29th December

"Katy! We have to be there in an hour!" George exclaimed upon seeing me in my dressing gown, walking up the stairs with a glass of water. He thought I was just out of the shower, but the truth of the matter was that Ginny had just doused my hair in Sleakeasy potion and Hermione had just finished painting my nails and I already had underwear and tights on under the dressing gown.

"Keep your hair on, I'll be ready!"

I put on a face of makeup and Ginny insisted that she had a go brushing my hair, and I'm glad she did, she had it sitting poker straight. I didn't realise my hair was as long as it was! Hermione insisted that I wore the burgundy cashmere dress for the occasion and my oxford shoes that I wore to court. I finished off the outfit with the diamond bracelet George bought me for the Yule Ball and the necklace Narcissa got me for Christmas.

George knocked on the door, "Katy you've ten minutes! Please tell me you're nearly ready?"

"Why don't you come in here and judge for yourself?" I said, putting a few items into the handbag, including powder, lipstick and a brush.

George opened the door, dressed in a shirt and tie with navy trousers and shiny shoes, "Don't you look smart?" I commented as George stared at me.

"You look – wow."

"Thanks," I said quickly, "Now you're going to be the one to make us late, if you keep gawking at me like that."

"I'm not even apologising for it." George stared me out, "We have got to get a photo to capture the beauty." When I opened my mouth to object, George said, "I insist."

The two of us walked out the bedroom and found ourselves in the living room surrounded by Molly, Tonks, Sirius, Lupin, Fred, Ron, Harry and soon by Hermione and Ginny.

"Don't you two scrub up, well?" Tonks said.

Ginny grabbed the camera and said, "Right you two, smile."

I rolled my eyes and stuck my tongue out as Ginny pressed the shutter.

"Okay, I'm going to take this again, because someone isn't taking this seriously." Ginny shot eyes at me, "No rolling of eyes or gestures, please, Kit-Kat."

I flicked my hair dramatically, tilted my head, looked up at George and we laughed, Ginny had taken the photo at this moment as we both turned to look at the camera, beaming. "Now, how difficult was that?" she joked.

"Group photo?" I asked, "It has a time lapse, so everyone can get in!"

I had Tonks and Lupin on either side. Sirius was beside Lupin and Harry was beside Sirius with Ron, Ginny and Hermione. Fred and George lay on the floor posing together and Molly quickly got into the photo at the last minute, hiding between Ron and Ginny. I saw George look at his watch, "Now we really have to go." He said.

At the entrance to Chez Pierre, George and I were greeted by a number of servers, our coats were taken and we were shown to our table in the intimate restaurant dining room. I had a gentleman place a napkin on my lap and push my chair in and we were each poured a glass of complementary house champagne. I shrugged my shoulders at George and whispered, "I won't tell if you don't." and we both took a sip of the bubbly liquid.

The first course was served within minutes. It consisted of veal sweetbread, pickled mushrooms and a sourdough crumb. George pulled a face at seeing mushrooms on his plate. There are so many people I know that hate mushrooms. I think they're delicious.

"GEORGE!" I whispered loudly across the table as he was about to lift the sweetbread with his fingers, then I cleared my throat and pointed at the cutlery.

The two of us shared a giggle. We were the youngest couple in the restaurant by a good 7 years at least. The lady at the table beside us sniffed reproachfully. She was old enough to be our grandmother. I don't think George much cared about her annoyance, but he nonetheless picked up his cutlery.

"Don't you feel awfully posh using a knife and fork?" I joked across the table and George gave me a dirty look.

"You will find that I have impeccable table etiquette." George sat up straight and did an impression that could be considered close to Narcissa's 'nose in the air and dung under her nose' look. I could see the enjoyment grow on his face, though, as he ate.

The second course was even nicer than the first: scallops, apple, celeriac purée and truffle.

"Great food, great company, what more could a girl ask for?"

George smiled across the table at me, but his eyes drifted over to the lady sitting beside us. She's the type of lady who is well built and is at the age where she says exactly what is on her mind. Her poor weedy-looking husband was sitting opposite her, in a world of his own, completely silent. He was all too familiar with her behaviour.

