A/n: You guys still love me right? Even though I left you with that cliffie right? I couldn't help it. My curiosity (of what you guys would do) got the better of me! I'm sorry! No more big ones like that… for a while anyway.
Same Time, Same Place, Same Situation.
Dear Katherine Bell,
We regret to inform you that you mother has passed on. She was at the muggle groceries and when she left, a rampaging muggle took off on his motorbike. We are very sorry about your loss.
Sincerely,
The Minister of Magic
Cornelius Fudge
"Wh-what the hell kind of prank is this?" I shouted, lip quivering. "Who's mean enough to do this?"
The whole Common Room went quiet. They were all staring at me. I could feel the tears welding up in my eyes.
"Katie, what is it?" Leanne asked, putting a hand on my shoulder. I shrugged it off.
Kevin came sprinting over. It was almost like he flew. But he was right behind me. He picked the crumpled letter up from the floor and decrumplized it. After reading it, he gasped and sat on the couch with his head in his hands.
I could feel the tears coming out. I didn't want them to, but they did. I hate crying in front of people. It shows that you're weak. And I, Katie Bell, am not by any means weak.
"Katie, what happened?" Alicia asked, pulling me in a hug.
I opened my mouth to explain but nothing came out. I'm a silent crier.
I might not have liked my mum but I certainly loved her. And Dad has always told her that she needs to stop going to the muggle market! "But their food is always so fresh!" she would say. They should ban motorbikes. Sirius Black has one. It should be destroyed.
I looked over at Kevin. His shoulders weren't shaking but I knew he was crying. Emily was attempting to comfort him.
I had about six people giving me hugs. Someone must have read the very badly written letter from the Ministry. They showed no sympathy at all.
I got down into a little ball next to the couch. My head was in my knees. Lee was bent down next to me, talking in a soothing voice.
"It's going to be okay, Katie," he said, holding me close. "It's going to be all right."
I cried into his shoulder, trying not to listen to the whispers around me. The whole common room is watching Katie Bell bawl.
I wonder how Dad's taking it… And the kids. Emily and Joey must be having a hard time (my younger brother and sister in case you forgot) but then again they probably wouldn't understand what happened anyway. I just don't understand what happened either. Why didn't they take her to St. Mungos?
"Katie, come on, Hun, lets go upstairs," I heard Leanne say, as she took me by the arm.
I slowly got up. Kevin did too. Apparently he was going to follow. So, instead of going to my dorm, we went up to the boys room. Fred, George, Lee, Debbie, Angelina, Alicia, Abigail, Leanne, and Madison all followed. I know that they wanted to make me feel better but I don't think it is going to work.
"Katie, a-are you okay?" I heard Angelina ask, but she didn't sound close. I wasn't looking around. I was lying on Fred's bed with my eyes closed.
"My mother just died because of a muggle driver on a motorbike," I yelled loudly. "How do you think I am?" I probably shouldn't have taken my emotions out in rage. These people are trying to help me after all. Not to mention they're the best friends I could ever hope to have.
"I-I'm sorry," Angelina said, truly sounding sorry.
After about an hour of that, just crying and a half hour of sleep that is, I wiped my tears away and sat up, looking around the room. Kevin was sitting in the corner talking in a hushed voice with Emily who was rubbing his back. Alicia was sitting with George and Angelina on Glee at the end of my bed. Daniel and Abigail were talking to Madison, who, by the looks of it, was writing a littler. And Leanne and Debbie weren't here anymore.
"Guys," I said quietly. Everyone stopped what they were doing and looked up at me. Leanne and Debbie walked through the door (they didn't just abandon me!) and they were bearing food. "I think I'm ready to talk about it."
"Okay, but before you do that," Madison started, "I wanted to let you know that I'm writing a letter to your ministry. No offense or anything but they're really bad at breaking news to people." Sweet, Merlin! It's a sign of the apocalypse! Madison is being civil!
