20th August
When we arrived that night, Helen presented Elizabeth Granger with a bunch of flowers, a bottle of wine and a box of chocolates. Then as she was about to make her quick escape out the front door Helen handed over an envelope and said, "This should cover food and her school equipment." Within seconds she was in the car and BAM she was gone.
"Your mother must be a busy woman!" Elizabeth grimaced at me.
"You could say that." I admitted, ashamed to call her my mother.
John Granger took my trunk and brought it upstairs to Hermione's room. Elizabeth offered tea and biscuits along with a very warm welcome, asking if there was anything I would like to do for the rest of the holidays and what foods I like to eat. I was being treated like royalty and I had only been there five minutes.
"How has your summer been so far?" Hermione asked me after sipping her hot tea.
I smiled at her, which I don't think she was expecting, "For the first while I was locked in my room, but that was only expected in a new house with pad locks on my door. Then when she went out with Peter and if Dad was working, Granny came upstairs and unlocked my door and let me roam free!"
Hermione chucked at my last statement.
"I know, I sound like a cat."
"Speaking of cats," Hermione began, "Mum and Dad are going to buy me a cat for my birthday when we're in Diagon Alley." She beamed at me.
"That's great! I'm more of a dog person if you ask me-" I said and Hermione playfully nudged me in the arm shaking her head and pretending to be all annoyed. I just smiled.
Later on that night, Hermione and I got into our PJs and watched Beauty and the Beast, a recently released Disney movie, together with sugar-free treats and drinks. It sounds terrible, but they were surprisingly nice not-so-sweet sweets.
"Oh and mum," Hermione said as Elizabeth was about to leave the room, "Kathryn gets really cranky if you put her on a sugar-free diet."
I relived how miserable I was on Hermione's healthy eating/ fitness/ revision programme in first year. How that ended badly and with stitching. Thankfully my scar has cleared up thanks to Madam Pomfery and her cream and potion collection. I can't honestly say I recall the whole ordeal with Malfoy and Snape apart from waking up in the hospital surrounded by my nearest and dearest.
"Don't embarrass your friend now," Liz spoke to her daughter, "We merely watch what we're putting into our mouths here in the Granger household, dear." She added to me.
"And I'm grateful for everything you're doing for me!" I smiled at her and she left Hermione and me to it.
Over the next week, Hermione and I got up to all sorts. Mr and Mrs Granger had taken the time off work taking us firstly to the zoo where Hermione and I laughed when we saw the Boa Constrictor and hoped that the glass wouldn't disappear on us!
On the day it rained they took us to the cinema to see the movie 'Groundhog Day' where the main character went back in time every morning to repeat their day until they finally got it right. Hermione shared a lot of her favourite books with me, allowing me to view the massive collection within her parent's study. She said she'd love to go back in time to read and learn. I said she was already brainy enough!
We spent a few afternoons just talking or reading in the garden, letting our minds escape from our world and join another. It was then that I think we really got to know each other. She is afraid of failing, afraid of letting her parents down, that's why she studies. Another heart-warming confession of hers was that I was the first friend she ever had. Followed by Harry and Ron, we are the only three friends she's ever had and she thanked me for never giving up on her. I reciprocated by saying, 'Thank you for accepting the emotional mess that is Kathryn Pink'!
Yesterday we went to the beach where we spent hours with buckets and spades building sandcastles with a fort, motte and bailey. No matter how hard we tried, nothing could come close to the masterpiece that is Hogwarts. It was a beautiful day. I think for the first time, I've gotten a tan!
28th August
On the 26th, the Grangers and I met up with the Weasley's in the Leaky Cauldron after our shopping trip to Diagon Alley.
Our first stop was to Gringotts so that I could convert all the money Granny gave me into Galleons, Sickles and Knuts and place some of it safely in vault 1032. John (it's still so weird calling him that, but he insisted) also added money into Hermione's vault as well.
Next we went to Madam Malkin's to get a new set of robes each, it's surprising how much the two of us had grown over the past year. Madam Malkin couldn't get over the fact I was only going into third year. "I would have said you had just finished your OWLS, you are a very mature young lady."
"Thank you, I have always been tall and mistaken for being older." I told her.
"What about your sister, here, what year are you going into?" she asked Hermione as she was getting measured.
"No, no, Kathryn is my friend," Hermione explained, "We're both going into third year together!"
It was then that she laughed to herself in an awkward way. I think the embarrassment was enough for Madam Malkin as she only asked very general questions from then on.
After that, we went into the Magical Menagerie where Hermione got Crookshanks, her new (very ugly) ginger fluff ball (almost a tiger) cat. I tried convincing her to get a more… normal looking cat, but Hermione never did follow trend and she certainly wasn't a normal person. Neither am I, if I'm honest. You have been reading about my life, after all.
Flourish and Blotts followed as Mr and Mrs Granger stayed outside looking after Crookshanks. I bought my books for my new subjects- Care of Magical Creatures and Muggle Studies. One book of which tried to kill me and the other did not (take a guess as to which one). Hermione and I spent what must have been quite some time in the shop, looking for all the books on our list (Hermione had filled three bags as Mr Granger, I mean John, came in looking for us.
"I should have known.." he said as he found Hermione sitting in a corner with her nose stuck in a book. I on the other hand was chatting with a girl who worked in the shop who seemed very interested in my lack of Wizarding knowledge after living in the Muggle World for the majority of my life. Hermione and I were coaxed out the door by her Father as we struggled under the weight of our purchases.
We quickly popped into Amanuensis Quills to grab a handful of quills and a few bottles of coloured inks. There's nothing wrong with a bit of colour to make your work look a little more exciting! Slug and Jiggers was another quick trip as we handed our school list to the shop owner and were sorted in minutes.
