29th July (cont'd)

I took to the stands fifteen minutes later, after listening to all the advice of the other victims. They told me to answer all the questions, to think about what I say, to try and not get frustrated (apparently he was a frustrating man) and challenge him, if I could. I straightened my dress and took a deep breath as Molly, Arthur, George and all the other victims took seats in the gallery, allowing them to see the cross examination of evidence. A snobby, yet portly looking man in a designer pinstriped suit, covered by robes, wearing the grey curly wig stood in front of me.

"Miss Pink, would you say that you are a creative person?" was the first thing he said. His nose was in the air. I realised I was talking to an upper class pompous arsehole and that alone is a major factor in why he was frustrating and that is why I had to challenge him.

I stared at him for a second, "Relatively, yes."

"Do you write stories?"

"I have done so, yes."

"All fictional?" he asked the questions in quick-fire mode.

I took my time, "Not necessarily, no."

"Where would you write these stories?"

I felt myself get annoyed at the stupidity of the questions, but realised he was getting at my diary accounts, making them look fictional, rather than factual, "On paper with a pen or a quill."

"Don't get smart with me, Miss Pink."

"Don't ask stupid questions." I challenged. A few of the victims tried to hide their approval of my sass.

"Miss Pink, would you say you have a good memory?"

"Yes."

"Can you tell me the conversation we have just had?"

I recounted the conversation, word for word. He was frustrated, he was clearly not expecting that one to backfire.

"Miss Pink, would you say that you're a good liar?"

I turned my head to the side and said, "No."

"Would you say that your creativity will sometimes make you bend the truth?"

"No." I repeated.

"Would you make things more dramatic to get attention?"

"No."

"Can you say something else other than no to my questions?"

"Yes?"

William stood, "Objection, these questions are merely harassing my client."

The lawyer pardoned himself and continued, "Miss Pink?"

"Yes?"

"Have you ever forgotten anything?"

"Well, I'm sure someone told me your name at some point, but you haven't introduced yourself to me and I'm at a loss, sorry." I replied. I was purposely making his life very difficult. I was trying to pull a Snape manoeuvre but not be narcissistic or obnoxious.

"Are there other instances in which you have lost you memory?"

"Yes."

"Can you reiterate?"

"I got 99/100 in my last potions test, I forgot the answer to add Boomslang skin to my swelling solution."

I could see his jaw stiffen, "Any other, more significant instances?"

"Is there a particular instance you would like to discuss with me? I can very happily go through all the mistakes I've made in every test, but I imagine that you don't have the time for that?"

"That would be quite right." He grimaced, "I would like to discuss the incident you had in school a matter of weeks ago where you tragically lost your memory?"

"I regained that memory, so therefore it is not lost." I put my hair behind my ear.

"Do you often tantalise people like this? Provocation is not a desirable quality in someone."

I smiled, trying desperately not to laugh, "It's alright, I'm taken anyway and you're not my type."

"Are you often sarcastic?"

"Oh, that wasn't sarcasm. I really am taken; you know George?" I looked up at George who was looking at me with a cheeky smile in the gallery and looked down at the lawyer again, "He gave evidence of my parent's terrifying rage earlier? He also told of how I almost died. Or is asking questions about memory and creativity and tantalisation why we're really here today?"

The lawyer stood and stared at me for a second. He couldn't quite believe that I was challenging him at his own game. "has anyone ever witnessed your parents doing this so called abuse?"

"Peter has, so has my Grandmother, others have seen their attitude towards me."

"So no one can prove that the incident on the 29th July 1994 actually occurred?"

I was taken aback, "Are you insinuating that I beat myself up?"

"Answer my question."

"I don't know if anyone else was there…" I said, "I was in a pitch black room and I was knocked unconscious."

I saw the smug look on the other lawyer's face, "So you don't even know that it was your parents who performed these so-called acts?"

"I was in the dark, that doesn't hinder other senses." I said, "When they opened the door, I could see their faces quite clearly, I even recall spitting some blood on my dear mother's face. I could hear them talking. I could smell them. I know the feeling of my parent's skin on my own. That wasn't the first time they laid hands on me, I'm sure you know." My voice started to tremble.

"Again, where is your proof?" The lawyer smirked at me, "Miss Pink, tell me, you say that your injuries were life threatening? How can you, Miss Pink, be standing here today with nothing wrong with you?"

I looked to William and nodded, there was nothing else I could have done. William stood and said, "Your honour, I would like to present some evidence on behalf of Miss Pink."

"Proceed." The Judge said.

"I'm sorry to have to do this." William looked downtrodden but confident, "I am bringing evidence piece X.454 to your attention," William's assistant handed out the pictures of my body taken at St. Mungos, given as evidence to the relevant muggle police and Aurors assigned to my case.

The other lawyer looked affronted by the pictures, "How are we to know that these pictures are of Miss Pink? The individual's face is unrecognisable, bruised, swollen..."

The individuals looking at the photographs of my body were in shock. There was a picture of my bare back, the scars, the bruising, the blood. Another of my chest, I had a sheet covering my breasts, but you could clearly see the bruising on my ribs, the cuts, the trauma. My face was indeed unrecognisable, it was purple, swollen, my nose was misshapen, my hair was saturated in blood…

William looked at me and said, "There are certain identifiable markers."

The lawyer was sceptical, "Such as…?"

I stood up, I was shuddering. "May I draw attention to the p-picture of my legs?" I looked up to the gallery where I saw George and started to cry before looking back at my parents' lawyer and hitched up my dress and showed off my very distinctive birthmark which was right at the top of my thigh. I then pulled the skirt back down and reached up my back and undid my zip all the way to the bottom and showed off the scar of my kidney operation and the scarring up my back, "D-Does t-that help you? Does that make you f-feel better about y-yourself?" I zipped myself back up, "Just taking every s-step to humiliate me t-today, aren't we?" I yelled, I had nothing left to lose.