"Wow," I said in awe. "Thanks, Madison." I smiled.
"Anytime, complaining about something to people is one of my specialties."
"You don't have to tell me twice," Daniel said with a grin. How are we all getting along so well? It's so weird!
We all laughed as Madison said, "How does, 'Dear Heartless Soul who gets this at the Ministry' sound?"
"Ha, perfect," me and Lee said at the same time.
But I guess it's because it's the time after someone cries. You know what I'm talking about? When they cry, everyone's all tense but afterwards you just can't help but smile and laugh… and… well… be nice because it's the best thing to see your friends smiling again.
"I don't understand what happened," I said, pulling my insanely messy hair back into an insanely messy ponytail.
"Well you see Katie," George started with a smile.
"Don't even go there, George," Alicia said grimly.
"Too early for jokes?" George asked.
"Too early for jokes," Alicia said with a nod.
"I can't believe the ministry sent a three line letter," Alicia complained. I don't blame her.
I'm fine… for now but I know I'll feel crummy for days and or weeks. Life without Mum is going to be difficult indeed.
"Hey, this is really off topic but what's going on with you two?" Abigail asked, pointing to Fred and Madison. I forgot about that!
"Well, now that I'm pregnant," Madison started, causing my to choke on this awesome chocolate chip cookie that Leanne and Debbie brought to me.
"Oh my God! You're only fifteen! What possessed you to do something like that?" I ranted on and on about them. "How could you do that! What are you going to do about it? But I'll help you through it, I promise!"
"Katie, calm down and take a joke already!" Madison said with a laugh. A true laugh. Not one of those evil normal Madison laughs. Okay, it's not nice to give your depressed friend a heart attack! I chucked Lee's shoe at her… after yanking it off of his foot (which was very smelly might I add) of course.
"Cold feet!" Lee yelled, engulfing me in a humongous bear hug and making me sit on his foot.
"So I sit on your foot?" I asked, confused. You'd be confused too. You know it!
"Yes?" I laughed.
When I don't think about it (it being what happened) I can deal with it. But if I leave my thoughts to myself, then all that I can think about is my mum. I just need to keep bust. That's it! I'll have a jam-packed schedule! Then, by the time I'm ready to sleep, I'll just pass out. Sure, it might be exhausting but that's beside the point.
I looked over at Alicia. She was staring at Madison. "Why are you being so nice?" she yelled in shock.
"Well, I can relate to Katie," Madison said, bowing her head. "My mum died last year. It was an awful loss and I hate to say it but I'm still getting over it."
The room was in complete silence.
And now I feel guilty.
"Wow… Madison… I… I'm sorry," I said, truly sorry. "I didn't know…"
"That's because I never told anyone," Madison said with a frown. "If people knew that, then I'd think they'd take advantage of me being quiet all the time and sad. So instead of showing my feelings like that, I put them out as anger and mean…ness."
We all just stared. Now, I know it's rude to stare but she looked sincere… and we've never gotten the sincere look before. So, we all must stare because you never know when you might get that look again… if ever.
"Is… is that why we weren't friends anymore?" Abigail asked quietly, looking up.
"Yeah. I didn't want to have to deal with my friends," Madison said quietly.
This was getting a little too weird. Madison used to be nice? Her mom died? Her and Abigail were… friends? Everything in life just got really, really confusing all at once. Gah. Confused, depressed, sad, emotional, but happy. Yeah, things are getting crazy.
"You guys used to be… friends?" Fred asked cautiously.
"Yeah, they used to do everything together. Once, Abigail was playing with blocks and some demon child came over and knocked over her thing of the London Bridge and Madison got him square in the jaw," Daniel explained with a smile. "But that was when we were back in primary school"
"Daniel," Abigail said. "You were the one who knocked down my London Bridge and got socked in the jaw."
"Yeah…" Daniel said with a faint smile.
