A Piece of the Past

Kate O'Brien stood nervously on Platform 9 ¾, watching other black-robed students bid their parents good-bye and board the scarlet train. Her trunk sat at her feet along with her owl, Maeve.

"Don't worry, Kate," said her mother Bridget. "You'll love Hogwarts just as much as your old school. Your father and I were at Hogwarts, you know."

"It's the best school of magic anywhere," Connor, her father, agreed.

Kate nodded and picked up her trunk as the train's whistle sounded.

Bridget and Connor hugged their only daughter good-bye. "Don't worry," Mrs. O'Brien whispered to Kate. "You'll be perfectly safe at Hogwarts."

Kate boarded the train and watched from a window as her parents became smaller and smaller until they were completely out of sight. She then began walking uncertainly down the corridors in search of an empty compartment to stay for the long journey to her new school.

Kate did not have enough luck to find her own compartment, so she knocked cautiously on the door of one near the back of the train. A small girl with flaming red hair opened the door. Behind her, two blonde boys who Kate assumed were brothers sat flipping through a photo album.

"Hi," Kate said shyly. "My name's Kate, and I'm new this year. Would you mind if I shared your compartment?"

"Of course not!" the red-haired girl replied. "My name's Ginny Weasley, and that's Colin Creevey and his brother Dennis."

The two boys waved at her and then turned back to their album. Kate entered the tiny compartment, and Ginny shut the door behind her.

"You don't look like a first year," Ginny said with a smile.

"No," Kate answered. "I'm going to be in sixth year, I think."

"Oh, that's the same year as my brother Ron," Ginny cried happily. "You'll meet him later, if you're in Gryffindor."

"If I'm in what?" Kate asked, confused.

"Hasn't anyone told you?" Ginny said. "There are four houses at Hogwarts. Gryffindor is what my brother and I are in, and that's the House my whole family has always been in. The others are Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff, and Slytherin. But you don't want to be in Slytherin," Ginny continued. "That House seems to turn out the most Dark witches and wizards."

"Oh," Kate replied. "I think I've heard my grandmother talk about Houses, now that you mention it. She was at Hogwarts when she was young."

"So what brings you to Hogwarts?" Ginny asked curiously. "I don't think we've ever had a transfer student. Are you from another wizarding school?"

"Oh, um, well," Kate began, flustered. "Well, yes, I guess you could say that. Yes, I'm from another wizarding school. In, um, France."

"Are you from Beauxbatons then?" Ginny asked excitedly. "We had some of your students here in my third year, for the Triwizard tournament!"

"No, no," Kate replied hurriedly. "What I meant was--well, it's a smaller school. Not Beauxbatons. I'm really Irish, but my father had a job transfer, and so we moved to France for a while. I was originally down for Hogwarts, but I was switched to my old school. Now his job's changed again, and we've got to move back. He's a Muggle," she added quickly. "Both my parents are Muggles. But my grandmother was a witch."

"How interesting!" Ginny cried. "I never knew magic could skip a generation. My whole family's been wizards, as long as I can remember."

"Yes, well, Squibs seem to run in my family," Kate continued. "There are one or two in every generation. I'm the first witch since my grandmother, and both my parents have siblings who are Squibs."

"Colin and Dennis are both Muggle-born as well," Ginny said.

The brothers looked up at the sound of their names. The older one, Colin, gave Kate and smile and said, "Would you like to see my pictures? I've got an entire album for every one of my years at Hogwarts."

"Colin's a great photographer," Dennis said proudly.

Kate took the large album offered to her by Colin and opened the first page. In the center surrounded by what seemed to be enchanted star stickers was a picture of Colin and a dark-haired boy with glasses. Kate looked more closely at the dark-haired boy, feeling as though there was something very familiar about him.

"Who is this?" she asked Colin.

Colin's face lit up as he began chattering. "Oh, that's Harry Potter! You know all about him, of course. He's my idol! He and his friends have done very many brave things at Hogwarts. They saved my life in my very first year! He doesn't like me to take pictures of him too often, though I don't know why, but I've still got quite a few. His best friend is Ginny's brother Ron and this other girl, Hermione Granger--she's the smartest witch in the school! And Harry is a great Quidditch player--do you watch Quidditch much? I just love it; and Harry's only lost one match, but that wasn't his fault. He plays Seeker--the hardest position, but you know all about Quidditch, I suppose. Do they have Quidditch at your old school?"

