Disclaimer: I of course don't own HP. I only own Conner, Alyson, Elizabeth, Casper, Maggie, and Grace. The plot is a bit cliché, but I have plans for it. This takes place right after GoF. Tell me if there is a mistake or something!

'Ugh.' Thought 16 year old Katie Bell, 'But at lease I'll be at The Burrow in a few weeks.' She was packing up her belongings, as she and the other students of Hogwarts were going home for the Summer. Frankly, she'd rather stay at Hogwarts then go home, but since she didn't have a choice she continued packing. The only thing she liked about the summer break was that she was going to be able to stay at her boyfriend, George Weasley's house for about a week.

"Katie, are you done packing?" asked her friend Alica. A few of the girls in the dormitory rolled their eyes. Katie didn't exactly get along with the other girls in her year, her best friends' Alica Spinnet and Angelina Johnson were her teammates on the Gryffindor Quiddich team and a year above Katie. Katie dropped the last spell book into her trunk and said, "Just finished." Then a look of panic forced its way on Katie's face. "Wait, where's Casper?"

"I saw George with him in the common room." Angelina said walking in. Katie sighed a sigh of relief. "It's a good thing too, that cat always hides in the strangest of places. Now, lets go! We're already a bit late." Alica picked up one end of Katie's trunk while Katie picked up the other.

"I wish the house elves could do it this year." Katie hesitated then continued, "But I suppose Dumbledore thought they needed a bit of a break since they had to decorate the Great Hall, for, Cedric's ceremony." They all got a bit teary eyed.

"Tragic, really. He had so much going for him." Angelina nodded, "But don't let Hermione hear that about the house elves." Angelina and Alica both laughed.

"Oh, come off it! I joined S.P.E.W." When both of her friend's gave her a look that said, you-just-said-you-want-them-to-do-this, Katie added, "Well I agree with most of the points Hermione made."

"We all know you're Saint Katie." Alica said. They finally made it to the common room, where the famous Weasley twins were.

"About time girls!" Fred commented as Alica and Katie sat down the trunk to take a quick break. "Yes, we were getting quite old." George added.

"Oh, weren't you the ones that took an Aging potion? I do remember you two going on about how you wished you were older." Katie asked, referring to their failed attempt into entering the Triwizard tournament.

"That was so last year!" The girls rolled their eyes, and picked up Katie's trunk to take it down to the carriages.

XxXxXxX

They finally made it down to the carriages and they found Lee Jordan talking to Professor McGonagall about his exam grade.

"Mr. Jordan I wasn't born yesterday for Merlin's sake! Your grade is final." Professor McGonagall said sternly and turned to walk away.

"Oi! Lee over here!" Called Fred, Lee walked over and joined the group. "Same seating arrangements?" Everyone nodded.

"Lovely." Lee said, and climbed into the carriage that was waiting for them, followed by: Fred, George and Katie.

"Bye girls! See you on the train." Katie waved at her friends.

"Later."

And so the carriage took off, George gave Katie, Casper. They had come up with this 'grouping' at breakfast the previous day because Angelina and Fred had recently broken up, and even thought they are on good terms everyone decided it be best if Katie went with the boys, since she was dating George, after all.

Katie sat petting Casper, who was purring in return. The twins and Lee were in conversation about a joke store Fred and George were planning on owning one day.

"Can't wait really."

"It'll be –."

"Awesome!" Fred finished for his brother.

She wasn't exactly paying attention to the conversation, because she was lost in thought. 'Stupid break! I don't know how I'll survive. I honestly hate her. I'll just have to concentrate on the Burrow and –.' But her thoughts were cut off when the carriage stopped. They stepped out and went to board the Hogwarts Express with the other students. They walked pass compartment after compartment till they reach 'their' compartment. When they sat down Casper jumped to George's lap and curled up on it, Katie shot George a look.

"What can I say? He's taken a fancy to me." George said grinning innocently at her.

