Kate POV

"Hello Kate. How are you feeling?"

She smiled to see Draco and Narcissa standing up from the table they'd been waiting for her at. It was her first real day out on her own after recovering from Merlin's Measles. She'd managed to convince Harry and Hermione that she was fully capable of taking the floo to Diagon Alley and yes, she remembered the way to open the wall that divided the wizarding and muggle worlds. As it had turned out, she hadn't needed to. A nice older witch had been heading into the Alley at the same time and had done it first.

"I'm doing much better." She gave Narcissa a hug that she warmly returned and then one to Draco who seemed to still be a bit surprised at the gesture. "It's good to see you both and to get out of the house. And to be my normal coloring and not green!"

"Merlin's measles is not easy to deal with, no matter what age you are. Draco had a dreadful time with them when he was small." Narcissa said with a sigh as they all took their seats, Draco being a gentleman and pushing in Kate's chair for her.

"Mum!"

Kate smiled at the embarrassed look on Draco's face and was pleased that he was comfortable enough around her now to be a bit more relaxed and not be so formal with his mom. "I'm sure you handled them in a very manly way."

Draco rolled his eyes. "No, I was four and made Mum sleep in my bed every night because I felt miserable. I've never been very good about being sick."

Narcissa laughed and nodded in fond confirmation. "It's true."

Kate smiled softly. "My dad used to sit with me when I was sick. Always worried after me. It was strange, you know, to be sick without him."

"I'm sure he was there, Kate."

She nodded at the elder witch. "Yeah. I know. Everyone was really great to me. Flippy yelled at George for taking me to the Burrow via the Floo because it made me sick to my stomach. She's a very protective little elf."

Narcissa smiled. "She's always been that way from what I can remember. She loved your family." She paused. "I can't imagine how difficult it was for her to be separated from them all those years ago. Elves are very attached to their families generally."

Kate nodded. "Harry and Hermione told me all about Dobby."

"Yet another failing of my dead husband. He showed nothing but cruelty to that poor creature. No wonder he wanted to be free." She sighed. Kate had learned the story of Hermione's well meaning effort for Elvish welfare that seemed to get the least amount of support from the very beings it was aimed at helping.

"I hated how Father treated him and the other elves. I'm not for freeing the elves like Granger was. They like serving their families for the most part. It's part of who they are, what makes them happy. But Father was just cruel for no reason. Dobby was always something like a friend to me when I was small." Draco said softly. "But I was glad when Potter tricked my father into freeing him. Not that he needs to know that."

Kate smiled and mimed zipping her lips. "He'll never hear it from me."

"So Kate, tell me, what do you want to do today on your first day of freedom from being green and stuck in bed? It's your choice!" Narcissa said brightly, tapping her menu with her wand to indicate her meal choices.

"Oh I'm happy with just walking around Diagon Alley. Maybe do a bit of shopping? You two know wizarding London so much better than I do, so I think you could come up with better ideas than I could."

"I think we could do that, don't you think so Draco?"

"Of course Mum." Draco put down his menu and nodded to Kate's. "Would you like me to make your choices for you? I remember what you said about muggle restaurants and without a wand..." He trailed off.

"Actually, I can do it myself. Part of my training with Remus on control and focus." She found what she wanted on the menu and pointed to it with her index finger, gently tapping the menu with the slightly glowing digit. Thank goodness wizards liked pasta. She'd starve otherwise. "See?"

"That's brilliant. Well done." The blonde commended with a reserved but genuine smile.

"Filthy Deatheater scum!"

Kate whirled around at the sound of the shout as a hex came flying toward them and was about to try and deflect it like Harry taught her, but it was absorbed by a shield erected around them. She turned her head to see Draco with his wand out. "Oi! Watch your aim you bloody wanker!"

"Fuck you! Why don't you go kill yourself to be with your Death Eater lord?"

"Hey! What the hell is wrong with you?" Kate cried out. How could anyone tell someone to just kill themselves after throwing a hex at their back. They hadn't even been doing anything to warrant an attack. After a light lunch, they'd gone and spent a good amount of time in the bookstore and were on their way to the robe store. "At least he didn't try to hex someone in their back, you asshole!"

"Kate, don't. It's alright. We're used to this." Narcissa put her hand on Kate's arm. Nevertheless, in her other hand, she was tightly gripping her wand.

