20th July

"You've written to her, haven't you?" Tonks squared me up as she entered into the flat this morning.

"What makes you think that?"

"I'd like to think I know you, and I was chatting to Remus and he thinks you'll write to her anyway."

"I can't seem too keen." I told her, "I'll leave it a little while longer. Besides she thinks I'm in Northern Ireland. But she's probably worked out that I'm not, and is checking up on me. Who knows?"

Tonks raised an eyebrow at me, "I'm glad you haven't. Will you tell me what you write, if you do, even though it's not what I advise?"

I shrugged my shoulders, "Maybe."

I could see her shake something off, like she was trying to clear her mind of images of me trying to communicate with my mother. "Right." She breathed, "Have you shaved your legs?"

"No, you told me not to…?"

"Excellent! Let's go!"

I screwed up my face, "What're you going to do to me?"

"You'll see." She grinned.

We walked through the shop and I clapped eyes on George who, when he smiled at me, gave me butterflies in my stomach. He approached me and I swear I blushed, "You ladies have a good day."

I stood on my tiptoes and kissed him, "Don't miss me too much."

"Or me." Tonks joked, "I'll have her back in time to kiss you goodnight. We have a full itinerary of spending money and feeling awesome about it."

"Treat yourselves." He said, "I expect a fashion show later on."

I bit my lip, "In your dreams, sweetheart." I winked and turned to leave.

"Well you two seem to be very much in love, even more so than usual." She commented as we were on our way to Muggle London with a wad of cash, "Care to… elaborate?"

"I feel like we've been on the same page recently. I helped out in the shop yesterday, we've discussed a few things and we've listened to each other. We've been a proper team." I paused, "We've told each other things, you know?"

She nodded, "It shows." And then she opened a shop door for me, "Stop one: Hair." She smiled, "Appointment for Kathryn." Tonks addressed the hairdresser.

I sat down on the swivel chair and got a chunk of hair cut off my head, my hair was straightened and I got a side fringe. I certainly didn't look like Bellatrix Lestrange when I glanced in the mirror when I was finished. I didn't even look like myself! It was a good, and over-due change. Tonks and I left the shop with different hairstyles, one paid for and the other, not.

"Where next?"

"Waxing."

"Oh mother of all things that are holy." I let out a cry as the first wax strip was unceremoniously ripped from my skin, "And you say people do this often?" I said in a high-pitched voice, bouncing on the spot, trying to distract myself from the burn and the pain and whatever else was going on down there.

Tonks smiled from beside me, "Think about how soft your skin is going to be after this. Stand still."

"I'm kinda thinking about how much my skin is burning -AGHH- now!" I looked down at the Muggle beauty therapist who was laughing at me, "That was uncalled for."

"Look," she said, "Your skin is gorgeous."

I looked over at Tonks who was cool as a cucumber, as I had the third strip removed, "This is self-torture!"

She just laughed, "You'll thank me later."

I did not thank her later.

"I swear to all things that are good and mighty, George had better appreciate this." I took a sip of coffee, "That was painful."

"It always is first time." Tonks giggled, "I bought you coffee, get over it."

I sighed and pursed my lips, "Where next?"

"I recall you nearly had a meltdown over a dress -"

"Don't remind me."

"We're going to get you a kick-ass dress, a knockout dress and a drop dead gorgeous dress." She looked at a list, "As a minimum." She smiled down at the piece of parchment, "We are also going to get new underwear and shoes and accessories."

I took a deep breath, my heart beating with nervous excitement, "Let's do this."

"That's my girl." She beamed, "Our next appointment is in ten minutes with the personal stylist in that department store." She pointed out the window to the fancy looking shop opposite where we were sitting. "We'd better get going." And we lifted our belongings before scooting across the busy road, "So you're going to let me do all the talking and you are going to stand there and work it."

I blinked, "You're going to paint me as a rich young entrepreneur, aren't you?" I held my chin up and pouted a little, carrying myself as though I was more than I am.

Tonks took a little of my blouse fabric in her hands, "You are aware that Narcissa Malfoy bought you designer clothing, right? And you've got said expensive clothing on?" she cocked her head to the side, "They will see what you are wearing and, if you act the right way, they will give you all the love and attention you deserve."