I could hear my parents laughing all the way from their glass box.

"She is mad as a hatter, are you aware of how many hours' worth of therapy sessions your client has been to? How her parents, my clients, have tried to help Miss Pink to recover from her serious mental health problems, where she has hallucinations and delusions, more commonly known as schizophrenia. This is all made up. Miss Pink is self-harming, she is a danger to herself and those around her."

I had to sit down, I was crying hysterically.

"She needs help." The lawyer said.

William stood, "No, she needs the people who did this to her to rot in jail for a very long time."

"No further questions." The lawyer said, "Get that child into a specialised mental health hospital, she needs it."

"Court adjourned for thirty minutes." The judge slammed the mallet and William gave me his hand and guided me back out of the court to the waiting room.

George came bursting through the door and wrapped his arms around me and held me tight. William stood back. "Katy you're doing so well." George said, stroking my hair, "I'm so proud of how strong you are. How brave you've been…"

I took the scrunched up tissue from my hand and used it, "I can't do this anymore…" I said between the tremors of crying, "they all think I'm lying, t-t-they think I'm making it all up, that there's s-s-something w-wrong with me up here…" I pointed to my head.

"You're doing really well out there!" someone spoke.

Another voice sounded, "The jury are hanging on your every word."

"You're giving old Jeremy a run for his money." Said another.

One of the ladies placed a hand on my shoulder, "I'm a psychiatric specialist nurse, there's no chance in hell you're schizophrenic." She said, "I remember that room you were talking about, it was pitch black, but when you opened the door you could see their faces illuminated. Your senses are heightened in there." She said, "My husband and I had a lucky escape, also." She sat down.

"Your evidence is going to get those people locked away for a long time," her husband said, "there are too many consistencies between our stories, the dark rooms, the sheer force, the brutality…" he stopped. I blew my nose.

"So your parents are going on the stand next," William began, he was looking at me, "Jeremy will question them individually at first, which will do it's hardest to make you out to be a liar. I will step in and cross examine and use all the evidence we have found. They will not get away with this, Kathryn." He stood and said, "I'm just going to get prepared, so I'll see you back in there." He nodded and left.

I had a cup of coffee, another cry and got distracted by George telling me stories from his summer so far. My head was throbbing.

I found myself listening to my mother talking first. She denied ever touching me. She denied having such a room in her home. She claimed that I had mental health problems, saying that I was a problem child that had issues with nightmares and therefore sleep that, in turn, made me delusional. She denied lifting a finger to me a year ago. She said that despite being a troubled child that I was creative, that she could hardly get my nose out of a book and enjoyed baking. Mum also decided to dramatize very personal things in my life, "She was only eight when she got her first period, she was terrified, thinking she was dying. I had to explain that some women get heavy periods and get blood on the bed and sometimes it can run down your leg. I tried being supportive, but her emotions were always overly negative as well, she would have a temper tantrum and lose control of her abilities and be very argumentative. I've tried my best. I've got a beautiful baby girl who has been ruined by demons in her mind. I just hope that someone can help her." (Then mum pulled out all the stops and cried on cue. I was mortified.)

My father supplied the same cock and bull story. He denied hurting me, claiming that I was very clumsy. He said that my diary was a creative space for me to write stories and my nightmares. He said that he paid for many sessions with shrinks, saying that I was such a complex case that he had to keep trying to find someone else to take me on. "The shrinks just kept turning their back on her, telling me that she needed more specialised help, that it wasn't our faults, that Helen and I were doing our best, but some children just have problems…" The icing on the cake was when he told court that I had a temper and often found it difficult to control my emotions.

Then William questioned my parents, my mother went first. "How would you describe your relationship with your daughter?"

"Strained," she said.

William took another stance, "Kathryn mentioned your mother earlier, where is she at the moment?" I had told him at out meeting that I got on best with Granny and that it was very out of character for her to just disappear like that…

"I don't know."

"When was the last time you saw your mother?"

"Two weeks after we left Kathryn-" my mother's eyes nearly bulged out of her head, "in the capable hands of Mr and Mrs Weasel."

"You left Kathryn alone to die," William said.

"I didn't say that."

"You beat her up, you nearly killed her." William was more stern now, "You left a thirteen-year-old girl, bleeding to death, unable to breath, alone, to fend for herself." William took a step forwards, "you left your beautiful little girl to die."

I had to look at the floor, unable to watch as my mother's eyes bore into mine. She looked murderous. She was willing for me to drop dead.

"Objection," Jeremy the other lawyer spoke, "Mr Snow is harassing my client."

The judge nodded and spoke, "Get to the point."

"Apologies, Sir." William looked up at the judge, "Tell me about your mother, where did you go with her?"

My mother straightened up on her seat, "The four of us escaped to Northern Ireland on the ferry," she said, "My mother wanted to go back for Kathryn, to look after her –"

"The guilt was eating her up." William suggested.

"No," my mother was getting nervous now, "that is not what I said, I said that my mother wanted to go back to England to look after Kathryn, to take her off the Weasel's hands."

"Why didn't you take Kathryn with you?"

Mum swallowed hard, "Kathryn has her special school with those different people."

"Yes?" William challenged, "But Kathryn could have come back to Northern Ireland with you, I know of many Hogwarts students that travel from the Island of Ireland. So why did you mother feel she had to go back to England? And why did you not take Kathryn with you in the first place?"

"Because I didn't want to! I'd had enough!" my mother yelled.

William persisted, "Where is your mother, Helen?"

"I don't know. I haven't seen or heard from her, she left a note saying that she was going to find Kathryn and was going to the north of Scotland."

"I'd like to see that note."

"We burnt it in the fire." Mum said quickly.