No one knew what to say. It was like, like our friends had switched lives. Well, not switched lives… but more so had a past that we never knew about. A past that they didn't care to share. But now… everything is all out in the open and what not. Now we all know that Madison and Abigail used to be best friends, that Madison lost her mum, and that Daniel used to tease them. I didn't see that one coming. Well, I saw the Daniel teasing them part coming but not the whole they used to be friends part…. That's just weird. And then, because they came here, they're all friends again. How ironic. And it's all this bloody muggles fault!
"That's so weird," I commented. Yes, I know, commentating is Lee's job but oh well. "I didn't meet you guys until my second year here…"
"I know, but look now," Lee said, still hugging me.
Aww, I think we're all having a moment.
But, because life is like that, a tapping at the window ruined our little moment. Go figure. We all looked over and saw an owl. An owl that Kevin and me knew right away as my Dad's.
We both jumped up. "COLD FOOT!" Lee yelled once I was off of him. He's just going to have to deal with his cold foot until I get back.
Kevin and me raced towards the window. One we got there, we had to pry it open. "Don't you guys ever open the windows in here?" I asked, astounded at how much effort it took.
"Only on special occasions," George said causing a whack in the head courteously given by none other than the loving Alicia.
Once we opened it, the owl hopped in on my head and stuck out a leg. Kevin impatiently untied the letter as the owl fell off my head… but it flew onto the bed next to it so there was no harm done.
He opened the letter. The first thing that we saw was that it was glazed with tears.
Dear Katie,
I'm guessing you've heard about your mother. I wish you could have heard it from me, though. The ministry doesn't give a damn about people's feelings. My guess is that they sent you a five-line letter, tops. I want to give you the whole story though. Brace yourself.
So you're mother and I were in the muggle groceries. I always tell her not to go there because it's so much easier when we go to the Wizarding one. But you know how she listens. Anyway, we did our shopping; she even bought "home made" cookies. You know, from the box. She never gets those. Once we were finished, I told her that I'd put the groceries into the car (you know, that old one she made us get just so we don't stand out in the neighborhood) and she said that she'd put the cart away. So, I turned over towards the car and she's walking along. Then, all of a sudden I head a brroooommm and a scream, then a crash and I look over to see two people under a motorbike. So I run over to get help and I hear someone calling on their phone for an anbudance or whatever those things are called. They refused to let me take her to St. Mungos (which I told them was the only hospital she preferred) so they took her to the muggle one. Well you know how muggles are with their medical practices. She was gone within the next few hours. But she did tell me this. She said, "Make sure that Katie does the best that she can and tell Kevin that I didn't really mean to say all of those things." I promised her I would.
The funeral's this Thursday and I've arranged it with Dumbledore so that you and your friends could come if you'd like. I know this will be hard, but I'd prefer if you'd come.
You're brother and sister (that's Joey and Emily in case you were wondering) are very confused. They've been asking where your mother is and I don't know how to tell them. They know what happened… but I don't think that they believe it.
You and your friends come to the Hogsmade Station; Wednesday at four o'clock and the train will take you to King's Cross where I'll pick you up at six. And yes, you have to be there at four A.M not P.M. A.M. And, I don't know if you do, but if you talk to Kevin, please let him know. I miss and love you.
Love,
Dad
I could feel myself crying again. At least this time it wasn't in the middle of the Common Room. I passed the letter to Kevin and went back to Fred's bed, burying my head in the pillow. I could feel Lee and Fred get off the bed and I had a feeling that they were about to read the letter.
After a few more minutes, I felt the bed sag under more weight as the two came back. Then I felt an arm around my shoulders. I looked up and saw Lee who was smiling his brilliant Lee smile. I know he was doing it to make me feel better. And it was kind of working.
I sat up and cried into his shirt as he patted my back and said reassuring things.
