11th March
Over the past couple of weeks the weather has gone from cold and wet to cold and windy. Harry, Ron and Hermione were bombarded with questions about their time in the depths of the Black Lake. I think Ron was particularly happy at being in the spotlight for once, and for the fact I wasn't involved at all. I was very happy ignoring the crazy and progressively more dramatic stories he was telling. I was having fun with Fred and George as they developed a new product – extendable ears.
At breakfast this morning, Harry received his return owl from Sirius, stating very clearly,
Be at stile at end of road out of Hogsmeade (past Dervish and Banges) at two o'clock on Saturday afternoon. Bring as much food as you can.
As Harry, Ron and Hermione began arguing about Sirius being back in Hogsmeade and the risk of him being spotted, George caught my attention and asked me to sit beside him. I climbed out of my seat and walked down the table to where he, Fred, Angelina, Lee and Alicia were sitting. "What're your plans for tomorrow?"
"Oh, er…" I began.
"Oh, come on!" George looked disappointed, "Surely you can spend time with me, for once?"
I looked over at my three best friends who were undoubtedly talking about Sirius and I looked back at George, "I'm all yours until 1330."
"What are you doing after 1330?" George asked, looking at me expectantly.
I couldn't tell him that the four of us were meeting up with Sirius Black… He'd go ballistic! And I can't say something unimportant or he'll think I don't care about him. I do care for him, deeply. This is a bit complicated. There was little I could say to him.
"Are you going to tell me, or are you just going to sit there and look guilty?"
I then had an idea. "I wanted to get you a birthday present..."
"Oh." George said, looking ashamed, "Sorry… I feel like an idiot."
"It's fine." I said, feeling ashamed of lying… NOW I HAVE TO MAKE IT LOOK LIKE I'M BUYING SOMETHING, "So I'll see you tomorrow morning… at 10?"
George smiled, "Alright then."
History of Magic and Charms flew by and I felt like I was being eaten up by guilt. I had never intentionally lied to George. I trusted him enough to tell him, but I didn't know how he'd react and if he'd try and stop me. I didn't know how I could have enough time to explain everything. I was afraid that he would try to hold me back from Harry, Ron and Hermione, that he wouldn't trust Sirius. I remember after Ron's attack last year that Fred and George swore revenge against Sirius and that didn't sit well with me.
As we approached potions, the last lesson of the day, and of the week, the three of us walked up to the classroom. Draco, Crabbe and Goyle were all standing in a huddle outside the room, as though they were waiting for us to arrive.
Pansy Parkinson strode across the corridor towards us and handed Hermione a copy of Witch Weekly. Snape opened the dungeon door and beckoned us all inside. I entered the classroom and sat down on my usual seat beside Draco, who ignored me incessantly and had been doing so since the start of the new term. Harry, Ron and Hermione sat at their desk and read though the magazine together. I felt so out of touch, sitting at the opposite side of the classroom with the wonderful Crabbe and Goyle who were just… vile and Draco who no longer seemed like he cared. I heard Hermione giggle across the room as Snape wrote up the instructions for today's potion on the board: Wit-Sharpening.
Hermione looked to the girls at the desk behind her and gave a sarcastic smile and a wave. (She had definitely learnt the sarcasm from me, dear help her.) I took out my ingredients from my bag and got on with it. I started on grinding my scarab beetles with my mortar and pestle. Taking a quick look over my shoulder I saw Hermione blush heavily.
I tipped my powdered beetles into the cauldron and started to cut up my ginger roots finely. Snape started snooping around the classroom, standing behind me for a minute or so as I ignored his presence. I heard him turn on the spot as I started pouring my armadillo bile. "Fascinating though your social life undoubtedly is, Miss Granger, I must ask you not to discuss it in my class. Ten points from Gryffindor." Snape said icily. Draco chuckled beside me and took his 'Potter Stinks' badge out of his pocket and flashed it about the class. "Reading magazines under the table as well?" Snape added and I heard him snatch it from Hermione, "A further ten points from Gryffindor." I turned around after pouring the bile into the cauldron and saw Snape's eyes light up, "Oh, but of course… Potter has to keep up with his press cuttings."
The Slytherins started hooting. Then Snape began reading the article out loud, pausing at regular intervals for effect, and to allow the Slytherins to continue laughing.
A boy like no other, perhaps — yet a boy suffering all the usual pangs of adolescence, writes Rita Skeeter. Deprived of love since the tragic demise of his parents, fourteen year old Harry Potter thought that he had found solace in his steady girlfriend at Hogwarts, Muggle-born Hermione Granger. Little did he know that he would shortly be suffering yet another emotional blow in a life already littered with personal loss.
Miss Granger, a plain but ambitious girl, seems to have a taste for famous wizards that Harry alone cannot satisfy. Since the arrival at Hogwarts of Viktor Krum, Bulgarian Seeker and hero of the last Quidditch World Cup, Miss Granger has been toying with both boys' affections. Krum, is openly smitten with the devious Miss Granger, has already invited her to stay with him in Bulgaria over the summer holidays and insists that he has "never felt this way about any other girl."
However, it may not be Miss Granger's doubtful natural charms that have captured these unfortunate young boys' interests.
"She's really ugly," says Pansy Parkinson, a pretty and vivacious fourth year student, "but she'd be well-up to making a Love Potion, she's quite brainy. I think that's how she's doing it."
