7th May (cont'd…)

"Is it really you?" Narcissa looked as dumfounded as I felt, "You're alive?" she repeated in shock, rushing from Draco's beside to wrap her arms around me, "You're actually alive?" she gushed, "You look, you -" she took a seat, "were you there? You're the female student?"

I nodded slowly, as the shock of the surprise lifted when she reached out and stroked my cheek, "Yes – to everything. He was lucky Snape was close-by."

"Professor Snape." Came McGonagall's voice from the top of the bed.

"So I've heard." She summoned a chair to beside her at Draco's bedside, "And you, you helped?"

I shrugged.

"Was it Potter? Is that true?"

I blinked, feeling a little overwhelmed, my eyes meeting McGonagall's who was standing beside Snape, who had just come into my view, "I didn't really give him a chance to talk, I kinda just yelled at him and slammed the door in his face. I can't believe it. I know the two of them don't get along, but I didn't think they'd try and kill each other! I have no idea what happened, I -" I had started rambling and forced myself to stop as I felt my heart beat so hard I could feel it in my ears.

"Drink," Madam Pomfrey said, shoving a cup of sweet tea under my nose, "I'm not having you joining Mr Malfoy in the adjoining hospital bed."

"He's going to be alright?" I looked to Madam Pomfrey for confirmation.

"I'm fine." Draco said sleepily, "Stop fretting."

I let out a huge breath of relief, "Ohmygoodness. You have no idea how good it is to hear your voice." I set down the cup and took his outstretched hand and gave it a squeeze.

"We're even now." He smiled.

"And you know I'd do it again in a heartbeat." I told him, "Also turns out you really didn't tell your mum about me."

Draco nodded, "I told you. It was safer not to tell her, in case Auntie Bella found out -" he navigated his head around me, "Sorry mother."

"Well, we all thought our Katy was dead, so it was a bit of a shock, I feel like I'm looking at a ghost," Narcissa stroked my arm before reaching for her son's leg, "Bella will be furious."

My heartrate sped up, "You're not going to tell her, are you?"

"Of course not!" she quickly assured me, "I've kept you a secret for years, what's a little while longer? I'm really glad you survived, I was haunted by nightmares, wondering if I could've done more to help you…"

"You got me out of there, that Lazarus potion was a literal life saver," I nodded, trying desperately not to return to that day, with fear coursing through me, "I never got the opportunity to thank you." I reached out and hugged her, "How's her -"

"That was quite some severing charm," Narcissa raised an eyebrow, "had her out of action for weeks. The Dark Lord was most disappointed. He said it was such a waste of Pure blood and he wasn't talking about your mother. You did extremely well that day."

I tried to hide my smile, "She almost killed me, so I refuse to apologise."

"How's your arm?" she reached out expectantly.

I froze on the spot, grabbing onto my sleeves and pulling them down over my hands instinctively, my heart racing ever-faster, "Fine."

"It's a bit of a non-talking point." Draco announced, "You're coming off your medication, right? So it must be healed?"

"I – I guess so." I grabbed the cup of tea and took a sip, feeling my head spin with all of the information now floating around in my brain, "Sorry, this is just a bit full on. I've been… um… under the weather lately."

Narcissa nodded.

"I'll get your potion," Madam Pomfrey said, "Would you mind stepping into my office?"

I stood, obediently, "Excuse me."

I entered Madam Pomfery's office, glad of the break. She closed the door and performed the Muffliato spell, allowing me the opportunity to speak freely, cry, or scream, if required. She asked me what I needed, I told her that I needed something to calm my nerves as I felt massively overwhelmed and was scared of a panic attack surfacing. I lifted my Litteras Occultas out of my pocket and saw that George had replied to me.

G: Shall I book you in with Maura tonight? I can organise for her to come to the apartment.
K: It's like you read my mind.
G: Good, cause I've just spoken with her receptionist, half 7 okay?
K: Perfect. Thanks, George. I just need to clear my head, you have no idea what all has happened and it's just all floating about up there and I just need…
G: To take a few deep breaths?
K: Yeah, and this calming draught Madam P has just given me? Think I could stay with you tonight, if I get permission?
G: Of course, whatever you need!
K: I feel so much better after drinking that.
G: I'm glad. You can come over whenever you like. Fred and I are just going to sort dinner, want anything left?
K: I'll get sorted here, I think. I'll chat to you later, okay?
G: Breathe. I love you!
K: BREATHING. Love you more!

"He seems to have settled you."

I smiled, "That, and that potion combined." I nodded, "Thank you."

"I felt like you needed an escape there." She said, "You've regained a little colour in your face, thankfully and your readings are much more acceptable now."

"Let's go deal with Auntie Cissa." I stood, feeling a lot steadier on my feet, "And whatever else flies at me! I've got an appointment with Maura at the flat at half 7."

Madam P nodded, "I think that's wise. And I suppose you'll be wanting to stay there overnight? Fine by me as long as you're back for a check-up before classes in the morning. Just confirm with Minerva first."

I exited the office feeling lighter, but by no means confident.

"What are you doing here, or do you just live here now?" Pansy Parkinson walked into the Hospital Wing like she owned the place, "I've already told you! Draco doesn't want you around, you're bad for him, look at you, you're a mess! Make sure you get your potion, in case mummy comes along and tries to do you in again. Hopefully she'll succeed this time." She said nastily.

