Ah, the Christmas holidays! Fun with friends and family! And broomstick and dishes and dragging people off trains! The start of this was fun to right, but a bit of it's just drabble, it's rather annoying actualy. I'm having toruble with the two years before Harry and friends start school.
Despite what she'd said, the Christmas holidays found Katherine on the Hogwarts express with Fred and George, feeling distinctly uncomfortable. They were all dressed in muggle clothes now, almost back at platform 9 ¾ and Katherine was constantly shifting uncomfortably, throwing wary looks out the window. What if they didn't like her? What if they said something bad about her family? What if she hexed someone like she had Fred on the first day of school? Oh Merlin, what if they brought up her mother?
"I changed my mind," she announced, "I want to go back to school!" The twins said nothing, having decided after the first time she did this just to ignore her. Katherine groaned.
"How did I let you talk me into this?" She asked as the train ground to a halt.
"We're here!" Fred said happily, grabbing one of Katherine's wrists, much to her surprise.
"Let's go find mum and dad," George said, grabbing her other wrist. She got it then, as they proceeded to drag her down the train and onto the platform. They let go of her here, probably because she couldn't turn back against the crowd of kids getting off the train, and she'd very possibly get left behind if she didn't follow them. For a moment she just stood there, partially hoping to be forgotten. That hope fled when Charlie bumped into her.
"Hey, did the twins leave you here?" He asked, then frowned, "You ok? You look kind of pale."
"I'm fine," Katherine mumbled, following him through the crowd. They moved towards a group of redheads who she recognised easily as the Weasleys. She stayed a few steps behind Charlie, not drawing to much attention to herself.
"Fred, where's your friend?" asked a plump looking woman, Mrs Weasley.
"I'm not Fred," Fred replied indignantly, "Can't tell your own sons apart? Honestly."
"Sorry George," Mrs Weasley said sweetly, "But where is she?"
"She was here just a moment ago, mum," Charlie put in, looking around to find Katherine standing between Percy and George.
"Here she is!" George announced loudly, throwing his arm around her shoulder.
"Oh, hello dear," Mrs Weasley said kindly, "Sorry, I didn't notice you with your hair."
"That's ok Mrs Weasley," Katherine replied honestly, "I don't mind."
"Oh, that's sweet dear," said Mrs Weasley, "Now come along everyone."
It became evident when they reached the Burrow that the twins had left out one very important fact. Katherine's name. They arrived at the Burrow with no problems, unloading the luggage and carrying it up to the different rooms.
"You don't mind sharing with Ginny, do you dear?" Mrs Weasley asked as they came inside.
"Not at all Mrs Weasley," Katherine replied easily. She tried not to stare too avidly at anything. She did come from a magic house, but her house was so clean and at any given point it could easily be assumed the house was empty. There was none of that here. She just loved it. Mr Weasley came in at that point and noticed the extra person.
"Ah," He exclaimed, coming towards her, "You must be Fred and George's friend. I'm Arthur Weasley."
"It's a pleasure to meet you Mr Weasley," Katherine said slowly, realising something out of place and noticing the twins slipping back out the front door, she took a breath, "I'm Katherine Nott."
Charlie looked up from what he was doing, confused by this introduction. Both he and Percy we're already aware of this so Percy, after saying hello to everyone, headed to his room without a second glace. Charlie watched the twins step outside and run off down the hill, clearly aware they were in trouble. He sighed.
"A Nott, hhhmm? Bit unusual to be in Gryffindor isn't it?" Mr Weasley asked, his eyebrows furrowed for a moment before he relaxed slightly, "Ah, but that doesn't matter, I'm sure your very nice."
"Thank you Mr Weasley," Katherine said quietly, aware that none of her current thoughts, particularly about the twins, were very friendly, "I think I'll just go find where the twins have run off to."
"Good idea dear," Mrs Weasley said, sighing, "Who knows what those two will get up to."
Katherine smiled at them and wandered outside, closing the door quietly behind her. She heard conversation break out inside the house and walked off down the hill. She saw the other two red heads hiding in a little clump of bushes, however she'd taken her time getting there and they'd let their guard down. She silently walked up behind them and immediately slapped them over the back of their heads. They let out surprised yelps, turning to look at her cautiously.
"I hate you both," She told them, sitting on the grass between them, "I swear one day we're going to kill each other if you keep this up."