"But you shouldn't have to be. It's been years! You saved Harry's life! And Draco didn't even really want to get Marked." She felt so frustrated that others refused to see how much the Malfoys had changed. The other shoppers had just continued on with their business like nothing had happened though a few had made a point of moving away from them. "You don't even have the damned thing anymore!" She indicated Draco's arm that was glowing ever so slightly from beneath his suit jacket, the only sign of his Phoenix Mark.

"They don't care about that Kate. My father was…very good at establishing our reputation and sadly it didn't disappear with his death." His eyes looked around and saw that their cowardly attacker had taken off. "Let's not linger in case he has like minded friends."

"Good thinking. I don't want Kate to get hurt because of us." The elder witch put her wand back into the holster in her robes.

"Oh Narcissa!" She felt so sad for the older witch and her son. "I'm more worried about you two! This happens all the time?" How often had they been forced to defend themselves? Had Harry helped them with reports at the Auror office or had they had to deal with an Auror who blamed them for being attacked at all?

"Yes, it does. Thankfully my reflexes are sharp and those who are dumb enough to try anything aren't very good." Draco said, putting his wand away while his gray eyes continued to look around cautiously. "Just the same, let's be safe and move on. Alright?" He held out his arm, a well trained gentleman.

She sighed and took his arm. "I wish I could change things. It's not fair. Any of this."

"The fact that you wish you could means a great deal, Kate. Truly." Narcissa said softly, gently running her fingers over Kate's hair. "Why don't we make a slight detour and treat ourselves to some ice cream, children?"

"Mother, we're a bit old to be referred to as children."

Narcissa laughed. "You will always be my baby, Draco. No matter how old you are. I'm sure Liam was the same way with you Kate?"

Kate nodded. "Yeah, it's not a battle worth fighting Draco, you'll always lose. Jimmy said I'd always be his baby sister even when I was in my 80s and my dad said I'd always be his little girl." She took a deep breath, her heart clenching at the thought that neither of those statements were true anymore, thanks to the men that had attacked her home a few months ago.

"That's right." Narcissa gave her shoulder a squeeze as they walked.

"I am NOT A FREAK!"

Kate stopped, hearing a familiar voice from the alley she'd almost walked past. It'd been a quiet Saturday in Hogsmeade until now. She'd taken a break from her lessons to bring George his lunch at the shop, earning a gentle brief kiss as a thank you and had been taking her time to walk back when she'd thought she'd heard the sounds of a scuffle going on. Teddy?

"Of course you're a freak. Half blood freak Hufflepuff mother, werewolf monster for a father? Sounds like a freak to me!"

Hearing the sooty tone of an older boy and the laughter of others, she knew immediately that Teddy was in a bad situation. How could anyone go after a 7 year old? His mother had been a hero and his father was a living one. How dare they! She was starting to realize just how sheltered a life she'd lived on Hawaii considering she'd never even been in a fight before that night when she'd killed the four dark wizards. It seemed to be a regular thing to throw hexes and spells at each other here.

"Oh boy, we should be scared guys! Little freak's hair is turning red! He's angry! Oooh! Too bad it's not a full moon. He could sprout some tiny fangs and try to bite us!"

"Wonder what color his hair will be when we make him cry like a baby?" Another deeper boy's voice questioned.

Cursing, Kate ran the few feet to the alley to find the boys advancing on Teddy who was backed to a wall and looking terrified even with his best effort at a brave face. She cast a quick shielding spell with a flick of her right hand in case the boys tried magic while throwing out her left and pushing the boys away to the other wall with magic. "Back off, RIGHT NOW." She shouted, making her way down the alley.

She looked over Teddy, not seeing any injuries but seeing both his anger at the boys and his relief at someone coming to his rescue. "You alright big man?"

He nodded and she released the shield, reaching for his small hand and pulling him behind her. She hadn't dueled with anyone except in practice and these kids looked like they were barely 15 if at all. Still, they'd been around magic longer than she had. "Wow, four against one, and a child at that! How brave you must feel." She mocked as the boys picked themselves up after she'd pushed them away. She tried to sound like she imagined the professors at Hogwarts would sound if they'd come upon the situation. Maybe she could get them to leave without fighting or at least delay things till someone else came by for help. Should she try casting a Patronus? She'd only ever seen others do it and read a bit about it.

"What's it to you lady? If he didn't want trouble, little freak shouldn't be out by himself!" The lead boy sniffed.

"What's it to me? This boy is in my protection. That's all you need to know. You're pathetic for attacking a small boy." She looked closer and noticed their green and silver ties. Slytherin.