"How dare you speak to my niece that way!" Narcissa appeared from behind the curtain, anger and shock written over her face.

"Detention, Miss Parkinson." McGonagall called out as I approached the opening of the curtain into Draco's cubicle, wishing for nothing more in that moment than to hide.

Pansy went bright red. I glanced across at Draco and bit my lower lip, shrugging my shoulders. He now knew what I meant when I told him she was giving me a tough time.

"It's over." Draco said clearly.

Pansy was not one bit amused, but luckily she appeared to have lost her tongue. I didn't need to say anything, she brought this upon herself. She stormed out of the room without further ado.

"Are you okay?" Draco asked.

I took the seat beside him again, and smiled, taking his hand in mine, "I've survived worse."

There was a pregnant silence between Draco and me as Cissa excused herself into Madam Pomfrey's office with Snape and McGonagall to discuss Draco's condition.

"And don't you think for a second, Mister that I'm going to let you off the hook for trying to use an Unforgivable Curse on Harry!" I chided, allowing my emotions to take over, "What were you thinking? Sometimes I wonder if you lot are trying to kill me!"

Draco swallowed hard, "He -"

"And I'm almost certain that it was you who started it." I said, "Are you going to tell me otherwise?"

He shook his head, hanging it in shame.

"He's bloody lucky you're not dead and you're bloody lucky he's not in this situation, either, or I'd be storming into the Slytherin Common Room to give you hell, too."

"I -"

"Could you imagine your poor Mother sitting here beside your dead body? Or me? Could you imagine what this would do to us? Or if you ended up in Azkaban? Who am I meant to talk to about -?" I paused, clenching my jaw before taking a second to breath, before whispering, "What would I do without you?"

Draco and I sat in complete silence for a few minutes. I could see him contemplating my words, staring at the white bedsheets as he did. I, meanwhile, sat processing my own feelings regarding the whole situation, slowing my breathing, steadying my heartrate. Draco's hand reached out and grazed mine gently. I glanced up to look at him as he smiled, "You done?"

I nodded, "Make sure Harry knows I didn't go easy on you."

"He won't hear it from me." Draco straightened himself up.

8th May

I found it extremely difficult to be in the same space as Harry this morning, never mind trying make conversation with him. I felt physically sick at the memory of the blood, all the blood. The mound of ketchup at the side of my plate wasn't helping either. I had to force myself to not let my emotions get the better of me, but it was hard as Harry spoke with Ginny and made her Seeker for Saturday's match and Dean was now re-joining the team as Chaser in her place. My stomach churned as I ate.

"I told you there was something wrong with that Prince person," Hermione said, it turns out she was angry with him too, evidently unable to stop herself from making a very valid point, "And I was right, wasn't I?"

"No, I don't think you were." Harry said stubbornly.

I dropped my fork and it clanged onto the plate with a din. I fought the urge to scream profanities at him, I had to maintain control. I did it for my own benefit, not his.

"Harry…" Hermione spoke again, "how can you still stick up for that book when that spell -"

"Will you stop harping on about that book!" Harry snapped, "The Prince only copied it out! It's not like he was advising anyone to use it! For all we know, he was making a note of something that had been used against him!"

"I don't believe this!" Hermione glanced at me, the two of us had discussed this at length from early this morning, after my early check up with Madam P because I woke up super early beside an out-for-the-count George, whom I couldn't bear to waken when couldn't get back to sleep, "You're actually defending -"

Harry reacted quickly, "I'm not defending what I did! I wish I hadn't done it, and not just because I've got about a dozen detentions. You know I wouldn't've used a spell like that, not even on Malfoy, but you can't blame the Prince, he hadn't written 'try this out, it's really good' – he was just making notes for himself, wasn't he, not for anyone else…"

"Are you telling me that you are going to go back -?"

"And get the book? Yeah I am," Harry said forcefully, "Listen, without the Prince I'd never have won the Felix Felicis, I'd never have known how to save Ron from poisoning, I'd never have -"

"- got a reputation for Potions brilliance you don't deserve?" Hermione said nastily.

Ginny intercepted, "Give it a rest, Hermione! By the sound of it, Malfoy was trying to use an Unforgivable Curse, you should be glad Harry had something good up his sleeve!"

Something good up his sleeve? To murder his opponent?

"Well, of course I'm glad Harry wasn't cursed!" Hermione said, clearly stung, "But you can't call that Sectumsempra spell good, Ginny, look where it's landed him! And I'd have thought, seeing what this has done to your chances in the match -"

"Oh, don't start acting as though you understand Quidditch," Ginny snapped, "you'll only embarrass yourself."

Hermione looked like she had been hit by a Stunning spell, before she opened her mouth to retort.

"Please stop." I said loud enough to be heard, but not loud enough for everyone around us to listen in.

Harry nodded, "Thank you."

"Oh this is not for your benefit, but for mine." I said, swallowing hard, "You really don't get it, do you?"

He continued looking at me, his eyes pleading.

"You're better than this," I said quietly, "So much better than this. You made a terrible decision in the heat of the moment. I'm just so disappointed in you -"

"Kat -"

"You weren't there Ginny, you don't know what it was like watching the life leave his eyes, the fear -" I said as quietly and calmly as possible, although I was forcing myself to remain strong enough to say my piece, "it's a bloody miracle Harry isn't being charged with murder right now."