"No," Kate replied automatically. Her heart was pounding, and blood was rushing in her ears. Harry Potter was a name she knew as well as her own, so often had she heard it and the story behind it. But she remembered what her father had told her, and she kept her silence. She turned to the next page of the photo album. Almost every page seemed to contain a picture of Harry, and two people she assumed were his friends Ron and Hermione. Ron had flaming red hair like his sister, and Hermione looked as if she would be rather pretty if her hair was not so large and bushy.

Kate finished looking through the album and returned it to Colin and Dennis, who inquired if she would like to see the rest. Not wishing to view another five albums of Harry Potter, Kate declined, saying she wished to find something to eat.

"You'll want to find the trolley," Ginny chimed in helpfully. "It usually sits at the front of the train unless a witch comes by with it. She usually comes by just at noon. If you could wait but ten minutes, you will see her."

"I'll wait," Kate answered. "But is it permitted for passengers to walk about? I am feeling a bit ill. Maybe a walk would help."

"Oh!" Ginny cried, looking concerned. "Of course you can walk about. Everyone does. But if you're feeling sick, perhaps walking isn't the best idea."

"I believe a walk would be helpful," Kate said hastily, rising. "I'll be sure to be back at noon."

Kate slipped out of the compartment and leaned against the wall outside, eyes closed, breathing deeply. She had not thought she would have to deal with so many inquiries before she was even at Hogwarts. Her parents had assured her that the headmaster, Dumbledore, would make sure her privacy was not invaded. She must expect some questions, of course, as it was not customary for students to be admitted to the school after the first year. Kate felt she had dealt with the situation well enough, but perhaps she would be more comfortable when she had had more practice. She opened her eyes and began to stroll the corridors before she drew attention to herself.

Kate met no one else on her walk and returned to her compartment just as the trolley witch arrived. The four occupants each bought a few cauldron cakes, which Ginny assured Kate were excellent, and other assorted sweets.

Kate passed the remainder of the journey buried in The Standard Book of Spells, Grade Six while Ginny wrote in a red leather diary, and the two brothers busied themselves comparing trading cards from Chocolate Frog boxes.

Soon, the Hogwarts Express began to slow down. Kate packed away her books and glanced out the window. The sky had grown dark, and she could just barely make out the outline of the enormous castle in the distance.

The students began to disembark. A rather gargantuan man with a long frizzed beard called loudly for the first years to come to him. It seemed they were going by boat, but Ginny directed Kate to several carriages lined up and waiting for the rest of the students. Kate, Ginny, and the Creevey brothers occupied one carriage, and Kate spent most of the journey up to the castle staring out the window as her new school drew nearer and nearer.

The carriages stopped at the entrance of the school, and once more the students began sprawling out and heading towards the large front doors.

Kate had barely stepped inside when she was met by a rather stern looking witch who approached her swiftly. "Miss O'Brien?" she asked.

"Yes, I am Kate O'Brien," Kate replied.

"Follow me," the witch said. "Quickly now." She turned and pushed her way deftly through the throng of students. Kate trotted about to keep up with her, taking no note to where she was being led. Finally, the witch stopped in front of a large stone gargoyle and said a password that Kate did not catch. The gargoyle moved aside, and the witch motioned for Kate to step on the stairs that were beginning to move upwards. Kate did so, and the stern witch stepped up after her. The stairs wound up for a moment before stopping at what Kate supposed was the top of a tower. A wooden door stood there, and the witch who had followed Kate up the stairs opened it at once.

Kate entered into a large chamber with high ceilings covered in many portraits of witches and wizards. As she walked further into the room, she saw a rather elderly-looking wizard with a long white beard wearing glasses and a pointed wizard's hat.

