I knew I couldn't do much, but I was at least doing more than Helen, who was doing only one thing; annoying and stressing out Ginny even more. Speak of the devil, I heard a familiar 'cough' from behind me, and I turned around to see Helen approach me,

"Did you hear what happened this morning?" she sneered.

"Of course. Harry's in charge of solving the case. He's very busy" I snapped, beside myself with anger.

"Why are you so fond of them, Katie? There's something strange about the lot of them."

"How d'you mean?" I asked quickly.

"They're all popular, especially the boy, they're rich, and mighty secretive"

"Good for them that they keep their lives private" I hissed, slamming the door of the car.

"A bit too private" she snickered, tutting loudly, "Florence says James is very clever too"

"Now don't you start on James" I scowled, defending my sons' best friend, "It's bad enough for you to insult Harry and Ginny, they can stay up for themselves, but insulting their son is a whole new level of extreme, Helen"

"Oh, I'm not insulting, clearly only commenting about him. He's a handsome child after all" Helen smirked.

"Creep" I muttered under my breath. She ignored that part.

"You've been to their house, am I right?" she asked, staring at me closely.

"Yes, for dinner. They've redone Heather Hall and its gorgeous there"

"Heather Hall eh?" she sneered, though I saw the slightest inkling of disbelief in her grey eyes.

"Mum, let's go" a boy's voice said, and we both turned around to see William, Helen's son, waiting there.

"Yes, one minute, William" Helen snapped, turning back to face me.

"I wouldn't want to get too friendly with them, Katie. You never know what could happen" she told me, walking away.

"They're nice Helen! Give them a chance!" I called after her, angrier then I had been in a long time.

"I don't give chances to people who don't deserve it" she called back, smiling a sickening smile.

I huffed out a breath, and got in my own car, slamming the door shut behind me.

Later that night, I drifted off to sleep, dwelling on what happened today, and I silently vowed to help Ginny, in any way possible.


Tuesdays were OK. This particular one was sunny, so I pulled back the curtains, and opened the window. I wasn't rushing today, so I gladly stayed at the window for a while, just taking in the beautiful view.

Although I could have just stayed there and stared, getting the children up what much more useful, so I decided to do that instead. Liam was up, and was getting changed, but Mabel was asleep. She slept like her Dad. Stubborn when it comes to waking up.

"Mabel, wakey wakey" I whispered in her ear. She growled, and I was surprised such a sound could come out of her mouth.

"No" she told me, groggily opening her eyes.

"Yes" I replied, pulling back her covers, and pulling her into my arms.

"Now, what do you want to wear today?" I asked her, opening her closet.

"Clothes" she yawned. I scoffed through my laughter.

"Well, yes. I sure hope you'll be wearing clothes Mabel"

"Dress" she corrected herself, playing with her teddy on her bed.

"That's better" I smiled, picking out a blue sun dress. I helped her into it, and brushed her hair. She did look very sweet, I must admit. I put a blue hairband in her hair as well, to complete the fairy princess look.

"I look like cindyella Mummy!" she exclaimed, looking at herself in the mirror, and twirling around.

"You look like Cinderella all the time, Pumpkin" I grinned, handing her over her doll.

"But I'm Mabel." She said, looking at me disappointedly.

"Yes, Mabel the princess. Sounds rather good, don't you think?" I told her happily. She smiled back, and I went to get Liam's school bag packed up.

"Liam, Mabel, are you both ready?" I called, after breakfast. I heard two muffled 'yes' in reply, and I grinned to myself. A second later, two sets of thundering feet thundered down the stairs, and my children both tugged on their shoes.

"No, Mabel" I said, taking the plastic heels off Mabel's feet, and giving her some light blue Mary-Janes to put on instead.

"I like heels" she shrugged, but putting on the sensible shoes anyway.

It was a calm departure and a calm journey. The kids sang sweetly, and it was an enjoyable journey. I only hoped Ginny would have good news when (or if) she dropped of James.

I pulled up neatly, and opened the door, heaving myself out. I picked up Mabel, and decided I would carry her in today. Liam trotted obediently beside me, and I was extremely glad he was in such a good mood today.

