This chapter ended up both longer and shorter than expected. I'm not quite sure how i feel about it but read an enjoy!
Also, I apologize if the random Ravenclaw offends anyone. He's mean.

"I think your being a bit over dramatic, his head could still fit through the door," Fred shrugged, "It's his own fault for being in the way right after practise, everyone else thought it was funny."

"It was over the top! You can't just go jinxing people because you're a little tired!" Alicia snapped, "Katherine, back me up!"

Katherine blinked up at her friends, looking away from her book, food halfway to her mouth. It was Halloween, the event they were arguing about had actually happened a few days ago. As it'd been a Hufflepuff, and the spell had worn off after a short time it'd taken a while for it to get to the other houses. Katherine shrugged, swallowing the food she was eating.

"It was Tanner, right? Andrew Tanner?" she clarified, Alicia nodded irritably.

"Why do you know his name?" Fred asked, only to be ignored.

"I'm not to talk about him," Katherine said, voice filled with amusement as she turned back to her book, "Isn't that right, Katie?"

"Yep," Katie nodded, "We're not to say a word."

"At least it was seasonal," Angelina sighed, rolling her eyes while Alicia glared at the other two girls.

"Impressive magic too," Lee pointed out, "I mean, if he had to have a pumpkin for a head at least it was one that had a face."

"And could use it," Fred added, "It's not like it hurt him, he could see and talk and it was awesome!"

"Quite right," George nodded, "We're still working on it of course, hence why the actual pumpkins aren't very imaginative."

"Rigth, the other pumpkins," Alicia huffed, then her eyes lit up, "You can talk about that Katherine! Tell them off for messing with all of Hagrid's Pumpkins?"

"Pardon?" Katherine asked, turning away from her book again.

"Pumpkins," George answered, "Alicia wants you to tell us off."

"Oh," Katherine replied thoughtfully. The pumpkin issue was that all the Jack-O-Lanterns around the room now had voices, the idea was that they'd be able to chat with everyone and let out the occasional scream. Unfortunately they couldn't quite manage conversation. Every now and then they told a joke, insulted someone, or screamed that the people who were eating had 'murdered their brethren' and would 'suffer horrendously' for making them watch said brethren be devoured. Most of the students thought it was brilliant and the teachers couldn't be bothered undoing it as they weren't causing any harm.

"I'm impressed at the vocabulary you've given them," Katherine finally announced, "I agree, they still need work. Oh, and the next one to insult my reading habits is going to be set on fire."

"So we'll need to make them adaptable to threats next time," Fred nodded, "Good point."

"Katherine! Why aren't you telling them off?" Alicia demanded furiously, "That's what you do."

"I think I'm mildly offended that my only purpose in your eyes is to keep the twins in line," Katherine huffed, finally giving up and closing her book, "The Jack-O-Lanterns aren't hurting anyone and you know you'd be enjoying it as much as everyone else if not for your worrying about people I'm not to mention."

"Maybe you'd be able to mention him if you weren't an evil little…" Alicia's voice trailed off as she viciously stabbed her food.

"Maybe I'd be able to mention people if you weren't a paranoid so and so," Katherine shot back, "It's a matter of perspective."

"Sometimes I wish I knew what was going on with them," Lee muttered to the other two boys as Alicia shot Katherine a glare, which she responded to with an innocent smile, and Katie and Angelina stifled giggles.

"Don't do that," George advised.

"We asked once," Fred explained, "It was weird. Don't do it."

"I'll take your word for it," Lee replied with a raised eyebrow.

…

The group of friends made their way through the halls with everyone else. Alicia had disappeared, most likely to find one Andrew Tanner. The three girls that were left were walking a little way behind the boys, not that the boys, who were joking happily, would be able to hear them over all the noise.

"I'm just saying," Angelina sighed, "that you wouldn't be happy if it was you we were making fun of."

"Um, Ang, I hate to tell you this, but I'm never going to be in that situation," Katherine informed her.

"Yeah, and I just wouldn't bother keeping it a secret," Katie added.

