A/N: Geez people! I have a full two reviews for this story so far! Come on, I'm not writing this for myself, I'm writing it for you people, I'd really appreciate some reviews!
Have a nice day all!
Kat had never been in St Mungo's before and to tell the truth, it was not a place she wanted to visit again soon. She had insisted on coming, so she would have to deal with it.
Arthur had not been in the hospital for very long, but it appeared as if he was quickly getting over his injury. Molly, Bill and Charlie were walking with her, their eyes peeled for any signs of danger or the mere sight of anyone who would have known her previously. So far, there was no reason to be alarmed.
Not that Kat would have been even if she was faced by an entire garrison of Dark Wizards, she had kept her rage at them pent up for too long, and some time or another she would have to let it out before she exploded. She couldn't help but wish that she would run into a known Death Eater.
How did the saying go? Be careful of what you wished, for the Gods might just grant it.
They nearly reached the exit of the hospital when they walked into none other than Lucius Malfoy. He sneered, he prepared to make some kind of snide comment and then he saw Kat.
He went deathly pale and his eyes bulged. Well, at least he was struck speechless for once.
"What is wrong, Malfoy? Seen a ghost?" Kat laughed. "Or has the cat caught your tongue?"
Beside her she could feel Bill and Charlie tense and ready themselves to reach for their wands. Molly fidgeted, narrow-eyed gaze locked on her family's greatest enemy.
"This is not possible." He whispered. "You were killed! Your father told me so himself!"
"Speak not of my father, Malfoy, for I have none." She made a show of glancing around her. "And since everyone else seems to be able to see me, I would say that I am alive."
Malfoy sneered. "Not for very long, you won't be. There are many who would tell the Dark Lord that you still live." He did not seem to remember – or care about – the Weasleys standing around her.
"Oh, I'm counting on it, Lucius, I'm counting on it." She gave him a cold smile. "Now, if you would excuse us, we have to get going."
Lucius said something to her that she didn't bother to listen to as they swept past, she with a giddy smile on her face, the others still tense and nervous.
"I can't believe that you did that!" Bill exploded as they entered the dark hallway of Grimmauld Place. No-one had said a word on their way back, but Charlie's lips were pressed together so hard that they had gone almost white. Molly had an expression on her face that she usually wore when the twins had done something particularly bad.
Somewhere in the hall, the painting of Mrs Black started screaming, making Sirius dash to get her to shut up and the children all poke their heads out of they're rooms to see what was going on.
"Of all the stupid, dangerous things to do, you had to talk to Lucius Malfoy!" Bill kept yelling, not allowing his mother or Kat to get a word in edgewise. "You put us all in danger because of what you just did, that was so stupid!"
A loud, piercing whistle came from the stairs and Remus came striding down the stairs. "Kitchen, everyone, now!" He glanced up at the children on the landing. "Go finish decorating the second tree!"
Kat had almost forgotten that it was Christmas; it had been years since she had celebrated it, and the day's trip was also to buy some gifts for the vast amount of people in the house. She had even gotten something for Moody – not an easy feat.
"Now, what is this all about?" Sirius asked as they all settled in the kitchen.
"Bill is upset because I didn't just walk past Malfoy, but instead had a little chit chat with him." Kat perched herself on the edge of the kitchen counter. "I want him to know that I am alive, I want them all to know it."
They all stared at her blankly. "Are you mad?" Charlie asked after a while.
"No, I just want them to know that Voldemort – oh for God's sake – couldn't succeed in killing me, or at least one of his biggest supporters couldn't. Right now, I want them to be as uncertain about where I am and how I lived as they can." She shrugged. "He wouldn't be the first Death Eater that I've met these last years. The only difference is that most of the others didn't live to tell the tale."
There was a cold hardness to her voice that sent chills down the spine, and no one disbelieved her.
"Moody always said that you had become much harsher and much more danger-seeking, but I had no idea." Sirius sat staring at her, a strange mixture of emotions on his face.
"Still, it was very irresponsible of you, Kat." Molly said, hands on hips.
"Why was it? It is not as if anyone will find me here, and heaven help them if they do. Besides, it is not like I am a wanted criminal, and there is nothing that can link me with the Order." She shook her head and her hair cascaded across her shoulders. "But if you think that I will endanger you, I will pack my stuff tonight."
"That's not what we said, Kat, this will remain the safest place for you to stay – and you will stay here." Remus was stern. "You will not leave this house again until we have discussed this matter with Dumbledore."
Kat jumped up. "I am not a child that you can keep here, Remus! I am a grown woman, and I have held my own out in the world for many years. Do not presume to think that you can order me around."
"You were sent here by Dumbledore because he knew that it was dangerous for you to even be back in Britain. You were sent to us so we could keep you safe!" Remus had steel in his eyes and steel in his voice. Bill, Charlie, Molly and Sirius came and stood behind him, arms crossed. "You can stay here of your own free will, or we will knock you senseless and lock you up in Moody's trunk. Do you hear me?"