Harry hung his head in shame, he finally got it.

"The Prince Book does more harm than good," I continued, "If one of us won the Felix Felicis, I know I'd have given you a swig to help you out. And if you had just listened to Snape, you'd have known to use a Bezoar. That book isn't the be all and end all, please just consider the damage you've done, how utterly irresponsible that choice was." I took a sip of pumpkin juice before standing, "And don't you think for a second that I haven't given Draco hell for trying to curse you either. But f*ck me Harry, I thought you knew how much he means to me and that you respected me enough to prevent yourself from trying to murder him in the f*cking bathroom! I'm going to check in with him before classes start."

10th May

By this morning, Draco was up and walking about, back to his usual self. Madam Pomfrey discharged him from the Hospital Wing when I was visiting, and he opted to spend the morning in bed in his dorm.

"I'm okay," he reassured me for the thousandth time as I helped him pack up his belongings, "stop fretting for a second and look at me."

I set down his spare pyjamas and stood on the spot, arms folded, "Yes?" I questioned as his eyes were travelling up and down my Gryffindor-ed outfit.

"Thank you," he said awkwardly.

"Oh, come here, you!" a few steps closed the gap between us, and I wrapped my arms around him and he around me, holding each other tight, I planted a kiss on his cheek, I whispered a very genuine, "I love you," into his ear, before looking up at him into his eyes, "promise me you won't put me through that again."

Our eyes lingered on the others for a while before he spoke again, "As long as you promise the same."

I smirked before whispering again, "As the kids of Death Eaters, we're both pretty screwed, but I'm glad to have you around to keep me on my toes."

"Get out of here!" he gave me a playful shove, and I took my leave, "I hope Gryffindor lose embarrassingly!" He called out as I reached the door.

"You know Gryffindors love to be on top." I shouted back over my shoulder, before closing the door and laughing loudly at the connotation.

"You look too happy," Hermione commented as I took the seat beside her on the Gryffindor stands.

I continued my huge smile, "Draco and Narcissa aren't going to press charges. Draco got discharged this morning and his usual sarcastic, big-headed, arsehole personality is fully back and functioning as normal. Ooooh are they -?"

Neville offered me the bag of jelly slugs, "I suppose you want some?"

"Thanks! Good shout!" I took a couple, "This match has the potential of being horrible enough, we may make our time as enjoyable as possible, right?" I took out a sharing bag of muggle chocolate M&M sweets, "I also came prepared…" I opened the bag and shared them out amongst Hermione, Neville and Seamus.

"The match has started." Hermione informed us, "And Ravenclaw have scored twice already." She sighed and leaned back and ate along with us.

Seamus bit the head off a jelly slug, "It's a tall order – Gryffindor have to beat Ravenclaw by at least 300 points to win."

"And if they win by less than 300 but more than 200, we come second," Neville informed, "if we lose by 100 points, we come third."

"And we're not going to talk about what happens if we lose by more than 100 points." Seamus grimaced, "So Cho wants to catch the Snitch as early as possible, and Ginny wants to build up a tidy pot of points before cashing in on the Snitch."

I grimaced, too, "A tall order indeed – Ravenclaw have scored again… Where's the bag of chocolates?"

"The score's 50-30 to us." Some random third year boy turned around and told me impatiently.

"And we've a looooooong way to go before we have a smile on our faces, mate." I commented, "Tell me when we're at least 100 points ahead, alright?"

He rolled his eyes.

It wasn't so long after that Ron made a spectacular save and Katie carried the Quaffle all the way to the opposite posts and scored, "Nice one."

"Hey kid," Seamus called out, "What's the score now?"

One of his friends turned around, "140 – 60 to us."

"Not bad." Seamus put his feet up on the seat in front of him, "If they're not going to sit -?"

"We're being so bad." Hermione said apprehensively, adding another chocolate to her mouth, "We really should be paying better attention."

Neville shrugged his shoulders, "We're here, aren't we? Gryffindors cheer, we cheer!"

I raised an eyebrow, "Could you imagine if these sweets were alcoholic?" I asked above the resounding cheers in the background, "That would be bad, 'Mione."

Seamus snorted, "I'd pay a lot of money to see you tipsy!"

"Sláinte!" I raised a fake glass in the air with Seamus.

The stadium erupted once more. We cheered, mustering up a fraction more enthusiasm than last time.

"We're 120 points ahead now." The third year informed us.

I could barely hear Luna's commentary over the din of yells and cheering as she announced, "Katie Bell of Gryffindor scores again, that's three in a row! Don't they call that something? A trick hut?"

"A hat-trick." McGonagall announced into the microphone, "Katie Bell has scored four in a row now and that's a haul."

Hermione, Seamus, Neville and I all pulled faces, "That's her told."

"Hey kid," Seamus called out again, reaching his foot out to touch the back of the guy in front's cloak, "What's the score?"

The boy turned around and rolled his eyes, "210-70"

"HEY!" I shouted, "Don't you roll your eyes at a senior student."

"You know, if you just watched the match, you wouldn't feel the need to bother us every five minutes." He snapped.

"And how would you feel if you said that to a Prefect?" I asked him threateningly.

The guy who originally turned around turned to his friend, "You missed that! It's 250-70 now! This is so intense! The Ravenclaw Seeker just took a dive, but the Weasley girl nearly knocked her off her broom!"

