A/N: I'm going to start by saying that this first chapter is going to detail a few interactions between Harry and Katie before Harry's third year. I could use some help coming up with a better title. This one just doesn't feel right.
First Year.
King's Cross Station
September 1st, 1991
"Bye, bye you bastards" Harry mumbles to himself as he waves the Dursley's off at King's Cross. 'Now to find the Platform.' Harry thinks as he meanders through the station.
"Well if I didn't know any better, I'd say you're looking for the platform eh kid?" A girl said to him. "Follow me then." She says with conviction. Having time to kill, Harry follows her down the station. They reach a column and the girl stops and turns to him. "This is the entrance, c'mon or the good compartments will be full!" The girls spoke sweetly and pushes her trolley through the barrier. Harry passes through the barrier and the girl guides him to a compartment. "Ok, here's the deal kid. Wait one sec, what's your name?"
"I'm Harry, Harry Potter."
"Well hello Harry, I didn't really recognize you at first, but I don't think I could forget your eyes. My name is Katie Bell, I'm a second year Gryff."
"Hi Katie, wait, my eyes? What do you mean my eyes? I don't know you." Harry said with confusion at Katie.
"My mum went to school with your parents and we lived in the same town until your family went into hiding. I have pictures of us as kids with your mum and dad." Katie told him.
"You have pictures of my family?"
"Yeah, my mum was your mother's maid of honor. I can send for them tonight or I can bring them back after Christmas." Katie said noting the happy twinkle in Harry's eye.
"That would be brilliant, thank you Katie, what is a Gryff?" Harry said, visually happier than when they first met.
"Gryffindor is my house, shorten to Gryff. Slytherins are called snakes, Hufflepuffs are puffs and Ravenclaws are ravens or claws. All the houses are good in their own right, Puffs are loyal, Snakes are cunning and ambitious, Ravens are smart and intellectual, and we Gryffs are courageous and brave. Don't let anyone tell you that snakes are inherently evil, some are, but most are just trying to make their way in the world." Katie finished seriously. Her grey eyes alight with energy and emotion.
"Thank you for the advice and house breakdown Katie." Harry spoke smiling, "What's life like at Hogwarts?" He asked.
"Well…" Katie talked for twenty minutes about how much fun life is at Hogwarts and fair bit about her life there as well. She spoke on the different classes and how he should be wary of Snape because his father did not get along with the man. Katie would be the third chaser for the Gryffindor Quidditch team this year as last year Liz Moran graduated, and since Katie was the only reserve team chaser, she would get the spot. Katie was the only second year Gryff since her friend Leanne moved to America the previous summer. She hoped it wouldn't be too lonely without her best friend, but she was also friends with the other chasers from Gryffindor, Angelina Johnson and Alicia Spinnet. They were third years but had helped her get much more confidant in herself and improve her game. When she saw them, she cut her description of Hogwarts life short to join her friends.
"Oh that's them Harry, I promised I sit with them earlier so I'll leave you be, but if you ever need anything I'll be around." Katie said smiling to her new friend while thinking to herself 'wow he is pretty cute for a firstie I suppose, maybe he'll fill in more during school.'
A/N: First year went by like it did in the books with Harry meeting Ron and Hermione and becoming friends. Harry and Katie talked a little but didn't really hang out much. On to summer between first and second years for Harry.
Summer
Dursley Residence
July 31st, 1992
Harry was worried that his friends had forgotten him when so far this summer he hadn't gotten anything from anyone, even Katie! He felt more depressed than normal on his birthday as not even his friend Katie had sent him anything, not even a card. It was late that night when an owl had squeezed itself through the bars on his window and landed on his sleeping chest. Harry awoke with a start, 'Bloody hell.' he muttered. He untied the brown paper packaging to reveal a picture album with a picture of himself and Katie after winning a Quidditch game, it also at the end of the motion, caught Katie giving him a kiss on the cheek. He was glad somebody remembered his birthday. As he opened the album a letter fell into his lap, despite the grogginess of his untimely awakening, he tears open the envelope with vigor.
Hey Harry,
Happy Birthday Harry! I'm sorry this is coming so late, none of my 10 other letters got a response so I thought I'd try sending it later in the evening. I think something is tampering with your mail Harry. I hope you don't hate me because you haven't gotten my letters. I hope your relatives are treating you right. This photo album has pretty much all of the photos I could find that had either of your parents in them. There are also some photos of us and the Quidditch team. If you have any trouble in getting your books and supplies, then my mom and I can come and pick you up. If you decide you want to go, just owl me and we can meet up.