She stood for a moment, scowling at the lot of them. "Fine!" She threw up her hands. "But I shall go stark raving mad!"
Sirius muttered something that sounded a lot like: "Join the club."
Remus didn't budge. "Swear it, Kat. Swear upon the graves of all those who have died in the fight against He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named. Swear it!"
"I swear I won't leave the house until Dumbledore thinks it is safe." She was quivering in rage. "Happy?"
Nodding, Remus stepped out of her way. "Yes, I am."
Kat flaunted past him with the air of an angry cat. She was just in time to catch the twins, Harry and Ron pulling up what appeared to be long, flesh-coloured pieces of string. She wasn't in the mood to rat on them, so she merely stalked past them up to her room, fully aware that she was being incredibly childish.
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"Did you know my parents?" It was the question Kat had been waiting for and dreading at the same time. She and Harry were sitting in the lounge; she reading an old book Moody gave her for Christmas, and Harry finishing off his homework.
"Yes, I did." She said, closing the book and leaning back against the couch. "Lily was one of my best friends, and your father was the first person at Hogwarts ever to be kind to me. I nearly ran him over at the station, and he introduced me to the other Marauders."
Harry nodded. Kat had to admit that she didn't know quite how to feel about the boy. When she had first met him, she had thought him to be a stubborn, arrogant and somewhat annoyingly full of himself boy that looked all too much like James. But he could be so charmingly vulnerable sometimes, and a part of her wished that she could have been his godmother as she knew she would have been had she been able to see his parents after her 'death'.
He asked her many questions about his parents, some of which she could – or would –not answer. She tried to explain to him that she had known them for only a year, but that she had loved both of them dearly as very close friends.
"And you and Sirius?" He asked, green eyes regarding her from beneath the shock of dark hair that was so like his father's.
"We dated while we were still at school, but it seems like he has moved on." She failed to keep the regret out of her voice. Kat had no idea why Sirius had kissed her that night; nor had he made any move again after that. She was confused and frustrated and weak. None of which she enjoyed.
"Your parents were very dear to me, Harry, and I cannot tell you how I wish that it could have been different. I would very gladly give up my very life to see them alive and happy and know that Sirius never went to Azkaban." She sighed and wondered if she had gone too far, or if he would take offence.
But James's son surprised her just as James had always done. "Has Sirius changed much since he went to Azkaban?"
The question shocked her. Not even once had it crossed her mind that she was not the only one who had changed in the long years since their sixth year. She was very aware of the fact that she had changed, she could see it in the way that Remus and Sirius looked and spoke to her, but somehow it had slipped past her that Sirius as well might have walked away from Azkaban much changed.
"I would say yes, although he might argue. The Sirius I used to know was carefree and playful. Sure, he had always been brooding as well, no-one could truly come out of a house like this without coming away somewhat scratched, but when I knew him, he was truly… happy." She frowned as she struggled to put what she thought into words.
"There is a shadow behind his eyes now, a darkness that I don't believe will ever be banished. It is understandable of course, he spent many years in Azkaban – for a crime he didn't commit. That is enough to change any man."
It didn't seem as if the boy wanted to talk any further, for he only nodded and closed his books. "Thanks Kat." He said and gave her a small smile. "I think I'll go to bed now."
She nodded and wished him pleasant dreams before returning to her book.
"Do you really believe that I've changed that much?" Sirius asked from behind her, making her nearly jump out of her skin. So that was why Harry had left so quickly. She did not dare to think of how much Sirius had heard.
"I think that we have all changed, Sirius; we have all been forced to change. Some of us more than others." She shrugged as he walked around the couch to sit opposite her. "I would say that we are two of those who were forced to change more than the others."
He sat there silently, dark gaze locked on her, his mind miles away. Kat wished she could read the thoughts that played behind his eyes.
"I missed you, Kat." He said, almost as if he just wished to break the silence.
She had to fight back tears, and fearing to speak she merely nodded.
"What has changed so much between us?" He asked, standing up and pacing around the room, looking for all the world like a caged animal.
"I know not, for if I did, I would change it back to the way it was."
"Some times I want nothing more than to take you in my arms, Kat, and to forbid you to ever leave me again. Then, at other times, I fear that if I allow myself to love you, I will only be hurt again; that I will only lose you again. What type of a choice is that?"
"The same one I have to face, Sirius, and I too know that it is not easy." Kat sat quietly, although one part of her wanted to jump for joy, and the other part wanted to collapse weeping.
He stood silently, brooding eyes locked on Kat, before he threw up his hands in exasperation. "I don't know!" He nearly yelled. "I no longer know what to do!" He looked on the verge of throwing something, but instead, he merely stormed out of the room, leaving Kat to her misery.
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