James sat bolt straight at Harry's yelp and shouted loudly in surprise and shock. But it couldn't move Harry. He was too transfixed. James' eyes pale, washed out green eyes glared at him. Soon everyone was up and crowded around Harry, gawking. James moaned and flopped back on the bed. 

"Good Lord you're a cat." Harry deadpanned in shock. James sat back up and glared nastily at them, as if to say, 'Well duh'. (Which he really felt like saying, but couldn't because he hadn't told them that he was a cat) Sure enough James was a cat. He had a head of wild black hair, only succeeded by two large triangular ears, his hair made Harry's look tame. It thined out around the neck. He was almost completely black, except for his stark white face, which had a black harliquin diamond over his right eye, which extended from his brow to mid cheek, causing his green eye to sparkle, the white triangle on his chest (He wasn't wearing a night shirt, only pants), and the
one white hand. His face was built like a regular human's, by saying this he had no snout, instead it looked as if cat features had been painted on a human's face. The end of his nose was black and a line went down to his lips before dividing in half to create peusdo-mustache/cat lips with four dots on each side below his nose, and he had no whiskers. There was one thick and curved line which resembled an eyebrow just above James' left mint green cat's eye. Harry had figured that James was about eleven, since that was the starting age for Hogwarts, but James looked about thirteen, maybe fourteen even, much older than Harry had expected.

"But... but you said a large cat... you must have..." Neville sputtered stepping away from James' bed.

"Just get out with it." Dean said.

"He's the large cat that tore up the flag and our room!" Neville cried. Everyone stared suspiciously at James, who rolled his eyes.

"It wasn't me, not only because I don't have large enough canines to make the bite marks." James said, sounding perfectly logical. He opened his mouth to show them. Sure enough, he had regular human teeth, a sparkling white in the firelight. "I don't have claws." He said flexing his palm, showing them that indeed he had no claws. "Only fingernails, and I don't keep them that sharp."

"How do we know you aren't lying and hiding your claws?" Neville blubbered, looking perfectly frightened out of his wits. James sighed and slipped out of bed and lit the torch near his bed, giving better illumination to the room. His tail thrashed for a moment before he hunkered down on the floor, and placed his white hand out on the floor, palm down.

"Okay, who has a cat here?" He asked calmly.

"I do." Seamus said, eyeing James nervously.

"So when I say that if you put pressure on a cat's paw the claws will naturally come out, you know I'm telling the truth?" James said sharply. Seamus nodded. "Good, so when nothing comes out, you'll believe me. Okay Neville, go ahead and smash my hand down." He said invitingly. Neville shook his head and backed farther away. James sighed.

"I don't think you did it, but I'm going to try it any way, so we don't have any dispute later on." Harry said calmly. He stepped up to James and taking his bare foot, he stepped directly on James' hand. Immediately James winced and cringed as his fingers curled backwards. No claws appeared. Harry eased up, and everyone looked satisfied and went off to bed, to tired to ask more questions.

James stood, and began dusting the dirt of his plain cream woven pants and arms. Sighing and shaking his head, he took the robe down off the curtain and folded it up and threw it in his trunk.

"Won't need that anymore." He mumbled, before yawning.

"Why not?" Harry asked from his bed. He found himself not that tired now, even though it was about three in the morning.

"Because, I've been seen and now it seems rather pointless." James murmured as he climbed up on the bed.

"Sorry, James." Harry offered. James shook his head.

"Why? I've been seen before, although I much prefer it being on my own terms. It was bound to happen anyway." James said casually. "Night." He said before shutting the tattered velvet curtains and going to sleep. Harry stared at the bed a long while before drifting off himself.

*O*O*
The next morning James got dressed in the regular school outfit, his black robe and his rawhide boots. In fact he got up only a little bit earlier than them, and stood waiting for them. James didn't look like such a wild animal when his hair was combed. It was parted down the middle, and fluffed out along the sides, becoming shorter the closer it came to his neck. He grinned broadly at them, which reminded him of Professor Lockhart, supreme wussy, and terribly vain, only James' smile wasn't so forced and eerie. He waited patiently for them to finish getting ready, before joining them in the trek to the cafeteria.

As they went down the grand staircase James got a lot of stares. His face had turned pink and he ducked, not that it did much good, since large black ears and a long black tail with a white tip were pretty easy to spot. Many did double takes, but they said nothing, Harry figured because they were afraid that James might be more cat than he seemed.

As the three sat down and began eating their porridge, Hermoine joined them, per usual. She took one look at James and spluttered. Hermoine once had been turned into a cat that looked very much like James, after they created a brew to turn into Malfoy's goons to see if he was the one that had released the Chamber of Secrets, a secret room built by the wizard Slytherin that when the contents were released would kill anyone without pure blood, or didn't come from a purely magical magical parents. Unfortunately, Hermoine had choosen the wrong hair and ended up with a cat hair. Ron and Harry giggled as Hermoine gasped and pointed at James who simply stared at her as if she'd lost her mind all of the sudden. However they were interupted by
someone else.

