Kathleen's Crisis

I realised that the previous two chapters don't have disclaimers, so here we have it for everything up until now and everything after this: don't own anything except Izzy, Kathy, Damen, Damien, and Clyssandra. Never have owned the rest of it and never will.

Twin Willows has three wings, as mentioned before. The West Wing is where Isabel and Damen live. I don't go there much, but they have the third floor for games room, second floor as kitchen/dining room/living room and the first floor as their bedroom, as well as some spare rooms.

The East Wing is mostly bedrooms. The third floor is Harry's room, and I'm on the first floor. I have an entrance into the Tower from there as well. The second floor is really just a sitting room and more spare bedrooms.

The Center Wing's third floor has the Library and the glassed-in dome that was the Conservatory - and one of my favorite rooms in the Manor. The first floor has the main dining room and the parlour (where our Floo entrance was. There are fireplaces in most rooms, and you can Floo from any of them, but you can only Floo to the parlour.). The kitchen and smaller dining room (where we ate unless we had company) were on the second floor. The kitchen and the main dining room were connected with a dumb-waiter. I hated that thing. What idiot designed the manor so that the kitchen and main dining room were on different floors?

And yes, I'm aware that the West Wing's kitchen is on the second floor, but we renovated it so Isabel and I could be close, but she and Damen had their own space. And their dining room was right next to their kitchen.

Not that they'd been using either recently. About two weeks previously, they'd had their three year anniversary and Damen had taken her on a cruise to Jamaica. They'd gotten back today, but I hadn't seen them much – I'd been in a rush to pick up Harry.

I moved around the kitchen, carefully adding tomato paste, herbs, and spices to the pot, bringing the sauce to a boil. After that, I added copious amounts of pasta to another pot. Tonight was the combined 'Welcome back Isabel and Damen' and 'Welcome to the family Harry' dinner.

I was about halfway through the treacle tart when a set of warm, strong arms pulled me into their embrace. An embrace I would recognize anywhere.

"Charlie!" I shrieked, turning in his arms to kiss him. Charlie's my boyfriend, and he's amazing. I love him so much, and I know he loves me. He works on the dragon reservation in Romania and visits when he can – usually on weekends.

Actually, we've talked about it, and Charlie and I will be getting married as soon as Harry's used to living at Twin Willows.

"And how's the sweetest Candy in my world today?" he asked, kissing my nose.

I better explain the whole 'Candy' thing.

We started dating during the summer between Charlie's sixth and what would have been his seventh year – if he hadn't decided to go tame dragons in Romania. It was a particularly hot July. He had just started work and I was in Romania for a job. The first time we kissed, he told me my kisses were the sweetest thing in the world.

"Sweeter than candy," I'd asked through my giggles.

"You're the sweetest candy in my world," he'd said before kissing me again.

Ever since then he'd called me Candy. When I'd asked why he'd simply said, "I have to remind you how sweet you are." At first I was indifferent to the name, but eventually I'd learned to love it. It reminded me that somebody other than Isabel and Damen cared for me.

"I'm absolutely fabulous now that you're here Char," I said.

"How did the farmhouse job go?" he asked as I turned back to my pots.

I shrugged. "Same as always. Can you get the garlic bread out of the oven and cast a Warming Charm on it?" He nodded and moved to do as I asked. "Anything new with the dragons?" I inquired as I added some more basil to the sauce. "I haven't seen you since April, surly something interesting happened."

"I got a baby Norwegian Ridgeback named Norberta. My brother Ron sent it to me via some friends."

I dropped the spoon I was stirring the sauce with. "Do you know the names of these friends?"

"There were two. A girl and Harry…" he trailed off, seeing why I was panicking.

"What was Harry doing with a dragon?!" I nearly yelled. "Watch dinner for me, I have to go have words with my cousin." Without even waiting for a response, I dashed out of the kitchen and up the stairs.

I ran up to the third floor and crossed to the East Wing. On the landing outside of Harry's room I stopped to catch my breath. It wouldn't do to scare him by running in like I was being chased by Death Eaters.

I counted ten deep breaths and knocked on the door. After a moment, the door opened to reveal Harry. "Hey Harry, can I come in? I fancy a little chat."

