Kate's first thoughts were that she was warm and safe. Her second thought was how comfortable it was to be snuggled up with George.
Her body stiffened. Snuggled up with George?
Kate opened her eyes for a split second before snapping them shut again with a silent curse.
She heard a deep voice resonating beneath her head. "I know your awake so don't bother pretending."
Kate heaved a deep sigh and grimaced. "Morning," she said while opening her eyes.
"Did you sleep all right?" George asked.
Kate nodded without looking up.
"Are you hungry?" George ventured.
Kate shrugged non-committally.
"Well how about I go find us some breakfast?"
Once again Kate nodded, still avoiding words.
"Promise you'll still be here when I get back?" George joked lightly.
Kate groaned and pulled the covers over her head.
George grinned and slipped out the door. He wasn't too worried, she wasn't exactly dressed for roaming the halls.
Dashing down to the Great Hall, George headed straight to Ginny.
"Hey, George!" Ginny and Harry called. "Is Kate all right?"
George shrugged and rolled his eyes "I think so. Speaking of Kate, Ginny can I borrow a couple of things off you?"
Ginny raised her eyebrows in surprise, "I guess. What do you need?"
"I'll explain on the way up to Gryffindor," he said in a hurry to get moving.
Ginny shrugged but led both George and Harry up to the Gryffindor common room.
***************************
As Ginny fetched the things from her dorm, George quickly went to change.
Harry followed him up the stairs to the dorm. "How is she?" he asked seriously.
George dropped on to a bed and buried his face in his hands. "I found her in the Forbidden Forest. She'd been there all night. She was frozen," George paused unsure whether Harry knew about her scars "She seems to have injured herself." he said vaguely.
"As in actually cut herself?" Harry asked, the implication heavy in his voice.
George nodded tiredly.
Harry placed a hand on his shoulder, "We are here for both of you, George."
With a smile George looked up, "Thanks Harry. Well I better hurry up or Kate's going to wonder what happened to me."
Quickly George changed clothes and cleaned himself up. Then dashing down to the common room he only stopped long enough to kiss Ginny on the cheek before he was sliding out the door.
******************************
George finally returned to Kate, carrying a tray with some cloth thrown over his arm. Kate appeared to have decided she preferred life under the duvet.
George carefully placed the breakfast tray on the dresser. Perching on the side of the bed, George began pulling back the covers. After a bit of a fight Kate's head finally appeared.
"Hey, sleepy head."
Kate just grumbled and growled.
George grinned, "I brought you some clean clothes," he said raising a small pile of grey jersey.
Kate rolled her eyes but gave in. She realised for all practical purposes she was trapped here with George, so she may as well humour him.
She took the clothes from George, but groaned as she found he'd brought only a tank top and shorts. "George!" she protested.
"I borrowed them off Ginny," he supplied.
"That wasn't what I meant," Kate grumbled.
George sat back down on the bed beside her; carefully he slipped a finger under her chin making her eyes meet his. "Kate, I'm the only one here. No one else is going to see."
Kate grumbled but gave in, "Alright turn around," she ordered.
George grinned as he turned his back. He was pleased even to see her grumpy. It showed she was feeling at least a bit more like her normal self. And her normal self he knew how to deal with.
"Ok, you can turn around," Kate called reluctantly.
George was surprised, even though her scars were obvious she looked amazing. She was normally hidden beneath so many layers that her natural grace was hidden. Her pale skin now seemed to glow through the lace like scars.
Where as before Kate's scars had stood out, now they just seemed like a part of her unique beauty.
George grinned at the impossibility of making Kate see this.
"There, isn't that more comfortable?" he asked.
Kate just sulked against the headboard.
"How about some lunch as it's a bit late for breakfast?" he suggested.
Kate nodded grumpily. When the tray was placed before her though, she smiled. There was a huge bowl of macaroni and cheese and a few of her other favourites. The meal actually did a lot for Kate's temperament. The comfort food made her relax and feel safe.