"Reminds me of my Great-Great-Aunt Muriel. If you ever have the displeasure of meeting her…" George grimaced at the thought.

"What age is she?" I asked.

"She'll be 106 this year." He answered, "she's mum's aunt, but I can't remember on which side… mum visits her from time to time, I think she's the only family mum has left, really."

Somewhere amidst this conversation, our third course arrived which consisted of a confit chicken leg with consommé, white asparagus, truffle mushroom ketchup and brioche.

"Enough about my family," George said, "What about you, what do you want to talk about?"

I shook my head, "I don't mind! You know all there is to know about my family. I keep getting looks from across the room, which suggests that either I'm insanely gorgeous and he's a perv and sharing his thoughts with his wife, or they recognise me from the papers!" I suddenly felt very uncomfortable. I had no food left on my plate to distract myself with.

George set down his cutlery and craned his neck to look at the couple.

"Wouldn't be the first time," I said, getting George's attention back, "d'you remember the man on the train? The reason I was so pale is because he recognised me. I didn't want to burden you, with everything else going on in your head that day. The muggle newspapers put out a picture of me, to aid them in searching for me last year. Dean Thomas told me. His parents gave me the box, remember? At least they chose a half-way flattering picture."

George's attention was now back on me, "Oh right… I remember when you walked into court, they were all in shock, must have been because everyone thought you were –"

"Dead?" I asked, "Yeah… A lot of people thought I was dead."

"This is a very morbid topic." George mentioned casually.

"You are one of the very few I feel comfortable talking about this to." I shrugged my shoulders, "It's nice to – Thank you." I thanked the waiter.

A plate with delicately prepared turbot with a decoration of leeks, purple broccoli and caviar hollandaise was placed in front of me.

"I don't think I've ever used this word to describe food, but this is really pretty." George's eyes nearly popped out of his head.

I smirked, "Aesthetically pleasing, darling."

The two of us dug in and shared the same look across the table as our taste buds were dancing with the flavours. I think it's the quietest we've been this whole time. The whole plate was gone in minutes, despite savouring every morsel.

"Silence is golden." The rude old woman beside us muttered under her breath. She was far enough away to not be able to make out what we are talking about but close enough to hear that we're chatting.

George took a deep breath.

I turned my head to face the woman and smiled, "Duct tape is silver, love."

George burst into laughter.

The couple at the table to our right, who hadn't bothered us this whole time grabbed my attention, "Well said." Then she leaned forwards and addressed the old rude lade, "Leave them alone, Gert, they are young and in love. It's nice to have a bit of life and young blood around here for a change." Then she nodded and returned to her meal.

George and I stared at each other. His lips were parted. I put my finger under my nose to try and control the laugher that so desperately wanted to escape.

"The 42-Day dry aged beef fillet, potato terrine and cauliflower purée, Madam." The waiter spoke, setting the next plate in front of me, "Can I interest you in a glass of red wine to accompany?" he named the wine as something specific and showed me the bottle, but I can't remember the name of it for the life of me.

"Oh, no thank you. I don't drink." I said politely.

"I meant to tell you earlier," George said, "Fred and I got a letter back from Jenkins. We've got a viewing for the 2nd!"

I beamed at him, "Oh Georgie! That's fantastic!"

He looked very excited, "I have a really good feeling about the place! We wouldn't have other competition in Diagon Alley. We're just so lucky!"

"Don't get your hopes up until it says something ridiculous like 'Weasley's Wizard Wheezes' above the door. Okay? I mean, you have to view the place, put down a deposit, hope that no-one else wants it!"

"Weasley's Wizard Wheezes?" George snorted.

"Of all the things I say, that is what you pick up." I rolled my eyes, "Please excuse me, I need to powder my nose."

"Is that your fancy way of saying you need a wee?"

I ignored him. I went to the bathroom and on my return back to the table, I was being served the first of the two desserts of the evening: Passion fruit mousse, mango, coconut and a lime granite I still don't know what a lime granite is, but it packed a punch. George had a good giggle at me as I screwed my face up.

