14th August

It was when I sat down with a cup of coffee this morning that the owl post arrived. Two owls tapped on the window and I let them in. "They're both for me!" I said in surprise to Angelina who was sitting opposite me, having spent the night here again. Sitting back down at the table, I opened the first. It was from Mr Snow, stating that he had an opening this afternoon if I could make it. The appointment was two hours away. Now I was going to have to figure out how to get there. I was feeling a little stressed, knowing it must be important as I opened the second letter. Upon recognising who it was from, my heart was in my throat again…

To my beautiful Katy,

I'm glad you asked – I'm happy for you to call me 'Mum', when you were a baby, you called me 'Momma' and I still smile when I think of those moments. It's a shame that you are so busy, but I understand that you have a limited time to sort everything. You are all grown up, dealing with issues on your own. If you need any help, let me know.

I was initially nervous about bringing you forward. I have informed the Dark Lord of a source that is close to Harry Potter. He is eager to gain contact with you. But I feel like that is suffice for now until you decide to come forward. I agree that it may be dangerous for both of us if I reveal I have been lying. The Dark Lord does not like untrustworthy followers. When you come forward it will be necessary for you to bring information to the Death Eaters to prove your worth. This way, it is unlikely that either of us will be punished. You write about your fears and reservations on joining; do not worry, you have the blood of the Most Nobel House of Black and the blood of House Lestrange running through your veins. Your blood is your strength. Use it. You have a few weeks to figure out how to impress him. Send me information you already know with your next owl – Harry Potter's home address? His strengths and weaknesses? Perhaps you know of members of the Order of the Phoenix? Surprise me!

I have enclosed one of my books for you to keep. I hope you find it beneficial. You will learn a lot about me by reading it. Send me something that represents you. Draco did well in his OWLS, so if you achieved better, that is commendable! When it comes to subjects, I studied the core five and Arithmancy, I always enjoyed working with numbers.

It was lovely to hear from you,
Your loving Mother,
Bellatrix x

My heart was thudding and my hands were shaking as I finished reading. A book had been wrapped in with the letter entitled, 'The Essence of Dark Magic'. I flicked through the pages and Bellatrix had made notes throughout, the binding was a little torn and the handwriting was young and girly. She must have had this in her possession for a good number of years. I then saw the names 'Frank and Alice Longbottom' and snapped the book shut, throwing it onto the table as though contaminated with something highly infectious.

"Everything okay?" Ange asked, lowering her copy of the Daily Prophet.

I took a deep breath.

Ange stood slowly, as she watched my panic unfold, "I'm just going to get George…" she hurried away from the kitchen table, out the door and into the shop.

I meanwhile got up and started pacing around the room, letter in hand, comprehending everything it meant. George burst into the flat and I held my hands up to him, "I'm fine! I'm fine!"

"I think you're the definition of 'not fine', what's happened?" I handed him the letter and he read, "She's making demands."

"Of course she is, Harry Potter is one of my best friends. She wants me to meet Voldemort, what on earth could possibly go wrong?" I held my hands in the air, "And I've somehow to make it into London and back again."

"We both know we can manage a trip into London."

"These meetings with Maura seem to be working," George commented as we walked up the little Alleyway we apparated into, "not so long ago, you would have -"

"Had a complete meltdown, yeah, I know."

"I wasn't going to put it like that, but… yeah." He allowed himself to laugh about it. We both knew how important it was to talk about my recovery, and the fact that he was noticing a difference already made my confidence levels raise a little higher. I still freaked out, though. I'm still struggling to cope on my own, I'm still afraid of my mother and the power she has over me…

George was watching me as we walked together, his eyes trying to discern the emotions going on in my head though the blank expression on my face. So many questions were running through my head. Why did Mr Snow want another meeting? What does Bellatrix want from me? Is she going to tell Voldemort about me? Am I going to be dead this time next year, because I really don't stand a chance against the Death Eaters.

"D'you want me to come in with you? Cause I honestly don't mind?" the two of us were stationary outside Lowell and Snow Lawyer Firm. I hadn't registered that we had just arrived and George was giving me ever increasingly concerned glances as he kept watch.

"So you can find out how much money I'm getting? I don't think so." I stood on my tiptoes and pecked him on the cheek, "I'll write to you whenever I'm finished."

He nodded, "Shall we get pizza for lunch?"

I smiled, "I'd love to!" I kissed his cheek gently.