"Pathetic? You're that freak that blew up her house in America! I remember seeing you in the Prophet. Blow up anything lately?" Another boy goaded. "No wonder you're defending the little freak."

Kate felt Teddy squeeze her hand and she squeezed back. She closed her eyes and smiled. "Oh boys, boys, boys. Apparently there's one thing you don't know about me. I guess The Prophet article didn't mention it."

"What's that?" Another boy spat. They certainly were a tight knit group of little jerks, practically speaking in the same tone with the same body language.

She concentrated, using the skills she'd practiced with Harry and Remus. She raised her head and opened her eyes, knowing they would be bright white with tiny flames. She'd gotten much better at controlling her magic and her eyes changing no longer meant she was losing control. It was just how her magic tended to manifest. "You don't want to make me angry. You wouldn't like me when I'm angry." She couldn't help but give a wicked grin when the boys' eyes widened and they backed away.

"And you wouldn't like it when I'm angry either." She turned her head and saw Draco moving to her side, his wand out. "You disgust me and disgrace our house!" Kate was both surprised and relieved to see the blonde, part of her wondering what he was doing in Hogsmeade. It had only been a few days since she'd seen him and his mother in London.

"More than that, Mr. Malfoy. They've each earned a month's detention and 20 points from Slytherin each for their cowardly and cruel behavior." Remus came from the other side putting his hand on his son's shoulder, the boy still holding her hand but reaching for his father. "Now I suggest you head back to the castle before you see me get angry." He all but growled at them.

The boys ran off.

Kate closed her eyes and concentrated, not wanting to scare Teddy with the fire coming from them as his father asked how he was and what happened. She felt Draco put his hand on her shoulder and his voice guiding her in the meditation that Harry had taught her.

She opened them and gave him a smile of thanks. She didn't need the guiding as much anymore but was still glad for the gesture. "I'm glad you showed up. What are you doing in Hogsmeade, Draco?"

"Stopped by The Nest to see if you wanted to work on your potion studies a bit and Granger told me you had gone to Weasley's shop to bring him lunch. Then Weasley told me you decided to walk back." He pursed his lips, pretending to be annoyed with the effort he'd made to track her down. "When my Mark reacted, I used it to find you here. Looks to me like you had them handled, Kate." Draco said. "I'm impressed."

"As am I. You showed great control." Remus praised. "Thank you for helping Teddy. It's not that often that I am asked to chaperon the Hogsmeade outing for the students. Andy is on the coast visiting friends this afternoon." The werewolf explained, his hand still resting firmly on his son's shoulder.

"Of course Remus." She gave the thankful father a smile before squatting down to Teddy. "Are you okay?"

He nodded. "I am. Thank you. You were wicked cool."

She laughed. "Thanks. Now you know what you should learn from this right?"

He looked down. "Don't wander away from Daddy when I'm in Hogsmeade."

She stroked his now magenta hair. "That's right. Those boys could've hurt you and that would've made your daddy and everyone very sad."

He nodded before looking up. "Would you have been sad, Cousin Draco?"

Draco looked a little uncomfortable but squatted down to Teddy's height. He'd gotten better at dealing with his young cousin over the last few weeks even though he'd had no experience with children. "I would've been very upset, Teddy. You need to stay with your father."

"I will."

"And you are not what those boys said. You are a special little boy. A gifted child. Your mother was a hero."

Kate could've been knocked over with a feather. Was this really the Draco Malfoy that everyone told stories about? The one who'd broken Harry's nose and taught Hermione the slur of mudblood? She wondered if he was having flashbacks to when he'd been like those boys and probably would have said something very similar had he been in their shoes.

She was thankful that as a grown man he was very different from the snobbish bigoted boy he had been. Hopefully the group that was probably halfway to the castle by now would also grow out of their childish behavior.

"Thank you Cousin Draco!" Teddy all but shouted before throwing himself at the platinum blonde wizard.

Kate shared a look of amusement with Remus as they watched Draco's face first go from shock to confusion and then just acceptance as he awkwardly hugged the boy back. She couldn't help but notice Teddy's hair now matched his cousin's.

"Why don't we all go get a treat before we head back to The Nest? I hope you wouldn't mind Teddy sitting in on your potions lesson with Draco, Kate?" Remus inquired as they made their way out of the alley.

"I don't mind. You can be my classmate, okay Teddy?"

"Okay!"