The game went horribly. Horrible weather and visibility aside, the dementor invasion had raised panic, not to mention Dumbledore rage. Now Harry was in the Hospital wing, again, and Wood seemed depressed. The Quidditch team made a couple visits to see Harry, trying to cheer both him and Oliver up by going over how they were still in the running.
Malfoy wasn't exactly helping either, the prat. Katherine knew the dementors had affected him as well, he shouldn't keep having a go at Harry. In the last two years alone he'd almost died at least twice, whatever the dementors made him see couldn't be pretty.
Not that it'd been particularly fun for her. She'd transformed as soon as she was out of sight, using the high flying gave her to cover the weaker effects the dementors had on her animal form. She'd met the others in the hospital wing, bedraggled but trying to help with the comforting.
"I'm just saying, it's not fair," George pointed out, "Everything he has to deal with, like all the time, and he can't even go to Hogsmead?"
They were gathered in the boys' dorm, sitting on Fred's bed. Katherine was sketching idly while she listened to the twins repeating themselves. She knew it was just taking them some time to work themselves up. They had become kind of attached to the map after all.
"Besides, what better way to cheer him up?" Fred agreed, "A trip to Hogsmead is just what he needs right before the end of term."
"So, go give it to him," Katherine suggested in an exasperated voice, which was undermined by her fond smile, "C'mon, we were supposed to be leaving soon anyway."
They made their way to the one-eyed witch know, both from experience and the map, that they'd run into Harry there. Well, they figured because it was the easiest way back to the common room and Harry was heading in that direction. So, when Harry came along the corridor they called out to him from their hiding spot behind the statue.
"Psst — Harry!"
"What are you doing?" said Harry curiously. "How come you're not going to Hogsmeade?"
"We've come to give you a bit of festive cheer before we go," said Fred, with a mysterious wink. "Come in here…"
He nodded toward an empty classroom to the left of the one-eyed statue. Harry followed Fred and George inside. George closed the door quietly and then turned, beaming, to look at Harry.
"Early Christmas present for you, Harry," he said.
Fred placed the, currently blank, map on the table in a very over dramtic fashion that had Katherine rolling her eyes despite her smile. It was amusing to watch Harry frown at the parchment, both confused and suspitious.
"What's that supposed to be?" he demanded suspitiously.
"This, Harry, is the secret of our success," said George, patting the map fondly.
"It's a wrench, giving it to you," said Fred, "but we decided last night, your need's greater than ours."
"Anyway, we know it by heart," said George. "We bequeath it to you. We don't really need it anymore."
"And what do I need with a bit of old parchment?" said Harry.
"A bit of old parchment!" said Fred, closing his eyes with a grimace as though Harry had mortally offended him, Katherine bit back a laugh, this was more fun than she thought it'd be. "Explain, George."
"Well… when we were in our first year, Harry — young, carefree, and innocent —"
Harry and Katherine both snorted doubtfully, Katherine raising an eyebrow at the pair.
" — well, more innocent than we are now — we got into a spot of bother with Filch."
"We let off a Dungbomb in the corridor and it upset him for some reason —"
"So he hauled us off to his office and started threatening us with the usual —"
"— detention —"
"— disembowelment —"
"— and we couldn't help noticing a drawer in one of his filing cabinets marked Confiscated and Highly Dangerous."
"Don't tell me —" said Harry, starting to grin.
"Well, what would you've done?" said Fred. "George caused a diversion by dropping another Dungbomb, I whipped the drawer open, and grabbed — this."
"It's not as bad as it sounds, you know," said George. "We don't reckon Filch ever found out how to work it. He probably suspected what it was, though, or he wouldn't have confiscated it."
"And you know how to work it?"
"Oh yes," said Fred, smirking. "This little beauty's taught us more than all the teachers in this school."
"You're winding me up," said Harry, still looking doubtful.
"Oh, are we?" said George.
He took out his wand, touched the parchment lightly, and said, "I solemnly swear that I am up to no good."
Katherine watched the now familiar process of the map forming, she'd seen it so many times while running around with the twins. Even with the uncertainty she still had about the map makers, they did have flare she couldn't help but not as the great, curly green words, proclaimed:
Messrs. Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot, and Prongs
Purveyors of Aids to Magical Mischief-Makers are proud to present
THE MARAUDER'S MAP
The trio watched as Harry examined the map with awe. Katherine could tell, for the twins, this fully confirmed the idea of giving the map to Harry. The saw when he noticed the hidden passageways and they all grinned.