"Ah, Quaxo, finally decide to come out of hiding, eh? About time, Halloween is almost here." Professor Dumbledore said kindly as he took as seat across from James.

"Oh, hello Professor Dumbledore. Yes, I was discovered last night, came as quite a nasty shock to a few, but I think we've got it straightened out now." James said with a grin. Now Harry and Ron were totally confused, Professor Dumbledore had called James, 'Quaxo' and James responded.

"Oh, well that's good."

"Sir, I've been meaning to ask, but how'd you like your trip to our world, I'm afraid our leader was dreadfully concerned that you weren't satisfied. We don't have visitor's often."

"Oh, yes, excellent place, although you didn't have lemon drops, one can never have enough lemon drops. They're kind of like nice wool socks in a way." Dumbledore said with a grin. When Harry had discovered the Mirror of Esrid, a mirror that showed whatever your heart desired, Harry had found that Professor Dumbledore liked socks, nice wool ones, after he asked him what he saw in the mirror. James giggled.

"Okay, I'll remember to tell Mungo and Rumpel that next time you come, I'm sure they could scrounge some up, knowing those two." James snickered.

"Alright, then I'll leave you to your breakfast." Dumbledore said before going off to sit at the head table. Hermoine by this time had seemed to accept the fact that there was human looking cat sitting at there.

"Good to see you Hermoine." James said, not looking up from his porridge, with extra cream. "Yes, I am James, just I've decided to not wear the cloak today." James said as if he had just decided not to, for no reason at all.

"You know Dumbledore?" Hermoine asked, intensely curious. Hardly anyone got close to Dumbledore, because he didn't show up much around Hogwarts, most didn't even know where is office was. Harry had met him on a number of occasion and talked to him, but he wondered if it was only because Dumbledore wanted to be met.

"Yes, he stayed in our world last summer. That's where he found me, we're pretty secluded, and most wizards can't find us, we're not on a map. Dumbledore kind of stumbled in and we let him stay." James answered matter-of-factly, as if people just stumbling into places that weren't on maps happened to everyone.

"James... why'd Dumbledore call you..." Harry asked, curious, yet the name escaping him.

"Quaxo? Quaxo is my second name, and only to be shared between family and trusted friends. For a name holds power, lots of power, and so to be trusted with someone's second name is a great honor. Also..." James said, explaining with a few hand gestures.

"Ohh... look a puddy tat!" Goyle said pointing James. Malfoy and Crabbe snickered. Malfoy slapped James hard on the back, almost knocking him into his bowl.

"Sooo... Quaxo, mrroow, meoww-wowwow." Malfoy said with a sneer. James blanched then turned a bright shade of maroon. He gulped nervously.

"Uhhmm... Malfoy, I d...don't th...th...think you k...know what your saying in th...that lang... uage." James stuttered, turning brighter. Harry and Ron wondered why he didn't just break their wrists already. 

"Oh I don't do I? Maybe you could translate Quaxo. Mrroow, meoww-wowwow." Malfoy hissed. James turned to face them.

"W..well... where I come from... to say that... along with my second... name, well... it's a come on, and I'm really not... interested in you... so maybe you should ask someone else to be your lover." James said pausing a bit. Then it was Malfoy's turn to blanche and gave a look of horror before catching himself. He snarled.

"I'll get you James." He growled before stomping off Crabbe and Goyle, loyal toadies, followed. James turned back around and sighed. Harry and Ron were no longer able to hold back their snickers and began laughing 

"Was that what he actually said?" Hermoine asked anxiously.

"No..." James said, still pink. "What he said was much worse, but I do believe he would have murdered me if I told him what he'd really said. I do detest violence, unless absolutely necessary." James sighed, shaking his head.

"But then why'd you twist Crabbe's wrist, then threaten to break it?" Hermoine asked, a little bit of disgust sneaking into her voice. Harry and Ron had stopped their laughing and watched the scene.

"That... oh yes, I did kind of loose my temper at them. I don't like being revealed unless it was on my terms. That and I was making Crabbe think, for it would have hurt a lot more for him to sort out a discreet warning in his head. By then my hood would have been off and I most probably would have to leave." James said simply between spoonfuls of porridge. Harry ducked his head. "That and I just didn't like them when I saw them."

"Are you going to have to leave now?" Harry said, staring him directly in the eyes. James grinned.

"Nope, I'm bending the rules a bit, yes, but it was somewhat on my own terms, since I didn't curse the curtains, making them impossible to open that night, I forgot to." James said with a grin, before continuing to eat.

*O*O*
It appeared to Harry that many of the Professors knew what James looked like underneath his cloak. Harry reasoned that it must have been on James' terms that he revealed it. However Snape still hated him, but Harry doubted that would ever change.

As soon as James had entered for Potions, Snape sneered. Normally it would have been Defense Against the Dark Arts at that time, but Snape liked to mix them around at his leisure.

"So James... you decided to stop playing the phantom?" He deadpanned. James
grinned broadly.

