18th December cont'd
I don't know how Harry made it back up to the castle again. He was quiet and withdrawn, as you would expect from someone who has just found out the most devastating news. The following thoughts encircled in my mind. Sirius Black was best friends with Harry's father. Sirius Black betrayed Harry's parents. Sirius Black murdered many innocent muggles and Sirius Black tried to take baby Harry, goodness knows what could have happened to him. The three of us sat in silence as Harry escaped to his dorm. We thought it was best to give him some space.
19th December
The next morning Ron, Hermione and I were up early to see the commotion of everyone returning home for Christmas. I got a nod from George, a smile from Oliver and a massive hug from Ginny. Soon it was just the three of us.
"What are we going to do about Harry?" Hermione asked, no longer able to avoid the subject.
"He's going to do something stupid, isn't he?" Ron bit his lower lip.
"If we know Harry at all, he's going to want to do something about Black. Kill him, most likely. He probably hasn't slept all night and is most likely hiding up the stairs from us to avoid conversation."
"There has got to be a way we can change his mind… Black is mad! You heard what he did to all those muggles," Ron began, "I overheard my dad talking about Pettigrew when Black had escaped. They gave his mother an Order of Merlin: First Class and one of his fingers. That was the biggest bit of him they could find…"
"He hasn't eaten or drank anything since Hogsmeade yesterday… He hasn't talked to anyone; he's just secluded himself…" Hermione stated.
"I'm really worried about him…"
"Maybe I should go wake him?" Ron suggested.
I had an idea, "If you give me ten minutes, I can go down to the kitchens and ask for some breakfast for Harry, and then we can make sure he eats something…"
"How do you know how to get to the kitchens?"
"Fred and George told me about it." It was after they had brought up cakes and butterbeer back in first year and I just happened to ask them. I do recall them telling me that it was highly dangerous (with a wink) and that I should never go down there alone. I took that response as 'go down and help yourself'.
"And why would they tell you and not me, their brother?" Ron looked absolutely disgusted.
"Because I asked nicely?" I smiled and left through the portrait door.
I found myself walking the corridor downstairs towards the Hufflepuff dormitory. Then I spied it, a painting of a bowl of fruit. That's what they told me to look out for. I remembered that I had to tickle a piece of fruit, but which piece I couldn't remember… I took them all one at a time. The apple didn't work, banana didn't work, orange didn't work… I began to get frustrated and had to take a deep breath. I couldn't return empty handed.
"Try the pear!" coughed the portrait behind me of a smart looking gentleman in a war uniform.
I tickled the pear and it transfigured into green door-knob, the pear was giggling and laughing as I pushed the door open, "Thank you!" I smiled to the portrait.
"No problem, young lady, you look like you need in rather than some of the scamps who are looking for a sweet treat they don't need." He said.
I nodded, "I'm trying to help out a friend in need…" I turned to look inside the kitchens, "Wowzah!" I was overcome with the impressiveness of the gigantic, high-ceilinged room.
"Can I help you, Miss?" came the squeaky voice of a House Elf standing in front of me, the widest of grins on his face. The room was filled with the beautiful creatures, some washing up and others preparing food for lunch.
"I was wondering if you could help me?" I spoke almost timidly, trying to take in the wonder of my surroundings.
The House Elf's smile got even wider, if that was possible, "Anything, Miss!"
"My friend didn't get any breakfast this morning and I was wondering if you had any toast or something I could bring up to him?"
"Of course, Miss, we would be delighted. We could make some eggs, bacon and sausages to go with the toast?" he offered.
"That sounds lovely, thank you!" I nodded and the House Elf sprang into work. He just seemed so happy to help.
"And a selection of croissants, Miss?" a female House Elf appeared with a fresh batch.
"I'm sure he would love one!" I smiled.
"Also, if Miss would desire we have pain au chocolat freshly baked." Yet another House Elf appeared with the most delicious smelling pastries.