Love Potions are, of course, banned at Hogwarts, and no doubt Albus Dumbledore will want to investigate these claims. In the meantime, Harry Potter's well-wishers must hope that, next time, he bestows his heart on a worthier candidate.
By the end, Harry's face was burning with fury. Hermione was beyond embarrassed. The stuff about Krum was undoubtedly true. I couldn't believe that she didn't tell me! I had told her most things about George, mostly without her asking. I tried not to let it bother me, standing there, quietly getting on with my work. Snape split the three of them up, Harry was brought to the desk right in front of Snape, Hermione was sent beside Pansy Parkinson and Ron was told to stay put with Neville at the table. "Perhaps the three of you should be more like Miss Pink," Snape began, "She now gets on with her work and doesn't say anything. Don't you, Miss Pink?" Snape called.
"Yes, Sir." I nodded, frankly feeling a little sick as I started crushing some prunes and adding the juice, one by one. Snape, obviously disappointed by my good behaviour started talking in whispers to Harry, clearly trying to get under his skin. That was until Karkaroff knocked on the door abruptly and made quiet conversation with Snape, infuriating him. It sounded as though Snape had been ignoring Karkaroff and he was waiting until the end of the class to continue their discussion. A quick look at Harry told me that he was going to wait and hear what this conversation was all about.
After the lesson, Harry found out that Snape and Karkaroff were looking at each other's left inner forearms, claiming that, whatever it was, was getting darker and more clear.
That evening, I sat with Fred and George like I had done most nights after the task. I grabbed a book and sat in a seat beside their window seat. Every so often they asked me if I thought an idea was good. I nodded, even though I wasn't listening. I kept thinking about what I was going to do. I claimed that I was tired at 10pm and went up to bed.
12th March
I saw George at breakfast this morning and he seemed delighted with himself. He thought aloud about what I was going to buy him down in Hogsmeade this afternoon. From dung bombs to muggle magic to Honeydukes sweets, he appeared excited nonetheless. I drew a blank on ideas. I didn't want to get him sweets or something that he won't have to keep, apparently 17th birthdays in the wizarding world are a big thing!
At 10am, we walked hand in hand down to Hogsmeade, George twittering away in my ear about things that are going on with him. He told me about his last lesson with Snape where he took 50 points from him and Fred. He mentioned learning how to perform non-verbal spells, showing me some examples, causing water to come out the tip of his wand and (he accidently) caused Pansy Parkinson to fall over due to the leg locker curse. I couldn't help but laugh. George couldn't even pretend it wasn't him as we were the only others about. She claimed that one day she would 'curse me back', I said that she could if she wanted to, if she was willing to be made a fool of in front of her friends. That shut her up.
"How do you do that?" George smiled at me in amazement.
"Do what?" I asked.
"Give people that look, that makes them not mess with you?" his face was animated, "You just say something threatening and they back off, as though they fear you're going to hurt them?"
"Perhaps she knows I could hurt her." I suggested, "I'm not afraid-"
"You're ballsy."
"As you've already concluded, George, if you're going to pick a fight with me, I'll fight back."
George nodded, reasoning with himself. "In you go!" he held open the door for Madam Puddifoot's Tea Shop which had a bell that played a tuneful tinkle.
Barely moving my lips, I looked at George and said, "What are you doing?"
"I'm treating my beautiful girlfriend." George said with a smile.
My eyes widened as George pulled out a chair for me at a table in the back corner, "I thought we inadvertently decided not to be one of those couples."
He was enjoying every minute of this. "I love the way you're the one who's embarrassed."
"It's just so… pink." I covered the expression on my face from the view from Madam Puddifoot as she pouted and made little noises meaning that we looked like a cute couple. I was quite frankly disgusted as she grabbed George's cheek and squeezed gently.
"Perfect for Miss Pink, then?" George smiled, accepting the menu off Madam Puddifoot.
"I have to mentally prepare myself for being in places like this." I shook my head at George, "It's the same with dress shopping. I'm still overwhelmed by girly things."
"Katy, you are a girl."
I closed my eyes for a second as George's devilishly charming smile was very distracting. I gave myself a short pep talk, opened my eyes and decided to be positive about this experience, "Oh, look, George. Isn't this little just so cute?" I kicked him under the table.
"Better." He joked, "Acting more like a girl now. Perhaps that foot of yours could remain on the floor though, unless you're trying to cast my attention to something else?"
I gasped. I then opened up my menu and looked very intently at it, trying to hold back the giggles, but I failed miserably. George laughed at his own joke as well, seeing the tears coming out of my eyes. I certainly felt more relaxed now. "What're you getting?" I asked, changing to a more appropriate topic of conversation.
"Something sweet with a side of you." George winked, laughing, pointing inconspicuously at the couple a few tables away from us who seemed to be playing footsies under the table as well.
I wasn't even embarrassed any more. I just shook my head and said, "I'm all yours later, honey. You've got to keep it under control in a public place, though."
Madam Puddifoot arrived at our table and took George's order first, "Alright… I'll have… a spiced latte and a slice of carrot cake."
"Just to go with your carrot hair." I smirked.
"And this one," George continued, reaching over the table dramatically and taking my hand, "Will have a pink strawberry milkshake. Do you have any pink coloured buns?"