He waited for me to step into the building before disapparating. I knew my way through the building now, pressing the button on the lift and making my way up to the third floor. Lisa, the receptionist I remembered from last summer was sitting, just as I remembered her.

"Good morning, how can I help you?"

"I have an appointment with Mr Snow," I felt stupid being so nervous when I'd had meetings with the man countless times before. That man helped put my parents in prison, for goodness sake.

At that moment as Lisa stared at Mr Snow's appointment list, he walked out of his office, bouncing on the soles of his feet and a chirpy greeting, "Kathryn!" he announced, "Come on in, I have your cousin here!"

"Emily?" I exclaimed as I walked into the room, both shocked and surprised to see the cousin who told me she was moving to New York and never returning, "What're you doing here?"

"Same reason you are – to sort this all out. Let's get to it, then?" she indicated that I took the seat beside her as Mr Snow sat and sorted through the papers on the desk in front of him.

"Ms Redman really is the most accomplished young lawyer I've ever met. These processes – the allocation of money and possessions that have been bequeathed often take months – but today I have great news to tell you," he sat forward, "I have, as of this morning, deposited 90,000 Galleons into your Gringotts bank account."

I nodded, "Oh."

"Come on, you ought to be a little more excited than that!" Emily faced me, "NINETY THOUSAND! Gran was rich! I've priced her stuff and I get roughly the same amount! Sticking that old bat has paid off!"

I tried not to show it in my expression, but things didn't feel right. Emily loved our Grandma. She was against the whole money thing, too. She's earning enough in Corporate Law. "How long has it been since we saw each other last, Em?" I asked, "Surely it's been years?" I scratched my head, trying to look pensive.

"I know, right? I mean, I haven't seen you since you started at that school." She stared at me, taking me in as she asked, "How has it been from finding out about your adoption, your mother's name is Bellatrix Lestrange, right?"

I knew it wasn't her now. She couldn't have forgotten having seen me in the last year and I never told her about Bellatrix.

"And you're still with Simon? Are there no wedding bells yet?"

She gave a small smirk, "You never know."

Alarm bells rang in my ears and I knew I needed to get out of there, it would be too much of a coincidence that she would be dating another Simon, "Sorry, do you have a toilet I could use, Mr Snow?"

"End of the corridor." He directed and began conversing with Emily.

So many things about that meeting didn't feel right. I know Emily is my cousin and the money is being split between the two of us, but surely I need to have given permission for her to be present at my meeting about the money going to me? My head spun. I took the stairs down to the ground floor, and swiftly made my way to the exit, to make a run for it. I fumbled in my handbag for my litteras occultas when I was surrounded by a group of middle-aged men with wands.

Play it innocent.

I raised my hands in the air, my wand in my pocket, quick to access if needs be. I tried to stay calm, and I put on the best practicing-terrible-British-accents-with-Draco-Malfoy accent I could muster, "Can I help you? What choo pointing all those sticks at me for?"

"Looks like her." One of the men said, "Same 'air and eyes."

"'Oo do I look like?" I asked him directly.

I was ignored.

Another man used the Imperius Curse on Lisa, the receptionist, "You told us this was her."

"It is." Lisa answered.

"Katy Lestrange?" another Death Eater looked at me.

"Her name is Kathryn Pink." Lisa responded, "Same girl. It says here in Mr Snow's records."

I was in serious danger, but I had to do something, "Can someone please tell me what's going on here?" I turned around, counting five men and a woman surrounding me, looking seriously like Death Eaters without masks on.

The door to the elevator opened and Emily yelled in a very bloke-ish voice, "It's her! What you waitin' for? Get her!"

I took the distraction as my opportunity to duck my head and make a run for it. I couldn't just make myself invisible, that would be stupid, dangerous and information like that would make its way back to the wrong people. Stuffing my hand into my pocket, I searched my mind for a spell that would save my life. "Expulso!" I pointed my wand wildly behind me and an explosion was created, "Expulso!" I yelled again, pointing at the elegant lights, not having time to look to see the damage.

A man grabbed me as I ran, picking me up off my feet and threw me over his shoulder, seizing my wand as he did. I was a good couple of stones lighter than what I was a few years back and he made my body seem like light work as I kicked and screamed. He started walking, I felt the warm sunshine on my backside. I elbowed him in the back of the head at the base of the skull and he swayed on the spot, landing a punch in my face. Crunch. I landed in a heap on the ground, eyes streaming, pain pulsing through my face and a warm liquid gushing down my face and down my throat.

