3rd September

"You've been unusually quiet and not yourself," Hermione sat beside me at breakfast, edging herself a lot closer to me than most people would be comfortable with, "Are you okay? Did you have a nightmare?"

I rubbed my face with my hands, "No, I've the worst cramps."

"Well, at least you're not pregnant."

"Could you literally have said that any louder?" I questioned, a tad aggressively, "I don't need everyone knowing. You know what the rumour mill is like in this school! I'll get labelled a slut or something, and that's all I need – oh look, today's mail." I said with as much excitement as the prospect of watching paint dry.

I counted one – two – three – five – eight letters this morning. Oh, and a latecomer, nine pieces of hate mail. I really wasn't in the mood. After feeling them for liquids and explosives, I shoved them all in my pocket, sighing to myself. I had two very strong cups of coffee, and when Ginny was about to argue, Hermione gave her the look. I also devoured the sweetest things I could find on the table – full fat yoghurt with strawberries in, and some freshly made warm pancakes. When I finished, I decided to go for a walk around the grounds on my own to clear my head. Or, in my case read the letters, destroy them and then clear my head of the nasty thoughts and feelings. This was so much harder to handle when you feel as dreadful and drained as I did.

I turned up outside Herbology a minute or two before the bell rang and Professor Sprout was already inside the greenhouse.

"Ah, Miss Pink," Spout called me into the classroom, "Madam Pomfery asked me to give this to you, you do look peaky, I must admit."

She handed me some of the stronger pain-relieving potion and I literally chugged it, "I could kiss the two of you right now."

"I'll pass on your thanks to Madam Pomfery, but if you do continue feeling unwell, please do not hesitate to dismiss yourself." She looked me up and down, "I don't want a repeat of cracked skulls on classroom floors!" she smiled.

I shook my head, "Do you Professors still talk about that?"

"Professor Snape still holds the record for best injury obtained in their class. He's still mortified!" She sniggered, "Don't tell anyone I told you that!" she said as the bell rang, signifying the start of today's classes.

By the end of double Herbology, I felt back to myself again. Actually, I was a better version of myself, I was high, having taken too much of the potion at once. After break we had Potions class, where Harry was, again, amazing and absolutely blew Slughorn away. In our free period, the three of them argued again about who 'The Half Blood Prince' was. It was then that I got my DADA essay completed for tomorrow afternoon's class. The amount of work we have to do after classes is astonishing, so I imagine I'll no time for any other activities, especially if I want to get good grades.

4th September

People keep staring at me in the corridors. I know I've got to keep my head down and let it all blow over, but it's difficult. I felt like I was in a car crash in the middle of the motorway and everyone was slowing down to gawp. The memories, thoughts and feelings from Primary School were flooding back from after the time Barbara murdered Gary. I was branded the freak, the person no one could talk to in case I went on a rampage, too. Thankfully I haven't had any issues with being called 'Pinky' lately, but the weight that the name of 'Lestrange' has put on my shoulders has been a lot heavier. I try to push it off, I try to make it seem like I don't care, but I'm still a human being and it hurts.

I've been spending a lot of time alone, mostly by choice, and through the fact that Hermione and I often don't share the same free periods. I've managed to stay on top of the mound of work presented to us in this first week. I think I heard one of the Ravenclaw girls crying in the library yesterday, then getting annoyed at herself for not having time to cry. I get you, girl.

I shouldn't be taking this so hard. I knew it wasn't going to be easy. I'm greedily eating my way through my final stores of chocolate. I need it. I need it to help me get by, for comfort as I sit here in my dormitory, novel in hand, immersed in another world where a girl makes it look easy standing up to her adversaries. But life is different to those in storybooks, George can't just show up like my knight in shining armour, riding a horse to rescue me from the tallest tower in the castle. This girl has got to do it on her own.

6th September

It doesn't feel right. I'm celebrating my 17th birthday today. It's hard to get your head around the idea when you've been celebrating your birthday on the 27th August for fifteen years, thinking you were born a year later than you were. 10 days ago, in my other life, as so to speak, I'd have just turned 16. It doesn't make sense; yet all the evidence suggests that it does.

