1st September

"I can't do this…" I said, tracing my fingers along George's naked body as we lay in bed this morning, "I'm not strong enough… Tell them I'm sick… I'll bake for a living and leech of you when my money runs out." I joked before the serious side of me said, "I don't think I can face it…"

George put a hand on my bum and pulled me closer, "First off, you are the strongest person I know. Second, you are not sick, but you are very welcome to bake and leech whenever you finish school. And who are you to take notice of what anyone else thinks of you? You hold your head high, give them that usual sass and show 'em that being the Lestrange kid doesn't change who you are as a person." He laced his fingers with mine, "Even Neville wrote to you – think about how difficult that would have been for him, trying to put you at ease. And the girl who is going to do Muggle Studies class with you. These people still see you as Kathryn Pink, the same amazing young lady before and after hearing the news of your adoption."

I rolled my eyes at him, "But I won't have you there with me to cheer me on."

"I will always be with you to cheer you on." He tapped the ring on my finger.

"Yeah, but you won't be there to do this -" I wrapped my legs around his middle, sitting on his lap and kissed him, "And that's awfully disappointing."

"Mmmm…" George moaned a little as I nibbled on his ear, he placed his hands on my hips, reaching around to trace my scar on my lower back, a new hobby of his as he kisses my collar bone. I don't know quite how he did it, but he flipped me over onto my back, kissing from my collar bone down, making the most of our last few hours alone together.

"You are a very naughty boy." I told him, breathless.

He smiled widely, "Well, I had to do something for you to remember me by. Make sure you'll be running back to me at the end of term."

I stroked his cheek gently, "I'll be running back to you plenty of times before the end of term, I can assure you." I bit my lower lip, "Now, let me shower to get the scent of your love off my body."

"There's a smell?"

I nodded, opening the bathroom door, "There is."

He took a few seconds to think about what I had just said. I didn't look at him, knowing exactly what he was doing. That was when he responded, "I'll make a start on breakfast." The sounds of him clumsily dressing himself came from the bedroom, followed by him crashing about with pots and pans in the kitchen. It wasn't after long that George opened the bathroom door, "How many pairs of shoes do you have, Katy?"

"A few?" I answered, soaking my hair in the shower.

"I haven't seen these ones before?" he held up a pair, and then left the door open and came back again, "Or these three pairs either! Katy, is this going to become a problem?" he asked as I lathered my hair with shampoo, "You've got to control your shoe obsession."

I opened the shower door slightly so as to see him more clearly, "Make me."

George dropped the shoes on the floor, making his way over to the shower, pushing the doors open wider, "You seem to be a little vulnerable to be making statements like that."

I put some of the shampoo soapy suds on his nose, as I caught his eyes wandering distractedly and his lower lip being bitten, "But I always seem to get my way." I lifted his chin with a single finger and stared him down before saying, "Breakfast's burning, honey."

After a fried breakfast, (that contained slightly burnt sausages) where we flirted incessantly like a bunch of loved-up teenagers, I finally finished packing. George allowed me to leave behind a few things including pairs of highly insensible shoes, a few summery outfits that I could swop with jumpers during the Christmas holidays, he also insisted the red dress remained behind as well as my nice lingerie. I even left the blanket on the bottom of the bed. There was plenty of evidence that I had (at least) spent time here during the holidays. I have also written a few letters that I had entitled for example 'If you need inspiration', 'If you need a smile' and 'If you miss my face (You must be lonely)' and hidden them in his bedside drawer. Not that I imagine he'll need them. Unless it's the 'You're annoying Katy when she's trying to work' envelopes. I made a few of those.

I got George to fetch Freddie from the shop, so that I could say my final goodbyes before departing. Eleven o'clock was fast approaching and I was feeling increasingly anxious. I had to give myself a pep talk to try and convince myself that everything was going to be okay, I just had a hard time believing that there wasn't someone out there who hadn't thought about targeting me on platform 9 ¾.

I changed for the umpteenth time when George was out of the flat, feeling too warm to deal with the sudden increase of temperature that signifies the end of the summer holidays in the UK. Trust me, it's a thing, September is usually nicer than August. Anyway, my dilemma with every outfit was the how-well-can-you-escape-from-danger issue. If my skirt was too short, I was at risk of assault. If my t-shirt was low cut, same issue. If I wore something tight, it might restrict my movements. If I wore jeans, they could be chemically burned onto my legs again.

I rubbed my eyes with my hands as I sat, overthinking, once again. It was a welcome interruption to my train of thought as the apartment door opened and my hand clasped onto my wand.

"You've changed again?" George commented, "I do love that on you, though." He commented on the green jumpsuit.

"Well, it's too warm to wear all black like Dumbledore suggested, and the closest thing to Slytherin and therefore my mother is emerald green. Therefore, I am balancing Kathryn with Katy."

Fred and George looked at each other, "Right." They said in unison.

George pointed to the bedroom, "I'm just going to make sure you haven't left anything." He saw as I opened my mouth, "Yes, Katy, I know you've left your toothbrush, and soapy stuff on purpose." He then disappeared.

"You will write to me, won't you, Freddie?" I repeated last night's question, I'm sure he had our conversation in mind, he was also probably wondering why I had requested him up.

"'Course I will."

"And you know I've left a load of food in the freezer for you, just make sure it's hot all the way through before eating -"

He smiled and nodded, "We know, Kathryn."

"And -"

"There's a cake in the top cupboard for us to eat later, I know, I saw you hide it up there yesterday." He chuckled like a disobedient child, rubbing his hands together.