"Do you not like lemon or lime?" he asked.

I shook my head, "Wouldn't be my first choice, let's just say."

"You learn something new every day." He was staring at me, well, I could feel his eyes on me as I ate. He did that sometimes.

"Stop it." I say after a few minutes. He was doing it on purpose now.

George continued staring, "What?"

I took a deep breath, "You're staring at me, have I got something on my face?"

He laughed, "Two gorgeous brown eyes, a beautiful nose, two kissable lips, flawlessly positioned freckles…"

I could feel my cheeks redden, "George."

"You look perfect." He said simply.

I glared at him across the table. But had to stop as we were served our seventh and final course. Well, had to stop glaring because I was served the most delicious chocolate tart accompanied with yoghurt sorbet and caramelised walnuts. I was a very happy bunny.

"I love seeing a smile on your face," George said, "It's nice, after everything you've been through; let's me know you're alright."

"Life is a series of good days and bad days." I said, "But days are more good than bad at the minute."

"Excuse me, Sir, Madam, can I interest you in a cup of our finest tea? We have mango, mint, goji berry and pomegranate, mixed berries, elderflower or lemongrass."

George answered first, "I'll try mint tea? Katy?"

"Mango tea, why not?" I smiled, "Thank you."

I poured a cup of black tea infused with mango and waited for it to cool. I wrapped my fingers around the dainty little cup and absorbed the warmth. Some of the other couples began to leave. I watched as ladies put on fur coats and men putting on smart jackets. There was also the odd couple that were dressed fancy, but not in your face show off your furs, diamonds, leather gloves type. Most of the people here were above the age of fifty, every so often I noticed one being younger. I didn't care. I felt comfortable. I felt pleasantly full and my senses were heightened with all the smells and tastes I had the pleasure of this evening. Even with the moody old lady beside us, she made our night. Something to tell the grandkids. I just hope that I'm not quite as narcissistic as her. I smirked to myself at the thought.

"What are you smiling at?" George asked as I lifted the china cup to my lips.

"I was in daydream land of the future. Telling the grandkids of our experiences of being young and telling them 'in my day…' stories!"

A lady, possibly in her fifties approached me, "Sorry to bother you, but are you Kathryn?"

I nodded.

"My name is Margaret Sweeney," she shook my hand, "what an honour it is to meet someone so brave. You were the person who swung the decision for me. I was on the jury for your parents' trial."

"Oh," I said a little too high pitched.

"I saw you walking past me earlier, and I could have sworn it was you, but you just look so grown up, but I suppose you've had a lot of growing up to do. I just wanted to say that I'm very proud to have been there to support the survivors of that terror. Keep your head up, young lady. You've a bright future ahead of you."

"Em – thanks?" was my response and she walked off, looking delighted with herself, linking arms with her husband. I looked up at George and took a sip of tea, "That was strange."

"Certainly was." George shook his head incredulously, "Are you finished?"

I nodded, "Yeah," and then he stood, "Thank you." He pulled my chair out for me. He made me stand off to the side as he paid. I could see a number of £20 notes exchanging hands and I decided not to ask. It was such a special evening.

When we got our coats and went outside again, it had just begun to snow. It just a little flurry. The two of us went for a stroll, gloved hand in gloved hand, not ready for the night to end. Big Ben struck midnight in the distance.

"George…?" I asked.

"There's no need to thank me," he read my mind, "you deserve it."

I stopped, "Can I kiss you?"

"Any time."

I stood on my tiptoes and wrapped my arms around his neck and kissed him deeply. Someone wolf whistled at the other side of the street. We ignored them. His warmth made me long for more, but ultimately we decided, or knew Molly would be waiting for us to arrive home.

2nd January 1996

Over the past few days I've noticed a change in Sirius. I mean, I brought him out of Grimmauld Place for a couple of hours this afternoon, for him to breath some outside air. He was happy, chirpy and full of life as we walked into Muggle London and back. This was at the same time as Molly went to visit Arthur in St Mungo's, so we knew the coast was clear for a few hours. Harry had let us borrow his invisibility cloak just in case.