"Professor McGonagall," the wizard said. "I can always rely on you. Your promptness is appreciated." Professor McGonagall nodded, and the wizard, who Kate now assumed was the headmaster, Dumbledore, turned to Kate. "Miss O'Brien," he began. "First of all: welcome. Though the circumstances are perhaps unfortunate, we are glad to finally have you with us. I trust your parents have discussed with you the protocol you are to observe?"

Kate nodded. "I'm not to draw attention to myself," she explained. "That won't be a problem, sir. I've rehearsed my story a hundred times, and I've had to use it once already, on the train."

Dumbledore nodded his approval. "I assume you have had no complications?"

"No, sir, not yet," Kate replied.

The headmaster smiled knowingly. "Excellent. Now, Miss O'Brien, there is the matter of what House you shall be placed in. All first year students are sorted at the Opening Feast, which will take place tonight. But as you are not a first year and have special circumstances, I will offer you the choice of taking part in the official sorting ceremony in the Great Hall, or you may be sorted right here, with Professor McGonagall and myself as witnesses."

Kate answered immediately. "If it wouldn't be too much trouble, sir, I'd like to be sorted privately."

"Very well," Dumbledore said. He motioned for Professor McGonagall to take an old hat off his desk. She did so, and said to Kate, "If you'll just take a seat, Miss O'Brien, I'll place the Sorting Hat on your head."

Kate sat hesitantly in one of the chairs in front of Dumbledore's desk. She felt the Sorting Hat on her head, and soon enough, she heard a small voice inside her head.

"Miss O'Brien," the voice said. "I wondered when I'd be seeing you. Let's see now; you'll not be too hard to sort. Loyalty, an excellent quality; knowledge, very good; but I sense an unusual amount of courage in you. Yes, yes, it's the only proper thing to do."

And then suddenly, the hat shouted aloud for Dumbledore and McGonagall to hear: "Gryffindor!"

Kate sighed with relief and a bit of pride. Both her parents had been in Gryffindor, as well as the rest of her family, as far back as she could remember.

Professor McGonagall escorted her down to the Great Hall and pointed out the Gryffindor table. Kate could see Ginny sitting with her brother and made a beeline to the seat next to her.

Kate sat down next to Ginny, who exclaimed delightedly, "Are you a Gryffindor as well, then?"

Kate nodded and gave her a small smile. "I've just been sorted. Is it all right that I'm sitting here? I'm not supposed to sit with any of the other sixth years am I?"

"No, it's perfectly all right," replied a voice from across the table. Kate looked up and saw a familiar face from Colin's photo album, a face she could only assume belonged to Hermione Granger, allegedly the brightest witch at Hogwarts.

Hermione smiled at her. "I'm Hermione Granger," she said, confirming Kate's thoughts. "I'm a sixth year, too."

"My name's Kate O'Brien," Kate said. "I've just had to transfer from France. My father's a Muggle, and he's had a job transfer."

"How interesting!" Hermione said. "Where did you study in France?"

Kate thought quickly. "L'ècole des Sorciers," she replied. "It's a small school, the only one in France besides Beauxbatons."

"Really?" Hermione said. "I've never heard of it."

Kate felt sick with fear. If Hermione was the smartest person in the school, she might know that no such wizarding school existed. But Kate's fears subsided as Hermione continued her interrogation.

"You don't sound French," she said.

"No," Kate replied. "I'm from Ireland, but my father had to switch jobs when I was just a baby, so I've been raised in France. His job has just moved him back here again."

"My parents are Muggles as well," Hermione said with a smile. "Wasn't it a shock to find out you were a witch?"

"Absolutely," Kate agreed. She was spared from further inquiry as Professor McGonagall announced that the sorting of the first years was about to begin. The Great Hall fell silent to watch the long line of scared-looking witches and wizards came forward to be sorted, as Kate had shortly before.

When the Sorting was completed, food appeared by magic onto the plates before them. Everyone began to help themselves, and they all ate until they could eat no more. At the end of the feast, Dumbledore rose to make a speech, but Kate could hardly pay attention for looking around the Hall. She studied her fellow Gryffindors very thoroughly before moving her attention to the Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin tables. As Dumbledore ended his speech, Kate decided she had undoubtedly been placed in the best house, if it was fair to judge by the other students' actions during the feast.