Love,
Katie
Harry was so happy that at least somebody remembered his birthday. The letter also gave him food for thought about his mail being tampered. He was overjoyed with his gift from Katie. The pictures made him happy that at one point, his family was happy and whole. That was what he wanted to do eventually, make his family whole again, and he thought, perhaps maybe Katie would be a part of that family.
Summer
Weasley Residence
August 10, 1992 (Day after Weasley Breakout)
Harry sat at the desk in the room he shared with Ron to write a letter to Katie explaining the situation.
Hey Katie,
Somebody was tampering with my mail, a house elf named Dobby showed up at my house on the night my uncle had a big potential client over. Dobby told me that 'something terrible would be coming to Hogwarts' and that I must not go back for my safety. He then levitated a cake and dropped it onto my uncle's client. My uncle was livid, he barred up my window and told me that I wasn't going back. Then Fred, George and Ron came to break me out using their dad's flying Ford Angelina. We got to the Burrow early this morning, but not early enough to escape Mrs. Weasley's lecture about how dangerous it was for them to come get me. We are going to Diagon Alley for school stuff on Tuesday, maybe you can meet up with us? Thank you for the photo album, I've had a blast looking at the pictures. Hopefully this year we can add some more!
Love,
Harry
Katie replied later that she would be unable to meet at Diagon Alley, but would be able to meet them at the platform and was very happy that he liked the photo album.
A/N: Harry never got to meet with Katie on the platform because of Dobby's magic so he and Ron fly to Hogwarts in the Angelina. School year continues as canon describes.
Hogwarts
December 1992 (After the Dueling Club)
Harry had just had the worst day of his entire life. Everybody was giving him a wide berth in the halls because they did not want the 'Heir of Slytherin' to attack them next or people whispering that he was the next Dark Lord. At Quidditch practice everyone was rather subdued, they could feel how sad Harry was and they all knew that he would never do anything like what people were saying. Wood called everyone down to have a talk.
"Now everyone knows this is the single worst practice we've had probably ever, but for sure over the last two years. I want each of you to go back to the dorms, clear your heads, and get back on the right track. Harry," Wood said in the most thoughtful tone he'd heard from the big fifth year, "We know you didn't have anything to do with the Chamber, and we will do all we can to silence the bastards spreading rumors about you, we're a family here guys, so we're all here if you want to talk Harry." Wood finished, tearing up for the first time in recorded history. "Now get on back to the dorms, all of you." He coughed in an attempt to be macho.
As Harry sat in the changing room after his shower, he thought about all the horrible things his classmates had been saying about him. He couldn't hold in the hurt anymore and he just let it out, much to Katie's surprise as she walked back from the girls shower.
"Rough day Harry?" She said smiling, trying to lighten his mood.
"Yeah Katie, rough is putting it lightly." Harry said smiling for the first time since the dueling club.
"Hey Katie?" Harry asked as she was putting on her pants, still topless.
"What Harry? You can talk to me." Katie said pulling on a Manchester Dragons t-shirt and coming to sit by him.
"Do you think I'm a bad person? Or a dark wizard? Do you think that I did those terrible things to Mrs. Norris and Sir Nicholas? I mean, I don't think I'm evil, but what if I am?" Harry asked, talking fast than he flew.
Katie responded by grabbing his shoulders and turning him to face her and promptly slapping him. "Harry James Potter! Never talk about yourself like that! You are the kindest most thoughtful person I have ever met! I don't think you could purposely hurt someone that didn't deserve it Harry." Katie's tone going from serious to thoughtful, "Even if you were a dark wizard worse than Voldemort, then I'll be your dark queen. I care about you Harry, remember that." She said with a glint of maniacal villainy in her eye as she leaned in and kissed his cheek.
Katie left a starstruck Harry Potter sitting mouth agape with his hand slowly rubbing where Katie had kissed. Through all of his troubles that year, Harry would remember that moment in the locker room with Katie and it would give him strength to survive, because he finally had something, no someone to live for, even if she was only his friend.
A/N: That's all I wrote folks, next chapter I will begin my version of the broom incident and the aftermath that follows. Not sure how much/if any Weasley bashing will occur. Probably no Lemons here.