Chapter 18 – Coming to a close

When Sirius had finally been cleared there was a huge celebration, not just for Sirius freedom but also Peter's. The party lasted for three days and Neville, Luna, Harry, Katherine, Ron, Hermione and Ginny had been given special permission to attend the party.

However now it was the end of term and Katherine was going home back to what was her old life she just didn't know if she could keep it all a secret, or if she really wanted to go back. At the moment everything was good, she liked who she was here and that she was living on a clean slate, and going back would just bring everything back. However she missed her friends and what they shared together; they were her family despite not blood related.

She had left early that morning taking leave to Dumbledore's office where she hoped that he would be able to give her solutions to her questions. She had made her way through the busy corridors and most of the students and decided to return home for Christmas this year. She reached the large oak door; it was so elegant and beautiful.

Knock knock

"Please come in." Dumbledore called to the shut door. When he turned around he was faced with the mysterious girl that had only just come into all their lives. "Hello Ms Summers what can I do for you?"

"Well Sir I have umm... some questions about the laws regarding the knowledge of the existence of magic among muggles."

"Very well my dear, would you take a seat and like a lemon drop?"

"Umm no thank you."

"Alright my dear now what would you like to know?"

"Well... you see... I have these three friends how I consider to be part of my family and I wanted to know if it was within the perimeters of the law if I could explain to the about magic and where I have been since September?"

"Well this is where the law is very unclear the ministry doesn't like to legislate on this matter because the circumstances surrounding each case are always different. Therefore the only restriction they place on this is that you have to be sure that they will keep your secret. So I ask you to ward on the side of caution. May I ask you a question why do you feel that you need to tell these friends of yours?"

"Umm well its kind of stupid... you see headmaster, these past few months have been fantastic however they have not been here with me... I mean we have always done everything together for the longest time and I miss them so I want to tell them about what I have been doing."

"Well that sounds like a very good reason however I must caution you again, you must be absolutely sure they will keep your secret before you tell them."

"Thank you headmaster and I will." She smiled the first reason smile she had in days, she may have to go home but at least she could tell her friends.

A ping sounded in the headmasters offices just before Katherine could leave. "Ms Summers would you please wait here."

"What's going on?"

Before Dumbledore could answer her question he had left the office, with the girl following him behind.

A man in black robes with a mask on his face stood in the entrance hall.

"You are not welcome here, now leave and go back to Tom."

"It won't be long but I have a message for you from the dark lord. The girl will be next you can't protect her forever."

Katherine looked so confused why the man was threatening her.

"Well my master shall be pleased to here this, that you are still keeping your students in the dark about their own lives. It will not be long before my master has her." The man laughed and left as he touched an object in his pocket – a portkey taking him back to where he had come from.

"Headmaster what hell is going on what does everyone seem to know about me that I don't?"

"Now is not the time for explanations. Please go back to your dorm and finish packing before you leave for the holidays." He quickly rushed off in the other direction with the intent to call an order meeting – as Tom was getting far too cocky even for himself.

Katherine headed back up to their dorm room, where she explained everything to her three friends. They had no idea what Katherine's role was in the war but they promised to help her find out.

The train ride home wasn't as much fun as it should have been; the four Gryffindor sat in a compartment together talking about how much fun these holidays were going to be and what a great time they would be having.

"I can't wait till we get home mum and dad promised me that we could go away for this Christmas since it's the first Christmas I have spent with them since I started Hogwarts" said Hermione

"Yeah Charlie and Bill are coming down as well... should be great I just hope the twins don't decide to play any tricks on me" said Ron

"Yeah I can't believe it it's the first Christmas I get with my family I can't wait" said Harry.

The three continued to talk about how great they expected there holidays to be, however unnoticed to them Katherine hadn't mentioned anything about the expectations of her holidays because she already new how everything would be.

The Hogwarts express pulled into the platform of nine and three quarters and the carriages quickly emptied there continence of excited children happy to be home for the holidays.

'Why didn't I just stay at school???' Katherine questioned herself. 'It's bound to be better then what's coming' she quickly loaded up her truck on to one of the trolleys.

