That night it was Kingsley's turn to stay in the ward with her. She sat cross-legged on the bed reading the Daily Prophet and could see Kingsley sitting on the chair next to the bed watching her. She sighed and looked up at him, unable to concentrate with his gaze penetrating her mind.
"Something wrong?"
He asked with a lift of his eyebrows.
"Is it absolutely necessary for me to have a 'bodyguard' all the time? I mean a girls got to have her private time, you know? I can't read with you constantly staring at me! I mean, Hogwarts is one of the safest places around – Voldemort wouldn't dare try and kidnap me while I'm here and especially because Dumbledore's around."
"Well, Dumbledore is still insisting you not be left alone so I'm going to go along with it. If it makes you feel better I'll sit further away and not watch you so much."
He seemed to be avoiding her gaze as he moved his chair across to the other side of the room. She was sure he was leaving some detail out. Frowning, she started to think it over. Then an idea struck her.
"He thinks I'm a danger, doesn't he? A danger to myself and everyone in the school – that's why you're watching me, isn't it?"
Kingsley gave her a cautious, hand almost caught in the cookie jar look and hid himself behind the paper he'd been glancing at all night. Kaitlyn nodded to herself in agreement to what she'd figured out and sighed again, returning to the newspaper she wouldn't be able to concentrate on anymore.
*****
Remus, meanwhile, had headed up to Dumbledore's office once Kingsley had shown up to watch over Kaitlyn. He entered quietly, the small meeting having already started and took a seat next to Tonks. Snape was relaying what he'd learnt from Voldemort to the people in the room which included those mentioned and also Professor McGonagall and Mad-Eye Moody, who Remus figured, must have only just arrived as he was still in his travelling cloak. Snape had managed to pick up that Voldemort was annoyed that Miss Morgan had managed to get away, but that he hadn't punished the three death-eaters who'd let her escape. Other than that he had heard nothing of any other interest. He mentioned that Voldemort seemed to be on a downtime at that moment.
"Which means he's thinking, and coming up with a plan."
Snape said worriedly.
"If what you said about him not punishing those Death-eaters is true then maybe Kaitlyn's escape isn't as simple as we first thought."
"Well, it's nothing to do with the necklace, because it's completely safe. No-one's getting to it."
Moody said.
"I was wondering if Kaitlyn was part of Voldemort's next plan. If maybe he'd put her under the Imperius Curse to try and get to the necklace."
Dumbledore told him, thinking to himself, his steepled fingers touching in front of him as his elbows rested on the arms of the chair. He looked over to Remus.
"You spent the entire day with her, Remus. Did you notice anything unusual, any slight distractions?"
Remus thought for a moment before answering.
"Nothing out of the ordinary. There were moments when she was thinking about her parents but I figured it was just because she hadn't been back here since the funeral."
Dumbledore nodded in agreement at his logic. Remus continued.
"She seems to me like a very strong willed person. Someone like her would be able to fight off the curse after a short time. From what I remember her father was the same."
"Yes. He was one of the best aurors around."
Moody added.
"So you don't think she's under the curse?"
Dumbledore questioned Remus, who, once again thought before speaking.
"I think it's unlikely. However I don't think she herself knows her full potential."
"The day she realises she more than the sum of her parts, she's really going to be something."
Snape said sincerely, earning confused and shocked looks from Minerva, Moody, Remus and Tonks, who's mouth was hanging open.
Remus thought that was a perfect description of Kaitlyn. She seemed to have a wholesome natural beauty that came from within. She was strong without being aggressive, and gentle without being a pushover. Her kindness had snuck past his defences and he couldn't seem to get her off his mind.
Remus snapped back to the present in time to hear Dumbledore tell everyone to keep doing what they were doing and also to keep an eye on Kaitlyn from a distance. As everyone started to file out, Dumbledore called to Remus for a word. Remus nodded and moved over to his desk.
"As you know the Defence teacher this year, Professor Harbage was struggling. Well, he will be leaving at the end of this week and I was wondering if you'd still like to fill his post?"
"That would be an honour, Professor. Thank you."
"Good good. You might want to go and see him before he leaves to sort out timetables and such."
Remus nodded, thanked Dumbledore again, and silently left.
*****
Kaitlyn awoke late the next day, not having realised how tired she had been from the previous day's exploration. The dredges of the familiar nightmare played on her mind and resurfaced fully when she thought about it. She remembered even more this time. This time she could feel the white hot burning sensation as the necklace touched her skin. The pain had been what woke her up. She looked around and saw Remus chatting to Madam Pomfrey just down the corridor. She thanked her lucky stars that they were too far away to have sent he pain and fear on her face because she knew it would worry them both and she would then lose her time away from the hospital wing. She thought it was crazy herself. She'd had plenty of dreams like this in the past, maybe not to this extent, but she had just been kidnapped and brought to a place that dug up old fears and pains long since buried. What importance were they now. Dreams or not she'd still get the sleep she needed.
