Part two to your lovely long ass chappie. Enjoy. and don't forget to review. Thanks – Bex

Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter (but oh! if I did... ahem... anyway ... ) nor any of the other people or wizarding world. Just my amazing character of Kathryn Adara Riddle. Everything and everyone else is the brilliance of J.K Rowling. I'm not worthy! I'm not worthy!

Chapter 10B : What Goes Up Part II

"Sorrow lasts through this night
I'll take this piece of you
And hold for all eternity
For just one second I felt whole
As you flew right through me
Left alone with only reflections of the memory
To face the ugly girl
That's smothering me
Sitting closer than my pain
He knew each tear before it came"

"Sorrow" - Flyleaf

X

Harry's strange behavior was slightly overlooked now that he had successfully sidetracked Kat. He made sure she was able to check out books herself, since she went through them like Mandy Brocklehurst went through acne medication - a term that Ron came up with. Harry was rather proud of himself, because he didn't have to worry about being distant to her if she wasn't giving attention to any thing that wasn't bound and had more than three hundred pages. His eyes lingered on her form as she bent over Intermediate Transfiguration. She said she's "takin' a likin' to the thought of turnin' somthin' into somethin' else." The third year transfiguration book was half-way through and in her 'already read' pile lay 2 potions, 3 charms, 2 transfiguration, 1 Herbology, and 2 history books, but she wouldn't touch a divination book ("too corny, real magic interests me more" she had said). Ginny was the only animate object she would talk to, because Kat deduced that she couldn't talk to Harry, she couldn't look in his eyes and realize that the feeling of want was gone. Ginny and Kat nearly got thrown out of the library when Ginny told her about how Fred and George escaped Hogwarts two years ago because Kat was laughing so hard. Hermione bustled in the library just at that moment and sat her mountain of book down to that of Kat's.

"Honestly Ginny, you're already on her bad side." she said throwing a scared look at Madam Pince. Kat had a similar look on her face, the fact dawned on her that she needed to be on the batty librarian's good side, that, or she wouldn't be able to check out books, (Oh, the horror!)

"Yeah, sorry Hermione, ever since she caught me and Harry in here she can't even look at me with out her eye twitching." she said grinning slightly.

"What happened then?" Kat asked in a cautioned whispered.

"We were eating chocolate." Ginny said as if she were confessing to murder. A raspy giggle passed Kat's lips, Harry poked his head from a bookshelf and watched the girls in bittersweet silence. "Oh, I have something for you." Ginny sais suddenly diving down to get into her bag.

"What's it?" Kat asked in a hushed awed sort of voice, as Ginny handed her the large heavy book Quidditch Through the Ages . "Wow!" her azure eyes scanned the synopsis with longing. Harry's throat closed on and his stomach did sort of a flip-flop, her expression was the same as she looked at him when they were on the lake.

"Well if you two don't mind, I'm going to work." Hermione looked down her nose at Kat, then snatched her Arithmancy book from the pile that Kat was about to read. Kat was about to open her mouth, when Harry turned and stared right at Kat. A look of panic streaked across his face.

"Er – I'm going to – go." he said hurriedly turning on his heel.

"Dammit!" Kat whispered putting her head down in her folded arms.

"What's with him?" Ginny asked the question that was on all their minds.

"I dunno, one minute he's kissin' on me, and bein' all sweet, the next he can't even look me in the eye." Kat said, her voice muffled through her arms. Ginny glanced over at Hermione, who shrugged her shoulders and looked back down at her book in deep thought.

X

"Can anyone tell me the name of the epsilon double star in the constellation Canus Major, in Arabic the word means maiden or virgin." Professor Sinistra's voice penetrated through the dark. "Miss Riddle?" the astrology teacher, for once, did not call on Hermione.

"Adara." she said happily.

"Correct." she sounded astonished. "Ten points to Gryffindor."

"It's my middle name." Kat grinned, as she looked over at the stunned Hermione, who still had her hand semi-raised. "Just 'cause I talk slow, don't mean I'm stupid." she whispered to her as Professor Sinistra told more about Adara's connection to Sirius.

"This means war." Hermione choked out to Ron who was on her other side.

"Does anyone know the incantation to create a portkey?"

"Portus." Kat said jovially as Flitwick nodded at her.

"Moonstone!"

"Azkaban Prison!"

"Fidelius Charm!"

"Nine Registered Animagi!"

"So what's the score then?" Harry asked amused to Ron who had a running tally.