Fred, George and I went with Sirius into Diagon Alley, where the boys were going to have a look around number 93. I knew I had to stay outside with Sirius, so the two of us, at Sirius' request simply went for a dander, and did a bit of window shopping. It was a shame that I couldn't view number 93 inside, because the twins were beyond excited by the place when they returned to us an hour and a half later.

"So…?"

"I'd pick up and twirl you around I'm so excited!" George beamed at me and kissed me before looking elatedly in the general direction of where Sirius was standing.

Fred was shaking hands with the gentleman showing them around the commercial building and when he disapparated, Fred gave a sort of victory dance, "He likes our business plan, he's going to send us the numbers in his next owl." He gave me a hug and I reciprocated awkwardly with one arm, "He said that it will be a couple of weeks."

Sirius tugged on my arm as we walked back to Grimmauld Place and he said, "I'm sorry Kathryn…"

"What for?"

"You shouldn't have brought me, I know how much you wanted to go in and see the shop." Sirius looked down at me with a sense of guilt, "It's your future, too."

I stopped for a second, in the middle of the footpath, "Sirius, I wouldn't have brought you, if I didn't want to. Yes, it may be my future, too, but Fred and George didn't want me there. It's their business. Not mine. I said that I would support them, I said that I would give them a hand, but I also made it abundantly clear that it would not be the place I'm working for the rest of my life."

"Katy, I don't think you realise how strange you look right now, talking to yourself?" George called from a few metres ahead, realising he couldn't hear the sound of my footprints in the melting snow.

"Oops," I said, and continued walking.

Sirius gave me a sideways look, "Alright then."

The rest of the evening he sat upstairs alone with Buckbeak. I think he has come to the realisation that we are all leaving in three days' time. I could sympathise with Sirius in some ways, being left on your own is dreadful, and it's difficult to bring yourself back from the loneliness. I imagined spending six months alone in my parents' home and I would be acting like him, too.

4th January

This afternoon, Molly interrupted a very tense game of Wizards' Chess between Harry and Ron as Snape was in Grimmauld Place, wanting to talk to Harry about something. Harry hurried down to the kitchen and Ron, Hermione, Ginny and I all sat in wonder as to what the conversation was to be about.

"Why don't you go downstairs and listen in?" Ron suggested.

"I'm sure Harry will tell us!" I reasoned.

Hermione and Ginny gave me the look, that reminded me that Harry is terrible with details, "Besides," Hermione began, "You are so much better at making sense of what Harry can't make sense of, like hidden meanings, or even deducing-"

Ron interrupted, "Shut up. Hermione, you make Harry sound like – oh –" Hermione had glared at Ron and Ron realised why, "You were trying to butter her up. Please go, Kathryn."

"Fine." I descended the stairs to the kitchen, made myself invisible and walked through the closed door undetected.

"If I hear you're using these Occlumency lessons to give Harry a tough time, you'll have me to answer to." Sirius had a tone of aggression in his voice.

"How touching," Snape sneered, "but surely you have noticed that Potter here is very like his father?"

Sirius smiled, speaking proudly, "Yes, I have."

"Well, then, you'll know he's so arrogant that criticism simply bounces off him," Snape said sleekly.

Sirius pushed his chair roughly aside and strode around the table towards Snape, pulling out his wand as he went. Snape whipped out his own. They were squaring up to each other, Sirius looking livid, Snape calculating, his eyes darting from Sirius' wand-tip to his face.

"Sirius!" Harry said loudly, but Sirius did not appear to hear anything.

"I've warned you, Snivellus." Sirius' face was now barely a foot from Snape's, "I don't care if Dumbledore thinks you've reformed, I know better-"

"Oh, but why don't you tell him so?" whispered Snape, "Or are you afraid he might not take very seriously the advice of a man who has been hiding inside his mother's house for six months?"

That was below the belt. I really wanted to shout out, to yell for them to get over themselves. Snape was tantalising an already vulnerable Sirius and Sirius was losing it. Harry sensed this too.