"So… Ginny or Cho?" I asked after a few minutes, now that the sweets were running low and we needed some amusement, considering we'd been sitting here bordering on two hours, "I'm not talking personality, but purely on looks, who would you choose?"

Hermione raised an eyebrow, she knew what I was referring to, "Who would you chose?"

"Gin, I've already told her that, mind." I watched as the two Seekers flew along, not too far from each other in search of the Snitch, "I'm marrying her if things don't work out with George." I said proudly, "We've agreed and everything." I gave Neville and Seamus an elbow, after giving them a suitable amount of thinking time, "Aw go on, someone answer me, amuse me."

Seamus snorted, "No comment, in respect for Dean."

"Seamus chooses Ginny." I smirked, "Nev?"

Neville blushed.

"Neville chooses Gin, too. I'll have you know she's an excellent kisser," I jested, giving the boys a cheeky wink, "And we both know you have a thing for gingers." I said to Hermione.

Hermione blushed, her eyes wide with embarrassment, "Kathryn! Says the girl who's -"

"WILL YOU LOT STOP TALKING?" the third year guys both turned around, "We're almost 200 points ahead!"

"HOLY SHIT!" I jumped to my feet, "We could actually win this! WHOOOOO! Go-Go-Gryffindor!" I joined in with the festivities, "COME ON GINNY!"

"Oooooh," the crowd of Gryffindors let out a collective gasp as Ravenclaw got Gryffindor in a double whammy of scores.

Luna's next announcement amazed me, "The score is now 290 – 140. I think Ginny is a lovely girl, but I do hope my own house manage to win this. If she was to catch the Snitch now, Gryffindor would win, wouldn't they? This really is the most interesting match."

"Look! Look! Look!" Hermione's finger pointed into the air as Ginny was soaring into the air at speed, her hand reaching out, with Cho hot on her tail. The chase was on.

I watched as Dean scored. Seamus yelled his congratulations. The four of us crossed our fingers and toes in anticipation of Ginny's pursuit of the Snitch which was just out of her grasp. Her flying was impeccable as she swooped and swerved.

"OH! OH! OH!" I watched as she reached out again, "COME ON!"

Cho had bumped into her, causing the Snitch to fly out of her grip.

"REF!" Seamus yelled in protest.

It all happened so fast that I couldn't comprehend the situation. Ginny reached out in one last desperate attempt to catch the Snitch, her fingers clasped around it and she managed to pull up out of a fast dive hurtling towards the ground. Her arm raised in the air proudly as she started a lap of honour.

"GRYFFINDOR WINS!" Madam Hooch announced.

Screams of joy and excitement sounded all around me. Seamus, Neville, Hermione were filled with disbelief as we took in the scenes around us. Gryffindors rushed onto the pitch to encircle the team as they reached the ground. Ginny was hoisted onto Cootes and Peake's shoulders in celebration. I stood back, clapping, shaking my head, my heart bursting with pride.

"Four hundred and fifty to a hundred and forty." Ron mouthed gleefully to Hermione and me in the Common Room as he was surrounded by many of his fans, all wanting to congratulate him on his spectacular saves. He pushed his way through and hugged the two of us, making Hermione blush as he did.

"Fred and George are beyond proud," I smiled, indicating the Litteras Occultas, "some of those saves were spectacular!"

Ron beamed, "I just can't believe it – is Harry back?"

I shook my head, "Not yet - He'll be so proud, too. Oh look, there's the guys with the food!"

Neville, Seamus and a bunch of fifth and seventh years had theirs arms full of butterbeer, sweets, cakes and chocolates to name a few, the supply seemed endless as the tables were covered.

"Come on, give us a look at this trophy." I smiled, Ron thrived on the attention he was getting as the three of us pushed through the crowds towards Katie who was with Ginny holding the trophy, "Many congratulations, ladies!" I said, hugging them both.

Ron handed me the trophy and before letting go he said, "Careful, it's heavier than it looks!" That was certainly true. I looked at it and couldn't help but think of the twins. They love any excuse for a party and a bit of rule breaking, "Do you want to hold it, Hermione?" Ron asked.

"Oh, yeah, sure." she said awkwardly.

I took a step back, allowing them time together. Ron then gave Hermione a full summary of the game, his trials and tribulations as well as his triumphs. I found myself sitting on the window seat which was once frequently occupied by Fred and George. I watched as friends celebrated, laughing and shouting over the music that was now blaring. The party was in full swing.

"Do you miss them?"

"Oh, hey Katie!" I gave her a wide smile, moving over for her to sit beside me, tapping the space beside me to invite her in, "Is it that obvious?"

She handed me a glass, "Non-alcoholic, I promise!"

"Thanks!" I took a sip of the sweet fruit punch. The two of us sat together, regarding the festivities for a few minutes, "What's it like being back? Having been off for so long?"

"Weird." She answered, "Between you and me, it's a bit lonely."

"How so?"

She leaned forwards, head lowered as she stared into the contents of the glass, which her fingers fumbled as she swirled the liquid, "I don't know, I guess I was stuck in time for so long and everyone else has moved on with their lives without me and I've so much to catch up on. It was nice being back initially, and then I had Quidditch practice to keep me busy, but now I've to sit NEWTs and it all seems -" she stopped, unable to find the words to say, "I feel like I don't fit in anymore."

