A/N: Thank you so much for all those who reviewed, I really appreciate it! XP. Sorry for the late update, I'll try to make it a long one!
Hermione lazily looked over at the silver haired Veela beside her on the grass.
"Its so hot today, I feel like a swim. Do you want to come swimming?" Startled out of her reading, Katrina looked warily to the brunet.
"It's not that hot Hermione, and where would we swim?" Hermione had placed the large tome she was previously looking through beside her. They had been sitting under a redwood tree in the Hogwarts grounds, little sparrows twittered around them and the grass bent to their weight. The Griffindore's laughter tinkled, she gave the shy girl a look that said 'are you serious?'.
"Oh come on Nina! Its at least 25 degrees out here, and don't tell me you haven't noticed the big lake on the school grounds? You know that big mass of water?" Slightly put off Katrina bristled.
"Of course I know the school has a lake but I thought it would be far too cold, this temperature is nothing compared to back home." Upon mentioning 'home' an ache stirred in her chest, ignoring it she looked at the still laughing Hermione.
"Don't get your knickers in a knot, I was only teasing." Standing up suddenly, a smile and a blush suddenly crossed her face. Slyly she turned to the now unsettled Veela.
"What?" Katrina timidly asked, shifting slightly on the soft grass.
"I think we should invite the boys as well, Merlin knows they could use the exercise." The silver haired youth suddenly blushed realising what that would entail, they would be in their bathers, or lack there of. Blushing from neck to hair root she suddenly thought this was a bad idea. Shaking her head vigorously and almost choking she started.
"Hermione! But-but we couldn't, they-they would, be in-in…and we-we would be in…" Not finishing what she started and slumped against the tree trunk. Hermione's evil snicker suddenly frightened her. "What happened to the calm, smart and not really interested in what the boys where doing girl I met a few weeks ago?"
"Oh come on! I'm still a girl, I have to get my quirks somewhere, ahahahah." Grabbing the unwilling Veela from off the ground and dragged her to their rooms in a jolly walk.
It wasn't that Ktarina didn't like swimming, it was in fact the opposite, she loved swimming. But she never did like swimming around boys, being body conscious was a typical girl attribute. And Katrina and her sister had that in common, it wasn't like when you parents took you to the beach when you where toddlers, in embarrassing swimming trunks and then you ended up running around naked as the day you came into the world. Also Hermione had made her pick a bikini when they both bought bathers, Katrina had had a pair before hand but that was a couple years ago, and unlike Hermione, Katrina wasn't as bountiful when it came to body features. Shaking her head as she stood facing her bathroom mirror wrapped in a towel and bathers already riding up. Slowly she opened up her towel and frowned, she had put some more weight since she got to Hogwarts, but she was still very skinny, but not drastically as she had been before. Her face had filled out more, so there was less sharp angles and now softer ones.
Her bathers where the colour of the ocean, aqua and shimmered when she turned, the magic placed on the material enabled them to change colour slightly in different light and angles. They where nice, but they may have looked nicer on someone else. There was a sudden knocking on her bath room door and she jumped, quickly wrapping the towel securely around her shoulders. Its fluffy dark blue mass was her safety from prying eyes. Looking to the floor she spotted black swimming shorts and slipped them on, the light material came to her mid thigh, she must have grown in the last couple of days, she mused to herself.
"Katrina? Are you ok in there? Where ready to go." Hermione's slightly worried voice carried clear through the strong oak wood door.
"Yes I'm coming out." Tentatively she opened the door, and upon Hermione seeing the towel she smiled warmly at her.
"Come on Nina." Hermione had come into the habit of calling the Veela by her nickname, and although at first it brought up sad memories, it was starting to become endearing and a comfort.
