Right after her positions class that Tuesday, Katherine saw Mason waiting outside her class for her.
She remembered when she had first explained this all to him. They had both talked to her father and Barty Crouch Jr, about what they would be doing. Mason had been hesitant at first. He would have to keep this from their grandparents and his own parents, but in the end agreed. He knew what he was getting himself into but his family needed his help and he wasn't going to turn them down. So ever since then he's been helping or doing things like Katherine by hinting to Cedric what to do with the Golden Egg for the hint for the second task.
"I'll see you later," she told her friends and before they could says anything, she quickly kissed Draco and walked towards Mason.
Mason was casually leaning against the wall with his arms crossed over his chest. He smirked as she got closer to him.
"This isn't cutting into your school work time, is it?" Katherine asked him as they walked together to Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom.
"Not really. I got a lot of work done this morning but this better not be a waste my time or else I will be upset he bothered us for nothing." Mason mumbled. As a sixth year he had lots of free time but none of it was really for him to relax but to get all his assignments done. He was only taking the required Newt classes he needed to work at the ministry: Defense Against the Dark Arts, Charms, Transfiguration, Potions, Arithmancy, History of Magic and Ancient Runes. Plus Astronomy for his own liking. He has no interest in exceeding to study other subjects and gets 12 O.W.L.s. People didn't find it uncommon for any Winters not to get all 12 O.W.L.s. None of them had ever thought of taking Muggle Studies. Divination was a waste of time. Care of Magical Creature they would receive and O.W.L. in but wouldn't go for a N.E.W.T. in that subject. Some would take Herbology if they were interested in becoming Healers, but not Mason. He had received 10 O.W.L.s but had only gone to further in studying 8 of those for his N.E.W.T.s. They were a lot of classes but most of them were all on Monday so he had the whole week to work on assignments. He had also been taking apparition lessons earlier in the year and had already passed his test since he was already seventeen.
As soon as they walked inside the classroom they saw Moody at the front of the classroom.
"Were you followed?" Moody asked them with his back to them.
Mason scoffed. "Yeah because when people see us they think we're up to something," he said but still checked the halls as he closed the classroom door and locked it.
"Why now? It's only May and the final task isn't until next month. Plus, it's not like we can interfere and help him in it. He'll be on his own in the maze." Katherine said as she sat in one of the chairs in the front with Mason sitting beside her.
Moody turned around and shook his hand dismissing her thoughts. "It's not about the task."
"Then what?" Mason asked in disbelief. He was getting upset as he saw this was getting pointless.
"I need more ingredients for my next batch of the potion," he told them.
"You've got to be bloody kidding me," Mason hid his face behind his hands. "I can't keep asking for more potion ingredients from my parents. They'll start suspecting-"
"Let them suspect! They should know what is going on so they can know what side to stand on!"
"They cannot know about this! Do you understand?" Mason looked really mad now as he slammed his hand down on the table and stood up.
The professor ignored him and turned to Katherine, "Then ask your parents. They know what's going on."
Katherine rolled her eyes and that he did notice.
"Don't give me that look! I can't keep taking it from Snape's supply. He's already noticed the missing ingredients." He said and his tongue started doing that weird thing it usually did, especially when he got agitated.
"And I told you not to talk to me like that," Katherine glared at him.
"Oh, don't tell me you're still angry at me for what I did to your boyfriend in the beginning of the year?" He smirked.
"You turned him into a ferret! You completely embarrassed him! How did you expect me to be okay with that?" She clenched her fists. "And no that's not why."
"Then what could it possibly be?" He rolled his eyes at her behavior.
"Oh, I don't know? Only that no more than three months ago you killed your own father," she told him as she crossed her arms and leaned back in her seat.
"Exactly! Three months ago, get over it!" He snarled at her. "And I don't think you should me slouching like that unless you want your grandmother lecturing you about your posture."
"That's it!" Katherine stood up and reached for her wand but Mason held her back.
Moody smirked. "If only others saw you like this. The perfect Winters attempting to attack someone."
"And they'd watch as I completely beat you to smithereens. And the reason why no one has ever seen it happen is because you're the only fool that dares to cross a Winters!" Katherine told him.
"Come on, Katherine. There's no need to sink down to his level," Mason snarled at him. "And about the ingredients you wanted, get them yourself!" He told him as he and Katherine left the room and he closed the door behind him.
Mason muttered curses under his breath. It had been bad enough he had to put up with him when he visited the Manor in the summer which is where he had stayed for some time to discuss plans. At least there he knew how to behave himself in front of them and hadn't crossed them, but here he took his position as a professor as a way to attempt to boss them around.
Both Winters headed towards the Slytherin common room. Neither wanted to be around people right now so they headed up to their own dorm.
Katherine walked in and saw that only Millicent was there.
"Hello Katherine-are you okay?" the girl asked her as she saw her angry mood.
Katherine looked at her before closing her eyes and containing her anger. "I'm fine. Hello to you to Millicent. Why are you here?" she opened her eyes and smiled.