Today's the day I'm supposed to write to Bellatrix Lestrange, the woman who gave birth to me, to pledge my allegiance to Lord Voldemort. I never thought I'd ever write those words. George trusts that I'll do the right thing to keep myself alive. But if that involves me branding myself and proving myself by murdering some poor innocent person, or betraying those I love, I don't think I could. In fact, I know I couldn't.

What am I going to do?

"Up you get, birthday girl!" Hermione said cheerily as she pulled open my curtains and light flew in. I think she was expecting me to be fast asleep, rather than staring at the ceiling in a state of dread, "Whatever happens today, I'm here, okay?"

I nodded.

She smiled, determined to keep my spirits up. She has seen that I've been suffering and trying to hide it, not that she knows what was playing on my mind as this big day approached. She has been a good friend, understanding, more so than she has ever been, "We've got to have you looking stunning for that grand entrance to breakfast," she encouraged me, "Or at the very least, washed and dressed in jeans and a t-shirt."

In a khaki shirt dress with buttons down the front, paired with a black cardigan and the heeled black combat boots Tonks bought me, I walked into the Great Hall prepared for war. It was still early enough that I could sit and eat a healthy potion of breakfast that rivalled Ron's appetite of sausages, bacon, fried eggs, baked beans, fried mushrooms and a slice of toast.

"You continue to impress me," he said as I piled it all on, hungrily, "Happy birthday, by the way."

"Thanks Ronald." I smiled, digging in.

Ginny called out, "I thought you two were going to wait for me!" she hurried along the table, "Happy birthday, Kit Kat!" she wrapped her arms around me from behind, "I left your present upstairs, so you can open it somewhere more private."

I took a swig of coffee and smirked, "It's alright, Gin, pucker up."

Dean, who was now sitting on the other side of Ginny coughed, reminding me of his presence.

That's when I was very cheeky, "You're really lucky to have such a great kisser for a girlfriend!"

"KIT-KAT!" Ginny blushed, "You're turning into Fred and George, embarrassing me."

I held out my right hand to Dean and said, "She proposed to me, too. Last summer, I'm her Princess Katy."

Dean blinked.

"It's true." Ginny said casually, "Even though someone else has taken over the Princess ring's spot."

I looked fondly down at the beautiful light blue chalcedony ring, that had so memories behind it that I couldn't help but smile.

"And that one gets that smile," she teased me.

Hermione joined in, "Your brother has done good."

"A little bit more than good, the way I hear it." Ginny said with a wide smile and a wink.

I smiled back, "I think we were just saying a massive 'f*ck you' to the patriarchy." I held up my ring finger as though flipping the bird.

"Looks like someone's getting a howler!" Neville pointed to the incoming peck of owls delivering mail, "Actually…" he paused, "Kathryn. Run. It's for you."

"Shit!" I said, but I was too late, it exploded as I touched it.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU,
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU,
HAPPY BIRTHDAY DEAR KATY!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOUUUUUU!
JUST IN CASE YOU ALL DIDN'T KNOW ALREADY, IT'S KATY'S 17th BIRTHDAY TODAY!
HAVE A MAGICAL DAY, HONEY.

I groaned, hiding my face in embarrassment.

"I don't think I've ever seen Kathryn go this shade of purple before."

"She's beetroot, Ron." Harry commented.

I took a deep breath, and from behind my hands said, "He's lucky I love him."

Hermione gave me a nudge, "You've got a few letters to take from these owls before they destroy the contents of the table any further. Looks like you've got a few presents, too!"

"Okay," I said, rubbing my hands together nervously before reaching out to grab letter after letter, and the odd parcel. I took the one from the top and carefully opened it,

Happy Birthday Kathryn!
I hope your first week back at Hogwarts was good. What subjects did you decide on? Tell Harry, Ron, Hermione and Ginny I was asking about them.
I do recall James sending Lily a howler making sure that everyone in the hall knew it was her 17th birthday, I may have let that information slip to George when I saw him on Sunday. I'm preparing you, just in case. Lily also hit James across the head with one of the books Marlene got her, and he quickly realised it was a terrible idea. I told George that, too. I don't think he listened.
I know I promised to write often, but you know I'm under a lot of pressure here. I'll use your excuse if you sign your replies properly. Have a great day!
With love, Remus x
P.s. Hope you didn't eat all the chocolate at once!