We all got really quiet except from the occasional sniffs coming from each of my friends. I knew that they were now crying too. They were crying because they cared about me. I knew they cared about me because after five minutes of me crying into Lee, I was engulfed in hugs and comfort. Everyone who was inside of the boys' room at the time managed to get onto Fred's bed. We were like one big, crying, wet, uncontrollably ball of people.
"Katie, everything will be fine," I heard Alicia say from over by my feet.
"Don't worry, we're here for you," Leanne said on my left side somewhere. I think her elbow was going into my back.
"We're all coming with you Wednesday," George said in a reassured voice.
I let out a strangled cry and said, "Thanks guys."
And then not only were we a big, crying, wet, uncontrollable ball, but we were also a big, crying, wet, uncontrollable, hugging ball. It would have been amusing if the circumstances weren't so… well bad.
My Dorm, 10:30 that night.I've come up with my new schedule. It's jam-packed. It's got every minute, of every hour, of everyday, of every week scheduled so there's not time for thinking about what's happened involved.
7:30-7:35- Get out of bed and gather things for shower.
7:35-7:50- Shower. Use radio to block out thoughts.
7:50-8:15- Get ready for classes. (Clothes, hair, schoolbooks, etc…)
8:15-8:23- Walk down to breakfast with everyone, conduct in conversation about school, homework, etc…
8:23-8:45- Eat breakfast. Contain conversations.
8:45-9:00- Walk up to first class.
9:00-3:00- Classes, lunch, class. Actually pay attention in classes so I don't let my mind wander.
3:00-4:30- First meeting of the Charms club.
4:30-5:00- Help clean up after Charms club and walk with fellow Gryffindors back to Common Room.
5:00-6:30- Homework.
6:30-7:30- Dinner.
7:30-9:00- Transfiguration club.
9:00-10:00- Finish homework, detention, extra things. If nothing, clean.
10:00-10:15- Get ready for bed.
10:30-7:30- Sleep.
I think it's perfect. It gives me things to do, time to eat, time to do homework, and I can't possibly be on lack of sleep because I'm getting nine hours each night! It's fools proof!
Sunday night, right before the Aussies leaveWell, this is depressing. Who knew spending a week with people could create such a tight bond?
They're leaving in ten minute and we're all standing in the Entrance Hall waiting for their ride (broomsticks) to come.
"Well guys," Lee said, "this has been some week, eh?"
We all laughed and reencountered the great times.
"Like that one time that Daniel didn't know that toilets do not like to have shoe's in them," Fred said, red with laughter.
"Hey, mate, how was I supposed to know that other people's shoes do not go in toilets? I mean, it's fine down at our school!" Daniel complained.
"Sure, sure," I said with a laugh as six brooms touched down on the Hogwarts floor.
We all looked at each other sadly.
"Bye, guys," we all said at once, all moving in for the hugs and good-byes at once, and all running into each other at once. Whoops. That one hurt. My head rammed into George's elbow and George does not have a soft elbow by any means.
"Bye," I said, walking up to Madison and hugging her. Hey, she wrote that letter to the ministry. I have to be nice to her.
"Aw, by Katie," Madison said. I know on the inside, she's still her evil Madison self, but she's not showing it now. "I'll write every week."
"Good," I said once I let go of her and moved on to Daniel. "I'm going to miss you guys, you know."
"How could you not?" Daniel replied as I went to hug him. During said hug I also kicked him in the shin. "Ouch. Sheesh, I thought you were a Chaser! Not a soccer player!"
"You know you love me," I said with a smile.
"Eh," he said in deep thought.
"Abigail! I'm going to miss you!" I said (after punching Daniel in the shoulder and walking away of course), jumping up and strangling the poor girl who was now gasping for air. "Oh! I'm sorry!"
"It's okay, Katie, I'll miss you too," Abigail said, breathing deeply.
"Write every week?" I asked.
"Promise."
"Good luck on Wednesday mate," Daniel said, clapping me on the back. I smiled and he walked off.
