Chapter One – Coming Back.
"You will come back to the Brurrow when you're done?" Charlie asked as he was packing his things to go home. I'd been working out here with Charlie Weasley for a while. We joined the Order right out of Hogwarts. I'd spent most of my vacations with his family. They were great. I hadn't seen them in a long time.
"Of course Charlie… I'll visit as soon as I can." I promised. But I knew I wouldn't get a chance. Things were getting harder with the dragons and with Charlie leaving it left mostly me. And, on top of that I had to do Order work as well. I bid him a farewell and I sat in my tiny shack trying to fall asleep. It'd be nice to go home and visit them.
Since, shortly after I started Hogwarts my parents died. I wondered if I'd ever see the Weasley's again. It felt as if I'd be stuck out in Romania forever. I loved my job and doing work for Dumbledore… But I'd like to see the Weasleys, they were truly the only family I ever really had after me mum and dad died. I shivered and rolled over.
After months of being alone, I finally received word that I could leave. I quickly packed my belonging and was about to Disapparate when someone knocked on my door.
"Come in." I muttered slightly distracted. The door opened and I looked up.
"Sirius!" I nearly shouted. I smiled and ran over to him.
"Hiya!" I hugged him.
"Hey kid… how's it treating you?" He asked as I pulled out of the hug.
"It's good but I'm glad to go home." I said.
"I'm here to take you home." He smiled. I laughed and he grabbed my bags and I hung onto his arm as we left. Within a few seconds we were at the Brurrow.
"Does anyone know I'm coming home?" I asked. We were just standing on the top of a hill.
"No. But Charlie believes you'll be home soon… Dumbledore told me to come and get you…" He smiled. We headed down the trail that held up towards their home. Sirius knocked on the door.
"Who is it?" Molly said in a low voice.
"It is I Sirius Black, also known as Padfoot. I am also known to take the form of a black dog." Sirius spoke calmly. Molly opened the door and smiled.
"What took you so…" Her voice trailed off as she saw me.
"Kat!" She shrieked and pulled me in a death grip hug.
"Hi Molly…" I said. She released of me. The Brurrow looked the same as it always had. I looked around and I saw no familiar faces of the Weasley children.
"Well, ladies, I must be off but I'll be back." Sirius smiled and bade us a goodbye.
"Well come in come in…" She smiled. I was glad to be back in with the Weasleys.
"So dear how have you been? Oh the kids will be glad to see you." Molly said. I sat down at the table and she poured us some Firewhiskey. I told her of exciting things that happened in Romania. We talked until we heard running feet down stairs.
"Mum, where's dinner?" Fred nearly shouted.
"Oh dear… is it that time already…?" She asked.
"Kat!" Fred and George raced over towards me I smiled and gave them hugs. The twins looked the same, long orange hair, tall as ever… Ron looked the same only more bulky. Ginny was petite and beautiful. I did notice that one of the Weasley boys was missing. I was washed over with slight relief.
"Molly, do you want any help?" I asked. She set Charlie and I to work. We started setting the table and laughing at the twins.
"Sorry I'm late mum…" His voice trailed off.
"Charlie! Why didn't any of you lot tell me he was home!" Bill shouted and ran over to his brother. Charlie and Bill were always rather close. Charlie had missed Bill the most while we were away. I finished the table and went over by Molly.
"Everyone… Sit down! Dad's going to be late so let's start!" Molly said. I sat in the middle of the twins and across from Bill and Charlie. We told stories of Romania and the twins made jokes. It felt good to be back with the familiar chatter and buzz of the Brurrow. I missed this place.
"Molly… do you want help cleaning up?" I asked after dinner. She told me to relax and poor Ginny had to help. I mouthed, 'Sorry'. To her and slowly headed outside where I heard voices.
"…I'm glad you're back." Bill said as they stared at the sky.
"What are you going to do?" Charlie asked.
"I do not know." Bill whispered. I slipped back inside and sat in the living room with the twins.
"Tell us a story!" They kept chanting. I laughed.
"Alright, alright…" I said.
"Well, Charlie and I were out training dragons and things were going fine… I mean Charlie's cloak caught fire but it wasn't too bad. And we noticed how everything had become rather calm. When all of the sudden one of the dragons started to attack us! And we had no idea why. So we tried to calm it down but someone had tampered with the dragon. So I grab Charlie and pull him out of the way. And I toss him up next to me and we took off. I figured we'd be fine because the second dragon was chained up.