"Ok, wait, why wouldn't you be in that situation Kat?" Angelina asked, looking confused, Katherine raised an eyebrow at her.

"Most people from the other houses still think I'm an evil, manipulate so-and-so," she pointed out with a shrug, then she smirked, "And those who don't are too terrified to talk to me because they think the twins will make them targets."

"Which they probably would," Katie pointed out.

"Only if they wanted to get cursed," Angelina pointed out, "Kat hates being babied."

"Fair point," Katie nodded.

"I'm still right here," Katherine rolled her eyes. Rather suddenly she bumped into Fred, who'd stopped along with the rest of the crowd. The twins and Lee stared up at the wall, and at Mrs Norris, in horror. Behind them Angelina and Katie gasped as they took in the scene. Katherine just stood and gaped in horror. Only vaguely noting the trio in the middle of the hall.

Then someone shouted through the quiet.

"Enemies of the Heir, beware! You'll be next, Mudbloods!".

It was Draco Malfoy. He had pushed to the front of the crowd, his cold eyes alive, his usually bloodless face flushed, as he grinned at the sight of the hanging, immobile cat.

…

"That was…"

"Don't," Ang begged, "I don't want to talk about it."

Fred let it drop, though that was probably due more to the look George shot him. The friends were back in the Common room, having been all but dragged away from the scene, just like every other student, except the one's who'd run off to throw up.

Originally they'd all just been sitting there, staring into space. Now though, George had moved to wrap his arms around Angelina, who'd previously had her own arms wrapped around her. Katie was staring thoughtfully at the fire. Alicia, who'd returned to the Common room with them was staring blankly out the window, Lee's eyes were darting around the room as though he didn't want to look at one thing for too long, Fred was looking slightly uncomfortable, wanting to speak to break the tension but not wanting to irritate anyone after…that.

Katherine was sitting alone in one of the armchairs, staring down at the floor. She was tapping the chair, clearly showing that she was uncomfortable as well but not making any noise thanks to the chairs material. All she could think about was the bright red on the wall. She knew it was blood, she just knew. What she didn't know was there the blood came from. Had someone used their own blood to paint on the wall, or had they forced someone else? Had someone else volunteered?

"I'm going to bed," she announced, standing up rather suddenly. She knew better than to let herself brood over thoughts like that. The others barely blinked at her, though George looked a little concerned. Fred stood up though.

"You ok?" he asked, forcing her to meet his eyes, she gave him a weak smile.

"I'm fine, I just want to sleep," she assured, "I'll see you in the morning."

"Ok," Fred nodded, retaking his seat, though he watched her climb up the stairs. He wondered if she'd have nightmares tonight, wishing he had some way to help. Katherine's nightmares were few and far between, but when they did make a show they seemed absolutely terrifying, even though she never told them what they were about. They'd asked a couple times and she'd blown them off, then she'd had one while she was at the Burrow, scaring Ginny half to death. They'd come in to wake her up and found out that asking immediately after she woke up was a bad idea, they were lucky she took the no-magic rule seriously. At least while she was at their house.

"I told you I don't know how she's been sleeping," Angelina sighed, "She's been going to bed earlier than us and when we get up there the curtains are closed."

Fred frowned, everyone was still talking about the hall, though it'd happened a few days ago. Katherine seemed to be both going to bed earlier and waking up earlier, though she was pretty much the same throughout the day. They couldn't tell if she was having nightmares or not and they knew she wouldn't talk about it.

Katherine was watching Ginny curiously while the other girl was writing. In honesty she was trying to work out when Ginny had started keeping a diary, Ginny had told her she'd never even considered it because she knew one of her brothers would go and stick his nose into it. So why did she have one now?

"Your irritating Fred you know," Katie announced suddenly, startling Katherine out of her thoughts.

"How?" she asked bemusedly.

"You've been acting weird ever since Halloween," Katie snorted, "Even Lee's noticed. Alicia's secret boyfriend asked her if you guys were fighting the other day."

"Does he even know my name?" Katherine chuckled, "I'm fine, really."

"Prove it," Katie said with a smirk, "You haven't drawn in ages, just something nice and casual to calm the twins down?"