Madam Puddifoot nodded, smirking, she looked at me, "I have a chocolate cupcake with pink icing, will that do, dear?"
"That would be perfect. Thankyou." I nodded, smiling. As she walked away, George and I started laughing and I reached over the table and said in a very posh English accent, "Oh darling, aren't you spoiling me? You know how I love the colour pink."
A minute or so later, Madam Puddifoot returned with a tray, setting down our drinks first, followed by George's cake, which she placed a few pink hearts on the top and my cupcake which was decorated with a few icing carrots. "You, are my favourite person." I looked up at Madam Puddifoot, who was wearing her pink apron with tight grey curls. Then George coughed across the table, "Okay… second favourite person."
"You two make a splendid couple." She smiled, "There's nothing better than a man who can make you laugh and a girl who finds you funny."
"Hilarious, this one." I rolled my eyes.
Madam Puddifoot laughed, quite like the tinkle of the bell at the door, "Sarcasm, as well? You're a lucky man. Keep a hold of her." She then quickly busied herself with the next couple that came through the door.
"Yeah, Georgie. Keep a hold of me." I smiled, "I'm the best thing that's ever going to happen to you." I took a sip of my strawberry milkshake.
An hour or more later, George and I strolled arm in arm down the promenade, laughing mostly at each other. George paid for everything in the coffee shop, which was very kind of him, even though I tried to pay for it myself. He wouldn't even accept going half-ers. We ran into Ginny and her friends in Honeydukes, where George tried to buy me some sweets, but I point blank refused. What I did do, was quickly ask Ginny to buy me Fred and George's favourite sweets for their birthday. I handed her money and told her I'd see her later, so that George wouldn't catch me on. I bought various sweets for myself, just like I always found myself doing. In Zonkos, we saw Fred, Lee, Tobias, Bernie and Kenneth looking thoroughly amused by the gags around them. I then had a wonderful idea.
"Georgie." I beamed, "I know what I'm going to get you for your birthday."
"Oh?" his face lit up.
"It might take me a while to find said present. Do you mind if I…?"
"Not at all." He smirked happily to himself. I stood on my tiptoes and kissed him gently on the cheek, "Thanks for today!" then I scooted out the door and into the wind outside. I wrapped my scarf tightly around myself, realising how warm having George beside me was. I walked to the end of the road and into Dervish and Banges.
"Hello Miss, how can I help you?" the man at the counter asked.
I looked around the shop curiously, "I was wondering if you had any Swiss Army Knives? I don't imagine that's what you call them, though."
The man, who was greying with a comb-over and a large beer belly stood and scratched his head, he went out to the back of the store and I heard him say "Ah-hah!" he then came back to the front of the shop and showed me a selection of Swiss Army Knives, "This one has the blade, screwdriver, can opener and scissors." He showed me the smallest of the four, "this one, has the blade, screwdriver, scissors, bottle opener and a pruning blade." He showed me the contraption, "this third one has the blade, screwdriver, pliers, a muggle pen, a file and scissors." He handed it to me to have a look, "This fourth one…" he lifted the fourth and final Swiss Army Knife out of a box, "has… a blade, file, scissors, pliers, bottle opener, muggle pen, a hook and a keyring." He handed me the most impressive of the four knives.
"Wowzah!" I said, taking a good look at it.
"May I ask who this is for?" he asked.
"It's for my boyfriend's 17th!" I smiled, "How much is this one?" I looked down at the largest of the four.
"Ah… it is the bargain price of 8 galleons, 15 knuts." he said happily, "I can engrave it for you, if you'd like?"
"That sounds great!" I looked at him, then looked down at my purse, I had 10 galleons left to do me the rest of the school year, I put my hands on my cheeks, "I'll take it." I nodded, taking out my money, "He had better like it!"
"What would you like me to engrave?" he handed me a quill and a piece of parchment.
I wrote,
'Happy 17th Birthday, Georgie!
Stay Mischievous!
Lots of Love, Katy xx'
"You can pick it up in an hour or so." The man said, handing me a receipt.
I nodded and left the shop to see Harry, Ron and Hermione walking down the street, clearly looking around for me. I joined them and Hermione immediately asked me 101 questions. Where did you and George go? What did you get? Why were you in Dervlish and Banges? What have you got in your bag? You name it, she asked.
"Wow, girl." I said just as Ange would say when I got carried away with myself, "Why didn't you tell me about what Viktor said to you after the second task?"
She opened her mouth to speak and stopped. She knew I was annoyed.
At the end of the road we saw a huge black dog waiting by the stile, holding a newspaper in its mouth. Harry patted the top of the dog's head as we reached him and whispered, "Hey Sirius!" There were hardly any cottages around here and in front of us was a mountain. We began to climb. The ground was covered by boulders and rocks and we were quickly out of breath as we got higher and higher. I had to take my coat and scarf off and was now grateful for the cool wind that made my sweat not feel as bad. Half an hour later, we got to a stony path in front of a cave. This must have been where Sirius was staying.
