It took me awhile to figure out that I hadn't seen Hermione for awhile. I couldn't even immediately remember the last time I had seen her. Somehow, it had been a few weeks. I guessed she had probably gone to Ron's house.

I had been in a complete bubble. I was working at least five days a week and watching Madeline and Cecelia when I wasn't working. I was barely getting enough sleep, usually only four or five hours a night. The only people outside of my house that I regularly talked to were Harry and Adam. Well, actually only Harry, as Adam hadn't responded to me in over a week. I was getting a letter about once a week from Harry. He had been such a great friend to me over the past month; I had no idea to expect that from him. He was a better friend than Adam was.

I was so upset with Adam. He had absolutely failed me. He didn't seem to care about me anymore. He hadn't called, scarcely written, and didn't seem like he wanted to meet up with me, though I had tried to coordinate it many times. It was as if he thought I had left school and missed his graduation for the fun of it. I wasmiserable, and he had no idea

Every day, I was so thankful this was my last summer spent at Dad's house. Next year, I would be able to do whatever I wanted. I would be able to stay out later than the amount of time it took for me to get the train from the coffee shop and walk home. I could buy whatever food I wanted, and actually have friends over.

So I decided to rebel. Why not? Dad never waited up for me, or checked if I was home. Why did it matter, then?

One day after I closed the coffee shop, I took a different train than usual. I was headed in the right direction for home; I was just taking the long way. I stopped for a hot chocolate at a coffee shop while changing trains. And while I was there, I ran into someone I hadn't expected.

"Well, hello there, stranger," I said, pulling out a seat next to Harry Potter. What extraordinary luck I had, to meet him here at this moment. This was the universe's strange way of giving me exactly what I needed.

"Kat!" he exclaimed. "What are you doing here?"

"I could ask you the same thing," I said, laughing. "We're not even near where you live, are we?"

He shrugged. "I was... bored," he said.

"Me too," I said. I looked down in my hot chocolate and smiled. "How's your summer been?"

"Fine," he said. "I mean... I dunno."

"I know what you mean," I told him. "Did I miss anything after I left school?"

"Nothing important," he told me. "Lots of students were pulled out... so I think you should be fine if you go back in the fall."

His use of the word 'if' piqued my interest. I always thought I would be returning to school in the fall- was that not the case? "Oh, okay," I said, for a lack of a better response. "How are things with Ginny?"

He shrugged. "They are what they are," he said. Maybe it was because it was the middle of the night and we were in a Muggle cafe that he was being so cryptic.

"You sound like a fortune cookie," I told him, and finally he cracked a smile.

"Yeah, I guess," he said. "How are things with Adam?"

It was my turn to shrug and sigh. "They are what they are," I told him, smirking. "I haven't heard from him in ten days and I have a feeling he hates me."

"I'm sorry," he told me, sounding very genuine.

"But I don't really want to talk about that," I said, trying to put my mind off it. "It's not important."

"Fine," he said, smiling. "So what are you doing out here... really?"

"Got out of work about half an hour ago, and I didn't feel like going home," I told him. "Decided to wander."

He nodded. "I just needed to get out," he said. And I was so happy he had. This was exactly what I needed right now.

The cell phone I always carried but never used started ringing. I had to fish it out of my pocket, and found that my father was calling me.

"Hello?" I asked, as my heart moved out of my chest and into my throat.

"Katherine?" he asked, sounding tired, yet concerned. "Where are you? You should have been home twenty minutes ago."

"I'm sorry," I said, trying to think fast. My brain was already trying to think of a good excuse. "There's a problem with the train... it's broken down. A replacement is on its way and I should be home soon."

"Oh," he said. "Is everything okay?"

"Yeah, I'm fine!" I told him. "I just didn't call because you're normally asleep when I get home."

"I'll wait up for you," he said. "Hurry home."

The phone line went dead.

"Shit," I sighed. "I've got to run."

"Where are you going?" he asked, standing up. He threw money down on the table and grabbed my arm.

I explained it to him. I would have to take an above ground train into the city, and then one of the tube lines to the last stop, then walk fifteen minutes home.

"Isn't that a dangerous walk home?" he asked. "Especially at this time of night?"

"Not when you've got a wand in your pocket," I explained.

"Huh," he said. "I'll go with you."

"I don't need protecting," I told him. "I'll be totally fine."

"Have you seen yourself dueling?" he asked, a smile working its way on to his face.

Okay, so that wasn't my strong point. I was okay, just not as good as him. I was better at things that allowed me a bit of time to digest the situation. "Be nice to me!" I said.

He smirked, and stepped on the train with me, even though I knew it was the complete opposite direction from him. As much as I would deny it if anyone asked, I really did enjoy his company. We didn't even need to talk.

Almost an hour later, I was finally home.. I had not encountered a soul on the last leg of my journey, and maybe that was all for the best. Complete silence, other than our footsteps on the damp ground, was something that felt very nice for a brief period of time. The streets were so incredibly quiet, but it was peaceful rather than creepy.

True to his word, my father was waiting for me when I got home. He was awake and in the living room. "Hello, Katherine," he said. "Come on in... Are you all right?"

I wondered if he suspected that I had lied to him. It was completely out of my nature, so he didn't really have any reason not to believe me. He got up and closed the shades. "I'm fine, Dad," I told him. I was confused as to why he was shutting the shades when it was already so dark out.

"These are dark times," he said.

"It's night," I said sarcastically. I knew he was implying something different, but I didn't like talking about that.

