The Other Hale.

Chapter Seven: Hogwarts Once More.

A/N: Sorry, but I had to change Kathrine's name to Katrina to save confusion later on in the story, sorry!

Hogsmede hadn't changed a bit. It was still the same place that I had gone to visit 84 years ago for the first time. I headed to a place called The Three Broomsticks. I remember their opening day, They had served free Butterbeer to all.

It hadn't changed a bit. And to my delight, Madam Rosmerta was still there. I had a genuine smile on my face when I headed to the bar.

"I'll have a Fire whiskey please." I said to her as she passed me. "And add a little spice to it please." I added.

"Spice? I have only ever met one person who has spice in their Fire whiskey." She said as she proceeded to make me my drink.

"Oh really." I trailed. "Who was that?" I asked her as she set it in front of me.

I saw her peer at me. "Well I never. Katrina Hale! How've you been keeping?" She exclaimed, smiling at me.

"It's good to see you again and yeah not too bad, enjoying life in America." I told her with a wink.

"Is that so? Then what brings you back here?" She says, coming closer and her eyes widening for some gossip.

"I got a job at the school." I replied as I took a drink.

She never replied as she went to take the order of a group of people who had just entered the pub.

"How much am I owe you?" I called after her.

"It's on the house, for old friends sake." She replied over her shoulder.

After my drink, I made my way up to the castle with my trunk in tow. I couldn't believe I was returning here, for my fourth time. But yet, I was filled with excitement as the castle grew bigger. Eventually I got to the gates and they opened for me once I declared my name.

The castle was lit up, yet there was no one in sight. Of course. It was the summer holidays. All the pupils were home, and I think the Professor's were too.

"Miss Hale." Spoke an all too familiar voice.

"Professor Dumbledore!" I exclaimed as I turned around to see an old man with a white beard that reached the floor, his half moon glasses didn't conceal his sparkling eyes and his crooked smile was meant for me.

"It's good to see you again." He told me, as he stepped forward and shook my hand.

"And you! But what are you doing here, it's the holidays." I say, in confusion as I return his handshake.

"Professors arrive tomorrow, the students the day after. I come a few days earlier." He explains to me. "Come, I'll show you to your room." He says to me as he starts to walk down the hall.

I follow him in silence, gazing at all the portraits that watch me and whisper behind their hands to their friends.

Eventually we reach the hospital wing and he surprises me by entering it.

"You can enter your room from here and also through the back door. We have placed a bed here, but we understand you won't be using it." Dumbledore informed me as he led me through the big white room into a smaller, bedroom with a joining toilet. "This is yours. Madam Pomfrey's is across from you." He told me, his eyes still twinkling before he left to do whatever Dumbledore does.

My new bedroom consisted off a bed, a set of drawers and a cupboard, a desk and a couch. How fun. I don't even need the bed. Sighing, I pulled my trunk in my room and begun to unpack. When I was hanging some stuff up in the cupboard, I discovered that it already had clothes in it. White robes with the Hogwarts crest. My uniform. I groaned as I realised that I would have to begin work in two days time, and actually do work.