I felt around for my wand, got up and blindly reached out for the doors. I couldn't see a thing. My vision slowly returned as a blur, allowed me to make out the buildings ahead as I staggered onto the streets of London, feeling the walls, stumbling over debris from the explosion I had created. In the middle of muggle London. That was the last thing on my mind as I tried to stem the bleeding. Pinching my nose was painful, but I was increasingly more lightheaded. A spell hit me on the back and I fell to the ground, unconscious.

"Where is Harry Potter?"

I had just come back into consciousness for the third time.

First I was rendered unconscious from a Stunning Spell in the streets of Muggle London. I had been transported here, to a dark, dingy, earth-smelling room and tied to a chair by a Incarcerous spell. That was when the interrogation began.

The same seven people from Snow's office had taken turns, doing their 'worst'. They were all sporting their own varying degrees of injuries, given by myself, in two very well placed explosion curses. I was now paying for it. The first man shouted and yelled and threatened, punching me in the face, giving me a black eye. He really didn't scare me. I've met a whole lot worse than him.

After Merlin knows how long, he gave up and three masked men entered the dark room and tried to rough me up. They used scare tactics, like throwing me about, making me fall, applying chemicals to make the cuts burn, and boy, did that hurt. When that didn't make me loosen my tongue, they gifted me a few broken fingers. I did manage to spit in one of the bloke's eyes. Nice bloody spit. 'Where is Harry Potter?' They would threaten to hurt me. 'Where is the Order of the Phoenix Headquarters?' They would pull my hair as though ripping it from my head. 'Where is Albus Dumbledore?' One of them tried (and failed) to use legilimency against me. They questioned me over and over about who I am, they were trying to get me to open up, and make a slip of the tongue. But the thing is, I've been in this situation before, and I noticed they weren't doing much to physically hurt me. I could be lying in a pool of my own blood, gasping for breath, unable to move, pleading for my life, but I wasn't.

"I don't know," I told them, "I've been on my own all summer." I would tell them, "I haven't seen Harry or Dumbledore from the end of term." I talked to prevent another bruise from appearing. They were at it for hours. They were playing the long game.

But when they gave up, the woman Death Eater walked in, or should I say strutted into the room. She used the Cruciatus curse as a way of greeting me. Her laugh was high pitched; she was enjoying herself. I became well acquainted with the Cruciatus Curse each and every time I told her I didn't know where Harry was. Or gave her an answer she didn't like. Or if I didn't answer her. Or if she got bored.

"You'll find I'm not as nice as everyone before me." she told me between short periods of torture, "I do not give a flying f*ck if I hurt you. I revel in the fact that I'm hurting the Lestrange kid. If you don't tell me the information I want, I'll continue torturing you until you die."

I looked at her, square in the eyes, "Alright, then."

She used the Cruciatus Curse on me and I tried to fight it. I was now willing to risk exposing my ability. I had tried again and again to use my ability to disappear, but I was too weak, too vulnerable. I could barely support myself in the chair, the magical bonds preventing me from dropping to the floor. I had lost a bit of blood and taken a bang to the head and things were still a little fuzzy. I couldn't tell if it was day or night, all I knew is that I had been in that room for a long time. I hadn't eaten a thing and when she forced me to stand, to fight her, I fainted. That was the second time I fell unconscious.

When I regained consciousness I was strapped back into the chair again, head lolling back and forth, blood matted to my face, body desperately low on energy and willpower. I felt myself drifting, getting weaker and weaker with every blast of the Cruciatus Curse. I had to do something. This was the first time I thought of the possibility of death. The last of her threatening words booming in my ears, "WHERE IS HARRY POTTER?" My body finally succumbed to its desires. The third unconscious episode.

When I woke again, my body was aching with hunger, head bursting in pain, face throbbing. I needed food. I needed sustenance. I needed medical attention. I swallowed yet another mouthful of blood. It took me a while to realise I was lying on my side, suspended in the air, attached to the chair. My hair was touching the ground, and on the muddy ground in front of me, lay my wand and handbag. They were watching me, to see how I reacted. They were testing me.

Or maybe my mind is playing tricks on me?

In a moment of complete surrender, I allowed myself to think of George, of Harry, Hermione, Ginny, Fred and even Ron. I was doing this to protect them. Sacrificing myself. Tears stung down my face and dripped onto the floor. They were never going to let me go. All they needed was a skilled Legilimens and I was done for. They had broken down my defences. I was as good as an open book. I had little in me left to fight back.