I closed my eyes in defeat and pulled a face, "Darn it."

"It'll be a nice surprise for George, though."

I wrapped my arms around his middle, snuggling in close to his chest, "I'm going to miss you so much."

"Are you sure you're talking to the right twin?" he asked, holding me back at arm's length, "I don't want you repeating the accidentally kissing the wrong one of us, no matter how much of a pleasant surprise that was -"

"Oh shut up, Freddie. I love you and I will miss you." I cleared my throat as I wrapped my arms around him again, "And if I don't make it home for Christmas -"

"We've been through this -"

"If I don't," I talked over him loudly, smiling broadly, "look after him, and if it was my mum who killed me, tell him not to go out in revenge, unless he uses polyjuice potion and wants to scare the shit out of her. There's plenty of my hair lying about round here."

Fred smiled, making some snarky comment about how he hadn't seen a strand of my hair anywhere, "Oh, I'm going to miss you." He wrapped his arms around me, pulling a strand of hair directly out of my head, and placing it in his inner pocket, tapping on his heart where it was, kissing the top of my head where he pulled the hair out, "I'll take some, too, just so that there's triple Katy trouble. In the event it's required, with you being alive and needing to f*ck shit up, that's what you'd say, right?"

"Right." I stood on my tip toes and kissed his cheek gently, "Solemnly swear that you'll be up to a respectable amount of no good."

He saluted, "Yes ma'am. Say hello to Peeves for me." he escaped down to the shop before either of us got too emotional. I could see it headed that way. I don't think he was expecting me to tell him any of that.

The door shut and George commented, "You two seem to have sparked up a good friendship this summer."

"I don't think we weren't friends before? But I think we've learnt to appreciate each other a little more this summer," I tried to explain, "We both have your happiness at the forefront of our minds and we consider each other family."

"I'm really glad." He said, his voice a lot higher than usual. He went back into the bedroom for a while as I put a batch of chocolate brownies in the top of my trunk for the train. I had a pair of pyjamas, a couple of pairs of underwear reasonably easily accessible for tonight, leaving my uniform and new black oxford shoes under the precious brownies for changing into on the train.

When George returned from our room, he informed me to close my eyes, "It's a surprise, okay?" I could hear him rustling through my things, taking his time to clearly try to hide whatever it was, "You can open up now."

Close to the top I could see his 'G' jumper, ready to be worn if and when required. I felt a huge lump in my throat, I couldn't speak to even thank him. He knew by the slight nod of my head how much it meant. It was then that I forced myself to lock the trunk, it was time. I dragged the trunk off the table and sighed, going to grab my travelling cloak.

"Hey you," George stopped me, "what's that sigh for?"

"You know why."

"Not on my watch," he said, "Not when we can have a power song to dance to."

I stared at him blankly as he turned on his radio and smirked, "I had a few to choose from, but I think this one is perfect."

'Let's go girls.' I let out a high pitched scream, "GEORGE! YOU! THIS SONG!"

We had danced to this song in St Tropez, in a very sensual-come-hilarious dance because at that stage, I hadn't been touched to make me feel like a woman. And George didn't know how to do sexy either, to be fair, neither of us do sexy particularly well. But man is he sexy to me and man, does he make me feel like a woman.

I let out all my anxiety and negative emotions, by getting loose and letting go. We had such a laugh together, shimmying, body popping, slow dancing and galloping around the room, holding hands like the bunch of eejits we are. "Now that," he said breathlessly, as the song ended, "is called dancing it out."

"Come here, you." I reached up, wrapped my arms around his neck and kissed him. George's hands quickly found my hips and lowered to my bum and he gave a squeeze, "Right, let's do this." I said, in a power stance – hands on hips, boobs pushed out, standing tall, chin up, like a superhero.

"You knock 'em dead, Katy." He put my travel cloak over my shoulders like a cape and we shared a cuddle, one that we wished lasted a whole lot longer before we came to our senses. It was getting frightfully close to 11 in a if-we-leave-now-we've-got-time-to-quickly-fuss-on-the-platform-sort-of-close.

George opened the door to enter the shop. I took a deep breath before taking a step over the threshold, knowing that after this, there is no going back. I took a look over my shoulder, looking at the apartment. I secured my handbag across my body, I tightened my grip on my trunk and nodded to George, taking the step, closing the door, praying that this wouldn't be the last time I could do this.

George pointed his wand at my trunk and suspended it high enough to follow us down the staircases. On the second floor of the shop, George stopped and turned to consider me, reaching forwards, placing a curl behind my ear and putting up the hood of the cloak, disguising me a little more. His finger lifted my chin as he gave me a weak smile. He was just as scared as I.

Outside the shop, we held hands and disapparated, arriving a couple of miles closer to King's Cross, into an Alleyway, where I took off my travelling cloak, to blend in with the muggles. We walked as ordinarily as possible, merging in with the usual hustle and bustle of London. Within no time at all, we had arrived at the station. I think George could either feel my pulse through my hands or could guess, based on the tight grip I had on him. Any unexpected sound, touch or situation, I was ready for; my wand was in my pocket, ready to grab at any given moment. He kept looking at me. I was just focused on getting myself onto that train. Alive.

We didn't even need to say anything when we stood idly at Platform 9 3/4, waiting for Muggles to turn a blind eye, a quick skedaddle at the brick wall and we made it safely onto the Platform where plenty of eyes fell upon me. My grip only tightened on George and he on me, as we walked as normal into the crowds, and I said to George, "It's like I'm the Queen of England attempting to use public transport, the world is in shock."