"A fire? In the summer?" William questioned, knowing he had caught her out, "Was your mother too much hassle for you, too? Did you beat her to death, too? She's an old woman, not as strong as Kathryn… I hear you threw her down the stairs a few years back as well, left the poor woman in pain for weeks. You have a habit of trying to get rid of things that hassle you, Helen. There are 9 other surviving victims to your brutality, they all say the same thing. Kathryn is your daughter. How can a woman hurt her child?"

"No comment." Helen spoke. She was not going to say anything more today.

Dad proved to be even less useful than mum. William started asking questions and my father answered with, "No comment." Every single time. William had no choice but to back away.

The court session concluded with Jeremy making a speech to the jury, trying to persuade them to see that I was a mentally unstable child, that I have made it all up and deserve to be placed in a mental institution. William countered by saying that I was an innocent young girl who was beaten half to death and has the scars to show, he hinted at how my parents react to me and how they talked about me. William said that no child should ever have to endure what I went through, no child should have to be frightened of their parents and no child should ever be left for dead.

By this stage, it was late evening and I felt sick. My parents rose in their glass box and were asked the questions:

"Mrs Helen Pink, how do you plead?"

"Not guilty."

"Mr Richard Pink, how do you plead?"

"Not guilty."

Of course they did.

The judge spoke, "We have heard all the evidence presented and countered, it is now up to you, our jury to decide if Mr Richard Pink and Mrs Helen Pink are guilty or not guilty of the crimes set upon them."

I sat in silence the entire time the jury was out. I managed to put a very large hole in the cotton handkerchief I was holding. I didn't move from the seat I was on. I waited. The court was called to return. All the victims came to the front of court and stood beside me. The lady I was speaking to earlier, who said I didn't have schizophrenia took a hold of my hand, and whispered, "George asked me to hold your hand since he couldn't, he also said that he loves you so very much." Then she stood tall and I looked over my shoulder at George and nodded, my body unable to produce any emotion.

The judge entered court and everyone rose. As everyone sat other than the victims and my parents, the judge then said, "Our jury have come to a conclusion," the Judge spoke with such power and confidence, "for the murders of Miss Noreen Fleming, Mrs Alison Boyd, Mr Jacob Brown, Mr Colin Lee and Mr Stuart Montgomery, the grievous bodily harm of Mr Simon Spector, the shooting and robbery of Mr Paul Reid, the assault and battery or Mr Geoffrey Clark, the attempted poisoning of Mr Derek Taylor, the assault of Mr Anthony O'Brien, the stabbing of Mr Damien O'Toole, the kidnap, assault and battery of Dr Odhran Murphy and his wife Mrs Aileen Murphy, the assault and harassment of Miss Kalin McDermott and the attempted murder and abuse of their daughter, Miss Kathryn Pink do you find Mr Richard Pink guilty or not guilty?"

A woman from the middle of the jury stood and said, "Guilty, Sir."

"And for the same charges against Mrs Helen Pink, guilty or not guilty?"

"Guilty, Sir."

I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding. The people standing around me all jumped and screamed and hugged each other.

The judge spoke again, "The matter of Miss Kathryn Pink and Mr Peter Pink will be discussed by their relevant social workers should they be put up for adoption, fostering or be taken by suitable family members."

"For now, Mr Steven McCauley and Mrs Jenny McCauley will have custody of Mr Peter Pink. Miss Kathryn Pink is in joint custody of Mrs Narcissa Malfoy and Mrs Molly Weasley. Both these issues will be monitored by a social worker. May these individuals please step forward, now."

Uncle Steven, Auntie Jenny, Molly and Narcissa all came forward and spoke with the judge. I was not allowed to be part of that conversation. They all swore in front of the judge, placing their hand on a bible.

"Sentencing and the distribution of compensations will take place on 8th September." The judge slammed the mallet and said, "Take them away."

Narcissa turned on the spot and saw me straight away, "I know you didn't want me here today…" she said after approaching me, "But I was asked to," tears were pouring down her cheeks, her eyes were bloodshot and she was pale, she wrapped her arms around me and squeezed tight, "I'm sorry for not telling you…" she said, "I just want you to know I'll look after you, okay? Your parents are never going to hurt you ever again." She hugged me a second time. I felt too weak to push her off.

Then Molly looked at me, holding a tissue up to her eye she hugged me and I hugged back, "You were so brave," she said, "So brave, I am so proud of you." She looked up at me and smiled, "this is over now, we are your family now."

"Katy…" I heard George behind me and turned on the spot, I wrapped my arms around his middle and placed my head on his chest. I didn't let go for a very long time. Even when we stopped hugging, I had one arm around him and my head resting on his shoulder.

"I was wondering if we could grab a cup of coffee or something?" Narcissa asked Molly, "I'll see you tomorrow, Kathryn, you two have a good night."

Molly gave me a jokey stern look and then smirked, "Have fun, you two."

William then approached me and we got into the company car at the back of the court buildings, "You were spectacular out there today." He said.

"Thanks for all you did." I responded.

He handed me back all my documents, "I'll send out a new social worker to you in the next few weeks. If you're not happy in either of the homes you have been placed, write to me. I'll be back in court with you for the sentencing and will contact you about that. Please know that I deeply care about this case and want you to live a happy life without your parents. They're not going to hurt you again, Kathryn." He said happily before looking at me seriously, "I just wanted to let you know, the healer Mr Jensen told me to tell you that taking the sleeping potion long term has terrible effects and you should stop." He handed me a letter explaining everything including the horrifying side effects, "I'll be in touch." He opened the door to the hotel and I went in, "All the best." Then he was gone.

An hour later, George and I were in our room lying on the bed in a T-position, my head on his stomach. It rumbled. George laughed, "I don't know about you, but I'm starving."

I had been lying in the same position for the entire hour, looking out the window, not thinking about anything as George stroked my hair gently. He made a point of talking to me about anything but the trial. "I don't feel like going downstairs…" I said, "You can order something up to the room."

