KATIE BOUNCED DOWN THE GRYFFINDOR stairs to get to the common room. She was wearing a light pair of jeans with a black jacket. Kai stood up from his spot on the windowsill, wearing a red sweater and jeans. He walked over to her, stuffing his hands in his pockets.

"Where are you two going?" Hermione asked from where she was sitting in front of the fire reading.

Katie smiled at her. "We're going to watch Slytherin try-outs. It's supposed to be a good turnout. You should come!" She said.

Hermione glanced down at her outfit. Some leggings and a scarlet sweater. She also had Katelyn's cloak from Diagon Alley on her lap underneath the book. "Lemme just get my shoes real quick," she told them both and quickly got up, going up the stairs to put her book away and grab her shoes.

In doing so, she almost ran right into Harry. "Woah, Hermione," the boy said, stepping out of her way.

"Sorry, Harry," the brunette apologized, walking over to the girls dormitory. "I'm in a hurry. Going to watch Slytherin try-outs with Katie and Kai," she explained and quickly disappeared into the room. She came back out a minute later with the cloak fastened on and her shoes on her feet.

She bounded down the stairs with Harry and Ron right behind. "Is Katelyn gonna be there?" Harry asked the oldest Gryffindor.

Kai and Katie glanced at each other before nodding at the boy. "99.99% sure," Kai drawled, spinning on his heel and walking over to the portrait. Katie rolled her eyes at the older boy and gestured for them to follow her.

"Come on, we don't wanna be late."

◂◊●◯●◊▸

KATELYN AND FLINT EACH HELD onto a handle of the box as they carried the Quidditch set out onto the pitch. They had their brooms in their other hands, careful not to drag either of the objects on the ground. They got to the middle of the pitch and set the box down.

Marcus cast a spell to keep their brooms upright so they wouldn't have to hold them up.

The two of them were dressed in their Quidditch practice robes. Their numbers were printed in large in the middle of their fronts and backs. Their last names were printed in big bold letters on the back. On the front, on their left breast rested the captain badges.

The rest of the try-outs began to file out onto the pitch wearing unmarked practice gear. Killian walked over to her with a warm smile. He was trying out for the position as chaser. They only had five spots open; keeper, two beaters, and two chasers. Marcus took up the position of 1st chaser and Katelyn took the place as seeker.

They were looking for reserves though in case someone got hurt (which was very likely).

"Ready?" Katelyn grinned at her cousin.

"Better be. Can't have him slacking," another second-year Slytherin said with a teasing glint in his eye. He slung an arm around Killian, ruffling his hair. Theodore Black-Burke. Katelyn's cousin from her fathers side. He was the son of Regulus Black and Rose Burke. He had been conceived shortly after Regulus and Rose were married and only days prior to Regulus death.

"Har har, Theodore," Killian drawled, draping his arm around the boy's shoulder in return. "We both know, out of the two of us, you'll be the one to be caught slacking," Killian smirked. Theodore pushed his head down and shoved the boy off of him playfully, grinning as he went.

Katelyn rolled her eyes as Killian retaliated. Marcus called for her shortly after and she jogged over to him. "What's wrong?" She asked at seeing his distressed look.

"I can't find the bloody plans!" He hissed, running a frantic hand through his hair. "We had them before we left the common room, yeah?"

Katelyn raised her eyebrows, staring at him with a semi-blank look. "I mean... I brought mine," she replied, which was true. She had her whole notebook in the quidditch box. She doesn't recall seeing Marcus with his plans though.

Flint stared at her for a moment, just stared, and then turned away from her and stalked over to the quidditch box. Katelyn watched him go and then nodded, concluding that their conversation was over.

"Royal, these are mine," Flint called to her, frowning down at the papers, "well... a mix of ours—how long did we stay up last night?!" He shouted frustratedly.

