Chapter Five

Back in the Gryffindor common room....

"I don't know how you managed to stay out there that long," said Hermione, her teeth chattering. "It was freezing!"

"Well of course you were freezing, you weren't doing anything," said Ron. "We were."

Hermione's face took on a grim nature. "Fine. I'm going back to the girls' dormitories. The air here has turned a trifle rancid."

She stormed out.

"Actually, she just wants to work on her extra credit Potions assignment, I bet you," said Ron. "You know how she is."

Harry nodded wisely.

Fred, George, and Kayla were whispering conspiratorially in the corner. "Ay, Ron!" Fred shouted. "Come on! We're going to steal some fireworks that Filch stole from us earlier and we need bait!"

"But – "

"No buts!" Fred grabbed his arm and the four of them were off.

Which left Harry and Katie alone....

"So.....why did you really move here?" Harry asked.

Katie sighed. "Our parents are in the Order of the Phoenix and needed to live closer to here....and there are no really extraordinary American wizarding schools, so they figured we'd do better here."

Harry nodded wisely. "Yes....the Order....it's...."

"I know, you know everything about it, and so do I," Katie said quietly. "So we don't really need to talk about it, do we?"

Harry shook his head. "You two have been around, haven't you?"

"You could say that," Katie replied. "We're pretty wrapped up in this mess with Voldemort, or at least our parents are....which pretty much means we are as well."

"You say his name?"

"Why shouldn't I?"

"Most British wizards won't."

"I'm not British."

"Obviously." Harry smiled. "I think we'll be spending a lot more time together.....because of the Order....and all.....oh you know what I mean."

Katie nodded. "Perhaps more than that."

"Why do we really need to steal these back? Why can't you just buy new ones?"

"It's the principle of the matter, Ron," said Fred. "Besides, why waste extra money buying new ones?"

Kayla came running back down from Filch's office. "Okay. He's not in there right now. I saw Ernie Macmillan on the way back and he said he thinks he's up on the next floor cleaning up some dungbombs."

"Right. You and Ron go get them," Fred said. "We'll stand watch."

Ron and George hurried off down the hallway.

"You're pretty good at this kind of stuff," Fred said approvingly.

"Me and Katie have had practice," Kay said with a grin. "Though I must say I'm better. She's probably flirting with Potter right now instead...."

"Well I'd say you're the cooler twin anyway."

"As I'd say the same to you."

The two grinned foolishly until George and Ron came sprinting back, arms heavily laden with fireworks.

"We saw Mrs. Norris! Run!" George shouted.

The group ran all the way back to Gryffindor Tower, where they collapsed in the floor of the common room, breathing heavily. Katie and Harry looked at them skeptically.

"Successful?" Harry asked.

"Of course. Did you expect any less?" George said between breaths.

Katie looked to Kay. "I could've helped, you know."

"I thought I'd leave you to your prey," Kay said casually. Katie blushed furiously.

"Oh come on," said Katie, "Like you weren't just helping to go after Fred."

This caused Kay to blush furiously as well. "So?"

Katie smirked. "So we're even?"

"I'd say so."

"You two are perhaps the strangest girls I've ever met," said Ron.

"We try," Kay replied. "Well, I'm off to bed. Coming, Katie?"

"I suppose," she said, her eyes lingering on Harry. "See you all in the morning."

The group all filed away to their separate dormitories and settled in for a peaceful night's rest.