Hey guys, here's a long overdue update (and short. Sorry!). I decided to make it a lot more . . . planned out. Anything dumbly written before, please disregard as much as possible. I've been trying to become a bit better. ... and i can't remember a lot of what I've already written. If anything doesn't make sense PLEASE tell me. I'll try to clear it up. Also introducing Kaitlyn POV :))
I can't say I'm not upset. It's been a few months since I reconnected with Kaitlyn. I know I encouraged it, but I'm still upset. I'd somehow convinced Adrienne to write to her parents and inform them of her uncle and cousin. I couldn't stand the thought of her going into the summer before seventh year with them. (A/N: Okay, I literally can't remember what year I set this story in. Reading through, I couldn't find any hints (other than when Katie said she and Aaron broke up in the summer before fifth year), so I decided to make it their sixth year. My apologies if it was later.) So, her parents decided to pull her back to America.
We all (Lily, Remus, Peter, James, Kaitlyn, the rest of her roommates [I think their names are Brianna, Alice, and Marlene], and I) stand in McGonagall's office, forming a line. Adrienne is standing in front of Lily, who happens to be first in the line, with her trunk, owl, and broom by the fire.
"Bye, Lily," she says, smiling sadly.
"Bye, Adrienne."
The two girls share a warm embrace. Adrienne moves on down the line, finally getting to me. Her eyes are sad, but I can tell she's happy at the fact that she'll never see her uncle and cousin again. Possibly. "Thank you, Sirius."
I give a small shrug. "I can't help my godly ways."
She gives a small chuckle, giving me a tight hug. I'd kept her secret, so the rest of the group thinks she's leaving just because her exchange ended early. Just like that, she steps into the green flames with her stuff. Then she's gone.
At breakfast the following day, nobody's too sad. It feels a bit different, but not in a 'she's dead' kind of way. In a 'she's moved on' way. Within a week, everything is back to normal, as if she never existed. She does, though. She owls all of us at least weekly. It's sweet of her.
As I'm walking toward Charms, Lily pulls me aside. I blink. "What is it, Evans?"
"I knew about the bet," she says, jumping straight to the point.
"Pardon me?" I ask, feigning innocence. Since Adrienne has left, I've been a bit back to my old self – as in before she ever came to Hogwarts – but I can tell that I'm a bit nicer.
"Don't act like you don't know," Lily states boldly. "I heard you 'reinstating' it on the train back from holiday break. I would've punched you if any of you had won."
"But none of us did."
She sighs. "You really liked her." I scoff. "No, don't act like you don't care. You liked her at least a little bit."
"I guess, Lily," I finally say, just to make her shut up.
She grins and claps. "I knew it. Now, where's Potter?"
"Off to snog him?"
"Gross," she says, making a face. "No. He's only asked me out once a month this year, though. I'm thinking of congratulating him."
I scoff, shaking my head. "Now that's just cruel."
About two weeks later, it suddenly hits me. She's gone. I'll never see her again. In a fit of desperation, I'd managed to pull Brianna Banker into a broom closet. She was more than happy to comply. The 'fling' lasts a lot longer than I'd expected it to, though.
Kaitlyn POV
I walk down the empty corridor, levitating the stack of books that I'm to bring to Professor McGonagall. As I round the corner, I spot someone leaving a broom closet. My eyes widen and I quickly duck back around the corner, glad that I'd chosen to dress more comfortably. Geez, heels and extensive makeup gets really tiring. Melissa had certainly never told me that in fourth year. Well, I guess it was pretty much implied.
Sticking my head out slightly, I squint in the somewhat dim lighting. A tall, silky-haired male is helping a slender curly-haired brunette out. Sirius? Sirius and . . . I squint even harder, finally spotting the familiar Irish pin. Sirius and Brianna! My roommate Brianna. I thought they'd finished shagging in fifth year . . . Sighing, I wait until they've disappeared before heading to McGonagall's office. When I get back to the dorm, Lily is the only one there, so I immediately tell her. Since Adrienne's left, she's become my best friend.
"No way," she says, eyes wide. "That's not possible."
"Way."
"But he liked Adrienne!" She looks very disappointed, as if she'd had everything figured out.
"I think he did," I agree. "I guess he's just moved on fast."
"No, that's impossible," she says thoughtfully.