Katelyn groaned, not wanting to dive into that. They were up way past curfew and only went to bed when McGonagall caught them taking a break on the bridge (they were nursing hot cups of coffee, Marcus was humming a song horribly, and Katelyn was dancing to it; McGonagall had been horrified).

"I'll go get them," she waved him off, whistling for her broom once she finished. It flew into her hand and she quickly mounted it, zipping away from the pitch and into the castle. "So bloody unprepared," she muttered to herself.

Katie waved to Draco when they got to the spot he, Rebekah, and Vincent were sitting. Draco waved back causing the other two to look over. "Hey, lads," Vincent said to the group. Kai took a seat beside Rebekah, flicking Draco's forehead as he went.

"Did we miss anything?" Katie asked as she looked out at the pitch. They all got settled in their spots, getting ready to watch the try-outs. The people were all gathering around in the middle of the pitch with Flint standing near the quidditch box.

"Nope. They had to postpone for a minute until—" Katelyn came flying in, holding a notebook in her hand, flipping through it and reorganizing some papers as she did. She landed effortlessly beside Marcus, the broom hovering vertically near Flint's. Katelyn slammed the book closed and shoved it into Marcus stomach, making the boy hunch over with a groan. "—Katelyn got back," Draco finished, unfazed. He clicked his tongue and rested his chin in his hands.

Katelyn whistled which cut loudly through the air, silencing the chatter that had spread over the group of Slytherins. Hermione tilted her head, snapping out of the impressed daze she had been in at the effortless show of skill. Hermione knew that the Royal family was a long line of quidditch players, but first-years didn't really have a chance of getting on the house teams.

"I still can't believe Snape, of all people, let Katelyn be captain," Rebekah said, watching her cousin give a rundown of some drills the try-outs were going to be doing.

"Snape may hate Katelyn, but he hates Serpen more," Kai said. None of them really knew what Snape's grudge with Serpen was. Snape's grudge against Eliza and Camilla? Yes, they knew (at least some of it). But, Serpens? Not a clue.

"Captain?" Ron repeated, staring at Rebekah in disbelief, "you must be joking!"

Draco shot Ron an unimpressed look, already annoyed with his presence. "She's been playing for years in minor leagues. Her father called in a few favors and got Snape and Flint to see her before the year started. She's been captain since May," he explained bored-ly as if he'd run through the same monologue 100 times.

"Why didn't she tell me? We were talking about it yesterday," Harry said with a small pout. He would've loved some tips before he met with Oliver earlier this morning.

"Will you lot shut it? I'm trying to watch," Katie interrupted, not looking at any of them as she focuses on the pitch. All of them mumble 'sorry' and stay silent.

Marcus wrote down what position everyone was going to be trying out for while Katelyn made their practice numbers (50-70) and their last names. They had a set of twins so she put the first letter of their first names. She recognized them, they were first years just like her and were muggle-borns. They were the Reynolds twins who had an inkling for getting Katelyn and Harry in and out of trouble during their primary years (Hermione was mostly the one getting all of them out of it). They were Madam Melanie's older grandchildren (her daughter had two sets of twins).

"We know we don't really have a shot," Trinity, the older of the two twins by sixty seconds (she never let her brother live it down), told Katelyn when she got to them. "But, you were trying out so why not, right?" She grinned, throwing her arm over the blonde's shoulder.

Katelyn raised her eyebrows, grinning back at her. "Be careful, alright?" She said to her friend, ruffling the girl's hair that she had yet to pull back. Trinity grumbled under her breath and pulled her hair back as Katelyn walked back over to her cousins.

"We have some spectators," Killian told the two as he straightened out his robes, nodding his head toward the stands. Katelyn and Theo both looked over.

"Ah, nice! An audience," Theodore smirked, punching Killian's shoulder. The other boy stared at Theodore then at his shoulder before giving Katelyn an incredulous look. But, Katelyn wasn't paying him any mind.

