IV. It Was You

It was you who showed me

I got a friend in you

I always knew that you'd be

Right here for me

It Was You (Ashley Ballard)

If there's one thing her mother had taught her, it was that women should embody the very epitome of grace and quiet elegance, all the while showing a strong state of mind without having to resort to meaningless arguments.

Katie never liked being in an argument and while it bothered her at first for seeming too naïve or even weak (she shuddered at the word) in the eyes of others, she's learned to make peace with it during her years at Hogwarts.

That's why whenever an argument is on the horizon and is (almost always) at the point to escalate into a full-blown fight, she tries to stay out of it. Like that one time when Emily and Leanne were at each other's throats for a silly matter that she couldn't even remember right now, or when Angelina went into a long, angry tirade directed at Fred for being "a complete arse".

It seemed like this time it would've been no different. She would stop two (sometimes more) people from turning into squashed little gnomes and she would make them apologize to each other. All would be well.

Yes, indeed. It's all very well. Except that this time did turn out to be different.

It happened on a fine Saturday evening in the middle of March during her third year. She was struggling with her Transfiguration homework along with Emily in the Gryffindor common room.

"I wonder where Leanne is," said Emily abruptly.

She didn't look away from her homework and merely grunted, "Hmmm?"

"Yeah, it's not like her to be out this long without even telling us."

"She said she was going to the library, remember?"

"I know, but still, it isn't safe. There's still that… whatever the thing that's lurking and Petrify-ing the Muggle-borns."

She finally tore her attention away from her homework and focused on her best friend, a faint crease lying on her front. "But --" she started to feel worried now, "Leanne's a Pureblood, so she wouldn't get Petrified, would she?"

"I dunno," said Emily, looking grave, "I'm worried."

"Why the long face, Kate?"

George had come to sit down by their table.

"Oh, hi, George," she smiled briefly, "where's Fred?"

"Just landed himself and Lee a detention with Sprout," he shrugged as if he didn't care about it much, although Katie could clearly see a hint of a smirk across his face. He then nodded to Emily and said, "Hi, Emily. Everything alright?"

Emily nodded and said, "We were just talking about Leanne. She hasn't come back from the library since lunchtime and we're getting quite worried."

George frowned and asked cautiously, "She's a Pureblood, right?"

When Katie and Emily both nodded, he went on, "Then you don't have to worry. She'll be fine. She won't get out of the school grounds anyway, since it's not allowed."

He went quiet, and his expression grew thoughtful as his eyes swept the common room, only to bring them to a halt. Her eyes then followed suit until she saw what he was looking at: Ron and Harry, deeply immersed in a conversation as they exchanged grave looks.

She smiled ruefully and said, "Are you worried about your brother?"

George gave a start, looked at her and shrugged. "I dunno," he finally said, "I just know he and Harry are up to something."

"Well, the rumours said they did get the Philosopher's Stone last year," added Emily.

Just then, the portrait of the Fat Lady was opened roughly. All three looked up to see a furious Leanne, followed by James Barron and Peter Atkins, both looking equally angry.

"--- told me you'd have done your part by now, I can't believe you!"

"Oh, so now it's MY fault? Le, we wouldn't even be here if Atkins didn't get himself a detention!"

"What the bloody hell's your problem, Barron?"

"YOU'RE my problem, that's what!"

They were now drawing themselves to their full heights and glaring daggers at each other. Katie hurriedly made her way towards them, followed by George and Emily.

"What's going on?" she said as soon as she arrived. "Leanne, where were you, we were so worried!"

"Please stop," Leanne was saying, imploring James and Peter not to fight. "Sorry, Kate," she added to Katie, "I was at the library with James and Peter, but --"

Whatever she was about to say was interrupted by the sound of knuckles meeting flesh, followed by Emily's shriek. Everything was a blur: Katie didn't know what to do, Emily and Leanne looked terrified, and George was now trying to separate them.

More hits were being thrown and she was starting to get annoyed. These two were being childish and they were now the attention of the whole common room. Leanne and Emily had retreated far away from the two boys and it was as if she was stuck. She couldn't move. Amidst all this she couldn't help wondering why they didn't use wands.

And then it happened so fast.

A striking blow through the cheek. An incredible, mind-blowing pain. The sharp yet soft feel of the rug as her body slammed against it. More screams, the sound of people rushing to get to her.

Then one voice cut through all the noise, loud and clear: "KATIE!!"

She groaned and forced herself to sit up, wincing as she did so. She saw George take one good look at her, then he rounded on James and Peter, who were still oblivious to what had happened.

"Alright, that's it!" He pushed both boys away from each other, this time for good, with surprising strength. He glared at them for a moment as they regained their breath.

"Say you're sorry to Katie," he said calmly, although the tone of his voice had a certain edge to it. "Apologize to her, right now. NOW!" he yelled again, when they still hadn't moved.

James and Peter hurriedly apologized to her, to which she responded by nodding – and even that was an effort. Next to her, Emily and Leanne were fretting about taking her to the hospital wing.

"Are you alright?"

She hadn't even notice George coming towards her. His voice still contained the same edge from earlier, but it was also softer now.

"Yes," she managed to whisper, and then she said more clearly, "I've never seen you like that."

He shrugged, unwilling to meet her eyes. He then faced Emily and said, "You should take her to see Madam Pomfrey."

She wondered if he was okay.