Chapter 1
The sun was beating down hard on the crisp grass as Katara walked home. Usually she would travel by bus, but the other kids were really beginning to annoy her. Why her older brother had to make her go to primary school was beyond her. Sure, he was out at work all day and she would be home alone, but so what? Katara learned more at home than when she was at school anyway.
Stupid School.
Katara sighed as she continued to debate her brother's decision inside her own head. She had only just recently moved to this area, so her journey home was really just guess work. As she approached the top of a hill she noticed some boys playing further ahead, they seemed to be moving rather fast, maybe they were really good runners. As she got closer she realised that they weren't running at all but.
… was he flying?!
Katara began to run excitedly down the remainder of the hill and continued towards the group. Suddenly she came to a stop, realising that they would probably notice her watching and stop what they were doing. So Katara took a detour and ran into a small patch of trees.
She made her way quickly but quietly closer to the source of her curiosity. Sure enough, they were all flying…on brooms of course. Her brother spoke of it, but she had never actually seen it in action. She thought it looked like a lot of fun.
There were four of them, all with bright red hair, all laughing and having a great time. Jealousy began to bubble up.
"Stupid people having stupid fun," she thought to herself
Recently things had been difficult for Katara. She had never really experienced friendship, and her brother was all she had now. But he had been so busy recently, that Katara had found she was alone more often than not.
Stupid school, stupid work, stupid loneliness.
Unfortunately, while Katara was busy thinking to herself, she didn't notice the small black ball that came hurtling towards her. She just had time to notice the whistling sound it made as it came soaring through the air before it smacked her right square on the nose. She was thrown back by the force of the collision causing her body to topple over and she landed on her backside crying out in pain. Tears began to fill her eyes, distorting her vision as she tired to get back on her feet.
I have to hide before I get caught
. Katara was currently shimmying up a tree when she felt a hand on her shoulder.
Crap!
She tensed up.
"Aw man! Jeez are you okay?!" one of the red headed boys asked sounding worried.
She still couldn't see. Katara lifted a hand to her face. It was soaking. She tried to wipe some of the tears from her eyes, but almost screamed when she touched her nose.
Oh great a broken nose, just what I needed today. Brother is going to be so mad.
She then tried to speak but her mouth just wouldn't respond, and when she tried harder pain shot through her head. Whimpering slightly Katara felt the boy unlatch her from the tree. The next thing she knew, she was being pushed by him from behind as he directed her out of the trees and up another hill.
Katara soon heard a few gasps and people running towards her.
"I found her in the trees. She must have got hit with the bludger, and it's made some mess!"
She began to panic at these words.
"George! You realise this is your fault!" another of the boys shouted. The one behind Katara's grip tightened a little and he raised his voice:
"How the hell s'it mine? If you could aim Fred, this wouldn't have happened!"
Katara whimpered slightly as they continued to pass the blame about. Her face was really beginning to throb and the pain was becoming unbearable. More tears began to stream down her face. Fortunately she was rescued by another of the boys.
"Come on" he said quietly while tugging on her arm. Katara tried to thank him, but all that came out was a splutter and a yelp as pain coarsed through her face again.
Note to self: stop trying to talk!
After walking for a short distance the boy leading the way informed her of up-coming stairs. She clumsily stumbled up them, thankful for the stranger's supportive arm around her shoulders.
Katara was lead through a doorway, and was soon being pushed gently down into a seat. She sat quietly trying to suppress the urge to cry. It was hard. She concentrated on listening to her surroundings, and tried to make out what was going on. Her heart was beating furiously in her chest and she just wished she was back in her home.
Why did I have to stop and watch? Why couldn't I just go home on the bus? -- Her thoughts were abruptly stopped when she heard a woman crying out.
"Oh my! You poor dear! Just look at the mess my boys have made! But don't you worry. I'll have you fixed up in no time." Katara felt the woman approach and heard her mutter some words. Suddenly, a searing pain rushed through her face and she cried out. The pain, however, subsided quickly and she could see again.
Just relax, and stop crying, it will be over soon.
She was then handed a cup filled with a clear liquid inside. "Drink up dear; it will make you feel a lot better!"
Reluctantly Katara brought the cup to your lips and quickly gulped down it contents in hope of not tasting it, it was medicine, it never tasted good. Her body shuddered slightly at the awful aftertaste left behind. She sighed in defeat and looked around at her surroundings.
"That wasn't so bad now was it!?" the woman asked enthusiastically. Katara nodded as she seemed to have lost the ability to speak. She was so embarrassed.
I can't believe this is happening. Why did I have to be so nosy? And god, what would brother say…
Katara timidly looked back at the four boys who were all standing at the doorway looking at her intently. She smiled weakly and mumbled a "thanks" She just wanted out of there as soon as possible. Then she noticed: two of the boys looked the same
Twins.
Katara blushed slightly as she realised she had been staring
How troublesome this day has turned out.
The woman patted her on the chin "Well, how do you feel now?" asked the woman,
Probably their mother she concluded.