She was waving to Hermione (and Harry since he was beside her and he thought she was looking at him). Harry gave her two enthusiastic thumbs up, beaming excitedly at her. Katelyn scoffed through her nose and gave him two thumbs up back. Then she looked to Hermione who was wrapped in Katelyn's family cloak that she had yet to get back.

The brunette waved to her with a shy smile. Katie whispered something to Hermione which caused the muggle-witch to gasp and turn a shade of pink, slapping Katie's arm and looking away from Katelyn.

Killian and Theodore shared a look. Katelyn noticed it and narrowed her eyes. "What?" She demands.

"Nothing," Killian replied.

"You have a crush," Theodore said. Killian smacked the boy in the stomach, giving him a 'what the fuck?' look. Theodore smacked him back, giving him a 'what?' look.

Katelyn glanced back at Hermione, smiling a bit when the girl quickly averted her eyes with flushed cheeks. "I'm gonna marry her one day," Katelyn said, interrupting the two who were muttering angrily to each other and about to start a brawl on the field. Both boys turned toward her in shock. The blonde raised an eyebrow, "what? She's cute, she's smart, and she's kind." The girl shrugged and walked away.

"She shows no interest in anybody for years and suddenly she's already planning a marriage," Killian says as Theodore rests his forearm on the other boy's shoulder.

"To a muggle no less. Now that's impressive," Theodore said, glancing back at the stands where Hermione was watching Katelyn.

Katelyn whistled loudly, startling the two boys and making them quickly fall in along with the rest. Try-outs have begun.

They had been doing drills for the last hour and now have moved on to scrimmages. Two full teams going against one another with some to spare. Marcus and Katelyn switched them out periodically while playing with. Marcus was on one team while Katelyn was on the other.

Marcus' team had Granite and Trinity as the beaters. Theodore, himself, and Adrian Pucey as the chasers. Noah Learman (thankfully, Marcus had taken him) as the keeper. And Terence Higgs as the seeker.

Katelyns' team had Graham Montague, Trevor Vaisey, and Killian as chasers. Peregrine Derrick and Lucian Bole as the beaters. Miles Bletchley as the keeper. And Katelyn as the seeker.

Miles was a terrific keeper and barely let a single Quaffle go in. Noah wasn't doing as well and had let quite a few pass through the hoops. Peregrine and Lucian were good beaters, but definitely not the best. Granite and Trinity were pretty good and worked extremely well together. Both Marcus and Katelyn were surprised. All the chasers were quite good, but Theodore and Killian pretty much ran it.

Marcus flew over to her after Theodore managed to score against Miles after a well timed juke. "I want to see how well your cousins work together," he told her and she nodded.

"Pucey, Royal! Switch!" She called out and the two boys did as they were told. Adrian's robes turned silver instead of green while Killian's turned back to the normal practice robes.

They all got back into position and Katelyn whistled to start the scrimmage. Marcus' decision definitely was the best. The three of them worked very well together, the communication was great, and they were able to score a bit more against Miles.

Katelyn looked around the pitch, trying to spot the small gold snitch. She looked over at Terence, giving him a quick once over. Throughout the scrimmage, neither of them have been able to spot the snitch and have a good fight.

He wouldn't become the new seeker, but he could be the reserve in case Katelyn were to ever be injured. She and Marcus had told Terrence that and the boy had been fine with it, just wanting to try-out and see how it would be.

Then Katelyn catches a glimpse of something out of the corner of her eye. A glint of gold flashes near Noah. The snitch hovers above the highest ring. She doesn't move for a moment, keeping it in her vision, but never looking at it directly.

When she knows Terrence is distracted, she darts towards it. Terrence trails her quickly, not giving her much of a head start. She glances back at him, seeing him behind her by quite a bit, but not enough. If she made even the slightest mistake, he could pass her.