"You want me to draw?" Katherine asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Just to assure the twins you're ok."

"Yeah, or I could throw something at Fred," Katherine grinned, before reaching forward to grab a cushion and throw it towards the red-head. Fred looked up just in time to receive a pillow to the face, Katherine couldn't help but laugh.

"What was that for?" Fred demanded, trying to ignore the fact that George and Angelina were both holding back laughter.

"You looked too serious, I had to make sure you weren't replacing me with Angie," Katherine grinned at him.

"So you threw a pillow at me?!"

"Yes, because I know Ang won't spontaneously throw pillows at you and, therefore, she cannot replace me," Katherine answered, looking completely serious. Fred's eyes narrowed and he threw the pillow back at her, only for her to dodge out of her seat and laugh, "Missed."

"You moved," Fred snapped, picking up another pillow.

"You're a Beater, you're supposed to take that into account," Katherine shot back, grinning as she dodged out of the way of a second pillow, "Actually this might be serious. How do you play if you can't even hit me on the ground?"

"I wonder if this counts as normal," Katie sighed, sitting down beside Angelina as they watched Katherine continue to dodge Fred's pillow attacks. George was quietly gathering a bunch of pillows and pulling his wand.

"Well, it's normal for those three," Angelina shrugged, watching amusedly as George levitated a mob of pillows at the two already fighting. Katherine dodged by diving under the table and Fred was momentarily buried. Then Katherine rolled out and pulled out her own wand to retaliate and quite a few people hurried to vacate the Common room.

"Kat, why do you look so worried? It's a Quidditch game," Lee frowned. The pair were sitting in their usual seats, Lee announcing and Katherine sitting beside him.

"Well, think about it," Katherine huffed, "Last year was Harry's first year at Hogwarts, on Halloween a troll got in, this year the writing on the wall happened on Halloween."

"So?" Lee asked, Katherine turned to frown at him.

"Last year Harry almost died in the first match, Lee," she reminded him, "Think about it."

"That doesn't mean it'll happen every year," Lee rolled his eyes.

"Doesn't mean it won't," Katherine shot back.

"I'll bet you two sickles nothing happens," Lee grinned, Katherine scowled at him.

"Fine, but I bloody well hope I have to give you two sickles after this."

Lee just grinned and rolled his eyes again before he began commentating as the team walked onto the field. Katherine couldn't help but glace over to the teachers. Well, on the upside Lockhart wasn't smart enough to go cursing the broom, so that option was out. Everyone else was a regular teacher and she didn't really expect them to consider cursing a broom.

She started to relax, turning towards the game to see one of the twins knocking a bludger away from Harry, and for the Bludger to turn right back around. Her eyes widened, oh Hell. She watched the Bludger continuously return to trying to attack Harry and groaned. Did he have 'Kill me' written on his forehead or something? To top it off it began pouring with rain. This was ridiculous.

It was almost impossible to see what was going on, though it was clear that the Bludger wasn't letting up, and a time out was called. Katherine sighed, assuming they'd do something about the Bludger or move the game to a different date. When they got back in the air she wanted to curse someone.

…

Katherine ran down the pitch, which a number of others people, mostly the teachers and Gryffindors going to check on Harry. Katherine moved past the crowd towards where the twins were struggling with the Bludger, which was still trying to escape. The two boys managed to strap it into the box before Katherine got them.

"Hey guys," she grinned, high fiving each of them as they celebrated their success of getting the Bludger into its box, "Good game."

"Crazy game," George snorted with a roll of his eyes.

"No kidding," Fred nodded, "I mean…Isn't that Lockhart."

Katherine and George both turned, horrified, to find Lockhart standing over Harry with his wand raised.

"Oh Hell," all three of them breathed.

…

"Bet he's bored out of his mind now," Fred sighed, watching Angelina and Katie play chess, "There's nothing to do in the Hospital wind when no one else is around, and it's not like he's going to be able to spend the whole time sleeping."

"You're bored aren't you Fred?" Katherine asked, looking up from her homework with a raised eyebrow.

"I little," Fred shrugged, Katherine rolled her eyes.