"Katherine," he said, not impressed by my joke, "like I was saying. These are not times where I want my seventeen year old daughter out in the city at night any longer than she needs to be. Terrible things are happening. Just trust me on this, okay?"

"Of course," I said, knowing better than to disobey something my father told me to do. I went over and gave him a hug. "Night, Dad."

"Good night," he said.

~.~

Time passed strangely in the summer. We crossed the halfway mark, though, as July slid into August. However, the day didn't matter. All I knew was that I was lonely.

That was about to change.

It was a nice night, I remembered that much. I had the door open because it was hot and I wasn't allowed to turn the air conditioning on. It was absolutely dead in the coffee shop. I hadn't seen a customer in hours and really wanted to just go home... I was seriously considering closing up.

"Kat!" I was in the kitchen when I heard my name. That was odd, I thought, so I went out front. Hermione stood at the counter. She looked panicked.

"Hermione!" I said, staying happy. "Long time, no see, how have you been?"

"Fine," she said. She was out of breath and I knew something wasn't right.

"What's... wrong?"

"Harry and Ron are outside. Something terrible has happened, could we just come inside and stay in the kitchen for a bit to regroup?" she asked.

"Yeah, of course," I said. "Do whatever you need to. Is everything okay?"

"I'll be right back and explain," she said, running outside. I noticed for the first time that she was all dressed up. She looked beautiful.

She came back with Harry and Ron, who were also dressed up. What was going on? Why were they dressed nicely? They all had looks on their face like something very terrible had happened. I ushered them back into the kitchen, so I could hear what was going on. I was really worried.

"Spill," I said, as soon as they got into the small room.

"The Ministry has fallen to Voldemort and the Death Eaters," Hermione said. "Here, Ron, Harry, take these clothes and go change."

"Is everything okay?" I asked. Hermione, once we were alone.

She shrugged. I knew she was trying to keep calm and focused. I could tell there wassomuch going on in her head, but didn't know what to ask.

"How much do you support this cause?" she asked.

I thought that was a rather odd question. "What...?" I asked, seeking clarification

"The defeat of Voldemort..." she said.

"Oh, a lot," I said. He has caused so much destruction and death, what person in their right mind wouldn't want him dead?

"Then I'm about to be a really terrible friend," she said."We... aren't going back to school. We're going to get rid of him."

My mind was racing. I didn't know how that made her a terrible friend. "Okay..." I said, mostly to get her to say whatever she was going to say next.

"I would really like you to come with us," she said. "You're great with potions, you're really smart, and I think you would be a great help for us. I know it's asking you to give up a lot- but please try to think about the big picture."

My mind wasracing.I had absolutely no idea if I should say yes or no, or take a few minutes to think about it. "Uhm," I paused. I was stalling, of course. But I needed to think. I was giving up so much. My last year at Hogwarts, my family, Adam...

Though what had my family or Adam done for me, recently? Nothing. They had just been the cause of upset in my life. And these people? They had been there for me. And it was now my time to repay the favor.

"Okay," I told her. "I will do anything you need me to do."

"Great!" she said. "Thank you, thank you so much, Kat..."

I heard the ding of a customer ringing the bell for service. "I'll be right back," I told her. "Can you keep it quiet back here?"

Two workmen stood at the counter. They ordered simple coffees, so I served them and waited, hoping they would be on their way quickly and we would be alone in the shop once again. They looked like they were going to leave, but ended up sitting in a corner booth. I sighed. Now I had to watch them until they left.

"Kat, look, I know what Hermione just said to you, but-" Harry said, coming out from the kitchen.

Boom!

The glass of the pastry case shattered as it was hit with a spell. The two men had both drawn wands on us. I didn't even have a wand on me. Another spell missed me by only a few inches. Harry shoved me out of the way and back into the kitchen, as Ron and Hermione both came to his aid.

I was shaking, I was so scared. For a short amount of time- I wasn't sure how much, really, time was passing in an odd manner, I could do nothing but listen to the sounds of curses and damage being done to the shop. I was glad, though, that the cash register had flown across the room, not one of my friends. I felt helpless, and stupid, and worried- I was just completely bombarded with emotions.

Finally, silence. It was an incredibly dense silence, as I gathered the courage to check out the situation on the other side of the wall. I was very scared.

That was even scarier. I peeked out from behind the wall, and saw Harry, Ron, and Hermione standing amidst the rubble of the coffee shop. "They are Death Eaters," Hermione explained, peering at the bodies.

I wondered how Vera would react when she saw all the damage to her coffee shop. The pastry case was shattered, a few tables had broken, all of the chairs were out of order, and coffee beans were everywhere. She would be pissed, and it would be all my fault.

I took a deep breath, just trying to take everything in. I think it was at this moment I realized. We were in for a bumpy ride.

Author's Note: And thus, the excitement begins! I know this is the part of the story that a lot of you were waiting for, and many had speculated about. Well, you were right, hehe! I can't wait to hear what you think. Also, I would like you to do me a favor. Go to my website! It can be found on my profile under Homepage. There's a poll I would really like you all to answer, as well as a Q&A oppurtunity with rewards! So please, go check it out :)

~.~

Also, I would like to take this opportunity to thank potter-reading-coastie for betaing for me. This is the last chapter he worked on. He betaed nearly fifty chapters for me over the span of six months! His side story, The Adventures of Emily and the Coastie, entertained a lot of us, and so I think we owe him a big thanks!