Year seven!

Chapter 38

It was two weeks after Albus Dumbledore's funeral and Hermione Granger and Katherine Peters were quietly packing. Each had a backpack that was filled with clothes and essentials. They were currently trying to figure out what to put in Hermione's Bottomless Bag, as Katherine called it.

"Are you sure the Undetectable Extension Charm will work?" Katherine asked.

Hermione looked up from her packing and shot Katherine a piercing, annoyed look. Katherine smiled in amusement and held up her hands in surrender.

Hermione was having the hardest time choosing which books to bring. Katherine wasn't. Katherine tossed a book over to Hermione, who raised a questioning eyebrow at her.

"A Muggle first aid book?" Hermione asked.

"It's good to know how to heal in every way." Katherine replied. Hermione nodded her agreement and put it in the small beaded bag with the Extension Charm.

Katherine was reaching down into her trunk when her fingers touched something cold. She pulled it out and examined the small pocketknife. Then she recognized Sirius's gift from Christmas in her fourth year.

"I had forgotten all about this." Katherine said with a chuckle.

"What is it?" Hermione asked, peering over Katherine's shoulder.

"A knife that changes to whatever blade and size I want it to be. Watch." Katherine said as the pocket knife turned into a beautiful gold handle rapier, and then back into the pocket knife. Katherine slid it into her front jeans pocket, knowing that it could come in handy.

About half an hour later, they were finished. Katherine looked at Hermione with pity in her green eyes. Hermione drew in a shaky breath and Katherine was hugging her immediately.

"You don't have to do it." Katherine whispered. "You go and wait outside and I'll take care of it."

Hermione shook her head. "No, it has to be me."

Katherine released Hermione and nodded her understanding. Katherine picked up both backpacks, slung them over her shoulders, and picked up the beaded bag, frowning at it.

"I don't think the bag works with my outfit." She said teasingly. Hermione smiled and rolled her eyes.

But the smile was gone. Katherine smiled reassuringly at her.

"I'll be outside." Katherine said. Hermione nodded and Katherine went out of her room. Katherine tiptoed down the stairs, past the living room where the Grangers were watching television, and went outside.

Katherine stood, impatiently tapping her foot, and scanning for any Death Eaters. Ever since Dumbledore's death, Voldemort and his supporters were getting bolder and attacking Muggles all over Britain.

The door opened and Hermione walked out with a mournful look on her face. Katherine was at her side immediately and put her arm around Hermione's shoulders. Hermione sighed and ran a hand over her face.

"They're safe now, Hermione." Katherine said.

"What if something happens to me," Hermione whispered distressed. "They'll never know they had a daughter."

"Nothing will happen to you, Hermione." Katherine said. "And we'll both go get them when it's all over."

"Promise?"

"Promise."

Katherine grabbed Hermione's arm and Apparated them to the Burrow. Together they walked up the long dirt path to the house. Mrs. Weasley was waiting for them at the door. She hugged the two girls before letting them inside.

"I'm afraid the house is a little crowded with wedding guests, so . . ." Mrs. Weasley started to say before embarrassment stopped her.

"I'll sleep on the couch." Katherine volunteered.

"Are you sure, dear?" Mrs. Weasley asked.

"I've slept in worse places before. A tree for instance." Katherine said. Mrs. Weasley and Hermione looked at her in confusion.

"Why were you sleeping in a tree?" Hermione asked.

"I stole Dra- Malfoy's signed Snitch and he chased me all around the Manor for it." Katherine smirked at the memory. "Then I scampered up a tree and he couldn't climb up it, so he decided that he would wait until I came down. But I wasn't about to give in, so he slept under the tree and I slept in it."

"Why did you take his Snitch?" Hermione asked.

"Because I wanted it." Katherine said, trying to fight a smile.

Hermione rolled her eyes as Katherine left the room. Katherine bounded up the stairs and put hers and Hermione's things in Ginny's room. She was walking out of Ginny's room, when someone screeched her name. Katherine turned to see blond hair before someone hugged her.

"Fleur, can't . . . breathe . . ." Katherine panted. Fleur released Katherine, who gulped down air.

"Hello, Katherine." Bill said from behind his fiancée.