"You have put wayyy too much thought into this, T…"

"Better thinking about this than reminding myself of the fact that Remus will only talk to me about you, his golden girl."

"Oh go away, I'm not his golden girl." I walked through the door of the store and immediately spotted a dress, "I just happen to be the connection that can draw the two of you together." I had a look at the denim dress and the buckles and had a look for my size.

Tonks cleared her throat, "No. Nope. Not happening." She took the dress out of my hand and put it back, abruptly.

"Seriously?"

"You need a dress like this one." she handed me a vintage dress, "40s swing dress; classy and a bit of colour, not too puffy and tailored."

"Oh, T." I took a hold of the dress to examine the rose gold colour and the waistline, "I love it."

She smiled, picking up a navy dress with buttons down the front, a floral dress, a couple of jump suits, a black dress that had a slit up the leg, one that looked very tight, "Kathryn. Go look." She pointed, insisting that I go and explore for myself.

"Sorry." I said with wide open eyes. I walked to another section of the store and started looking at high rise jeans and a black v neck vest top.

"These would look great on you." A woman handed me a pair of cuffed jeans, "They would accentuate those natural curves you've got." Then she lifted a khaki blouse, "And this -"

"Is absolutely gorgeous." I told her my size and she put it on a rail for me, taking the rest of the clothes I had in my hand.

She handed me a few more items, "What are you looking for today, Madam?"

"I'm looking for a new wardrobe." I said in a very reserved and sophisticated way, definitely speaking beyond my years.

The sales woman's eyes lit up, "An entire new wardrobe?"

I nodded, "If that isn't too much bother."

"Of course not, madam."

I had So. Much. Fun. I bought the 40s style dress which accentuated my curves perfectly, the tight black dress, which Tonks and the sales woman insisted was absolutely gorgeous and a load of outfits, with accessories and 2 pairs of heels, a pair of boots, a classy pair of brogues for school and a pair of pumps. I don't want to remind myself how much money I spent, but when you're given £100,000 for childhood atrocities, you gotta go out and spend it.

"You have got to be enjoying this."

"You know I am, T, this is the most fun I've had shopping in, like, forever." I clutched a number of bags to my side and smirked, "Let's go get us some underwear."

Tonks looked me up and down, "Us?"

"I'm going to help you get that man to wise himself up." I smiled, "I got this. You're trying on underwear."

"Is that why you made me buy that dress?"

"The tight dress that shows off your boobs and your curves and makes your ass look spectacular? Yes." I smiled, "Come on, T, us girls have got to stick together. I have a way of getting things done. If I put on that black dress, and girl you know what one I'm talking about, I feel powerful. I'm ready for this, and I wouldn't be here without you."

So the two of us went into that store. We were measured. And fitted. I came out with three sets of very nice underwear, and Tonks, she bought two sets that would make any man fall onto his knees and start begging.

"You know…" Tonks said as we were walking back through Diagon Alley, hours later with many more bags of outfits, accessories, shoes and the odd present, "if I weren't madly in love with a man, I'm pretty sure I'd be in love with you right now. I mean, George is one lucky guy."

"He might have a heart attack when he sees just how much I've bought today… and how much I've spent when it comes to it." My purse was definitely a whole lot lighter, "This undetectable extension charm is a literal lifesaver."

"Yeah, but when he sees that smile on your face and that underwear when you decide to make his night, he won't mind one. single. bit." She poked me in the side jokingly.

I winked, "We should definitely do this again." I unlocked the doors to Weasley's Wizard Wheezes and we climbed the stairs, careful not to knock everything over along the way.

"Hello." George stood at the flat door, waiting for us, "What have we got here…?"

"An entire new wardrobe." I smirked, stood on my tiptoes and kissed his cheek, "And I got you a present."

Tonks laughed, "Oh, you're going to love it."

"Can I see now?"

Still standing on my tiptoes, I whispered, "Perhaps some night whenever we're alone together."

George's chin dropped. Then he closed his mouth and gulped. Then he smirked, trying to stop himself from acting inappropriately in front of company.

"Get me anything?" Fred asked, hope in his eyes.

"You bet I did." I looked amongst all the bags, "Perhaps I'll get it to you tomorrow?"