She keeps the snitch in sight, staying aware of her surroundings. She's mere feet away when something hard crashes into her side with a CRACK! sending her off her broom. She clenches her jaw, flipping backward and grabbing onto the closest hoop with one arm. Her left arm is sore and is probably broken from the hit she took, but she pays it no mind.

Marcus had paused the game as soon as she had fallen off her broom. Noah flys over to her, holding a hand out to her. "Need a hand?" He smiles charmingly.

Katelyn stares him dead in the eye as she reaches her left hand up and clasps it around the hoop. Then she pulls herself up, throwing her leg over with heavy breath.

Then she holds out her arm, holding the golden snitch between her ring and middle finger. It was how she had caught it when she had fallen off.

Katelyn's team erupted into cheers, Miles whistling loudly.

"Atta girl!" Killian yelled, cupping his hands around his mouth. Theodore whooped loudly. Marcus high-fived Killian. Granite and Trinity cheered.

Terrence flew over to her, giving her shoulder a good-natured nudge. "Bloody brilliant! I didn't even see you catch it," he said, impressed. Katelyn high-fived him as they shared a grin. "But you should head to the hospital wing," he nodded to her arm and she looked down, grimacing. It felt like it was broken, but it looked alright beside some blood staining her robes.

"Sorry, Kate," Granite, Trinity's twin, said as he flew over with an apologetic look on his face.

Katelyn's eyebrows flew up to her hairline, impressed. "That was you?" She asked as Trinity flew over. Granite nodded. "Nice. Nobody has been able to knock me off my broom. You did good," she told him. Marcus appeared at her side with her broom and she mounted it with his help.

"Alright, try-outs are over! We'll get back to you by the end of the week if not sooner," Marcus told the other Slytherins. Then, he took Katelyn to the hospital wing.

◂◊●◯●◊▸

KATELYN WASN'T REALLY paying attention in charms. She knew most of what they were already, but her mind was on Professor Quirrell and his weird behavior. He hadn't come up to her directly yet, but he had asked Katie and Vincent some questions. Even McGonagall.

She found it unsettling and weird. She's never heard of the DADA professor before, not even her mothers. Where did he come from and what did he want with her?

McGonagall had come to talk to her about it in the hospital wing. Madam Pomfrey had told her it was a sprain and she should be fine soon enough with the concoction she had created. For now, Katelyn just has to wear a thin cast.

"Do you all have your feathers?" Professor Flitwick asked and Katelyn nodded absentmindedly. Across from her on the other side of the classroom, Hermione raised her feather in the air for a moment, a small smile on her lips. It was cute and kept Katelyn's attention which made her startle when everyone picked up their wands and followed the professor's wand movement.

He has been teaching them the wand movement and the incantation for a levitation spell. Wingardium Leviosa.

Katelyn picked up her wand and tilted her head out of the way of Draco's recoil. She grabbed his wrist before he went to try again. "You're going to poke my eye out, goldie locks. Here," she guided his hand in the correct movement, giving him a look. "See?" He nodded and began to do it correctly while practicing his pronunciation of the spell.

Katelyn turned toward her own feather and was just about to cast the spell when Professor Flitwick's voice cut through the air. "Oh, well done!" He praised and she looked up to see a feather floating in the air. She looked at the caster and not to her surprise, she saw Hermione as the feathers owner. "See, here everyone. Miss Granger's done it!" Hermione smirked smugly at Ron before turning her attention back toward the feather. "Well done, dear—"

An explosion from the left side of the room near the very front came. Everyone turned to see and found Seamus Finnigan with his eyebrows burned off once more and his hair a mess. Ash covered his face as smoke wafted into the air.

Harry stared at the burnt feather in shock. "I think we're going to need another feather over here, Professor," Four Eyes said as he looked up at the man. The side of his face had ash on it as well.

Katelyn grimaced, snickering under her breath with Draco. That boy seems to blow up everything he tries to do.

Class was finished soon after that and Katelyn walked over to Katie and Hermione with Draco right behind her. "Nice job, Granger," Katelyn said, throwing her arm over the Gryffindor's shoulders.