"Eight-ten Kat, not counting the one they answered at the same time. I swear if Kat wins I'll kiss her!" Ron said jokingly as Hermione gave Kat a look that could burn through wood, but Kat merely grinned cheerfully at her.

It was Tuesday afternoon and although Harry was finding great amusement through the two girls, watching Kat be so happy was hard on his nerves. He wanted to joke with her, laugh along with her, hear her sweet scratchy giggle without remorse. But of course, every time she caught his eye he would look away, and her barrier once more barred anyone from getting inside to see the real Kat. The one that threw grapes, the one that gasped at the beauty of the lake, the ne that could read through a 1,000 page book in four hours, the one that could make him feel alive. As he was gazing at her, it was as if she could feel his eyes on her, she turned and glared directing into his eyes, smouldering blue orbs burned into his. Damn this connection, he thought as he felt the anger pulse out of her from across Ron.

"Potter!"

"Yes Professor McGonagall?" he said snapping to attention from his reverie.

"You and Miss Riddle are to go to my office. Now."

"Yes Professor."

"Exam over different animagus forms Thursday Potter."

"Yes Professor." he drug his bag from the floor, turned slightly to make sure Kat was behind him (she was), and walked quickly from the classroom. As they walked through the hallways Harry could feel Kat right behind him, no matter if he slowed of quickened his pace, or moved from one side to the next, she stuck directly a half step behind him. He suddenly stopped, not wanting to play some childish game, but as Kat was so close to him when he stopped her body crashed into his, causing them to topple over to the stone floor. Harry rolled quickly to one side, but at the same moment Kat moved to that side so their bodies collided, knocking the breath out of both of them.

"So are you gonna tell me what's goin' on, or do you have to make me beg?" Kat said, perched atop of Harry's chest looking down into his face.

"What do you me–." his replay was cut off by Kat putting weight on his stomach from her backside.

"Don't play dumb with me Harry." she said barely whispering leaning closer. Harry closed his eyes and stopped breathing.

"Please Kat. Don't." he said softly, not being able to look at her.

"Fine." was all Kat managed to say as she got up and continued walking to the Headmistress' office, just down the hall. Harry sighed depressingly to himself as he followed her.

"Welcome." Dumbledore said as they ushered into the office. "I've just gotten word from the International Cooperation that they will meet at Miss Riddle's house in America tomorrow at 7 o'clock in the morning, their time." he sighed tiredly. Harry found it amazing that a portrait of a man could sound as defeated and tired as Dumbledore did. "I want you to be extremely careful Harry, take no risks and stick close to Mad-Eye." Harry nodded sullenly, looking at the silent stoic Kat out of the corner of his eye. Dumbledore seemed to notice this and spoke up. "Kat I know this must be hard for you, but Harry will be with you the whole time." Harry looked up, forgetting his sympathy for him, he silently damned him, why did he have to rub in that fact?

"Thank you sir." she said solemnly knowing full well that Harry was no longer there for her.

"Is that all?" Harry said, barely maintaining his composure.

"Yes." Dumbledore's twinkling (mocking, Harry thought) blue orbs settled on his face. "Be safe." he rose and slid out of the portrait. His last glance seemed to penetrate into Harry, he could almost hear Dumbledore's voice ring in his head... "for her safety".

"Why do we have to meet at my house?" Kat broke the silence as they once again made their way to the common room.

"I dunno, I reckon we do have to go though." Kat rolled her eyes at him.

X

"Well Hermione managed to tie up the score, 10-all while you two went off to visit Dumbledore." Ron said melancholily stuffing a chocolate frog into his mouth. "Wad he wan?" he said thickly. Harry glanced fleetingly at Kat who was (for once) reading by the fire, her short skirt ending abruptly after her voluptuous backside, he swallowed hard. "What is it mate?" Ron's face swam in front of Harry's vision.

"Did you notice how happy I was this weekend?" he asked turning his attention back to his best friend.

"Yeah," he said softly. "Go on." he urged after Harry didn't respond.

"Dumbledore," he paused collecting himself. "Dumbledore told me on Sunday night that it wouldn't be a good idea for me to have a relationship with Kat." he examined his hands. "It's worse than ending it with Ginny."

"That's bollocks mate."

"You don't understand." he cut off, not able to speak anymore, but Ron understood his unspoken words. He saw the way they looked at each other for the first time, the way he held her in his arms, the hours on the lake, the only thing Ron didn't understand was how much it hurt Harry.