"Right into Hogsmeade," said Fred, tracing one of them with his finger. "There are seven in all. Now, Filch knows about these four" — he pointed them out — "but we're sure we're the only ones who know about these. Don't bother with the one behind the mirror on the fourth floor. We used it until last winter, but it's caved in — completely blocked. And we don't reckon anyone's ever used this one, because the Whomping Willow's planted right over the entrance. But this one here, this one leads right into the cellar of Honeydukes. We've used it loads of times. And as you might've noticed, the entrance is right outside this room, through that one-eyed old crone's hump."
"Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot, and Prongs," sighed George, patting the heading of the map. "We owe them so much."
"Noble men, working tirelessly to help a new generation of lawbreakers," said Fred solemnly.
"Right," said George briskly. "Don't forget to wipe it after you've used it —"
"— or anyone can read it," Fred said warningly. "Just tap it again and say, 'Mischief managed!'
And it'll go blank."
"So, young Harry," said Fred, in an uncanny impersonation of Percy, "Mind you behave yourself."
"See you in Honeydukes," said George, winking.
Katherine followed the two out of the room, giving Harry a smile as she did, "Blank or not, try not to let a teacher get it."
That said, she hurried after the twins, easily falling into step with them as they made their way to Hogsmead.
…
"I'll catch up with you guys later, ok?" Katherine smiled, moving away from them. Fred and George both frowned slightly, Fred twisting to see where she was going.
"Who is that?" he demanded, catching sight of the brunette Katherine was meeting up with.
"I think he's the guy she's been studying with," Angelina offered, peering over the crowd, "She talks about him every now and then. He's been helping her prepare for OWLs because he's a sixth year."
"He's also a Ravenclaw," Katie informed them, having finally caught sight of the pair, "His name's Alex. He's very studious."
"But?" Alicia asked, catching the slight disdain that leaked into Katie's voice.
"I don't know," Katie shrugged, "Maybe it's just because I'm used to hanging out with these three, but I think he's kind of dull."
"Katherine doesn't seem to think he's dull," Alicia pointed out, pointing to where the pair were wandering into the Three Broomsticks.
"I don't like him," Fred said decidedly.
"Of course you don't," Katie rolled her eyes, "C'mon, you said you wanted to look into Zonko's."
"Yeah, but…"
"She'll just curse you if she catches you spying on her mate," Lee pointed out, "C'mon, we'll meet her back at the Common room."
"He's right," George pointed out, laughing slightly as he said quietly, "Wishing we had the map now?"
Fred growled slightly but grouchily followed the others into the joke shop.
…
"You want to walk back together?" Alex offered, back tracking slightly when Katherine looked up at him, "I, I just meant, the dementors are easier to get past with other people. If you were going to meet back up with your friends."
"No, that's ok," Katherine smiled, she'd actually managed to go the whole year without going past the dementors; she'd known she was going to have to eventually, "It could take me all day to find them."
"Great," Alex grinned, walking beside her towards the castle, "I finished reading over your notes on animagi, by the way. I really don't think any of that's going to come up."
"I know," Katherine laughed easily, "I just think it's a really interesting branch of transfiguration, don't you?"
"Yeah, and your notes were really detailed," Alex agreed easily, "It's quite dangerous though, supposed to take years to manage any of it, and the first transformation sounds painful."
"That's true, but most branches of magic have some downsides," Katherine smiled, pulling out some chocolate so eat as they walked past the dementors. She offered some to Alex, who accepted with a smile.
"I guess," he just shrugged, "So, are you staying for Christmas this year?"
"Well, that's the plan," Katherine nodded, "My father's a busy man, after all, most likely if we went home my brother and I would only get underfoot."
"What about going to a friend's house?" Alex suggested.
"Well, the twins offered, as usual," Katherine smiled easily, "But I do enjoy spending time with Theodore, and it's not like a holiday apart is going to do anyone any harm. I'm sure they'll get along just fine terrorizing their brothers without me."
"You make them sound so mature," Alex laughed.
"I honestly don't think anyone's ever called those two mature," Katherine laughed in return, "Honestly, they are impossible."
"I can imagine, didn't they turn someone's head into a pumpkin last year?"
"Oh yeah, they were arguing about that for days," Katherine rolled her eyes, "Alicia was very snappy."
"Well, I guess I'll see you later," Alex smiled as they reached the Ravenclaw Common room.
"Yeah, we can meet up over the holidays," Katherine nodded, rolling her eyes again, "No doubt I'll have even more homework."
