*fanfare* Presenting the last chapter for the sixth year! Yay!

Chapter 37

Madam Pomfrey rolled the semi-conscious Katherine onto her stomach. Katherine had a goofy smile on her face and was muttering idiotic things.

"What's wrong with her?" Katherine heard Hermione's concerned voice.

"She's losing a ton of blood." Madam Pomfrey responded. "Miss Peters, open your mouth."

"If I open my mouth, flies will get in." Katherine giggled, but opened her mouth anyways. Madam Pomfrey poured a Blood Replenishing Potion down Katherine's throat.

Madam Pomfrey began to seal Katherine's abdomen. Katherine stopped giggling as she started to regain full consciousness.

"How did you hurt your shoulder, Miss Peters?" The nurse asked.

"Greyback's nails clawed at me." Katherine answered.

"Will she be turned?" Madam Pomfrey asked Remus.

"No, and she won't have any wolfish characteristics like Bill." Remus said. "But I would clean that wound very well; Fenrir Greyback isn't known for having the cleanest nails."

Madam Pomfrey cleaned Katherine's wound, and then bandaged her shoulder and abdomen. The door opened and Harry walked in with his hand in Ginny's.

"Professor Lupin, can't Dumbledore fix Bill's wounds?" Ron asked with desperation in his voice.

"Ron, Dumbledore's dead." Ginny said in a lifeless voice.

Katherine jerked herself up and groaned as her wounds opened slightly. Madam Pomfrey was too shocked by Ginny's news to scold Katherine.

"It's not April Fool's Day, Ginny." Katherine said, wishing it was a cruel joke.

"It's true." Harry said in the same lifeless voice Ginny used.

Remus fell into a chair and covered his face with his hands. Hermione was crying silently. It took Katherine a couple of tries to get her voice to work.

"How?" Katherine whispered.

"Snape killed him." Harry said, looking down.

There was a cry from the doorway and Katherine looked to see Professor McGonagall holding her heart. Katherine could tell that Professor McGonagall already knew this, but it still hurt her.

"Minerva, what is it?" Katherine recognized Mrs. Weasley's voice from behind Professor McGonagall.

Mr. Weasley, Mrs. Weasley, and Fleur walked around Professor McGonagall and into the Hospital Wing. Fleur and Mrs. Weasley flew to Bill's bed. Mr. Weasley put his hand on McGonagall's shoulder.

"Dumbledore's dead." Professor McGonagall said. "Hagrid has him now."

"What about Bill?" Mrs. Weasley asked, stroking her eldest's long red hair and dabbing a foul smelling ointment on his face.

"He won't become a werewolf, but the wounds won't go away." Remus said, looking older than he really was.

"Poor Bill." Mrs. Weasley wailed. "He was such a handsome boy and he was going to get married."

"What do you mean, 'e was going to get married?" Fleur said loudly.

Mrs. Weasley looked at Fleur through tear-filled eyes. "Well- I-"

"You theenk that Bill will not love me because of these bites?" Fleur demanded. Katherine scooted back as she saw Fleur's inner Veela starting to come out.

"Well, no," Mrs. Weasley said. "I thought - given how- how he-"

"You thought I would not weesh to marry him?" Fleur said, her nostrils flaring. "Why should I care how he looks? These scars show that my husband is brave! And I will take care of him!"

Fleur snatched the ointment from Mrs. Weasley and began to put it on Bill's face. Mrs. Weasley fell back against Mr. Weasley. No one moved. They were all waiting for the explosion.

"My Great-Auntie Muriel," Mrs. Weasley said quietly. "Has a goblin-made tiara, which I want you to wear at the wedding."

"Thank you," Fleur said coolly. "I am sure it will be lovely."

And then, Mrs. Weasley and Fleur were crying and hugging each other. Ron and Harry looked shocked and bewildered. Ginny, Hermione, and Katherine exchanged startled looks.

"You see!" A strained voice said. Katherine turned to see Tonks glaring at Remus. "She still wants to marry him, even though he's been bitten!"

"It's different." Remus said, tense. "He won't be a full werewolf. The cases are-"

"But I don't care! I don't care!" Tonks said as she grabbed Remus's robes and shook them.

"I have told you," Remus said, staring at the floor. "I am too old, too poor, too dangerous."

"Remus, you're being ridiculous." Mrs. Weasley said.

"I am not," Remus said. "Tonks deserves someone young and healthy."

"But she wants you." Mr. Weasley said with a small smile.

"Oh, just date her already!" Katherine exclaimed.

"See!" Tonks said, pointing at Katherine.

"She doesn't count; she's delirious." Remus said.

"I am not delirious!" Katherine protested.

"How much blood have you lost?" Remus asked.

"I'm not delirious." Katherine muttered as she looked down at her used-to-be-white shirt.