"Honestly Ernie is really shirking off his Head Boy duties." Hermione interrupted the two boys as she rushed in. "I had to do extra tonight because he was off with Hannah! Now I have barely enough time to finish writing my Charms essay." she said rummaging around in her bag. The boys glanced at each other, Harry stood up abruptly.

"I'm going to turn in." he stated starting to walk away.

"Harry, wait!" Hermione grabbed his jumper sleeve. "I need to talk to you." her big brown eyes caught his pleading him to stay.

"Yeah?" he stopped. She caught his hand and drug him into the empty reading room adorning the common room, which was abandoned seeing how late it was.

"What's wrong? And don't try to tell me nothing, because I can tell something's bothering you." she hadn't let go of his hand.

"Just," he stopped. "Well, Kat."

"What about her?"

"I can't." he choked out. Hermione waited patiently, she gently lead him to the couch, he leaned heavily on her, then collapsed.

"What can't you do Harry." she whispered into his hair.

"Can't love her." he croaked. He hugged her, almost crying.

"Who said?" Hermione asked holding him.

"Dumbledore." came his muffled response, his head was pressed into her chest.

"He can't tell you that, I am in charge of all your affairs." she tried joking with him. "I'm Hermione Granger, The Boy Who Lived public relations." he chuckled softly and squeezed her. "You do what you want." she said softly.

"Thanks Hermione. But I can't." he looked at her, it was the first time he really looked at her in a long time. She looked exactly the same, same thick, brown, bushy hair, strong chin, slight frame, but what changed was her eyes. Where they were once just plain brown, now he saw flecks of gold meddled within them, he saw deeper into them than he ever saw before. She blinked, and as if shaken from a dream, he saw plain old Hermione sitting inches away from him. He shook his head, got up, and walked to the door. "Thanks." he said over his shoulder to his best friend sitting on the couch. He was so confused and tired that as soon as his head hit the pillow he fell asleep.

X

"Oi." a loud voice once again woke Kat.

"WHAT!" Kat growled at Parvati.

"Harry wants you."

"No he doesn't." she said stuffing her head down into the pillow.

"Yeah, he does, in the common room." she sounded exasperated.

"Shit." she rolled over and got stiffly to her feet. Parvati looked taken aback at her. For she had slept in the same black shirt that Harry had given her on the first night there and it was low cut and hiked up around her thigh.

"You should change first." she said slowly.

"Yeah, actually I was thinkin' of goin' down there naked." she rolled her eyes at Parvati and started to pull on her skirt. When Kat got into the common room Harry was pacing. "Yeah?" she said coming up to him.

"We're able to go to our first class, then lunch, then we have to go to America." he said.

"Alright. What's our first class again?" she asked pulling on her Converse shoes.

"History of Magic."

"Well, let's get a move on then." she sighed and started for the door. She had almost gotten used to Harry being distant, but sometimes he looked at her and she thought she could see a flicker of passion surface in his green eyes. She couldn't stand not being with Harry, he was her pillar of strength for two days, and now he seemed to be cold and not even wanting to look at her. Her emotional wall warded all emotions out, and she seemed her normal icy smart-mouthed self, even Ginny, who was the one person who she would actually talk to even noticed that sometimes she would sink into a deep reverie where her eyes would glaze over, as if remembering a fond memory that she would never have again.

"That class is more mind-numbing every time." Ron commented as they sat down at the lunch table. Harry sat close to Hermione, and Kat chose to sit by Ron, the other side of Meagan of course, she seemed to be farther away from Harry on purpose.

"Bah." Kat let out a sound of indifference as she slammed the spoon back into the Shepard's Pie dish.

"Are you nervous on going back to America?" Hermione was finally civil to Kat.

"Naw, no reason to." she said licking her fork.

"And why's that?"

"'Cause, from what I've heard there's gonna be like ten Aurors there."

"Well, there's still always room for caution." Hermione said brightly. Kat rolled her eyes and continued eating, she saw no point in retaliation.

"Are you ready?" Harry said after ten more minutes of restricted but polite conversation.

"Yup." she said getting up.

"Do be careful Harry." Hermione said gripping his hand.

"I will." he grinned bending down to hug her.

"Bye." she said to Ron and Ginny. "See ya'll later." she grinned.

"Bye!" they said together. A cool look was all Kat gave to Hermione as they walked away from the table.