They wandered into the lounge room where the boys where lounging upon seeing them they jumped up and headed to the door. Katrina kept her eyes down cast and only glimpsed up when she felt something stir in the air. Glancing to Ron she noticed he watched Hermione's moves with a cat like stare, he took in the sight of her black bikini and shorts from head to toe, seeming to drink in the vision, her hair was loose and less crazy, falling in waves rather than bushy clumps. Smiling to herself she almost ran into a certain raven-haired wizard.
" The lake should be good today." His voice cut through her thoughts and the deep baritone of it calmed her, it was strange she thought to herself. "Me and the guys where just lounging around playing exploding snap," Suddenly he lent in close in a conspiracy gesture, "I was half hoping Draco's eyebrows would be blown off just to entertain us." Katrina laughed, he looked so serious, but the mirthful spark in his eye told her he was joking. He lingered close for a moment longer than needed and her skin tingled from the heat coming from him and she caught a slight smell of his scent, that rain and cinnamon teased her nose. The boys where all wearing shorts and T-shirts, Katrina silently thanked the Gods for this, although she figured they wouldn't be wearing the shirts for long. She stepped off to the side slightly with a rosy colour coming to her cheeks.
"So why didn't you think of the lake before?" Katrina asked filling the slightly awkward silence that had ensued.
A thoughtful expression drifted across his face but then he shrugged.
"Dunno, but we jumped at the chance when Hermione mentioned it, and hit ourselves for not thinking of it." He laughed and ran an awkward hand across the back of his neck.
"Yeah, why didn't the wonder boy think of such a simple idea?" Draco came to Katrina's right and she smiled at him, missing the slight frown across Harry's brow. Katrina saw Draco had a smirk on his face but it was in good humor and not spite.
"Why didn't the 'oh so superior' Draco Malfoy think of it?" Harry retorted, smirking also. Their friendship was still new but was slowly coming together. Suddenly Ron ran through the middle of them laughing.
"I know why the both of you dim wits didn't think of it, cause you both have the brains of dragons dung. Last one to the lake is moaning Murtle's lover!" They had exited through doors right near the lake and the three boys shot off like three rockets towards the water, carelessly chucking their tops off as they ran.
Katrina turned to Hermione who was shaking her head but laughing at their antics.
"Who's moaning Murtle?"
"Murtle used to be a student here but died from the basilisk's stare, you know the one Harry fought off in his second year. All Voldermort's fault of coarse, but enough of that, come on or you'll be the last one in!" She laughed and sprinted off, Katrina didn't care if she was last. Harry was an amazing person for what he had gone through, but she didn't see him as a hero, she saw him as one who had accomplished great things for his friends and the people he cared for, and also for the country. But she saw how it wore him down, and she wished she could help him with the burden bestowed upon his young shoulders but it was his and his alone. Katrina and his other friends would be there for him in the battle that would come. She frowned darkly as her bare feet crushed warm grass as she walked slowly towards the others splashing in the lake. 'And what a battle it would be.' Katrina had for the last few days felt a presence drawing nearer forces where gathering, but it was too soon to tell.
Shaking her head she decided to enjoy the warm sun that was heating up her head and she felt a slight tingle on her shoulders. Looking to the lake, the Veela was surprised they swam in it. It was so dark, who knew what lurked beneath those depths. The boys where ganging up on Hermione and she was currently and furtively trying to get away, she called out to Karina and was suddenly captured by Ron by the arms as Harry splashed her and they had circled her like three deadly sharks, and deadly they looked. Three toned bodies from Quidditch and other out door activities had left them toned and muscled. Katrina blushed as she stared at Harry, hair wet, and looking like a mop, eyelashes clustered together with crystal drops of water. He was only waist deep and she watched his back as the defined muscles moved like the water on his back.
'Stop it.' She told herself, she was acting like a fool from one her sister's silly romance books. Gingerly she placed her towel on the ground under the weeping willow, its vines dancing upon the sparkling water. Her surrounding was the picture of serenity and she couldn't help but think she wished her family where hear in Scotland with her, witnessing it's beauty.