"They deffinetly load it up in fifth year," Alex chuckled, "I'm not looking forward to NEWTs."
"Me neither," Katherine smiled, "I better get back, see you."
"Yeah, bye Katherine."
…
"So, where did you end up?" Fred asked as Katherine stepped into the Common room.
"Around," Katherine smirked at him, "Actually I was half expecting you to track me down but, you were a no show."
"Are you having a go for giving it to Harry?" Fred asked, "You said you thought it was a good idea."
"I was a good idea," Katherine rolled her eyes, "He needed it more than we did and I think it was an incredibly nice thing to do. I'm just teasing you because you're getting in my space."
"I don't care what anyone says, your incredibley cruel," Fred scowled at her.
"And on that note," George announced, throwing his arm over Fred's shoulder and leaning forward to grin at Katherine, "We're playing Exploding Snap, you in?"
"Sure thing," Katherine laughed.
Katherine pushed herself along with the train. The slip stream was ruffling her feathers and it'd, admittedly, taken her a moment to adapt her flight to that. She pulled up after a moment, not wanting to get to far from Hogwarts. Being a bird really gave you a new appreciation for what the owls had to do.
Katherine easily soared around the towers of Hogwarts, enjoying her flight at always. While a bird may not be the most useful animal to turn into, she couldn't say she didn't love it. After a while of fancy flying and enjoying herself Katherine gently put herself down in one of the trees, ruffling her feathers slightly. She was still getting used to things like the instinct to preen herself, though it didn't do any harm.
A meow had Katherine turning to find Crookshanks on the same tree branch as her, watching her closely, almost suspiciously. Speaking of instincts. Her ability to talk to other animals was something she'd yet to experiment with, and it was fuzzy anyway, so she didn't want to test it when Hermione's cat might try to eat her. That would be embarrassing.
Carefully, she changed back, making sure to keep her balance, like she'd been practising ever since the first time. Once she was herself again she repositioned into a more suitable position on the branch and reached out to the cat.
"Hey, what're you doing out here?" she asked. Crookshanks hesitated for a moment, then moved towards her, allowing her to pet him and purring lightly. Katherine frowned slightly, Crookshanks had seemed hesitant in attacking her, he'd been tensed, but not exactly crouched.
"Did you know?" Katherine couldn't help but ask, eyebrows furrowing, Crookshanks just looked up at her, "You did, you knew I was more than a bird. How did you know that?"
Crookshanks just gave her one last look before he got up and walked away from her, making his way down from the tree. Katherine watched him walk across the grounds with a slight frown. How would a cat know the difference between a bird and an animagus?
"Ron's right," she murmured, making her own way down from the tree, whatever was up with Crookshanks, it wasn't her problem, "You're a really weird animal."
Katherine largely split her Holiday time between spending time with Theodore, studying and chatting with Alex, helping Hermione try to help Hagrid and practising changing into her animagus form in mid-air. She was getting ridiculously skilled with cushioning charms.
At least she hadn't injured herself.
Still, she woke early on Christmas morning, she had plans to go meet up with Theodore. She quickly unwrapped her presents – sweets and a new sweater, which she immediately pulled on, from Mrs Weasley, some advanced books from her father, and a new set of quills from Fred and George, she'd work out what they actually did later – and hurried out of the tower.
"Katty!" Theodore greeted, pulling her into a hug as she reached the tree they'd agreed to meet under. Katherine grinned as she accepted the hug, she didn't get to see him enough while school was on.
"How've you been?" she asked, easily sitting down on the grass with him.
"The usual," Theodore shrugged, "Draco still thinks he's amazing for his stunt with the hippogriff. His exact words were 'unbelievably brave and selfless'. He's doing the school a favour after all, would you believe it?"
"Oh yeah," Katherine nodded, sharing his faux seriousness, "He is a hero living among mortals."
"To Draco," Theodore suggested, holding up a cup of the butter beer he'd bought on the last Hogsmead trip, "May he keep his mouth shut next time he injures himself, lest I accidentally punch him in the face."
Katherine accidentally snorted into her drink, getting butter bear all over her face. Theodore just laughed at her, making her scowl.
"That was uncalled for."
"That was hilarious," Theodore corrected with a grin, "It's not like the twins are the only ones who can be funny."
"I've never doubted that," Katherine replied, "You know they got me quills for Christmas?"
"And none of them exploded yet."
"Not yet, maybe I'll get the boys to test them for me when they get back."
"Fun, and here I just got you some chocolate," Theodore sighed, pulling out a box of really expensive chocolates, some of the best you could get, "I guess I'll just eat them myself."