He pointed his wand at the menu and summoned it to himself, "What do you fancy? They have chicken curry, pizza with a choice of toppings, beef burger with chips, bangers and mash, sweet chilli chicken goujons, lasagne, fish and chips or an all-day-fry."

"What about starters?"

"Erm… garlic bread, vegetable spring rolls, prawn cocktail, soup of the day, potato skins or garlic mushrooms." George said, "And I suppose you want to know that on the dessert menu is… pavlova, hot chocolate fudge cake, raspberry and white chocolate cheesecake, apple pie or… brownies."

"Garlic bread, vegetable spring rolls, sweet chilli chicken goujons and brownies, obviously." I said immediately.

George laughed, making my head bob up and down, "Two starters, so really four courses. I'm mightily impressed. You're going to have to help me with some of these…" he consulted the menu again. I explained everything to him and forty-five minutes later, the two of us had filled the double bed with plates and the bedside tables with drinks. I think the noises of pure pleasure of eating delicious food were too much for George as I took the first bite, then he did the same as he ate a slice of his pizza.

"I'm going to marry you, one of these days." George said, taking a second bite of his food.

I stopped eating and looked at him, "You're going to marry pizza?"

"No, I'm going to marry you." George said as though it was very natural, "I'm going to make you Mrs Weasley."

I couldn't help but grin at him like an idiot, "I'd like that a lot." I kissed his cheek, "What has you saying that, though?"

"Just after everything that has happened today, you have faced your fears and you're still standing! And I am completely mesmerised by you and how much you can fit into that stomach of yours and not be sick!" He answered as I was half way through my third course.

The two of us fell asleep around 2am after finishing all our food and watching some terrible TV and cuddling a lot. In my eyes these are the ideal couple-sy things and should be considered necessary for end-of-terrible-day-rituals.

30th July

I woke up monstrously early, George's arm was still wrapped around me. When he rolled over, I decided to be productive and started writing a letter back to Gin.

Gin,
I miss you too! I can't wait to give you a massive hug!
Do you know how difficult it was to explain to George our nicknames? He might wind you up about it, but thankfully he doesn't look at me as though I'm a hooker. I think he knows better. I've left the killer hooker boots, short skirt and boobilicious top back at the Malfoys!
You mum may have told you, but I also gave her an earful when she was there at the drop off point. You really don't need to worry about me. I am Narcissa's princess! All I need now is a tiara! I may also have saw red with her a couple of weeks ago and smashed some crockery and she learnt that lesson. She was being a complete bitch and I wasn't going to take it, basically. I'll tell all when I see you, sure. Now the two of us get on well, Draco and I are on decent terms and well, you can just imagine how Lucius is. Their house is a manor. I think if I was to run between the two farthest points in the house, it would take me a couple of minutes! It's so quiet by comparison to school. I do miss having everyone around, but it's also nice to have my own space as well.
George is fast asleep, so if you wanted to third wheel, you'd probably be asleep too and I'd not have the pleasure of writing this letter (it's 0450 now, I haven't slept properly in days). He took me out on a proper date, we had dinner at my parents' expense, I guess life has been too hectic for anything else. Everything's over now, and I guess that's what matters. I've been told to stop taking the sleeping potion, so I imagine I'll have to go without sleep for a little longer… I just hope this horrible feeling disappears soon.
Also, I'm sure your mum has already told you, but she and Narcissa have joint custody of me for the foreseeable future. I guess that means until they can find something a little more permanent. I'd just appreciate it if you didn't go telling everyone about it. Narcissa is being weirdly nice about it all.
I can't wait to hear all the goss!
Love you lots,
Your KitKat xxx

It wasn't until 0830 that George had finally woken up. "Please tell me you slept." He asked, sitting up in bed looking at me. I was sitting at the table writing with my diary, washed and dressed. I was on my third cup of tea.

"For a few hours, yeah." I nodded, "I get flashbacks when I close my eyes, so I got up."

"Oh." He said, his hands straightening the bedclothes unnecessarily, just like his mother does, "You should have woken me!"

I looked up from my diary, "And not heard the peaceful sound of you breathing? Nah. I'd rather have you in a good mood!"

"I'm always in a good mood when I'm with you," George tried reasoning.

I laughed, "Go get ready, I'm starving."

This afternoon, the two of us checked out of the hotel and discovered Muggle London together. We walked to see Buckingham Palace, the Tower of London, Big Ben and we walked through Trafalgar Square together whilst taking (terrible and hilarious) pictures with a disposable muggle camera. The weather was roasting hot and the sheer number tourists surrounding us was incredible! I was really glad to be wearing a summer dress.

Time crept up on us so quickly, next thing George and I were exchanging goodbyes and I was back at Malfoy Manor. Both Narcissa and Draco had sombre looks on their faces and that set the tone for the evening. I asked to borrow an owl and they didn't even question it, so I sent a quick letter to Harry, wishing him a very happy birthday and that I hoped that he was having a better summer than I was. I mentioned that I wasn't sleeping all that well for nightmares, commented on the joys of Malfoy Manor and slipped in about the trial to keep him in the loop. By the time the three of us had finished dinner, I could think of nothing better than sitting in my room on my own. I picked up the book I bought whilst out and about today and started reading…

2nd August

I hadn't slept for more than three hours a night since the trial and now it's starting to show. I was lying on a lounger in the back garden, soaking up the rays with yet another book. I have been spending a lot of time on my own, the trial had really taken it out of me and the thought of talking about it made me want to curl into a ball and disintegrate. I spent a day in bed, but just couldn't content myself being indoors any longer, I felt less trapped outside. My skin, by this stage in the summer had stopped burning and started tanning and I looked half decent, not that I much cared. I simply felt miserable. Nothing that George could do or say helped, either.

"You're awfully quiet, Kathryn…" Narcissa approached me early this afternoon with a strong cup of coffee, "You're pale and – are you feeling alright?"