"Katherine where are your folks?" asked Harry.

"Oh there not coming I'm taking a cab home."

"Why?"

"Harry don't worry about it I'll be fine."

"Are you sure I mean we could...."

"HARRY JUST SHUT THE BLOODY HELL UP I SAID I WOULD BE FINE AND THAT'S IT, NOW GO FIND YOUR GAURDIANS AND HAVE A BLOODY MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!" She spat and stormed off to find a cab to take her home, since she couldn't see her parents, which meant they had forgotten and she would have to get her own way home.

"Huh?" Harry had no idea what had happened one minute she was kind and sweet the next she had more sting then a blast end skrewt.

The cab pulled up outside her house she paid the driver after he was kind enough to help her with her trunk to the front door. She sighed and took a deep long breath and reached for the handle.

'Here we go again.' She opened the door and dragged her trunk inside met by the sounds of her screaming parents, which was not directed at her but rather at each other, but it was only a matter of time before that changed. She dragged her trunk through the house and two her room, which was located at the other end, it was only a one storey house but it was adequate for the needs of the family of four. "I can't believe I left Hogwarts for this I should have just stayed there, but hey no one was telling me what's happening there either."

"Katherine ...... Summers come down here now!!!"

"Yes mum."

"And why is it you didn't say hello when you came in, you have been gone for months, and you don't even say hello when you come in, why?"

'Cos u where fighting with dad again and I didn't want to get yelled at.' "Because I wanted to put away my trunk before someone tripped over it."

"Very well, now your brother is at Aaron's tonight for dinner so I haven't bothered cooking anything leftovers are in the fridge if you want."

'So another make your own dinner night right.... funny I should have expected that what with me taking care of myself since I was eight bloody years old!!!!!' "Yep that's fine."

Her dad had stepped out of the room just before she had come in now her mum had absolutely free rain to rant and yell as much as she wanted with her. "I can't believe you came home in those clothes you look like you were raised in a barn I can't believe you took those house closes with you to Hogwarts..."

Katherine thought about what she was wearing a pair on new hipster jeans with a black belt and a white t-shirt and a black jacket with sneakers on. 'There's nothing wrong with what I am wearing would you just leave me alone I just got home for Christs sake.' "Sorry mum." This was not the time to tell her mum to leave her alone, she had been fighting with her dad again and to yell at her now would just cause more problems but if she left her mother take it out of her for the rest of the day she would be able to say something tomorrow. 'Geeze who's the child here,' she thought to herself.

The hours had quickly passed with the same old discussions it was decided that the Summers where not going to go out for Christmas to see either side of the family as Katherine's mum and dad had refused therefore limiting Christmas to a few presents in the morning then the kids were told they could do what ever they wanted.

Katherine continued to think as she made dinner. 'I can't believe I came back here am I an idiot for coming back here? Yes. You new this would happen. Well I guess it's true what they say there is no place like home.' Katherine's thoughts continued on the similar path while she made dinner for herself consisting of what looked to be a week old stir fly her mum had made discarding the meat as she was a vegetarian and on the side some fairly weird looking fried rice which she had found in the back of the refrigerator. It wasn't that she hated her parents its just they sucked together; as they over the years had learned exactly which buttons to push. However apart was even a more terrible thought?

Christmas day had come and gone with the Summers family staying at home, making it one of the worst Christmas' of history. Katherine's couldn't help but wonder what her friends were doing know as she tried to block out another fight between her parents. After and hour she couldn't stand it anymore and left buying a small bunch of white roses she headed to the cemetery hoping to keep her best friend company on Christmas.

The day after Christmas Katherine gotten together with Katrina, Christine and Vinod, were another discussion between the four got underway.

"So how was your Christmas guys?" asked Chris.

"Same old we went and saw the relatives for the day" said Katrina.

"Spent the morning with dad and then the afternoon with mum, must admit that it was better then the Christmas we had before when it was just false everyone was just trying to be happy around everyone else" said Vin.

"We didn't do anything it was decided that we would stay home I would say it was one of the worst Christmas's ever so around lunch I left..."