"Don't worry about it." I told her, "Look, I don't know how much you know about what happened to me this year, but I didn't return to school after the Christmas holidays, I was in a hospital bed, unconscious for – what did George tell me – something like a hundred or so hours. It was a further month before I came back to school, and at that, I shouldn't have been here at all. I'm still not fully recovered."

"What happened?" she asked, "George mentioned that you hadn't had it easy with your mum and that you'd visited me when you were sick?"

I found myself sitting up a little straighter as I told her the story about Bellatrix threatening me and the Weasleys and me going to her. I bypassed the fact that I was face to face with Voldemort who wanted to make me a Death Eater, I thought that might be a bit heavy for her to deal with. The condensed version included Bellatrix being, well… Bellatrix, who tried to murder me, and I scarred her and she scarred me. The two of us were injured and I ended up fighting for my life in St Mungo's and going through physical therapy and emotional therapy and, "that's half the story."

"What's the other half?" her eyes widened.

"A story for another day." I told her, "But I will tell you this – I had myself convinced that they cursed you because they thought you were me. I got it into my head that someone asked if you were Katy Belle and you, obviously said yes, because, well you are. I thought they wanted to kill me, I couldn't forgive myself for a long time for what they did to you. If it was them."

Katie shrugged her shoulders, "I don't blame you, and I feel like it wasn't you they were after, although I have no idea why I said that because I can't remember who it was. I doubt I'll ever know. I'm just lucky to be alive."

"You and me both."

"Thanks for the chat," she said, taking a sip of her drink, "even though Fred and George were the ones who made me promise to look out for you, yet it seems that you have been there for me more than me for you."

I chuckled, "Don't be sil -" I was distracted by Harry walking into the Common Room, to the madness within. His face lit up as he realised that Gryffindor had won the match and, by extension, the Quidditch Cup. He was looking for someone. His eyes were searching the room.

"We won!" Ron yelled over to him, brandishing the silver cup, "We won! Four hundred and fifty to a hundred and forty! We won!"

Out of nowhere, I watched as Ginny ran to Harry, a determined look etched on her face, her fiery red hair flowing behind her as she threw her arms around him. And he kissed her.

Harry kissed Ginny.

"Oh wowzah." I uttered in astonishment.

It wasn't just one single kiss, but a thousand missed opportunities rolled into one as the two became one; Ginny's arms were around Harry's neck, her hands in his unruly hair and Harry's hands on her waist, pulling her in close, as though desperate for the contact. My heart exploded with happiness as they eventually pulled apart and shared a smile and a loving gaze as they both came to terms with what just happened. Harry's eyes lifted from Ginny's over to Ron's, he was searching for his best friend's approval. And Ron, being Ron, gave a little shrug of the shoulders. If he could trust anyone with his sister, it was Harry.

"Finally." I breathed, feeling a tear roll down my cheek, which I quickly wiped away, feeling like an idiot for getting all emotional.

"You been waiting for that moment for a while now?"

I grinned, "You have no idea. It's my little sister and one of my best friends." I shook my head as the two of them exited the Common Room, in search of some alone time, "Sorry where was I? Oh yeah, don't fret about it, cause your life and mental health is more important than -" I waved my hand in the air, indicating the whole room, "- all this. Exams can be retaken or postponed. If you need to take time for yourself, do it. I've got your back, if you need someone."

11th May

"You guys have no idea how long I've been waiting for this." I purposely sat myself in between Harry and Ginny when I had finished breakfast and gushed, "You break her heart and I'll kill you myself, you hear me, Potter?"

Harry beamed at me, "I hear you."

"Good." I pulled the two of them in close, kissing them on their foreheads, before standing and waving, "As you were."

"You're a weirdo, Kit-Kat." Ginny laughed as she called out when I walked down the table towards the door, I was meeting Hermione in the library to review our researched notes on transfiguring fairy cakes into fairies for our class this week.

"I'm still your favourite weirdo." I pointed in her direction and winked.

After a lengthy discussion with Maura about the remainder of my week at Hogwarts, she seemed, once again, bemused by the fast-paced nature of school life. I told her about my conversation with Katie Bell and how I'd worked through my issues surrounding Draco and Harry. She warned me that my happiness may be short lived and to prepare for a crash, that I need to recognise that whilst things are good now, not all good things last.

But I knew of one lasting good thing in my life: George.

"Hello you." I wrapped my arms around him and kissed him passionately.

"I was hoping to bring you back to the flat?" he smiled, "Fred wants in on all the gossip, too. I've told him nothing, so he's bursting to know what's happened."

I beamed at him, "You are terrible." I took him by the hand and pulled him gently, so that we could go for a short walk together, "I want some alone time with you first, if that's alright?"

"That sounds perfect," he smiled, "what's on your mind?"

"I've missed you a lot this week," I said, as we walked along a quiet side street, "and I know we chat every day and everything, but seeing Harry kiss Ginny like that, it just made me think of you and our first kiss and how much I long for you to have your arms around me and -"

George pressed his lips onto mine. His hands roamed from my hips up, caressing my curves underneath my cardigan, pulling me in close to him as I stood on my tiptoes. He tasted of spearmint toothpaste as he deepened the kiss, sending electrical sparks throughout my body as I gently pulled on his hair. I desperately wanted for his body to touch mine, to rip off his clothes.