"Are you still free tomorrow night?" George asked Tonks, and when she confirmed, George told me, "Fred and I were going to have a night out tomorrow with the boys, so I was planning a night in with the girls for you two. I've talked to mum and she's happy, so long as Tonks can -"

"Babysit?" I joked.

He opened his mouth and closed it again, "It's up to you who you want to invite."

"Trying to distract me from the fact that you two are going to be up to no good, are we?" I looked between the twins.

Fred smirked at me, "Told you she'd see right through the masterplan, mate."

I set the bags down, folded my arms, raised my eyebrows and stared at George, "Well?"

"The only woman worth my time is standing right in front of me." he smiled, reached forwards and placed his hands in my hair and kissed me, "Your hair's shorter."

"That's not the only thing that's changed." I raised my eyebrows. George's finger traced my face and stopped on my lips. I smiled at him and made myself invisible, leaving him hanging, poking into the air in front of him, "Can I interest anyone in a hot beverage?" I smiled from the kitchen, having put the kettle on.

George smirked, "Have you drugged her?"

"Could you imagine if I had?" Tonks winked over at me, "That girl is high on life."

"Ohhhhh yeahhhh."

21st July

"Okay, so, I may have gone slightly mad yesterday."

"Slightly?!" George's eyes nearly popped out of his head when he saw just how much I had bought after trying to fit it into his wardrobe and my trunk. Our bed had neat piles of new clothes, too. He laughed a little, probably choosing to laugh, rather than cry, "You're going to cost me an absolute fortune in future, aren't you?"

I smiled at him sweetly.

He looked down at me, "That's a really nice outfit you've got on you, though."

I gave him a twirl, "I feel pretty."

"You're pretty darn gorgeous." He grabbed himself a cup, "Want a cuppa?"

I nodded, "I didn't buy everything for me, either. I got you some, not so secretive presents, too."

He pouted, "But I want to see the secretive presents!" he came into the bedroom and looked around, searching for whatever he had in mind, which was probably right on point, "You said we needed to be alone for this present…" I nodded and he continued, "So we need to be alone, alone?"

"Yep."

"FRED!" George called out.

"SHUSH!" I covered his mouth, "Behave yourself, it will happen when it happens, okay?"

He pursed his lips, "Okay."

"Yeah?" Fred came into the room, "Woah, Kathryn."

"I got you a shirt for your next date with Ange. Perfect blend of Freddie and sophistication." I handed a shirt to him on a hanger. It was navy blue with a design on the top half of the shirt.

He took off the shirt he was wearing and put the new shirt on, "I love it."

George smiled at me, "Am I getting an outfit to wear?"

"Take your clothes off." I said in the most deadpan of voices I could muster before turning my back on him to get the outfit.

"Hey, if you two are gonna – I mean – I can leave."

"Oh, that won't be necessary, Freddie, too many people are planning on being here this evening." I called out from the bedroom.

George slid up and stood in the doorway with his socks and boxers on.

"Who're you trying to impress?" I joked with him as I looked him up and down, chucking him a pair of navy blue chinos and a light blue cotton shirt.

He set the shirt and chinos on the bed and took a step closer to me, "You." He muttered, before placing his hands under my khaki shirt onto my hips and drawing me closer to his body, then we touched, his bare skin on me. I felt my heart pound in my chest as I got the confidence to touch his face before kissing him.

"You'd – um – better get dressed before – ah – before everyone arrives."

He looked down at me, his eyes flickering between my eyes and my lips. I was crumbing inside. His hand found the back of my neck and he bit his lower lip, "Merlin you're beautiful."

"You're looking down my shirt, aren't you?"

He smirked.

"Behave yourself." I stood on my tiptoes and kissed him before walking out of the bedroom to answer the door three floors down. Lee, Tobias and Bernie stood smiling at me, "Hey guys!"

Lee nodded, "You're looking good!"

"Thank you!" I did an awkward curtsey as I let them in, "The boys are upstairs."

"Are you coming with us?" Tobias asked awkwardly.

"No, I was told this was a lads-only night." I smirked, "So I'm having a no Fred and George night in bitter retaliation."

Fred was standing at the door to the apartment, "What's this about bitter retaliation?"