"Aw Harry!" I cleared my throat, handing the letter across the table, "Remus wrote about your mum and dad."

Harry beamed at me across the table. He always loved to find out things about his parents, especially when they were funny, "Thanks for this." He said, nodding gratefully.

"I asked him to send me stories, hints and tips on surviving this."

"Are you talking about Professor Lupin?"

"Yeah, Kathryn's other man."

"Gin, behave."

Ginny scoffed, "You were the one who started telling my boyfriend -"

I stopped her mid-sentence, "I actually got into trouble for that running joke. I had to work hard to get into a good place again." she opened her mouth to ask something else, but I answered, "I'm not allowed to talk about it, besides, my schmoozing ability isn't something I like to boast about."

"With love, Remus?" Ginny snatched the letter off me, "Kit-Kat…" she gave me the same disapproving tone her mother did so well.

"Oh look!" I said slightly too loud, I lifted the next letter, "This is from your Mum!"

"Your mum?" Ron questioned from the other side of the table.

"No, yours." I emphasised.

To our beautiful daughter Kathryn on your 17th Birthday,
Wishing you love, happiness and success over the next year, and beyond!
Lots of love Molly and Arthur
xxx

Wrapped in brown paper and red ribbon was a spiral notebook covered in cooking utensil designs. Inside, Molly had handwritten all the recipes I had given her over the years and added a few of her own, like 'Ron's favourite chicken dinner', 'Ginny's favourite cupcakes' and 'Fred and George's favourite food as three year olds'. That one was rather disgusting, but hilarious. What a thoughtful gift.

I read down the list of ingredients, having not made peach and raspberry cupcakes before, "Mum and I would often have baked together, especially when the twins came here and we had peace and quiet."

"This one's from Tonks." And I saw in the first line the mentioning of Remus, and promptly shoved it into my bag, "Next!" I opened the present that was attached to Tonks' letter, and I prayed it was suitable for all my friends and fellow Gryffindors to catch sight of.

I lifted the top off the box and stood, flapping my arms wildly, letting out a girly squeak, "Oh no she didn't!" I beamed as I lifted out the biker jacket, complete with punk rock badges, "She knows me so well!" I tried the jacket on, buzzing with excitement as I realised it also had a hood, "Ohmygoodness! Isn't this amazing?"

"As I've told you before, you really do have your own sense of style, Kathryn!" Hermione shook her head.

"I LOVE IT!" Ginny shared in my excitement, "It's so you." She got me to turn around, to admire the back of the jacket, "George is going to have some trouble beating that reaction!" she handed me a letter and I ripped it open, only to fall back down onto my seat again,

My beautiful daughter Katy,
The day has finally come! My baby is 17! Happy birthday!
I cannot express how proud of you I am that we're finally going to be working together, now that we don't have to worry about the ministry following your every move and your other foster parent. The Dark Lord eagerly awaits your confirmation. You have no idea how much this means to me, Katy. You will be of great service to the Death Eaters with inside information on Harry Potter and all the goings-on at Hogwarts.
I cannot wait to hear from you,
Your loving Mother,
Bellatrix Lestrange

"Kathryn?" It was Harry that got my attention, but I'm sure that I missed all the other voices talking to me, "Kathryn? Are you okay?"

"Ehm -" my brain turned into mulch as I folded the letter back into the envelope again.

"Was it from your mum?"

I nodded, "It's fine. Nothing I can't handle."

"Kathryn?" I heard Draco's voice approaching from behind, when I looked up he said, "Mum wanted me to give you this –" he handed me a letter amongst the stuff in his hands, "- and she also wanted me to give you your present… which is this one." is eyes never left mine, his expression was soft and friendly, his trip over to the Gryffindor table was painfully forced upon him.

"Draco?" I called after him as he was about to turn.

"Yeah?"

I swallowed, "D'you think, maybe, we could go outside for a walk together?"

I could see him trying to formulate a plan to get out of it.