"But that was my mistake. The dragon got lose and flew after us. So we're soaring threw the skies trying not to die when we're greeted by Death Eaters!" I flashed a wicked smiled. I had captivated my audience. I stared at each of them for a second before I launched back into my story.
"So I let go of the reins and we grab our wands and the dragon soars past them and we're stunning them when they've hit our dragon and we're going down. So I grab Charlie's hand and jump off the dragon. The second dragon who was trying to kill us was flying below so we land on that one and try to get away." I smiled.
"And… so after we thought we were goners we'd managed to pull away from them." Charlie finished. I smiled up at him and Bill was standing next to him.
"Alright you lot!" Molly said. "Up to bed."
As everyone protested I slipped outside. It was beautiful at night out here. You could see the stars.
"Hi Kat."
"Hello Bill." I said carefully.
"How have you been?" I asked. It had been ages since I'd seen him last. The summer before I left, which was almost six years. Bill was tall with long orange hair and emerald green eyes. I felt so completely plain next to him. I was rather short; I came about half way up his chest with long raven black hair and silvery eyes and pale skin.
"I've been alright… how are you?" he asked. Bill was my best friend, next to Charlie. But it was weird to be standing here with him.
"I'm fine." I said. The silence was unbearable so I finally looked up at him and he was staring at my wrist.
"When did you get a tattoo?" He asked looking at it closer.
"After I left the Brurrow before I went out to meet Charlie." I whispered. He nodded.
"Kat…" He said as if he wanted to tell me something. By the sound of his voice it was bad news.
"Please… not tonight Bill… not bad news." I whispered I looked up at him and got lost in his eyes. I managed to tear my gaze and duck around him back towards the house. I saw Charlie making up a bed on the sofa.
"Charlie, you and Bill take your room… I'll sleep on the couch." I said. He looked and me and just nodded. I laid there in my jeans.
I heard Charlie go outside. They both came back in and said goodnight. I finally managed to fall asleep.
I woke up to hushed voices in the kitchen.
"Bill, you've got to tell her…"
"I told you Charlie, the look on her face… I just couldn't… she even asked me… no bad news… She's coming over today… after work!" Bill sounded frantic. At least I knew the news.
"I mean you are only dating and… it wasn't like you two were you know…" Charlie said. I wasn't sure what he was getting at because, we were just that; insanely close and completely in love with each other.
"Bill, just go to work… I'm sure Kat hasn't been expecting you to be sitting here pining over you… She wasn't pining over you…" Charlie said.
"She dated?" Bill asked.
"Well, with our job… she couldn't really but…" His voice trailed off.
"Relax…" Charlie said and the door shut. I woke up.
"Hey Kat…" Charlie said. I nodded. I wasn't much of a morning person. I headed upstairs and got washed up. When I got back down stairs the sun was rising. I headed outside and started up to the little hill and sat there and watched the sunset.
So, the bad news is Bill's got a new girlfriend. I suppose he should… I mean what happened was such a long time ago. It would still hurt to see another girl in his arms… I mean, everyone thought it'd be me. Hell, I though it'd be me… but things change and we move on. All I want is for Bill to be happy.
But as my internal babble continued it sounded more like I was trying to convince myself of what I was saying. I sat there for who knows how long. The sun was in the sky when I trudged back down the hill. I tried to perk myself up because I wasn't supposed to know the 'bad news.'
I got back inside and it was Charlie and Molly in the kitchen and neither of them commented on my disappearance.
"Breakfast dear?" Molly asked.
"Sure." I said as Charlie poured me some coffee.
"Thanks mate." I said as I raised my glass towards him. He nodded. We talked about the Death Eaters until the kids came down stairs. Molly sent food flying towards the table. I sat there drinking coffee.
"Bill working a half day today?" Molly asked.
"I believe so." Charlie muttered. After breakfast Molly handed out chores and Charlie and I had to weed the garden.
"I can't believe mum's putting us to work." Charlie mumbled. I laughed as I knelt down to start weeding.
"Kat, why don't we use our wands?" Charlie asked sitting next to me in the grass and I was working.
"Because there's nothing wrong with a little hard work… plus this way… if we take long enough she'll run out of chores." I smiled. Charlie mumbled to himself and I finally said, "I'll do it!"
"So… you seem quiet today." Charlie said.
"Yeah… I suppose, I'm just tired is all… had a lot on my mind last night." I mumbled. He nodded and watched me.