I give a shrug. "Oh, before I forget to ask. My mum wants to know if you want to come over for a few weeks or so this summer."
A bright smile dawns on her face. "Oh my gosh, Katie!"
I chuckle. "I live in Grey Falls."
"Where's that?"
"It's pretty close to Godric's Hollow- oh! I forgot to add . . . James' family holds a party every year and sometimes – well, back in fourth year – he'd invite me over sometimes for dinners. I think once he finds out you're staying over he'll ask again. Is that okay?"
She nods enthusiastically, cheeks red with excitements. "Yeah. Potter and I are getting on better this month."
"I was thinking about asking Adrienne to floo or apparate over," I admit sheepishly. "But I feel like that's not good for Sirius at the moment."
Lily nods. "Maybe we can just visit her in America one day."
I nod back, smiling.
At the end of the year, Katie, Sirius, James, Peter, Remus, Marlene, and I sit together in a fairly large compartment on the train. Marlene was very hesitant about sitting here, but since Brianna and Victoria are with their boyfriends, she decided to sit with us.
"Hello, Marlene," Peter says in a friendly tone.
She looks up from behind the book that I like to call her 'shield'. Sometimes it's obvious that she isn't really reading, but she just likes to look like she's doing something to avoid being directly put into conversation. Ha. Didn't work this time. "Hi," she says quietly in her shy manner that I've learned to love and cherish. Most people are obnoxious and loud. She's a good break.
"She goes by Marley," I throw in, flashing a grin at her. Her cheeks tinge pink and she hides her face behind the book.
"Well then hi, Marley," Remus says, smiling.
This time, she makes eye contact, blinking at Remus. I've always liked Remus' eyes. Green, like Lily's, but less intense. More grassy. They're a nice match to Marlene's kind brown. Well, Marlene is the nicest person I know, and I'm glad her eyes show it. Everything about her is warm. Her skin is almost copper, though I don't know her exact nationality, and her eyes and hair are a sweet chocolate color. Her hair isn't quite as long as Lily's or Adrienne's, only reading a bit past her shoulders, but it's nice. "Hey Marlene," I say suddenly. "Do you want to stay at my house for a bit over the summer?"
Lily gives me a knowing, mischievous look, as if she knows exactly what I'm up to. I give her a small grin, looking back to Marlene. She looks nervous. "I'll have to ask my mum," she says, eyes downcast. "I'll owl you."
"You should definitely go," James says happily. "I could invite the three of you over to hang out with me, Remus, and Sirius."
"Not Peter?" I ask, glancing at the short boy.
"I'm busy," he explains.
Once we're at the platform, I locate my parents easily. They linger, talking to James' and Lily's parents. I stand with the other two children, thumbs in my pockets.
"Sheesh," Lily said. "I didn't know my parents could talk so much."
"Did you ask them already?" I ask.
"Yeah, they said I can come whenever and stay for as long as I want."
"Hey," I say suddenly. "There's Marlene and her mum. We could ask now."
"Marley!" James yells, obviously having heard us. He waves his arms frantically, despite Lily and I smacking his back and telling him to stop. Sheepishly, Marlene comes over with her mother in the lead.
"Hello," the woman says, smiling. She looks like an older Marley, except her eyes are a gorgeous electric blue. "Are you some of Marley's friends?"
"Yes," I say, grinning. "You have a lovely daughter." The four of us talk for awhile, but I finally bring up the summer plans. "Hey, Miss McKinnon?"
"Call me Summer, dear."
I smile. "Summer. Would you mind if Marley came over to stay at my house for a bit? I'm already going to have Lily over, and we could even all go to Diagon Alley together."
"Oh, that'd be splendid!" She claps her hands. "That'd be great for Marley. What do you say, Marls?"
Marley, for once, shows her emotions fully. She has a smile on her face. I know it's real – her eyes are lit up like Christmas trees. "I'd love to." Maybe she was relieved that her mum said yes.
After making some quick plans, we all go our separate ways. Once we apparate to my house, I quickly launch into detail, recounting various Quidditch games and classes and feasts to my parents.
ALSO: I'm going to start referring to Kaitlyn as Katie permanently, so here's a little note so no one gets confused. Next chapter will be the summer, which might not be only one chapter.
WHAT TO EXPECT
- a slightly dangerous prank
- werewolf transformations
- Lily figures something out
- a bit of Marlene's past
- a connection :)