It's a bit short but I promise the next chapter will be longer!


Chapter XI

Oliver came barging into my room, not bothering to knock, his face contorted with anger.

"Have you lost your mind?!", he screamed, his arms swinging wildly around him.

"What are you talking about?", I furrowed my brows, slowly sitting up in my bed.

Oliver looked at me like I had gone crazy.

"I saw you", he said, his voice dead of any emotion, "In Diagon Alley. You were there."

My eyes widened. How could he have recognized me? I had been disguised as a Death Eater.

"I know you", he gave a dry laugh, answering my unspoken question, "And besides, your ponytail showed. Do you have any idea what I went through? I wanted to say goodbye that morning – and guess what? I found your bed empty! And I just knew it then and there, I knew you went without us. And then, when I had finally found you, that Death Eater had gotten his hands on you and dragged you away! I tried to stop him with a curse but he just apparated away with you!"

I swallowed.

"I thought I'd lost you!", Oliver whispered, his voice breaking, "I thought he was taking you to Flint. I was at Headquarters all night, the whole Order was debating whether to attack Flint's estate or not. And then I came home and found your shoes lying next to the fireplace. So where the hell were you?!"

"I got away", I answered, "Ollie, I'm sorry. I – I thought no one would notice me. I just wanted to go in, kill Flint and apparate out as soon as the Order arrived."

Oliver shook his head in disbelieve.

"Lupin's been furious", he said, "I guess you'll be banished from the next couple of missions."

I nodded. And then suddenly, I remembered the main reason for the attack on Diagon Alley.

I shot out of my bed.

"How'd it go yesterday?", I asked, eyes wide again, "Did – did anyone -?"

"No", Oliver answered immediately, "Mr. Weasley and Fred are pretty insured. George lost an ear. And Neville got hit with a nasty spell, making his skin burn. But Hermione knew the counter curse."

"What about Flint?"

Oliver's face darkened. "No one saw him."

I snorted. "The bastard must've realized what was going on when he came back from Knockturn Alley."

Oliver raised his eyebrows questioningly.

"I followed him. I almost got him before B-", I broke off, my heart beat speeding up, "When I noticed the Order arriving."

Close call.

"Yeah", my best friend answered, "Well, get dressed – we're going to Headquarters."

Fifteen minutes later we were ready to floo over. I had a queasy feeling in my stomach. Everyone must have been worried sick about me.

They were probably going to kill me.

I wasn't wrong about that. As soon as I stepped out of the fireplace, Mrs. Weasley came rushing at me, screaming furiously about how reckless I had been, how worried everyone else had been and so on.

Nothing scared me more than Mrs. Weasley being angry.

I stammered several apologies, feeling more ashamed then I had ever felt in my entire life. The Order had been trying to protect me, people had died by trying to do so – and I kept risking my life.

I didn't deserve their protection.

"Alright, Molly, enough", Lupin interrupted her ranting, "I'd like to have a word with her, too. Katie, would you please follow me?"

I swallowed and glanced nervously at Oliver. I saw him furrow his brows.

Finally, I sighed and followed Lupin out of the kitchen and into the small office next door.

"Look, I'm sorry", I started immediately after closing the door behind us, "I shouldn't have done that. It's just – Flint took everyone I ever loved away from me."

Lupin looked at me for a moment and I could see surprise flicker in his eyes.

That's when I realized that I was crying.

"It's not true, you know", he finally said, his voice soothing and I blinked in confusion.

"He didn't take everyone you love away from you", Lupin elaborated, "There are still plenty of people you love. Oliver, Molly, the twins, and a lot more. And they all – we all love you, too. You're like a daughter to Molly and Arthur – can you imagine what it must have felt like for Molly? Arthur and Fred nearly died. George lost an ear. And some Death Eater took you away. She was devastated."

"I – I'm sorry", I whispered, "I just can't handle it anymore."

"I know", Lupin answered, giving me a small smile, "You acted the same why when your brother died. First, you were in denial. Then, you were all aggression. But in the end, you broke and cried for weeks."

"You're right", I sighed, running a hand through my hair, "Look, I – I get it, if you don't want to hide me anymore. Or if you banish me from any missions or maybe even kick me out of the Order. But I want you to know that I really am grateful for everything you've done for me. I know I didn't show it, risking my life and all – but it's true."

To my surprise, Lupin laughed.

"What?"

"You really thought I'd kick you out or would stop protecting you?", he grinned, "Quite the opposite, actually. I have a mission for you."

I gaped at him, my eyes wide.

"Well, I certainly didn't expect that", I murmured.

"Maybe excluding you from everything was the wrong thing to do", Lupin explained, "And you really are a very talented fighter. How about you take a seat and I'll explain everything to you?"

I nodded, realizing I was still standing with my back against the door.

"Have you ever heard of the Deathly Hollows?", Lupin asked, once I had sat down.

"Of course", I answered, looking at him oddly, "Every magical child has, I dare say."

Lupin nodded. "What if I told you that they really exist?"

I laughed. "You're joking, right?", I shook my head, "It's just a story."

"Really?", Lupin gave me a pointed look, "So you never borrowed Harry's Invisibility Cloak?"

"Of course, I -", I stopped, thinking, "How do you know about the cloak?"

"Because it once belonged to James, Harry's father", he said, hurt flashing in his eyes, "But that's not the point. The Invisibility Cloak was one of the Hollows. Remember?"

"Yeah, so?"

"Well, if the cloak exists so does the rest", he continued, "Voldemort is after the Elder Wand. The most powerful wand in the world. He'd be invincible. Before we interrupted the meeting yesterday, Voldemort was telling his followers about how he heard a rumor that Gregorovitch, the wandmaker, is in possession of said wand. He wants to hunt him down."

"The informant told you that?", I asked sceptically, raising my eyebrows.

"Yes. And we have to do everything in our power to stop Voldemort from getting that wand. He already knows where to find Gregorovitch and is planning to attack him in a few days. I'm going to send a team there. And you will be part of that team."

"And Voldemort will be there in person?"

I'd never admit it but it scared the shit outta me.

"Probably. But Flint won't be."

"Alright. Count me in."

For a second, I wondered if I had lost my mind. I had to be absolutely crazy to agree to this.

Lupin smiled. "No word to anyone. I haven't yet decided who to send with you. Now go, I have work to do."

I nodded, still deep in thoughts, and made my way out of the office.

"Thank god", Oliver greeted me in the hall, "You were in there for quite some time! Everything okay?"

I was about to answer, when I saw Fred and George coming down the stairs.

"George", I exclaimed, running forward and throwing myself at him, "Oh my god, George."

I drew back and looked at him with wide eyes. "Your ear!"

"It's horrible", George said bitterly, "Mom's able to tell us apart now!"

And then we both laughed, but I couldn't stop the tears forming in my eyes and hugged him again.

"Oi, what about me?", Fred cried out, before hugging us both.

I smiled into the crook of George's neck. Lupin had been right. I still had people I loved more than anything else in this world and who loved me unconditionally in return.