The Gryffindor prefects herded their students up to Gryffindor Tower, where they announced the password and allowed everyone through a portrait of a fat lady wearing a pink dress.

Kate was amazed by the elaborate Common Room in the tower, but she did not linger with everyone else but headed straight for the sixth year girls' dormitory to unpack and turn in early. She did not think she could face any more prying questions today.

Unfortunately, Hermione and two of the other girls were already in the dormitory. When she saw Kate enter, Hermione immediately introduced her cheerfully to the other two girls, Parvati Patil and Lavender Brown.

After relating her story yet again, with a bit of help from Hermione, Kate made her excuses and went to bed, pulling the curtains of her four-poster shut as she did.

The next morning, Kate awoke to find Hermione, Lavender, and Parvati all dressed and chatting about their schedules before heading down to breakfast. Kate changed swiftly into her uniform and robes and pulled her schedule from her trunk. She waited in the common room with Hermione while Lavender and Parvati headed down to breakfast. Kate wasn't quite sure she would be able to find her way back down to the Great Hall, and she found Hermione to be a good companion, even if Kate was usually on her guard around someone smarter than she was.

"What are we waiting for?" Kate asked as Hermione sat down in one of the chairs near the fire.

"Harry and Ron," Hermione replied. "They're always so slow."

"Oh," Kate said, taking a seat near Hermione. "I was wondering, is there any chance I could take a flying class? I'm a bit rusty; my old school didn't teach flying, and I haven't ridden a broomstick for ages."

"Well, there's not much need for flying around here, unless you play Quidditch," Hermione said. "And flying classes are only offered to first years, since it's pretty easy to learn. But if you really want to learn, I'm sure Harry could teach you. He's an excellent flier, and Quidditch practice probably won't start until they have all the team's positions filled, so he'll have plenty of time."

"Um, well, I don't want to--to be any inconvenience," Kate stammered.

But Hermione waved her excuses away. "I'm sure Harry'd be glad to teach you. Look, I'll ask him for you; I think that's he and Ron coming down now."

Sure enough, Ron appeared first, his vibrant hair standing out against his black robes. Harry followed closely behind, and Kate's heart nearly stopped beating. He was much more good-looking in person than in the candid pictures taken by Colin.

"Morning," Ron greeted the two of them.

"Have you two met Kate?" Hermione inquired.

"Well we have now," Ron replied, extending his hand, which Kate shook. "Ron Weasley, nice to meet you."

Harry followed suit, and Kate tried not to stare too much. She heard Hermione briefly telling Ron and Harry that she was a transfer student from France, and then, to her horror, Hermione said, "Kate was just asking about flying lessons, and I told her that only first years take the class, but that you'd be glad to give her a few lessons, Harry."

Harry smiled at her and nodded. "Sure, no problem," he said. "Should we get down to breakfast, then?"

"Yeah, I'm starving," Ron chimed in. The four of them climbed out of the portrait hole, and Ron, Harry, and Hermione started making their way through the winding corridors and down countless flights of stairs as if it were second nature to them. Kate tried to remember where they had turned, but she gave up and decided just to stick with other Gryffindors from then on.

They sat down at the Gryffindor table with several other sixth years, who Kate was quickly introduced to. They included Neville Longbottom, a pleasant looking boy who Kate had been warned not to partner in any class but Herbology, Dean Thomas, who she found was quite funny, and Seamus Finnagin, a slightly clumsy but rather witty boy.

"What class have we got first?" Seamus asked as they all stood up to leave the Great Hall.

"Transfiguration," Hermione answered. A few of the boys groaned.

"I can't believe we have Transfiguration in the morning," Dean complained.

"I'm bad enough as it is, but if I'm half asleep, I don't know that I'll pass!" Neville cried.

"It's not really that bad, is it?" Kate asked worriedly.

Harry shook his head. "Not really," he replied. "McGonagall's a bit strict, but you'll get used to her. She's head of Gryffindor House. And I'm sure she won't be too hard on you, as you've just started here and all."

Kate smiled nervously. "I hope not."

It turned out that Kate had no need to worry. McGonagall used the first lesson as a review from the previous year, and Kate knew most of the spells. Those she did not know, she quickly mastered.