"Never you mind, Freddie!" I tapped my nose and turned to see George standing there, "Well don't you look dapper?" I approached him and fixed his collar, "I must say that outfit is gorgeous." I said in a sing-song voice, took a deep breath and he locked eyes with me, "Come back in one piece, okay?"

He took me into the bedroom and placed his hand on my cheek, "I'll see you in the morning, don't worry."

"But you know I will."

"I won't do anything stupid, I promise."

"Have a good night, sweetheart."

"You too, baby girl."

I rolled my eyes at him, "I love you."

"I'm not going to die. Stop freaking out." Our noses touched, "And I love you, too."

"Are you two finished being mushy?" Fred leaned on the doorpost, "Tonks is here, and so's Xander and his friend."

"Hey missus," Tonks rubbed her hands together, "I put the ice-cream into the freezer."

George left the room, "Ice-cream?" he ran over to open the freezer door, "Jealous."

"I'd better not mention the pizza, then?" Tonks smirked, "You're taking up girl time, don't you lot have a table booked in five minutes?"

"You're right," Fred said, grabbing a few bits and bobs, "We'd better get a move on. Love you, Kathryn. That's what George is trying to say and now he's going to leave."

George, somewhat reluctantly left my side and followed his twin and friends through the empty shop and out towards Muggle London.

"He looks at you as though he'd very much like to see you naked."

"Seriously, T?" I shook my head, "I thought this was a girls' night."

"And you're not allowing me to talk about boys?" she scoffed, "Alright then, I'll not tell you what Remus said to me this afternoon."

I smirked, two can play that game, "And I won't tell you what George and I did when we were alone this afternoon."

"YOU DIDN'T?" her chin dropped.

I shrugged my shoulders.

"Oh come on, sis!"

"No, of course we didn't." I said incredulously, "Do you think I'd be allowing him out with his friends this evening? Besides, when I'm done with him, he'll be too weak at the knees to do anything."

Tonks hooted, "Too right." She grabbed the pizza from the counter top and set it on the coffee table and took out a slice each, "Well, there was an Order meeting and Remus showed up late and he was looking… drained. So I tried talking to him, expecting him to avoid me, but we had a bit of a chat. He said that he's working with werewolves, watching out for signs of Death Eater activity. He told me that he saw the werewolf who bit him as a kid…"

"Let me guess, he and my mother are on the same side? Causing devastation to children, one at a time."

"Unfortunately so…" she agreed, "Here, you didn't seem surprised at Remus' mission."

I grimaced, "Cause I already knew?"

Tonks shook her head, "He tells you but doesn't tell me?"

"Well, having a conversation with me doesn't have to mean anything… Him having a conversation with you does mean something. And you know as well as I do that he can tell me things because I won't tell him how crazy the idea is or tell him not to do something cause he's a full-grown man who has more experience than me."

She opened her mouth and closed it again before grabbing another slice of pizza.

"It's the same way you can chat to me about anything, I won't judge, I won't tell you how to live your life, T, I will just be a listening ear and an advice giver if asked for." I ate a bit of my pizza slice.

"Sometimes I forget that you're not even seventeen yet." She remarked, "I completely understand why you're so mature, it just surprises me when you come out with stuff like that."

"Why do you think I prefer the company and conversation of those who are older than me?" I questioned, "That I can have a conversation with Fleur without being so bloody immature like Gin and 'Mione. Or sit in on an Order meeting and engage in the conversation."

Tonks sat closer to me, having taken off her boots and put her feet up, "Is that why you only invited them to join us after dinner?"

"Look, I love those girls to pieces, Ginny, most of the time, gets when I need space and when to not give me it, and Hermione is like me in so many ways that we can sit and bounce ideas off each other, but sometimes the two of them do my head in."

"Like when Hermione demands to be part of the conversation?" Tonks added, "I've seen you get frustrated with her when she strolls in and wants to be her usual know-it-all."

"Or when she thinks that her own problems are more important?"

Tonks nodded, "I can imagine that she can be a bit… full on at times."

"Yeah, and Ginny can be very judgemental and doesn't give people a chance, I mean, if she just sat down and had a grown-up conversation with Fleur, the tensions in that house wouldn't be half as high."