"So what exactly are we doin' today?" Kat asked attempting to get Harry in a conversation. At much as she hated to admit it, even to herself, she hated not being with someone, and for almost twenty-four hours she had him. Now she didn't understand why he was acting the way he was.

"Er–." he snapped his attention from the lake back to her. "I think the Ministry wants a first hand account of what happened and we can't keep your identity a secret anymore either, so expect media attention. I reckon the thing they'll want to talk to you most about is the fact that noone knew about you." he sighed. "They're a load of bloody idiots."

"The media or the ministry?" she asked as they came to the shore of the lake.

"Both." Kat laughed heartily. As her laughed rang through his head he realized what he had been missing for four days. She looked up into his face, the laughter still in her eyes. "Kat..." he reached out for her hand, but a long eel-like tentacle seized Kat's foot and drug her down into the depths of the murky lake. She couldn't even scream, the last thing Harry saw was a feminine version of Sirius' face shrewd up in terror her hand stretched out for him as she disappeared into the cold, dank lake.

Harry acted out of pure instinct as he summoned Gillyweed from Slughorn's office. He practically tore off his shoes, socks, robes, and shirt, he then placed a Bubblehead Charm upon himself. He searched frantically in the sky for the rubbery plant, it seemed years (merely seconds) later when he finally saw and ugly green mass soaring towards him. He grasped it from the air, took a running start, and plunged into the water after Kat. The water was cold, but not as frigid as it was two years ago during the February of the Triwizard Tournament, he accelerated himself quickly through the water using a propelling charm. He had no idea where she had gone. he stopped himself and tried to think rationally. He thought of one of her black high-top converse.

"Accio Kat's shoe!" he cried, this time the water not muffling his speech for the Bubblehead Charm was in effect. He waited only half a second before the shoe came hurtling to him from his right hand side. He snatched it, turned, and propelled himself forwards, also kicking frantically trying to move faster in any way possible. He didn't understand what had taken her, the giant squid knew better, or did it? Was it some strange beast that Hagrid adopted into being a pet. Harry remembered Norbert the dragon, Aragog, the blast-ended skrewts, and Gwap, his giant half brother. Harry shook his head, and strained his eyes through the impenetrable water attempting to see any sign of Kat, or the creature that abducted her. His heart skipped a beat as he saw a bare foot, but then it suddenly vanished. With renewed hope he drove himself full tilt. Again he saw the naked foot dragging limply along behind a massive serpentine monstrosity.

"STUPIFY! IMPEDIMENTA! STUPIFY!" he yelled ferociously directing the powerful spells at the monster. It froze, releasing Kat from it's crushing grip, Harry rushed over to her and shoved part of the Gillyweed into her mouth, he then worked her jaw to help the plant ease down into her system.

"Enervate!" he whispered gently stroking her floating hair. The re-awaking charm did not work on her, he started to panic as she failed to respond to several other spells, he noticed gills forming on her neck and her fingers and toes webbing. Her now greenish face looked peaceful as she floated serenely in Harry's arms.

"Kat, please Kat!" stroked her face. "I need you here with me, oh..." he slumped into her limp arms, pressing her hard against him. Kat sputtered out air that was compressed in her lungs, that were now gills. She heaved it out against Harry's bare shoulder, and gurgled something he couldn't understand. She looked shocked to find that they were under water but overwhelmed to see Harry's blanched face surrounded in a bubble. She stared at him, but then smiled and reached out for him. But then screamed issuing bubbles from her open mouth when she noticed her webbed fingers. She then fluttered her webbed fingers over her neck and felt the gills, her eyes were the size of dinner plates. Harry rested a comforting non-webbed hand on her shoulder and whispered hollowly through the bubble, "Kat, it's quite alright," he seemed to be encouraging himself at the same time, "You're alright, Merlin... when you went down..." he sighed, and stroked her webbed hand. "Ea- eat some of this." he continued shakily, digging into his pocket of his school uniform slacks and handing her the Gillyweed. Kat shrewd up her nose and shook her head.