Hermione then trailed me into Obscurus Books where she stood for an hour buying more books. Its not as though she had enough already! Hermione truly was in her element when in the shop and its nice to see her so happy.
But finally we went to Florean Fortescues to have the world's weirdest flavours of ice cream. Elizabeth tried pistachio, John went for (the rather safe option of) strawberry, Hermione had raspberry and peanut butter and I tried the delightful chocolate orange combination. I paid for the four ice creams as a meagre way of saying 'thank you' for all their help and for… sort of inviting me into their family. This truly was the best summer of my life and I couldn't ever repay them.
So yesterday (27th) was my birthday. My present from Mr and Mrs Granger was to stay in the Leaky Cauldron for the rest of the holidays in the care of Mr and Mrs Weasley. ("Honestly dear, call us Molly and Arthur!") They had clearly been communicating, because as we walked into the bar area late the evening before to get some dinner, the Weasley's were there along with a skinnier looking Harry and they all looked like they were expecting us. It was a lovely surprise.
As soon as she got a second, Ginny gave Hermione and me massive hugs each- she must have been glad to see us! She quickly filled us in on the room that the three of us would be sharing, as she was sick and tired of being left out as the 'only girl'. Ron shoved a moving photograph under our noses of the entire Weasley clan who had been to Egypt on their holidays. Arthur had won some money at work and spent it on on treating his family. It was about time that family had a bit of luck. We all headed to bed after we ate, time had flown with all the fun of the day!
On the morning of my birthday I woke up to the excited whispers of Hermione and Ginny as they were discussing what they were going to wear. "HAPPY BIRTHDAY!" they said in unison as I sat up, yawning. My first present was from Hermione as she took it out of her trunk- I rubbed my eyes before opening the wrappings to reveal a new leather-bound diary.
"I always see you scribbling away in that old diary you have, I thought I'd buy you a new one to start the new school year! And of course, being a teenager!"
Then she handed me a gift bag with a new pair of navy coloured converse. I had admired them one afternoon when we were out shopping together and I now had a pair. I thanked Hermione and gave her a hug. Then, I opened the card, wishing me the 'best birthday' from the Grangers!
Ginny told me that I had to get washed and dressed to go down to the breakfast table to get my present from her. So I quickly took a shower and let my hair dry naturally. I would usually have my hair up in a bauble, so it was a change to have it down and wavy. I put on some of my new clothes purchased by Granny- my new jeans, a pretty blouse and of course, my new converse!
At breakfast everyone was waiting for us. "How long does it take for three girls to get ready in the morning, honestly?" Ron shouted across the table to us as he gave me a hug, quickly followed by Harry.
"Kathryn dear, I've been told that you like bacon sandwiches for your breakfast, so I took the liberty to order the three of you some for when you finally showed." I could hear the hint of sarcasm in her voice as she reached the end of her sentence.
I smiled at her, "Thanks Molly, we were just having a good old catch up last night, only getting to sleep quite late and I do apologise for my lateness."
I heard Harry and Ron snigger behind Molly, claiming that this is how I act in school with teachers when I'm trying to get exactly what I want. Ron reckoned that I had won over his mother already, as for Arthur, he asserted that there was urgent work to be done at the ministry and fled the scene, not saying anything to either myself or Hermione. Molly didn't look too amused at her husbands actions.
Ginny then handed me my present, "This is from me." I opened up the long brown paper package to reveal the most beautiful multicoloured quill.
"Thanks, Gin! Its gorgeous! I'll save it for special occasions." I told her, wrapping my arms around her.
After breakfast, Molly asked me what I'd like to do for the day. The boys (Fred, George, Ron and Harry) answered that they were only interested in going into the joke shop. Percy was happy enough to sit around in the leaky cauldron shining his new Head Boy badge. (I think I was the only person who congratulated him, Percy truly was the best man for the job.) Molly gave them a look for being so rude and so she was torn between looking after the mischievous boys or having a girly afternoon with us. In the end she knew that staying with the boys and trusting us was the better option.
Hermione, Ginny and I went into a little shop that had recently opened called 'Little Betty's Beauty Day Spa' in the hope that I could get my nails done or something. Betty (and her team) were only too happy to give us all discounted treatments (because it was my birthday). She started off with a facial, now in the Wizarding World they use different potions, the one I used was to make my skin clear and full of life. I was glowing! Next I got a French manicure which apparently stains your nails until you rub it off with a special potion, no chipping or nail growing out- fabulous! Lastly, when I thought the day couldn't have gone any better, Betty's assistant Gertrude said, "As you are a young lady now, there is nothing wrong with putting a little colour on your face." Hermione and Ginny were against the idea, thinking that their parents wouldn't be too amused, I for one didn't care. Instead, Hermione got her hair cut and styled and Ginny got her hair curled. It's about time there was a little change in my life!
After settling the bill, we headed back to the Leaky Cauldron for the agreed time of 5pm. It was only when I entered when I had my suspicions.
"SURPRISE!" shouted the Weasley's, Harry and Hermione as I was directed into a side room. Molly had gotten rid of us for the afternoon so that she could arrange a surprise party. Suddenly everything got very overwhelming as she approached me with a birthday cake shaped like a giant cupcake- accompanied by everyone singing. This had never happened to me before. I stood there, smiling and then blew out the thirteen individual candles. Yes, I made my wish.
A buffet was presented with lots of lovely weird and wonderful foods. We had a bit of a quiz and a few games and generally a bit of fun. Ron played a lot of wizarding tunes I hadn't heard before and we had a bit of a dance. The only negative to the night was that a certain somebody wasn't in the least bit interested in me and I don't think I got a word out of him all day. I wondered what I had done…
I'll let you into a secret, though. I didn't wish for money or for perfect grades, I simply wished that I was loved.