After clearing a couple of plates she finally put down her fork, unable to eat another bit. George removed the tray and climbed up beside her. Wrapping her in his arms he leaned against the headboard. "Now why don't you tell me the whole story."
Kate um'ed and ah'ed, stalled, and stuttered, but finally she slowly and painfully relayed the tale.
George held her tight as she haltingly told the story of her difficult past. When finally she finished, her voice fading back into silence, he turned her face up to his.
"Kate, You are not your past. These scars are, at worst, a sign of a past sickness. You don't need to be ashamed of them. Your friends will accept you for who you are and anyone who doesn't isn't worth your time."
Kate looked doubtful, but she was glad the conversation was over. She also found it a surprising relief that George knew. She felt an odd sense of freedom, but she still wasn't sure it would last. The tank top she was wearing made her nervous. It had been four years since she'd worn anything this revealing.
George hopped off the bed and grabbed something off the dresser, "You have a choice you can read the novel I borrowed off Ginny, or we can play a game."
"What kind of game?" Kate asked worriedly.
"Either Exploding Snap or Chess. I couldn't find our set of gobstones."
"Let's stick with Chess, I prefer games which don't bite back," Kate grimaced.
******************
Kate and George spent the rest of the day playing, joking, and enjoying each others company.
George noticed that she began to relax about her scars. For short periods of time, she wasn't stressed they were visible.
After their third game of Chess and their sixth of Exploding Snap, George popped down to the kitchens for dinner. On his return he brought not only a large over flowing tray, but a serious expression.
"What's up?" asked Kate worriedly.
George carefully set the dinner tray on the dresser and sat next to Kate. "Professor Dumbledore and Professor Sinastra would like to visit you."
Kate's face fell. Her whole body expressed her worry and dread.
"Do you mind if they eat with us?"
Kate shrugged non-committally. George took that as a yes. Before she could change her mind he slipped out into the hall.
Professors Dumbledore and Sinastra stood waiting with a couple of house-elves bearing dinner trays. Dumbledore raised his brow in question.
"Well she didn't say no, but she's not happy about it." George revealed.
Dumbledore nodded and with a wink led the way into the room.
Kate looked up in dread, but was met by a grandfatherly smile and twinkling eyes.
"Good evening Miss. Thornton, I'm glad to see you're feeling better."
Kate searched the Professor's face but only found sincerity there. She blushed, "Thank you, sir"
With a smile Professor Dumbledore waved his wand and transfigured the dresser into a sturdy table with two chairs. Kate sat on the edge of the bed to join the other three at the table.
To Kate's surprise the dinner was rather pleasant. The professors engaged in friendly banter and conversation. Professor Sinastra even admitted to almost missing Snape's dinner conversation. Joking she added "He's been almost pleasant since you altered his robes."
Sinastra actually spent much of the dinner subtly examining Kate. She had never actually seen Kate's injuries before. Although Mrs. McGonagall had described them to her, Sinastra found that words had not even come close to reality.
It was obvious Kate had been given no choice in her current apparel. She awkwardly wrapped her arms around herself in an effort to hide her scars, but it was a hopeless cause.
Sinastra was truly surprised that Kate had managed to hide her injuries not only at Salem, but also at Hogwarts. Sinastra suspected that Kate was truly a more formidable person than she let on, or even knew.
When finally they had all eaten their fill Professor Dumbledore magiced away all the trays.
"Now before we leave Miss Thornton,"
Kate cringed.
"As today is Wednesday, we think you should take the next two days to recuperate, and catch up on your school work. You may then return to classes on Monday."
Kate looked up in surprise "I'm not expelled?"
Dumbledore smiled "No, all recovery includes setbacks."
Dumbledore restored the dresser, preparing to leave, while Sinastra gave Kate a large hug. "I'm glad you are feeling better, Kate. How about we meet for lunch this weekend?" she asked with a smile.
Kate nodded quietly.