Millicent shrugged. "Just thought I'd rest a bit before I have to work on our Potions assignment. What about you?"
"Same I guess," Katherine put her bag down on her bed and sat down. Millicent then took out her work and started working on it.
Katherine glanced over at her and saw her eyebrows all scrunched up in confusion.
"Do you need help?" Katherine smiled kindly at her.
Millicent looked up with a relieved expression. "You wouldn't mind would you?"
Katherine shook her head and smiled again. "I have to get mine done. Might as well help you out as I do it."
"Thank you!"
Katherine chuckled and sat beside Millicent as she explained the assignment to her and helped her finish it. It took an hour to finish. It wasn't a very hard assignment it was just Millicent didn't get any of it.
When they did finish, Katherine was relieved of her upset mood and decided to go down to the common room. She almost laughed when she saw Mason sitting with Peter at a table to help him out with their assignment.
She walked over to them and smiled. Mason noticed her happy mood and despite himself not being annoyed anymore he was curious what had made her lose it.
"Why are you all cheery now?"
"I just so happened to finish helping Millicent with a potions assignment and by the looks of it you're helping Peter out with his. It just amuses me."
Mason chuckled. He felt the same way. After helping Peter out for a while he had too started to get less annoyed. He found it actually funny when his friends didn't get their lessons. They both didn't get annoyed when their friends didn't understand something so they would have to explain it to them multiple times. They found it relaxing to do so actually which is why they made perfect tutors for many people. Lots of girls in Mason's year would take advantage of this actually. Whether they were even in Slytherin or not. Even some Gryffindors girls would ask him. Mason never minded. Just now he would have Autumn with help also helping them out. Most girls actually didn't complain because despite them have been attracted to Mason they really did need help and he was the best for it besides Katherine.
"You're both improving," Peter smiled as he continued scribbling down his response for the assignment. He looked up to see both the Winters with raised eyebrows. "You're both eating and staring to get more focused in your classes."
Both Winters slightly smiled.
"How is he?" Peter put his quill down and looked he genuinely concerned for them and their grandfather. He and Alexis had met him many times when they went over to Mason's family home. He was the kindest person they had ever met. There were very few people he didn't like. Or his family are just very good judges of character and always introduce good people to him.
Both Winters gave sad smiles and Peter immediately understood. He didn't ask any further questions getting the idea.
They had both only told a certain few of the I'll state of their grandfather. Only a close few. Peter being one of them. The others were of course, Theodore and Luna. As well as Draco, Blaise, Alexis, Crabbe and Goyle. Pansy being the first one to find out. It was true that Mason had not yet told his girlfriend l, Autumn of the circumstances for he wasn't at that stage in their relationship to be completely open with her.
"So where did you disappear to earlier?" Peter asked trying his attention back to his assignment.
"What do you mean?" Mason gave him a curious smile.
"Well...I bumped into Autumn and I asked where you were since I need you help with this and...she told me she thought you were with me. So we both went and looked for Alexis and you weren't with him either." He looked back to see both Winters with serious expressions. Mason seemed annoyed but it went away as soon as it appeared.
"Katherine and I went to talk to Professor Moody," Mason smirked but the look that was in his eyes made it clear not to push him.
"Now come to think of it, we should go check on our owls which we were suppose to check after that," Mason stood up. "You'll be okay with finishing this on your own?"
Peter assured them he'd be okay and both Winters went to the Owlery. They had bumped into Autumn by the way but Katherine came up with an excuse to get away.
"I'm sorry, but we've been expecting something very important." Katherine pulled Mason's arm from his girlfriend.
"Oh. It's okay. I'll see you later?" Autumn asked.
But Mason and Katherine had already walked out of earshot.
Autumn frowned and curious. She watched the two Winters walk away and turned in search of a certain platinum blond. She had noticed Mason had been distant before but has been getting better. It's just she doesn't know the reason behind it. She felt he was keeping something from her. It was true. She was not aware of their grandfather's ill state.
Draco was well aware that Mason had not told Autumn about his grandfather so when Autumn asked him he only told him, "You should ask him. It's better if you hear it from him." That only made Autumn worry more.
Just not as worried or shocked as the Winters soon became.
Once they got gotten to the Owlery they had found a letter with Euphoria; Mason's owl. Mason had thanked her but grew wary upon reading through the letter.
Once he finished reading, he just kept staring at the piece of parchment.
"What is it?" Katherine asked. Mason hardly ever showed signs of distress. A Winters never really did. And yet that price of parchment with calligraphy handwriting had caused him to do so.
He looked up from the letter and looked straight into the blue eyes that matched his and said in a quiet voice which was full of disbelief, "Grandmother is coming to Hogwarts."
Katherine's eyebrows knit together in confusion. "What?" She took the letter from her older cousin's hands and started reading.