George laughed, cutting the tension with a knife, "You're only slightly younger and a tad more… vivacious."

The two of us giggled, "You've been spending too much time with me, George Weasley." I smirked, "All these big words." I reached up and squeezed his cheek mockingly, "Makes you so sexy."

"Ah! You've made it!" Molly approached me, reaching up touching my face, just as I had done with George seconds before, but also touching my forehead. I must have been pale and clammy. I certainly felt it. "Have you got everything you need, dear?" she directed me over to where everyone else had congregated, "Anything you need me to send, you just ask."

"I think I'm alright, Molly, but thanks." I gave her a smile.

She pulled me into a tight, loving hug, "You look after yourself, okay?" she pulled me back to have a look at me, her eyes searching mine, full of emotion. I had to swallow to refrain from showing how I truly felt; like she wasn't expecting to see me again, at least, alive.

I nodded, "Keep me informed with everything, won't you? And before you ask, I'll behave myself."

"Good." She smiled.

I caught eyes with Harry, who nodded towards the train, wondering where I was planning on sitting, as it usually was just the two of us, now that Ron and Hermione are perfects – I mean, prefects. I gestured that I needed two minutes, even though there were at least 12 until the train would depart. A quick glance over my shoulder to George told me that he would indeed stand there with my trunk.

"Remus," I approached him, "Can I talk to you?"

His face lit up, "I was hoping to catch you before you left." He looked over the top of my head, obviously on Order look-out, "You first." He urged.

"Look," I said slowly, "I wanted to clear the air between us… I have no idea what I said to you that night and I got a good mocking for it the next morning. I'm sorry for how I treated you this summer, it wasn't fair on you and you certainly didn't deserve it. I've been a right bitch." I swallowed once again, to try and keep the lump at the back of my throat at bay, "This summer has made me realise a load of things, and I know now who is on my side and who isn't."

"You will always have me on your side, Kathryn." He said.

I smiled, letting out a deep breath in relief, "I've realised I need you a hell of a lot more than you need me." I confessed, "And you've always been the best advice giver."

He returned the smile, "You know you can write to me, any time."

"I just don't want you to get into trouble – so I've come up with a plan – if good old Fenrir Greyback has an issue with it, say you're talking to the Lestrange kid, and you don't want to get her angry. Remind him that I have my mum's temper, that should work!"

Remus laughed, "I'll keep that in mind."

"You survived the last war, so any stories, hints or tips would be gratefully accepted." I glimpsed over my shoulder, feeling like I had a number of eyes on me, "Remus? Don't ever let me take you for granted again, okay?"

He nodded, "Now, before you miss your train and miss the opportunity to kiss that young man who's completely in love with you, I have something to give you."

"You do?" I questioned, "You don't need to get me anything!"

Remus placed in my hands 5 huge bars of Honeydukes chocolate, "In case of Dementors." He said as I put them into my handbag.

I flung my arms around him, trying my best to hold in all the excess emotion that is so desperate to spurt out, "Thank you." I pecked him on the cheek, "I look forward to hearing from you."

"And I, you." He smiled as I turned to hug Arthur, Molly (again) and then as I turned to George, I caught Narcissa watching me, having just seen Draco off to the train. I smiled and waved, she is my Auntie after all, it wouldn't be a strange thing for me to do. She nodded her head in the direction of where Draco had just embarked. I tried to entice her over for a chat, but she shook her head and mimed writing. As George looked over his shoulder, she turned on her heels and disapparated.

I shook my head, "Now, where were we?" I reached out to him, "Hello you." I said with a huge smile.

"Come here," George opened his arms wide and I gladly found myself in his embrace, breathing in his scent, remembering what it feels like to be held. I felt my body completely relax as I reached on my tiptoes to kiss him tenderly.

Desperately trying not to cry, I gazed into his eyes and stroked his cheek, "I love you and I'm really going to miss you."

"Now, are you really going miss this," he indicated our embrace, "Or this." He pulled me a little closer, hands a little lower than they should be in public, giggling.

I shook my head and smirked, "You know I'll miss the whole package."

"You'll hear from me every day." he assured, "If you need anything, just ask. Anything."

"It's 10:58…" I felt myself finding it harder to stop my emotions, as we walked hand-in-hand towards the train, "Look after yourself."

He smiled, "I know it'll be difficult not having you around. I'll miss you more than you'll ever know. And I love you more than you will ever comprehend." He took my left hand in his and kissed my ring, "I promise I'll be waiting for you."

"Excuse me, Miss, the train is about to leave."

I gave the man a nod as he lifted my trunk onto the train.

"I love you!" I gave George one last kiss and stepped onto the train, "See you soon."

"See you soon." He nodded as the train door shut and the whistle sounded.

The train started moving and I forced myself to remain strong. It felt so wrong leaving him behind on the platform. He started into a slow jog to keep up with me as I waved to him. The platform was running out and he was forced to stop, so I blew him a kiss and he 'caught' it, placing it in his top pocket, over his heart for safe keeping.

"If you aren't already crying, you will be if you don't come with me now." I heard Harry's steady voice behind me, "I've already put your trunk in our compartment."

I closed my eyes and turned on the spot, taking a deep, steadying breath, then I looked to Harry, "Lead the way."

I could see him study me as we walked. He was far more concerned with how I was feeling than the looks of the other students who saw Bellatrix Lestrange's kid and the Boy Who Lived walking side by side. He opened a compartment door and I saw both Neville and Luna staring up at me.

