Kathleen's Crisis

Chapter 1:

I left Hogwarts quickly, annoyed with Clyssandra. How could she and Damien do this to me? They knew I was re-establishing contact with my cousin! Although, I guess since I was taking all of July off, I did need to help out once more.

The reasoning behind the month-long break was I wanted to spend time with Harry, get him to trust me, then tell him about my family's heritage- the real reason Damien didn't go to Hogwarts, the same reason my twin sister, Isabel, and I hadn't gone.

I slid through Hogsmede, unconsciously using stealth tactics. No one saw me. No one did unless I wanted them to. That skill was one that helped me survive countless times and places.

Just past the village. Carefully parked on a hidden road, was my specially modified red Chevy Spark. The modifications mostly dealt with things in the categories of stealth, weaponry, and defense. My car is absolutely amazing.

I'm sorry, am I boring you with my talk of my car? Well too bad. I love my car and if in my story I want to talk about it, I will.

Anyway, I climbed into my car and drove. Several hours later, I arrived at a small, isolated farmstead- a perfect hideout for them. I put my car into stealth mode and stopped about 100m from the house. I took a couple deep breaths before opening the door and stepping out. Instantly, I started blending in, matching my breathing with the slight gusts of wind, staying low to the ground. If someone were to observe the general area I was in, and I was certain there was, they would only see the places I'd been, not where I was, and only then if they were watching closely. And no one would know where I was going next.

Eventually I reached the house and I stopped, crouched over in plain sight. But people see what they expect to see and no alarms sounded. I was as invisible as I could expect to be.

I slowly pulled out my cell phone. A sudden movement now would give me away as easily as a sneeze.

The text alert came up, but the phone stayed silent. I slowly put the phone away. That was it- the signal. There was no going back now. I took a deep but inaudible breath, and then carefully undid my decorative leather belt with heavy orbs of marble strung at intervals on the leather. This belt actually undid into a sling, which could fire the marble orbs.

There! One of them had passed the window and would be coming back soon. I silently counted to 25, when I carefully took aim. At 28 I whirled my sling and fired on thirty. It hit my mark and he collapsed to the ground. I replaced the belt around my waist, and then pulled out a long-handled dirk from each of my ankle-high, heeled leather boots. I took a last steadying breath, and then leapt over the window sill.

Half an hour later, all twelve of the house's occupants were tied up and unconscious in the main room, which I had placed Anti-Apparition wards around. Most of them couldn't do wand magic, which included Apparition- but it never hurt to be careful.

Two days after the incident at the farmhouse, I was waiting on Platform 9 3/4, just like I promised Harry I would be.

In the 2 days between now and the farmhouse incident I had successfully gotten myself declared alive, gotten custody of Harry, and set up a room in my house for him, as well as updating the wards around it. I had Dumbledore cast the Fideleous Charm, making me the Secret Keeper. I had done thorough background checks on Harry's friends Ron and Hermione, as well as their families, and had determined that it was safe to tell Hermione and the Weasleys the secret. I did not plan on telling my parents (if they can even be called that), but I told Isabel. After all, she lived there too.

Anyway, the train pulled in and students, dressed unobtrusively in Muggle clothing, started to flood the platform, looking for family. I scanned the crowd for Harry's distinctive head of male Potter hair. I finally spotted him next to Ron, dragging a trunk and carrying the cage of a beautiful snowy owl, watching as Ron said hello to his mom and sister. Mrs. Weasley pulled Harry in for a hug and I heard him thanking her for her Christmas present.

I decided it was time to make my presence known.

After Mrs. Weasley released Harry (and while Mrs. Weasley was distracted by Ron introducing Hermione to her), I circled around behind Harry and tapped him on the shoulder. He turned and I smiled at him. He smiled back, though I wasn't sure if the smile was because he was happy to see me, or simply happy to not be going back to the Dursleys. I suspected the latter, and didn't blame him. He might not know what was to come, but it had to be better than what he was leaving behind. I silently vowed to myself that, no matter what happened, Harry would be happier with me than he ever had been with the Dursleys and, maybe, even come to love me like a cousin-turned0-legal-guardian should. I also vowed that I would love him like he should have been loved, like he would have if it weren't for that traitor Black.