On her way out Sinastra also gave George a hug, whispering something in his ear before following Dumbledore into the hall.
"What did she say?" Kate demanded after the door shut.
George grinned, "She told me to take care of you."
Kate rolled her eyes in exasperation, but the effect was ruined when she yawned.
"Looks like you could use a nap." George teased.
Kate was going to protest, but had to agree after another yawn interrupted her.
George smiled and tucked Kate firmly into her blankets. Then wrapping an arm over her insulated form he snuggled beside her.
Although the day had been short, it had been emotionally draining, and both quickly fell into sleep.
*************************
In the morning George once again woke before Kate. Glancing out the window, he realised it was only just breakfast time.
After quietly sneaking out of the room, he quickly made his way to the Great Hall. Finding the Gryiffindors hadn't arrived yet he headed for the tower.
Half way there he found the person he was looking for. "Ginny" he called. He noticed she was yet again in Harry's company. George filed away a mental note to have a 'talk' with the boy.
"Hey George, do you think we could visit Kate today?" Ginny asked eagerly.
George paused to think. He liked the idea, but he wasn't sure he could convince Kate. "I'll have to ask her, how about I meet you two in the Entrance Hall at lunch and let you know?"
Ginny nodded enthusiastically.
"So Ginny, do you think you could do me a favour and help me get Kate's school work?"
*************************
After much um'ing and ah'ing by the Ravenclaws, Ginny was allowed to grab Kate's things. She quickly returned with a huge pile of books.
George rolled his eyes but thanked Ginny for her help.
Deciding he had all he could manage, George headed straight back to Kate's room.
He found her sat up in bed reading Ginny's trashy novel. When she caught sight of her school texts her eyes lit up, causing George to grin.
Bouncing off the bed Kate quickly relieved George of his burdens. Immediately she was sucked into her studies, not even noticing when George left again.
Before long George was back with his own books and the two students were diligently working away. As lunch drew near George awkwardly cleared his throat. "Um Kate, Ginny and Harry would like to visit during lunch. Do you mind?" George attempted to ask casually.
Kate didn't respond. George began to wonder if she'd even heard him. He reached out a tentative hand. When it touched her arm she suddenly turned to him. She had heard him; he could see the pain and panic in her eyes.
"Kate, its just Ginny. She's one of your best friends you can trust her. She's worried about you."
Kate was torn. George was right, both he and Harry had taken the truth in their stride, but she was still scared.
"Trust me, Kate," George pleaded.
Reluctantly Kate nodded.
*************************
George met Harry and Ginny in the Entrance Hall. Ginny bounded across the room to greet him, "Well?" she demanded.
George smiled, "She said yes, but there is something we should explain to you first."
Ginnys's brow crumpled in confusion, "What do you mean."
George led them to the quiet hall, and sat her in front of a bright window. "Kate's scared Gin. She's afraid after you visit you'll treat her differently."
"Why would I?" Ginny demanded.
"Kate's been hiding a rather large secret." George explained, "About half her body is covered in a web of scars."
Ginny gasped "What happened?"
George and Harry did their best to explain Kate's painful past. Ginny's mouth dropped in sympathy and her eyes teared.
"So you see Gin she needs to know people accept her, and her past. "
Ginny nodded and wiped her eyes. Taking a deep breath, she then grinned, "So what are we waiting for?"
Upon entering the room they saw Kate awkwardly sitting on the bed waiting for their arrival. Ginny immediately ran to Kate and gave her a huge hug "This is totally not fair," she exclaimed, " those clothes look so much better on you! Anyways, you'll be glad you missed tutorial yesterday, Snape set the second years a practical project on spot removers. Misty somehow made her whole shirt disappear!"
As Ginny continued at a mile a minute, George and Harry grinned. In mere seconds she had Kate at ease and laughing. They were both sat on the bed facing each other chatting away as if nothing had happened. George smiled no matter what anyone else thought his sister had a special sort of magic.