Short, but thou shalt not complain. :) Please.
The Portkey wasn't the only thing waiting for Kate when she left the Hogwarts Express. Amidst the clatter and cheering of others going home for the summer, her parents and sister stood clustered around the rusty pan, eager to see her off.
"Kate!" Carolyn yelled, running over as fast as her little legs would carry her. Kate picked up the squirming 8-year-old, her trunk forgotten.
"How are you, Carrie?" she cooed.
"I missed you." Carolyn looked seriously at her sister with wide blue eyes. "So much has happened, Kate. I got a real broom for my birthday and Michael challenged me to a Shuntbumps and I beat him and he was really mad because all his friends were there and he's three years older than me so." She paused for breath. "I can go so fast, Kate!"
Kate grinned, carrying the child over to their parents. "That's amazing, Carrie."
"She's been telling that story for a month now," said Mrs. Gibbs in a low voice. A sad smile spread over her face, extending from her mouth all the way to her brown eyes, the same ones that Kate had inherited, which were now brimming with tears. "My little baby, how are you?"
"Momma," Kate protested halfheartedly. For one thing, there were people around, for another, she wasn't little compared to her mother (who was little taller than Carolyn), but finally, she didn't really care about the first two. "I'm fine, I'm fine."
Mr. Gibbs hung back. A tall, thin man, it was from him that Kate got her dark blonde hair. His quiet manner suited her, he didn't fawn or cry but merely said, "Ready for the real world, are you," as though it wasn't a question but a statement. Still, she knew her father well enough to know he worried.
"I'll have a great time, Uncle Roderick'll take care of me," she said.
"He'd better," said Mr. Gibbs. "I'm not too old to beat my little brother up, you know."
"He'd have to answer to both of us, if anything happened to my baby…" Mrs. Gibbs trailed off weakly.
Mr. Gibbs smiled down at his eldest daughter. "I daresay you're ready to go, then?"
"Actually, I just need to use the ladies' room," said Kate quickly. "Be right out."
She dashed around the corner and into the bathroom. Her family was so bloody proud of her, and she loved them to pieces, but the last thing she wanted right now was puffy mouse-eyes from crying. A brief check in the mirror--eyes, nose, mouth, all still there--and she braced herself to say good-byes--and see him, or so she hoped. The Portkey was leaving in a matter of minutes.
So it was run back outside, a round of hugs and weeping on Carolyn's part. Mrs. Gibbs put on a brave face for her youngest daughter.
"Don't worry, Carrie," she consoled. "Kate'll come visit us over the summer, won't she?"
Kate grabbed the handle of the pan securely. "Of course."
"But why does she have to leave now?!" Carolyn wailed.
"Jobs fill up fast," Mr. Gibbs said reasonably. He shook his head at the fit, but by the look in his blue eyes Kate could tell he wasn't happy about her taking off again either. However, all he said was, "Good luck, Kate."
She nodded in reply, scanning the crowds. Dear goodness, where was he? Hadn't she given him the right time? Maybe he was stuck getting his trunk somewhere--she held on to her own by the handle--maybe he'd come running up at the last minute, calling her name---
Or maybe he wouldn't come, she realized, not five seconds before she (and the Portkey) disappeared.
He hadn't come.