"Thanks. Ron thought I couldn't do it, so I proved him wrong," she smiled proudly.

"Did you see his face?" Draco scoffed through his nose as the four of them exited the classroom, "clearly he's never been bested by a girl before."

"Yeah, and you'd have plenty of experience in that department, huh?" Katie said with a playful smirk, "shadow?"

"You're bloody hilarious," Draco drawled, walking away briskly. Katie went after him, loudly making fun of the boy being Katelyn's shadow and how he gets humbled everyday by Katelyn.

Hermione giggled at the two when Draco started 'la-la-la-ing' down the corridor and around the corner. She then turned to Katelyn, "do you want to study with me in the library later?" Hermione asked, tilting her head with a hopeful smile.

Katelyn smiled back and—

"Miss Royal." The two first-years paused mid-step and turned to face Professor Snape. His face was stoic and his hands were linked in front of him.

"What?" Katelyn asked.

"I'd like to speak to you for a moment," he replied, giving Hermione a look that said 'alone'.

Hermione gave a small nod and slipped out from underneath Katelyn's arm. "I'll see you later," the brunette told her friend and then quickly walked away so she wouldn't need to be near the professor.

Katelyn stared at Snape, annoyed, but not showing it. "What do you want?" She asked, not wanting to speak to Snape. She had no interest in talking to him.

The man gestured for her to follow him and turned, walking away. She clenched her jaw and followed him, stuffing one of her hands in her pockets. They made it to an empty classroom and they stepped in, Snape closing the door behind them.

Katelyn sat down on one of the tables, setting her books beside her as she crossed her legs. Snape scrunched his nose at the position, but didn't say anything.

"I've heard that Professor Quirrell is asking around about you," Snape said calmly and Katelyn gave a curt, affirming nod. "Has he come to you?"

"No," Katelyn replied, honestly. "Hasn't even tried."

Snape's expression was unreadable. Well, for someone else it might be. Katelyn has studied the man whenever he's at the Malfoy Manor or whenever she sees him really. He didn't seem confused, only curious.

"I don't know what he wants," Katelyn said, leaning back on her hands, "but he's been asking lots of questions about my wand. And Harry. Well, our relationship, I guess. What does he want?" She asked. He had to know something. There was no way he didn't. She had noticed Snape keeping a watchful eye on the man.

"I don't know," Snape replied with a wave of his hand. "But I want you to stay away from him. Avoid any interaction besides class." So do what she's already been doing? Great.

"You really didn't need to pull me aside to do something that I've already been doing. I was in the middle of—"

"Planning a study-date with a muggle?" Snape interrupted with an evil smirk. Katelyn merely stared back at him, unfazed. She wouldn't let him know anything. Not fear, not annoyance, not anger.

"And if I was?" She shot back disinterestedly, raising an eyebrow.

Snape stared at her for a moment. Contemplating. Taking her in. "You pure-bloods are the same. Taking interest in muggles. Taking them away from people who truly care—"

"Okay, pause. Whatever weird bullying-remembering-grudge fetish you have against James Potter is not what's happening between Hermione and I. Lily loved James, not you. Get over it. She's been dead for 11 years, married for even longer. I'm not taking Hermione away from anyone. Maybe just your creepy arse," Katelyn interrupted the man quickly. Her mother has told her about the rivalry between Snivellus Snape and the Marauders. She knows how much Snape loved Lily and how she chose James. He could never let it go.

Katelyn quickly got up, grabbing her books and walking toward the door.

Snape scoffed, "It wasn't James," he muttered so quietly that Katelyn believes she misheard him. She paused in her step, turning her head a bit.

"Pardon?" She asked, narrowing her eyes.

"You will be her downfall, you know," Snape hissed, giving her a withering look and not bothering to respond to his previous comment.

