Chapter 3 of The Devil's Daughter

AN: I apologize profusely for the delay. Real life got me sidetracked but ideas and thoughts on my other fics. Not sure if they're salvageable. But i digress. Please forgive any errors, i actually had to go back and reread my own fic. Smh anyway onto the show

Kate struggled to hold in her stomach's contents once again as she spun out of the overlarge fireplace. Dusting soot and ash off her clothes, she took in the kitchen into which she had landed. Miss Granger was standing at attention with a pitying look on her face.

"Professor, allow me to welcome you to our hideaway by the sea! The Briny Cottage!"

Snorting at the moniker, Katherine lifted her head. She stiffened when she realized they weren't alone: several red-haired men and a woman were gathered around the sizeable dining table. Two more men walked into the room arguing about something inane; one sandy-haired, the other with shoulder-length dark waves.

Upon seeing her, the dark-haired man smiled crookedly making his way over and offering his hand. "Sirius Black at your service."

His companion rolled his eyes and sighed. "Must you, Sirius?"

"Must I what, Moony?" Sirius threw over his shoulder.

"Throw yourself at every woman you meet," he replied with a grimace. "My name is Remus Lupin by the way." he added with a small smile.

Tossing his head arrogantly, Sirius propped his hands in his hips. "You just hate me because I'm beautiful," he snarked and flipped his hair in an entirely too feminine way.

Kate couldn't help herself; she burst out in peels of laughter. Covering her mouth to stifle the sound, she giggled uncontrollably until tears were rolling down her face.

A swishing of robes heralded the approach of the red-haired woman. "Boys," she muttered grabbing hold of Kate's arm and tugging her along to a place setting at the table. "Here dear, eat some dinner and we can get to know each other better. I'm Molly, dear."

With a grateful smile, Kate tucked in trying to ignore the hushed conversation around her.

"Honestly Sirius. You don't even know her name.!"

"What's to know when a bird like that just shows up out of the blue? Really Hermione, you sound like my mother," came the grumbled reply.

"If she was your mother she'd have hexed you," Lupin joked.

A huff preceeded Sirius dropping into the seat across from Kate.

Several questioning glances were thrown her way before Kate could take no more.

"I don't suppose anyone's going to address the elephant in the room," she blurted.

One of the redheads started, his horn-rimmed glasses slipping down his nose. He stuttered incomprehensibly before being shushed.

A clearing of a throat drew her gaze to what seemed to be the patriarch of this family group.

"Hello, yes...um... We can't really discuss anything about your situation because frankly we weren't given much information on it. At this point, we were told you were in danger and needed a place to hide." Rubbing the back of his balding head sheepishly, he wouldn't meet her eyes. "I am Arthur Weasley by the way."

Rolling her eyes, Kate turned back to her plate glumly. Then her eyes widened. It had suddenly occurred to her that there might be information that she had that the others didn't have a clue about. She bit her lip. Telling them would only complicate things, she thought. Nodding to herself she decided to sit on that tidbit until the time seemed right.

Little did she realize that someone already knew. Someone very close to her. Someone who was waiting for the precise moment when the world went to Hell in a handbasket. Someone who would rise above to become Queen. Someone no one would ever suspect.

Finishing off the last couple of bites on her plate, Kate stood. "As much as I'd like to sit around discussing how odd it is that seemingly have made enemies through no fault of my own, I'd really like some-"

"-time to yourself?" the Granger girl interrupted.

Nodding, Kate followed the girl out of the room. She was startled when the witch grabbed her arm and leaned in like they were best friends. She was curious at the new attitude until Hermione leaned in and whispered, "You and I need to have a chat in the near future."

"Wha-?"

"Oh not now silly! You have enough on your plate right now!" Hermione giggled.

Stunned, Kate let herself be led up the stairs to the last bedroom on the left.

Before closing the door Granger had the nerve to smirk and wish her sweet dreams.