They hadn't noticed her walk towards the water, slowly and very cautiously she wadded into the water, the delicious cool water encased her body and she sighed in content. Smiling slightly she splashed Draco who was watching with amusement Harry and Ron's antics of trying to wrestle in water. Ducking under the water before he saw her she swam over towards Hermione, her legs where a blurry image through the clouded water. Smirking she grabbed a hold of her legs and yanked her downwards. When coming up for air she couldn't help the bubbling laughter that erupted from Hermione's splutters and coughs of being caught off guard.
"You little witch!" Was Hermione's weak reply. Suddenly it seemed the boys preferred a challenge and with matching evil looks started to make their way towards the two, putting on a fake look of terror the girls spilt up and Katrina swam between their legs and neared the bank where another's tree branch offered concealment. Panting she closed her eyes to recover her breath, not noticing the slight ripple of water near her.
A splash alerted her, but too late she was pulled under and another body wrapped its arms around her, fear took hold of her at first but then she felt whose presence it was and smiled to herself, that sneaky bugger. Coming to the surface spluttering she was surprised he had hold of her.
"Got-cha!" His warm voice vibrated through his chest and she shivered, though she hoped the raven haired boy would think she was cold. "You didn't think you would be able to get away that easily did ya?" She could tell he was smiling and she laughed.
"Why not, no one would have noticed little me. I was too quick for the likes of you. I was here for ages." She smiled, she knew he would take the bait and his ego would be in danger of questioning.
"I don't think so missy! I knew exactly what you where doing." Katrina could feel every part of his chest on her back and its warmth, she wriggled slightly uncomfortable with this new proximity. "Oh trying to escape? I don't think so, I only just caught me a Veela, and I'm not letting you out of my sight." He smiled cheekily at her and turned her around. Her usual braid had come undone and the hair tire lost somewhere in the water.
He laughed at her put out face, her silver curtain was covering her face and she couldn't move it out of her eyes with him holding her so close to him. And now that she faced him it seemed rather a bit too intimate with her body rather close to his. With a skill Katrina could never posses he still held her with one arm and then brought his hand up to move aside the silver matter, brushing it aside to expose her flushed and embarrassed face. She had to look up to see him and she realised he was keeping them afloat and her legs dangled in seeming mid air. "That's better, you should keep you're hair out of your face more often," He suddenly haltered and fumbled awkwardly, and a deep blush covered his cheeks and nose. Stumbling over his words, Katrina gathered he only now realised how close they were. His voice was suddenly quite and he looked seriously into her startled eyes. "So that everyone can see those pretty eyes of yours." She stared at him in shock, never had a boy complemented her, they were never interested in the 'weird girl'. His jungle green eyes bore into her's and Katrina noticed a fine red line rimmed the outside of his irises, making the green stand out more. A noise sounding like Ron, brought them both back to the present and he coughed and suddenly let go of her and jokingly splashed her, while swimming in the direction of the rest of the group.
Shaking her head she slowly made her way back to the group where Ron was throwing Hermione in the air towards Draco. Hermione screaming all the way,
"Ronald Weasely! Stop it or I'll take away your rights for fathers day!"
"I bet you'd love to get near that part of my anatomy Hermione." He said slyly while dunking her under water. Draco swam over to her with a strange look on his face.
"You and Harry where gone for a while," Then the strange expression turned into a sly smirk, "Something you want to tell me?"
Suddenly very embarrassed, she hadn't thought that the others would realise they hadn't returned oh Merlin it would have seemed so suss.
"N-nothing, I'm just a really good hider."
"I'm sure…" He didn't look satisfied or convinced and Ktarina made her face blank of emotion. They both relaxed in the water on their backs. Harry, Ron and Hermione where playing some game, Hermione was blindfolded and Harry and Ron where swimming just out of her reach, calling out 'Marco', 'Polo'.
"When does school start?" Katrina's small voice traveled to Draco beside her slightly muffled from his ears being half submerged in the water.