"And you, little sister, are very quick to shut people off, and to defend yourself, which I can understand, but you are also very hard on yourself." She chided, "I am very aware that I am one of the few people you trust and will talk to, but I'm also very aware from individuals telling me that you are hard to communicate with sometimes."

I tried not to regress into myself, to take the criticism, to respond, no matter how much I wanted to hide how I was feeling and what was going on in my head, "Well, that all stems from childhood, and I am working on it, and Molly knows that insisting that I do what she wants isn't going to get her anywhere, because Helen and Richard did a lot of insisting and I'm over it."

"And you're very defensive as well."

I sat in silence.

"You're doing it."

I scoffed, "How am I meant to be more open when my opinion is wrong and gets shot down?"

Tonks sized me up, "Because people aren't mind readers and don't understand what you've been through, which has resulted in the way you think differently. You are incredibly intelligent and are quick and notice things that most people miss, and sometimes you just have to let others catch up, or at least, think about what you're saying before you say it."

I looked at her, "I hope you are benefitting from this very small opportunity to mother me, and I do hope you are going to move on to another topic of conversation before I make it change."

She pursed her lips, "Just let me say this… I think you'll get on better with people, like Molly, if you sit down and listen to what they have to say before retaliating. That's all."

"Thank you for your feedback." I said slowly and robotically.

"You're funny." She teased, "Now eat another slice of pizza before I devour it all." Then as I lifted the slice she added, "and on the topic of your sex life -"

"TONKS!" my chin dropped.

She smiled, "Eat that slice seductively. As though I'm George."

"Don't morph into him, my heart wouldn't be able to cope." I warned.

She shook her head, "That's not fair on either of us. Not when I'm not him and you'll be conflicted about me being in his body. I've tried it before with friends, it doesn't work. I remember Orla asking me to morph into Josh and, well, it didn't end well." She shook her head, "Carry on…"

I glanced up at her and smiled, "Thanks for letting me have the last slice." I moved closer to Tonks, took a bite, "Mmmmm."

The two of us burst into laughter.

"Sorry, I don't do seductive eating." I placed her hair behind her ear, "But I do know how to grab your attention." I stared into her eyes, an intensive stare, the type that George would have and I would have no idea why, but he claims he just wants to look at my eyes. I then looked down at her lips and bit my own lower lip, inching my body closer to hers as though to kiss her.

"Okay, okay, if you get any closer, I swear I'm going to kiss you."

I turned my head on the side, "Go on, then."

"You really need to stop."

"Sorry…" I said.

She smirked, "You've done that before. No wonder you've been able to bag him all this time."

"Hm." I made the noise as I backed off, hoping, wishing that George was thinking about me, too. I supposed not, given that he was out with his friends. I missed him and I felt stupid for doing so, but I know our time together is short this summer. I wish we could have more time, see more of each other, do more together.

"Earth to Kathryn?" Tonks waved her hands in front of my face.

"Sorry -"

She laughed, "Let's go to the Burrow, eh?"

I looked at the time, we'd been chatting for over two hours. I stood and went into the bedroom, "I'll just grab a few things… Do you reckon my new boots will compliment this outfit?"

"Yes!" Tonks was standing in the doorway, one thing I had noticed from the last few times I've seen her, is that her hair is that mousy dull brown colour. No vibrancy, no colour, no sudden changes in her appearance. I was going to have to ask her how she really is feeling later, "Mind if I use your loo?"

"Course not!" I said, tightening the laces of the boots before tying them up and admiring them in the mirror. I noticed an odd flicker in the reflection and looked out the window. In the distance the sun was beginning to set in the sky, but closer to home, I jolted as I saw a group of hooded figures with their wands out, outside Florean Fortescue's. Diagon Alley was polluted with panicking people. Shots of red and green light were being fired, "Wowzah." My eyes were glued to the progressing situation, as I fumbled for my wand, "Uhm… T?"

Tonks opened the bathroom door, "What's – Wotcher, Kathryn! Death Eaters!" she, too, had her wand in hand, "Go to the Burrow and get help, I'm going -"

"You're not going!" I grabbed her arm, "I can't lose you!"