I pulled him in for a hug and said, "You ready to go?"

Harry nodded and turned to hug Ron and Hermione good bye. They were looking at him and he pulled them towards us. "Ron, Hermione, this is my cousin Kathleen. Kathleen, these are my best friends Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger."

I smiled at them and said, "It's nice to meet you guys! Maybe we'll see you sometime this summer. I have all of July off work, but come August I'll be working full-time again. So maybe Harry can come visit then?"

I turned to Mrs. Weasley, who nodded before saying, "We'd love to have him. Just owl me in advance and then maybe send him over through the Floo?" I nodded, already liking the woman who mothered everyone she could. "By the way, what is it that you do?"

Out of the corner of my eye I saw Harry, Ron, and Hermione's ears perk up a little. "Oh," I said airily, "it's a special division of the Auror office that investigates cases involving both the Muggle and magic worlds." Technically I wasn't lying, I just wasn't telling the whole truth. I did work in a division of the Auror office that dealt with cases sensitive to both worlds, but we also dealt with a third world.

"Oh, that sounds like fun. You'll have to tell us more about it sometime," she said smiling. I smiled back while inwardly wincing. "By the way, did I introduce myself? Molly Weasley," she held out her hand for me to shake.

I took it saying, "Kathleen Potter."

We both smiled at each other and I was inwardly wondering if she was related to my boyfriend Charlie Weasley.

Mrs. Weasley then pointed out each of her children to me, adding, "I have two more as well, but Bill and Charlie have already left school."

I nodded while thinking that Harry's best friend Ron's older brother was my boyfriend. I'd just met my boyfriend's mother!

While I was talking to Mrs. Weasley, Harry, Ron, and Hermione were making plans for the summer. Harry tapped me on the shoulder and asked, "When can Ron and Hermione come over? And how sill we get them there?"

I grinned at them. "Ron can Floo over and I can pick up Hermione." I turned to Mrs. Weasley. "Our house is under the Fideleous Charm. We'd love to let you and your family in on the location Mrs. Weasley."

She smiled at me, "we'd be honoured. How about we all come over for dinner sometime next week?"

I nodded. "Does Wednesday work? Abound six-thirty?"

She nodded agreement. "That would work fine Miss Potter."

I smiled again. "Great! But please, none of this 'Miss Potter' stuff. Call me Kathy."

"Then call me Molly," was her response.

"Sure, and Ron and Hermione are welcome any time. Now," I turned to Harry and took his owl's cage from him, "we should get going- we have company coming for dinner tonight."

Molly immediately started waving us away. "Well, don't let us keep you!"

We waved good bye to the Weasleys and Hermione, then made our way back through the barrier. I led Harry to where my car was parked, stopping once to take his trunk from him. I put his trunk in the boot and Harry's owl in the backseat before sitting in the driver's seat. Harry took the passenger seat and, after making sure he was buckled, I backed out of the parking lot.

As I drove there was an uncomfortable silence. After a few minutes I said to Harry, "Why don't we play a game of Twenty Questions? We each ask the other ten questions that we have to answer honestly." Harry nodded and I could tell he and I were both thinking the same thing: this game was a great way to learn more about each other. "I'll start, and then we can alternate between the two of us. What's your owl's name?"

He looked a bit startled, but said, "Hedwig. Who do we have coming for dinner?"

"Hedwig…that's a pretty name. Tonight my boyfriend, my twin sister, and her boyfriend are coming."

Harry looked shocked. "You have a sister?"

I nodded while saying, "Did I not mention her before?" Harry shook his head. "Oh, well her name's Isabel and she's dating this guy named Damen."

Harry nodded, and then asked, "What's your boyfriend's name?"

I was surprised but quickly said, "Promise you won't tell Molly?"

Harry smiled and said, "I promise."

"Charlie Weasley."

Harry looked startled before laughing. It was my turn to ask a question. "What's your favorite food?"

"Treacle tart," he said before adding, "And yours?"

"Chicken fried rice. Favorite colour?"

"Red and gold- Gryffindor colours. What's yours?"