"Just like his owner!" Snickered Fred, only to be glared at by the couple. Just then the compartment opened and in came Angelina, and Alica.

"Welcome ladies!" Lee said making room so Alica could sit next to Fred. Angelina sat down next to Katie. The train started to move; soon Hogwarts was nothing but a blur.

The group began to talk of their summer plans which only reminded Katie how much she hated the break. She had to get out of there, "Hey, I better go check on Conner and Alyson."

"Want me to come with you?" asked George.

"No, that's alright. I'll be fine." She left the compartment and walked to her brother's usual compartment. She was in luck her sister was sitting next to her brother. Katie sat down next to her sister. The only other person in the compartment was Conner's best friend –Elizabeth O' Hillary.

"Kate?" asked Conner.

"I had to get away. They were talking about summer." She responded. Conner nodded grimly.

"D'you think it will be worse?" Alyson asked her older sister.

"Frankly, I wish we didn't have to find out." Katie said bitterly.

"How long will you be spending at George's?" asked Conner. "Do you think it'll only make her furious?"

"A week, but I'm going to see if I can spend time at Alica's and Angelina's too." She bit into a Pumpkin Pastry. "It probably will, but we've got to get away from her." Katie finished the pastry and asked her brother about his plans. "How long will you two be at Lizzie's?"

"As long as we can. Lizzie's parents don't care how long we stay." Conner answered, looking at a flock of Geese out the window.

"What about Maggie?" Alyson asked playing with Katie's long blonde hair.

"We can owl Uncle Albert and see if he can take care of her for the summer. She'll be getting her letter for Hogwarts soon." Katie sighed. "Just think what she's been through all this time."

"That's right; she'll be eleven in a few weeks. I almost forgot." Lizzie said. "Gosh, I feel like it was just yesterday when Conner called me on the phone to tell me that your mom gave birth to Maggie." Everyone laughed. Conner was four years old when Maggie was born and he was so excited he went and called Lizzie since he was too young to send her an owl.

"Well, I think I better get back to my own compartment. See you all on platform 9 ¾ ."

"Bye, Katie." Lizzie said. Katie walked back to the compartment.

"About time! We were about to send a search party out to look for you." Angelina said.

"Something happen, Kate?" George noticed the sad expression on her face.

"Hmm?" 'Should I tell them?'

"Alright there, Katie?" Alica asked concerned about her friend.

Katie ignored the question, "Girls, do you think I could spend a week or two at both of your houses?"

"Sure, Katie. My parents are always saying they wished I bring friends over more often. But Katie what's wrong?" Alica asked again. Everyone looked at Katie, but she just looked at her other friend. Angelina nodded.

"I don't want to burden you bunch with my problems." Katie responded calmly. 'Don't cry.'

"Your troubles are ours." George said wrapping an arm around her. Everyone nodded.

Katie took a deep breath and tried to keep her voice has normal as possible as she said, "Thing's at home aren't all that good." She was near tears; George pulled her closer to him.

"Oh, Kate! It's your mum, isn't it? I never liked her –no offence, you should have told us sooner!" Alica exclaimed; she too was teary eyed.

"After my dad died, she just kind of lost it. She's horrible, she's drunk on firewhiskey all the time. She gave up on magic for the most part, and even if she is willing to use her wand she's just so out of it she gets the spell wrong or something so she forces us to do everything for her the muggle way." Katie sniffled. "She blames us for everything wrong in her life, she'll be find one moment then the next she go into a drunken state and start yelling at us." Katie managed to get out before she really burst into tears. Her friends were shocked, Katie hardly ever talked of her home life, they never knew it was that bad. They never knew this side of Katie, they had only seen her cry twice before –when her father died and when they found out Cedric Diggory had died –they realized that there is much more to Katie Bell.

"That's horrible!" Angelina gasped.