"Where is Harry Potter?" I was asked for the umpteenth time. A fearful sounding man stepped into the room and approached me, "I know he's a close friend of yours." I braced myself for a good kicking, but he lifted the chair and placed me back in the upright position again. "Where is Harry Potter?" he asked, a hint of kindness in his voice.

"I don't know." I answered, my voice hoarse, unable to form all the words. But I'm sure he got the gist, it was the same answer everyone else was getting.

"Don't lie to me." Another current of white hot pain pulsed through my body. The world blackened momentarily as I recovered from the latest blow. His voice was still soft and kind, like he didn't want to hurt me. His 'act' was truly spectacular.

I coughed, spraying blood over myself and my immediate surroundings. I needed a drink. I needed the pain to go away. The seventh Death Eater backed away from me in disgust, and in one swift movement swept his cloak out of the room. Bolts locked behind him as he walked away. I listened as his footsteps sounded up the staircase and within minutes returned again. The door swung open and locked behind him as he reappeared, holding a glass of water. At this point, I didn't care if it was poisonous or not.

I gulped at the cool, refreshing water, "Woah, you're going to make yourself choke." He said, taking the glass away.

"Please." I begged.

He held the glass to my lips and I continued to gulp until the glass was empty.

"I've done something for you, now you need to do something for me." he got a chair and sat opposite me, "Where is Harry Potter?"

"Don't you think, after all this time, if I knew, I'd have told you?" I said gruffly.

He breathed, "I think you're lying to me."

"*uck off, don't you know who I am?"

"I know exactly who you are, Miss Lestrange." He said patiently, "Your mother has asked you for information, and you haven't provided her with anything."

I tried to sound genuine as I pleaded, "Don't you think I'm trying to find out for her? Bring her here and I'll tell her everything I know. I'll explain!"

"Ms Lestrange won't help you. She was the person who told us exactly who you are. Led us to where we found you." He paused, "Your mother gave us permission to do this. She wants this information. Needs this information."

I coughed, spitting out blood spitefully on the floor, "That's very nice of her. Great of her to show up and ask me herself."

He laughed heartily at my sarcasm.

"I guess she's also told you what I'm capable of."

He snorted, "What you're capable of? What would a sixteen-year-old girl like yourself be capable of?"

"How much time have you got?"

"Oh sweetheart, we've got all day."

"Oh, excellent!" I smiled sarcastically, "Well, since we've got all day, perhaps something to eat might be a good idea. You lot have been torturing me for a while now, and I'm sure mummy won't be too happy if you're starving her little girl."

A hint of fear shot into his eyes, "I make the rules around here, missy."

"Well, I guess it's up to you, then?" I shrugged my shoulders weakly, the only thing keeping me conscious right now was the adrenaline pumping through my veins. So I kept up the risky behaviour, fighting against my body's qualms. I looked at him, "I guess no one has told you that the key to my heart is through my stomach? I'll tell you what I know after I'm fed."

"Tell me now."

I shook my head and stared at him, in silence. I could see the internal debate going on in his mind. The deliberation: to get the food or to wait it out. I could see a bead of sweat appear on his brow. He was desperate. He was their last shot at getting the information, they were running out of time. Then the decision was made and he disappeared upstairs.

I closed my eyes to rest and fell asleep as I waited. Exhaustion took over my body and I jolted awake, I don't know how much later, to the smell of food. I looked at the plate of chips and chicken he was holding. "You kids like this stuff, right?" I had to stop myself from drooling.

"You can release me from this bind, or you can feed me. I'm good with either." I stared at him expectantly.

His decision to release me from the bind was exactly what I hoped for as I reached forward for a chip and ate with gusto. My broken fingers were on my left hand, along with Umbridge's scars. She would be delighted if she saw me now. I didn't care that the food was nearly cold and I didn't care that the chicken was a little on the dry side. I was genuinely filled with so much energy just by eating. Merlin knows when I had eaten last.

"So…" he said as I finished the plate, "Any information you'd like to divulge?" he had watched me intently, slightly creepy, not going to lie.

"I have no idea where Harry is, for all I know, he could be with Dumbledore. And Dumbledore probably has a masterplan to keep himself unreachable. As for the Order, I know you lot have killed a good number of them, that's what I overheard when I was last at Hogwarts. I've been in contact with my mother, I have been trying to find out information, but it's difficult when they don't know who's side you're on."

"And which 'side' are you on, missy?"

"You wouldn't believe me if I told you my mother was trying to recruit me."

"I would," he said, "and what is your current status?"