He looked surprised, but nodded and stood back. I entered, closing the door behind me, and almost immediately staggered against the wall.

I hadn't been in this room in nearly eleven years, the last time being after Uncle James and Aunt Lily's funerals. I'd been nine at the time. Before that, it was during school holidays. I didn't have many happy memories of my childhood, but most of the few I did have were here, in my uncle's bedroom, with his best friends the Marauders. The last time my uncle and his three best friends had made me laugh in this room was the night before Uncle James' wedding. I had been six.

Flashback:

I couldn't sleep. Tonight was the last night my uncle would live under the same roof as me and Isabel. I couldn't stand that thought. Tomorrow we'd be giving my uncle, my source of light, to Miss Lily, who was my source of inspiration. There was no doubt in my mind that Miss Lily and Uncle James were meant for each other, but after he moved to Godric's Hollow, he and the Marauders wouldn't be there to light the darkness that was my life with laughter. I was so scared.

I could hear the Marauders now, up in Uncle James' room, celebrating his wedding. I slipped out of bed and climbed the stairs. The third floor door was open. I slipped inside and found a shadowy corner to watch my sources of happiness laugh and joke. I fell asleep in that corner with a small smile on my face.

My uncle found me in the morning and gently woke me. "Hey Kitty Katty," he said softly so as not to wake his friends. "Did you sleep here last night?"

I nodded solemnly.

"Why would you do something like that?"

I reached up and hugged him, whispering, "If you go, who will make me laugh?"

He smiled. "Silly Kitty Katty. I'm not leaving you. I'm just helping Lily have some laughter in her life too. I'll always be there to make you laugh. When you need me, think and wish really hard and I'll be there."

I looked at him, my eyes filled with tears threatening to fall. "You promise?"

"I promise."

And he kept that promise faithfully for two years, until he had to go into hiding. At that point, I became a frequent midnight visitor to Godric's Hollow.

When I found out my beloved Uncle James and Aunt Lily had been killed, I stayed up late every night, wishing hard for him and Aunt Lily.

I was angry at Voldemort for making Uncle James break his promise to me. I decided to make the Death Eaters pay.

At the funeral, Uncle James and Aunt Lily were so… cold, white (like stone), and still. I remember thinking, this isn't them. And it wasn't. The Uncle James and Aunt Lily I knew were always moving, never still. They weren't this…empty.

After the funeral, I locked myself in Uncle James' room for 2 days, only coming out for meals, and never speaking to anyone.

End Flashback

'Kitty Katty' was the Marauders' name for me. Black came up with it, so now I wouldn't let anyone call me 'Kat' anything. It was too painful. Black had been my favorite Marauder, other than Uncle James. Now that I knew he was the reason for my uncle's death, I hated him with a passion. If he ever met me, he would pay.

"Kathy?" I jumped, startled. Harry was looking at me with confusion on his face.

"Sorry Harry, I got lost in the memories."

The room was red and gold. I moved to the canopied double bed and sat, patting the space next to me.

"You had a good school year?" I asked and he nodded. "Good, but that's not why I'm here. Charlie was telling me about his work. Why do I have to hear from my boyfriend about an illegal dragon that was in your possession?"

"Oh, um, well…" he trailed off.

"Yes?" I said, wanting more of an answer.

"Well, Hagrid got hold of a dragon egg and it hatched and we needed to get rid of it, so Ron owled Charlie and we sent the dragon with some friends of his." He said this all very fast, as if I wouldn't quite absorb the information if he said it quickly enough.

"You weren't hurt or anything?" I think my change from angry to concern threw him off a little because all he did was shake his head.

"Well, good," I stood. I was anxious to leave before I ended up in a corner, sobbing because of the memories. "Dinner will be ready shortly, I'll have Charlie come and get you. Normally I'd just bang the gong, but this house can be confusing if you don't know the way around. However, for future reference, the banging of the gong means come to the smaller dining room."

"Smaller dining room?" he asked, startled.

"Yes, we have 2, but it's mostly going to be you and me, except on weekends when Charlie visits, we usually just eat in the small dining room."