Kate left the lesson with Harry and Ron, as Hermione had Arithmancy next. The Gryffindors who were taking mostly standard classes only had one other lesson that afternoon: Defense Against the Dark Arts.

"I haven't seen the new professor yet," Ron said as he, Harry, and Kate settled onto a couch in the common room. "What do you suppose they'll give us this year?"

Harry shrugged. "I don't even care anymore. Whoever it is will only be here a year anyway."

"Why?" Kate asked, puzzled.

"They say the job's jinxed," Harry explained. "We haven't had a Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher who's lasted more than a year the entire time we've been at Hogwarts."

"Strange," Kate said.

"Anyway," Harry continued. "Since our last class is over at three, you want to start flying lessons this afternoon?"

Kate felt the blood leave her face, but she managed to stammer, "Oh! Um, sure, I guess." She wasn't sure how she was supposed to feel about being around Harry. She had been warned not to become too close to him, but she hadn't expected him to be so...nice. In many more ways than one.

"What broom do you ride?" he asked.

"Um, a Cleansweep something, I think," she answered. "It's just something my parents found on sale, and they thought I'd like it."

Harry smiled and nodded his approval. "Cleansweeps are good brooms," he added. "The school keeps them for people who don't have their own."

Ron soon challenged Harry to a game of wizard chess. They began to play on the table in front of the fire, and Kate watched, fascinated, as Ron beat Harry royally, until Hermione returned and announced that they had twenty minutes until Defense Against the Dark Arts.

The Gryffindors headed to the classroom in a large throng. Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Kate took seats near the back of the room, because Hermione was anxious to tell them about her Arithmancy lesson.

Hermione was in the middle of a long and rather boring speech about the magical properties of the number seven when a rather frightening-looking wizard came out of the office at the back of the classroom. The class fell silent and waited for him to speak.

He was tall, with dark brown, perhaps even black, hair and tan skin. He wore robes of a deep brown color that when caught in the light, looked red. He did not smile, but stood at the front of the room with his arms folded. When he finally spoke, his voice was deep and rough. Fortunately, he did not speak much.

"My name is Professor Fairclough," he said. A few students smirked at his name, but his razor sharp glare made their faces grim.

He began to take attendance, but he did not look up for the students to raise their hands. He paused only twice: once when he reached the name Harry Potter, and again at the name Kate O'Brien. He snapped his roll of parchment shut and flung it onto his desk.

"Open your texts to page fifty-two and begin reading," he continued. "Stop at page sixty-three. I want a report handed in to me at the end of the week detailing your reading. Begin."

The students all opened their books and began reading and taking notes. The room was silent until the bell rang, releasing them for the rest of the day.

"We've never had such a boring Defense Against the Dark Arts lesson," Ron complained. "I'm already halfway through the reading on vampires; what am I supposed to do the rest of the week?"

"Write your report!" Hermione replied, exasperated. "At least we're learning something. It's not the most interesting way to learn, I'll admit, but maybe he's playing it safe. He probably wants to last more than a year, you know."

While Ron and Hermione bickered, Harry sighed and turned to Kate. "You ready?"

She nodded in reply.

"Good," Harry said with a smile. "I need to have some fun after that lesson."

Harry and Kate collected their brooms, and Harry led her onto the grounds.

"Where are we going?" Kate asked.

"We're going to see if the Quidditch field is free," he answered. "No one will bother us out there."

"All right," Kate said, as he seemed to expect some kind of answer.

"Did they have Quidditch at your school in France?" he asked.

"No," Kate replied. "I've heard about, but I've never actually seen a match."

Harry looked shocked. "You'll be pleasantly surprised, then, come Quidditch season," he continued. "It's a pretty exciting game. We're short a few players this year, though, since most of our team were in sixth or seventh year last season."

"How exactly do you play Quidditch?" Kate inquired curiously.

Harry flashed her a smile. "I'll show you, if we have time before dark."

They reached the Quidditch field and found it to be empty. Harry led Kate out into the center of the field, and she gazed up in awe at the towers, stands, and sixty-foot hoops at either end of the field.