I lowered my eyebrows, "Well, after the lovely welcoming party I've received these last few days, I'm pretty sure I'm not high up on anyone's list for acceptance right now."

He smirked.

I knew I had to take my chances now, "And if you make me a cup of coffee, strong enough to stand a spoon up in it, I'll tell you all I know about Harry's strengths and weaknesses. I've been in all his classes these last five years; I could tell you a thing or two."

He didn't even think about it.

As soon as the door was locked behind him, I grabbed my wand and handbag. My head span as I straightened myself. I had to fight against my body's desire to black out. With all my might, and a few deep breaths, I made myself invisible. Then I made my escape. Straight through the door, up the stairs and into a shop. I saw the Death Eater flicking his wand, making coffee as I sneaked past him into the front of the shop. Loads of bones were lying, assorted on tables and in display cases. I felt queasy at the thought of where they were harvested from. I felt my vision flicker as I walked through the shop door. Would they have sold my bones when they were done with me? And with the flickering of my vision, my body flickered into visibility. I had to focus. I had to keep going. I was terribly out of breath as I trekked along a cobbled path. Looking down at myself, I was covered in old blood, fresh blood and muck. My muggle clothes were ripped to shreds, exposing the chemically burned skin marks. And I stank, most embarrassingly, of my own urine.

I was lost. I have never been here. I hoped that by climbing the set of steps I'd reach familiarity. I prayed my instincts were correct and I would reach Diagon Alley. I had never been so grateful to see a sign saying:

WELCOME TO KNOCKTURN ALLEY.

The winding staircase, seemingly went on for miles. The Death Eaters would know I had escaped by now. They would come chasing after me. They wouldn't recapture me if they found me. They would kill me instantly. I powered on, using every ounce of strength I had to fuel my ascent of the steps. The sun was rising in the sky. There was nobody around.

I heard shouts behind me. I was toast. I dropped to the ground in front of E.L.M and Wizards Undertakers and Embalmers. How ironic? Concentrating with all my might on protecting myself, I listened as Death Eater, after Death Eater went searching for me. Business owners were now awake with all the commotion, shops were being searched, my blood splatters were being followed. I needed to get out of there. They were not going to stop searching.

I pulled myself up on the railings, using the scourgify charm to clean up the blood droplets that had collected.

'Try and f*cking arrest me, I f*cking dare you.' I really didn't care anymore. I blew up a solicitors' office in Muggle London, I had previously attacked two Death Eaters and now I'm cleaning up my own mess. I staggered up the last of the steps and the bright orange building was finally in sight – Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes was my safe haven.

I just had to get there. Alive.

I was barely walking in a straight line as I struggled towards Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes. My hands were out in front of me as I approached the doors, bashing them with my fists. "Alohomora." I pointed my wand at the lock, but it wouldn't budge – there was an anti-stealing jinx on the shop after all. The pain as I reached into my handbag with broken fingers was intense. I could hardly hold the key as I put it in the lock and twisted. The door sung open and I oh-so-gracefully fell flat on my face as I made it home.

"I swear, George, the trip alarm has gone off – let me just check – I – Merlin's beard – GEORGE! GEORGE! COME QUICK! IT'S HER! IT'S KATHRYN!"

"KATY?!"

I heard George pounding down the stairs. Fred reached me and helped me sit up, "Trip wires? Are you trying to finish me off, Freddie?"

"It is you!" Fred wrapped his arms around me tight.

"Katy, are you okay? Are you hurt?" George crashed onto his knees on my other side, kissing every part of skin he could land his lips on, examining my injuries, "What happened?"

"Death Eater ambush in Snow's office." I said quickly, my voice barely discernible, "They were waiting for me…"

Fred stood and put an arm under mine to support me, "Let's get you to St Mungo's."

"No!" I breathed loudly, "They'll look for me there, one cannot simply escape seven Death Eaters without there being repercussions."

The twins looked at each other, "SEVEN?!"

George put his sensible hat on, "Can I bring you to mum's? She'll know how to help, and we can call back the people who have been out looking for you."

"They probably thought I'd gone to my mum, that I'd left again…"

"No, no, of course not!" George wrapped his arms around me, and the twins helped me up the stairs, "I knew as soon as I hadn't heard from you within the hour that something wasn't right, then I saw the mess, and I knew you were in serious danger! I contacted Dad straight away who dealt with the Muggles and they found Snow and his assistant and your cousin locked in a cupboard, all very confused." He explained.