"Get word to Molly!" she disapparated, reappearing outside Florean Fortescue, not looking like herself but Auror Tonks.

Without even a second to catch my thoughts I sped towards the fireplace and threw Floo Powder at the fire and stepped in, "THE BURROW!"

Molly, Bill and Fleur were all sitting at the table in deep discussion, "Death Eaters – in Diagon Alley – Tonks has gone to save Fortescue." I said loud and clear.

Bill and Fleur nodded at each other and disapparated on the spot. Molly looked panicked, "I'll alert The Order, thank you, Kathryn. Why don't you go upstairs and -"

"Go upstairs? No way. Fred and George will be walking though Diagon Alley! And Tonks, I can't leave her!" I turned my back on Molly and was through the fire before she could grab me. One look out of the window told me that Tonks, Bill and Fleur were running from Florean Fortescue's towards the Leaky Cauldron. The Dark Mark was looming above the ice cream shop. I couldn't just stand there. I turned invisible and, that way, I was able to run through doors to go help.

It was now completely dark outside, a little sooner than expected, and cold. I pressed on. I stepped inside Fortescue's shop and saw his cold body on the floor. I pressed my fingers to his neck to feel a pulse. Nothing. There was no saving him.

I stood, holding my breath, knowing that anger was not the answer. This is one of those times that underage magic was perhaps going to be necessary and I wasn't afraid of the repercussions of defending myself. My mind was focused on protecting those I love. I tried to fill my mind with happiness, should I need to perform that one spell I hadn't been able to conjure yet. The negative thoughts and feelings from my past were creeping upon me. Dementors must be close.

I clapped eyes on Ollivander's, Tonks was duelling a Death Eater, as were Bill and Fleur a few metres away. Ollivander was unconscious in the arms of a tall, hairy man. "Let's go!" he growled.

Shoppers were screaming, darting in all directions, it was hard to keep track of everything going on. I couldn't get a clear shot to aim a spell to save Ollivander. I had to make myself visible because terrified witches and wizards were running straight through me. The flicker of street lights intensified the duelling. I kept my head up, alert, aware that I could be seen, expecting sudden changes and went to explore.

Carefully climbing over rubble and shards of glass, the remnants of Ollivander's shop front, I stepped inside to see that two Death Eaters were grabbing all the wands they could carry. A third noticed me, and a confused recognition appeared across his face. I raised my wand and tried to stun him, but he dodged me. Running towards me, he dropped his arm full of wands, fumbled, managing to dodge every spell I threw at him until, he launched himself at me, grabbing me by the wand arm, disarming me. The two of us landed on the ground, I tried to reach for my wand and he headbutted me, making me see stars. I kneed him in the groin and he fell to the floor no longer on top of me, gasping in pain. I grabbed my wand and stunned him then and there.

I quickly made myself invisible as the hairy man looked up, glancing exactly where I had just been visible, and he disapparated. The others all followed suit.

Arthur Weasley and two others I didn't recognise approached from the Leaky Cauldron direction, Arthur actually walked through me in his pursuit of Death Eaters in the shop. "They're gone!" Tonks wiped the sweat off her brow, poised, ready for action, "It was Greyback, with five others."

Arthur examined the body of the man I had stunned, I left the shop as he did what he had to do to the body.

"There have been disturbances in Muggle London," the lady who arrived with Arthur announced, "One of the bridges -"

"Two, now Hestia…" said the third person, an older man, looking at a piece of parchment, "Snapped in two… the muggles will have a hard time explaining -"

"And what about that Hurricane in the West Country?" Hestia asked.

Arthur appeared to be holding back anger and frustration, "Moody was sent with Diggle to reverse the damage. Right now we need to find out where they've taken Ollivander."

"We need to re-group," Tonks stated.

"I over'eard zem talking about Emmeline -" Fleur interrupted.

"And Amelia Bones." Bill added.

There was an odd silence within the group, they must have been murdered… "I need to go back to the twin's shop and make sure Kathryn is okay…" Tonks stated before heading in that direction.

"I'm right here." I said aloud, making myself visible, "I'm fine. How can I help?"