"Are you calling me a coward?" Sirius roared, trying to push Harry out of the way, from coming between the spells that were so ready to be cast between the two men.

"Why, yes, I suppose I am." Snape said.

I backed towards the door quickly, as the aggression rose between the two men. I could feel the door handle move behind me and the door swung open. In his pyjamas, Arthur Weasley walked proudly through the door, followed by all the Weasleys and Hermione. Arthur walked straight through me, "Cured!" he announced brightly to the kitchen at large, "Completely cured!"

Then he and the Weasleys froze on the threshold as they realised what was going on between Snape and Sirius, with Harry standing between them, trying to tear them apart.

"Merlin's beard," Arthur said, the smile fading from his face, "What's going on here?"

Both Sirius and Snape lowered their wands and pocketed them. Snape moved swiftly out of the room, "Six o'clock, Monday evening, Potter." And he was gone.

I took that as my opportunity to leave, too. I found Hermione and Ron and whispered, "Next time you ask me to spy, I don't want to get caught up in a load of testosterone. They were ready to kill each other in there; you could have cut the tension with a knife."

"It's safe to be seen, you know." Ron whispered.

So I made myself visible and said, "Do you have a clue what Occlumency is? Snape is giving Harry lessons whenever he gets back to Hogwarts."

5th January

Tonks and Lupin were in charge of escorting us all back to Hogwarts this morning. With all our trunks packed and ready to go, we all gave Molly, Arthur and Sirius hugs on our departure. I realised that this was the last time George and I would be travelling to Hogwarts together. Merlin, that was a shit feeling. Tonks was disguised as a tall tweedy woman with iron-grey hair and she was very bossy, so she must have been stressed out. Perhaps Voldemort could be desperate enough to attack a bunch of school kids, an Auror and a werewolf to get to Harry. I had my wand in my pocket nonetheless and I knew I had the ability to do some real damage with all the DA practices.

Anyway, as soon as we stood out on the street in front of Grimmauld Place, Lupin stuck out his right arm and with a BANG the Knight Bus appeared. I had heard all sorts about the magnificent Knight Bus and as I looked it up and down I was taken back by the violently purple, triple decker bus. A thin, pimply, jug-eared youth in a purple uniform leapt down onto the pavement and said, "Welcome to the-"

"Yes, yes, we know, thank you," Tonks said swiftly, "On, on, get on-" she shoved Harry forwards towards the steps, past the conductor, who goggled at Harry as he passed.

"'Ere – it's 'Arry -!"

"If you shout his name I will curse you into oblivion," muttered Tonks, now shunting Ginny and Hermione forwards.

George and I glanced at each other. He led me forwards and the two of us go onto the bus in an orderly fashion, not requiring any encouragement from Tonks. I looked around the ground floor of the bus and saw five spare seats. A few witches and wizards were still grumbling, getting to their feet, and somebody's shopping bag appeared to have fallen over, displaying its contents of frogspawn, cockroaches and custard creams all over the floor.

"Looks like we'll have to spilt up," Tonks said briskly, "Fred, George, Kathryn, Ginny, you can stay down here with Remus."

I shot a relieved look at Lupin who smiled back at me, "She just wants to get you all back safely." I watched as Tonks followed Harry, Ron and Hermione up the stairs to the third deck. The conductor followed Harry closely behind. There was another BANG and the bus started moving at a very high speed down the motorway.

We were weaving in and out of cars when Ginny said, "That's how you get on when you're bossing everyone about," she winked.

"It's terrifying really." Fred chuckled.

"It's only now that I'm noticing how similar the two of you are." George concluded.

"Frighteningly similar." Lupin joined in on teasing me.

The conductor came by and we were to pay 11 sickles each. He looked at me strangely as he took my money and gave me the ticket, "'Ave I see you before?"

I scrunched up my nose, "I don't think so…?"

"You look just like-"

"Stop harassing her." Lupin said, "You haven't met."

The conductor walked off.

I turned to Lupin, raising an eyebrow, "Embracing a little bit of Tonks too, I see?"