"Hi." I smiled, "Good summer?" I asked conversationally.

"Wasn't bad, you?" Neville asked.

"The best." I said sarcastically.

He blushed a little, "I shouldn't have asked – sorry!"

I tried to continue the smile, "Don't worry! There have been good and bad bits. Sure, you read a lot about me. Seems like everyone found out stuff about me that even I didn't know about." I said light-heartedly as I attempted to lift my trunk before realising, "Wingardium leviosa." I pointed my wand at it and put it on the rack, out of the way, "Thanks for your letter, by the way, it was a nice change from all the hate. I thought I'd say it to you in person." I took a seat opposite him.

"We need to talk." Harry said rather abruptly.

"Harry, darling, I just sat down. What on earth have I done now?"

He smirked, "I need your insider information."

Neville beamed, "Insider information? You must have been busy."

Harry glanced at me, in a d'you think we can trust him with this sort of way. And I gave him the what sort of information are you talking about look, because he was the one who brought it up in the first place.

"They're communicating with looks, Neville, I don't think they want you to know." Luna commented in her usual airy-fairy way, "But I imagine it has something to do with Kathryn's parents and the Order of the Phoenix."

Luna 'subtle as a brick' Lovegood just increased my faith in humanity and lowered it all in one sentence. I glanced to Harry and said, "Talk to me."

"When was the last you heard from your mum?"

"Next question." I said quickly.

Neville sprang forwards in his seat, "You've been in contact with her?"

I glared at Harry. I felt so ashamed of myself. I slowly lifted my gaze and locked onto Neville's eyes and nodded, "Trust me when I say I wish I didn't write that letter. I wish I left it all behind when I walked out of Malfoy Manor."

"You were in Malfoy Manor?" he blurted.

"Are you sure you don't want to shout that any louder, Neville?" I said, "I'm sure there was someone at the other end of the train who didn't quite catch that."

He then whispered, "You went to Malfoy Manor?"

"Long story, but yes." I admitted, "I was lost. I didn't know who I was or what I was doing with my life. I felt trapped in my own head with all the burning unanswered questions. And I wanted nothing more than to -"

"Know your parents?" Neville glanced between Harry and me, "I can understand that."

I sighed, "She surprised me. She was slightly less mad than I was expecting. I had a conversation with her, like an actual adult conversation… How much truth she spoke is still up in the air, but I've been assured repeatedly that I am a Lestrange, that she does, apparently love me… And she's going to choose Voldemort over me any day." I scratched my nose, "So don't worry, I'll probably kill her before you get the chance." I then smirked, "But if she does kill me, please take some of my hair and use polyjuice potion to f*ck with her. I'm talking a classroom of Kathryn's, an army of Kathryn's."

Harry and Neville laughed, even though they tried not to.

"Quibbler still going strong, Luna?" Harry asked.

"Oh yes, circulation's well up." She said happily.

Neville then thrust his wand in our direction, "Cherry and unicorn hair!" he beamed, "Gran was so proud of me, says I'm starting to live up to my dad at long last. She bought me a replacement wand – think it was the last one sold before Ollivander vanished the next day."

"Ollivander was taken by a bunch of Death Eaters." I told him.

"Were you there?" he looked confounded.

"Unfortunately." I nodded, "I got myself a black eye from a Death Eater and a stern telling off from the Order of the Phoenix for it."

Harry sniggered, "That's an understatement. Mr Weasley was fuming."

"Yeah, that's because I used underage magic, stunning the bast*rd who tried to kill me and the one who tried to kill Bill." I said with a huge smile.

"You're proud." Neville spoke incredulously.

"She should be." Harry said, "And that's not counting you basically blowing up a building in central London."

Neville appeared to choke on his own saliva, "You – what?"

"You see, Neville… Something the Prophet failed to report on was the time I was kidnapped by a bunch of Death Eaters and tortured for three days."

"You're kidding me."

"I wish I was." I lifted up the trouser leg of my jumpsuit and revealed the last of the chemical burns on my legs, "My jeans were stuck to my skin. You can't see the effects of the Cruciatus Curse, not now that the cuts and bruises have been treated and healed." I said.

Neville looked at me disbelievingly. Luna looked at me with the usual watery-eyed expression she usually wore. Harry's eyes were as sorrowful as they were the time I first told him what happened.

"It's done." I said quietly, "Bellatrix told them where to find me, and as soon as she did that, she lost me and any hope of reconciliation."

"I wish the lunch trolley would hurry up, I'm starving," was the first thing Ron said as he slumped into the seat beside Harry, "Hi Neville, Hi Luna, Hi Kathryn. Guess what?" he turned to Harry, ignoring the rest of us, not that it bothered me, now that I was absorbed in a book and it was thoroughly entertaining, "Malfoy's not doing prefect duty. He's just sitting in his compartment with the other Slytherins, we saw him when we passed."

Harry sat up straight, this had certainly piqued his interest, "What did he do when he saw you?"

Ron stuck up the middle finger, "Not like him, though, is it? Well, that is," he did the gesture again, "but why isn't he out there bullying first years?"

"Are you condoning the bullying of first years, Ronald?" I questioned him, not looking up from the words on the pages before me.

"Maybe he preferred the Inquisitorial Squad," Hermione said, "Maybe being a prefect seems a bit tame after that?"

But before any further speculation could continue, the compartment door slid open again and a breathless first year girl stepped inside, "I'm supposed to deliver these to Neville Longbottom and Harry P-Potter," she faltered, I could feel her eyes dart from Harry, to Neville, to me, and back again, when I looked up at her, she was scarlet and both Harry and Neville had scrolls.