She sat up in bed rubbing the sleep out of her eyes, then watched as Remus and Madam Pomfrey noticed the sound and looked over, then Remus headed back up the corridor towards her, with a smile on his face.
Kaitlyn noticed how well he was looking. The tiredness had gone from his face and there was a small twinkle in his eye. She couldn't help but smile at him.
"Morning. Or should I say afternoon. It's nearly lunch you know."
"Really?"
She looked shocked and checked the time to make sure he wasn't playing with her.
"I must have been really tired."
She stated.
"How did you sleep? Any nightmares?"
He asked casually as he took a seat.
"Nope."
She stared at him with what she hoped was her poker face. He stared right back.
"Really."
He stated. He obviously didn't believe her. For a moment she kept his gaze, hoping he'd give up, but when she realised he wasn't she held her hands up in defeat.
"Okay, okay – so I had a nightmare. Big deal. I've been having these sorts of nightmares since I was young. It's not like you don't have nightmares."
She accused.
"Touché." He said with a smile. "I was only making sure that you were okay, that you didn't need to talk about it or anything."
"Would you want to talk about it?"
He watched her for a moment.
"No, I guess not."
"Anyway, I'm fine. Not as fine as you look though – what's with that smile you're trying to hide behind that serious look?"
Remus smirked.
"I've just been given my old job back. Defence Against The Dark Arts teacher. I guess I hadn't realised how much I missed teaching it. And how nice it is to be earning properly again."
"Well, good for you. Means I'll see less of you though, won't it?"
"I'm afraid so. But I don't start till next week – and I will have free periods and weekends. That is, if you'd want to still see me and you weren't just asking in relief at having got rid of me."
He said hastily, nervous that he'd read her wrong. She punched him in the arm playfully.
"Of course I still want to see you, silly! You're the only person in this place that's keeping me sane."
Remus' smile was back on his face.
"So, what would you like to do today?"
He asked her.
"I don't know. I have some owls to send but that's all."
"Well, maybe you'd help me move into my new office and sort out my timetables with me. I know it's boring but with two of us it'll be done quicker."
"Sure, sounds fine to me."
"Good."
*****
Well, after that we had three uneventful weeks. Things carried on pretty much the same as the past few days. The nightmares became frequent, just like they had when I was eleven, but luckily they didn't get any worse.
On the plus side I had less time to think about them as I'd finally persuaded Professor Snape to let me help in his classes. It was fantastic getting back to potion making and was even more fun to actually be teaching the students something I loved to do. It also seemed to take the edge off his lessons – he was even worse to the students than I remembered, what with his wandering around and snide comments every so often. From what I gathered they'd become less since I'd joined but he obviously couldn't help himself.
I started to get into the habit of following him around, offering words of encouragement and help. I even made a few young friends including Harry, Ron and Hermione and students would greet me in the halls whenever they saw me. I even spent some hours free time with Neville just talking to him about his interests, and his parents which he seemed eager to hear about as his grandmother had never told him much about what they used to be like other than good at their jobs. It was great to be back in the company of fresh, smiling faces – it took the edge of the nightmares. I don't think Snape enjoyed me ruining his amusement at scaring students but he never mentioned anything about it to me. It was almost as if he enjoyed my company in his classes and after classes when I'd stay just to brew some potions. I was someone that he could relate to I suppose. Someone that actually understood his passion for potions and could share his discoveries with. He knew things that I'd never known before and I think I even taught him a few things as well. I guess I kind of thawed him out a little, got him to open up! People were saying that they were actually looking forward to potions for the first time ever just because I was there. It made me feel wanted, something I don't think I've ever felt much in my life and it was great.
And potion lessons weren't the only thing I felt needed in, or needed myself. I'd discovered a taste for a certain persons company. Even though sometimes all we did was talk, or play cards, I felt comfortable with Remus. I got the feeling there hadn't been many people he'd been comfortable about but it seemed I was one of the few who he did. I couldn't understand why people wouldn't want to be friends with him. He was kind, honest, loyal, generous. He made my head spin with excitement when I was about to see him, but at the same time I'd get butterflies in my stomach. There were things I knew he could be if he could just trust someone enough to open him up and if I could be that person... I used to treasure the time we spent together since it was now a lot shorter as he'd started teaching.
Even though all of this was happening I still found myself switching off and thinking of other things. My parents, the necklace, being kidnapped. I'd find myself in certain places of the school, not having remembered the journey there for old memories resurfacing.