I shrugged my shoulders, "Don't worry about me. I'll be fine."

"I do worry about you, I know you haven't been sleeping…" she said, sitting on the lounger beside me which was under a parasol, "Is it your nightmares?"

"Last night I had my parents beat me up, the night before I was repeatedly thrown down the stairs every time I got over to sleep, the night before that I was stabbed and when I was in the hotel I was drowned, twice." I shivered thinking about it, "I just can't-" I stopped before I got myself worked up about it.

Narcissa sat for a minute or two, clearly in deep thought, I was comfortable enough with her now to be okay with the silence, "Have you tried deep breathing exercises?"

"Yeah." I said.

"Counting sheep?"

"Yep."

"A warm bath?"

"Doesn't work," I commented, "Don't get me wrong, it relaxes me, but I still get nightmares. I've also tried forcing myself to stay awake in the hope that my body forces me to sleep. I've cut out caffeine, which just makes me grumpy."

Narcissa nodded attentively, "Leave me with it…"

That evening as I was reluctantly chauffeured to bed, Narcissa came into my room and sat on the edge of the bed with a hint of excitement. "So I went shopping," she said, "you know, I always wished I had a daughter, I had so much fun picking you out a new set of pyjamas." She handed them in to me as I was brushing my teeth, they were navy blue and baby pink striped. I put them on, "I bought you some lavender to put on your pillow, the sales advisor in the apothecary told me it can help with sleeping, the girl in the tea shop recommended chamomile, lavender or peppermint tea, so you can try those…" she set down a box of each type of tea on my side table, "and I was also recommended this music channel." She tapped my radio with her wand and changed it to a more classical and meditation station and put the volume down low."

"I know I seem like a moody bitch, but I do really appreciate all you do for me." I said earnestly.

"You deserve a little TLC," she said, making a cup of chamomile tea for the two of us, "I hope you feel at home here" she handed me a cup, "If you need anything, just ask."

I got into bed, "You probably think I'm a nuisance, you shouldn't be wasting your time on me…"

"No, no, don't be thinking like that." She set down her cup and took my free hand, "I know I can't fix everything that happened in the past, but I want you to be happy, you deserve to be happy, to have a future to look forward to." She let go of my hand, "Sweet dreams, Kathryn." Narcissa smiled and left my room.

The chamomile tea was vile, by the way.

3rd August

"Miss Pink," Lucius had a wide smile on his face this morning as he ate breakfast before heading off to work, "didn't you hear the good news?"

I was sitting at the island in the kitchen clutching with a cup of coffee, having slept between the hours of 2 and 5 this morning before being woken my father strangling me. I was very tempted to ignore Lucius and walk off, but my curiosity stupidly took over and I responded to him, "What news?"

"GOOD news," Lucius said enthusiastically, "Mr Potter has been expelled from Hogwarts."

"Ha Ha, very funny." I answered disbelievingly.

Lucius dropped a copy of the Daily Prophet in front of me, page two highlighted the full story, Mr Potter is suspended from Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry pending further enquiry following use of the patronus charm in the presence of a muggle.

"He's suspended pending enquiry," I stated, "not expelled." I knew the Daily Prophet is usually full of crap about Harry anyway, so I took the information with a pinch of salt.

"Not yet." Lucius wore a cunning look on his face, "But with me on the board, he won't step a foot back into that school again."

I nodded slowly, "Oh really? We'll see about that. Have a nice day at work, Lucius."

Lucius looked delighted as he left the kitchen with a slice of toast in hand as he passed his wife on the stairs. "So he told you about Harry, then?"

"Oh yeah." I said, "He's delighted with himself. It's as though he personally sent the Dementors to Harry, to make him use underage magic, to force the ministry to expel him pending trial."

Narcissa yawned, "You have a wild imagination. Lucius had nothing to do with it, I can promise you that." She made herself a cup of coffee and two rounds of toast, "No luck last night?"

"Nah, sorry…" I said.

"Don't be sorry, we'll just try something else tonight."

K: Care to enlighten me on Harry's encounter with a bunch of Dementors?

I waited an hour and a half until George finally answered. By this stage I had washed, dressed and Draco had beaten me at a game of Wizard's chess and exploding snap. George clearly had no problem with sleeping these days.

G: Morning to you, too. Apparently Harry was attacked by two Dementors in Little Whinging last night. The muggle was Dudley. He had been suspended from school pending a criminal trial – for a bit of underage magic! The trial is on the 12th August. They're going to make the decision then if he's going to be expelled or not.
K: Has anyone seen him?
G: No, Dad sent him an owl to warn him not to leave the house. There was a big meeting last night with Aurors looking to get Harry rescued and transferred to us safely.
K: Why, do you think someone purposefully sent those Dementors to harm him?
G: Do you think they would have gone to Little Whinging on their own free will?
K: I know; I just don't understand. Lucius is delighted with himself, as you can imagine. Draco is hopeful that he'll never have to see Harry again. I did punch him in the arm for saying that, don't worry. Narcissa claims Lucius had nothing to do with it. I believe her in the fact that she thinks Lucius didn't have a part in it… Lucius was waiting to tell me the news this morning. I'm pretty confident he had a part in it.
G: You're deep in enemy territory, it must be cool hearing the news from them.
K: Cool? No. Helpful? Possibly.
G: I haven't heard from you in a couple of days, how are you?
K: I'm fine. How is all with you?
G: Nothing too much going on, other than the excitement with Harry. We're helping mum with some cleaning today…
K: Sure, I'll let you get on with it, then. Don't want your mum getting annoyed with me any more than necessary. Have a good day. I'll talk to you later. Bye
G: I can stay a little longer, don't worry. What's going on your end today? How are you feeling? I'm guessing Luscious Lucius is working?

I put the parchment down. I wanted to talk to him, but I didn't want him to worry about me. I couldn't lie to him; I was fine I just wasn't brilliant. I guess I just needed a bit of space. I took up residence in my usual space in the garden with my radio and with my diary.