"Just protecting you." He said simply and I decided to leave it at that. I felt like a child, I know am, but… this felt personal.

BANG! The bus suddenly jumped off the motorway to a country road. Our chairs slid backwards and we all flew forwards. I had to pick myself up off the floor. But I needn't have bothered with the amount of hairpin bends we underwent. I started to feel very ill, sitting on the floor, not being able to see where I was going. BANG! we were outside a block of flats. BANG! I didn't even know any more.

There was a lady sitting a few rows in front of us who started retching.

"Oh Merlin." I said.

After the millionth time of getting off the floor, George looked down at me, "You okay, Katy?"

I looked up at him, my lips tight shut, and shook my head.

"I didn't know you got motion sickness!" Fred laughed and I stuck my middle finger up at him. The frogspawn on the floor made me gag. Then the lady a few rows in front threw up into a bag and I summoned all the willpower to stay strong. I sat on the floor with my forehead on George's knee, thinking about how happy I'll be when this journey ends. The bus stopped at the vomiting woman got off.

"Kit-Kat, I can see Hogsmeade." Ginny said a minute or so later, "she's so pale." She whispered to her brothers.

When the bus finally came to a halt, George said, "Katy, give me your hand so I can get you up. I'll get your luggage." I could have crawled, I felt so ill.

I stood myself up and said, "I'm good." And I walked zig-zagged off the bus and stood on solid ground outside the school. I found a wall and held myself up, gaining colour back in my face again.

George approached me, laughing.

"Next time, we're apparating." I said, thanking him for getting my trunk.

"You'll be safe once you're in the grounds." Tonks said, casting a careful eye around the deserted road, "Have a good term, okay?" she said to us all.

I gave her a massive hug.

"Take care." She whispered to me before quickly moving on to hug Hermione.

"Look after yourselves," Lupin told us. He offered me a hand to shake, but instead I gave him a massive hug.

"And you look after her." I said, referring to Tonks, "she needs someone like you to talk to."

He nodded and then spoke to Harry.

Soon enough, the seven of us were back in Hogwarts. We kept our heads down in the hope that Umbridge wouldn't murder us all on the spot for departing school early last term. Hermione and I went straight to the library after unpacking to research Occlumency and got an early night.

6th January

It was strange, being back into the routine of classes again. History of Magic was the usual dull, Monday morning drivel which was followed by potions. As soon as my bum hit the stool, Draco said, "Mother wanted me to pass on her thanks for the scarf and recipe book. She also wanted to apologise again for not being able to arrange for you to visit."

"Oh," I said, "Don't worry about that."

"And I love this." Draco pulled back his sleeve and showed me the bracelet I bought him for Christmas. Surely boys don't wear bracelets, do they? Man band perhaps? Anyway.

I smiled, "I'm glad you like it."

Snape shut his classroom door and silence fell within the room. We had a theory lesson today in which Draco nattered on in my ear. In first to third year, I probably would have ignored the majority of what he said. But now, his conversations can often be fairly informative. He told me that Crabbe and Goyle came to visit a few times over the holidays, which suggests to me that the three fathers all got together to discuss business with or about their master. He mentioned seeing Snape (I did not). He also mentioned all the presents he got for Christmas and that's when I shut off.

That evening at 6pm, Harry went to his first Occlumency lesson with Snape. Ron and Hermione begged me to follow as an Invisibilia, but I point blank refused after my last experience in Grimmauld Place. Instead, the three of us went to the library. It was only the first day back and we already had potions homework, DADA homework and I had a Muggle Studies test next class.

After a few hours of hard work, and a lot of moaning from Ron, Harry found us in the usual spot. Last time I had looked up, it was still bright outside. Another thing I noticed was how pale and sweaty Harry looked.

"Are you okay?" I whispered to him as he sat down and took out his DADA books.

"Yeah, fine…" he said.

"How did it go?" Hermione asked him in a whisper, "Are you sure you're alright?"