"About two months away, are you nervous about it?" He looked over to see her profile and saw her face was in a delicate frown.
With eyelashes wet they were nearly invisible, almost as if she had fairy dust surrounding her bright miss-matched eyes.
"A little, I'll know you guys, but I don't know how others will react to having a full Veela around." Doubt incased her quite voice.
"Are you worried the guys will constantly try to pick you up?" Draco's tone was teasing but suddenly Katrina changed to a standing position, her face shocked and slightly disturbed.
"What on earth do you mean?" Her voice was louder than before showing her discomfort and disbelief. He rolled his eyes and spoke in a bored, sarcastic manner.
"Katrina, your very attractive, and on top of that you have those Veela drawing abilities." Suddenly it seemed to click on her face and she shook her head.
"No, no. Light Veela's are different than other races of Veela. We don't have that skill of alluring others, the belief was that we were to be able to find and attract our mates on our own." Suddenly eyes downcast on spilling out personal information about herself she idly ran her fingers through the water.
"Oh, I see, I didn't mean to upset you." He touched her shoulder gently and she knew he felt awkward. Their family like bond was still new and it always takes the human to adjust quicker than the Veela.
Smiling softly she replied; " That's ok, you weren't to know."
"Hey you two, stop being snobs and join in." Came Ron's friendly jest. Draco looked questionably to her and she nodded and the blond rolled his eyes as if it where a chore, but Katrina knew he liked the company, even if he wouldn't admit it, or still act slightly off put around the three Griffindore's. Swimming towards them she hadn't seen Hermione's arm strike out and grab her arm, dubbing her as,
"Your it!"
A few hours later they had all had enough and sat beneath the friendly willow all laying down on the comfortable grass, chatting. Katrina's back itched and her wings longed to bake in the sun. But she didn't want to offend the other's. Looking indecisive she tried wriggling to relieve the itching and when she saw the others give her weird amused looks she immediately stopped.
"I'm starved, we should go get some food and eat out here yeah?" Ron's stomach gave a loud belch to put evidence to his hunger.
"Your always hungry, come on, we'll get some food." Hermione helped him off the ground and they both walked rather closely towards the castle.
"When are they going to get their act together?" Draco drawled to Harry and her. Harry merely laughed and shrugged.
"Who knows, maybe when they are both too old and not soo stubborn."
"They will when they're ready." Was the Veela's simple reply, although it sounded rather cryptic to the two wizards next to her.
Suddenly Katrina felt eyes on her and the boys. Jumping to her feet she scanned her surrounding, her father's training kicking in.
"What's wrong Nina?" Harry looked bemusedly up at her. Her reply was a finger to the lips and he frowned, standing up and he too began to look around the area. Draco didn't bother, he briefly looked and then went back to dozing. Growling softly she muttered,
"Come out you coward." Harry hadn't caught what she had said and watched with morbid fascination as she began to walk towards the trees on the outskirts of the school grounds. Suddenly the presence was gone and her shoulders dropped.
Shaking her head she shrugged, slightly embarrassed.
"Just paranoid I guess." The green-eyed youth eyed her evenly.
"No paranoia keeps you alert." Then he laughed, "I know all about paranoia, don't you worry. I'm sure it was nothing." She smiled shyly.
"Yeah I guess your right"
"Hey guys! I got food!" Ron came running over, though empty-handed.
"No you silly dolt, I have the food." Hermione's hands were occupied caring a whicker basket where food wafted. Suddenly three hungry teenage boys crept towards her. "Nice crazed stupid monkeys." The bushy haired girl's lip tugged into an amused smirk. "I'll give you some if you're nice well behaved boys." With their food in jeopardy they sat down and where very nice insuring they got their fill of delicious food.
Katrina smiled while eating her chicken sandwich. She was lucky to have been saved by these slightly odd wizards and witch.
Hope you enjoyed please R&R I need all I can get. :P