"Come on kids, the others are dieing to know what happened," said one of the people who flew here to get them.
The three of them sadly waved to us as they got on their brooms and flew off.
In the distance I could hear, "One, two, THREE!" And then there was a bang. A very loud bang actually. And we all looked up and saw:
Yeah, we know Hogwarts won't be the same without us!
Lurve,
Abby
Daniel
&
Madison
They're such dorks.
Monday, January 24th PotionsI've been doing pretty well with this schedule. This is the only free time I actually had to think and stuff. Snape thinks I'm taking notes… but I'm not. But I figured you deserved to know what's been going on in my life.
I've been getting some pretty weird looks from people. I know they're sympathy and what not but still. I don't like getting weird looks. But then, I just turn and start a new conversation.
I haven't been really spending time with my friends. My schedule has been so tightly packed that I can't fit any space in. I know it sounds horrible but it's the truth. But this is for my own good. I'm just being a little anti-social. I still get them during meals and walking to classes and what not.
The clubs that I've joined, those are brilliant! I'm getting so much better at Charms and Transfiguration now! And I've only been to them once! But they all treated me really nicely and I've made some new friends. Not that I've forgotten about the old, of course. But I can talk to these people during the meetings and stuff.
Leanne just sent me a note.
Katie, are you okay? You seem to be avoiding us a lot more and I think all of this work is overwhelming.
Of course I'm okay! This is keeping me from thinking about what's happened therefore I don't get miserable.
But you're supposed to mourn. It's like the law. One of these days you're going to boil over the edge and I don't want to be the one to say I told you so.
Everything's fine! How could it not be? I mean, I'm getting my homework done, I'm learning new things, and I'm getting enough food and sleep. I should have started this years ago.
People aren't meant to keep going, Katie.
Maybe I am.
And that's another thing thing. Since when do you join the clubs and participate in groups? What about Quidditch?Joining clubs helps me concentrate on what I'm supposed to be doing. And as for Quidditch, I have time for that. I just get a little less sleep, that's all.
Katie, you had practice yesterday for six hours. I mean, I know Wood's crazy but still. Six hours!
We're getting the Cup this year. What else can I say?
You were up until three o'clock in the morning doing homework!I was not!
I heard your quill.
Oh.
Point taken?No.
I heard a frustrated grumble come from two seats over and I looked and saw Leanne crumbling up the note. I smiled weakly at her. She just rolled her eyes and looked away.
It's been really dull without Daniel, Madison, and Abigail here. I mean, I know we have the twins and all but still, the twins never put shoes in the toilets causing them to explode. That was an interesting day.
But my Mum always said (this was when she was her hippie self) that you should experiment with everything! Which was an odd thing to say with my Mum being who she was. But she never said any of that after I went to Hogwarts. I think it's because of everything that Kevin did while he was here. She never trusted me.
Flashback"Katie, how many times do I have to tell you not to run with scissors!" Mum yelled at me angrily.
"But… but you let Kevin do it!"
"No I don't!"
Kevin (who's timing was still horrible at that age) ran by with two pairs of scissors. He then turned around, stopped, and cut off one of my pony tails.
"MUMMY! KEVIN KILLED MY HAIR!"
End.
That was one interesting day. Kevin was in for it big time. Poor Mum. But, she trusted Kevin when he was cutting up snowflakes… and what does he do? Run's around cutting off my hair! Luckily Mum knew the charm to get it back on… That would have been horrible!
Anyway, back to my point. I'm experimenting with a new schedule to keep my mind busy… which isn't working since I just went back into memory mode…. Gah.
Tuesday Night (1:30 or something like that… so I guess it's really Wednesday Morning…)Bloody hell. I didn't know that being this tired was humanly possible. I know it's not that late but I'm still getting up in an hour and a half so that I can catch the train. I've been up all night packing. The others did it after class but I had the Charms club so I didn't have time. Gah.