"What is it?" Ron demanded.

"An invitation," he said, as we all read over his shoulder,

'Harry,
I would be delighted if you would join me for a bite of lunch in compartment C.
Sincerely, Professor H.E.F. Slughorn'

"Who's Professor Slughorn?" Neville looked perplexed at his own invitation.

"New teacher," he said, "Well, I suppose we'll have to go, won't we?"

Neville looked nervous as he stood, "But what does he want me for?"

"Dunno." And the two of them disappeared out of the compartment.

Ron sat, arms folded looking thoroughly put-out that he hadn't been chosen to go for a free meal. Luna was still reading her copy of the Quibbler, wearing her psychedelic spectacles, Hermione was reading a copy of Witch Weekly and I sighed to myself. I was in a train compartment with friends and none of us had anything to say to each other, on the first day of school. I reached forward into my handbag and lifted out one of the bars of chocolate from Remus and started eating it. Ron helped himself, Hermione asked permission and I handed Luna a piece. I didn't feel awkward, but I could certainly think of places I'd rather be and people I'd rather share a compartment with. If this is the way the academic year is going to unfold, count me out.

I was the last person in our compartment to get changed into our uniform, walking in to see both Neville and Ginny.

"Hey girl!" I greeted her, "How's Dean?"

She smiled and nodded, "Good, thanks."

"Ginny was at the lunch with Harry and me." Neville informed.

"Oooooh!" I smiled, "What did you have?"

"Pheasant, rolls, picnic food," Neville answered.

I didn't imagine I missed much on the food front, "Was anyone else invited? Where is Harry, by the way?"

"He followed Zabini back to the Slytherin carriage."

I rolled my eyes, "Of course he did, to find out why my dear cousin isn't bullying first years, I presume?"

Ginny shrugged her shoulders in the usual, only Harry knows sort of way, "So there was the three of us, Zabini, McLaggen – you know him, he's in seventh year? His Uncle Tiberius seems to be well known. And there was Belby, he's a Claw, his uncle developed the Wolfsbane potion."

I raised an eyebrow, "Sounds like our new teacher loves a good well-known figure or someone with connections."

"I still don't know why he wanted me there – I'm nothing special." Neville muttered to himself.

I gave him a nudge with my foot, "Hey, you're talented, I wouldn't be alive if you weren't there in the Ministry!"

"You're just being nice!" he sighed, "We would have had an intact prophesy if it wasn't for me!"

"Look, if one of us knew the contents of that prophecy, we'd be tortured into submission." I reasoned with him, "I'd rather no one knew than old Mouldy-Pants finding out."

Neville, instead of hiding a smile appeared downcast, "Did the Death Eaters think you knew?"

For a second I felt a little lost, but I caught on, "Oh – no! They wanted to know where Harry was, where Dumbledore was and the whereabouts of the Order's headquarters." I started playing with my fingers to distract myself, "All of which I know the answers to, but I gave them nothing." I tried to (and failed to) make light of the situation, "It's going to take more than that to take me down."

"How did you get out?"

"Manipulation." I said, "You learn the technique when your adoptive parents use it on a daily basis."

"Oh look!" Ginny over-exaggerated her enthusiasm, "We're almost here!" clearly she thought that was a good place to end that particular conversation. "I'll see you on the platform."

I stood and packed my possessions back into my trunk and had it follow behind me as I left the compartment to allow Ron and Hermione, who had just returned to grab their things. I waited to see if Harry was going to return from the Slytherin carriage, but I knew, deep down, that he was going to be trapped there until the whole train had vacated. I popped my head back into the compartment again and said, "I'll take his trunk if you take Hedwig's cage?"

"Don't you think you should wait for him?" Hermione questioned.

I retorted, "Don't you?"

"Ron and I are prefects, we have duties!" she looked at me, astounded that I would suggest she deviate from her authority.

I shrugged, "I'll keep an eye out for him on the platform. But I imagine he's been an idiot again."

"What's that supposed to mean?" Hermione questioned.

I walked away, the students around me giving me a wide berth as the train slowed and came to a halt. I made sure to disembark quickly, searching around the platform for the person I knew would be able to help me. My eyes locked onto Tonks and I made my way over to her in haste, "Hey you!" I smiled.

Tonks returned a wide smile, "Where's Harry?"

"That's why I'm over here," I said, watching all the exit doors, "He's been an idiot and I think he's on the Slytherin carriage, he's probably trapped there until everyone else gets off."

She sighed, "I'll make sure he makes it up to the school. Is that his trunk?"

I nodded, refraining from saying 'The one that says 'HP' on it? Nah, that's Helen Pink's.' I knew she was working, but I so desperately wanted to stay with her, a person I trusted, who was on my side.

"Did you talk to him?" she asked sheepishly, her eyes still surveying the crowds of students now getting onto thestral-drawn carriages.

"I did." I reached into my handbag and pulled out a bar of chocolate and slid it into her pocket and said, "He gave me five, even though there's only four of us. He also knew I'd be seeing you."

Tonks cleared her throat, "You should get going."

I ignored her, but stood beside her, until I could see Draco leave the carriage, "There's our lovely cousin. We should see Harry soon."

But Harry didn't leave. The platform emptied and Tonks glanced up at me, "I'll check the carriage once everyone else is away. Please go up to Hogwarts, write to me on the parchment if you see him or not and I'll do the same."

I nodded, wrapping my arms around her, holding her tight, "Talk soon."