"Hey, Bill. You're looking a lot like Mad-Eye." Katherine smiled teasingly. Bill smiled amused.

"Come, you must zee moi dress." Fleur said, grabbing Katherine's hand, and pulled her down the hallway. Bill chuckling as he followed them. Fleur pulled Katherine into her room, and then stopped in the doorway.

"You can't zee the dress, Bill." Fleur said, blocking the door.

"Yeah, go away, Bill." Katherine smiled as she waved him away. Bill smiled and kissed Fleur before leaving.

Fleur closed the door and went to the closet. She pulled out a white dress with black swans fanning out at the bottom of the dress. Katherine's mouth fell open in awe.

"Trés beau." Katherine complimented. Fleur beamed and put the dress gently back in the closet.

"What you wearing?" Fleur asked.

Katherine smacked her own forehead. "I knew I forgot something."

"You forgot your dress for my wedding?" Fleur nearly screeched.

Katherine smirked and started laughing at Fleur's expression. "No, I didn't; I just wanted to see your reaction."

"You are trés awful." Fleur said, pretending to scold her. Katherine smiled.

"LUNCH TIME!" Mrs. Weasley's voice boomed throughout the house.

Katherine and Fleur walked down to the kitchen where the rest of the Weasleys and Hermione were sitting. They ate lunch and, once it was over, Katherine made her way to the door.

"Where are you going, Katherine?" Mrs. Weasley asked. Katherine flashed her the most disarming smile in Katherine's arsenal.

"I just need to take care of some things, Mrs. Weasley. I'll be back in a couple of hours." Katherine said, slowly backing up to the door.

"I don't like the idea of you going alone." Mrs. Weasley said. Katherine opened the door and smiled again.

"Don't worry, I'll be fine." Katherine darted through the door before anyone could protest. She reached the Apparation point, turned, and landed in front of her childhood home.

Katherine instinctively -not because she wanted to- looked to the right of the house. She could barely see the gates to Malfoy Manor. The rest of the property and the magnificent house itself was shielded from view. Katherine looked around to see that the Peters' house was the last of three still standing. Lucius Malfoy liked to buy his neighboring Muggles' houses so that he could expand the Manor.

It hurt. Katherine missed the Malfoys very much, but she wouldn't go back as long as they were in league with Voldemort.

Katherine tore her focus away from the gates and walked up to the Peters' front door. Katherine knocked and, a few moments later, Mrs. Peters opened the door.

"Katherine!" Mrs. Peters exclaimed happily. "Come on in."

Katherine smiled as she walked inside. Mrs. Peters closed the door behind her. They walked into the kitchen, where Mr. Peters was cooking tofu. He looked up, put down his cooking utensils, and shook Katherine's hand.

"What brings you here?" Mr. Peters asked. The smile fell from Katherine's face.

"You should sit down." Katherine said. The Peters exchanged worried looks, but sat down, nonetheless.

"What's wrong?" Mr. Peters asked.

"Voldemort's back." Katherine announced. The Peters sucked in all their breath. "He's going after Harry and anyone who's connected to Harry."

Mrs. Peters let out a strangled cry as she looked at Katherine. Mr. Peters's eyes widened as he realized what Katherine meant.

"You need to go into hiding." Mr. Peters said. Katherine looked at him in shock.

"No, I'm not." Katherine said.

"Yes, you are!" Mr. Peters snapped. "We made a promise to your parents to keep you safe! When we let you live with the Malfoys, we did it because they could keep you safer than we could! I'm not going to let You-Know-Who get you! You are going into hiding!"

"You don't understand." Katherine said quietly, her hands clenched in an attempt to control her anger. "Harry needs me. My friends need me and I'm not going to sit around while others fight."

"John, stop." Mrs. Peters said, when Mr. Peters opened his mouth to yell. "If you're not going into hiding, why are you here, Katherine?"

"Because I have managed to piss off Bellatrix Lestrange." Katherine said. "She is going to go after anyone who is connected to me. She wants to hurt me and she knows that the best way to do that is to hurt those I love."

Katherine looked up at the Peters and swallowed her fear.

"She's going to come after you."