Katherine reacts to the Map and writes a letter. The twins worry and Lee gives advice.

"Katherine…" Fred started, but Katherine was already moving. She grabbed her bag, shoved a few of the things into it and went to the door. The twins made to follow her but she stopped them as she spoke.

"I'm done," She told them, "I got to look in the draw, I don't want any part of this. I got my share of stuff, have fun working out the parchment."

With that she slipped from the room, not looking back as the twins watched her leave. She didn't look up at the murmurs as she passed through the common to get to the girls dormitories. When she did get to the girls dormitory she sat down on her bed and closed the blinds with a flick of her wand. Stupid parchment, stupid people who wrote the thing, where did they get off saying horrible things about her family? They didn't know them. So her father wasn't an angel but that didn't mean they all were. They didn't know what she or her brother had been through. Theo. He was alone right now, well not really alone. Father would probably be taking him all over the place, something that never happened for her, of course, because she couldn't carry on the name. Theo probably had to spend heaps of time with the Malfoy's. Poor kid, though, her life wasn't exactly perfect at the moment either

She nodded to herself decidedly, pulling out a normal piece of parchment and quill.

Dear Theo
How've you been? I hope things are going well at home. Things aren't too bad here, I've been doing really well in all my classes. I'm having a few problems, but I'm sure I'll be fine. Make sure to keep me updated on your end.
I managed to get a Fanged Frisbee and an Ever Bashing Boomerang. Do you think you could take them off my hands? They are rather incriminating. Just don't ask where I got them, and let's make a rule that we never have water balloons, ok? Horrid things. No, I don't plan to explain that to you, you'll just have to live with that.
I know you probably want to hear all about my friends but there seems to be a clear lack of those. Only three Gryffindor's have spoken to me. A few Slytherin's did to, but they were mostly just snide comments about me being a blood traitor. I don't understand why house is so important to my blood status but such is life. The of the three boys I talked to one of them only talked to me because his friends sat with me. The other two are the Weasley twins, Mr Malfoy talks about their father sometimes, remember? Their trouble makers, they like to annoy Filch, the care taker.
Anyway, I do expect a reply. Be good and stay safe.
Love Katherine

Katherine sighed, reading over the letter. She always felt better after talking, or in this case writing, to Theodore. Sure he was the golden boy to her father, but they were very close, and they'd become even closer after their mothers death. Unfortunately writing to him also meant she had to write to her father. Sighing she reached for another piece of parchment.

Dear Father
I don't, personally, feel Hogwarts is all it's made to seem. That could have something to do with the Hat having put me in Gryffindor. Which doesn't come anywhere near the standard I'd expected of my house at Hogwarts. At least if I had made it to Ravenclaw there would be some intelligent conversation.
In your letter you said you were looking into moving me. As I have not been moved I imagine that was unsuccessful? I met the Weasley twins, they're in my year. They're definitely trouble makers, however the only other person who's spoken to me is Lee Jordan. I don't think any relationship will sprout from the Weasleys.
I've only heard a few words from anyone of import. All the Slytherin's seem to feel that I am now far below them. I'm doing well in all my classes and don't seem to have any problems with my teachers. Apart from Professor Snape, but I believe it's just the Slytherin, Gryffindor conflict.
I hope your business is going well,
Sincerely Katherine

She sighed, this letter was full of lies, but what else was she supposed to tell her father? She'd broken into one of the caretaker's draws? She already knew there was no way she was getting out of Gryffindor? Despite what she told everyone, she had always had issues with her father. She'd much preferred her mother, at least then she been able to learn about both the muggle and the wizarding world.

It was interesting though how she felt like breaking something when she wrote poorly of Gyffindor. Guess some of that house pride was kicking in. That ought to be fun when she got back home. She could probably tell Theodore though, he wouldn't tell on her.

It'd also been harder than she thought it would be to write those things about the twins. Merlin, it was not going to be an easy year. She sighed heavily, slipping the two letters into her bag. She'd post them tomorrow, along with the presents for Theodore. She smiled as she fell asleep at the thought that she might do something to make her little brother's time at home better.

The next morning Katherine didn't speak to the twins, she hardly saw them. She got up early and headed down for a quick breakfast, apparently returning to avoiding people she didn't want to talk to. She ate a quick breakfast and moved on before more than ten people were in the hall. She had gone to bed early after all.