"Yes, I'm fine." He answered impatiently. I could have sworn I saw him wince in pain, "Listen, I've just realised something…"

I set down my quill and moved closer to him. He began, "Snape said that Voldemort and I have a connection which means that I have been experiencing his emotions. Voldemort has now become aware of the connection and Snape is trying to teach me how to close my mind to Voldemort through Occlumency because Voldemort is a skilled ligillimens apparently. When I saw Mr Weasley being attacked, I saw through the eyes of Voldemort who was possessing the snake. Snape then invaded my mind and I had to try and fend him off… My mind was completely open to him, every thought, every memory. He told me to clear my mind, to focus, but how could I? Then I saw the door I've been dreaming about for months. It was the corridor Mr Weasley brought me through when I was going to my trial. It was the corridor going to The Department of Mysteries. Voldemort desperately wants something in The Department of Mysteries…"

My heart was pounding in my chest. Dumbledore told me, that if I heard any mention of the Department of Mysteries from Harry that I had to go straight to him, no matter what time of the day or night. I couldn't just run off, though. I tried to keep calm, I listened.

"So… so are you saying," Ron whispered just as quietly as Harry had done, "that the weapon – the thing You-Know-Who's after – is in the Ministry of Magic?"

"In the Department of Mysteries, it's got to be."

Hermione let out a long sigh, "Of course," she breathed, "Think about it, Sturgis Podmore was trying to get through a door at the Ministry of Magic… it must have been that one, it's too much of a coincidence!"

"How come Sturgis was trying to break in when he's on our side?" Ron asked.

I felt myself tense up even further. I warned them, I warned the Order about the plan with Sturgis. I sat silently.

"I don't know… that is a bit odd…" Hermione answered.

"So what's in the Department of Mysteries?" Harry asked Ron, "Has your dad ever mentioned anything about it?"

"I know they call the people who work there 'Unspeakables' because no one really seems to know what they do – weird place to have a weapon."

"It's not weird at all, it makes perfect sense," Hermione said what I was thinking, "It will be something top secret that the ministry has been developing, I expect… Harry, are you sure you're alright?"

Harry was getting paler and paler, he ran his hands hard over his scar and when he stopped, I saw they were trembling, "Yeah, fine…" he said, "I just feel a bit… I don't like Occlumency much."

"I expect anyone would feel shaky if they'd had their mind attacked over and over again," Hermione said sympathetically, "Look, let's get back to the common room, we'll be a bit more comfortable there."

The common room was packed and full of shrieks of laughter. Fred and George were demonstrating their latest bit of joke shop merchandise. I had heard about their 'Headless Hats' but had never had the privilege of seeing them in action until this evening. The idea of the hats is that when they are placed on one's head, that the hat and the head disappears. It's both terrifying but terrific magic. I could see Fred's head disappear and then his hand reached up into mid-air and take the hat off and revealing his head again. They were selling them at 2 Galleons each.

I found myself staring at George as Hermione asked something. He was just so attractive when he was in joke-shop, entrepreneur mode. It was his charismatic dominance. I had to resist the temptation of going over, grabbing two hats and placing one on each of our heads and snogging his face off. Oh Merlin I wanted to.

"Kathryn?" Hermione nudged me, "Come out of dream land."

"Sorry…" I shook my head.

"I think I'll go to bed," Harry said, stuffing his homework planner into his bag and walking across the common room, dodging George who tried to get him in on one of the tricks.

Hermione nudged me again, as my eyes had followed Harry's every move until he went out of sight, "You've been very quiet all evening, are you alright?"

I shrugged my shoulders, "I've just got a bit of a headache. Do you think Harry would want anything? His scar seemed to be giving him a load of bother… I think I'll go up and ask him."

I climbed the stairs behind Harry and got a few strange looks from guys who reminded me that I was indeed in the wrong place. Surprise, surprise. There were too many people about to make myself invisible. Harry was a good bit ahead of me as I tried to catch up, but we were almost at his dorm. I saw him open the dorm door and the next thing he gripped his forehead and fell to the floor. Laughing. It was such a manic laughter.

"HARRY!" I screamed as I saw his knees hit the floor, "HARRY!" I grabbed him and shook him as he laughed. As he embodied Voldemort's feelings.