"How many people are in your common room? We will gladly provide something for everyone! We mustn't leave anyone hungry!" The second House Elf began to pack a number of croissants and pain au chocolat into a basket for me to carry.
"There are only four of us at the minute, everyone else went home for the holidays this morning." I was shocked with the amount of food I saw being packed.
"And what would Miss and her friends like to drink? I could pack a selection of bottles?" the third House Elf was already in the process of doing so, so I had no choice but to nod. As I was looking around the kitchen I realised it was directly under the Great Hall. The five tables were sitting in line with those above. The Elves must place the food on the tables below and they magically swapped contents with the tables above. Impressive.
Within minutes, the first House Elf reappeared with a fry on a plate, "Is this suitable for Miss's friend?"
"Definitely!" I couldn't get over how fast it was made! The House Elf then proceeded to wrap the plate in what looked like tin foil and placed it on the top of the basket.
"Would Miss like anything else?" he checked before covering the basket with cutlery, a few napkins and condiments.
"No, thank you! You have been so kind, thanks!"
"It has been our pleasure, Miss. If you need anything else, we will be very glad to see you again! We will collect the remains when we are next in the Gryffindor Common Room."
I was handed the basket and surrounded by extremely happy faces, "Thank you all very much!" I smiled and waved as I left through the portrait door.
I let out a sigh of amazement. I simply couldn't believe it.
"They're all very happy to help in there, aren't they?" came the voice of the smart looking gentleman in the portrait.
I couldn't help but smile, "They are something else!"
"You had best get up to your friend, they will surely be very hungry by now. Have a nice day." He reminded me of why I was holding the basket.
"Thank you, Sir. You too." I said and whisked away off towards the Gryffindor Common Room.
Sir Cadogan tackled me again with his words "What you got there, missy?"
"Food, now if you don't mind, I need to get in there. Scurvy Cur!"
"Fine." And the door swung open. He knew not to annoy me.
"Oh, Harry! You're up! I was just downstairs getting you a spot of breakfast!" I brought the basket over to him.
"I'm not hungry." he said, in a grump. Ron and Hermione had obviously confronted him about Black and not being stupid enough to go after him.
I put my hand on my hip, "You don't know what I've got in here."
"Still don't want anything." He said, looking peaky. I didn't see why he had to take his anger out on me, so I fought back.
"You are going to sit down here and eat something, Harry Potter, or so help me I will force it down your ungrateful throat." I looked him deep in the eyes and challenged him to mess with me.
It didn't take much to get him to take a seat.
I wingardium levisoa'd a table over and the rest of us pulled seats around to join Harry, "You'll never guess what I got!" I smiled, taking the wrappings off the basket, "Here is your breakfast, Harry and I was also given a few pastries to munch on as well, I think there's enough to do us for lunch in here!" I giggled as I handed out food to everyone.
Ron's face lit up (as it always does when he's unexpectedly given food). Hermione was in awe of the contents and Harry dug in straight away.
That afternoon the four of us headed down to visit Hagrid. Apparently it was one of Harry's conditions. We walked through the powdery white snow and knocked on the large door of the hut. There didn't seem to be anyone in… There were however, strange noises sounding inside.
Harry battered the door and shouted, "HAGRID! Hagrid, are you in there?"
Heavy footsteps sounded and the door creaked open. Hagrid appeared with swollen, red eyes and tears were splashing down the front of his leather waistcoat. "Yeh've heard!" he bellowed, flinging himself onto Harry's neck. It took all four of us to muster the power to get Hagrid off Harry, who was about to collapse under the immense weight. We heaved Hagrid back into the cabin and sat him down, the tears still flowing.
The other three sat whilst I stood to make a pot of tea for everyone.
"What's happened, Hagrid?" Hermione asked, we were all so concerned, it's not often you see a fully grown man cry.
Harry spotted a formal letter sitting on the table in front of Hagrid and picked it up, "What's this, Hagrid?"