"You got to wonder about that Bludger though," George pointed out, "I mean, who'd set a Bludger on Harry?"

"Snape, Malfoy, pretty much anyone who wanted Slytherin to win the match," Alicia offered with a shrug.

"No," Katherine countered, returning to her work, "It can't have been a student because the Quidditch equipment has to many defensive spells surrounding it, even a seventh year wouldn't be able to tamper with it to that extent. Besides, Snape may be horrible but he's not about to attempt to kill a student right in front of Dumbledore."

"It happened last year," Lee pointed.

"That was different," Katherine sighed, looking up again, "I'm as concerned as you guys but we can't go throwing false accusations around."

"She has a point," Angelina nodded, "We won't do any good by throwing up a fuss without all the facts."

"Fine," the boys sighed, looking upset at the closure of an interesting conversation.

Katherine hated rumours. It wasn't just all the false information; it was the hushed voices and secretive looks. It drove her mad.

"Honestly they treat it like some kind of fan-fair," she fumed, listening to a few students attempting to sell talismans, "I can't believe this."

"I can't believe Percy threatened to tell Mum," Fred replied leaning on the table with a frown, "That was below the belt."

"Well, you have to agree that probably wasn't the best way to cheer Ginny up," Alicia pointed out, the twins made faces at her with suggested they agreed but wished they didn't.

"I'm worried about her," Katherine said quietly .

"Well, it's not exactly been the best year for the firsties, has it?" George pointed out, Katherine shrugged.

"Fair point I guess," she replied thoughtfully.

"Look on the bright side," Fred advised with a smile, "We made it snow in a corridor on the seventh floor. The portrait looked furious. Apparently the trolls get distracted by snow."

"Let's go up and have a snow ball fight!" Lee suggested with a grin.

"Kat! Katty! Guess what!" Fred said excitedly, all but bouncing over to her, "The teachers have set up a duelling club!"

"Oh dear Merlin."

"It's going to be so brilliant!"

"Oh dear Merlin."

"C'mon! You're coming right?"

"I'm going to bash my head against a wall, actually," Katherine sighed.

"Why?" George asked, raising an eyebrow at her dramatics.

"I have a horrible feeling about this," she informed him, "I really do."

"Are you coming though?" Lee asked, "The other girls agreed."

"I guess," Katherine sighed, "But I'm only going to watch."

"Probably a good plan," Angelina nodded as she joined them around the table, "All the younger kids are getting a bit over-excited and they could easily mess up a spell."

"Oh this'll be hilarious!" Fred grinned.

"This'll be a mess," Katie corrected in a tone that suggested she knew something they didn't.

She was pretty much right.

Most just assumed it was over after the abysmal failure of the 'Dueling club' Professor Lockhart had put together, however it was soon found that some of the older years (5th years to 7th years) were planning their own duelling club. This was more a way for them to compensate for having a lousy defence teacher in those important years. Of course Fred and George had found out almost immediately, and, despite not being in the necessary age group, had decided they were going.

This is how Fred, George, Lee and Katherine came to find themselves gathered in an unusually large classroom that seemed to be housing almost every student from the upper years, (they knew Percy wasn't there and couldn't seem to see any Slytherins. Katherine pointed out they probably didn't feel there was a need).

Fred, George and Lee were all there because they thought it would be exciting and they just enjoyed breaking the rules. Katherine had been coaxed into coming because there was the possibility of learning something from the higher years, also she personally felt that she had a better chance of getting them out if someone decided they really didn't want them there. She hoped it didn't come to that.

They'd slipped into the oddly oversized classroom and gone pretty much unnoticed, an odd occurrence due to the twins' red hair (Katherine's had, mercifully, decided to stay brown for this occasion), and now watched as one of the seventh years climbed onto a desk to speak.

"Ravenclaw seventh year," Katherine whispered to the boys, who nodded. The boy had dark brown hair and similar brown eyes, which were carefully scanning the room as he spoke.

"So, we all know that this has been cleared with McGonagall and Flitwick," he announced, "As long as we can keep Lockhart from finding out and trying to…help, we should be fine. Now, we're going to pair up and…and you are not supposed to be here."