"Oh," was his eloquent response.

"Anyway, you can unpack your clothes and look through the stuff Uncle James left before he moved to Godric's Hollow with Aunt Lily," I said as I left.

I hurried back downstairs to find that the sauce and spaghetti were done and next to the garlic bread with Warming Charms placed on them.

"Have I told you I love you yet today?" I asked, wrapping my arms around his neck and kissing him.

"No, but you don't need to. I know you love me Candy," he said as he kissed me.

"Hmmm," I said as I turned away.

He wrapped his arms around me and said, "Can't you see us like this in the future? Me with my arms wrapped around you, you making dinner, and five or so red-haired, hazel eyed children running around and getting into mischief?"

I smiled. "Yes. I see it every time I close my eyes."

"Well, in order for that dream to become a reality, I need to get a job here."

"Don't do it," I said as I turned to face him.

"Why not?" he asked, looking confused.

"Don't stop doing what you love just for me."

"Don't worry about that," he said smiling, "I'd have to retire from the dragons soon anyway. Most dragon keepers stop at 25. After that, you're just not physically capable of caring for them. Since I didn't finish my NEWTs, there's not a lot I can do. I wouldn't be happy with a Ministry desk job in the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures. So, I've been talking to Hagrid, and the Care of Magical Creatures teacher, Kettleburn, is looking to retire next year. I figure I can stick with the dragons 'till the New Year, and then we can marry and go on our honey moon and be back for the end of the year. What do you think?"

I turned back to the treacle tart I was making and said, "If we marry during the Easter break, Harry can be there – I know he'll want to."

He kissed the top of my head. "That sounds perfect. Now all that's left to do is tell my family."

I flashed Charlie ad mischievous smile and said, "Let's not tell them who you're marrying until the wedding, then we can surprise them with the fact that they already know me."

He smiled back. "That sounds like fun, Candy." He paused. "You know, there's only one flaw in this brilliant plan of ours."

"Oh, and what's that?" I asked as I turned to face him.

"We need to be engaged." Before I could speak he'd pulled out a box and got down on one knew. "Kathleen, I love you more than anything. You're the sweetest Candy in my world and I want to spend my life with you." He opened the box. "Will you marry me?"

"Oh, Charlie!" I gasped. "Yes, of course I'll marry you!" he grinned, stood and kissed me, using one hand to slip the ring on my finger, while the other tangled itself in my waist-length black hair.

I pulled away after a moment and took a first proper look at my ring. It was a simple gold band with red inlay engraved on the outside of the ring. A purple amethyst was set as the only gem. It was perfect.

"Oh, Char, it's beautiful," I sighed.

"Only the best for you, my love," he grinned. "Should we tell Harry about our engagement?"

"Yes," I said turning back to the tart, "and you should do it. He'll keep it secret and he'd be hurt if we didn't tell him."

"You're right, as always. I don't have to go back to Romania until Monday, so I'll stop in to visit my family on Sunday and stay the night there. That's when I'll tell them I'm engaged."

"Sounds like a plan. Now, the tart's finished, so you can go get Isabel, Damen, and Harry."

He saluted me with a "Yes ma'am."

I smiled as I set the table. I normally didn't war jewellery, but having Charlie's ring on my finger just felt… right and I wouldn't have it any other way.

Charlie's Point of View

I headed to the door to the West Wing, first floor, and knocked on Izzy and Damen's door. After a moment, Izzy opened the door. "Yes," she said tartly.

I inwardly sighed. Nothing against Izzy, but she's not my favorite person on the planet. "Kathy said to tell you that dinner's ready."

She nodded. "We will be in the secondary dining room in five minutes." I nodded and she shut the door with a snap.

I walked quickly up to Harry's room. I came in there a lot. Candy and Izzy couldn't stand to be in the same room for more than five minutes without sobbing – it reminds them to much of their dead uncle. Candy makes me clean in there when I'm home, or she'll blackmail Damen into doing it if I'm not. I don't know how she managed while Damen and Izzy were in Jamaica and I was in Romania, but somehow she did.