At midday, Draco swaggered outside towards me and said that lunch was ready and that his father was home. That only meant one thing: he knew more about Harry's case and came home to gloat. I picked up my things and headed straight indoors. We all sat at the big table in the dining room.

"The trial is on the 12th of August. The Minister for Magic will be chairing it." He looked thrilled, "hopefully Mr Potter will no longer be attending Hogwarts, if the members of the Wizengamot make the correct decision."

"I'm sure the correct decision will be made." I said, I wasn't going to let myself get annoyed.

Lucius looked at me and smirked, "Have you heard anything from Mr Potter? Draco has informed me that the two of you are friends."

"He's one of my best friends." I stated, "I'm sure he has other things on his mind right now than using Hedwig to contact me. In fact, I'd be annoyed if he used her to try and contact me."

Lucius smiled even brighter, to the point that it was a little creepy, "But surely you could give him some advice for being on the stand, facing all those people, telling them your story?"

"Do you want to invite him over for tea, Lucius? A few scones and sweet treats to entice him?" I smirked, "I'm sure he'd be thrilled to be graced with your presence nonetheless. The only problem you may have would be his muggle relatives. Sure just write a wee letter and let me know what the response is. Perhaps then you can ask him exactly what he's thinking and if he's guilty of whatever you're accusing him of. Cause I really don't know what the craic is." I shrugged my shoulders apologetically, "Sorry." I don't think he appreciated my overly Northern Ireland-ish answer as he continued his lunch in silence.

I then saw an idea grow in the expression in his face. He was staring at my diary, "Writing down all your bad dreams?"

"Lucius." Narcissa warned him.

I looked up at him and said, "I can give you tips on torture, emotional abuse and blackmail if you like?"

"Really?" He asked.

"No," I couldn't quite believe how stupid he was being, "And if I ever see that diary in your hands, Lucius, I will blast you into a million pieces and I will enjoy doing it."

"Is that a threat?" he asked.

"That is not a threat, Mr Malfoy, that is a promise." I stared him out, "I'll join Harry in the muggle world if the two of us end up expelled. Perhaps Dumbledore will take pity, or perhaps he'll welcome me back with open arms for-"

"Kathryn." Narcissa warned me.

"She has a habit of taking people by surprise." Draco gave me an inconspicuous look which quickly turned into a smirk. I guess he didn't mind me blasting him off his feet in anger. He probably also thinks that I wouldn't do it again, due to our friendship. I believe he is quite wrong.

An owl swooped into the dining room and landed between myself and Draco. I took the two letters from the barn owl's beak and it took flight again. The letters were from Hogwarts. I handed Draco his letter which had been addressed by Snape. Mine was written by McGonagall. I opened it and read as follows:

Dear Miss Pink,

Your results in your end of year 1994/1995 examinations are as follows.

Subject: Grade:

Astronomy O

Care of Magical Creatures O

Charms O

Defence Against the Dark Arts OO*

Herbology O

History of Magic O

Muggle Studies OO*

Potions O

Transfiguration O

Congratulations, you have worked extremely hard and have results to show for it.
*OO you are top of the year in DADA and Muggle Studies.

I am personally very proud of you and the grades you have obtained.
I hope you are well and enjoying your time at Malfoy Manor.
I know this summer won't have been easy for you, but I know the strong and independent witch you have become and you can withstand a lot more than many adults I know. Stay strong.
Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any worries or concerns.
The booklist for your fifth year will be sent out as soon as it is made available.

Minerva McGonagall

I stared at the piece of parchment, my chin somewhere on the floor.

"Yes!" Draco said happily and his father took his piece of parchment from his fingertips.

Lucius read the letter and looked up at his son, "I don't see how you can be happy with these results. There are 3 E's on this page and no OO's. I am most disappointed."

"The arithmancy exam was really difficult, Father." Draco said.

"Perhaps you should have worked harder for it then." Lucius stared at the parchment in disgust, "I wonder how Miss Pink did, she's sitting there awfully quietly."

I had a decision to make. It really wasn't that difficult.

I made myself cry.

"I flunked them." I said tearfully, "I've barely made it back into next year."

Draco moved his chair to be closer to me, "It's okay, you had a lot going on at the end of last year with Moody and everything. I know you can do better than that, and I know McGonagall knows you can do better." He tried to calm me down, "Here, let me look…" he took the parchment out of my hand and his chin dropped as well, "You-"

I stared at him hard, "Did awful, I know."

"Merlin's beard" He sounded bewildered and as his father reached out to swoop the parchment from his hands, he held it close to his chest, "You don't want to embarrass her further, trust me, these are– there are no words."

Lucius' smile was wider still, "No family, no prospects, no people skills, no money, and by the looks of it…. No friends, I don't recall seeing any other letters for you this summer, other than the one summoning you to court… You really are a disgrace to the wizarding world. Why don't you just do us all a favour? Your own mother has already tried to put us out of our miseries."

I clenched my teeth and waited until Lucius left to go back to work. Narcissa was in total shock, Draco didn't move a muscle. It was only when I moved to put my letter from McGonagall into my diary did Narcissa move. She manually stacked the plates and glasses, probably thinking I was liable to smash everything. I didn't know what I wanted to do. My head was telling me to pack everything and run, but my heart reminded me I really didn't anywhere to go. That Narcissa Malfoy was legally my guardian. I felt more alone than ever.

I strode towards the doors as quietly as possible.

"Mum?" Draco broke the silence, "Kathryn got 7 O's and 2 OO's."

"I'm really proud of you both." She spoke softly.