"If you want to breathe I suggest you do so." he said severely. She shrugged her shoulders and reluctantly popped the remaining wad of Gillyweed into her mouth and chewed. Harry never took his eyes off of her, he continued to gaze at her contently until she swallowed, grimacing (looking extraordinarily like Sirius in his "wanted" photos) at the rubbery texture. She raised an inquisitive eyebrow at his affectionate gaze, but he just shook his head, lost for words, even if he had them he was unsure whether he would be able to express them. The much forgotten creature started to stir; the stunning spells were wearing off. "STUPIFY!" he yelled thrusting his wand at the monster, sending a red jet of light, immediately freezing it. "Stay put." he said and started to cautiously swim over to the beast, but she drifted closely behind him, regardless of his wishes. "What on Earth..." Harry stared curiously at the creature. The outstretched tentacle that at one time held Kat in a bone crushing grip was now a tawny lion paw, several of the other tentacles were now, a human hand, an eagle wing, a huge fin, and even what looked like a horse hoof. The eyes were cat-like at one point, then wide and staring as a fish, the new appendages flashing differently before their eyes. "Doppleganger..." Harry whispered incredulously. "Wingardrium Leviosa!" he said, levitating the shape-shifter according to the movements of his wand. "C'mon Kat, we have to go see Hagrid." Kat nodded her pale head solemnly. They started to swim upwards to the surface, the monster sill changing from the rapidly, a wing, a hand, a hoof, a paw, but it oddly at the same face each time it converted into a different animal, hazel eyes, a sandy tuft of hair, and thin, thin lips, that seemed to be in a perpetual sneer. Suddenly, Kat yanked frantically on Harry's arm, forcing him to stop swimming.

"What?" he asked, she motioned the her throat, showing the gills fading off her neck. Her eyes were big from pain, her chest was compressing from lack of oxygen. He quickly put a Bubbledhead charm on her and she could easily breathe again. "Sorry, I should've done that before." Harry said sheepishly. But for once, Kat did not reply, she was eagerly inhaling in the cherished air, her hands lay over her heaving chest, where the silver ring lay. "Kat," Harry's strong hands wrapped around her shoulders, she raised her azure eyes to meet his passionate gaze. "I'm sorry." his grip on her strengthened.

"You should be." she said sternly. His head came up off her shoulder, his expression was shocked.

"I can explain." he started.

"Pray do." she said in a fair imitation of an English maiden.

"Dumbledore said that it wouldn't be a good idea for us to have a relationship."

"He did?" she sounded outraged, and he just solemnly nodded. "Well Hell, I don't give a shit what he says, and you shouldn't either, it's your life dammit. He's in a damn picture frame for God's sake. Live it the way you want to."

He just gazed at her, she said basically the same thing Hermione said, but when she said it, it made him feel so much better. he moved down to kiss her, but a hard THUNK reminded them of the Bubbledhead charm around them both.

"Damn!" Harry said. She giggled her throaty giggle as her hands roamed Harry's bare back. "This just won't do." he said referring to the inconvenience of the barrier.

"What 'bout that?" she asked gesturing to the changeling that now had a hawks head, human torso, with lion's paws.

"Hagrid. I don't know what he was thinking!" he suddenly got angry, the power of emotion in his eyes can be staggering at times. One moment they were full of passion the next heavy with wrath.

"Who?" she said attempting not to get wrapped up in his eyes.

"Hagrid. The rather large oaf you met the night you arrived here." he said starting to swim upwards, and soon saw the sun light penetrating through the murky water.

"Aw, now darlin' don't go a blamin' someone before you got proof, he might have nothin' to do with this." she said rather slowly as she attempted to keep up with him, she did have on full school uniform after all.

"Yeah sorry." he said, apologizing for both actions, as he slowed for her. The couple finally surfaced, the large beast breeching now looking as a whale with horse hooves. Harry removed the Bubblehead charms and they breathed in the crisp autumn air. He looked around, they were at the far end of the lake, he took Kat's hand and started to swim for the bank.

"What no kiss?" she pretended to pout.

"Of course not." he tried to look stern as he floated towards her, embracing her shivering body and pressing their lips together. "Kat I really need to get you dry, I don't want you to become ill." he kissed her freckled nose. "And being in the Hospital Wing is not fun, believe me, I've probably been in there the most out of anyone in the whole school combined. Let's just says it's like my second dormitory." his eyes sparkled as he had the thrill of making her laugh. "Hang on to me, I'm going to do a spell that will get us to shore faster."

"No problem hun." she said and wrapped her strong arms around his broad shoulders. He performed a levitating charm to let them skim the top of the water and then a propelling charm. It seemed only seconds before they arrived at the bank near Hagrid's hut, the Doppleganger still rapidly switching bodies.