Trunks both following me, I found myself a carriage and climbed on, accompanied by a couple of second year Claws who looked like they'd had an accident with one of their trunk locks. I caught a glance from one of them and they seemed to cower, afraid. I lifted my wand and the other let out a murmur of fear, "Reparo." I said, repairing the broken lock and with the following spell, had everything put back into the trunk, neat and folded again.

Both of the girls' eyes widened and they didn't even know what to do, "T-Thanks."

"No problem," I said. From that moment forward, I was ignored. The two girls scrambled off the carriage as soon as it stopped, as though terrified I might hurt one of them. My goodness. Super looking forward to a year or two of this.

I walked up to the gates to be met with a search team of sorts – each student was marked off a list, spells cast over our bodies and luggage to ensure there was no contraband and I couldn't help but notice the huge chain hanging on the gate.

"You appear to have been in the last carriage, Miss Pink." Professor Flitwick told me, "I was expecting to see you with Mr Potter, having already seen Mr Weasley and Miss Granger on a much earlier carriage."

"I wasn't able to find him," I told Flitwick, "I've spoken to one of the Aurors in Hogsmeade, she said that she would search for him."

"I'll pass that information on," he said as we walked towards the Oak front doors, and as he asked me, "How are you?"

I asked, "What sort of added security have we got this year? Other than the huge chain and the Aurors?"

"I contributed Anti-intruder jinxes," Flitwick told me, "But other members of staff have brought their strengths forward, in which ways I am not certain."

"Oh," I nodded, thinking how impermeable the castle might have been made to the outside. Flitwick looked at me expectantly, to answer his question, "I'm fine." I gave him a nod, "Been better, it would be nice not to have my fellow students treat me as a bomb that go off at any moment." I stepped into the castle through the oaken doors, the heel of my shoes clicking on the massive flagged floor.

"It's good to see you Miss Pink," Professor McGonagall called me over to the side door into the chamber off to the side where she must have been waiting for the first years, "I was expecting to see you with Mr Potter."

I shook my head, "Why does everyone expect me to save Harry whenever he's been an idiot?"

"Probably because that's what you do?" she gave me a motherly smile, "Would you like to join me for tea -" she stopped mid-sentence as the first years, accompanied behind by Hagrid arrived, "Welcome to Hogwarts!" she announced, chauffeuring them all into the side room, "Tomorrow after our class?" she whispered.

I smiled and nodded, "See you then."

"Chin up." She gave me a look, a glint in her eyes telling me to walk with confidence, not to care what the other kids are whispering.

I knew that everyone else was seated, waiting for the first years to arrive and by the look McGonagall gave me, I was going to have to make an entrance. I took my hands out of my pockets, put my hands into my hair and oomphed it up, George's advice came into mind, 'Man, I feel like a Woman'.

Walking through the doors into the Great Hall, I and wore an expression of superiority, like I was untouchable I filled myself with self-confidence. I extended my legs as I walked briskly, head high, arms by my side and I dared to throw a bit of sex-appeal in there, too. I sat in beside Neville and greeted him and those surrounding with a, "Hi!"

"Where's Harry?" Hermione shot me a look across the table.

"Good question," I nodded, "Ask me one I know the answer to."

Hermione and Ron glanced at each other, "We thought you had this handled!" Ron glared.

I really had to hold back anger as I said, "And a fat load of good you two have been trying to locate him." I said fiercely, "I've got it sorted, get your knickers out of a twist."

The doors to the Great Hall opened, a bunch of scared little people followed McGonagall to the front of the room, and the Sorting Ceremony began. I say this every year, but I honestly think they get smaller and smaller. I felt the warmth of the parchment in my pocket and very inconspicuously checked…

Found Harry, walking up from Hogsmeade.

"Could you seriously not go for the next hour without checking that parchment? You saw him this morning!" Hermione whispered angrily across the table to me. So I didn't bother telling either her or Ron that Harry is fine.

I ignored them, not that it was particularly difficult. As the Sorting Hat finished his song and all the first years all nervously sat down at their respective house tables. Dumbledore stood, commanding the attention of each student, "Now is not the time for speeches, let's eat!" Food appeared on the tables in front of us, in the usual stretch-or-starve fashion, and so we helped ourselves.

On my plate I had a helping of chicken and ham pie, carrots, peas and chips. I always found myself going for creamy dishes when I needed a pick-me-up. Otherwise known as comfort food. I lifted a couple of chicken drumsticks and put them in a napkin for Harry and hid them on the bench beside me. Neville gave me a strange look before catching on and returning to appearing like he's minding his own business again.

"He's covered in blood; I think this time it looks like his own." I heard Ginny say a few seats down the table.

Harry walking into the Great Hall had grabbed the attention of every single student. I moved over to let him slide into the newly created space between Neville and me. The whispers then changed from 'There's Harry Potter', to 'He's sitting with the Lestrange girl'.

"We should give 'em something to bloody well whisper about." I muttered under my breath angrily.

"Is that your way of saying you want to kiss me?" he smirked.

I looked at him and raised an eyebrow, "Well…" I joked, "Perhaps once you get that blood off your face?"

"Where've you – blimey, what've you done to your face?" Ron said, goggling at him along with everyone else in the vicinity.

"Come here!" Hermione raised her wand, and across the table said, "Tergeo" and siphoned off the dried blood.

"Thanks for sending Tonks in my direction." Harry whispered, giving my hand a squeeze under the table before asking Hermione, "How does my nose look?"