"George knew that you would write, if you could." Fred added, "We thought you were -"

I swallowed yet another mouthful of blood, "Dead? Yeah, I wasn't sure how I was going to escape that one, either." I let out a massive sigh of relief, "Glad to be stuck with you two again."

"Stuck?" Fred joked.

"Stuck." I said, "Until you try and get rid of me." we entered the flat, "Can I have a glass of water? I'm parched."

"Of course you can!" Fred summoned me a glass and George went to get me some clean clothes. He seemingly had a bag packed for hospital. I also saw the two of them share worried glances as I gulped, trying to replenish and restore the balance of my bodily systems. I'd love nothing more than to have a shower and put on clean clothes, but I knew I wouldn't be able to do it.

George took a pinch of Floo Powder when I'd finished, "We're never going to try and get rid of you, Katy." He threw it into the fire, "The Burrow."

"Good heavens!" Arthur Weasley's chin dropped, "Are you alright?"

I shrugged my shoulders, "I've been better."

He dropped his copy of the Daily Prophet and embraced me, announcing, "I'd best get Molly, she's been worried sick." Arthur left the small front room where Fred had just arrived, clapping his sons on the back as I stood awkwardly, feeling like shit, covered in more than just my own blood and wanting nothing more than, well, I didn't know what I wanted, "Boys, she's here, she's alive!"

The door swung open and I saw Harry and Ron, eyes widened in disbelief.

"You owe me big time." I pointed at Harry, "I don't know how long they had me locked up in there, but I swear if I get asked, 'where is Harry Potter' one more time, I'm going to bring you to them myself, alright?"

Harry wrapped his arms around me and held me tight.

"Oh my poor child." Molly took me into her arms at the next available opportunity, before looking me up and down, "What did they do to you?" she immediately started gently examining my face.

"Uhm…" I let out an exhausted sigh, "Broken nose, I'm guessing there's a black eye, er – a few broken fingers and a body that has endured the Cruciatus Curse more than I care to admit." I struggled to think, "Oh – and – could you take a look at these?"

I sat down and showed her my legs. My jeans were matted into the cuts and gashes on my legs, which were both red and inflamed, showing signs of early infection. Molly had to turn away, to compose herself, "We really ought to bring you to St Mungo's."

"They're looking for me, that's the first place they'll search." I swallowed hard, my mouth still feeling dry, "I'll be as good as dead if they see me – can I have another glass of water?" I asked, trying to stand up, holding onto the sofa, feeling faint after my head started spinning. Molly left the room, returned with a glass of water, had a look at my legs and left again.

"Hey you," George sat me down on his knee and held me tight, and held the glass up for me to drink, "When was the last time you -"

"How long was I away?" I asked.

The three Weasleys and Harry shared glances, before George answered, "Three days..."

"Can I get you something to eat?" Fred asked, he was now kneeling beside me and wanted to feel less redundant.

I gave him a small nod and he bounced out of the room with such energy it made me tired watching him. I then turned to look at George, I was still sitting on his knee and his arms were wrapped around me. He was pale and needed a shave. I reached up and felt the stubble on his face, stroking his cheek when his eyes fell upon mine.

"I'm alright." I assured him.

"I thought I'd lost you… again."

"People have a habit of trying to hurt me." I agreed.

George held me tighter, "I wish I could wrap you up and protect you."

"You're going to have to let me out of your sight at some point, you know." I told him conversationally, "But you'll find that I have ways and means of surviving."

"How did you do it? How did you get away?" he whispered.

"A few threats, demands and lies, mostly."

He gave me a small smile and shook his head, stroking my hair gently. Fred returned with a plate full of toast, grabbing himself a slice from the top for himself.

"I really wouldn't do that, if I were you." I tried to push George off me, grabbing a slice of toast and taking a massive bite, I got a whiff of myself and it was not pleasant, "I smell really bad. I haven't showered… Can't say they put me up in 5 star accommodation."

"Do you think I care?" George pulled me in tighter, disregarding the plate.

I shifted a little in his knee, "Do you think your mum is alright?" I asked him, "She just kind of disappeared…"

Ron snorted, "Did you seriously just ask him that?" he asked incredulously, "You're the one who was tortured by some Death Eaters for three days and you're more concerned if my mum is alright!"

I shrugged my shoulders. The first slice was gone.

"What happened?" Harry asked.

"Shouldn't we wait until Hermione and Ginny are here?" I responded, "Where are they anyway?"

"Ah, em -" Ron mumbled something, and I urged him to speak louder, "They're out with Tonks."