"Woah." He breathed as we stopped for air, "You really do miss me."

"You have no idea." I grabbed his shirt with my hands and pulled him down, so that I could reach his lips again. I stumbled back a few steps and found myself pressed up against a wall, where I rested my foot on it and took his hand from my hip and placed it on my thigh.

George pulled away, "You can't do that to me in public. I cannot be held responsible for what I do to you next." He looked at me hungrily, I could see the desire in his eyes as he resisted the temptations flooding his mind. He bowed his head, closing his eyes, "I'm sorry, I -"

"No, I'm sorry, for springing all that on you with no prior warning." I lifted his chin and kissed his nose, "I guess those glorious few minutes will have to be enough to curb my enthusiasm for another while. Come on, let's see Freddie before I kiss you again, you handsome man."

"Oh Kathryn I really do love you," Fred said excitedly as he leaned forwards in anticipation of all the gossip I was providing, "please don't ever let me forget how amazing your fount of knowledge is."

I laughed, shaking my head, "So yeah, Ginny broke up with Dean because she thought that he was 'helping' her through the door again, which she hates, because she's such a strong and independent woman who doesn't need any man -"

"Yet she's now snogging Harry...?"

I pointed a finger and tapped my head, "Ah, but Freddie… this is what you're missing. She doesn't need Harry… she wants him. BIG difference."

A sense of realisation spread across his face, "But it'll develop – I get you."

"So what about me?" George asked with a huge smile, "Want or need?"

"Honey, if you haven't worked that out…"

Fred cleared his throat to clear the sexual tension developing in the air, "So what about Tonks, have you heard from her?"

I shook my head, "I hoped you two would be able to fill me in there….?"

"Mum says she's been seeing a counsellor," George added, "I don't know much more than that. I'll find out for you?"

"Please do."

Fred then leaned forwards, having moved from the single chair to the coffee table to get closer to the drama, "You're saying that under the Felix Felicis Harry touched Ginny accidently on the way out of the portrait door, which sparked off this whole argument between her and Dean, that she broke up with him and now she's dating Harry?"

"It was like it was meant to be."

"Does she know any of this?"

I shrugged my shoulders, "I don't think so, but she was miserable with Dean and was looking any excuse to end it with him. He's a nice guy, but he's too… hands on for Ginny and I mean that in the most gentlemanly way possible. She needs someone who will let her be her own person, she's grown up surrounded by six brothers, after all, she's a young independent woman now."

"You really do love her, don't you?"

"Course I do, she's my little sister, too." I smiled, reaching out to fluff up Fred's hair, "And don't worry, I've already suitably warned Harry that I'll kill him if he breaks her heart."

Fred and George both nodded to one another, "Good."

"One last thing, and then I promise you can go for dinner," Fred said, his eyes wide with adventure, "what about Malfoy? How'd you manage to warn his mother off murdering Harry?"

"Oh." I was taken aback from his question, "I think she's glad that Draco's alive, Draco wasn't a completely innocent party in the matter, you have to remember. I appealed to her better nature and told her that I'd given him hell. She knows what that's like."

"We all do." Fred patted my knee gently, and quickly followed that with, "And we love you for it."

31st May

It's been a couple of weeks from Gryffindor won the Quidditch Cup and the rumour mill was still going strong with stories about the hottest couple in school. Thank Merlin I wasn't the spectacle of the hour. Following the numerous appointments and meetings regarding my near-psychotic episode, oh yes, they gave it an eye-rolling name, resulting from an array of events, such as PTSD and (I can't believe I'm going to write this) chemical imbalances. That's just their way of saying I lost my shit for a while, but it wasn't complete psychosis because I reacted badly to my medication withdrawal, so I'll be grand. Maura has reduced our number of sessions as I've managed to follow her treatment plan, though she isn't completely satisfied I'm 'cured', so we still have to have to meet once a week, and I know exactly why. I'm just not ready. Jensen is satisfied that I've been fully weaned off my medications and I've a routine check-up at three months post discharge from his care.

McGonagall had brought me to her office this afternoon so that I could bring her up to speed. I sensed her regret at being so absent from my recovery process, but I wasn't expecting her to be present. This is one of those inner battles that I'll constantly have to fight, it's just that right now, my troops are on standby, completing rigorous training for the next unexpected entry into combat. The drawing boards were calculating my expected attacks: battling Bellatrix was at the forefront of my focus. Maura was helping me prepare for this inevitability.

"Hey!" Hermione greeted me as I entered the Common Room, moving over on the sofa for me to fit in between her and Harry, "How was your meeting with McGonagall?"

"Productive." I said, "I've been cleared by Jensen and Maura is happy to go back to our usual meeting schedules. It appears I'm back to my usual sarcastic, brightens-up-a-room-whenever-I-enter-it, absolute joy of a self."

Ginny, who was sitting on the floor, leaning against Harry's legs gave my leg a pat, "We've all noticed you've been more yourself again, you've definitely got your sparkle back."

I couldn't help but smile at her remarks, I had been working very hard, "You'll never guess what someone asked me on the way up here?"

Four pairs of eyes met mine, "What was it this time?" Ginny rolled her eyes.

"Does Harry have a nipple ring?" I sat with a straight face, "Well, do you? Cause apparently our Ginny is very fond of them."

Harry couldn't help but laugh along with everyone else, "Wanna see?"