"It gets rather lonely hiding yourself in the dark. It's very lucky that I have excellent night vision, wouldn't you say so, sir?" James said in a soft voice. Snape's eyes narrowed and glittered dangerously. James walked pff, and took a seat behind Harry, near the front of the class. Class had not yet begun yet, so Harry turned to James.

"What was that all about?" Harry whispered fiercely. James shrugged.

"He asked if I had stopped playing Phantom and I told him yes, and that it's rather lonely in the dark and it's a good thing I have night vision." He replied as if it were nothing. But to Snape, Harry could guess that it was a challenge.

"Yes, class today we're going to create a poison, which will resemble a common Muggle disease." He said in his low and soft voice, holding the whole class captive. "In this vial contains a pre-made mixture by myself. James will you come up here." James stood silently and stood next to Snape. Harry, Hermoine, Ron and the rest of the Gryffindors had blanched, while evil snickers floated through the Slytherin side. James however seemed completely cool and collected, although his tail had begun to curl in nervousness.

Harry couldn't blame him, but he couldn't exactly Snape either, of course Snape was hard on James for being smart and James had simply retailated with a off handed comment, which wasn't exactly an insult, but more of a strike back. James hadn't said anything that could be in anyway insulting to Snape.

The more Harry studied it, the more he became confused, so instead focussed on the tense situation at the front of the room. Snape looked rather pleased with himself. Harry shuddered. "Now in this vial contains a poision which in reaction to living creatures becomes rather like the diesease Rabies, only this is curable, in time." Snape said softly. James had blanched.

"Um... sir... something you should know..." He spluttered, and Harry flinched, seeing Snape's grin.

"And what might that be?" He asked wickedly.

"Well sir... your vial there... well... I..." James spluttered trying to get his words in order. Snape snarled, and the snickers of the Slytherins got louder.

"If you can't say anything comprehendible, don't say anything at all." Snape hissed. James nodded and held out his arm. "Right, now to prove to you that what you are making here is real, James has so kindly volunteered to test it for me. Now watch carefully at the transformation." He said before injecting the needle full of the contents of the vial into James' arm, an ear flicked back and he stood there. And stood there. And stood there. James had began rocking on his feet and looking around. Snape was practically fuming. He snatched the vial and read it. "This is it, I know it is. Why isn't it working?" He growled softly.

"Uhm sir, I was trying to tell you that I've had my rabies shot, along with small pox, chicken pox, measles, German measles, the mumps, mono and tetnus. It's regulation when you cross borders." James offered. Snape snarled and pointed to James' seat. James nodded and sat back down. Snape was in a foul mood for the rest of the day.

As soon as the Defense lesson was through, everyone began to gather up their books, quils, and paper quickly, before dashing out. James however was going his way about it, as he finished he waited for the class to empty out, his green eyes hard and staring off into space. Ron nudged him.

"What the heck are you waiting for, don't you think you've cheated death enough already for today?" He hissed. James gave a jerk.

"No, there's something I've got to do." He said softly, standing straighter. Ron shrugged and grabbed Harry and Hermoine by the arm and dragging them just outside the door.

James cleared his throat and stood at the front of Snape's desk. Snape looked up at him with cold black eyes.

"Yes, Mr. James? Is there something you wanted?" Snape said coldly.

"Yes, I want to know why you hate me." James said in a soft voice showing no emotion. There was a moment of dead silence where the sound of a feather floating would have been a loud racket.

"And why do you assume I hate you, Mr. James? And if I do, hypothetically, why would you want to know." Snape snarled, drumming his fingers on his desk.

"Because, Professor, I can see it in your eyes, and I want to know why so I can correct it, and learn from my mistakes. I don't want any trouble, I'm here to learn, not to harass you. I just want to get through, learn all I can, without having to verbally battle with you everyday. Mind you, I find it interesting, and it most probably will keep my wits sharp, but I'm not here to keep my wits sharp, I'm here to learn wizardry. So I ask again, why do you hate me?" There was another pause.

"Because Mr. James, you're you. Somehow you've convinced everyone that you're smart enough to have missed two years of study, which everyone else has had to slog through." Snape hissed.

"Well then Professor Snape, I guess there is nothing I can do. I can not explain why I was pushed forward, only that I was, and since there is nothing I can do, I guess we must leave this problem as it is. Good day, sir." James said before turning on his heel and leaving, feeling Snape's piercing glare on the back of his neck.

As soon as he was out in the hall, Hermoine, Harry and Ron immediately surrounded him.

"What were you thinking! He could have turned you into a frog and nobody would have been the wiser!" Harry said fiercely. James shrugged.

"I had to know what he hated me for, to see if I could correct it. And since he hates me for something I can't help, there's nothing I can do. But I had to make sure it wasn't something I could change. Verbal battles it seems will become something of a tradition between me and him until we leave, and hopefully I shall never have to see him again." James shook his head. "But there's nothing I can do now, so let's not talk about it, eh?" James said drearily before turning off towards the Gryffindor house.