I was taken aback, "Like coffee and cake, out?"

Ron shuffled awkwardly.

"Oh." Was my response, "Glad to know I was missed." I muttered to myself spitefully.

I heard a lot of movement in the kitchen, as though someone had stepped out of the fireplace. I sat put, though my curiosity was burning. It sounded like Molly was talking to someone. Arthur opened the door to the sitting room and his eyes fell upon me, "The Order has been informed of your safe arrival home, they're asking -"

I sensed where this conversation was going, "I don't want to see anyone right now. I'll tell you whatever you want to know, and you can pass it on, but I honestly just want to have a shower."

Molly popped her head into the room, "I know you just said you don't want to see anyone, but -" she stepped aside and Madam Pomfrey entered, in her uniform, medical bag in hand, "I don't – I can't – I'm sorry."

I stood and wrapped my arms around Molly, the colour drained from her face, exasperation in her eyes. She did this because she cares and no other reason. Her hug was tight and it hurt, a little too much, "Aowwh." I let out involuntarily.

When she let me go, I approached the mirror and lifted up the back of my t-shirt and saw the long, wide bruise, shaped exactly like the back of the chair I was strapped to. I turned around and looked at my stomach, and there was no evidence of external injury.

"What can I help you with, Kathryn?"

"There's no way I'm getting these jeans off without screaming." I answered, "Cut them off, do whatever you have to do to make this easier."

"Where are we going to do this?" Madam Pomfrey had a look at my legs, then poked a finger in one of the wounds in my right leg and I let out a string of very unladylike words, which shocked even Ron.

I looked around the room, my eyes meeting George's, then falling on Fred, "Go home, and take these three with you."

"No way!" George stood abruptly, "I'm staying with you."

I couldn't look at him, instead I looked at Fred with pleading eyes, asking him to convince his brother. So Fred took George by the shoulder and tried to direct him to the fireplace, but he refused, point blank.

"George, this is going to be hard enough, I can't let you watch me, I don't want you to see me like this." I tried to fight back my emotions, "You've seen my injuries. I've survived a hell of a lot worse, just let me do this on my own. If I need you, I'll get you." When he still stayed put I approached him, placing my hand on his cheek, "Please."

His jaw stiffened, "Fine." He said reluctantly, "But I'm going to the Orchard."

"Fine." I said, chauffeuring him out the door, "I love you." I said before turning my back, this was already going to be hard enough.

Fred, Ron and Harry knew better than to argue and followed George, encouraging him to walk away from The Burrow. I also gave the same look to Arthur and he scurried out the door with his tail between his legs. Molly hesitated a little, and I told her it was alright if she wanted to go, but she seemed determined to support me, so I let her. Just as I turned to Madam Pomfrey, I heard the click sound of someone having just apparated to the outskirts of the The Burrow's boundaries.

Tonks, Ginny and Hermione were running in my direction. I placed my hand on the door handle and shut the door firmly behind myself, using the charm colloportus to make my point. I didn't want to see, or hear, from any of them.

Molly was about to tell me off for the use of underage magic, but from the look on my face, she mentally decided to store the grief for another time. The two of us turned to Madam Pomfrey and I said, "Where do you want me?"

"Let's get a sheet and a pillow, and maybe something to bite down on?"

Molly got to work, summoning a blanket to put on the table, a clean sheet for on top and a pillow for my head. She took a seat beside me as I climbed onto the table, lying down like a patient ready for surgery. Molly handed me a tea towel to put in my mouth.

"I'll be unconscious before long anyway, just do it." I held the towel in my hand and squeezed as Madam Pomfery cut up the leg of my jeans and began work on cleaning my wounds. I cried out as the first alcohol swab was applied to my skin. It was pure torture, but at least this time, I knew it was for a good cause. I struggled to stay conscious the deeper the wounds. After a while, my body became numb, the swab must have acted as a pain barrier to what was to come. I could smell my skin being burned away as Madam Pomfrey removed the dead skin with jean material matted into it. Slowly, bit by bit, section by section, she was making progress. I just closed my eyes and listened intensely to the radio Molly put on to dull the sounds of surgical procedures. It was at this time I was so very glad of the Meditative Relaxation techniques Maura had taught me. The practice was seriously paying off these last few days.

By the time she was done, I didn't even register the conversation directed at me. Molly slipped her hand into mine and gave a gentle squeeze and I turned my head to look at her. "I've finished your legs." Madam Pomfrey informed me, "You can sit up now." I left behind a pool of tears on the sheet beneath my head. I felt worse than awful.

