Chapter three, their looking into the Marauders map. Working on making the chapters longer. This stories much longer than originally intended. Be great to have you're thoughts ;)
That was definitely the most animated meal Katherine had had at Hogwarts so far. The twins decided that, after the afternoon's activities, they were permitted to sit with her. She made no comment, mostly because she couldn't be bothered arguing. The next thing they were joined by Lee Jordan, who didn't even seem to notice her, but talked quite happily with the twins.
She sat there watching them, all talk and smiles. She attempted to imagine what they would be like if their families were like hers. Pure blood superiority, offensive magic, political talk mixed with lies and yelling. It didn't work, they were much better off than her, though she felt she was better off than some other pure bloods. At least her mother had cared about her, and hadn't been quite as blood status orientated. She also got along well with her little brother, Theodore, so it wasn't all that bad.
"Hey, why's your hair wet?" Lee suddenly asked, pulling Katherine from her thoughts.
"Oh, some idiots I happen to know couldn't come up with anything more creative than water balloons," she told him nonchalantly.
Lee laughed and the twins made a face at her. Katherine laughed with Lee until the twins decided that they'd had enough.
"So do you admit you added the dung bombs?" asked Fred. Katherine shrugged.
"There was no way he was just going to except a box of water balloons, the plan wouldn't have worked without something better in the box," She explained as she ate. There was a moment of silence until Lee continued her conversation with the twins. A little while later and Katherine had finished eating. She got up from the table without a word, forgetting for a moment that she wasn't sitting alone this time.
Fred, George and Lee all stood up with her, walking a few paces behind her. She could just make out their conversation if she listened hard enough.
"How come you two have been hanging out with Nott?" Lee asked. Nothing, she imagined that Fred and George had just shrugged in answer.
"You know her family has a really bad reputation," Lee continued when he didn't get any more of an answer, "Her father was said to be in line with You-Know-Who. He's almost as influential as the Malfoy's, and you know how bad they can be."
Nothing from the twins. Katherine's stomach squirmed, she knew this'd be short lived but she'd hoped she wouldn't have to hear it when they decided they wanted nothing to do with her. Still, she had equal rights to the stuff they'd nicked. She'd just tell them she wanted nothing to do with them afterwards, she'd get in first.
"Just be careful guys. There are lots of rumours surrounding her family. I heard her mother passed recently…"
Katherine's breath hitched. She didn't want to hear this, she didn't want them to hear this. The worst day of her life, no matter how hard she tried she couldn't blot it out. Not that she tried very hard. She had to be there for Theo. Theo.
"And she and her bro…"
"Hey," Katherine yelled back at them, causing them to start, they didn't notice the effort it took to keep her voice level, "I don't want to be up to late tonight, can we hurry this up."
They got to the common room without further issues. Lee took a chair by the fire and the other three made their way up to the boys dormitory.
"So what do we have?" Fred asked pulling stuff out from under the bed. George handed Katherine her bag and she proceeded to, non to gently, tip its contents onto his bed. A number of things fell out.
"I've got a really old love potion," she said, "An Ever Bashing Boomerang, a few screaming yo-yo's and a bunch of old Honeydukes sweets. How are they dangerous?"
"Who knows," Fred replied, "But I ran up pretty much the same, a Fanged Frisbee plus we both have some fireworks."
"Wait," said Katherine, looking over his stuff, "What about that bit of parchment you had? It was in your hand when we left."
Without waiting for an answer she got onto the floor and reached under Fred's bed, searching around until she found it. It was amazingly clean under there, the house elves did a good job.
"I got it," she said as she came up, before sitting cross legged on the bed with the other two.
"What is it?" George asked.
"No idea," Fred replied, "But it seemed so out of place that I just had to take it."
"It's probably been made blank by magic," Katherine told them, "Also probably belonged to students who had a record of bad behaviour."
"Ok," George said, putting his wand to the parchment, "I saw dad try this once. Reveal your secrets!"
Nothing happened. Katherine looked at it closely mildly worried. It could easily be dark magic, there were probably heaps of students who went through here that new lots about the dark arts. In fact she knew a lot of them by name. Name, names were very important.
"Try saying your name," she suggested, not really sure why.
"Ok," it was Fred this time that put his wand to the parchment, "The Weasley twins request you tell us your secrets."
"What am I? Chopped liver?" Katherine grumbled. The twins didn't hear her though, to entranced by the words appearing on the parchment.
'Mr Moony offers his commendations to the Weasley twins but suggests they attempt something more they're speed.'
'Mr Prongs agrees with Mr Moony and would like to request to keep their freckled faces out of other people's affairs.'
'Mr Padfoot wishes to inquire as to how two such simple children made it into the amazing house of Gryffindor.
'Mr Wormtail bids the Weasley twins good night and advises they not play with the big boys toys until they're more prepared.'
Katherine laughed as the twins stared at the piece of paper, looking like they were caught between amusement and offence. They turned towards her after a moment, apparently deciding the item was quite humorous.
"You give it ago then," Fred challenged, pushing the parchment towards her. She pushed it back.
"Yeah, I'm going to voluntarily let a piece of parchment insult me," She said sarcastically, "Just try something else, I want to see if they respond to what you say or if their prewritten responses."
"Fine," George sighed, "To appease Katherine we command you reveal your secrets."
'Mr Moony would like to say it's rude to command inanimate objects to do your bidding.'
'Mr Padfoot is offended that two boys wish him to 'reveal' himself.'
'Mr Prongs questions how Katherine made it into Gryffindor if she's not brave enough to attempt this herself.'
'Mr Wormtail agrees with Mr Prongs and wonders why the Weasley twins allow a girl to order them around.'
This time Katherine frowned, that was a low blow. She already had insecurity issues about being in Gryffindor.
"Give it here," she snapped, pulling out her wand and putting it to the parchment, "Katherine Nott would like to point out that the Sorting hat put her in Gryffindor and if anyone has problems with it they should keep it to themselves."
'Mr Prongs offers his admiration at the way Ms Nott stands up for herself thinks maybe she is a true Gryffindor after all.'
'Mr Moony suggests that Ms Nott may want to control her temper, it could cause no good.'
'Mr Padfoot wishes to congratulate Katherine Nott on standing up to her inbred pure blood family.'
'Mr Wormtail agrees with Mr Moony but wonders if Ms Nott may turn out like the rest of lunatic family.'
Family bashing! No! Padfoot took the wrong meaning from her being in Gryffindor. Well the Marauders weren't commonly known for tact.
Let me know wht you think. Any idea's are welcome.