Friendship
A mild wind was brushing through Catalinas hair. The days began to be colder, and over her school uniform she was wearing a long coat. The nervous energy of the first weeks back at Hogwarts had slowly turned into the mundanities of classes, homework and library study sessions, and with it the forbidden forest dyed its crown a deep orange. At it's edge a group of third year hogwarts students was loosly arranged around a stormy grey, towering creature - a hippogriff. Next to the creature a tall man, whose hair had a curious similarity to those of the hippogriff, was seemingly lost in his own monologue. The voice of Professor Kettleburn reached Catalina only from afar, not managing to disrupt her state of distraction.
Leaning against a big tree she stood a few meters away from the crowd, flipping through her papers, and realised only when the first of her classmates started walking back to the castle, that the lesson was over. Rapidly she also stuffed her papers back into her bag and followed them. Rowan was waiting a few steps ahead. In two long steps she reached her friend and interlinked their arms.
"Miss Atkinson", the professors voice reached her now "let me have a word with you." Surprised and in a sudden motion Catalina and Rowan turned around. What would the Care of Magical Creatures want from her. "You can go on Khana, your friend will be right back." Professor Kattlebrun seriousness made Catalina nervous. Rowan also seemed surprised, but Catalina let her go with a squeez of her arm. "I see you at lunch", Rowan mumbled and headed back to the castle. "What can I help you with professor?", Catalina asked, going back in direction of the professor. He was an odd man, with an eccentric energy. Something about the teacher irritated Catalina, but she couldn't really tell what it was. Maybe it was the way his classes never seemed to be able to follow a coherent line of thoughts. The professor jumped from curricular topic to own personal adventures and back to their textbook without warning. Catalina thought the old man was trying to impress the young students with reckless stories, but for her own restless mind this way of teaching was an invitation to let her own thoughts flow, and soon be far away from the hippogriffs and flobberworms and other creatures shown to her.
"I have noticed your lack of participation in class, Miss Atkinson" the professor stated, when the rest of the class was far enough to not hear them talk. Blood rushed to Catalinas cheeks as she realised what this conversation was about. "Wich I have to say, surprises me. Generally your teachers claim you are a dedicated student." Catalina was embarrassed, especially because Professor Kattleburn was right. Seeing her reaction his face softened. "Don't worry Miss Atkinson. The schoolyear just started and you have more than enough time to prove me wrong. I don't expect all my students to love creatures as I do. Yet I want you to show them and my class the respect of paying attention." "I'm sorry professor. I will do better, I promise." The friendly tone of professor Kettleburn made Catalina just feel worse about the call out. "Barnaby, come over please!" The professor called to a student, standing in between the first line of trees of the forbidden forest, brushing out the silver hair of the hippogriff. Catalina hadn't noticed that one of her classmates was still around. "You probably already know Barnaby Lee, right?" Professor Kettleburn asked as the tall student aproached them. Catalina nodded, even though her knowledge about her fellow student was limited on the fact that he made it every term on Penny Haywoods Top 5 hottest Guys at Hogwarts List and that he was surely to be found somewhere close to Merula. "He's a great student. This year he will assist me during and after the classes. If one of my students can follow my path as a magizoologist, I promise you, it will be Barnaby." Looking very proud the professor put his only intact hand on Barnabys shoulder. The student on the other hand seemed a quiet unconfortable hearing the professor make such generous compliments. "Miss Atkinson, I want you to meet Barnaby once every other week to review our lessons. At least for this term. Baranaby will help you focus on the subject."
Catalina really wanted to dislike Barnaby. It was bad enough that he was friends with the slytherin bully Merula, now their professor had to call her out infront of him. But his smile was wide, and earnest. "I'm glad to help you", he said, and it soundest honest. "I don't really need tutoring", Catalina responded defensively. To her surprise Barnaby didn't laugh. "Okay, better then. We can just meet to study." Barnaby took things serious. That is the first thing she learned about him.
Barnaby and Catalina met three days later in the schools entryway. Barnaby was already waiting for Catalina, when she arrived. On his face was again the big smile. Even though over the weekend it had only become colder, Barnaby was just wearing his hogwartssweater and a green scarf. Catalina though wore again her long, dark coat, now also acompanied by a red and golden house scarf. They had agreed to meet early in the day.