"You'd think people had better things to gossip about," Ginny said as Harry jokingly showed me his chest, by inviting me to look down his t-shirt, "Three Dementor attacks in a week," she read from the copy of the Prophet she had propped open in front of her, "and all Romilda Vane does is ask me if it's true you've got a Hippogriff tattooed across your chest."

Ron, Hermione and I all roared with laughter.

Harry was more interested in asking, "What did you tell her?"

"I told her it's a Hungarian Horntail," Ginny turned the Prophet page over idly, "Much more macho."

"Thanks," Harry grinned, "And what did you tell her Ron's got?"

"A Pygmy Puff, but I didn't say where."

Hermione and I were in fits of laughter, tears streaming down our cheeks. Ron scowled. This only made Hermione laugh more, that she clutched her chest.

"Watch it," Ron pointed a warning finger at Harry and Ginny, "Just because I've given my permission doesn't mean I can't withdraw it."

"Your permission?" Ginny scoffed, "Since when did you give me permission to do anything? Anyway, you said yourself you'd rather it was Harry than Michael or Dean."

"Yeah, I would," Ron said grudgingly, "And just as long as you don't start snogging each other in public -"

Hermione and I worriedly glanced at each other, knowing that Weasley arguments can become explosive quickly.

"You filthy hypocrite! What about you and Lavender, thrashing around like a pair of eels all over the place?" Ginny demanded.

I desperately tried to stifle laughter. Ron remained silent, but he looked deadly. Harry gently nudged Ginny and the two of them left the Common Room for some alone time.

"Leave them." I said in a warning tone to Ron who was ready to pounce, "It's new and exciting, give them a chance. You've gotten used to the idea of George and me together and you already like Harry, so that's half the battle."

Ron did not dignity my statement with a response.

6th June

Harry and I were sitting in the Common Room this evening working on our Herbology essay, trying our best not to fall asleep. Ginny was revising in the library again, the place where the majority of fifth and seventh years were situated, losing their minds at the amount of information their brains were trying to desperately retain. He was missing her, I could tell. But I knew he wouldn't forgive himself if he distracted her from studying and her grades reflected it. My heart soared whenever I saw the two of them together; so happy, such a natural fit. His attention was drifting from his work, as was mine, and we were only glad of an excuse to stop working when Ron and Hermione entered the Common Room and sat down opposite us.

"I want to talk to you, Harry." Hermione said, a purposeful look on her face.

"What about…?" Harry asked suspiciously.

"The so-called Half-Blood Prince."

Harry groaned, "Oh not again… Will you please drop it?"

"I'm not dropping it," Hermione said firmly, she was like a dog with a bone, "until you've heard me out. Now, I've been trying to find out a bit about who might make a hobby of inventing Dark spells -"

"He didn't make a hobby of it." Harry said shortly.

"He, he – who says it's a he?"

Harry's patience was running very thin and I cautiously made more space between us, "We've been through this. Prince, Hermione, Prince!"

"Right!" Hermione said, her cheeks showing red patches of frustration, "Look at that, Harry! Look at that picture."

Hermione slammed down a newspaper cutting onto the table, which she had taken out of her blouse pocket. It was an old photograph, showing a young skinny girl, who couldn't be more than fifteen or sixteen, with dark hair, a hooked nose, pallid face, wearing an expression of contempt as she stared at the camera.

I read the caption, "Eileen Prince, Captain of the Hogwarts Gobstones Team." It was attached to an article on extra-curricular activities.

"So what?" Harry shrugged his shoulders.

"Her name was Eileen Prince. Prince, Harry."

The two of them looked at each other across the table. Harry laughed.

"No way."

"What?"

Harry looked at her incredulously, "You think she was the Half-Blood…? Oh come on. There's no chance, it's not a girl, I can tell."

"The truth is; you can't think of a girl who would have been clever enough." Hermione was angry now.

"How can I have hung around with you two for five years and not think girls are clever?" Harry was clearly stung as he eyes fell on me momentarily, making a point, "It's the way he writes. I just know the Prince was a bloke."

Hermione was not content, "I found this in the library's collection of old Prophets. I'm going to find out more information on Eileen Prince, if I can." She stood and crossed the room towards the Portrait Hole, "And the first place I'm going to look is old Potions awards!"

"Knock yourself out." Harry said irritably as she left.

There was a silence for a few minutes as I found myself very interested in green things again. I wrote a line on my essay, trying to muster even a little smidgen of Neville's enthusiasm.

"She's never gotten over the fact that you were outperforming her in Potions," Ron said, lifting out his Herbology textbook, having seen what we were working on.

"You don't think I'm mad, wanting that book back, do you?" He asked the two of us, "At least you're rational, Kathryn, even if you don't agree with me?"

I took a few seconds to calm myself before answering, "I think I'd sleep better at night if I never saw that book again. But I understand completely why you wish to have that dangerous book in your possession."

Ron added, "The Prince was a genius. Anyway… without his bezoar tip…" he drew his finger across his own throat, "I wouldn't be here to discuss it, would I? I mean, I'm not saying that spell you used on Malfoy was great, either -" he assured.

"Nor am I." Harry added quickly.

"But he healed all right, didn't he? Back on his feet in no time."

Harry nodded, "Thanks to Snape."

"You still got detention on Saturday?" Ron asked him.