"Pretty amazing, isn't it?" Harry said, seeing the look on her face.

"Yeah," she whispered.

Harry grinned. "If you think this is amazing, wait until you see it from the air."

He mounted his broomstick and hovered a few feet above her, then touched back down. "Come on, you try."

Kate hesitantly mounted her broom.

"Good," Harry said. "Now just kick up from the ground and lean forward a bit."

Kate pushed away from the safe, sturdy ground slowly, clutching the handle of her broom tightly. She could see Harry hovering next to her, holding on lazily with one hand. He nudged his broom closer to hers and grabbed onto her broom as well. "Okay, now just lean forward slowly."

She did as she was told and saw Harry doing the same next to her. Her broom moved very slightly forward.

Happy enough to have moved anywhere, Kate sat up suddenly, and her broom jerked to a stop, nearly tossing her off. Harry caught her around her waist and let her get a grip on her broom again before resuming his previous position.

"Don't move too suddenly," he warned her. "I probably should have told you that before."

"Yeah, thanks," Kate said, holding onto her broom with a death grip.

"Let's try something different," he continued. "So you can get a feel for it. Hold on, and lean forward when we start moving."

Kate tightened her grip on the handle, if that was at all possible, and when he saw she was ready, Harry pushed his broom forward, pulling her along with the hand that still held her broom. Kate leaned forward as he had told her, and she felt less like she was being dragged and more like she was really flying.

It was a wonderful feeling, being up in the air, speeding by everything so fast that the world was a blur. She never even noticed that Harry had let go of her broom and was loping along next to her, obviously pleased with her progress.

Kate closed her eyes, feeling much more confident. It was liberating to feel the wind rushing past her face. She hadn't a clue where she was going until she heard Harry cry out, "Kate! Turn, quick!"

Her eyes flew open. She was headed directly for a row of bleachers at the end of the field. Having no idea how a broomstick was steered, she jerked it to the left and ran straight into Harry. They collided in midair, and Kate felt sure she was going to die from the drop alone, but she never fell. Harry had caught her at the last moment and was holding onto her with both arms. Kate put an arm around his neck, freeing his other hand to steer his broom to the ground. They landed with a soft thud, and Kate fell to her knees, thankful to be on solid ground again. Her broom lay a few feet away, slightly damaged from being dropped from under her, but it was not beyond repair.

Harry knelt next to her and brushed a few of her long blonde curls away from her face. "Are you all right?" he asked, a note of deep concern in his voice.

Kate nodded, feeling her face turn red. "I'm fine, unless you count be embarrassed beyond belief."

Harry laughed, not in a cruel way, but like someone who understood. "Don't worry, it gets easier." He took her hand and helped her to her feet. "We'd better stop for today, while you're still in one piece."

Kate smiled and felt the humiliation leave her. Harry wasn't about to tease her or make a big deal of her accident, and she began to feel comfortable, even happy, as she picked up her broom and started walking back to the castle. She had forgotten who and where she was for a few moments in the air, and besides saving her life twice, she was grateful to Harry for those few moments.

"Quidditch," Kate said suddenly as they left the field. "You said you'd show me how to play. Maybe it's better you didn't, but at least tell me."

Harry laughed and briefly explained the rules of Quidditch. Kate was fascinated by the sport, asking, "When do you start practicing? Can I come watch?"

"We won't start practice until the team is filled," Harry replied. "You can watch practice, but it's not as entertaining as a real match. We just do a lot of drills."

"How many matches are there?"

"Well, each house team plays the others once, so three for each house in a regular season, and four for the two teams who make it to the Quidditch final. That's the last game, and the winner gets the Quidditch Cup. The house that wins the Quidditch Cup almost always wins the House Cup, too," he added.

Kate was intrigued by the competition between the four Houses. "I thought it was just a way to schedule classes," she said. "I never thought it would be anything like this."

"We're lucky to be in Gryffindor," Harry added. "We're all like one family. I've got no idea how well the other houses get along, but it's kind of nice to be off in our own little world up in the tower."

They spent the rest of their walk to the castle in silence, simply enjoying having company and the view of the grounds at sunset.