see you've made some friends in Gryffindor, but I don't think you would be very happy there. You aren't that brave. Ah, what's this? I see you have much power and a fierce ambition to prove yourself- a Slytherin trait. This is a very tough decision. Ravenclaw or Slytherin? Ravenclaw or Slytherin? Ravenclaw or Slytherin? I think it should be - SLYTHERIN!"

"So you're a Slytherin. Do you want to go to the feast? Or eat in here?"

"I guess I'll eat here."

"Fine, I'll get Dobby to bring you up a plate. I should warn you Dobby is a bit of a strange fellow."

***

Kenneth joined the Gryffindor table pleased with his new housemates. John gave him a high five. It was now Chris' turn. The hat only took a moment when it shouted "RAVENCLAW." Chris shot John a sad look and went to join the Ravenclaw table.

Kenneth sat through the Sorting Ceremony. It finally ended with Zatick, Hugh who became a Hufflepuff.

Right after that, the feast began. In mere seconds, the table was covered with almost every food imaginable. It was simply delicious.

Kenneth surveyed his new housemates. One boy caught his attention. He had a huge nose, bright red hair and lots of freckles. He glimpsed at the boy beside him. He had wild black hair and bright green eyes. He couldn't be Harry Potter?

"Er, John you don't reckon that boy is Harry Potter?"

"Of course he is. Seamus is always going on about how he and Harry are real tight."

"Do you wanna go talk to him?" asked Kenneth.

"What would we say?" replied John.

"I dunno. Hullo maybe?"

John really didn't like this boy. Seamus also told John that Harry hated the limelight, then something about some fanatical boy named Colin.

"Maybe we can talk to him later. He looks pretty busy and I want to finish eating."

When all of the Gryffindors were finished eating, the Prefects led them to their dormitories. Kenneth couldn't remember anything he just dozed off to sleep, wondering which house Catharine was in.

***

After meeting Dobby, who was very strange indeed, Catharine set off to her dormitory. It was late . She wasn't surprised to find her roommates still awake, gossiping.

"What are you doing here?" demanded one of the girls.

"Shouldn't you be in your own dorm?" asked another.

"Get out of here!" said the first one.

"Settle the kettle! I'm a Slytherin. Get over it!" snapped Catharine.

"You can't be a Slytherin. No true Slytherin would ever be friends with a mud-blood," said one of the girls.

"I beg your pardon? I would never befriend a mud-blood!" said Catharine.

"What about Miss 'I'm-Too- Good-For-Everybody' Granger?"

"She can't be a mud-blood. She is a prefect," said Catharine, rolling her eyes.

"Think again."

"Whatever. I'm going to sleep," concluded Catharine. Crappy roommates or not, she wasn't about to sink to their level of petty gossip.

***

"Ron, can I ask you a question?"

"Sure, Catharine, shoot," said Ron.

"Is Hermione a Pureblood?"

"Nah, she's Muggle-Born."

"Oh, are you Muggle Born?"

"No, I'm Pureblood. Why does it matter?"

"You know, just wondering. I better be off to Potions."

"I've got Potions too."

"Okay, let's go. Do you know what House my brother Kenneth McDonald was sorted into?"

"Yeah, he's a Gryffindor. Spent the whole bloody night goggling at Harry. What House did you get?" asked Ron.

"Oh, Slytherin," Catharine said carelessly. "They all seem to hate me."

"No, they don't," said Ron, as they walked into their Potions class. Ron joined Harry at a table. All of the Slytherins already had partners. Catharine sat down by herself in the back. Hermione came in and sat down next to Catharine.

The Slytherins glared at her.

"Hi, I had such a stressful night. Being a Prefect isn't all it's cracked up to be!" said Hermione, waiting for a response from Catharine. She was silent.

"How do you like Slytherin?

"S'okay," replied Catharine curtly.

Not another word was exchanged between the two until class started.

Snape entered the room.

"Welcome back to your fifth year at Hogwarts. We have a new student; Ms. McDonald would you please tell us a bit about yourself?" said Snape.

Catharine walked up to the front of the class. Some of the Slytherin girls snickered.

"Um, hi, I'm Catharine McDonald. I've moved here from Candsburry."

With this statement, some of the Slytherins looked pleased, some gasped.

"I'm fifteen, my favourite subject is uh, Potions. I am really bad at flying. I prefer Floo. I don't get Quidditch. Umm... I have one brother named Kenneth. My friends say I am sort of vain, but I don't really believe them." Some of the Gryffindors giggled at her self-deprication. "I guess I get good grades. That's it. Oh, one more thing - I am really bad at speaking in front of people!"

***

It was dinnertime. The Slytherins were being a little nicer to her.

"Catharine MacDonald? After dinner, may I have a word?" asked a cute boy with light blonde hair. He was in most of her classes. She thought his name was Gregory Goyle or something like that.

"Okay," she responded, and then ate in silence.

As soon as she finished Gregory seemed to appear instantly.

"Ready?"

Catharine nodded.

The two walked to the empty Slytherin Common Room.

"Okay, we better keep quiet. First, I have to ask you if you are the Catharine McDonald who is friends with Melanie McNeill?"

"You're Draco! Yeah, Melanie is my best friend. How do you know her?"