I thought about it. Nothing against the Hogwarts colours, but I didn't really like any of them. "Purple," I said at last. "What's your least favorite memory from this year?"

Harry shuddered and said, "Down in the Mirror Chamber with Quirrell and Voldemort. Why did you have to wait so long before taking custody of me?"

"Well, I had to wait until I could legally do so in both worlds, since we live just outside of Muggle London. If it weren't for your parents' will, I could have almost two years ago. Favorite memory of the year?" I hoped to distract him from getting the rest of the answer.

"Winning the House Cup for Gryffindor. Why did my parents make you wait until now?"

Darn. Harry was not to be distracted. "It's…complicated. The Potter family has a hidden legacy, which I'll tell you more about later in the month, and the reason you had to stay with the Dursleys so long is directly related to that. Actually, I was going to come last year, but my job got in the way. Everyone thought I was dead, so Dumbledore sent your letters like normal." I took a breath, "So, I just want to apologize that you had to stay there an extra year."

Harry looked surprised. "You don't have to apologize at all. It's your turn to ask me a question."

Typical male avoiding all touchy-feely moments. "Okay…any girls catch your eye?"

Harry blushed and said, "Not really. My turn…um…Can you tell me about my parents?"

I really should have expected this. "Okay, Uncle James was always my favorite relative. I have sore cousins on my mom's side, but all of them are twits that can't tell one end of a broomstick from the other. Anyway, Uncle James was part of a group known as the Marauders during school. They were master pranksters and were always there for each other. I'm not in contact with two of them and your father's dead, but I can invite Remus Lupin for dinner sometime, if you want."

"That would be awesome," Harry said grinning. I knew he'd never had people who would tell him about his parents, so I'd do my best to answer his questions.

"Anyway, Uncle James was stubborn and determined. He liked Aunt Lily long before she liked him. I believe she once yelled at him that she'd rather go out with the giant squid than him.

"To Uncle James, nothing was more important than family. He loved you and Aunt Lily more than anything. He valued his friends' lives more than his own.

"Aunt Lily was Muggleborn, but you already knew that. She and Petunia were best friends until they discovered that Aunt Lily was a witch. Petunia called her all sorts of names and it hurt Aunt Lily deeply. When their parents died, Petunia didn't allow Aunt Lily to go to the funeral. She and Uncle James had to sneak in with the cloak.

"Aunt Lily was smarter than anyone I know, and you got your temper from her. During her seventh year Aunt Lily realised that she loved Uncle James and she didn't let anything keep him from her." We were at a red light and I took the opportunity to look Harry directly in the eye. "I never saw either of them happier than on the day you were born." The light changed and I turned my attention back to the road. "My turn to ask you a question but if you have any more questions about your parents, just ask and I'll do my best to answer. What's your favorite shop in Diagon Alley?"

"Quality Quidditch Supplies. Yours?"

"Madame Malkin's. Favorite Quidditch team?"

"The Chudley Cannons. Yours?"

"Holyhead Harpies. Most treasured possession?"

"I have 2. My dad's invisibility cloak and the photograph album Hagrid gave me with pictures of my parents. Those are the only pictures of them I've got."

I growled in the back of my throat. "I am going to kill Petunia," I stated calmly.

I must have scared Harry a little, because his eyes widened and he said, "No, don't do that. I mean, she did take care of me for ten years."

I took deep breaths and controlled my homicidal impulses. "'K, it's your turn to ask a question."

"Okay…greatest fear."

I took a deep breath, knowing that my answer would trigger more questions than it would answer. "You heard that I work in a division of the Auror office- Dark wizard catchers," I added before he could ask. Sometimes I forgot that Harry was raised in the Muggle world. "Well, in the course of my job, I've made a lot of enemies- enemies that would do almost anything to kill me and those I care about. My greatest fear is messing up enough that they catch me," I paused a moment, "or you." Harry's eyes widened. "Yeah, you heard me right. Some of my greatest enemies are supporters of Voldemort that escaped capture. Since you're The Boy Who Lived and you temporarily defeated him, they aren't exactly happy with you. You were protected at Privet Drive, but not at my house- at least not in the same way. If anything, at my house you'll be even more protected. Dumbledore is a fool if he doesn't realise that." The last bit was said quietly, but Harry still heard.