"But they liked you right?" Fred pointed out.
"So, everything fine, just like we said," put in George.
Katherine didn't respond, she just sat there pulling at the grass. The twins both watched her, confused and wary. At Hogwarts she'd be cursing them by now, yet she was quietly sitting there, looking deep in thought and a little sad.
"That's not it," she finally muttered, surprising Fred and George out of their thoughts, "It wasn't that I was scared they wouldn't like me, not exactly. It's just…I don't have the greatest family history, do I? It's not like our two families are known for getting along. Plus your father works at the ministry, he probably knows all the rumours and he dislikes the Malfoys, whom my father is friends with. All that aside, I'm a Nott who is in Gryffindor and is spending Christmas away from home because her hair is bright red!"
Katherine got progressively faster as she spoke, putting her face in her hands as she finished. The twins were shocked by this announcement, surprised she'd let so much out without A: them constantly bugging her and B: her hexing them. It did explain a few things though, as she hadn't managed to explain why she didn't want to come with them, which had only made them more persistent.
"None of that's important," Fred assured her sternly, after he got over the shock.
"Fred's right," George agreed, with a similarly stern voice, "Their meeting you not your family."
"Besides dad just doesn't like the Malfoys because they were big supporters of You-Know-Who."
"Plus their always making rude comments, and still favour the dark arts," Fred finished.
"My father matches all of those as well," Katherine informed them, "He's just smart enough not to brag about it in front of decent people, like your family."
The twins looked as though they were about to say something but were cut of as Charlie yelled down at them from the house.
"Guys time to come back! Katherine still has to meet the rest of the family!" the three laughed as they made the way down the hill, Charlie was waiting for them at the door and spoke to Katherine, "You didn't kill them for not telling? They don't even look injured. That's good, I didn't want to explain to mum."
"Charlie!" George exclaimed, "We didn't know you cared!"
Banter broke out between the bothers, much to Katherine's amusement. A distraction turned up, however, in the form of a very animated young red haired girl. The girl only distracted Katherine, not the Weasley's, who all continued with what they were doing.
"Mum," the girl called, "Who's owl is in my room?"
"Tenebris is in your room?" Katherine asked thoughtlessly, "Does that mean I'm sharing with you?"
"I don't know," the girl responded grumpily, "Who are you? Mum, who is she?"
"Ginny dear, that's rude," Mrs Weasley scolded, causing a few of the boys to snigger.
"Yeah, Ginny, that's rude," repeated a boy who looked about Theodore's age, before he looked over to Katherine, focusing on her hair "But who are you? Are you another cousin?"
Katherine, Charlie, Fred and George all laughed at this, causing the two younger children to glower at them as they worked past their laughter.
"No," Katherine finally answered, "I'm not a Weasley, this isn't even my natural hair colour. I'm just a friend of your brothers' from school."
Two pairs of angry eyes quickly became curious and excited. They looked ready to launch into questions, probably about Hogwarts, but just then Mrs Weasley announced that dinner was ready and every one gathered around the table.
"So, Bill will be joining us for Christmas this year after all," Mrs Weasley finished.
"So you really will meet the whole family," Fred said with a grin, Katherine rolled her eyes.
"Oh, Mrs Weasley," She said suddenly, "Is there a chance of going into Diagon Alley? It's just that I have to do my Christmas shopping, still."
"Absolutely dear," Mrs Weasley said with a smile, "I have some more shopping to do as well."
"Thank you," Katherine replied, brushing some hair out of her face.
"Why is your hair red?" Ginny demanded abruptly, "You said it's not natural."
"Hhmm? Oh, Fred and George died it this colour," she leaned over as though sharing a secret, everyone else was to engaged in their own conversations to consider why the two youngest Weasleys were leaning into their guest, solemnly she said, "They both got a leg locker curse for that one."
"Don't tell them that," George said suddenly, having apparently been listening in after all.
"Yeah, they'll think we've gone soft," Fred agreed.
"Oh? So I probably shouldn't tell them that we met because I stunned you then either, should I?" Katherine asked in mock uncertainty, "And the Cockroach Cluster thing."