Katara nodded and smiled
"Fine, thank you. I'm sorry for the trouble, but I really should be heading home now. Ni-san will be really worried if he returns and finds I'm not there." The mother smiled and nodded. "Was that magic you just did, to fix my face?" Katara asked quickly. The mother looked rather taken a back, but smiled and said
"Oh yes, a mother's magic touch, dear." Katara giggled at the mother's reply
"It's ok, my brother can do magic. I know all about it," the woman again looked a bit taken a back, and laughed to herself.
"Right boys, I want you to escort… um... I'm sorry I didn't catch your name, dear" she said a bit embarrassed.
"Katara" she replied
"Yes, so, boys, escort Katara to her home and make sure nothing else gets thrown off, or launched at her face." The mother said the last part with a glare and a hint of annoyance in her voice. She smiled sweetly at Katara before ushering everyone out into the garden.
"Sorry," one of the boys from behind her said quietly. Katara turned and smiled, trying to hold back a giggle. He was one of the twins, and he looked cute as he stared down at the ground with a guilty look on his face.
"It's ok, don't worry about it. I've had worse!" Katara tried to comfort the boy. He smiled slightly.
"Well I'm George and this is Fred. He's my twin if you didn't already guess. And this here is Bill" He pointed towards a taller looking boy who smiled back at Katara "And this is Charlie!" George then gestured to the fourth remaining member of the group. He smiled and waved.
"So" the other twin Fred asked. "What were you doing in the trees?"
Damn it.
She had hoped this wouldn't have come up. She smiled weakly
"I uh- … well I was um…" Damn it! damn it! damn it! "I noticed you guys playing when I was walking home from school." Damn it! "I wasn't going to bother you until I saw you were flying. I'd never seen people flying on broomsticks before, only heard of it, so I stopped to watch." Damn it! "And then…well…yeah." She finished while blushing.
"You know you should have just come over. We wouldn't have minded at all!" Bill said. Katara could tell he was trying to hold in his laughter at how flustered she was. She just nodded shyly and continued to walk in silence.
They approached a small cottage hidden by some trees.
"Well, here I am. Thanks for walking me home" Katara said as she made to make a quick get away.
"Tara-chan! Where the hell have you been?! I've been worried sick!" A tall blonde male came hurtling out the house with his arms wide open. He brought "Tara-chan" into a bone crushing hug before he noticed the group of boys with her. "Hey there! I'm Arashi, Katara here's brother!" He smiled
They all greeted and introduced themselves.
"So how come your only just home? Have you been flirting with these here boys? Oh what am I going to do with you?" He laughed triumphantly at the look of shock he got from his little sister. "I'm sorry if she has been any trouble. She is a bit forward!" Katara gasped and kicked him in the shin as turned the colour of beetroot. The boys all snickered to themselves and Arashi pouted. Then he noticed the blood stains on her shirt collar. "Hey, what happened?! Are you alright!?" Her blush faded slightly and she noticed George squirming about uneasily.
"I'm really sorry. It was an accident. You see we were playing quiddich while Katara was watching. We didn't know, since she was hiding in some trees. George missed hitting the bludger and it hit her in the face breaking her nose." Bill explained. George slunk behind everyone looking incredibly guilty.
"I'm sorry!" he blurted out. Arashi looked a bit worried and proceeded to suffocate Katara in another bone crushing hug.
"I'm fine really!" she tried to reason, while gasping for air.
"Our mum fixed her good as new so she should be ok." Bill continued. But Arashi was beyond reason.
"Oh my little pumpkin! Your poor face! How awful!" Katara sweat dropped.
Why me?
George began to step away from the scene, ready to make a quick get away before Arashi decided to take revenge for dear "Tara-chan's" face.
Another man approached the scene. He too had red hair.
What was it with red hair today?
"Boys?" the man asked. "What are you doing here?"
Charlie spoke up "Hey dad. George broke Katara's nose and mum fixed it. She then got us to walk her home"
Arthur looked flabbergasted. He started apologising relentlessly to Katara and Arashi
"…You see, their just hyper active. They don't mean to cause mayhem and… and… oh I'm just so sorry!" he hurried over to his boys. "George! What is wrong with you!?"
"I didn't mean it! I swear! Charlie you suck!" George continued walking backwards retreating from his father. Charlie was laughing so hard he had started to cry a bit. Katara spoke up:
"Mr… uh" she looked towards her brother
"Weasley"
"Mr Weasley. It was an accident. They were playing quiddich and I shouldn't have been hiding in the trees… if it's anyone's fault it's my own." Arthur turned to look at Katara and then at Arashi. George stopped looking quite so shocked.
"Well I… I'm so sorry Mr Kurosaki. I'll just take the boys back and deal with this. I'll catch you at work tomorrow." And with that said the Weasleys proceeded to return home.
"Um... alright I'll catch you then. Oh and I'll bring that personal stereo I was talking about!" Arashi shouted after them. And with one final wave from Mr Wesley, the family were gone.