"Please." I said, trying to implore to him just how much I needed this, "Just you and me."

"Fine," he said, tapping his foot as I flicked my wand, all the letters and presents packing themselves neatly into my bag.

Ginny grabbed onto my hand and asked, "What's happened?"

I used my invisibilia powers to say, "I need to talk to him, then I need to talk to the four of you in the common room when I'm done." But all everyone heard was, "I'll see you in the common room."

"What do you want?" Draco said as soon as we were outside, away from prying ears.

"Oh, what a lovely way to greet your cousin, especially on her birthday."

"Happy birthday, what do you want?"

The two of us walked towards the lake as I said, "I don't know who else to trust with this. I don't even know what to do…"

"And you think I can help?" he scoffed.

I stopped and reached out, grabbing his upper arm, "Your mum said my life was hanging in the balance over the summer. I had seven Death Eaters try and torture me for information, seven, Draco."

"I know." He swallowed, "Mum told me after you'd escaped. How you managed to do it -"

"You will never know." I told him, thinking about the fact that I manipulated Crabbe's dad, I was so desperate that I undoubtedly got the man into serious trouble as a result. So long as that information stays a secret, the better off I'll be, "And now, to continue keeping myself alive, I've got to sign up." I said, fear trembling through my voice unwillingly, "you know, being seventeen and everything. They'd have had been sign up before now -"

Draco's eyes fell upon mine, and a look of understanding was shared between us, "We've both had a lot thrown at us that we don't want this summer, and it's only going to get worse."

"So are you saying I need to do this?" we continued walking, "That there's no way you can see me getting out of it?"

Draco took a deep breath, "You're Katy Lestrange now, if you like it or not. There's no hiding from the fact anymore." His eyes focused on a point in front of us, "Mum and I have protected you all summer, I've promised your mum to convince you to sign up, if I needed to."

"What're they going to make me do, Draco?" I said, "I can't -"

"You will." He said relentlessly, "You can't lose it every time you get a letter from her."

"I know…" I said apologetically, "I -"

He interrupted, "You need to get over it, quickly. You need to build up that hardened attitude you had against Helen and Richard. Bella's been asking questions about them, the trial, about you, everything. You need to be the girl who stood on that stand, ready for anything and everything that was thrown at her, you need to give this everything you've got, Kathryn, because both our lives are on the line. If you get caught, I get caught, and vice versa."

"I know, Draco, I know." I said, gesturing for him to sit down on the grass beside me, "Things have gotten even more complicated between us, haven't they?" I said in a very uncomplicated way. Conversations when it was just Draco and me were uncomplicated, we were able to be ourselves, able to communicate like human beings with no fear of looking stupid, "You know I've got your back? That if you needed anything, you know you can talk to me?"

"They have," he nodded, "And I know." There has always been something unspoken between us, not that we spent a huge amount of time together as babies before I was shipped off. But Draco, the guy I've gotten to know, we have an understanding.

"What information do they need?" I asked, leaning forward towards him, knowing that I was going to have to toughen up and realise that I put my big girl boots on this morning. I need to grow up and return back to living in the real world, "What do I need to say?"

Draco's eyes fell upon me, as I re-read Bellatrix's letter, "They want Potter." I remained silent, pondering, as Draco said, "But you also know that you can't give him to them. Tell them that Dumbledore doesn't seem to be in the castle much, say that you'll try and find out where he's going. Say that the new Potions teacher doesn't seem to like the two of us very much."

"Is there something I've missed?"

"We're Death Eater's kids, Kathryn."

"Oh really? I completely forgot." I rolled my eyes at him, giving him a gentle shove, "So I just say whatever I need to."

He nodded, "My best advice I can give you? Stay alive. You know what that means."

"Draco, you know I have to ask… Will -"

"None of your gifts are going to kill you from mum or Bella, I know what they are, you'll probably like them. Mum seems to think so, anyway. So long as you reply today with your approval, you'll be fine. Yes, you and I are a team, we're family and family sticks together, unless you -"

"Got it." I couldn't help but wrap my arms around him, "Thank you. Crisis averted."

"Mum said that sometimes you just need someone to talk things through with."