Hagrid's sobbing got worse and he nodded to Harry as if to get him to read it out:
"Dear Mr Hagrid,
Further to our enquiry into the attack by a Hippogriff on a student in your class, we have accepted the assurances of Professor Dumbledore that you bear no responsibility for the regrettable incident. However, we must register our concern about the Hippogriff in question. We have decided to uphold the official complaint of Mr Lucius Malfoy, and this matter will therefore be taken to the Committee for the Disposal of Dangerous Creatures. The hearing will take place on April 20th, and we ask you to present yourself and your Hippogriff at the Committee's offices in London on that date. In the meantime, the Hippogriff should be kept tethered and isolated.
Yours in fellowship…."
"Oh Hagrid," I said whilst handing him a cup of tea, "I'm very sorry to hear that…"
"Thanks…" he said gesturing at the tea.
"I'm sure Buckbeak'll get off, he's a good Hippogriff." Ron comforted, "I bet he'll get off."
"Yeh don' know them gargoyles at the Committee fer the Disposal o' Dangeous Creatures!" Hagrid choked, "They've got it in fer interestin' creatures!"
A loud sound from the corner of Hagrid's cabin made all our necks whip around. Buckbeak was lying in the corner, chewing at something that was oozing with blood. It was not a pretty site.
"I couldn' leave him out there in the snow!" Hagrid choked once again, "Not on his own, at Christmas!"
Going on Hagrid's track record of pets, Buckbeak was truly cute. Not to mention Norbert the dragon and Aragog the spider, I often wondered what could be worse, but I wouldn't hold my breath. There is much left to discover about Rubeus Hagrid.
"You'll have to put up a strong defence," Hermione began, "I'm sure you can prove that Buckbeak is safe. I'm sure I've read about a case of Hippogriff-baiting where the Hippogriff got off. I'll look it up for you, Hagrid, and see exactly what happened."
Hagrid continued howling. He grabbed a handkerchief the size of a tablecloth and blew his nose. "Are yeh sure? Can yeh help me?"
"Of course, Hagrid! We'll do anything to help!" Hermione spoke and the three of us nodded in agreeance. I knew little about Hippogriffs, but Buckbeak was perfectly civil with Harry, it was just that Draco was an idiot, as usual.
"I've not bin meself lately," Hagrid confessed, "Worried abou' Buckbeak an' no one likin' me classes-"
"We do like your classes!" Hermione jumped in first, lying.
I could see Ron cross his fingers, "How are the flobberworms, Hagrid?"
"Dead." He spoke, and the four of us gulped, "too much lettuce." He commented.
"Oh no…" Ron said, searching for something else to say.
Hagrid, however had a topic in mind, "Ive thought o' jus' lettin' Buckbeak go… tryin' to make him fly away… but how d'yeh explain ter a Hippogriff its gotta go inter hidin'? An' an' I'm scared o' breakin' the law…" Hagrid shivered, "I don' ever want ter go back ter Azkaban…"
Our afternoon had been far from enjoyable, but it did give Harry something else to think of. Hermione forced us to go to the library to look for evidence for Buckbeak's trial. This had to be hopeless. I know for sure that if you had to choose between human safety and an animal, the human will always come first, no matter how twisted or fabricated the story may be. Yet, I still found myself reading stories about Hippogriffs being murdered for the mentioned reasons. I often got dirty looks from Hermione as I soon deviated from stories about Hippogriffs and read about other trials.
"Hey! Guys!" they immediately looked up at me, thinking I'd found something, "Imagine a Werewolf being put on trial for indecent exposure! It's not as if they choose to become a werewolf each full moon! And there are far worse things they could be doing."
"Kathryn! That's not relevant."
"I know." I said, smirking at the next trial. I chose not to divulge the story about how a person who was a werewolf got his wife of nine years pregnant and she put him on trial for not telling her of his condition. Surely she would have worked it out?