Inside the cave was cool and dimly lit and to my surprise I saw that Buckbeak was tied at the end. The four of us bowed to him and Hermione went over to pet the massive beast. Sirius now revealed himself in human form, he was still wearing the same robes as last time and his hair was longer and just as matted to his head. Harry lifted out a large napkin from his bag, "Chicken!" Sirius said as though he hadn't seen food in days. He looked like he hadn't eaten a proper meal in weeks. Harry then lifted out a loaf of bread and a flagon on pumpkin juice. "Thanks!" Sirius said, digging into the first piece of chicken, "I've been living off rats mostly. Can't steal too much food from Hogsmeade; I'd draw too much attention to myself." He grinned up at Harry who had taken a seat opposite him. Ron sat beside Harry and I sat closer to the entrance of the cave, but still out of sight.
"What're you doing here, Sirius?" Harry said.
"Fulfilling my duty as godfather!" Sirius answered, gnawing on the chicken bone in a particularly dog-like way, "Don't worry about me, I'm pretending to be a lovable stray." But on seeing the look of worry on Harry's face, Sirius added in a more serious manner, "I want to be on the spot. Your last letter… well, let's just say things are getting a little fishier. I've been stealing the paper whenever I can, and I'm not the only one who's worried."
"What if they catch you? What if you're seen?" harry reiterated.
"You four and Dumbledore are the only ones around here who know I'm an Animagus." Sirius shrugged his shoulders coolly, continuing to devour his second piece of chicken.
Harry picked up the Daily Prophet and read, "They're making it sound like Mr. Crouch is dying. But he can't be if he's able to search Snape's office. Mind you, he did look ill last time I saw him up close, the night my name came out of the Goblet…"
"Getting his comeuppance for sacking Winky, isn't he?" Hermione said coldly, "I bet he wishes he hadn't done it now, now that she isn't there to look after him."
Ron muttered, "Hermione's obsessed with house-elves."
Sirius looked highly interested, however, "Crouch sacked his house-elf?"
"Yeah," Harry explained, "at the Quidditch World Cup after Winky was found holding my wand, under the dark mark." Harry launched into the story of what had happened that night.
"Harry, did you check your pockets for your wand after you'd left the Top Box?" Sirius got up and started pacing the cave.
"Ehh…" Harry thought, "No, I didn't need to use it until we were in the forest."
"Winky did not steal Harry's wand." Hermione interjected.
Sirius looked around, "There were others in the Top Box. You mentioned, Fudge, Bulgarian ministers, the Malfoys and Ludo Bagman. I can't say I know much about Bagman except that he was a Beater for the Wimbourne Wasps."
"He's okay," Harry said, "He keeps offering me help with the Triwizard Tournament."
I sighed deeply.
"We saw him in the forest just before the Dark Mark was conjured, didn't we Harry, Ron?" Hermione asked.
"Yeah, but he didn't stay in the forest, did he?" Ron said, "The moment we told him about the riot, he went off to the campsite."
I shook my head; I had forgotten they had told me this.
"How d'you know?" Hermione shot back, "How d'you know where he disapparated to?"
Ron snorted, "Oh, come off it, do you reckon Ludo conjured the Dark Mark?"
Hermione spoke stubbornly, "It's more likely to be him than Winky."
"You haven't said much." Sirius said in my direction, "Last time we met, you had a lot to say for yourself. I don't imagine it's like you to sit in silence."
"She's been acting weird these last few days…" Ron said, "Trouble in paradise?"
I sighed, "It isn't nice lying to George about where I am and who I'm with, but I can hardly tell him, can I?" I shot a look at Ron who mimed the word 'oh.', "Besides…" I looked to Sirius, "I do not like Ludo Bagman at all and Harry knows this." I said simply before looking out of the cave, "He's a bad nut and he's in a lot of trouble. He was doing other things that night. He deserves-" I stopped myself from mentioning Azkaban, "Sorry… I wasn't there when Winky was found with Harry's wand. I got split up from the group."
Sirius finished another piece of chicken before asking, "What did Crouch do when the elf was discovered with Harry's wand?"
"He went to look in the bushes," Harry said, "But there wasn't anyone there."
"Of course," Sirius muttered again, "he'd want to pin it on anyone else, other than his own elf… and then he sacked her?"
"Yes," Hermione sounded furious, "just because she didn't stay in the tent and get trampled-"
Ron cracked his fingers as he tensed, "Hermione, will you give it a rest!"
Sirius shook his head, "She's got the measure of Crouch better than you have, Ron. If you want to know what a man's like, take a good look at how he treats his inferiors, not his equals." Sirius ran a hand over his unshaven face, "Crouch goes to the trouble of making his house elf sit in the Top Box and he doesn't show up. He reinstates the Triwizard Tournament and doesn't show up. Now he's stopped showing up at work. This is not like him. If he's taken a day off due to illness before this, I'd eat Buckbeak!"
"So you know Crouch, then?" Harry asked.
Sirius' expression changed, he looked as mad as he did when we met him, "He was the one who gave the order for me to be sent straight to Azkaban – without a trial."
"WHAT?" The four of us said in unison.
Sirius sat back down on the floor, taking a bite of chicken, "Crouch used to be head of Magical Law Enforcement, didn't you know? He was tipped for next Minister for Magic." The expressions on our faces told Sirius he needed to continue, "He is a power-hungry man, never a Voldemort supporter, he was always very outspoken against the dark side." Sirius then explained that during the first wizarding war with all the terror that was ongoing, the unexplained absences, the deaths and the confusion, it can bring out the best and worst of people. Crouch was one who came out strong. Crouch gave Aurors the ability to use the Unforgivable Curses, kill rather than capture, being sent to Azkaban without a trial… "I wasn't the only one." Sirius said, "Many wanted him to take the top job after Voldemort's fall, but then something rather unfortunate happened… Crouch's own son was caught with a group of Death Eaters who'd managed to talk their way out of Azkaban."