"Normal," she said anxiously, "Why shouldn't it? Harry, what happened, we've been terrified!"

Harry gave me the you didn't tell them look and I shrugged my shoulders, and I equally returned the I still have no idea what actually happened look, "I'll tell you later." Harry said curtly for the three of us to hear, probably well aware of the many pairs over ears listening in, including Nearly Headless Nick.

"But -" Hermione began to protest in her usual I-can't-stand-not-knowing attitude.

"Not now Hermione." Harry said darkly.

That certainly shut her up. He reached over to grab a chicken leg, but before he touched them, they vanished, to be replaced with puddings.

"You missed the Sorting, anyway," said Hermione as she and Ron dived for the large chocolate gateau.

I leaned over to Harry, and whispered, "There should be some chicken legs in a napkin on your other side."

The look of love and appreciation in Harry's eyes was real, "For that, I really would kiss you." He whispered back.

"You know, Harry, if you can help me get through this year without killing anyone or turning into my mother, that would be payment enough." I said, "For my ongoing love and support towards your wonderful cause, of course."

He smiled, "Deal."

"Hat say anything interesting?" Harry asked Ron as he quickly ate the cold chicken.

"More of the same, really… advising us all to unite in the face of our enemies, you know."

Harry chucked the bones back onto the napkin, "Dumbledore mention Voldemort at all?"

"Not yet, but he always saves his proper speech for after the feast, doesn't he? It can't be long now."

He then served himself a slice of treacle tart before saying, "Snape said Hagrid was late for the feast -"

"You've seen Snape?" How come?" Ron said between frenzied mouthfuls of gateau.

Whatever the reason, it could never have been good.

"Bumped into him," Harry said evasively.

"Hagrid was only a few minutes late," Hermione said, "Look, he's waving at you now."

I served myself a slice of incredibly rich chocolate torte. Hagrid and I have never felt any warmth towards each other. Don't get me wrong, I respect him, but I don't imagine he'd go out of his way for me. I felt like I was sitting in a world of my own, eating my torte, minding my own business, as no one around me was paying much attention to my existence. I felt incredibly low; the longer I sat at this table, the more memories came flooding back.

"What did Professor Slughorn want?"

"To know what really happened at the Ministry."

Hermione sniffed, "Him and everyone else. People were interrogating us about it on the train, weren't they, Ron?"

"Yeah," Ron said, "All waiting to know if you really are the Chosen One."

Harry looked to me and I raised both eyebrows, "People wouldn't dare talk to me!" I gave my hair a flip and rolled my eyes, "I'm devil spawn."

It was then that Dumbledore chose his moment to stand. The talk and laughter echoing around the Hall died away almost instantaneously, "The very best of evenings to you!" he said, smiling broadly, his arms opened wide as though to embrace the whole room.

"What's happened to his hand?" Hermione gasped.

It seemed that the entire room had noticed Dumbledore's blackened hand. It looked like necrotic tissue, the sort that's damaged beyond repair.

"Nothing to worry about," Dumbledore said airily as he shook his purple and gold sleeve over the injury, "Now… to our new students, welcome; to our old students, welcome back! Another year of magical education awaits you. I hope this year at Hogwarts gives you opportunity to grow as an individual, the chance to develop new talents, practise learned skills and become more self-aware." He paused, "On the topic of housekeeping, Mr Filch, our caretaker, has asked me to say that there is a blanket ban on any joke items bought at the shop called Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes."

I couldn't help but smile. This is exactly what the boys want. Dumbledore knew that by publicly stating that the products aren't allowed, it's only going to fuel curiosity and therefore possession of such contraband. WWW products are probably in a number of trunks right now, ready to be enjoyed.

"Those wishing to play for their house Quidditch teams should give their names to their Heads of House as usual. We are also looking for new Quidditch commentators, who should do likewise." I snapped out of it, "We are pleased to welcome a new member of staff this year: Professor Slughorn…"

Everyone in the room was silently judging this man, his balding head that gleamed in the candlelight, his big waistcoated belly that cast a shadow on the table below.

"… a former colleague of mine who has agreed to resume his old post of Potions mater."

"Potions?"

"Potions?"

"Oh Merlin no." I gulped.

"Professor Snape, meanwhile," Dumbledore raised his voice so that it carried over all the muttering, "will be taking over the position of Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher."

"No!" Harry said so loudly that many heads turned in his direction. I don't think he cared, though. Harry and Snape had this mutual dislike, the loathing was hard to miss.

The Slytherin students seemed delighted with the news, clapping enthusiastically for their head of house. This has been Snape's dream job; my question was why is it now that he gets the 'jinxed' job?

"Well, there's one good thing," Harry said savagely, "Snape'll be gone by the end of the year."

"Snape will always be around to ruin your day." I joked.

"What do you mean?" Ron asked.

"No one in that job has lasted more than a year… Quirrell actually died doing it. Personally, I'm going to keep my fingers crossed for another death."

"Harry!" Hermione and I both said in unison.

I gave him a nudge, "You shouldn't say things like that! You never know, you might name a child after him."

Harry scoffed, "Fat chance." He then nudged me back, "That's like you naming your kid after any of your parents."

"Snape might go back to teaching potions at the end of the year," Ron said reasonably, "That Slughorn bloke mightn't want to stay long-term, Moody didn't."

Dumbledore cleared his throat. The whole hall had erupted into chatter on the subject of Snape's appointment. Once everyone was silent again, Dumbledore continued, "Now as everybody in the Hall knows, Lord Voldemort and his followers are once more at large and gaining in strength."