24th December
I was now starting to worry about Harry, a lot. He was too quiet and too withdrawn. We haven't had a proper conversation from before our journey to Hogsmeade. The news has destroyed him inside. I had sat beside him and asked him if there was anything he'd like to talk about and he grunted and went to his dormitory. His responses to Ron and Hermione were similar. His face was becoming more grey as he was suffering from insomnia. He wasn't eating like normal, but knew that he had to at least eat something. But because we're not in class and he probably couldn't care less about finding evidence for Buckbeak's trial, he had precious little to do with himself other than mope around. The three of us even took turns to keep an eye on him to make sure he wouldn't sneak out to find Black in the middle of the night. I even tried the whole 'tough love' thing with no results. It's awful and it's affecting us all. It's about time I tried to do something about it.
I decided to go to Professor Lupin's office. After all, he was the one who me to come to him with any problem. So I did. I wondered if I was breaking Harry's confidence and how I wouldn't get Harry into trouble for being in Hogsmeade. I could bend the truth if needs be. I forced myself to knock on Lupin's door.
"Who is it?"
"Professor, it's me. You said to visit if I needed to talk to someone…?" I felt idiot, asking for the help of a teacher, I wanted to walk away and pretend it didn't happen.
"Can you not go and see Professor McGonagall?" his voice was slightly muffled by the door.
I sighed, I definitely couldn't think of anything worse than being interrogated by McGonagall, she'd force me to spill everything, "No… It's complicated and McGonagall just wouldn't understand…" I answered.
Professor Lupin opened the door. His face was pale and slightly clammy. He was limping slightly. "You'd best come in, then."
"Oh, Professor, I'm so sorry, I didn't know you were sick… It doesn't matter. Honestly!" Now I really felt like an idiot.
"You're here now," He smiled a little, "I'm not going to bite you and I'm not infectious." He pointed towards a seat in front of his desk, "Tea?" he asked, the kettle was boiled and he lifted out another cup, knowing me well enough by now.
"Yes, thanks." I said as he handed me the cup.
He sat in his seat and reclined slightly, "I'm sorry I don't have any biscuits… What can I help you with?"
"I need some advice." I swallowed, "but you can't tell me off for telling you this, because I'm only doing it for the greater good, okay?"
Lupin sat forward, "Carry on."
"Harry found out that Sirius Black is his godfather, was his father James' best friend and that he was the one to betray James and Lily to Voldemort," I spoke that fast I wondered if I had made any sense, "And I don't think he's coping too well." I added.
"Ah…" he said, taking a long sip of tea.
I sighed again, "You knew, didn't you?"
"Unfortunately so, yes."
"Why is it is that Harry didn't know? Knowing that Black is on the run and has been sighted nearby, Harry is ready to kill him, literally kill him and Ron, Hermione and I don't know what to do any more. He isn't sleeping, he isn't eating properly and he's been completely withdrawn. I just need to know how to help him." I hung my head in shame, I was his friend and I didn't know how to help him…
"Can you keep a secret?" Lupin asked.
I looked up at him and nodded.
"I know how Harry feels…" he sighed.
"How come?"
"James and Sirius were friends of mine when I was here at Hogwarts. People were no more shocked than I that day when we lost James and Lily, found out Sirius was a traitor and murdered our other friend Peter a few days later…" he looked at his cup, "Even I don't know what I would do if I came face to face with Sirius again."
"I'm so sorry…" I was shocked.
"It's been a while, so you learn just to get on with it, don't you?"
I agreed, "I think we've all got a few things in our past that we'd rather forget… I think you of all people understand that from my point of view."
"I think I've had my fair share, too, though… If not worse than your situation."
"Try me." I said.
Lupin raised his eyebrows and accepted the challenge, "I didn't have any friends until I was at Hogwarts."
"Ditto."
He gestured that I added something to the list.