"I'm fine, Charlie." I said before he could ask the question we finished and headed inside to wash up and Molly was working on lunch.
"Molly please let me help you?" I offered. I wanted to keep busy to keep myself from thinking of who Bill will bring home. Knowing Bill, she'll be beautiful.
"Okay set the table Kat." She said. I nodded and set the table. Most people thought I was a strange witch to prefer to not us magic for everything. I just liked to keep busy. We all sat down and there were two empty chairs across from Charlie and I.
"Well let's eat." Molly smiled. The door came flying open as Bill said, "Sorry we're late mum." I glanced over at him. There was a tiny blond girl on his arm. She came up to his shoulder and had long silvery blond hair with bright blue eyes. She was beautiful. I put some food on my plate and started eating. Charlie nudged me and whispered, "How are you doing?" I turned my head slightly and my lips did not move as I growled, "I'm fine."
He dropped it. I knew he was looking out for me but it hurt. Even after all these years, it hurt to see. They quickly came and sat down. Everyone chatted away.
"So, how was work?" Charlie asked since I didn't acknowledge there presence.
"It was fine… Gringotts is busy this time of the year for some reason and it's great because Fleur can work on her English." Bill said.
"Yes, zat es right." She smiled.
"And who are ou?" She asked. I looked up and took a swig of Firewhiskey.
"I'm Kat." I said and finally looked up from my plate.
"It es nice to eet ou. I'm Fleur." She smiled. I nodded.
"It's a pleasure." I said sarcastically but since she didn't know me she didn't catch it. Charlie nudged me and Bill looked sad. I rolled my eyes at him and kept on eating.
"So how long have you been working at Gringotts?" I asked Fleur.
"Um, only a few eeks thankz to Bill." She smiled up at him. I tried not to gag. I nodded.
"Do ou work?" She asked me. I clenched my fist as if I was ready to slug her but instead I refrained.
"I work with Charlie… with dragons… dangerous work…" I decided best to talk to her like she was five so she'd understand me. Blondes can sometimes get confused with big words.
"Yeah… we mostly train them so they… behave themselves…" I said. I spoke slowly as well until Charlie nudged me again.
"Ah, I see." Fleur said as her eyes narrowed.
"Yeah, but it's all in good fun…" I said talking normal again.
Lunch when by rather slowly after lunch Bill and Fleur left the kitchen and everyone else sat around.
"Can I have a word with you?" Charlie asked as he grabbed my arm and dragged me outside.
"What's up?" I asked once we were outside.
"What the hell is going on?" Charlie asked. I looked up into his blue eyes.
"Nothing." I growled.
"Kat…" I knew what he was about to say.
"Save it Charlie, I told you I'm fine. It isn't my fault the girl's a complete idiot." I said through clenched teeth.
"Alright…" He whispered and headed back inside. I headed over by the garden and stared out over the country side.
"Why doesn't she like me Bill?" Fleur complained with her ghastly French accent.
"Kat's just tough… she's been through a lot… just give it some time… She'll come around." Bill crooned. I took a deep breath.
I knew this day would come… he can't like you forever… I kept running the internal babble but it was slowly weakening each time I said it. I sat down in the tall grass.
"Bill, es it true?" She asked.
"What true love?" He asked. I shook my head and closed my eyes. I just wished I'd never came back. I could always just leave… although, they knew I had no place to go… I'd stay just a little bit longer.
"That ou knew her, her whole life?" She asked.
"She's a family friend; which is why I know that if you just gave it some time…" He said again.
"Okay… well I've got to go… but I'll see you tomorrow at work." She said and kissed him and left with a loud crack. I slowly stood up and headed back out of the grass.
"Hey… Kat…" Bill said.
"Hey, look I'm sorry about lunch…" I said quickly before he could say anything. He shook his head.
"I just wanted to make sure you're okay?" he asked. I felt the tears prickle my eyes.
"Yeah… I'm fine Bill." I spoke to his shoes.
"I wanted to tell you…" He said. I looked up at him my eyes were glassy.
"Bill, I didn't expect you to be here waiting with your arms wide open for me… It's natural you move on… Honestly I'm fine with it." I told him again. He wiped my tears away.
"Kat…" He whispered. I looked up at him and before I knew what was going on he gently kissed me. I felt his tongue glide over my lip so I parted and allowed him to deepen the kiss. I pulled back panting.
"Bill… we can't." I whispered and ducked under his arm and headed inside the house.