Dear Mason,
I've written to inform you and Katherine, whom you'll be sharing this information with-only with-that I will be presenting myself and only myself to Hogwarts in this forthcoming week. I will coming bearing news to you both as well as Dumbledore. He had made it clear it wouldn't be a bother for him to come over to the mansion your grandfather and I reside in, but I wouldn't have it. It will only be of proper etiquette to come myself. Now as I write this, I've come to realize that my second and only other granddaughter attends the prestigious school and wish for you to not inform her of my arrival but have her presentable. Not that I'm not sure Luna is as lovely as her mother had been but, one mustn't fogey of our loss our you aunt which resulted in her being raised by her father. That will be all. I'm sure you'll be glad of my visit as much as I look forward to seeing my grandchildren.
With love,
Grandmother
In fine print at the bottom of the piece of parchment was their family crest and below it was in dark blue ink written: Clarissa of the Great House of Winters.
Katherine looked up from the letter and looked straight at Mason.
"Autumn." Was all she said but that was enough to confirm why he was so concerned.
"Do you have any idea what she will do-what she will say-if she finds out about Autumn. I can't bare to think of the shame she'll make me feel. Not for just telling her but you know her. You know she'll criticize her."
"Mason."
"No she'll want to see her if she hadn't already and she'll treat her nicely with the utmost respect, but you know what she'll be thinking! She'll be judging her and make me doubt my relationship! She'll tell me parents, your parents, she'll tell grandfather...Oh, the betrayal and downhearted emotions he'll be feeling for not telling him at the start."
"Mason."
"And her name! They'll think I'm dating her as a joke-I mean yeah, I did only ask her out because of it, but now I like her. I really like her but their responses, their-"
"Mason!" Katherine quietly scolded him. He had been muttering and pacing back and forth in front of her in the library. He trailed behind her while rambling. He had kept fumbling with his fingers which is what he did when he was nervous and distraught. "You need to calm down."
Mason nodded and breathed in deeply then exhaled. He ran his fingers through his hair. Something else he did when he was nervous or worried.
"You just need to tell them before she gets here," Katherine told him comfortably. "If you really like her then you won't let her change your mind about your relationship and prove to them it's not a joke."
"I know, but…"
"No secrets. No lies. Just the truth, for the truth is just and kind...well hopefully in this case it is," Katherine gave him a smile. Mason couldn't help but crack a smile. Their grandfather would always repeat those words to them when they were younger. Word for word. Still didn to this day just not as much since they had caught onto the purpose of it.
Mason nodded. "I'll send them each a letter early in the morning. I'm just nervous how he'll react. He's already I'll. I just don't want him to make him feel worse with having hidden this from him."
"It's better he hear it from you now then from our dear grandmother."
Mason sighed. He opened his arms for a hug which Katherine gladly accepted. "Thank you," he murmured.
"It was my pleasure." He pulled away and smiled thankfully at his cousin. "I'm going to go write the letters now but don't think I'm not going to help you. I know you're nervous too. Not as much as I was but you are. I've told you once and I'll keep telling you until you understand: Don't let her bring you down. You're beautiful just the way you are despite how corny that may sound. Besides, being completely perfect is overrated." He smiled widely at her. He noticed Draco coming into the library, looking around for a certain brunette.
"I'll see you at dinner," he ruffled her hair a bit which she lightly laughed at and walked over to Draco.
"Draco."
"Mason," Draco nodded in greeting. "Is-"
"She's over there in between the aisle. Now if you'll excuse me I have letter to write," Mason smiled at Draco then walked towards the dungeons.
Draco approached Katherine with a perplexed look.
"Hi Draco," Katherine smiled as she reached up to take a book from the shelf.
He smiled in greeting and then asked, "So why's Mason so happy right now?"
Katherine scoffed but smiled. "You should've seen him just half an hour ago. A complete and utter mess he was."
Draco cracked a smile not noticing she had avoided answering his question.
His face then grew a smirk as he stared at her.
"What?" She asked once she saw his smirk.
He didn't answer but simply spread his arms open. She got the message however but chose to ignore it to tease him. She smiled and with a book in hand she got closer to him. Draco thinking she would accept his hug also walked a bit closer. Then before he could grab ahold of her, she ducked under his arm and walked towards the front table to Madam Pince.
Draco shook his head and chuckled. He followed after her and once she checked out a few books he took the two books from her and carried them himself in one arm and held her hand with his other. He hadn't spent much quality time with her lately and he wanted to change that.
"Join me at Hogsmeade this weekend?"
Katherine smiled. "Don't I always?"
"No. I mean like actually spend time just with me. Not with Theodore. Not with Pansy. Not Mason. Just us two."
Katherine thought back at the matter she and Mason had been worried about. She knew when her grandmother came she would hardly spend anytime with anyone besides her grandmother, Mason, and according to her grandmother: Luna. She had also noticed she hadn't spent as much time with Draco as before. Sure she had classes with him and at meals beside him, but that didn't really count since she had done that before they had become a couple. They weren't attached to the hip as they were before in the school term.
Katherine nodded which caused Draco to smile. He let go of her hand and instead moved an arm around her shoulder being her closer to him and left a lingering kiss on her temple.
Till the next update. :)