He'd finally noticed the twins. Katherine sighed as the crowd around them stepped away and made the four even more obvious.

"It's just the Weasley twins and their friends," one of the Gryffindor's breathed.

"Yeah, don't worry about them, they just enjoy causing a little bit of trouble," another called. Fred and George looked immensely annoyed by this summary of them, and Lee didn't look too thrilled at just being labelled just a 'friend'.

"C'mon, let's go," Katherine suggested, she was already bored anyway, and they had a potions essay due tomorrow, but the Ravenclaw got off the table and stood in front of her.

"You're a Nott," he informed her. Katherine could practically hear the twins bristling behind her at this comment.

"Congratulations," she replied in a careless, though distinctly disrespectful voice, "You've managed to learn my name. I, however, already knew it so, rather unimportant."

"What are you doing here," he demanded, eyes narrowed.

"The twins like to cause trouble, besides I didn't realise that we'd have to put up with people like you, I would have talked them out of it otherwise."

"Oh, really? You think you're all that?"

"No, that's you. I just think you're being unfairly judgemental."

"Either way, you weren't invited."

"Yeah, and we were just about to leave before you started being a total prat. It's not like I want to learn anything from a git like you anyway."

"You wanna fight? Get on the table," the Ravenclaw growled. The twins stepped forward to argue, closely followed by Lee, and a number of other Gryffindors were mumbling mutinously.

"It's fine," Katherine hissed to them, she'd gotten herself into this by letting her temper flare up after all, more clearly she said, "If you really want to, who am I to say no?"

Ok, so maybe she hadn't quite gotten control of her temper yet, but he was being an arse. He smirked and gestured to the table. Katherine sighed again as she stepped up onto it and pulled her wand. Murmurs went around as the boy joined her on the table, after all he was a seventh year, putting her at a distinct disadvantage. Or it would for any normal forth year.

She'd never actually duelled before, but she'd seen plenty, and she knew a number of advanced spells. Though, she wouldn't actually use many of the serious ones her father taught her, she didn't actually want to hurt anyone. Especially that seriously. She could definitely hold her own though, and, worse come to worse, she'd just make enough noise to bring a teacher or someone.

"I'll assume you know how this works?" the Ravenclaw boy asked, Katherine vaguely noted that she still didn't know his name. It was rather irritating

"Yeah, we bow, on the count of three we start throwing spells, I was at the duelling club too," Katherine replied condescendingly. Fred, George and Lee snickered. The Ravenclaw scowled but they both bowed, though Katherine made sure she could still see the brunette at all times.

"Do you two think this is a good idea?" Lee asked the twins quietly.

"No," they replied, and George continued, "But it's better she blow steam on him than us."

"We can always just tackle him if it looks like he's getting serious," Fred added. Lee noted that both the twins were backing away from the table slightly and decided it was best to follow their lead.

"Rictusempra!" the Ravenclaw boy started the duel.

"Protego," Katherine countered easily, though in a quiet voice, closely followed by, "Flipendo."

Lee and the twins snickered as they heard people wondering if Katherine could perform wordless magic. They knew from experience she just had a tendency to say her spells more quietly than most. When asked she said it was because volume didn't really effect the spell, and all the yelling gave her a headache.

The Ravenclaw was knocked over by Katherine's spell and Katherine made no move to attack again as he got back to his feet.

"Tarantallegra," he said without any warning. This time the spell hit and a few people laughed as Katherine began randomly dancing on the spot.

"Densaugeo," Katherine responded, before turning her wand back to her own legs, "Finite."

Fred and George clapped at the Ravenclaws rather huge front teeth, and laughed as he attempted a spell. Pronunciation is rather large with huge front teeth apparently.

"Avis," he managed to get out, producing a flock of bird from his wand, "Oppugno."

"Confudus."

The birds scattered around the room, forgetting their target. The Ravenclaw scowled, but seemed to have gotten his teeth relatively back to normal.