Katelyn glared at him, deciding to put what he said behind her for now. "What do you care? You seem to have a hatred for her already," she spat then quickly left the room.

◂◊●◯●◊▸

A WHILE LATER, FIVE minutes before dinner, Katelyn goes to the loo. She had been trying to find Hermione since classes got out and the girl missed their last class. Katelyn had made sure to actually pay attention and get good notes for the girl.

She's been running around the whole school, no one has seen her since Flitwick's class.

"Hermione?" She calls, looking at the bottom of the stalls to see if anyone was occupying anything. At the very last stall, she sees a pair of shoes and an accompanied sniffle. Katelyn quickly walks over, knocking on the door. "Hermione?" She tries again.

The stall unlocks and Katelyn pauses for a moment before going in. She closes the stall behind her and locks it before focusing on Hermione. She was sitting on the toilet, staring at the ground with her arms wrapped around her torso.

"'Mione?" Katelyn whispered, squatting down in front of the girl to see her face. Hermione quickly turned her head to the right so she was facing away from the blonde. The Slytherin sighed and reached for her face, gently moving Hermione's head by her chin. The Gryffindor's eyes were red and puffy from crying, her face was blotchy, and her nose was a bit runny. "What happened?" She asked, using her sleeve to wipe away the tear tracks on the girls face.

Hermione shook her head and closed her eyes, more tears beginning to fall. Katelyn frowned, both worried for the brunette and angry at whoever did this. The blonde stood up and rubbed her friends back. Hermione leaned into her and Katelyn wrapped her arm around the girl's head, twirling a curl around her finger as she tried to soothe the girl. After a couple minutes, Hermione muttered something that Katelyn couldn't catch.

"Say it again?"

"He said I was a nightmare and had no friends," Hermione spoke into her stomach. It was muffled, but Katelyn heard it.

"Who?" She asked, pulling back a bit to look at the girl. She gave Hermione a serious look, already planning twelve different ways to make the boy pay.

Hermione looked down at her fingers, fiddling with them. "Ron," she replied, biting her lip to stop from crying.

Katelyn clenched her jaw. She was going to hurt that ginger arse so much that he wouldn't be able to even speak such things. The blonde scrunched her nose and breathed out deeply. Then she nodded. She pulled the girl up by her hands and wiped the lone tear that fell down Hermione's cheek.

"C'mere," Katelyn muttered, unlocking the door and pulling the girl out of the stall. She took Hermione's hands in her own and started to sway a bit. Hermione frowned in confusion as Katelyn dragged her closer and spun her around before pulling back, continuing to sway. "Just dance," she told the girl, "follow my lead."

"There's no music," Hermione argued even though she did as she was told.

Katelyn shrugged. "Do we need it?" She asked.

Hermione didn't reply, just leaned into her, wrapping her arms around Katelyn's shoulders. The Slytherin wrapped her arms around the brunette's waist and they swayed together. Katelyn spun the Gryffindor around every once in a while.

"Thank you, Katelyn," Hermione murmured into the younger girl's shoulder.

"Anytime, Hermie," Katelyn whispered. They both startled at the loud clap of thunder and Katelyn tightened her arms around the older girl.

"Are you scared of a little thunder?" Hermione asked her, turning to look Katelyn in the eye while still resting on the blonde's shoulder.

Katelyn stared at her out of the corner of her eye. "Nothing scares me," Katelyn replied with a huff. Hermione scoffed, rolling her eyes in amusement. Lightning flickered on the walls through the windows. A small voice hissed in the back of her mind, danger. Danger. DANGER! She frowned. "I think it's time to go back to our common rooms," she said, pulling back.

Hermione gripped her shoulders, staring at something behind Katelyn in pure terror. Katelyn's brows furrowed and she slowly turned around. Her heart dropped at the sight of a massive troll standing in the doorway, staring at them.