The five others stared at me, confused, none of them were looking remotely in the direction I was standing, but probably could have sworn there was no one there before. My focus, however, was on Tonks, making it seem like I'd always been there, "You need to go back, it isn't safe!" she put her hands on my shoulders, looking panicked, looking over my shoulder constantly.

"Don't you think I know that?" I stood back, ready to fight, then something caught my attention, a hooded figure coming out of Ollivanders, wand raised, "LOOK OUT!" I screamed, and as Bill turned I got a good view of the man, poised, ready to kill, "STUPEFY!" I yelled and he fell to the ground.

"Thanks, Kathryn." Bill let out a breath he didn't know he was holding, and wore a stunned expression on his face, Fleur hurried to her fiancé to check if he was hurt.

"Tonks is right, Kathryn, it isn't safe for you here." Arthur began, "And Molly wouldn't be happy, either, she sent for me to make sure you were inside and out of danger."

I turned to him, "I'm perfectly fine. I just need to make sure Fred and George -"

He interrupted me, "And you just did underage magic, are you aware of the repercussions? Did you not learn anything from Harry's trial last year?"

"Dad, if she didn't I'd probably be -"

"And – I'm trying to talk to you Kathryn!" Arthur's voice was anxious, as though talking to Ginny, worried that his daughter was in danger. I was more concerned with what Bill was doing to the body of the man I had stunned, but I couldn't get a clear view.

"We need to get somewhere safe." Tonks was in Auror mode, she stood in front of me, but the green light told me what Bill was forced to do to the Death Eater, "Let's go back to the shop?" she suggested, she took my hand and dragged me.

We argued, she told me that I needed to come, that we could wait for the twins where the twins expected to find us. All I could think of was if Fred or George were on those bridges as they collapsed. Or were attacked on the streets of London. She told me that they have magic and would be fine. I wish that contented me. I sat on the windowsill, desperately watching out over Diagon Alley, praying I would see the twins, both safe and well.

I sat through the debrief meeting for the Order. Molly, Mad-Eye Moody and Dedalus Diggle now joined us, though Molly disappeared sharpish, keen to get back to the Burrow. But that didn't stop her from voicing her concerns about me being present during such important business.

"Would you have preferred if I kept schtum earlier? Not warned you lot about the fact there were Death Eaters in Diagon Alley? Dumbledore was happy enough last summer when I was passing on intel about the Malfoys! I have every right to be sitting here. I have no intention of passing on any information because quite frankly, I'm not amused at the bloke who did this to me." I stood and grabbed a frozen bag of peas and placed them to my face. A bruise was definitely coming up where I had been head-butted.

"Dumbledore trusts her," Arthur said in my defence, Molly agreed and that was the point she left.

"So you're saying we trust her because Dumbledore trusts her?" Moody commented.

"Do I act like Severus Snape or something?" I called out from the window, the Order members who were in a circle in front of the fire, sitting on the sofas and chairs stopped arguing and looked at me, "Cause I'm not a double crosser, I'm aware who my parents are, but that's where the connection starts and stops. I'm not a little girl anymore, I've seen things, I know things, just get on with your meeting!"

Tonks stood, "You can trust her!"

Fleur added, "She saved my Bill!"

"Fine." Moody stated and so the meeting went on.

Countless attacks occurred that evening, all around the same time. The two bridges collapsed, the hurricane in the West Country, the murder of Emmeline Vance just outside 10 Downing Street. Fortescue was murdered, Ollivander was taken, presumably alive. Amelia Bones, however, was the assumed main target; she was murdered by Voldemort in her own home, giving him a ruddy good run for his money, too. She was Susan Bones' Aunt, apparently Voldemort has taken out a huge chunk of her family already... It also appears that the Dementors are under Death Eater control and are feeding on whatever they like. Excellent. And where was Dumbledore in all this? Goodness knows. The positive is, the man trusts me.

22nd July

In the early hours of the morning, a few hours after the meeting had ended, all the Order Members bar Tonks and Arthur had gone home. Arthur was trying to coax me into staying at the Burrow. But I refused. I was wide awake, sitting in the same position at the window, now sporting a black eye.

"I'll stay with her, Arthur. That was the original agreement anyway." Tonks said as Arthur yawned for the hundredth time, "She's not going to budge."

"Aren't you even the slightest bit worried about your sons?" I asked.