I was directed to take off my t-shirt where Madam Pomfrey examined the rest of my body, performing spells over me, fixing my nose and fingers, nodding and mumbling to herself before saying, "You're a very lucky girl."

"You don't need to tell me." I told her, "A few hours ago I was strapped to a chair in a dodgy basement pleading for my life." I rubbed my lower back, "The muscle soreness is the issue right now."

Molly summoned me two towels and the bag George had packed for me.

"Thank you." I said before climbing the stairs and entering the bathroom and experiencing the sweet relief of a warm shower after a long couple of days. I sat down, watching the blood and dirt wash off my skin, before filling the bathtub with water. I felt more like myself as I left the bathroom, smelling the sweet scents of cleanliness.

A lot of eyes were on me as I walked into the kitchen. Everyone was sitting down, eating. A quick nod to George, settled him and his worries. I approached Madam Pomfrey, balancing my socked foot on the table, where I had been lying an hour ago, in incredible pain and let her examine my scars.

"It's certainly an improvement." She mumbled before pressing on my nose, cheekbones and around my bruised eye, "If you have any more bleeding – you already know the medication I'm going to give -"

"Tranexamic acid?" I asked, "And hopefully some -"

"Scar treatment? Of course."

The two of us shared one of those smiles, the one where she was proud of how much I knew and me feeling like a more accomplished apprentice, "Any chance of more dreamless sleep potion?"

She shook her head, "You know that's a bad idea as much as I do."

I sighed.

"Look, if you need it, just write. But you must try."

I nodded.

"I want to go home, George." I announced, looking at the plate of food sitting waiting for me and feeling queasy at the thought of consuming it.

"Aren't you going to tell us what happened?" Tonks' voice sounded from across the table, but I didn't look at her, "Let us know that you're alright?"

I let out a deep breath, "I said, very clearly, that I didn't wish to speak to any Order Members today regarding what happened." I looked anywhere but at Tonks, "George, I want to go home."

He stood quickly, "Okay." He grabbed my bag and thanked Madam Pomfrey and his mother.

"But I'm not just any Order Member, Kathryn!" she sounded outraged, angry, even, "We're family! I've been worried sick!"

"Huh." I shrugged my shoulders, swallowing back the lump in my throat, "Family has thoroughly screwed me over this last while, hasn't it?" I took George's hand before stepping into the fire with him.

I didn't care that it was lunchtime, I climbed into bed and was out like a light. George woke me up a couple of hours later, as agreed, so that I would be able to sleep that night. He had watched me as I slept, and when I woke, kept offering me food, which I accepted, and drinks, which I also accepted, but I don't think he knew what to do with me. He was trying to gauge how I'm feeling.

"I want nothing more than to forget about what happened." I told him.

"Can you tell me what happened, so that I can understand what you're going through?" he asked me softly, desperate to do something of use to help me, "Katy, I – I don't know how you're doing it – I was in pieces – I thought you were dead! How can you be so calm?"

I leaned into him, "Because I'm with you."

He remained silent for a few minutes, perhaps stunned by my answer, or contemplating his next series of questions. I made it easier for him and I started at the beginning and explained. No detail was spared, I told him everything, like I always did, confiding in my best friend, allowing him into my bubble.

"So it was Bellatrix?"

"It must have been. They would only have found out through her, Narcissa or Draco. And going by what Narcissa and Draco have done for me this summer, I don't think it's been them."

George tensed up, "If I ever meet her – I'll kill her myself."

"I should have listened – I shouldn't have visited her, I shouldn't have bloody well written to her, it was my fantasy of getting to know my mother, my real mother, that took over, that made me want to meet her, to get answers, write to her, which, in the end has led to this. Me ending up hurt." I let out a short burst of anger and resolved myself to being pensive again, "You know, people are now going to think that my favourite past time is being tortured and causing myself pain."

"No, they're not." He stroked my hair gently, "And another thing, you need to sort things out with Tonks."

I froze on the spot, "Seriously?"

"Yes, seriously! She was trying to reach out to you." He told me, "She was the first person to try and find you, she searched for hours, putting herself in danger in the process just to try and get closer to finding you! Katy, if that doesn't mean that she loves you, I don't know what does!"

I tensed my jaw and furrowed my eyebrows, "I'm not ready to forgive her yet."

He knew to leave the conversation there. He changed the topic of conversation altogether. It was like nothing had happened, just the way I wanted it.