She made her way up to the owlery, careful to avoid Filch as he made his patrols. Once she got into the owlery looked at all the owls in there. It was a mix of school and student owls, the variety was quite amazing really.

"Tenebris," she called, searching for her owl. At his name however he took off from his perch and landed in front of her. He was a very rare black barn owl, Katherine adored him. It'd been a bit of a war to get him though, her father thought she should be getting something majestic, like an eagle owl. Her mother had explained how rare black barn owls were and, after a while, he agreed. Of course then he'd realised that the bird was rather expensive and it'd been a whole different fight, this one with the shop owner. After that there was no doubt she'd get the bird, her father wouldn't let people believe they could stop him getting something he wanted.

"How've you been?" she asked softly, stroking his feathers, "Do you like it here?" He hooted his approval and she smiled at him. It was nice to know she had someone here.

"Unfortunately I'm sending you home," she told him, he looked at her understandingly and she pulled out her letters and the parcel, "So the parcel is for Theo, as is the letter addressed to him, make sure he gets his things first, then fly to father as though that was your only trip. If possible try to pick up a reply from Theo 'kay? Not just something father writes."

Katherine attached the letters to his leg and set the parcel down for him. Tenebris watched her the whole time she spoke to show he under stood.

"You're ready to go," she informed him, stroking his feather a few times as he prepared to leave, "And don't forget you can fly by the Great Hall without mail. Keep safe."

Tenebris hooted as though to tell her she worried too much before he took off out the window. Katherine leant against the window frame and watched him disappear into the distance. What was she going to do now? It was Saturday, she didn't have classes and by now the rest of the school would be up. She didn't really want to see the twins after what happened yesterday. Lee would be happy at least.

Katherine could actually bring herself to be angry with Lee, because she knew that he was just looking out for his friends. Still, that didn't stop her wanting to kill him if he said anymore about her family. She sighed, looking out the window. As she did she saw a Thestral take off from the forest, its black wings glinting in the sunlight.

She turned away and ran from the room. She'd known, in theory, that she'd be able to see them, but they weren't exactly a confidence booster. She let her feet lead her out onto the grounds, panting slightly when she got there. She needed to stop running away from her problems. She sighed, she'd already tried that course of action. It had gotten her insulted by a piece of parchment. Yeah, that was a hoot… Had the twins figured out what it was yet? What? No! She didn't care, she didn't care what Padfoot, Moony, Wormtail and Prongs had hidden on the parchment just so long as she never had to meet them in person.

She laughed at that. That was probably exactly what the twins wanted. To meet the people in person, probably even more so if they'd figured out that the parchment did something more interesting than throwing insults at them. Laughing felt good.

It was a nice day today and she had all her books with her. Finding a nice tree to sit beside Katherine pulled out her homework and began work. She could finish all this today and be free to wander tomorrow. Some free time would be nice, she could put some effort into learning her way around the school.

Fred and George went down to breakfast, disappointed but not really surprised when they noticed Katherine wasn't there. Lee, who came and sat down with the pair, noticed their sombre mood.

"Guys, what happened?" he asked, filling his plate with food. The twins looked up at him.

"We pissed Katherine off," George said.

"Well not really us," Fred put in.

"Either way she's pissed-"

"-and avoiding us."

"And it's no fun," they huffed together, slumping onto the table. Lee looked at his friends, admittedly he'd only known them for a week, but this depression seemed really unnatural for them.

"So, you're just going to let her go about ignoring you?" He asked, smirking at the twins slightly confused expressions, "You mean to tell me that the infamous Weasley twins are giving up? Just like that?"

"I thought you didn't like her," said Fred, Lee sighed.

"I never said I didn't like her," he said, "I just said she doesn't have a great family reputation."

"Yeah, you said her family's like the Malfoys?" Fred asked.

"Well their dads have a lot in common, I don't know about her mum though. So are you two going to give up on this?"

Fred and George looked at each other. Lee had a point, it wasn't like them to just give up. They hadn't ended up attempting anymore with the parchment either, because they'd been worried about her. They could probably use that to their advantage.

"I think it's time we start aiming higher," George said with a grin.

"I quite agree, she did say she hated water balloons," Fred said with an identical expression. Lee laughed at their change in attitude, ignoring the part of him that said Katherine was in deep trouble because of him.

So who thinks the twins are going about this the right way? And who thinks their going to regret whatever they do?

Comments are appretiated, whatever they say and any prank ideas or things you think might be fun are always welcome!