Arthur blinked, as though surprised I dared ask the question, "Fred and George told you that they would be back in the early hours. They are out enjoying themselves with a group of wizards. I have to believe they are alright. Otherwise I'd never sleep at night."

I set down the cup of tea, which had long gone cold and focused on the flickering movement on the cobbled stones of Diagon Alley. I held my face as close to the glass as I would dare, taking calm, measured breaths, making out three figures. They were coming this way.

"Ohmygoodnessohmygoodness." I jumped off the windowsill and hurried down the stairs of the shop, with Tonks and Arthur on my tail. George had his keys out, opening the shop doors, I lifted my wand out and questioned, "Who am I to you?"

"You're my Katy," he smiled, "We started dating on Christmas Day of '94, you recently found out that you're Katy Belle Lestrange." He stared at me.

Fred popped his head around, "You're living with me, too. Love this shirt, by the way."

Then Lee Jordan added, "And I'm the guy who poked fun at you for needing extra paper in the charms exam."

"I thought we were never going to speak of that, ever." I held the door open cautiously to let the three men into the shop. I locked the door behind them, turned and leaned my head against the door, breathing a sigh of relief.

"What happened out there?" George put an arm around my shoulders.

"There -" I began but was interrupted by Arthur.

He cleared his throat, "Your girlfriend was very irresponsible tonight, using underage magic -"

"But Arthur -"

He continued, "Using the Stunning Spell on multiple occasions, fighting Death Eaters far older and far more experienced when there were members of the Order present, handling the situation -"

I scoffed, "Handling the situation?"

"As a result -"

"HANDLING THE SITUATION?"

"If you would let me finish, young lady."

"By all means." I stood there, directing him with my hand motions that I'd love to endure nothing more than a stern telling off. He told me how irresponsible it was to ignore Molly's wishes and not stay with the 'rest of the kids' and to 'let the adults sort it'. He proceeded to let me know that not telling anyone that I had turned up to the fight was also extremely irresponsible and I was 'endangering' myself. He also said that being inside Ollivander's shop with that stunned Death Eater and the two other Death Eaters was beyond stupid.

"Why-Are-You-Laughing-At-Me-When-I'm-Telling-You-Off?" Arthur was angry now, a vein pulsing in his forehead.

I stood for a second, not laughing, completely calm, unafraid, "You see, Arthur… It was me who stunned that Death Eater in Ollivander's. Me. Do I know it was stupid? Course I do, but is that going to stop me? No, because I saw how many figures there were, and I knew that Tonks, Bill and Fleur were outnumbered."

"But -"

"No, Arthur, you're letting me talk now." I said firmly, frightening myself with how authoritative I sounded, "Am I aware that I'm sixteen? Of course I am, I am so aware of all these facts about myself, but I would also rather suffer the repercussions of a little underage magic than see you bury your son, because realistically that could have happened tonight."

Arthur stood still, stunned.

By this stage I knew I had his full attention, "I know I'm underage and I understand that I haven't had the experience to deal with half of the situations I come across. But I'm also aware of something else… I have my mother's skill, I'm quick, I can think on the spot and I don't freeze in the presence of danger. I'm not saying that I enjoy it, but I'm not incompetent. And you know, as well as I, that I am going to have to a hell of a lot of fighting to get through these next few years, to keep not only myself, but other people alive. You've got to learn to trust me and you have to realise my abilities, my potential." I held out my hand as though to shake his.

Arthur's eyebrows lowered, he wasn't expecting such a gesture, and he lifted his hand to grasp mine. Upon his touch of my skin, I made the two of us invisible, "How are you doing this?"

"Apparently my maternal grandfather was an invisibilia, too." I told him, "It's incredibly rare and I haven't told many people. I am careful and can approach situations with a clear mind, knowing that I am not seen. How do you think I could get you all that intel last summer?" I let go of his hand.

Arthur's expression was one of wonder and deep consideration, he was exhausted, you could see it in his eyes, "That explains a lot."

"Go home and get some sleep." I told him.

"You really should stay at the Burrow."

"And I've already told you, that isn't happening."

He nodded to me, his sons, Lee and finally to Tonks, who too was quietened by exhaustion. We would deal with everything in the morning.