"I was bullied when I was younger to the point where I had to go to a psychiatrist."
"Ditto." He said, sounding like a parent trying to be cool to a teenager, "About the being bullied bit... My parent's mistakes have seriously affected my life today."
"I was my parents' mistake, so they keep reminding me."
Lupin's shocked reaction was short lived, "I am usually unwell."
"Have you taken note as to how many times I've been in the Hospital Wing this year?" I laughed lightly, "Did you know that I collapsed in Snape's classroom in first year and split my head open?"
Lupin actually laughed, "That's brilliant! Well, not for you, obviously but I can just imagine the look on his face."
"And the blood on the floor? He nearly fainted himself." I smiled, the scars had healed on that one, thankfully.
"Ummm…" Lupin thought, "I've always found it difficult to maintain a job."
"Because you've been so ill?" I asked.
He nodded.
"Two summers ago, my mother slapped me so hard that she left me with a huge gash and a black eye." I couldn't believe that I had just said that. There were only two people in the world that knew: me and George Weasley.
I think Lupin realised I had said something deep and spoke quickly, "I suffer from Lycanthropy." His eyes widened and it looked as though he, too had regretted his last statement.
"May I ask what that is?" I had a feeling I had seen the word before, somewhere…
"You're going to research it, either way, aren't you?" he rubbed his forehead, clearly debating what to do.
I smiled and nodded. "You can trust me."
He sighed, "Do you remember that essay that Professor Snape set?" I could see how much courage it took for him to tell me that and now I understood.
"I do yes, and your secret is safe with me."
"I'm surprised you haven't run from my office, screamed it down the corridors and-"
"Why would I do that?" I asked sincerely, "everyone has got some form of darkness in their life, it just depends on what way they choose to act on it."
"Thank you. Well said."
"No problem. I'll just know for next time you decide to skip class!" I joked.
"As for Harry…" Lupin changed the topic, "I think you just need to sit down with him and be honest. Tell him that you're worried. Tell him that it is easier to move on, tell him that you don't want him to end up being mentally ill or if he can't move on ask him to continue being your friend and talking to you. Because as I've found out, you are far too easy to talk to."
"Thanks Professor!" I smiled, "And you're alright, yeah?"
"It's unfortunate how I come down with the flu on the mouth of Christmas, isn't it?" he winked.
"Dreadful." I nodded, "Well, I do hope you get better soon and thank you."
"Don't-"
"I won't tell anyone, I promise you!" I really meant it.
"I was actually going to say, 'Don't be a stranger' but that's fine with me, too!" he stood to open the door.
"I won't do that, either. Merry Christmas!"
"Merry Christmas, Kathryn!"
25th December
Hermione and I woke up early this morning to a stack of presents at the bottom of our beds. Hermione's stack was always higher than mine, but that is something I am well used to.
"Open mine first!" she said excitedly.
So I did just that. There were 4 packages individually wrapped. The biggest was a book simply called, 'The Ultimate Guide to Healing.'
"Wow! Thanks Hermione, this is great!" I said, thinking about the copious amount of time I had been in the Hospital Wing, asking Madam Pomfery questions about treatments.
The next package was a little smaller, but I knew what it was before I opened it. I think Hermione has been seeing me write in here too often! The next present was a beautiful purple leather-bound diary, inside Hermione had written a short piece,
'Dear Kathryn
I know I really don't deserve you as my best friend and I really ought to tell you more often. Thanks for being there for me when I go all 'Hermione' on you! I always see you writing and I thought I would buy you a new diary for 1994. Merry Christmas and I wish you all the very best for the new year (I'll be spending it with you).
Lots of love,
Hermione x'
"Thank you." I said, and she knew I meant it. I don't know where I would be without her. I would probably be a loner. Or if I was still friends with Ron and Harry, I'd be a completely different person and between the three of us, we'd never get any work done!
The third gift was a new quill and the fourth was a bottle of blue ink.
