Disclaimer - I own nothing you recognise.
Written for Danie's 5 Drabbles Competition, Pairing - MarcusKatie. Prompt Used - Anything.
A New Beginning
She was horrified to find the pitch destroyed beyond any and all recognition, though she knew after the battle that had raged, she should be thankful that she was even alive to see it. It would be fixed, she knew, but the pitch that she'd found one of the true loves of her life was gone for good.
A crunch behind her had her spinning quickly, wand gripped tightly in her hand. The intruder held his hands up in the universal sign for surrender, and when she recognised him, she relaxed slightly.
"How are you holding up?" he asked quietly, walking towards her slowly.
She shrugged. "As well as anyone I suppose. I didn't know you were here."
"I couldn't just sit at home. I... ah. My parents were... but my little sister is a student, and I didn't know if she was safe."
Katie softened. "Is she okay?"
He nodded. "She was evacuated with the others, she's fine. I'm her legal guardian now."
As the implications of his words sunk in, Katie didn't know what to say. His parent's, she knew, were Death Eaters, but it must still hurt him to know they were now dead.
"I'm sorry," she offered. "If there's anything I can do to help, just let me know."
He smiled, taking a few more steps until he was beside her. "Thank you."
She took his hand, squeezing it gently. "You're welcome, Marcus."
Looking back at the destroyed Quidditch Pitch, she wondered if she'd still feel at home there when it was rebuilt. After the horrors of the past few years, they could probably all do with a new beginning.