"Bloody Death Eater Father taught you a few tricks," he grumbled in a quiet tone. Only those standing right next to the make shift stage, as well as Lee and the twins who'd been listening intently to hear the spells Katherine was using, were able to hear it. A few people gasped and a couple of the older Gryffindors had to reach forward and grab hold of Fred, George and Lee, all of whom had started charging towards the duelling pair.

Katherine barely showed any acknowledgement in that respect. Her calm, expectant expression merely fell and shifted into a purely blank expression and she stood up slightly taller. The twins blinked and backed up again. Hell was about to break loose. Everyone else watching noticed their sudden back up and followed suit.

"Stupify!" the Ravenclaw called, oblivious to this.

"Protego," Katherine countered, not bothering to keep her voice down and more, her wand movements seemed slightly more violent. "Furnunculus."

Boils sprouted up the Ravenclaw's left arm.

"Reducto," her wand was pointed at the table this time and the explosion cause the Ravenclaw to stumble backwards.

"Expelliarmus."

His wand flew out of his hand.

"Immobulus. Flipendo." Katherine flicked her wand once more and, unable to move, the Ravenclaw went flying off the table and into the wall. Katherine caught his wand as it fell.

There was silence for a moment, then scattered clapping filled the room. Katherine blinked a couple times, looking around in mild confusion. With a sigh she jumped off the table and moved towards the Ravenclaw, quickly counter the veriety of spells she'd used. Except the boils.

"Sorry," she apologized, handing him his wand despite the intense look of disdain on his face, "I'm not a hundred per cent sure how to reverse the boils so you may want to visit Pomfrey. Good duel though."

She offered her hand but he merely batted it away and stood up on his own. He opened his mouth, still looking furious but by now Fred and George were on either side of her, with Lee right behind.

"Good duel," the twins grinned, "Better luck next time."

The, still nameless, Ravenclaw glared after them as all four of them turned and left the room. A few corridors down they slipped into a secret passage way. Katherine groaned, slumping against the wall and putting her face in her hands as soon as they were out of view.

"I can't believe I lost my temper like that," she mumbled, smacking her head against the wall behind her, "So stupid."

"Badass more like," Lee snorted, "That was awesome!"

"Katty that was amazing!" Fred agreed, "It was totally…"

"-wicked!" George finished, "You have no idea how cool that was!"

"I think you guys are exaggerating," Katherine told them flatly, "None of it was really that complex, I…"

"Oh, no!" Fred interrupted, "You do not get to dull this down. That was the coolest ass-kicking ever given!"

Katherine rolled her eyes at him but a smile graced her face as they began heading up to the Common room.

"Oh, I can't wait to tell the other girls!" Lee whooped.

"Just so long as you never go all badass on us," Fred said quietly to Katherine, "Because, that was awesome-"

"-and we totally love you," George continued, "But you are one scary witch when your pissed off."

"Then don't piss me off," Katherine warned, though it was slightly ruined by her easy laugh. The twins fell a little behind as they continued to the tower.

"So," George hedged, smirking at his brother.

"So," Fred nodded solemnly, though there was a slight grin tugging at his lips as well.

"C'mon, you know you want to."

"I don't know what you're talking about."

"Want I should go tell her?"

"You wouldn't."

"Wouldn't I?"

"Fine," Fred sighed over dramatically, grinning at his brother, "That was the hottest thing ever!"

"Ah, so predictable," George grinned, "You have to wonder though, if you're so interested in her when she goes all scary like that…"

"Oh please," Fred rolled his eyes, "Like you don't love it when Angie takes control of a situation."

"Touché," George nodded with a smirk, "We'll call it a draw."

"What are you two plotting?" Katherine called, looking back at them.

"Yeah, and why aren't I involved?" Lee added with an amused frown.

Thanks to kishe for the idea for this last part. I'm not sure how well I wrote it though, feel free to leave a comment and suggest ways to clean it up.
Hope everyone who's stuck around this long is still enjoying it! R&R!
Also, why the twins haven't actually said anything despite them both being very aware of their crushes? I've decided that Weasley boys, as a rule, suck at actually explaining their feeling to the girl. And it's fun to have atherine be oblivious about something.