The next few days passed in a blur of tears, headaches and sleeping for Kate. She remembered writing something to say at the funeral, but otherwise she remembered very little- apart from several recollections of having various potions forced upon her by both Snape and Dumbledore. At night she was brought a fairly strong Sleeping Potion by one of the Professors, meaning that she got enough sleep, and at mealtimes she was always forced to eat something.

One the morning of the funeral, Kate awoke with a strange sense of calm in her mind. She showered, and then dressed in a knee-length black skirt and a black shirt. She put on a hint of make-up, casting a charm so it would not run if she cried again. She put on some black heels, picked up her cloak and speech and descended down the stairs.

She forced down some breakfast, and then went to stand and stare out of one of the large windows at the front of the house. She didn't even blink when several people apparated into the room behind her. One of them approached her- it was Snape. She'd seen rather a lot of him in recent days. "Professor, I appreciate you coming today. Thank you."

Snape, still unused to such kindness even though he had been spending a lot of time at the Johnson's recently, blinked at the words. "Your sister will be much missed at Hogwarts. She was an excellent student, much like you." A pause. He was still unsure if was saying the right things. "I have come with a few calming potions on me today, should you need them. Please do not hesitate to ask for one should you feel the need." He extracted a small bottle from his robes. "Take this now; it will calm you for the service." Kate accepted it. She drained it.

"Thank you, Professor." She handed the bottle back to her teacher. "Sir, I want to say thank you for all the Potions you've given me over the past week. I know that I haven't exactly been grateful for them, but they have helped. I guess I just haven't been thinking straight."

"Katharine, there is no need for you to apologise. I know that the past few days have not been at all easy, but you are strong and I know you will be able to come through this." Kate looked up at her Professor. She was genuinely touched by the usually cold Professor's words. From the look in her eyes, Snape didn't need a response. "Come. It is time to leave."

They processed slowly to the church where the funeral was being held. Kate managed to hold herself together during the service; she cried, but didn't completely break down. She shook during the burial, but held on tight to her parent's hands and managed to hold herself together.

It was during the reception afterwards that she began to come apart. She mingled with the people there for a while, but slipped out into the hall as soon as she could. She kicked off her shoes and sank down onto the steps of the grand staircase in the hall. She held her head in her hands, her mind spinning. She had wished that some of her friends could have been at the funeral, but complications had arisen and so Kate had to accept that she would be even more alone than she though she would be.

She sighed deeply and sadly, tears trickling down her face. She had only been on holiday for two weeks, and her life had completely fallen apart. She wouldn't be able to see her friends for another two weeks due to Ministry security worries. She figured that she should make a start on her summer homework, or at least try to. At least it meant that she could be alone, instead of having people constantly fussing over her. Sympathy was all very well, but some people were taking it to extremes.

She quickly made her way up to her room. She flicked the lamps on with her wand- an advantage to be the daughter of the Minister for Magic was that she was allowed to use magic at home, even if she was under-age. She waved her wand and the door closed. She threw up some wards around her room, and then sank down at her desk.

She caught sight of a photo buried under a pile of schoolbooks. She pulled it out, and dropped it suddenly as though it was on fire. She pulled it towards her, setting it in front of her. She forced her gaze on to it. It was her and her sister the previous summer, laughing as they were at Harry's surprise birthday party. It had been one of the highlights of the summer. The image of the two of them waving brought back a flood of memories. She slipped off her chair and sunk to the floor, shaking, unable to stop the hysterical sobs.

Sometime later, Dumbledore excused himself from a conversation he was having with Minerva McGonagall.

"Is something wrong, Albus?" asked Minerva worriedly.

"I have not seen Katharine in the room for two hours now, Minerva. I am very worried about her. She has been in a terrible state all week." He swept quietly from the room, and ascended the grand staircase where Kate's shoes still lay. He walked along the hallway until he came to a doorway that he could see was shimmering with magic. He examined Kate's wards for a moment. "Impressive for one so young," he murmured, before gently entering Kate's room. A wave of his wand, and the door softly shut without a sound.

For a moment, he absorbed the sight of Kate crying and screaming hysterically into her pillows. He knew it would be best not to call her father up here; it was a distressing enough sight for Dumbledore to witness. Using a form of telepathy only a few were trained in, he contacted Severus Snape who was still unwillingly mingling with the guests. He asked him to bring up a strong Calming Potion and the specially-prepared Sleeping Potion that had been made for Kate.