Hermione's breathing sped up while Katelyn reached for her wand. Before she could, the brunette yanked her into one of the stalls. Katelyn grabbed the girl's shoulder and shoved her to the ground, covering the girl's head with her arms as the troll destroyed the first three stalls with his club.

Hermione screamed as wood rained down on them along with dust. Hermione looked up when she heard the doors bang open and saw Ron and Harry rush in. Katelyn pushed Hermione forward as she watched as the troll found them.

Hermione crawled forward quickly with Katelyn close behind. "Girls, move!" Harry yelled. The troll destroyed the remaining stalls and both girls quickly covered their heads.

"HELP!" Hermione shouted while Katelyn shoved off a large piece of wood. The boys began throwing pieces at the troll to draw his attention away.

"Hey, pea brain!" Ron yelled and threw a piece of wood that struck the troll right in the face. Once the troll was distracted, Katelyn stood up and helped Hermione, pushing her away from the debris and toward the sinks.

Katelyn took out her wand and turned to cast a spell, but quickly pushed herself against Hermione, shoving them both under the second sink as the troll smashed the one Katelyn used to be under. Hermione screamed in fear.

"Help!" Hermione shouted at the boys.

Harry took out his wand and rushed forward, grabbing onto the trolls club. Katelyn sighed, shaking her head at the boy who was now on the troll's shoulders. Katelyn moves to point her wand at the troll, but finds her hand empty.

"Merlin! Where is my wand?" She hissed, looking around. Her wand was at the troll's feet. She paid the two boys no mind (Harry was now being held upside down by the troll after sticking his wand up the troll's nose while Ron tried to figure out a spell). "Stay here," Katelyn told Hermione quietly into her ear before she lunged for her wand, grasping it and sliding into some of the debris right before the troll crushed her.

"Swish and flick, Ron!" Hermione instructed.

"Wingardium leviosa," Ron cast and the club slipped out of the troll's hand. The troll looked up only to be bashed over the head by the club. He dropped Harry, bringing his hands to his head as his eyes swirled.

Katelyn pointed her wand at the troll and a red light flew out, smacking it in the nose. The troll spun around on his heel and then landed in a large thud on the ground at Harry's feet.

"Wicked," Ron grinned.

Katelyn coughed as the dust flew into the air. Hermione slowly stood up from her position underneath the sinks and stared at the troll. "Is it... dead?" She asked hesitantly.

"I don't think so. Just knocked out," Harry told her. And with that, Hermione rushed to Katelyn's side. The blonde was already on her feet, but was dusting herself off.

"You're bleeding," Hermione muttered, skimming the small cut on Katelyn's forehead.

"It's fine," Katelyn said, wringing out her wounded hand. She probably tweaked it again. Madam Pomfrey was going to kill her.

"Are you okay, Nik?" Harry asked, concerned.

She gave him a nod. "You?" Harry shot her a thumbs up as he reached down and yanked his wand from the troll's nose. All four of them grimaced at the snot and boogers that connected from the nostril and the wand. "Ron. You good?" Katelyn asked after a moment.

Ron nodded.

"Troll bogies," Harry muttered in disgust, wiping it off using his robe.

Suddenly, McGonagall, Snape, and Quirrell entered the bathroom. "Oh! Oh, my goodness," McGonagall gasped, placing a hand on her heart. She looked between the four and the troll. She pointed to Ron and Harry first, "explain yourselves, both of you!"

They both began stuttering out a response, but Hermione quickly cut in, stepping forward. "It was my fault, Professor McGonagall," she said and both boys looked at each other in shock. Katelyn frowned.

"Miss Granger..." McGonagall said, surprised as she glanced back at Katelyn.

"I went looking for the troll—"

"Hermione," Katelyn interrupted, yanking the girl back and giving her a 'be quiet' look. The brunette fell silent, ducking her head. Katelyn turned toward the three professors. "Look, when Professor Quirrell shouted about the troll, I snuck away. I wanted to find it before it hurt somebody. I was going to report it to you, but Hermione was in danger. I wasn't going to just leave her. Besides, if it weren't for the boys, we would probably be dead," Katelyn said and Harry shook his head at Ron when he went to say something.