"This isn't the time to discuss this." Lupin said, looking around distractedly. "Dumbledore is dead . . ."

"Dumbledore would have been happy to know that there was a little more love in the world." Professor McGonagall said.

Everyone grew quiet. Katherine, however, saw Remus step closer to Tonks and gently grabbed her hand. Tonks looked down at their hands, and then smiled a true smile. Remus grinned back at her, but softly.

Harry and Ginny stepped over to Katherine. Madam Pomfrey fixed Katherine's bandages and gave her another dose of a Blood Replenishing Potion.

"I want to join the Order." Katherine announced.

"We've talked about this, Katherine, you are too young." Remus said, sighing in annoyance.

"Listen to me. I am going to fight Voldemort, no matter what. But I'd rather fight him with an army at my back." Katherine said. "I have survived three encounters with Bellatrix Lestrange. I am not too young!"

"You are not of age." Remus said, firmly.

"I will be." Katherine said. "I will be soon."

"We'll discuss it then." Remus said with a tone of finality.

Katherine growled quietly, but held her tongue. Then her face changed to being sad and apologetic. She looked up at Harry.

"Harry, I owe you an apology. You were right about Dra-" Katherine stopped and swallowed. "Malfoy being a Death Eater. He let the Death Eaters in. I'm sorry I didn't believe you."

"It's alright." Harry said. Katherine noticed he was clutching something in his other hand.

"Oh, did you . . .?" Katherine trailed off.

Harry shook his head. "It's a fake."

They were on the Hogwarts Express, on their way home after Dumbledore's funeral. Harry had broken up with Ginny in order to protect her. The red head girl understood, much to Katherine's bewilderment.

Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Katherine were sitting in a compartment. The boys were sitting on one side and the girls were across from them. Katherine was sitting parallel to the seat. She was leaning against the wall and her legs were on Hermione's lap.

"I'm not coming back next year. I need to find all the Horcruxes before I take on Voldemort." Harry said.

"We're coming with you." Hermione said.

"It's-"

"Too dangerous." Katherine finished for Harry with a roll of her eyes. "Harry, when has danger ever stopped us? Also, you'll need us."

Harry looked like he was about to protest, but he realized that it wasn't worth it. "Fine."

The door to the compartment slid open and Ginny stood awkwardly in the doorway. She and Harry were staring at each other.

"Go ahead, you two." Katherine said. "Pretend that the outside world doesn't exist for a couple of hours."

Harry smiled and opened his arms. Ginny smiled and pounced onto his lap. Katherine closed the compartment door and pulled down the blinds. Harry and Ginny sat, happily wrapped up in each others' arms.

"Ron, is everyone staying at your house for the wedding?" Katherine asked.

"I guess," Ron shrugged. "Why?"

"I'm just trying to figure out where I'm going to stay before we leave." Katherine said. "I'm not going back to the Manor."

"You can stay with me." Hermione said.

"Are you sure? Your parents won't mind?" Katherine asked.

"They'll be fine. They actually like you." Hermione said.

"Imagine that." Katherine smiled.

"I don't believe it." Katherine said with her mouth agape as they got off the Hogwarts Express.

"What?" Hermione asked from behind her.

"Nar- Mrs. Malfoy is here." Katherine said. "Excuse me."

Katherine left her things with Hermione. Katherine walked towards the blond-haired witch. Narcissa watched Katherine, her eyes smiling because she could not do so in public.

"Where are your things?" Narcissa asked.

"I'm not coming back." Katherine said.

"That's nice, dear; now go get your stuff." Narcissa said, waving Katherine's statement away.

"I mean it." Katherine said. "I'm not coming back."

Narcissa raised her eyebrow in question.

"I comforted a," Katherine bit down on her lip to keep herself from cussing. "Death Eater. I allowed myself to get worried about a boy that was going to kill Dumbledore. I was worried about Draco because he wasn't doing his homework, he wasn't playing Quidditch, and he was looking ill. That night he woke up screaming, I was scared to death. And I comforted him! I comforted a Death Eater!"

"Things are changing." Narcissa whispered.

"Obviously." Katherine nearly snarled. "But I am not coming with you. I am sick of all of you! I am done with this family!"

Katherine turned on her heel and walked away rather quickly. She joined the Grangers and composed her face into a smile.

"Mr. and Mrs. Granger, I hope I'm not imposing upon your hospitality." Katherine said.

"Not at all, Katherine." Mrs. Granger smiled. "D'you know how long you'll be staying?"

"Until Hermione and I have decided to leave for the wedding." Katherine said with a charming smile. Mrs. Granger nodded.

Harry and Ron came over and the four hugged good-bye. Katherine grabbed Harry's arm and leaned in close.

"Don't you dare leave without us, Potter." Katherine said, threateningly. "Because you won't make it very far."

"She's right." Ron said, smiling.

"I always am." Katherine said, smiling arrogantly.