When I went through the gates, I noticed Ginny wasn't there. I looked around for James as well. Liam was the one who spotted him, but he left me and ran away, so I was left alone, looking for Harry, Ginny, or Molly.

"Look Mummy! AL!" Mabel cried from beside me, pointing to a woman with bushy brown hair, and a familiar black-haired boy at her feet. A little girl with flaming red bushy hair was beside him, chatting happily. I realised then that this might be a relative of Harrys, but then I corrected myself; Harry said he was an only child, after all. I then thought she might be Ginny's sister, but I remember Molly mentioning that Ginny had 5 older brothers, and no sisters.

I approached her, and she eyed me suspiciously.

"Umm, hello" I said politely, not too sure of what to say.

"Hi, nice to meet you." The lady nodded back, shaking my outstretched hand.

"I'm Katie Williams, James' friends Mum" I introduced myself as, it felt kind of weird.

"Hermione Weasley" Hermione smiled, more assured, "I'm James' Auntie"

"Pleasure. Are you Ginny's sister or-" I wondered, before she shook her head firmly.

"I'm Harry's best friend, Ginny's sister-in-law. I married her brother"

"So you've known Harry along time then?" I smiled.

"Since I was 11" Hermione smiled back, before picking the small girl by her feet up, "I reckon you know Al, but this is my daughter Rose"

"Hullo Rose" Mabel waved, from my own arms.

"Hello" Rose said sweetly, waving back. Mabel didn't know many girls around her age, but Rose was smiling happily as her mother set her down again.

"Is Ginny OK?" I asked Hermione, concern and worry filling me. If Ginny couldn't get Harry or herself out to drop of James, had something serious happened?

"Physically yes, but she's distraught" Hermione said sadly.

"Is Harry Ok?"

"He didn't come back yesterday, and Ginny's been stressing out-"

"Is Harry ok?" I repeated, firmer than before. Hermione looked at me closely.

"He messaged her this morning, and she was so relieved. Ginny tends to worry, and Harry has a habit of forgetting to do things" Hermione smiled a bit, "Especially homework"

"Was he bad?" I grinned, remembering my own poor knowledge of schoolwork.

"Atrocious, though Ron – my Husband – was worse"

The bell rang, and Liam and James ran back to the small gathering of people.

"Bye Bye Rosie, bye Al, Bye Auntie 'mione" James said, hugging each family member, "Please bring Daddy home Auntie 'mione" he said in an undertone. Hermione smiled gently before saying,

"He doesn't need bringing home, James, he'll come when he's ready"

"Bye Mama! Bye Mabel!" Liam said, copying James, and hugging me and Mabel, before grabbing James' hand, and tearing off into the classroom.

"He's mental" Hermione said, grinning, and shaking her head, "He's definitely Harry and Ginny's son though"

"Al's so much calmer, who does he get that from?" I grinned.

"To be honest, I have no idea" Hermione laughed, ruffling Al's hair.

"Daddy says I'm like Nana Lily" he smiled proudly. Hermione looked up at me, and saw my confused look there.

"Lily's named after Harry's mother. They died, you see. Harry's parents, when he was 15 months old. James is named after his Dad, and Lily after his Mum" she said sadly.

"Oh, I'm terribly sorry" I said, embarrassed.

"Harry always shunts people aside who feel sorry for him, so a taken quote from him 'Don't be sorry, I don't even bloody remember them'" Hermione answered.

"He's alright though?" I asked.

"Yes, Harry's one of the strongest people I know" Hermione smiled once again, "By the way, your daughter looks like Cinderella"

"I'm Princess Mabel" Mabel announced, smiling brightly.

"You certainly are, Princess Mabel" Hermione laughed.

"An' I'm pricess wose" Rose said from the floor.

"I pricess Al" Albus said, and Rose laughed.

"You can't be a pricess, Al, you can be a pwince"

"Prince Charming" giggled Mabel. I laughed at that one.

"Right, we need to get you home, Al, you're Mum will be missing you! Say bye to Katie and Princess Mabel!" Hermione said, gripping both children's hands.

"Bye!" Al said.

"Bye Pricess Mabel!" Rose said, still laughing, and following her Mum up the pathway.