Hermione gasped, "Crouch's son?"
"Yep." Sirius chucked a bone to Buckbeak to eat, "Nasty little shock for old Barty, should've taken more time to get to know his own son, shouldn't he?" Sirius said before tucking into the loaf of bread.
"Was his son a Death Eater?" Harry asked.
"No idea." Sirius shrugged.
"Did Crouch try and get his son off?" Hermione whispered.
Sirius barked, "I thought you had the measure of him, Hermione? Anything that tarnishes his reputation has to go! You saw how he dismissed his house elf! His fatherly love stretched to give his son a trial before sending him straight to Azkaban. He couldn't have been more than nineteen. He was screaming for his mother by nightfall." Sirius reminisced, "He went quiet after a few days though, they all go quiet in the end. Except when they shrieked in their sleep."
I couldn't imagine what Sirius went through in Azkaban. I got a chill up my back and moved myself further into the cave, "I'm guessing he's still in Azkaban?" I asked.
"No…" Sirius said dully, "He died about a year after they brought him in. Crouch was an important enough ministry member that he and his wife got a deathbed visit. His wife died shortly afterwards apparently."
"Oh…" I said, "So he's lost everything… Son, wife, elf… And then Fudge got the top job and Crouch was moved to International Magical Cooperation."
"You do listen." Sirius said.
"I have a habit of surprising people." I said sardonically as Harry, Ron and Hermione broke into the same old conversation about Dumbledore trusting Snape and Crouch being in Snape's office and Moody not trusting Snape as far as he can throw him.
Sirius listened to them and asked Ron, "You say your brother works as Mr. Crouch's personal assistant? Why don't you write to him and ask him about Mr. Crouch's whereabouts?" Then Sirius turned to me and said, "And what do you think about all this, Kathryn?"
I shook my head, "Snape's an asshole, Moody is creepy, Crouch needs to be fired or locked up."
"Ah, yes, last time I saw you, Snape had you in detention."
"Heh." Was my response.
"Oh, and Ron, you might want to find out about Bertha Jorkins, while you're at it." Sirius said before asking, "What's the time?"
"Half past three." Hermione answered quickest.
Sirius stood and handed Harry back the empty napkin and flask, "You'd better get back to school. Now listen, I don't want you lot sneaking out of school to see me, all right? Just send notes to me here. I still want to know about anything odd. But you're not to be leaving Hogwarts without permission. Oh, and if you're talking amongst yourselves about me, call me Snuffles, okay? I'll walk back to the stile with you, see if I can grab another paper…" he directed the four of us out.
I pretended to tie my shoe lace. I had this overwhelming urge to tell Sirius what I knew. I had to tell someone. With Harry, Ron and Hermione out of earshot and before Sirius could transform into a dog I called out to him, "Sirius?"
"Hmmm?" he looked at me.
I took a hold of his boney arm and made sure that only he and I would be part of this conversation, "Ludo Bagman has made a bet that Harry will win the Triwizard Tournament with the Goblins. He has scammed many people, is in considerable debt and is trying to feed Harry clues so that he doesn't lose. The night of the Dark Mark, Ludo tried to pay off the Goblins with Leprechaun Gold. So you can imagine how that went down. I've told Harry not to trust him, but he has enough to think about than Ludo flipping Bagman." I said very quickly, but Sirius nodded as he kept up.
"Thank you for telling me." he said, "Write to me if you find out anything else and I'll figure out if Harry needs to know."
I nodded.
"My Uncle was an Invisibilia too. They're very rare." He smiled, "Don't worry, your secret's safe with me."
Hermione came back into the cave as our conversation ended, looking to see where I had gotten to. I pretended to be in mid-conversation with Sirius as I let go of his arm and said, "I thought you'd like some chocolate." I said, leaving a bar down on the cave floor for Sirius, "Have you heard anything from Lupin?"
"Moony? No… Not from last year." Sirius looked down trodden as he stepped out of the cave, "He spoke very highly of you, though."
"Yeah, well a lot has changed, or perhaps happened. He was a good teacher." I said, "Moody the ex-auror versus Lupin the werewolf. I choose the werewolf every time."
"You really don't like him?" Sirius said, transforming into a dog.
I shook my head, "No, and I tend to be a reasonable judge of character."
Sirius let us give him a scratch on his ears as we reached the bottom of the mountain. I gave him a small nod and we went our separate ways. I collected George's present on the way back through Hogsmeade and we all went back up to Hogwarts. I hoped this awful feeling in my gut would go away.
13th March
"Morning!" I said cheerily at breakfast.
"I need to talk to you," George said seriously, "whenever you're finished."
I nodded, "Okay!"
Hermione looked at me and shrugged as George walked out of the hall.
"I was thinking of going down to the kitchens to see Dobby after breakfast." Harry said as he sat beside me, "We bought him a few pairs of socks to say thanks!" Harry showed me a few from a bag, one was bright orange with multi-coloured polka dots, a second pair had flashing gold and silver stars a third pair screamed loudly when they became too smelly. The two of us laughed as I looked through the bag.