Ginny and Ron (as she'd found out was his name) stared at her with awe, surprised, apparently, that someone would so blatantly pick a fight with their slightly more dangerous brothers. The twins stared at her as though she'd betrayed them, she stared back with a completely innocent expression. Charlie laughed, having listened into the latest part of the conversation. It went unnoticed by the others at the table as Katherine continued to make subtle jabs at the twins throughout dinner, much to the others amusement.
Dinner came to an end and everyone helped cleaning up. Katherine thought it was nice, everyone working together. She had a house elf back home. Maybe more than one, but she only ever saw Trixy. She never had to clean or anything and, while she didn't think it would be particularly fun, she thought it was nice that everyone could work together like this. She ducked as she noticed something flying towards her.
"Sorry Katherine," Charlie called from the other side of the kitchen, diving out of the way as the twins threw some food at him.
"Oh, honestly," Percy scolded, receiving a splat to his face for his trouble. Ginny and Ron joined in eagerly, tossing the left-over food at their brothers and each other. Katherine lent against the wall, assuming this was a regular activity as she went unnoticed by the laughing siblings. With small, unnoticed movements she helped herself to a bit of food, took aim and hit Fred square in the face. He stood there for a moment, shocked, while George laughed at him, only to receive a similar hit.
"Katherine!" they yelled, realising were the food had come from.
"Quick Ginny, where do you keep the brooms?" Katherine asked quietly, Ginny was right next to her.
"Broom shed," Ginny replied, gesturing out the window as the twins approached.
"Excellent," Katherine announced, much louder. Before the twins could get to her she jumped onto the window sill and, as they took a leap at her, she slipped outside. Running from the house she yelled over her shoulder, "Catch me if you can!"
The twins climbed through the window and started after her, everyone else took to the door to watch the chase. When Katherine reached the broom shed it was, thankfully, unlocked and she quickly slipped inside and grabbed a broom. Moments after she'd mounted the doors flew open, only for Fred and George to duck as she swooped over them, laughing.
"That's cheating!" Fred yelled up to her, she held her position in the air, grinning widely.
"You still haven't caught me," she pointed out, slowly moving towards the house. They twins disappeared into the broom shed and soared out a moment later, both of the flying towards her. She grinned, pushing for more speed as the twins tried to chase her down. Cheers came from the house, though she couldn't tell who for and she laughed happily, enjoying the feel of the wind. They continued to chase each other around the sky until Molly was finally drawn out of the house by the ruckus.
"What's going on? You were supposed to clean up the kitchen," she scolded, then noticed that everyone was covered in food, except Katherine who had just landed with the twins, "What happened to you?"
"Sorry, Mrs Weasley," Katherine said, smiling politely, "I just had the sudden urge for a fly. Fred and George said they'd take me, and everyone else came out to watch."
All the Weasleys mumbled assent, fearing their mother's wrath. Molly just sighed, watching her children carefully.
"Fine," she said, "I'll take the brooms back, you all finish cleaning the kitchen."
The group returned to the kitchen and finished cleaning without further interruptions. Probably due to the fact that Molly came in to watch them after she put the brooms away. Everyone disappeared of to their bedrooms shortly after. Ginny led Katherine up to her room and showed her the beds.
"Hey, Tenebris," Katherine cooed softly, stroking the owls feathers, "Have you missed me?"
"He made a racket when I first saw him," said Ginny, "Wouldn't let me anywhere near him."
"Yeah, he's very touchy about certain people," Katherine explained, "Especially guys, just give him some time to get used to you."
Ginny seemed slightly annoyed, but nodded all the same. Katherine spoke softly to the owl for a moment before suggesting Ginny try stocking him. Ginny agreed happily. Tenebris watched her as she came closer to him but didn't pull away. Ginny gently stroked his feathers and he hooted calmly at her.
"See, no problem," Katherine said with a small smile, "I'm not sure if he'd take to your brothers as fast. He tends to prefer girls, don't you? You weirdo." Tenebris nipped her fingers playfully
"Why's that?" Ginny asked, continuing to stroke the dark bird.
"I think it's because my mum was nicer to him then my father is," Katherine said thoughtfully, "I actually got him a year or so before starting Hogwarts. I think he mistrusts my father because he's always so loud."
The girls climbed into bed after a little while of talking about Hogwarts and were soon fast asleep.
They're is a distinct posibility Katherine has an insecurity complex or something. Oh, well. Comment are greatly appretiated! Good or bad. Next chapter soon.