"Thank you so much! You've been far too kind!" I got up and hugged her tight.
Hermione then opened my gifts to her- a book called 'A Witches Guide to Surviving School', a box of chocolates (which I know her parents definitely would not approve of) and a braided bracelet that had weaved into it friendship quotes, todays being 'Friends like you are hard to find, hard to lose and impossible to forget'.
"Thanks!" she hugged me.
Next, she opened the traditional jumper from her parents, it was highly embarrassing and I dared her to wear it, but with no such luck. She also received a bundle of muggle books, a new fluffy pink dressing gown, parchment, ink, quills, sugar-free sweets, a couple of new t-shirts and a cute little teddy bear.
I opened the present from my Granny next. It consisted of the usual Terry's chocolate orange, a multi-toned pink hand-knit scarf and a scrapbook style photo album of pictures of me as a young child. It was the album that struck me most.
There was a picture of me as a newborn being held lovingly by my parents. The inscription below stated, 'Kathryn 'Katy' Pink 2 days old (29/08/1980)' I had never been called Katy in my life. Strange. The next photo was of me, arms open wide facing the person taking the photo, the inscription said, 'Katy takes her first steps age 9 months, 23 days'. The third was of me on my first birthday, taking a huge bite of chocolate cake, my dad looking proudly down at me. The fourth picture was of me and my parents at the beach, happy and smiling. Naturally, I had ice cream all over my face. The fifth picture was the most precious of all, it was me sitting on my Granny S's knee with a wide grin. I must have been about two or three. My curly hair was in two pigtails and I had the most beautiful floral dress on. The inscription said, 'Katy and Gan-Gan (22/5/1983)'.
This was the life that I didn't remember. The life that I lived before Peter came along. I couldn't help but tear up at the life that could have been…
I thought I had exhausted my pile of presents as I found one more that had seemingly fallen onto the floor. It was a box of brownies. There was also a card.
"Dear Kathryn,
Sorry I'm not there to spend Christmas at Hogwarts, I know it can be tough for you. I hope you're having a good time. I'm sure your Granny's present has made you cry, like always, I just wrote this to check that you're okay. I know it's not much, but I attempted to bake these myself. (At that point I spat out what was in my mouth!)
Merry Christmas and see you in the New Year!
George '
Hermione headed up to the boy's dorm as I cleaned up the spat-out-brownie from my sheets. She had given me a very strange look for doing so, but after a quick explanation, she performed a few spells over the package and concluded that should be alright to eat after all. They were simply divine, after I trusted Hermione (and George) enough to take a second bite.
When I got up to see the boys, Crookshanks had just made a jump at Scabbers in Ron's pocket, ripping a hole in his PJs. If that wasn't dramatic enough, Ron then took a swing to kick Crookshanks and ended up kicking the post at the end of his bed and stubbing his toe. He swore loudly, cradling his foot and moaning. Harry, on the other hand seemed a good bit chirper than before, and I then could tell the reason why: there was a brand-spanking new broomstick sitting on his bed. Along with them, I wondered who it was from. A look on Hermione's face told me that she wouldn't trust that broom as far as she could throw it.
Just before lunch, I took a stroll up to the Owlery in the peace and quiet of Hogwarts' Grounds. I probably shouldn't have gone alone, but Ron and Hermione were arguing about the cat and the rat and I'd had enough. Harry seemed fixated with the broom, so I didn't bother him.
I couldn't help but send George a thank you note and some of my Terry's Chocolate Orange, after all he was the one who said Muggle chocolate was the best! The second letter was to my Granny to say thanks for the present and to ask about why I don't remember being called 'Katy' and if she could remember any good stories of me as a child. I craved information on my past, before everything seemingly went wrong. Essentially, what I wanted to know is what I did to make my parents hate me so much, but I thought that was a bit dramatic to send in a letter to my elderly Grandmother, at Christmas.