"He could have paid us the visit the night before, mind! Might have taken the stress of us the next morning… I might even have set my alarm!" I laughed as I joked, "I can't quite believe that I kissed him! I guess I just was completely overwhelmed!"
Harry nudged me, "Ah, but we got there!"
"Mr Moral Fibre!" I nudged him back.
Harry reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out a present, wrapped with brown paper and string, "I just wanted to thank you for keeping an eye on me and helping me stay sane at 2am when I know you'd have rather been in your bed! And thanks for making me sense and getting me there on time." He placed the package into my hands smiling stupidly, "It's for you."
I undid the string to reveal a pair of stripy socks with toes, "Oh my goodness! These are awesome!" I said with a huge smile, "Thanks, Harry! You really didn't need to!" I gave him a quick hug before tucking into my bacon sandwich.
"I was going to ask if you'd like to come with us, but I imagine George wants to spend some time with you!"
"Well, if a guy says that my boyfriend only wants to spend some time with me, even though he said he wants to talk means I shouldn't be worried, right 'Mione?" I looked at her.
Hermione shrugged, "I really don't know…"
"He didn't look happy, Kathryn," Ron said, "I've seen George when he's annoyed about something…"
"Hey, Kathryn!" Ginny called out to me and slid into the seat beside me, "What happened to George? I passed him on the stairs and let's just say, I've seen him when he's annoyed." She looked at my clueless face, "Oh, and another thing, I left the sweets and your change on your bed."
I nodded, "Thanks for doing that for me…" I sat thinking, "Do I really have cause for concern?"
Both Ron and Ginny pulled a similar expression and wished me luck.
A couple of minutes later Ron wished me luck again as the three of them went down to see Dobby and I went to diffuse whatever was going on with George. I actually felt nervous as I ascended the stairs and came face to face with the fat lady in her portrait as I said the password banana fritters. I clambered into the Gryffindor Common room and both Fred and Lee turned on the spot, giving me particularly demeaning looks before splitting and revealing George who lookeddidn't look one bit happy.
"What's wrong, Georgie?" I rushed over to him, sitting beside him, placing my hand on top of his gently.
"Where did you go yesterday?"
"I went to get your present!"
"But where though?"
"Dervish and Banges," I recounted, "Why are you asking?"
"Then where'd you go?"
I spoke honestly, "I saw Harry, Ron and Hermione outside the shop, the three of us went for a walk."
"That path isn't that long." He said, "You were away for ages!"
"We explored the mountains a bit!" I told him, "Where is this coming from?"
"You're lying to me!" his voice suddenly got louder and he was gaining the attention of a few nearby students.
"No, I'm not!" I shook my head, "I got your present, I have it up in my dorm! We went for a walk, explored the mountain, then came back here!"
"And what about you and Harry?"
"What about Harry? He was with us!"
"Is there anything going on between the two of you?"
I laughed, "No, definitely not! He's like my brother, that would just be weird!"
"Would it?"
"MERLIN'S BEARD, GEORGE!" I was astounded, "I'm dating you! I'm with you! I would never cheat on you! I wouldn't look twice at any other guy, I want to be with you, George! It's always been you! I love you!"
George got up and walked away, "I don't believe you."
I couldn't help it as I broke down into tears.
14th March
The next morning, I walked into the Great Hall for breakfast as normal before classes. George hadn't spoken to me, never mind looked in my direction from our argument the morning before. I didn't see what his problem was, Harry and I were always close friends, he knew that. I also knew that he was the jealous type. I spoke with Harry, Ron and Hermione, who agreed that telling George about Sirius could be potentially problematic and should be avoided if at all possible. I hoped that this wouldn't turn into the whole George vs. Oliver Wood situation. I decided to give him a few days to cool off.
I noticed Hermione looked up expectantly as the owl mail arrived as we ate our eggs and bacon.
"Percy won't have had time to answer yet," Ron said, "We only sent Hedwig yesterday."
"No, it's not that," Hermione said, "I've taken out a new subscription to the Daily Prophet, I'm sick and tired of finding everything out from the Slytherins."
"Good thinking," Harry looked up at the owls, "hey, Hermione, I think you're in luck-"
A grey owl soared down and landed between Hermione and me. I pushed Hermione's plate out of the way as she looked bewildered, "It hasn't got a newspaper, though… It's-" three barn owls, a screech owl, two brown owls and a tawny owl landed around us, one of which was on my shoulder.
"How many subscriptions did you take out?" Harry said, grabbing Hermione's goblet before it was knocked over by the screech owl which decided that was where it wanted to land. All the owls tried desperately to have their letter answered first.
Hermione accepted a letter from one of the many owls and said, "What on earth?" as I tried to move closer to her I had another owl fill the gap, "Oh, really." Hermione spluttered, going red.
"What's up?" Ron asked her.
"It's – oh, how ridiculous-" she thrust the letter at Harry across the table and opened the next one, which she shared with me.
YOu hoRriblE liTtLe GiRl… HaRRy PoTteR dEsErvEs BetTeR ThAN YoU. gO BAck tO thE MuGgles WheRe YoU bEloNg.
