Pretty Kitty (completed)

Chapter 1

Ginny Weasley, locked away in her room that she shared with Hermione at Grimmauld Place, smirked to herself.

In front of her sat a large cauldron that was heated by a Muggle Bunsen Burner that had been magically altered by her mother so she could practice her potions over the holidays. Molly was very proud of her potions skills, but would have never expected Ginny to use those skills for something quite so... Slytherin.

Ginny quickly chucked in a pinch of garlic and adjusted the Bunsen Burner to a lower heat, before stirring four times.

When she'd heard that Harry was coming over the very next day, she had immediately rushed to her room. She'd been anticipating another week in which to perfect the potion before having to make the final piece. She really couldn't afford mistakes. However, she was confident in her skills and the potion only took five hours, three of those spent simmering.

Ginny was soon down to the last ten minutes, and felt herself relax when she saw that the potion was the pink colour the book had designated. Now, all that was left was to add the Veela hair. She picked up a little glass jar next to her that contained three strands of hair. She opened it and put two into the potion, stirring five times clockwise, then five times counter clockwise.

She didn't notice that the hairs that were supposed to be an almost glowing silver blond had been a dark grey.

XxXxXxX

"Harry!" Molly exclaimed as Harry was herded into the kitchen. She moved over to him, enveloping him in a hug. "Look at you, fifteen now! All grown up!" Tears formed in her eyes. "So grown up."

Harry smiled, feeling rather awkward. He wasn't that grown up, only 5ft'5. However, he wished that Mrs Weasley had stayed on the topic of his age when her face transformed into an angry scowl. He anticipated her annual question regarding his health.

"And so thin! What have those Dursleys been feeding you?" As always, he decided not to answer that.

However, Mrs Weasley didn't notice, already thinking of all the food she could force on Harry. Harry was lead to the table and pushed to sit in a seat. He shifted uncomfortably under the thoughtful stares of the older members of the household, who did notice he looked a little thinner than usual.

"Harry mate, glad you're here! It's been so boring without you," Ron greeted, clapping him on the back. Harry grinned at him, ignoring the uncomfortable stares he knew were being directed at him.

Hermione huffed indignantly. "Ronald Weasley, are you calling me boring?" she snapped. Ron winced.

"No, no! That's not what I meant, you're not boring, you're well interesting," he said before colouring to the tips of his hair at what he'd just implied. Harry laughed as Hermione took that comment for sarcasm, and Ron muttered about her nagging, angering her even more.

"Those two never change, do they?" Sirius asked Harry, who jumped, unaware his godfather had sat down. He grinned.

"Every day, it's the same thing. 'Ronald Weasley!'" Harry mimicked in a high-pitched voice, before making it go gruffer. "'Bloody woman, always getting on my case'. 'What's that supposed to mea..." Harry trailed off at the furious looks from Ron and Hermione, while Sirius laughed uproariously beside him.

"You've got them down to a tee, Harry," Ginny suddenly said, appearing beside Harry, a plate in her hand. It was piled with shepherds' pie and vegetables. "This is from mum, I'm under strict orders to see you eat every bit of it."

Harry shook his head, taking the plate from her and setting it down. Ginny grinned and took the seat across from him."So, how was your summer?" she asked. Sirius, Ron, Hermione and Remus, who was sitting near them, reading a book, suddenly seemed very interested.