"He didn't want you to take custody of me?" he asked.

"He seemed to think it's safer to keep you within the protective charms and miserable, then happy, loved and within even more powerful charms."

There really wasn't anything Harry could say to that, so he nodded and said, "It's your question."

"Okay, then I want to know your greatest fear."

"Well before you took me in, it was not knowing anything about my parents, but you've calmed that. So…I guess I'm afraid to mess up. Ev3eryone expects things from me because I'm The Boy Who Lived. I'm scared I won't live up to their expectations. Your most reassured possession."

"My skis. I love skiing and I wish I could go more often than I do."

Silence fell between us, but it wasn't an awkward silence like before. Instead it was a companionable one. We were outside the city limits now and were starting to see country houses. I pulled over to the edge of the road. We were situated at the start of a cleverly-concealed (if I do say so myself) dirt track. I pressed a button on the dashboard and ran a proximity check, which came up clean.

I turned to Harry and said, "As Secret-Keeper, I, Kathleen Miriam Potter, include you, Harry James Potter, in the secret. Our house is located at 319 Treeview Lane and is called Twin Willow Manor." I began to drive down the track, which opened up into a proper road after about a mile.

"When you say 'Manor'…" Harry trailed off, a question in his voice.

"Well, the house itself is a manor, but we have about an acre of land with a small forest and a brook. We also have a few horses, so if you want to learn to ride you can."

I pulled into the carriage-house-turned-garage and turned to Harry. "I'm not big on rules, but I do have a few. First: you can go anywhere on our land that you want, or Floo to the Burrow, but you have to tell me first.

"Second, you can invite people over whenever you want, just let me know that they're coming.

"Third, there is absolutely no problem with you flying here (Muggles can't see us), or riding, or whatever, but you'll have to do your chores first. This house is pretty big and I don't have any servants. You'll only have a couple chores a day, but they need to be done before you can have fun. That way we avoid working our rear ends off one day of the week.

"My last rule probably won't be applicable for a few years, but it's still a rule. I find a girl in your bed EVER and you'll be cleaning up horse manure for a week-with no flying, Quidditch, or trips and/or guests to or from the Burrow. You understand?"

Harry nodded, looking slightly ill at the thought of dealing with horse manure. I didn't blame him- horse manure is DISGUSTING.

We steeped out and took the gravel path out of the former carriage house. Harry was carrying his owl's cage while I wandlessly charmed his trunk to follow us.

When Harry got his first proper look at the house, he stopped and stared.

The Manor was big and elegant. It was only three floors (plus basement and attic), but it had two wings coming from either side. The house is covered in ivy. From the right hand (or East Wing) was a tower. That tower was my office. I almost never go into the Ministry; I prefer to work from home.

I turned to face him. Pointing at the left wing I said, "That's the West Wing. My sister and her boyfriend live there and I wouldn't go in there if you don't want to be mentally scarred for life." Harry nodded and I continued, still pointing. "The Tower is my office, and I'd appreciate it if you didn't go in there. You're welcome to wander the East and Center Wings as you please, but I would avoid both the basement and attic- there's so much dust in them it's impossible to breathe." He just nodded, looking dazed by the size of the house.

We proceeded up the stairs as I led Harry to his room. As we walked, I told him about the house. "Twin Willows has actually been in the Potter family for centuries. It actually used to be called Potter Manor, but when Isabel and I inherited it Twin Willows just seemed…better." We reached the third floor of the East Wing, where I stopped Harry to say, "My father and Uncle James grew up here. I wasn't sure what you'd want in your room, so I gave you your dad's old one and just left all the furnishings, pictures, and stuff the way it was." Harry gaped at me. I deposited his trunk on the landing and added, "You have the whole east Wing third floor to yourself. If you want to change the décor, you can just let me know and I'll take you shopping. Oh, and tomorrow we're going shopping for Muggle clothes that fit you." I left him standing on the landing while I went to go make dinner.

(A/N: So here's the new story I promised you. Sorry this took so long. I actually had it ready Friday, but life got in the way until today. I also don't have anything new to post for A Stitch in Time because of real life. Sorry!)