"Lovely." I commented.
"They're all like this..." Hermione said desperately trying to open all of the letters to get the owls to go away. "OUCH!" she inhaled quickly as she opened the last envelope and a yellowish-green liquid, which smelled strongly of petrol gushed over her hands, which proceeded to erupt in large yellow boils.
My chin dropped, "Undiluted Bubotuber pus!" Ron picked up the envelope gently and smelt it, concurring with me, "'Mione… I need to get you to the Hospital Wing!" I said, grabbing both our bags.
"It's okay…" she said, tears forming in her eyes, "I want to go on my own…" she tried to cover her hands with napkins.
"I'll look after your bag and take notes for you." I nodded.
I saw a flicker of a gratefulness on Hermione's face as she turned and hurried toward the Hospital Wing.
"I warned her!" Ron sighed, "I warned her not to annoy Rita Skeeter! Look at this one," he read, "I read in Witch Weekly about how you are playing Harry Potter false and that boy has had enough hardship and I will be sending you a curse by next post as soon as I can find a big enough envelope." He gulped,"Blimey! She'd better watch out for herself."
"Perhaps we can redirect that one to Snape?" I suggested as we were about to enter the greenhouse.
Ron and Harry smirked, "Please."
Hermione didn't turn up for Herbology and she wasn't there at the beginning of Care of Magical Creatures either when Draco started teasing us about the article. Not that he looked at me. It was as though I was invisible to him wherever I was.
Hagrid swiftly started the lesson as everyone arrived. He claimed that he had taught us all we needed to know about Unicorns and wanted to introduce us to a new creature. I could see the look on Harry and Ron's faces as we all hoped it wouldn't be another form of Blast-Ended Screwt in the crates in front of his hut. I took a few careful steps forward with the rest of the class as we saw a number of black, fluffy creatures with long snouts. They were positively cute with their spade like front paws.
"These're Nifflers," Hagrid introduced, "Yeh find 'em down in mines mostly. They like sparkly stuff… there yeh go, look." The class watched as one of the Nifflers jumped up out of the crate at Pansy Parkinson and tried to get a hold of her watch, "Useful little treasure detectors," Hagrid said happily, "Thought we'd have some fun with 'em today." He pointed at a patch of freshly turned earth, "I've buried some gold coins. I've got a prize fer whoever picks the Niffler that digs up the most. Jus' take off all yer valuables, an' choose a Niffler an' get ready ter set 'em loose."
I didn't have any valuables on me, so I went straight over to the crates and put my hands out, struggling to choose just one. One climbed on the edge of the crate and I lifted it out and held it like a baby. This particular Niffler had a patch of grey fur around its left eye. Lavender, who was right behind me let out an 'awwww' and lifted hers out. We all got into a circle around the patch of dirt, letting our Nifflers go all at the same time. Half of us were cheering for absolutely no reason, apart from the fact that this was one of the most fun lessons we had had in a very long time. There were Nifflers everywhere, diving in and out of the patch of earth as though diving into water and scurrying back to the student who had released it, placing gold coins into their hands. Ron's Niffler was particularly efficient, filling his lap full with coins.
"Can you buy these as pets, Hagrid?" Ron asked, delighted with his Niffler's return as it dived back into the earth again.
"Yer mum wouldn' be too happy Ron," Hagrid said, grinning, "they wreck houses, Nifflers. I only buried a hundred coins, I reckon they've got 'em all now."
Hermione came walking across the lawn, her hands were bandaged and she looked miserable. She sat down on the grass beside me and I put an arm around her and she rested her head on my shoulder. "Yep." I whispered to her, "I feel like shit, too."
Hagrid got us to count up how many gold coins our Niffler collected, and by a long stretch, Ron had won, earning himself a massive slab of Honeydukes chocolate. "There's no point tryin' ter steal any, Goyle, its leprechaun gold. Vanishes after a few hours." Hagrid gave Goyle a warning look.
Goyle emptied his pockets looking put out. Next thing, the bell rang and everyone headed up for lunch, but the four of us stayed behind. I put our three Nifflers back into the crates and returned to the others where Ron asked Harry, "Why didn't you tell me about the gold?"
"What gold?" Harry asked.
"The gold I gave you at the Quidditch World Cup," Ron said, but reiterated due to the look on Harry's face, "The leprechaun gold I gave you for my omnioculars. In the Top Box. Why didn't you tell me it disappeared?"
It clearly took Harry a while to remember, "Oh," he said, "I dunno… I never noticed it had gone. I was more worried about my wand, wasn't I?"
Ron turned red as the four of us walked up to the Great Hall, Hermione seemingly had a meaningful conversation with Hagrid as she looked less miserable, "Must be nice," Ron said abruptly, "to have so much money you don't notice when a pocketful of Galleons goes missing." He said as we sat down for dinner.
I noticed that Hermione was having particular trouble serving herself, so I grabbed her plate and placed some beef, Yorkshire puddings and some mash on before serving myself. I then cut up her meal and helped her get it onto the fork. She was awfully embarrassed, but I told her about the time when I had burns on my hands and the other time when I had a sprained arm, "I would have been grateful for anyone to help me with my dinner." I said simply.
"I hate that Skeeter woman," Hermione said, "I'll get her back for this if it's the last thing I do!"
"Is that a threat, Hermione?" I smiled.