"Hows things been now that your back?" asked Vin.

"Same as always trying to hold my tongue and stay out of there way till school starts again and then I can get away from them."

"Is it really that bad again?"

"Kinda, same old, same old, come on guys you know how it is things are ok one minute and the next its world war three." She tried to laugh off her life. "On another note I got something to tell ya it's going to be hard to believe but I need you guys to trust me. The school I got to is called Hogwarts School of witchcraft and wizardry... it's a school where they teach magic...."

They all frowned as if there friend had finally flipped. "Don't look at me like that I know that's it sounds so strange but I can prove it. Accio Pride and Prejudice." The book flew through the air into her hand. The three friends looked like gold fish, with their mouths hung open. So they began to ask questions and talk excitedly about the idea of magic, and Katherine continued to show them a bit of wandless magic and some of the tricks that Fred and George had give Katherine.

Harry had had one of the best Christmas's of his life Peter, Remus, Sirius, Arabella and Tonks had been there and they had had a remarkable day. It seemed that Tonks and Remus had been spending a lot of time together over the last couple of months and had become so what of an item.

They had all woken early on that day due to Sirius's enthusiasm which manifested itself to coming into each room and yelling Merry Christmas. Then dragging everyone out of bed down to the lounge room in their pyjamas as it was not Christmas to be dressed in the morning in anything but a bathrobe. Where for the next few hours presents were exchanged and opened. Harry couldn't believe it, he finally found his family.

The rest of the day had been nothing short of amazing a Quidditch match before lunch and then more games and fun and at dinner the surprises continued. Over the past couple of months Arabella and Sirius had been getting to know each other again and trying to find if what they once shared was still there and the most shocking event for the day was when Sirius asked "....Arabella Figg will you marry me please?" "Yes." So now his godparents were finally getting married again.

That evening Harry went to sleep thinking he had to have had the best Christmas ever.

"Mum, Harry Potter a person from my school asked if I could come over to his house for the day with a few other friends?"

"I don't think so the house is a mess and I need you to stay home and clean it while I am in work."

"This is totally unfair it's my holiday and I should be able to enjoy it, I'm meant to be the child while you're meant to be the adult...."

"Don't you talk to me like that I want you to stay home and clean this house up..."

"NO I am not going to it's my holiday and I am going to enjoy it... I just got home and now you want me to be your maid."

"You are an awful child...."

"Apparently but don't worry about it I wont come home again till summer vacation so you wont need to worry about seeing me ...."

"That's not what I meant... why you always have to argue with me...."

"Cos you started it with me.... I'm not going to do this I'll be back later...." And she stormed out of the room and left the house going to Diagon alley where Harry said he would meet her so that she could get to the Emerald House formally known as Grimmuald place, been renamed as soon as Sirius had been cleared and was able to change it.

"Katherine how was your Christmas?"

"Not news worthy yours?"

"The best I have ever had."

"Well that's good to hear, so how we gettin back to your house?"

"By ... portkey... not my choice but the only way to get there." Harry still hated portkey but it was the only way to get Katherine to the Emerald House while still protecting its security without exposing the order.

"Ok." They touched the portkey and were whisked away to emerald house, were they arrived in the middle of the entrance hall.

"Your house is amazing...I never seen anything like it... how many people live here?"

"Thanks, well Sirius, Arabella, Remus, Peter and I but a lot of people stay here all the time because of the Order of the Phoenix."

"Cool, so when are Hermione and Ron getting here?"

"They should be here any minute Ron is coming by Floo and Hermione is walking here."

"Ok... so how long have those two been in love with each other?"

"Since our first year but they wont admit it... Gryffindor have a pool set up by Ron's sister Ginny about how long it will take them to get together."

"So what did you guess?"

"Before the end of these holidays."

"Hmmm... I'd have to agree."

A knock and the Floo fire roared Harry went to answer the door then went to find Ron with Katherine following him around as she had never been to the Emerald Place before.

So the four friends were talking and playing around the house living there holidays to the fullest, with Ron and Hermione sneaking off just before lunch.

"I wonder where they went?" asked Harry.

