Harry didn't say anything for a moment, the knowledge coursing through him. Had he been stronger, Sirius might have lived. Harry sighed and shrugged. "What happened?" he asked, in a slight change of subject. "Did you just walk out of the Hospital Wing?"

"Well, I'm quite surprised the people in America didn't hear Madam Pomfrey scream when she saw me walking. I explained what I thought had happened and she gave a shocked smile at me and helped me get ready."

"You mean there is some nice human in her somewhere?"

Katie laughed. "Somewhere. I think she's got a romantic heart."

"Oy," someone said, joining them.

"Heath, having fun?" Katie asked.

"Loads," Heather said. "Except for Elyse. I think she's still kinda in a state of shock. You shoulda seen her after… ya know. She went to the tower—Harry, it's a secret tower where me and Lyse sleep—and started bawling. And you know her, how unusual that is. I told her we had to be tough and she started screaming at me. Good thing Dumbledore made it soundproof. My ears were about to explode. She yelled that she could've saved you, and she should've and stuff."

"No she couldn't have," Katie said. "She was just in denial."

"Yeah, that's what I figured, too, so I left her alone," Heather said. She paused. "Oh, sorry, was I interrupting something?"

"Not really," Katie said vaguely. "You're cool."

Ron and Hermione made their way over to their table.

"Wow…" Ron said. "You should hear what's going around!"

"That I'm some zombie or wasn't really dead, I imagine?" Katie asked.

"That sounds about right," Hermione said, taking the seat next to Harry.

"What happened?" Ron asked.

Katie rolled her eyes. "I died. I came back to life. Wahoo."

Ron looked as though that was not what he meant.

Katie smiled. "Harry. Simple as that. Just don't ask me further, or it might not be so simple."

"That works," Hermione said. She sighed and smiled. "Do you know how hard it was to keep that secret of yours?"

"Hard enough," Katie said. "I had difficulty keeping it myself."

"It was very hard. I nearly spilled a couple of times, but we got through it," Hermione said.

"Why didn't you tell us?" Ron asked.

"Oh, surely you've been told before," Hermione reprimanded. "You're a terrible actor, Ron. You'd have given it away."

"I am not!" Ron said, looking affronted.

"Uh huh, I bet," Hermione said without the slightest bit of conviction in her voice.

"There!"

"No… oh my gosh…"

Katie turned, rolling her eyes to see who was in disbelief at her return this time, but was tackled to the ground in an instant.

"Kate!" Heather exclaimed.

"No, it's fine," Elyse said, walking over. "Let it be."

"It's really you!" Riles exclaimed, embracing her twin as they sat on the ground. "Oh my gosh, I thought you really were… and I know you were… how did you…?"

Katie sat frozen, not sure what to do.

Harry bent down beside them and looked each straight in the eye. "Why do you two hate each other so much? And I will stalk you until the day I die if you do not answer me."

Katie and Riles looked at one another.

"You first," Katie said.

Riles stuck out her tongue. "You first."

"No, you," Katie argued.

"You!" Riles exclaimed.

"Riles, you first," Harry said.

Riles glared at him. "Biased ref," she murmured. She looked up at the deep black sky and thought for a moment before finally saying, "I can't remember."

Harry stared. "You're kidding me."

"No," Riles said, looking back at him. "No, I'm not. I just remember hating her, and she seemed to hate me, so I hated her back."

Harry looked at Katie. "Why do you hate her?"

Katie smiled awkwardly. "Couldn't tell you. I can't remember either. She seemed to hate me, so I hated her back."

Harry stared from one to the other. "So all this turmoil has been from a misconception?"

Katie thought for a moment. "Sounds about right."

Harry shook his head. "I'm going to kill you two."

A fast song ended and a new slow, peaceful song started up.

Katie's eyes shone. She looked at Harry. "Wanna dance?"

Harry opened and closed his mouth, then said, "Is that an option or a question that's already been answered?"

"What's wrong?" Katie asked.

Harry turned slightly pink and murmured, "I can't dance."

"Oh, everyone can dance!" Katie exclaimed, giggling. "C'mon, I'll show you."

Harry grabbed her outstretched hand and stood. Riles remained on the floor and watched as Katie led Harry onto the dance floor.

"Oh, yeah," Riles murmured. "They so like each other."

"Kate has it in mind for him to come to the base this summer," Heather whispered so that Ron and Hermione couldn't hear. "It'll be an interesting summer."

"That's what she has in mind, does she?" Riles asked interestedly. "I just might pay my first visit this summer…. An interesting summer indeed…."

"…and you put your hands on my waist, since we're not going all fancy," Katie instructed, attempting to teach him to waltz.

"Er… right," Harry said awkwardly, placing his hands on her waist as she put her arms around his neck.

"Now follow my movements, then after a while you can take over," Katie said, slowly moving to a waltz while Harry followed. "Not so hard, is it?"

"I guess not," Harry said. "Just… awkward."

Katie laughed. "It can be."

The song continued as people danced around them, enjoying the moment. It was near the end before either of them spoke again.

"Wanna try and lead?" Katie asked when she felt he was starting to remember.

"Er… not really," Harry said. "But I can try. Just be prepared for anything."

"Alrighty," Katie said, slowing so Harry could take control.

Harry tried to move as she did.

"You got it," Katie said. "Could use a little work, but you got it for the most part."

"Hm," Harry said, paying more attention to the movements than what she was saying.

Harry was grateful when the song was over. He felt he was starting to get better, so that he could as least comprehend what Katie was saying to him in less than ten seconds after it was said. They walked over to the table with Ron, Hermione, Elyse, and Heather. The four met them with applause.

"Ha ha," Harry said sarcastically.

"It's quite an achievement, mate," Ron said.

"Where's Riles?" Katie asked.

"She went to go break the terrible news of your return to the others," Heather said with a sardonic grin on her face.

"Ha ha," Katie said in the same tone as Harry had. She looked around. "I'm thirsty. Anyone else want a drink? On me."

Elyse and Heather simultaneously exclaimed, "Me!"

Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Katie grinned.

"Now there's a surprise…." Katie said mordantly, turning around to get the drinks.

"I'll come, too," Harry said.

They walked up to the bar, weaving in and out of students who were not paying any attention to them, too immersed in their own conversations. Katie reached the counter first.

"I want six butterbeers on the double!"

"Yes ma'am!" George exclaimed with a knowing grin on his face.

"Six? I thought it was just three," Harry said.

"Eh, if you guys don't want them, it's seconds for us!" Katie exclaimed joyously.

"Here you go, Miss!" George said, handing her six butterbeers.

"Thank you, Mr. Weasley," Katie said, curtsying a bit after she had placed the money on the counter. She took out her wand and said the Levitating Spell, making the drinks fly over to their occupants a few tables away. Katie and Harry soon joined them.

"What took ya?" Elyse said with a grin, sipping her butterbeer.

"George Weasley was hitting on me," Katie said with a joking smirk on her face.

Heather spit out her butterbeer. "WHAT?"

Harry and Katie laughed.

"J-o-k-e," Katie said with a grin. "Learn what that is."

Another slow song began.

Katie simply looked at Harry and he stood, knowing exactly what she was about to ask. Hermione looked at Ron in the same way.

"What?" Ron asked, genuinely confused.

Hermione rolled her eyes. "C'mon, let's dance."