"And the Saturday after that, and the Saturday after that…" Harry sighed, "And he's hinting now that if I don't get all the boxes done by the end of term, we'll carry on next year."

"At which point you will have served your punishment to its fullest." I said, "After all, he's not dead. May as well be, mind." I muttered spitefully, "Draco has found himself, once again, unable to talk to me never mind look at me when I'm trying to communicate with him. You know the last time I talked to him was before the match when he got out of hospital? Not a peep have I heard since."

Harry and Ron shared a glance and said in unison, "We've heard." They looked determinedly at their essays, waiting for my frustrations to blow over. But the thing is… Draco is the perfect gentleman, the best of friends and greatest of companions whenever we are alone together, but now that he is amongst his peers? Nothing. It was his seventeenth birthday yesterday, but not a fuss was made. As I presented in Alchemy that morning, he appeared distant, disinterested and downright determined to disregard my existence. I had to give my gift for him to Zabini at the end of class yesterday in the hope that he might receive it. I know that there is something going on. Is he avoiding me because he knows that I'm one of the few people who he will freely talk to, is he worried I'll find out something I shouldn't? There's only so much I can do, or I might push him away for good.

14th June

"Hey -"

"Sorry, I've got to run, Dumbledore wants me to go to his office as quick as I can!" Harry informed me as he ran past.

I climbed in through the portrait hole to see Ron sitting alone, with Harry's books lying abandoned where he'd been seconds before, "D'you think this is it?"

Ron shrugged his shoulders and patted the seat beside where Harry had been, "Fancy helping me with this Transfiguration work?"

"I'll give you my essay and my notes if you get us a pot of coffee? I have a feeling this could be a long night…"

Ron eagerly obliged. It was fifteen minutes before curfew and I watched as tired students returned from studying and retired to bed. Hermione had returned with Ginny, who looked lost in another world as she was seemingly reciting something to herself. Hermione saw the look on my face and dropped her bag with a thud on the floor, eager to read Harry's letter. There were only a handful of us when Ron climbed in through the portrait hole with a handful of mugs and a large cafetiere of coffee entering before him.

"Your reward…" I slid my work across the table to him, with a huge smile, "Thank you!"

"Anything happen?" Ron asked Hermione and me as I pressed the coffee slowly. I nearly toppled it over as Harry burst through the door and, seemingly without a second to spare, was rushing up the stairs towards the boys dorms.

Ron, Hermione and I didn't quite know what to do as we sat and waited expectantly for Harry's return. The door flung open and Harry skidded to a halt in front of the three of us.

"I haven't got much time." He panted, "Dumbledore thinks I'm getting my Invisibility Cloak. Listen… Dumbledore thinks he's found one of the Horcruxes, it's in the cave that Riddle terrorised those two kids in. He's told me that I can go with him, but he says it's going to be dangerous, so that's why I got my cloak." He took a short breath, "So, when I was going to Dumbledore's office, Trelawney had gotten thrown out of the Room of Requirement by Malfoy, who was celebrating in there -" when the three of us were about to object to his assumption, Harry talked over us, "I know it was him, alright, and whatever he was working on, it's complete. Snape was the one who overheard the prophesy that night, he was the one who got my parents killed, I knew he was working for Voldemort all this time!"

Ron opened his mouth this time, but Harry kept talking.

"So you see what this means?" Harry finished at a gallop, "Dumbledore won't be here tonight, so Malfoy's going to have another clear shot at whatever he's up to. No, listen to me!" Harry hissed angrily at Ron and Hermione who were trying to object once again. I on the other hand was stunned silent, "I know it was Malfoy celebrating in the Room of Requirement. Here -" he shoved the Marauder's Map into Hermione's hands, "You've got to watch him and you've got to watch Snape, too. Use anyone else who you can rustle up from the DA. Hermione, those contact Galleons will still work, right? Dumbledore says he's put extra protection in the school, but if Snape is involved, he'll know what Dumbledore's protection is, and how to avoid it – but he won't be expecting you lot to be on the watch, will he?"

"Harry -" Hermione began.

Harry interjected, "I don't have time to argue. Take this as well -" he thrust a pair of socks into Ron's hands, upon Ron's confusion he said, "You'll need what's wrapped in them, it's the Felix Felicis. Share it between yourselves, and Ginny too. Say goodbye to her from me. I'd better go, Dumbledore's waiting -" he turned to walk away.

"No!" Hermione stopped him, taking the bottle of Felix Felicis Ron had just unwrapped, "We don't want it, you take it, who knows what you're going to be facing?"

"I'll be fine, I'll be with Dumbledore," Harry said, "I want to know you lot are okay… Don't look like that, Hermione, I'll see you later." Harry then turned to me, "Kathryn, I need to talk to you." he took my hand and urgently pulled me over to the portrait door.

There was a panic-stricken look in his eyes, which made me worry all the more. I believed every word he said, something bad was going to happen and it was up to us to sort it.

"I wouldn't ask you to do anything like this if it wasn't completely necessary, but I need you to do this for me. I need you to find Malfoy and try to stop whatever he's doing." Harry placed a hand on my shoulder, and focused on my eyes, "You're the only person who can do it. But please don't do anything stupid; I need you alive at the end of this, okay?" he gave my hand a squeeze, "Kathryn, say something."

I nodded, "Okay. Leave it with me. I'll see you later."