Katelyn got them out of a lot of things during their primary years. Harry knew she could handle it.

"Don't be ridiculous," Snape muttered, putting his hands on his hips, "we all know that's false." He stared the blonde down before glancing at Hermione. Katelyn lifted her head and stepped in front of the Gryffindor, challenging the man.

"The boys were coming to find me though so it was my fault," Hermione piped up and Katelyn shot her a look. The brunette raised her eyebrows back at the blonde.

"Be that as it may..." McGonagall glanced between the four of them again, "it was an extremely foolish thing to do. I would have expected more rational—oh, who am I kidding. You're your mother's daughter with Eliza's influence," the woman mumbled to herself, rolling her eyes. "Doesn't matter. I am very disappointed in you, Katelyn." The blonde saluted the woman and McGonagall huffed in annoyance. "Five points will be taken from Slytherin," the woman said.

Snape glanced at Katelyn with dismay, but didn't say anything.

"As for you two gentlemen, I just hope you realize how fortunate you are. Who knows what could've happened if Katelyn didn't finish the troll off. Not many first-year students could take on a fully-grown mountain troll and live to tell the tale," McGonagall said. She exhaled. "Five points... will be awarded to each of you."

Hermione smiled as Ron and Harry smiled excitedly.

"For sheer dumb luck," she added. Katelyn scoffed at that. "And, ten points awarded to Slytherin," Katelyn looked up, her eyes wide in surprise, "for the courage to protect a friend." The blonde smiled slightly at her godmother who gave her a wink. "You three, take Miss Royal to the hospital wing then get to your common rooms," she told them then left the bathroom quickly. Snape followed after her while Quirrell stayed behind.

"Perhaps you ought to go," he told them, gesturing for them to leave. Katelyn hadn't noticed, but now that the adrenaline was wearing off, she felt the familiar sting in her right forearm. "M–Might wake up," Qurriell laughed in a high-pitched tone.

Katelyn eyed him weirdly as Hermione grabbed her hand and pulled her along. Harry and Ron followed the two girls out. "He's weird, isn't he?" Ron asked as soon as they were away from the professor and heading toward the hospital wing.

"Yes," Hermione said without hesitation. Katelyn shrugged and rubbed her wrist. Hermione frowned at the action. "Is your wrist hurting again?" She asked.

"It's nothing," Katelyn replied, wringing out her hand before stuffing it in her pocket.

"Your wrist has been hurting you?" Harry asked his friend, confused. Katelyn shrugged. "Is it, like... stinging?" Katelyn eyed him and nodded. "My scar does that," he told her, tilting his head.

Katelyn frowned. Okay, now that was weird. Why would Harry's scar—which was connected to the Dark Lord—start stinging if... Katelyn paused in her step and looked back at the bathroom. She stared at it for a moment, thinking.

Her arm hurt in the same way Harry's scar hurt whenever Quirrell was near her. The voice in her head, that was never wrong before, was telling her danger moments before Quirrell is involved...

"Katelyn?" Hermione said, tugging on her left hand. The blonde snapped out of it, turning back toward the brunette who raised an eyebrow back at her. "Are you feeling alright?" Hermione asked, placing the back of her hand against Katelyn's forehead.

"Yes, I'm fine. I'm just—we should hurry before McGonagall takes away the house points we just earned by loligagging," Katelyn changed the subject, walking off down the corridor, pulling Hermione along. Ron and Harry looked at each other before jogging after the two girls. 

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AN: Merry Christmas to those who celebrate it and Happy Holidays to the others!! I hope you guys enjoyed. I honestly have so much fun writing this story so hopefully I can write this one and the TVDU stories hand-in-hand. THANKS FOR READINGGGG