5th August

I didn't see the point of leaving my room yesterday, it rained all day and was completely miserable. I heard Narcissa and Lucius arguing, she was asking him to apologise to both me and Draco and he refused. He was a proud man. I didn't really give a shit any more. Both Narcissa and Draco had come into my room throughout the day, I had left the door open. Narcissa tried to convince me to eat, I only did to get her out of my room. I felt just a little bit worse than I did the other day, I didn't think that was possible, but I have hit an all-time low. She was making excuses for her husband, saying that he was really stressed at work. I just didn't want to listen any more. When Draco came in, he sat down beside me and emptied a 1000-piece puzzle onto the floor and the two of us sat in silence for hours. When we finished the puzzle, we were into early this morning and Draco said, "I'm sorry."

I listened out for Lucius leaving this morning and ventured out of my room for breakfast. Narcissa was about to say something to me but I interrupted her, "If he ever pulls a stunt like that again, I will walk out of here and you will never see me again." I was being deadly serious.

She nodded.

"I've booked you and Draco a table at one of my favourite restaurants tonight, I want you to go out and enjoy yourself." She spoke softly, "As a way of congratulations on your results and as a sorry from me for not saying anything."

I took the opportunity to get out of the house. I tried to forget all that happened. Draco donned his dress robes and I put on the black lace dress. He claimed that he was taking me out on a date, a proper date. We travelled by Floo Network and as soon as we stepped foot into the restaurant I felt just that little bit more free. Draco and I put all the negativity under the carpet and had a pretty darn good time.

"All your boyhood dreams have come true today. You've been dying to have me spend the holidays with you. Now I don't have a choice. You're even taking me on a dinner date: I am your prisoner." I said sarcastically, the two of us were laughing. We had just finished starters and ordered our main courses, it was a three Michelin star restaurant and I felt so unbelievably fancy being there, "I must remind you though, that I do have an army of secret agents watching me, making sure that I don't get hurt. You can't say you have a sore head to cover yourself."

"Shove off. I genuinely do have a sore head." Draco said, "I've had one all day."

"I'm being serious, too." I said, "I have to blow into this invisible whistle around my neck here and within seconds we will be surrounded. You will all be incapacitated and I will walk away unscathed."

"I'm glad to know you can still be sarcastic." He said genuinely. "You haven't really been yourself these last couple of days, even before-" He said.

I really didn't want to talk about it, "Sarcastic? Me? Never." I said, this was a great distraction technique as I let my imagination go wild, "There are a bunch of red-headed ninjas hiding in your blind spot all around this room." I looked around and the two of us saw the same curly haired ginger man and burst into laughter.

Draco rolled his eyes at me, "Very discreet, I don't even think he looked at you." He laughed, "I can't believe I got stuck with you and your agents."

"Your parents clearly can't be bothered with me today, so you got lumbered." I beamed at him, "Soz." I rolled my eyes light-heartedly.

The man with the curly ginger hair walked past us, he was clearly a waiter, "Is a guy not allowed to date a girl and have a private conversation?" Draco jested.

It was when that exact man brought us our plates of food around ten minutes later that Draco nearly lost the plot. "The Beef Wellington?" the waiter asked in a very polite voice.

"That's Draco's." I was the only one out of the two of us able to hold back laughter long enough to speak.

"And the mushroom risotto for you madam," the man said, placing a napkin on my lap. He also topped up our glasses.

"Thank you." I said, kicking Draco under the table to make him realise were in such a formal setting. I was wearing the black lace dress and heels for goodness sake. Draco really needed to reign it in a little. The waiter walked away to serve the next table.

Draco was looking a little paler than he had a minute or so ago, "That headache of mine is getting worse…" he said, rubbing his temples, "The lights in here are so bright."

"Oh," I said, pouring him a glass of water, "Drink this. If you close your eyes on me, I'll know that you think I'm ugly in this dress and can't stand the sight of me any longer."

"I'll always think you're attractive." He smiled, I couldn't tell if he was joking around so I told him to very kindly shut up and eat. I was sitting like a lady, feeling the eyes of the other diners watching and in some cases staring. Draco and I continued making normal conversation nonetheless. "I think mum probably thought you'd have a better time if it was just the two of us."

I took a sip of water to pace myself, my dinner was delicious and wanted to savour every mouthful, "I reckon your parents are more ashamed of being in public with me than me being seen in public with you guys. I would have thought after all these weeks together; things might have changed a bit?"

"Mum and dad are probably having a date night or she's really laying into him." Then he screwed up his face at the thought and went that little bit paler. He ate a few forkfuls more but was struggling, "Please excuse me." he said, setting his napkin on the table and headed towards the gents. A few minutes later he returned even more pale and shaky, "Can we go home? I've settled the bill already." He said, "Sorry…" he sighed.

I stood quickly and put a supportive arm around him. The two us used the Floo Network at the same time and landed in the Malfoy Manor's kitchen. Draco ran over to the sink and vomited. I then helped him up the set of stairs where I heard a meeting ongoing in their dining room. I knew better than to interrupt Lucius. So I continued bringing Draco up the stairs and brought him to his room. I tried to put his symptoms together and assumed he had a migraine, so didn't put on his light, which he thanked me for in a whisper. He reluctantly let me help him get ready for bed as I didn't imagine sleeping in dress robes would be particularly comfortable. I got him tucked up in bed and went into my own storage of potions and got him something for pain relief. He took a sip and was out for the count.

Concerned, I had a clash of ideas. I could have bet a healthy sum of money that Narcissa was in the meeting with Lucius. I stood outside the dining room and paced. I heard footsteps outside and prayed that it was Narcissa. The front door opened and Snape walked in.

"Snape?" I questioned in a loud whisper.

"That's Professor Snape to you." He snapped, "What are you doing here?" he looked me up and down, obviously surprised to see me dressed up. He was dressed as boringly as usual and still hadn't discovered the wonder of soap.

"I'm staying here this summer." I said, "What are you doing here?"

"I know you're staying here this summer, but you're not supposed to be here… I'm attending this meeting."