I knocked on the door and heard a "come in" in response. I opened the door to see Harry Potter putting clothes from his trunk into the dresser.

"Hey, I'm Charlie Weasley," I said holding out my hand. "I'm told you're friends with my brother Ron."

He nodded while shaking my hand. "Harry Potter but," he added with a laugh, "you probably already knew that."

"Yeah, Kathy told me. She also told me to tell you that dinner's ready."

"Alright," he said, closing the door firmly behind him as we left.

"So, Kathy probably mentioned me as her boyfriend," I said and he nodded confirmation of that fact. "Well, that's not quite accurate. I asked Kathy to marry me, and she said yes."

"Congratulations," he said, "when're you thinking you'll have the wedding?"

"During Easter break. Kathy wants you there for it, and this is the best way to do it. I'm going to stay with the dragons until the New Year, then I'm going to quit. Next year I'm going to be the Care of Magical Creatures professor."

"Well, good luck with that," he said, and I could tell he meant it.

"Thing is, I'm not telling my family who I'm engaged to. We want to surprise Mum. So, please don't tell them until we're ready for them to know."

"Sure," he said with a grin. "Your secret's safe with me."

"Thanks," I said.

At that moment, we reached the smaller dining room. Izzy was sitting at one end and Candy was at the other. Damen sat on Izzy's right. I sat next to him, leaving the space opposite me for Harry.

"So, Harry, this is my twin sister Isabel and her husband Damen," Candy said after the food had been dished.

"Good evening," said Izzy. Damen just nodded.

Isabel Marie and Kathleen Miriam aren't identical down to the last detail, though they are close. Izzy is more outgoing and somewhat enjoys her job, while Candy is more quiet and bookish and hates her job with a fiery passion. Izzy is also more formal in her mannerisms than Candy, although I think that's a by-product of Candy spending more time with the Marauders than Izzy. One thing both have in common is how much they hate their parents. I've never heard either of them refer to their parents as mom, dad, or even father or mother. It's always Damien and Clyssandra. They will say, 'my mother' or 'my father' or 'my parents' but only if they must.

Both girls have black hair, but Candy's is in waves and Izzy's are in curls. Candy also prefers her's long, while Izzy keeps it shoulder length. But their eyes are where you see the real difference between the two. Izzy's eyes are a hardened brown, closed off and guarded. Candy's eyes are a soft hazel, filled with sadness, loss, and longing. I'll be honest; its Candy's eyes that made me want to get to know her. I wanted to find out the story behind them.

"So, Isabel, Damen, what did you do on your trip other than elope?" Candy asked with a slight note of reproach in her voice. I knew why it was there – even though the two weren't close, Candy would still want to be there for her only sister's wedding.

Damen shrugged. "Not much just enjoyed the amenities of the cruise ship."

"You enjoyed yourselves then?" I asked and Damen nodded. Izzy was watching her sister. Izzy's eyes softened a little.

"You know why we eloped, and it wasn't because we wanted to,"
she said softly.

Candy nodded. "I know. If Damien and Clyssandra knew you were getting married they'd put a stop to it. That's why Char and I aren't even going to tell them we're engaged."

Izzy smiled in delight. Coming from her, it was like anyone else jumping up and down, squealing. "You're engaged! Let's see your ring." Candy, uncomfortable with the attention, held up her left hand. Izzy grabbed it and sighed when she saw it. That was probably the most relaxed I had ever seen her.

After a bit, during which we discussed the plans for our wedding (trying to include Harry as much as possible – we wanted him to feel welcome), Candy said, "Char's family is coming for dinner on Wednesday."

"My youngest brother is one of Harry's friends," I interjected quickly.

"You can be here or not, it's your decision, but we're not telling them Char and I are engaged."

"Well, I'm telling them, but I'm not giving them a name," I said.

"Brilliant," said Damen. He and Izzy really are perfect for each other. Damen… completes her and brings out her less violent side. Just like I bring out Candy's irresponsible, mischievous side.

A/N: There you go, an update at last! Hoped you liked it and happy reading! Thanks to all who've commented/favorited/followed both me and my stories! I also made a couple changes in the last chapter, so you might want to take a look at those.

Happy reading!