Ron was quick up the stairs at my scream. He got onto his knees beside Harry and slapped him, to snap him out of it. The laughter continued, but thankfully Harry opened his eyes, one by one. He came back to himself, to his own mind. The laughing ceased immediately. He lay on the floor panting, staring up at the ceiling.

"Harry are you okay?" I asked, stroking his cheek, feeling his forehead.

"What happened?" Ron asked with more urgency.

"I… dunno…" Harry gasped, sitting up quickly," He's really happy… really happy…"

Ron looked to me and then back to Harry, "You-Know-Who is?"

"Something good's happened," Harry mumbled, shaking from head to toe, "Something he's been hoping for…"

I grabbed Harry on one side and Ron on the other to get him to his feet, "I've got this," Ron said, "He'll be okay."

I nodded and ran without stopping to Albus Dumbledore's office.

"Fizzing Whizzbee." I was out of breath.

The gargoyle sprang into life and leapt aside for me, the wall behind split in two to reveal a stone staircase that moved continually upwards like a spiral escalator. I stepped onto the staircase, the wall closed behind me with a thud and I moved upwards in tight circles until I reached the all too familiar polished oak door with the brass knocker shaped like a griffin. I knocked three times.

"Enter!" I heard Dumbledore's voice.

I opened the door and was greeted by Dumbledore, who was standing behind his desk, Snape, who was standing patiently and Umbridge, who looked at me in surprise.

"Miss Pink?" Dumbledore looked at me.

"You wished to see me, Professor?" I said. When Umbridge looked to Dumbledore expectantly, I drew a 'Z' shape on my forehead.

Umbridge's toad like eyes widened as she looked at me, "What have you done this time, Miss Pink?"

I smirked, thinking on the spot, "Professor Dumbledore has had contact with my muggle social worker to discuss me and my progress following my parents' incarceration."

"Indeed, please, Miss Pink, take a seat." Dumbledore gestured at the seat in front of his desk, "I will continue this discussion with you in the morning, Dolores. Goodnight."

He stayed silent until Umbridge left the room and went down the spiral staircase and disappeared. "What was it you wanted to tell me, Miss Pink?"

"Harry has worked out that the door he has been dreaming about for weeks is the entrance to the Department of Mysteries, the door Arthur Weasley was guarding when he was attacked by the snake. Harry, Ron and Hermione are also convinced that this 'weapon' is in the Department of Mysteries." I said, "And you send him to invade Harry's memories and make him feel even more like shit and more on edge and more susceptible -"

"Miss Pink." Snape scorned me for my tone.

I ignored Snape, "What I'm trying to say is, Professor, is that Harry, Ron and Hermione are not stupid. If Harry keeps making connections and Ron and Hermione hear about it, there will come a time where they work everything out." I then looked to Snape, "I guess that's why you're here?"

"Yes," he sneered, "I have already informed Professor Dumbledore of all this knowledge ten minutes before your arrival."

"Well, I suppose since you are the knower of all things, Snape, that you also informed Professor Dumbledore here that fifteen minutes prior to my arrival, Harry collapsed and started laughing manically, just as Voldemort -"

Snape interrupted, "Do not say the Dark Lord's name!"

I rolled my eyes, "I'll call him Voldemort if I want to call him Voldemort." I snapped, "As I was saying, Harry collapsed and his connection with Voldemort opened and he was embodying Voldemort's great victory, he's happier than he has been in fourteen years." I said, "So are you, knower of all things, going to inform me what that was all about?"

"You're lucky there aren't any stools nearby," Snape glared at me.

Dumbledore stopped the brewing argument, "I am unaware of any situation at present that would ensue such happiness."

"You make me come and tell you things, this time I hope you do something about it. Because last time you did nothing to help the situation, nothing to help Harry, nothing to stop what is going on. He is terrified of what is going and he is beyond mad at you. I also promised him that I'd yell at you next time I saw you." I stood, "Unless you want to instil some knowledge on me, I'm going to bed. You know where I am, you know where Harry is. Goodnight Professors."