"Draco isn't well… We came home, I need Narcissa, I-"

"I'll get her." He said, he slipped in through the door. I saw Macnair, the man who 'executed' Buckbeak, Wormtail and a few other men I had never seen before.

Narcissa opened the door slightly and slipped through silently, closing the door quickly behind herself. But she didn't close it quick enough. My heart was in my throat as I saw Voldemort. Narcissa looked terrified.

I shook my head putting it behind myself, "Draco isn't well. I think he's having a migraine. He's been sick a few times, he's really pale and I've just put him into bed. I gave him some of my acetaminophen and he's fast asleep. I just wanted to let you know…"

She followed me up the stairs and had a look at her son. She fondly dabbed his face with a cold cloth and performed a few spells over his body. She was very jumpy. I knew it wasn't because of Draco's illness. I could see she was thinking, "Why don't you go out and-"

"I'll be fine up here. I'll keep an eye on him for you. I know you're desperate to get back to the meeting."

"Can I trust you?"

"I'll be up here, making no noise. For this evening, I do not exist, alright?"

She nodded and hurried back down the stairs again. I sat up all night beside Draco. I was in the same house as Voldemort. I was definitely not going to get any sleep tonight! I talked to George for a few hours, for the first time in two days. He was slightly panicked by my lack of communication and told me off for it. I told him I had been busy and didn't want to bother him in the middle of the night. It just felt so good talking to him and I realised just how much I was missing him.

6th August

Narcissa had popped her head into the room to check if we were okay after the meeting had ended. That was now four and a half hours ago. She was exhausted, I told her I was happy enough keeping an eye on Draco. He woke this morning after sleeping solidly for twelve hours and looked so much better for it. During that time, I had managed to read through the entire novel at his bedside. The beginning of the book told the very brutal story from a man's perspective of him murdering his best friend's girlfriend. The rest of the book told of how he psychologically coped with it and how he covered his tracks and diverted suspicion off himself. At the end of the story, his best friend was wrongly convicted and the main character left a suicide note clearing his friend's name. The book ends not knowing if he went through with it or not.

"Have you been sitting there all night?" was the first thing Draco said, making me jump.

"Maybe?" I said, "But a more pressing question, what sort of sick and twisted crap do you read? That book is awful." I stared at it in disgust.

"You've read it all?"

"Every. Single. Page." I said shaking my head, "How are you feeling?"

Draco smiled, "Loads better. Some people might even think you cared about me, sitting up all night, making sure I woke up this morning."

I rolled my eyes, "Don't flatter yourself. You know I'm not allowed to take a sleeping draught for at least the next month, so I'm going for an entire month with no sleep, that is the only reason I am perched here right now."

"Is it really that bad?" he asked, sitting up, "have you always used the sleeping potion?"

I shook my head, "I just don't sleep after something as significant as a trial and seeing your parents for the first time after a year and when people explicitly tell you they want you dead."

"Ah." That ended that conversation.

7th August

I hoped that having not slept the night before that I would finally get some shut-eye and wake up refreshed this morning. No. I think I managed an hour or two before being woken up by the delightful face of my mother despite having tried the lavender tea and drops on my pillow. I found myself in the Malfoy library sorting the books alphabetically to keep myself entertained.

Narcissa found me when she got up that morning, opened the library door and sighed, "We really need to find a way to help you sleep… is nothing working?"

"It was the same when I was eight, I didn't sleep for weeks after I saw-" I said and stopped myself, "I'll eventually tire myself out…"

"I'm not trying to be rude, but you're getting paler and paler by the day, you look exhausted and I can't have Molly Weasley thinking I'm not looking after you."

"Why would you be concerned with what Molly thinks?"

"Because you're going to be staying with them for a few days."

"Seriously?" I tried not to sound too excited to be leaving Malfoy Manor, but it really was becoming hellish staying here. I wasn't sleeping, Lucius was making my life even more of a misery at every given moment and I couldn't help but think that Voldemort and his Death Eaters could show up at any point and murder me, the Muggleborn.

She nodded, "Yes. Molly wrote a very respectable letter; I will be responding to her now to arrange everything. I know that she wanted to take you for the summer as well. She appears fond of you as well."

"As well?" I asked, slightly confused.

Narcissa nodded, "Yes, as well as myself."

I looked at her dumbfounded, "But you didn't know me before this summer!"

"Of course I did," she said as though I was being silly, "Draco had told me all about you. I wrote to you a few years ago. You saved his life!"

"Alright, alright." I raised my hands in the air, "Shush. Thank you."

"Welcome." She smiled, "Can I get you some breakfast?"

"Sure."

I helped Narcissa cook some fried eggs, she really was terrible and most of the time they were either really undercooked or terribly overdone. She wouldn't let me help in any other way. I didn't do a single dish or tidying up, no matter how many times I asked. I suspect that Dobby used to do all the cooking and this was not a passion of hers, but something she has recently had to learn to do and she was taking every opportunity for feedback. "I'm going into Diagon Alley today on a bit of business, I'll be back mid-afternoon." She left.

10th August

"I know you'll really want to sleep tonight and I've been debating giving you this for the last few days…" Narcissa took out a teddy bear attached to a blanket and handed it to me, "I know it's really baby-ish and you can laugh or ignore-"

"I'm willing to try anything." I admitted. I was almost at breaking point. I hadn't had a full night's sleep in two and a half weeks. I took the bear and smiled, it was a baby comforter. I stroked the soft fur and smiled, "It's really cute." I pressed my nose to it and breathed in: it smelt like baby powder.

Narcissa nodded, "I imagine if you put it up to your face and sleep with the blanket at your cheek, the bear will sit on your pillow and take all the bad thoughts away." She said slightly goofily which was completely out of character for her. She helped me pack all my things, letting me borrow a weekender bag that had magical expanders allowing a lot more to fit in that originally thought. I set out the next day's outfit and got into bed feeling much happier to be seeing the Weasleys tomorrow.