"I bet we find those two snogging in a closest somewhere. Lets see if we can catch them in the act." So the two went off in search of their disappearing friends and found them snogging none the less; under one of the trees outside near the Quidditch pitch. After Ron and Hermione got over their embarrassment they headed inside for lunch.

"Guys I was wondering if you wanted to come to this 18th birthday party it's a friend of mine from school she's turning 18 and I wanted to know if you wanted to come?"

"A muggle birthday party?" asked Ron.

"Yeah it will be fun, dancing, pizza, alcohol and pool."

"I have no idea what half most of those things are but I'm in." said Ron

"What about you two?"

"Why not." Harry and Hermione both agreed.

"Cool this will be great I am sure you guys will have a great time."

They finished their lunch and then begun to muck around again. Sirius Remus Arabella and Tonks came back from Diagon alley to find the four children in main lounge room where they were playing exploding snap.

"Hello Harry, now what have you four been up to today?" asked Arabella.

"Nothing much, did you have fun shopping?"

"Yes dear and how are you three?"

"Ok professor." The three answered.

"Dears I'm not a professor while we are on holidays call me Bella."

"Ok."

The four adults were soon entertaining the four students with tails of their days at Hogwarts. Then Harry, Ron and Hermione began to tell about there adventures in their years at the magic school. After finishing the tail of what occurred in the duelling club in their second it brought a question to Harry's mind.

"Kathy I wanted to ask you, the other night you were yelling at your cat when you found Peter, you were talking to your cat like a feline. Who did you do that?"

"No I wasn't I was just speaking English."

"Actually you weren't." said Sirius

"Umm..."

"Maybe there is something on it in the library." said Hermione.

"Hermione you can't be serious I mean were on holidays."

"Oh Ron, don't you want to know?"

"But...."

"Oh come on it won't take long."

"Fine."

"So do we get any say in this?" said Katherine.

"Of course not," said Harry.

The four students headed off to the library in search of information about Katherine's new ability.

"So did you guys find anything about me?"

"Nope mum and dad didn't say anything about it... well not when Ginny and I are around, and my brothers won't tell me either, not even Fred and George."

"Do you think they might tell me?"

"I don't think so despite everything they are kinda serious when it comes to the order, shocking I know."

"Hermione..?"

"Nope there were no books I could find because I don't really have much to go on but I'll continue to keep looking."

Katherine glanced at Harry.

"Sorry Kathy no one will say anything to me either I think they know where looking for information that's why where coming up with nothing."

"Yeah ... oh well maybe I'll find out about it later."

"Well what ever reason you are here I'm glad you are..." Harry said slipping his hand into hers.

Ron and Hermione gave a look at each other say that their two friends should get together and make each other happy.

The day ended with a bang, literally the four had pulled a prank on the adults. One which consisted of dung bombs which pelted from the sky releasing a gas that turned all their clothes pink and then died their skin and hair green and silver in true Slytherin fashion; causing the Gryffindor adults to be even more horrified.

The 18th birthday part was fantastic, the four students had a great time, and Hermione spent a lot of the time showing Ron the idea behind many of the muggles things which were used including a stereo. Katherine spent the night playing pool against anyone that would challenge her. The only downside of the night for Harry was that for some reason Dudley had come with his cronies as he was a friend of someone else, and thus had been invited. But the two avoided each other pretending not to know one other.

TBC

Review responses:

wiccanpriestess3451: thanks glad u liked it and to have another reviewer on board.

Auntarctic: Actually I am very serious, I live in Australia where the drinking legal age is 18 however most teenage drink at parties when they turn 16. I don't know much about the laws in England other then our own laws are modeled after them so I just used our laws :P. but it must suck to wait till ur 21. :D

Cardiff bluebird: actually I thought u would be the one to object to the idea of peter not being evil. And I was surprised to see u had the same idea about Neville and peter as I did. Oh and the truth about Jillian will come very soon u just have to wait a little bit longer.

House cup points:

Gryffindor: 140 points

Slytherin: 70 points

Ravenclaw: 50 points

Hufflepuff: 20 points

Please review...