They trudged up the muddy embankment, Harry concentrating on his clothes and swishing his wand, "Accio my clothes!" he called. A few seconds later he held them in his hand. "Now we need to get dry." He said shaking the water out of his hair. "Stand there and sit still." he directed her about five feet away from him. She stood there shaking as he flicked his wand, "Exarscosiccus!" a blast of warm air flowed over her, draining the water out of her clothes, and drying her hair instantly. He then directed the warm sensation to himself. Once dry, he put on his shirt, tie, robes, socks, and Dr. Martin boots.

"Your tie's crooked." Kat grinned as he tried to fix the lopsided crimson and gold cravat. "Let me help." she swatted his hand away and delicately put the tie in place. Her hands lingered over his chest, which was quickening the longer she stayed there "That was some fancy wand work." she whispered. "I can't wait 'till I get to do that." she said grinning.

"What have you done so far?" he asked.

"Oh you know, simple ones like Reparo, the Levitatin' charm, Alohomora. I've almost got the full body bind." she said mischievously.

"And who have you been practicing that on?"

"Zacharias Smith." she grinned shyly. "I nearly made him trip today. I wonder if he swaggers like that in his sleep." Harry laughed, but was drowned out by a low roar from the beast.

"Have you read up on the Stunning Spell?" he asked seriously turning to her.

"Yeah..."

"Do it." he said referring to the rumbling creature.

"Oh Harry, I don't..."

"Do it... just concentrate." she bit her lip and pulled out her wand (9 ½ , willow, unicorn hair) from her pocket and pointed it at the shaking, rumbling beast.

"STUPIFY!" she cried, the red light silenced it once more. Her astonished face glowed with excitement as she turned to Harry.

"Brilliant!" he smiled brightly and took his arms around her.

"HARRY! What in the blazes is happening here?" Hagrid's loud voice carried from his hut, all he could see was the rapidly shifting monster.

"I'd like to ask you that." Harry turned from Kat, put still keeping his arm around her.

"Why?" Hagrid stood gaping at the monster in awe.

"Well, you are the grounds keeper here at Hogwarts and I'd reckon you'd like to know when a very rare and dangerous creature attacks a student."

"Attacks a student?"

"Yeah it took Kat under."

"Wait a bleeding minute! It grabbed her?"

"Yeah, we were under water for about an hour." he said nonchalantly.

"Blimey. Listen, I'll take care of him...er...it."

"I reckon ya were better off with sayin him." Kat said darkly.

"Why?" Harry and Hagrid said together.

"I've been watchin' it. Every time it changes to a human form, it's the same face." she paused and drew her arched eyebrows together. "Is there a person that can change to any animal anytime? I think I remember reading something about it, but I don't quite remember everything." she glanced up at Hagrid, then over at Harry.

"Yeah, a Speciamorphagus." he sighed. Then it clicked, Voldemort's pawn. One of his fantastic beasts that he has on his side. "But they're really rare." The shape shifter began to rumble, Harry turned and put another stunning spell on him, and he immediately froze. "We're heading to America because of Kat." Hagrid gave them a blank stare. Harry sighed and continued, but Kat turned and was staring with narrowed eyes at the rapidly changing beast. "The Death Eaters took her house and killed Margaret, and now the Ministry wants to get involved." Harry said.

"Blimey. Listen, I'll do yer a deal. You two go on to America and I'll take care of him."

"Thanks, can you manage Hagrid? It's rather, very important. You'll probably need Moody after we're done with him. Tell Dumbledore, we'll send him an owl with news." Hagrid nodded. "Right, Kat we need to hurry."

"Good luck Harry. Nice ter see ya again." he beamed down on them, "Cheers." he lumbered away levitating the beast with his pink umbrella. Harry checked his watch.

"Oh bloody hell! Another watch gone to shite!" he said angrily unclasping it and putting it in his pocket. "Kat, what time is it over in America?" he asked remembering that she does have a watch amidst the many bracelets.

"Hmm, across the pond, it's 'bout six thirty in the mornin'." she said consulting her braceleted arm.

"Right, let's go then." he took her hand and started walking briskly towards the gates to Hogsmede.

"What's the rush darlin'?" she asked breathlessly. "Ya gotta remember that your legs are 'bout twice the size of me!" she looked up at him sternly.

"You must get your size from your mother..." Harry said partially to himself, thinking of how tall Sirius was.

"Say what?"

"Erm, nothing. Just thinking out loud." he grinned down at her, as she shrewd up her face just like his Godfather used to.