AN/ Sorry it's taken so long, I won't make excuses, I just kept forgetting, then I kept putting it off...

Chapter 4- Unexpected Gifts

I walked out of the fireplace in Gryffindor common room to find four pairs of eyes staring at me surprised. Ron and Hermione were on one couch, Hermione with her head resting on Ron's upper chest. Harry and Ginny sat across from them; Ginny curled up under Harry's arm.

I opened my mouth to comment, but then thought better of it. I stepped out of the fireplace and started dusting off my robes. The soot looked horrible against the black of the cloth.

"What are you doing here?" asked Ron,

"Yeah," Hermione started, sitting up, "We thought Dumbledore sent you back home," she said, trying to understand.

"He did," I said simply, not sure I wanted to tell them any more than that. But then the expectant looks on their faces did me in; "My mom kicked me out." The look on the faces of these people, my friends, made me smile. Even if my mother was a psycho, they weren't, even if some of the school did still think Harry was a bit nutty, and they wouldn't laugh at me, or anything I was afraid of.

Ginny stood up and came over and hugged me, if it hadn't been for her the golden trio never would have accepted me. She had been my closest friend since we got to Hogwarts five and a half years before. She had stood by my side last June when I asked Dumbledore to let me join the Order. If not for her, I never would have had the courage to do it all. Also, I don't think Harry, Ron, and Hermione would have brought me into the group.

I hugged her back and then slowly pushed back, "thank you," I whispered in her ear before I turned and went up the stairs to our dormitory.

When I got there I pulled my trunk to the foot of the furthest bed. I sat down on it and realized that Christmas was the next day. "Fuck" I whispered to my self. "At least their gifts are still in my trunk" But my mothers gift was under our tree. Well, I hoped she liked it. If not, then she could chuck it.

I changed into my pajamas and went to bed, even though it wasn't even 7:00 yet. I lay there for hours, until I heard Ginny come up for bed. I smiled to myself, thinking about her and Harry. They were perfect for each other. She'd had a crush on him forever, and was sad that she couldn't go to the Yule ball with him, because she just couldn't hurt Neville's feelings.

Maybe they'd get married someday…with that thought I fell into peaceful dreams.

I woke slowly the next morning, not wanted to shatter the dream I was having, but the excited squeal of my roommate shattered it harder than waking would have. I sat up fast.

My curtains had been moved aside and a pile of presents sat at the end of my bed. The pile was larger than I'd expected, given that my mother was angry with me and all. I looked closer and saw the headmaster's tidy scroll on an envelope and picked it up. Upon opening I found it was a letter.

Kathy,

I am sorry that I had to send you back to your mother's, I realize that it didn't go as planned and may have caused you pain. (AN/ No shit Sherlock...sorry) There are many things you need to know, but few of which I will be able to tell you. First, I know you wish to know your father, and you will soon, just be patient and time will bring you together. I also know what happened in Diagon Alley, do not fear, I will not reveal your savior, he did a good deed and should not be punished for it. And lastly, your mother does love you, and I will do everything in my power to see her free of Voldemorte's influence, just as I have done for everyone who has wished to be free of him. Do not fear child, as confusing as it all is everything will become clear in time.

He didn't sign it, but he didn't need to. I wanted to cry I would finally get to meet my father. Son he had said but how soon was soon? I wish I could have just asked him, but he had told me to be patient, not one of my strong suits.

"Ooo," said Ginny from the foot of my bed. I glanced up and found that she was staring at something on the other side of the pile.

"What?" I asked, she simply picked up a small box wrapped in gold paper and handed it to me.

Staring at it, I realized it had no name. "Well," Ginny said, "open it." I smiled up at her and slowly started to unwrap it. When free of paper, I could see that it was a small white box, upon opening this box I found a black velvet one. Sighing, I opened it, expecting to find yet another obstacle, but was surprise to find a gold heart-shaped locket resting on the smooth velvet lining.

I picked it up and saw that there was a wand and rose crossed, carved into the surface. "Wow," said Ginny, "That's the most beautiful thing I've ever seen." I knew that meant something, because Harry had given her a locket with stars done in silver inlay for her birthday.

I smiled at her and looked back down at the locket. It was magnificent, but who would send me such an expensive gift? Surely not my mother, so who.

"Well, put it on." Urged Ginny. I laughed and pulled it out of the box. The chain was long enough that I could slip it over my head, upon inspection I found that it had no clasp. It was just one long unbroken line. I slipped it over my head, knowing the whole time that Hermione would be telling me to have Professor McGonagall look at it first. But what can I say, I'm an optimist, (AN/wait, no I'm not, and neither is she...) the locket fit perfectly between my breasts, you wouldn't be able to see it if I didn't wear something that showed lots of cleavage, and even then I'd have to pull it out. Upon inspecting how it rested, I found a note had fallen out of the box.

Written in an untidy "chicken scratch" (AN/ Mwahaha...)

You may not know it yet

But you have a secret love.

We are destined to be together

No matter what comes between us

On this locket, there is a spell

It will only open when your heart swells

No magic can open it but the magic inside

The magic of mystery and Love

When you find me in the future

When your heart swells with love

It holds the key to my heart,

So that you can see what rests inside.

"Well, what does it say?" asked Ginny

"It's a riddle, of a sort, I guess." Ginny looked at the paper I held out to her, and said "Hermione's good with riddles."

I laughed and said, "I doubt she'll be good with this one. I'm not even sure what it means yet."

"Well, you'll have plenty of time to figure it out. It's Christmas break!" with that wonderful bit of enthusiasm, she bounced out of the room, presumably to go and bounce on Harry's bed until he gets up, or pulls her in and makes her sit still. (AN/ isn't that what all of us teenagers do?)

I fingered the locket then sat forward and opened the rest of my presents, none of them, including the letter from Dumbledore, was more impressive then the locket box and it's contents.

After getting dressed, I decided to go down to the Christmas feast.

AN/ Ok what do you think? Of both the locket, it's letter, and the letter from Dumbledore. Tell me please! Hehehe...