It was almost as if these three normal weeks were just me going through the motions of everyday life just before the chaos. The calm before the storm as they say. It wasn't until after the three weeks were up did things slowly start to go wrong.
*****
It was late on the Saturday night and Kaitlyn was playing cards as usual with Remus. It had become quite a habit and he was actually getting quite good.
They'd almost finished another game when Professor McGonagall came striding into the ward looking slightly flustered. Remus frowned as she stopped and beckon him over.
"I'll be right back."
He said, the worry evident in his voice. He stood, moved silently over to the slightly impatient looking woman and help a hushed conversation. Kaitlyn half watched, not wanting to spy, but her curiosity was getting the better of her. Even though she couldn't hear what was being said she could see the lines of anxiety on Professor McGonagall's face and could see by Remus' posture and movements that something wasn't right. She watched carefully as Remus nodded and McGonagall turned and left, then she busied herself with her cards as Remus came back up the wing to her. She looked up at his approach.
"Something up?"
Remus tried a smile.
"Nothing for you to worry about."
"But it looks like something McGonagall's worried about and it takes a lot to get the wind up her."
Kaitlyn stated, the hint of curiosity in her voice that she hoped would make him give.
"Unofficially, there's a 'slight' emergency within the Order and Professor Dumbledore and Severus have had to leave the school, as has Professor Flitwick. Professor McGonagall's been left in charge of the school and she wants Kingsley, Tonks and I to help out with the running of it, especially since Halloween is coming up, just until they come back. That's all I can tell you, I'm afraid."
Kaitlyn nodded.
"Right then," Remus started. "Let's get back to this game – as I recall I was actually winning."
Kaitlyn laughed as his slightly excited expression. It wasn't often he got the upper hand but when he did he was like a little school boy.
*****
Even though Sunday was meant to be a day of rest, it wasn't for a lot of the teachers. Especially Remus who used to do all his marking on the Sunday and leave Saturday free to spend with Kaitlyn.
They'd both eat breakfast in the great hall, then he'd head back to his room while she would usually join Snape down in the dungeon, helping mark work, clean up and set up for the next days lessons. But as Snape wasn't there she wasn't sure what she was going to do. She was just planning on just spending it in Remus' room reading while he worked when Professor McGonagall entered the hall and strode up to the teachers table.
"Kaitlyn, could I have a word please."
"Sure."
Kaitlyn stood, finished off her toast and followed her old teacher into the room just beyond the great hall. Professor McGonagall came straight to the point.
"I'm sure that Remus has mentioned about the hasty departure of Professor Dumbledore and Professor Snape,"
She paused, waiting for a nod from Kaitlyn, then carried on.
"I was wondering, seeing as we're not sure when they'd be back, would you be able to continue Severus' lessons?"
Kaitlyn's face lit up.
"I'd love to! I know what he's been planning to teach so it shouldn't be a problem. And I'm sure the students wouldn't mind some time off from his 'unusual' teaching habits."
The last comment left a trace of a smile on McGonagall's face.
"Thank you, Kaitlyn. It'll be a huge help and I'm sure Severus will appreciate it."
"I'll go down there now and sort out."
"I'll send Kingsley down to make sure you're okay, just as soon as I've found Tonks to ask her to take Professor Flitwick's lessons. That girl is always disappearing when she's needed, she always had a knack for it even when she was a student here."
"Maybe she never disappeared, maybe she just changed her appearance so you wouldn't recognise her."
From the look on her face, Kaitlyn was sure that McGonagall had never really thought about that before and she suddenly looked very harsh as she turned and left. Kaitlyn silently apologised to Tonks and hoped she hadn't got her into too much trouble with the stern teacher.
She followed the transfiguration teacher back into the hall and joined Remus who was just finishing his breakfast. She joined him on his walk to his room, while she told him what Minerva had told her. Remus seemed pleased for her. She left him at his door and started to head for the dungeons.
*****
"There you are!"
Kingsley called shoving Kaitlyn out of her thoughts. She looked up to find herself outside the potions room.
"McGonagall told me you'd already be down here and I've been here five minutes already! Where've you been?"
Kaitlyn thought to herself for a moment. Where had she been? She wasn't sure – she didn't even remember the journey down here. Frowning, she tried to remember.
"What's wrong?"
Kingsley asked immediately.
There's nothing wrong with me.
"Nothing."
She smiled.
That's it - I was just with Remus.
"I just got talking to Remus is all."
She stepped past him, said the password to the classroom and entered.
"Figures."
Kingsley said quietly, rolling his eyes. He knew that something was going on between those two but he wasn't sure if they knew that yet.
Well, that's it. End of chapter. Next chapter coming up in the near future seeing as I've already written it, but I'm gonna make you wait. Mean aren't I?!!!!