We're all staying at my house until Saturday afternoon. I'm glad my friends are going to be there. Otherwise I'd die or boredom… and depression. Because that would be because it still hurts… but I can't let that show here… with everyone watching me.
Merlin, what am I going to do on the trains ride there? All you have time to do on train rides is think… unless there's a dementor attack or something. But that rarely happens…. Rarely.
A few moments later.
I spazzed out and knocked over the lamp on my bedside table. It's always getting in my way. Like there was that one time in first year... But that's a whole other story! Anyway, the thought of being on a train for like… hours on end annoys me… so I spazzed. Yeah.
"Katie, why are you still up?" I heard a tired Leanne ask from her bed. She was coming on the trip along with Debbie, Lee, the twins, Angelina, and Alicia. Yeah, moral support!
"Er, I had to pack," I said with a smile. Oh sniffles, I think I'm getting hyper! Crud. Now I'll never get to sleep! This isn't working with the schedule.
"Get to sleep, you're going to have all day to be awake, Katie," Leanne mumbled into her pillow. "Besides, you and your lamp knocking over habits are keeping me awake."
I feel offended. "I'm offended." Damn you over tiredness.
"Well, feel it when we're all awake, alright?" Leanne said rudely. I know she wasn't trying to be rude… because she's tired and all but still.
Tap. Tap. T–t-t-t-t-tap.
I think that would be an owl. I heard Leanne scream into her pillow once the obnoxious tapping started.
I ran to the window and opened it as an owl hopped onto my head. Jeez, what is it with owls and my head? I know it's beautiful and what not but still. It's my head you feather balls! But they're adorable little feather balls.
Oh, my and lack of sleep equals a grouch on the train in approximately … two hours. Oh boy.
Ironically, the letter was addressed to me. My heart sunk. I really can't take any more bad news, seriously I can't. My toes will fall off and then the owls will eat them and I'll be forever toeless! Do you know how that makes me feel? Like I'm a duck! That's how! (Because ducks have webbed feet…)
Dear Bell,
Meet me in the Common Room right now. Yes, I know it's two in the morning but just do it.
-Your Quidditch Captain
Ew. It's Oliver. I wonder what Quidditch for brains wants. Shall I check? I think I shall.
In Common Room thirty four seconds later.
"Bell," came the tired voice of my demon Quidditch nazi captain.
"Wood," I said professionally. You know, like I was at a job meeting thing or something.
"Bell, I just wanted to let you know that I'm sorry about your mother and I'm canceling all practices this week," he said with a small smile.
"Thank yo- wait!" I was about to thank him when I realized something. "Five out of seen players won't be her this week!" Now I'm offended.
"Which caused me to cancel practice," he said with a sly smile. Stupid head.
"You wanker!"
"What did you call me?"
"A wanker!"
"What?"
"You heard me!"
"Didn't you call that second year a wanker?"
"Maybe?"
"So you're putting me on the level of a second year?"
"Nah, you're a wanker squared!" HA!
"What the hell, Bell?"
"You heard me!"
"Get some sleep!"
And with that he walked up to his dorm. I don't know what the point of meeting me down here was…. Oh yeah! To tell me he's sorry and that he's canceling practice. Gah, he's such a wanker.
A/n: Ha I know I'm a horrible author! I didn't update as fast as I should. And I'm not good with deaths. I can never think of interesting ways for people to die. But don't worry! I'll give you a little bit of heads up for the next chapter.
-The funeral.
-Katie finally realizing that she needs to mourn.
-The twins and their pranks.
-Letters from the Aussies.
-AND MORE!
I have spring break this week so I should be getting the next chapter up a lot sooner. You all still love me, right?
Please please PLEASE review! I'll send you all a fruit basket! It won't be anything good because it will be digital and what not but still, it's the thought that counts!
Ha, this chapter really sucked, didn't it?
-Snuffles