Everyone sat quietly all deep in thought after Katie confessed about her home life. She just looked out the window. The only sound heard was the sound of Casper purring. Eventually, Lee and Alica fell asleep; Angelina took out a book and began to read. Fred took out a few fake wands and began to tease Casper with them. Casper ignored Fred and jumped off of George's lap and went to a corner of the compartment.

"Meow." Those who were awake looked at the beautiful Persian cat. He just blinked, "Meow."

"Kate, did use the litter box before we got on the train?" George asked, getting a bit nervous.

"Meow."

"I dunno, you tell me. He was with you."

"Meow."

"Maybe he's just hungry?" Fred offered. Casper jumped back on George's lap with a spider in his mouth.

"Ew, you would think he'd have more class then that." Angelina commented peering over her book.

"What'sgoingonhere?" Lee asked as a yawn came from his mouth.

"Sorry mate didn't quite catch that." George said brushing the remaining spider legs off of him.

"What happened?"

"Casper found a snack. However it was rather grotesque." Angelina responded putting her book back into her knapsack.

"Ew." Alica said obviously awake.

"That stupid git. Honestly, who does he think he is? I sure don't!" Came the voice of Draco Malfoy from the other side of the door to their compartment.

"Shall we?" George asked his twin.

"We shall!" Fred jumped up. "Well folks we must go take care of erm –Malfoy."

"Go ahead, he's a pompous little git." Katie said as everyone nodded at her words.

" If we don't return in time, we'll see you all at The Burrow." George said and gave Katie a peck on the cheek and then followed his brother out of the compartment.

"So Angelina what caused your and Freddy's recent break up?" Alica moved over to sit next to Katie.

"Never you mind." Angelina quickly answered.

"Ang I want to know!" Alica whined. Lee looked uncomfortable, Katie didn't envy him. She guessed Fred told him the reason they had broken up, she too knew why. She sort of sweet talked George into telling her. Katie blushed at the memory.

"Alica, Ang doesn't have to tell us if she doesn't want to. We'll find out sooner or later," Angelina shook her head at that. "or not." Katie lied.

"But Katie!" Katie shrugged and Angelina mouthed 'thank-you' to her.

Lee took that moment to change the subject, "So ladies, who do you think will teach Defense Against the Dark Arts next term?" He asked.

"You don't think Moody will stay?" Angelina asked, welcoming the subject change.

"I reckon not. I mean blimey he's been through an awful lot, hasn't he?" The Hogwarts Express started to come to a slow.

"I guess so." Stated Alica.

XxXxXxX

"Katherine Natasha Bell!" yelled Grace Bell.

"Hang on!" Katie yelled back across the platform. She hugged good-bye to her friends, and waited for her brother and sister to do the same. "Okay, remember try not to say something to set off, mum, obviously. When we get home, if she doesn't have us slave over supper, I'd start packing, okay?" Conner and Alyson nodded and the three walked towards their mum. The same thoughts were going through their heads, are they going to be able to get through this?

Conner was worried about Katie, their mother has already caused her to have several nervous breakdowns, Aly was worried about Maggie as she being the youngest and having to deal with their mother's behavior more then them. Katie was worried about all of them. 'Mum's beyond help, it only seems to get worse.'

"Well, how was everything?" Grace asked her children as she slammed her car door shut rather harshly. "I heard that Diggory boy went and got himself killed."

"This year was eventful." Katie said quietly. "Yes, Cedric died." She hugged her little sister, Maggie, who was waiting in the car.

"I missed you all." Maggie whispered so only her siblings could hear. Their mother was currently saying that all the Triwizard Tournament is was an idiot's game. "We missed you too." Conner whispered back. They were now on their way back to their home, all thinking of their summer plans with their friends, wishing they'd come sooner.

A/N: Well that's it for the first chapter. Review if you like it, or don't like it. :P I'm a bit slow on updating but eventually it will be updated. So don't lose faith in me. ;)