At lunch the four of us headed down to eat with the twelve remaining members of the school. Harry was wearing his new scarlet coloured jumper with a golden lion, handmade by Mrs Weasley and Ron was wearing his new maroon jumper. Professors Dumbledore, Snape, McGonagall, Sprout and Flitwick were joined by Filch, two Hufflepuff first years and us. There weren't many of us but it felt very homely as we sat down together surrounded by the fantastic décor and the wonderful smells coming from the kitchens below.
We started by the ceremonial opening of crackers. Snape got a vulture shaped hat. We laughed. Snape stuck his greasy nose up at it and Dumbledore happily put it on, replacing it with his wizard's hat. I got a red beret, Hermione got a floppy summer hat, Ron got a beanie and Harry got an army style helmet. The explosions filled the Great Hall followed by laughter. Then we all dug in. Turkey, ham, beef and lamb were presented in front of us along with mashed, boiled and roasted potatoes, a selection of vegetables, sauces, Yorkshire puddings and pigs in blankets.
"Wowzah!" I said, my eyes a lot bigger than my stomach.
After about five minutes, Professor Trelawney arrived, claiming that her crystal ball told her to join us. Then she refused to sit as she would make the number to thirteen. "Never forget that when thirteen dine, the first to rise will be the first to die." She claimed.
Professor McGonagall being her usual, honest self, told Trelawney, "We'll risk it Sybill, sit down, the Turkey's getting cold."
Trelawney sat down slowly as if she was holding her breath, her eyes closed so tight, as if she was expecting something terrible to happen.
I couldn't help but cough dramatically to lighten the mood of the table.
"But where is dear Professor Lupin?" Trelawney asked, looking up and down the seats.
"I'm afraid the poor fellow is ill again, most unfortunate that it should happen on Christmas Day…" Dumbledore answered. But I knew exactly what was wrong with him, and I suspected Dumbledore did, too.
"But surely you knew that, Sybill?" Professor McGonagall said, eyebrows raised.
Professor Trelawney gave Professor McGonagall a very cold look. The two ladies started bickering at the other end of the table whilst Ron, Harry, Hermione and I continued eating and chatting about our plans for the new year.
Dumbledore seemed very cheerful and tried to get everyone into the true spirit. He was seemingly working his way around talking to everyone. He asked me, "Miss Pink, where do you see yourself after leaving Hogwarts, say ten years' time?"
Wow, that was a bit question. "I can't say I've thought about it, Sir…" I spoke politely, I remembered what I saw in the Mirror of Erised two years ago and that seemed pretty perfect, "I think I would like to work in some way that I can help others. I'd like to get married and have children and be happy."
"What a wonderful outlook." Dumbledore commented. I heard Ron snort opposite me and I gave him a firm boot to the leg. Dumbledore then moved on to his next victim, and totally embarrassed one of the first years who had very little on his plate, "Derek, have you tried any of the chipolatas? They're excellent!" Poor Derek turned a shade of red and took the platter of sausages from Dumbledore with trembling hands.
The conversation from then on was light as the thirteen of us happily ate our Christmas Lunch until we were ready to burst. The empty plates and remains from dinner disappeared and a selection of desserts appeared in front of us: trifle, Christmas cake, profiteroles and fruit salad.
As I plated a number of profiteroles, Trelawney spoke to me. I had never set eyes on the woman before today, but she seemed to know my name, her big eyes were fixed on mine and she spoke in a mystical manner, "Kathryn my dear, listen carefully, the future looks mixed for you. One member sitting at this table will provide you with the worst news of your life, and another will provide you with some more. This information will either make or break you… Please stay strong."
"Alright, thanks." I spoke, unable to laugh it off with twelve eyes staring straight at me.
Trelawney coughed and shook her head, "Sorry, dear, did you say something?"
I looked to McGonagall for some support, a sarcastic comment or a change of topic. But she said nothing. In fact, she quickly looked away.
No one said anything.