Snape immediately excused himself from conversation and collected the Potions from the locked cupboard in the hall. Once outside Kate's shimmering door, he performed an incantation to let Dumbledore know who was there. The door softly swung open, a portal appearing in the wards for Snape to step through. "I have the Potions, Headmaster. How is she?" It was a question with an obvious answer. Dumbledore stepped aside and Snape glanced at Kate lying on the bed. "Do you wish for me to get her father?" The sight unnerved him, though he did not show it.

"I think that perhaps we should not tell Walt Johnson of the state his daughter is in; he has enough to cope with at the moment." Severus handed over the Potions. "Tell him that Katharine is asleep, and shall not be awake until morning."

"The Sleeping Potion will let her sleep for sixteen hours, Headmaster. I shall meet with you again tomorrow." Dumbledore nodded, and Snape slipped back through the portal. Dumbledore shut the door again, and set down the Potions on the bedside cabinet.

He sat on the edge of Kate's bed, and gently placed a hand on her back. He muttered a soft incantation, and Kate's screams quietened. "Professor Dumbledore?" murmured Kate, still shaking. She felt herself being turned over magically. Suddenly, she found herself in her comfy pyjamas, and underneath her bedcovers.

"Here. Drink this." Even the sound of Dumbledore's soft, warm voice comforted Kate a little. She took the bottle from him, and as she drank it, recognised it as a strong Calming Potion. "Dear child, tell me exactly what is bothering you."

From anyone else, this question would have sounded obvious, but from Dumbledore it sounded perceptive. "I found a photo today. I didn't realise I had it." She sighed, but continued. "It was from Harry's party last summer. Lizzy and I were dancing together; we had such a great time that night... Seeing it just brought back too many memories in one go. I couldn't deal with it, I just lost it...." Dumbledore held up his hand to stop her.

"Enough, Katharine. You need say no more." He didn't want to push the grief-stricken child, not today. When the time was right, she would be able to talk. He unstoppered the Sleeping Potion, and handed it to Kate. "This will allow you to sleep uninterrupted for sixteen hours. You will wake late tomorrow morning. You need to rest." Kate took her glasses off and set them on the bedside table. She downed the potion in one go, and sank straight onto her pillows and into a deep, peaceful sleep.

Being satisfied that she was sleeping, Albus Dumbledore slipped out of the room quietly. He cast powerful wards around the room that would only be broken when Kate touched them, and left her to sleep dreamlessly and peacefully.

Kate awoke precisely sixteen hours later. She rolled onto her back, and took a moment to recall the events of the previous day. She groaned softly, but didn't feel like crying, which greatly surprised her. She suspected that the Calming Potion she had taken last night had lingering effects. No doubt Dumbledore had asked Snape to modify the Potions for her.

Slowly, she got up, showered, and dressed. It was only once she was fully awake that she noticed the gently shimmering wards around her room. Dumbledore, she thought. A note fluttered out of nowhere, landing on her lap. It was accompanied by a single gold feather- she recognised it as belonging to Fawkes. She tucked it into her waistband and cast an invisibility charm on it.

Katharine,

The wards I have placed around your room will only be broken when you touch them. Take care of yourself.

Professor Albus Dumbledore.

Kate couldn't help but smile. Leaving her wand on her desk, she slipped downstairs. After eating a quick breakfast, she went to search for her father, knowing he wasn't yet due back at work.

"Dad?" Kate quietly poked her head round the door of her father's office at home.

"Yes, sweetie?" He didn't move, but continued to stare out of the window at the steady drizzle. His voice was quiet and grief-laden.

"I'm going to go for a walk. I... I need to think, I need some space. My wand is in my room."

"Be careful, Katie." Walt didn't protest; he didn't have the energy.

"I love you, Dad," called Kate softly.

"Love you too, Tiger." Kate couldn't resist the small smile that insisted on appearing on her face on hearing her old childhood nickname. Kate quietly slipped from the house, and began walking.

She walked anywhere her legs wanted to go. Walking among the Muggles meant that she could slip into world where she had total anonymity. She wandered aimlessly up and down familiar streets. They were almost empty because of the constant drizzle. Her mind ran over the events of the past week. Now that she was away from everyone, she could make some sense of things. She didn't cry- she had cried herself out over the past seven days.

Kate was so absorbed in her thoughts that she didn't have time to react to the hooded wizard who apparated in front of her in the alley she was using as a shortcut. "Stupefy!"