"Fine, then I'll just keep your present as well," Katherine shrugged. Theodore narrowed his eyes at her and eventually handed over the chocolates, making Katherine grin. She handed over his present, a new chess set and a book on magical creatures with some amazing pictures in it. The pair spent the better part of the morning there, admiring the grounds and chatting.
At lunch Katherine sat between Theodore and Alex. It was only them, the teachers, Harry, Ron and Hermione. The conversation was easy, though something seemed to be bothering Hermione and the food was great, they even got a visit from Trelawney, which was amusing. Eventually lunch finished and people began leaving.
"I'm going to go back to the Common room," Theodore sighed, "Gotta love having the whole space to yourself."
"No kidding," Katherine laughed, "See you."
"So, that was your brother?" Alex asked as they began making their way upstairs.
"Yeah, it's nice to be able to hang out with him without the… twins," Katherine supplied with a smile, "They get a bit touchy about the Slytherin thing."
"Well, it usually is that way with Slytherins and Gryffindors," Alex offered. Katherine gave a non-committal shrug in response.
"See you around," she said as they started heading in different directions.
"You bet," Alex smiled. Katherine waved him off before she turned away, frowning slightly. She shouldn't have used the twins as an excuse, they weren't always great about it but they didn't stop her from seeing Theodore. She just didn't want to get into the politics of it and Theodore had seemed to get along though, which was a nice change.
With a slight smile Katherine made her way into the Common room, and promptly made her way up to her dormitory to avoid the scene that looked like it was going to devolve into a screaming match. She wouldn't be surprised if Hermione came to see her. Neither Harry nor Ron looked pleased and, while Hermione and Katherine weren't the closest friends, she'd still probably want someone to talk to if they were in an argument.
…
"I just, why can't they see that it's dangerous?" Hermione huffed, finishing her rant and collapsing onto Katherine's bed.
"They probably do," Katherine assured, "You've just got to let them work their way through it. If the broom is cursed Harry will appreciate you looking out for him, and if it's not the teachers will have finished checking it before the next match. Trust me, it'll be fine."
"What about Ron?" Hermione asked with a frown. Katherine just snorted.
"Weasley's are stubborn, it's a family trait," she explained, "But he'll get over it. I've been in arguments with the twins before, he'll eventually realise you were right, then he'll be grumpy about that for a little while, and then things will go back to normal."
Hermione nodded thoughtfully before looking up at Katherine with a smile, "Thanks."
"No worries," Katherine answered easily, handing over a block of chocolate, "It's not going to get better immediately though."
"I know."
"I know that look, if you two even think about going after Hermione for the broomstick I swear I will curse you both," Katherine warned, focusing on the chess game she was playing with Angelina. Everyone was pretty happy coming back after the holidays, though the homework was getting ridiculous and exams were just around the corner.
"There's no way we'd lose if Harry had a Firebolt!" Fred protested.
"And there's no way you'd win if Harry died because he rode a cursed broom."
"She has a point," Angelina agreed with a slight face, "Though I still don't get why the teachers are so worried."
"Crazy Death Eater on the loose," George offered with a shrug, looking over her shoulder, "They reckon he's going for Harry. Watch your castle."
"That's cheating," Katherine rolled her eyes.
"Well, you don't think it's cursed, do you Katty?" Fred asked.
"How do you even know that? I never told you where I stood on it," Katherine demanded, when Fred only grinned at her she sighed, "No, I don't think it's cursed, at least not by Black. The point is though, that it might be, even if it's not Black himself this is the perfect time for someone else wth a grudge against Harry to make a move, because they can blame it on him."
"Why don't you think it's Black?" Angelina asked.
"I don't know, it just doesn't seem to fit together," Katherine shrugged, "Then, I haven't looked into Black, I could very easily be wrong. Checkmate."
"Why do I keep playing with you?" Angelina rolled her eyes, Katherine just chuckled.
"So you can beat Alicia."
"You're never wrong," Fred spoke up with a frown.
"Don't be ridiculous," Katherine rolled her eyes as she packed up, "Of course I get things wrong."
"Yeah, but you never say so," Fred argued, "What do you know?"
"I know the same things as you Fred," Katherine sighed, rolling her eyes again, "You're being paranoid."
"You're keeping secrets."
"Crazy paranoid man."
"I can't tell when she's teasing him just to annoy him and when she's actually having a go," Angelina informed George.
"Neither can we," George laughed, "That's why he always reacts."