Well that certainly shut everyone up. The odd eye fell upon me. The bloody article strikes again.

"I cannot emphasis strongly enough how dangerous the present situation is, and how much care each of us at Hogwarts must take to ensure that we remain safe. The castle's magical fortifications have been strengthened over the summer, we are protected in new and more powerful ways, but we must still guard scrupulously against carelessness on the part of any student or member of staff. I urge you therefore, to abide by any security restrictions that your teachers might impose upon you, however irksome you might find them – in particular the rule that you are not be out of bed after hours. I implore you, should you notice anything strange or suspicious within or outside the castle, to report it to a member of staff immediately. I trust you to conduct yourselves, always, with the utmost regard for your own and each other's safety."

Dumbledore blue eyes swept over all of us students before he smiled once more.

"But now, your beds await, as warm and comfortable as you could possibly wish, and I know that your top priority is to be well-rested for your lessons tomorrow. Let us therefore say goodnight! Pip pip!"

And, as though I was surrounded by robots, everyone got up and made their way towards their dormitories. Hermione was in her element – organising the smallest children and being their tour guide. It was clear that Harry and I were in no hurry to leave with the gawping crowd.

Ron waited behind, too, "What really happened to your nose?" he asked Harry.

Harry told us what happened after he followed Zabini into the Slytherin compartment. Basically he climbed up into the luggage rack above where Draco was sitting with Pansy (his head in her lap, and her stroking his hair) and Zabini sitting opposite with Goyle. Draco must have seen his trainer as he climbed up and listened into their conversation. What Harry seemed most interested in was the conversation that went on – Draco seemed annoyed that he wasn't invited to the lunch, considering Lucius seemed to speak well of Slughorn. But then Zabini explained that Slughorn doesn't appear to be interested in Death Eaters.

That was when Ron dared to say, "I wouldn't bank on getting an invitation, then, if I were you."

"His loss." I said, "You and I will have a plenty of opportunities to bond then."

He fell right into my trap, "And what makes you say that, my parents aren't Death Eaters."

"Yeah, but you've as much talent as a manky old shoe brush."

He looked all offended.

"If you offend me, I'll take a jab right back at you."

Ron shrugged his shoulders in defeat and indicated for Harry to continue telling his side of the tale. If it were an argument with Hermione, he wouldn't be talking to her for a week as a result. Ron just knows better than that with me.

So Harry told us that Draco said that he mightn't even be at Hogwarts next year. That has me interested. So after a little poking around the topic he told us that Draco thinks he might have moved onto bigger and better things. He's only still at Hogwarts because Cissa wants him to complete his education, even though he doesn't think it's that important because Voldemort won't care how many NEWTs he has but how much devotion he's shown. Draco also seems to think that Voldemort has a job for him that you don't need to be qualified for.

"When the train stopped and everyone left, he used petrificus totalus on me and stamped on my nose, breaking it and then he used my cloak to cover me back up again…"

Neither Ron nor I laughed.

Ron seemed unimpressed by the whole story, "Come on Harry, he was just showing off for Parkinson… what kind of mission would You-Know-Who have given him?"

"How d'you know Voldemort doesn't need someone at Hogwarts? It wouldn't be the first -"

"I wish yeh'd stop sayin' tha' name, Harry," Hagrid said reproachfully from behind us.

Thankfully I was slightly ahead of the two boys and I quickly asked Ron, "What's the new password?"

"Password?" Ron repeated.

I stared at him, "You are a prefect, you tend to get told the password -"

"Oh," the penny dropped, "It's abstinence."

"Are you kid -" I realised I didn't care, I'd get into the common room one way or another. I just wanted to get away from Hagrid vibes. I knew he wanted me away so that he, Harry and Ron could have a private conversation, "Goodnight!" I said.

K: I think I'm done with Hogwarts.
G: It's been… 3 hours? From you arrived?
K: Something like that, yeah.
G: Fred said that you'd surprise us both and it'll take you a week before you said you wanted to come back home. I said that it'll take until Saturday. You made it THREE HOURS.
K: Sorry?
G: What's happened?
K: Hermione's being a bitch, Ron is agreeing with her, Harry was an idiot, Ginny is more interested in her boyfriend and Neville's never really been much of a talker. That, and the rest of the girls in this dorm, after 5 years of knowing me, are suddenly treating me like a serial killer.
G: That bad, eh?
K: Oh, and I miss you.
G: Glad to know I'm a side thought!
K: Tell me something good. Please.
G: The cake was delicious, thank you. Mum and Dad had Fred and me over for dinner, it was strangely quiet, but I think it was so that they didn't have to make conversation with Fleur.
K: I think I'd take being stuck in a room with Fleur right now.
G: But you actually like her, so that doesn't count.
G: You didn't reply… Are you okay?
K: I feel like I've made a terrible mistake coming back here.
G: You start classes in the morning, you'll get back into the swing of it all again.
K: This morning feels like a lifetime ago…
G: It does, doesn't it?
K: I'd better get some sleep, busy day of attending classes and ignoring everyone tomorrow. And tea with McGonagall after classes where she undoubtedly tells me to be on my best behaviour this year.
G: Don't be so hard on yourself. That's something she'd have dragged me into her office for, and it wouldn't be a cup of tea sort of meeting…!
K: Goodnight, George! I love you.
G: I love you, too.

I set the parchment underneath my pillows and extinguished the light from the end of my wand. Everyone else in the dorm was asleep. As for me, I cried until the sweet release of sleep came upon me.