"No," she said in her best Northern Irish accent, "That is a promise."
19th March
Hermione kept receiving hate mail all week, and decided, after been given some advice from Hagrid, not to open it any more. Howlers exploded in the Great Hall each morning this week and insults were shrieked for all to hear. It was getting increasingly harder for her to keep calm as the whole Hall heard about the Hermione-Harry-Krum love triangle. Several people in a day asked me if Harry and Hermione were boyfriend and girlfriend and I set them straight, probably more viciously than required.
Hermione was determined to find out how Rita heard her and Krum's private conversation, especially when she is banned from Hogwarts grounds. She asked Moody if he saw her under an invisibility cloak, he said no. She stated that they couldn't have been bugged because of something written in Hogwarts: A History. We went after dinner to the library every night and as I sat doing my homework, Hermione sped through hers to start researching on ways Rita could listen into other people's conversations.
"Would you ask Fred and George if they know of any wizarding listening devices?" Hermione asked me this evening.
"Sure…" I said sarcastically, "Hey, George darling, I know you aren't talking to me at the minute because of some stupid shit about Harry and Snuffles but I just wanted to ask you..."
She looked up from one of the books she was looking at, "You should just go and talk to him!"
"Do you not think I've tried?" I sighed, "He turns his back on me whenever I so much as look at him, and he's never in the Common Room after class. I just need to give him more time."
"No," Hermione said simply, "You need to give him a special, Kathryn style, boot up the backside. I've seen you do it before, with all of us, you just don't take any nonsense! Tell George that he's being daft, kiss him and show him what he's missing."
I was profoundly impressed, "I guess it's worth a shot."
20th March
"This is getting ridiculous!" I said in the common room after leaving the library, I saw George divert his eyes from me as he saw me enter through the portrait door, "I haven't talked to him in a week for no good reason!" I sighed, walking over to George.
"What do you want?" his tone was that of disgust.
"I want to sort this out!" I said with a smile, "This is stupid, we had a great time on Saturday morning, I went to get your present as I told you I would, I saw my friends and they asked me if I wanted to go for a walk with them and I went with them. I apologise if you wanted me to go find you and spend the rest of the afternoon with you. I would happily have spent the rest of the afternoon with you, you know that. I left you with Fred and your friends, you were happy for me to go, weren't you?"
"Every time I see you, you're with him."
I sat down on the seat beside him. "That's not something that I can do much about. Harry is in basically all my classes. He is one of my best friends. The four of us study in the library together. Now, I'd very much like to spend some time with you! I miss you!"
George sighed, "I have a detention I need to get to."
I placed my hand on his leg, "What did you do?"
"I got frustrated in Transfiguration. McGonagall has me in detentions with her all week. I'll see you around." He packed up and left.
"George?" I called out.
I could see him fight with himself internally as he turned on the spot, "Yes?"
I walked over to him, stood very close to him and said in that 'take no nonsense, Kathryn style' way Hermione suggested, "I really do miss you. This is stupid. You love me and I love you and this fight is not worth it. So tomorrow afternoon you and I are going to sort this out, together. Okay?" I said, nodding.
George looked at me, stunned.
I took my opportunity, stood on my tiptoes, put my hand on his shoulder and kissed him.
George smirked as he said, "I really do have a detention. I'll see you at lunch tomorrow."
"Perfect!" I smiled as he left the Common Room.
"That, Kathryn Pink, was pure gold." Hermione said, high-fiving me.
21st March
After charms today I went to the Great Hall and saw George smile up and me. My insides squirmed as I approached him and he placed both arms around me. My body relaxed completely as I breathed in his familiar scent. I knew I missed him, but I didn't realise how much.
"I was an idiot, I'm sorry…" he whispered, kissing the top of my head, "I've missed you, too."
I looked up at him with tears in my eyes and nodded.
"You four are a great team," he said as we sat down, "I've been watching you all work together. Was that Bubotuber pus Hermione got over her hands?"
"Yeah," I nodded, "But I don't want to talk about them, I want to know how you are. Are you okay?"
George looked taken aback, "I'm fine."
"What did McGonagall have you do in detention?" I asked serving myself a portion of chicken casserole.
"She made me talk, tell her what was bothering me, why I lashed out, she made me consider how I'd feel if I knew what you told me was the truth." George paused, "She made me realise how much I was missing you and how you were miserable, too. Then you confirmed it last night, that it was stupid and I've got to work on a few things."
I nodded again, "I don't think you realise how much you can hurt me. You matter so much to me and everything you say makes an impact. You have so much of me," I put my hand on my chest, "You know me so much better than anyone else does, I don't know if you know that." I composed myself, "To not have you around, to not be able to talk to you… it kills me."
George took a hold of my hand, "I guess I just feel so protective of you."
"You can talk to me about anything, right, and next time something is bothering you, just say and I'll do anything I can to stop it." I mustered a small smile, "If I'm talking too much, tell me to shut up. If you feel left out, tell me. If you want space, tell me. This," I pointed at him and then at me, my voice went all crackly, "is a partnership, built on communication… respect… trust… and love."
George put his hand on my shoulder, "You're really emotional today…"
I pouted, "I can't help it."
"What?"
"Being a girl." I said, "I can be soft and squishy inside, too, not just dark and twisty, you know."