I smiled, "She knows me." I carefully unwrapped the present which was a pair of diamond earrings, plain, simple, elegant, "These are beautiful." I said, searching through my bag for the present I assumed was from my mum, opening a box the length of my hands to reveal three items wrapped in tissue paper – a black choker necklace, made from a velvety material with a black jewel charm, a Slytherin-green quill and a picture of a much younger looking Bellatrix Lestrange holding baby me on her knees. There was a look of pure adoration exchanged between mum and me, we were both happy and content, playing with whatever toy was in mum's hand.

I really need to stop calling her 'mum'.

I was thinking about the life I was now entering. The decision I was making by accepting these gifts, by sitting here with Draco, the impression I was giving. I am now Katy Lestrange. And Katy Lestrange has got to be more Slytherin; cunning, shrewd, ambitious… I need to be the best of my parents and the worst of the girl I used to be. I'm an adult now, I've got to start acting like one.

"I feel like I shouldn't leave you right now…" he said, "but -"

"I'm fine." I nodded.

I could see him arguing with himself, "You seem sad?"

"How can I be anything but sad? How can we be anything but sad? Living in the shadows of our parents, being used for their personal gain, being forced to do things we do not want to do and for what…? I don't think I can call this an easy life. It's definitely no easier than the life I lived before."

Draco and I both sighed deeply, "I'm sorry you got dragged into all this."

"I'm sorry for what he's done to you." I said, "Don't forget me when you're surrounded by all your Slytherin friends."

"I will never forget you." He reached over and gently stroked the back of my hand with his thumb, "Chin up, it's your birthday." He stood, offering me a hand up.

I shook my head, "I think I'm just gonna sit here for a while on my own."

"As you wish."

It was at times such as this where I realised just how content I was being alone. I opened all my hate mail; things were getting repetitive now, and it felt like I was just reading letters addressed to someone else. The letter from Tonks was quite hard to read, not that her thoughts were scattered, but rather I knew how much she was hurting.

Hey Sis,
The chocolate was much appreciated, thank you. I just wish Remus would have given it to me himself. I miss him, you know? I hardly ever get to see him with all the work he's busying himself with. I think about him and it hurts, I wonder what he's doing and if he's thinking about me. I know he loves me, I know it. Has he written to you at all? Is he alright? I feel so pathetic, K… I just can't seem to shake this feeling.
Sorry for burdening this on you, especially today. I went shopping and saw your present and I had to buy it, I really hope you like it. I'll have you dressing like me in no time!
Love you lots,
T x

What made it worse were the tear splats on the parchment, and the way her hands shook as she wrote. I just wish I could wrap my arms around her and tell her that everything is going to be okay, but I can't. The rest of the letters can wait; I have stuff I need to do.

I climbed into the Gryffindor Common Room having psyched myself up for this. Catching eyes with Harry, Ron, Hermione and Ginny, who were seemingly sitting waiting for my return, I smiled at them.

"We know your fake smile, Kit-Kat." Ginny said, shooing Dean away, "What was so important that you spent over an hour and a half with Draco?"

I sat down on the edge of the coffee table, facing my friends, "I haven't been entirely honest with you guys…" I looked around the room to make sure that there was no one eavesdropping, "Narcissa came to visit at the end of summer, she practically begged me to make it up with Bellatrix after the letter."

"That letter?"

I nodded, "She said that the Death Eaters were planning on killing me, for good, this time. That it was Bellatrix that sold me out and that I needed to appear to be on their side."

"You're not saying what I think you're saying?" Hermione interjected.

I bit my upper lip as I confirmed, "The thing Bella wants more than anything is for me to sign up. She wants intel. Narcissa told me to be creative with the truth. Draco told me that there's no way I can get out of it." I took a deep breath, and looked to Harry, "They want you, but you know I'll never sell you out, don't you?"

He nodded, "So what's the plan?"

I handed over the letter from Bellatrix, which they read and immediately realised what was being asked. They were all silent, they knew what I had to do and knew they couldn't argue.

"Have you told anyone else that you're doing this?"

"Tonks overheard the conversation with Narcissa, I then told Fred and George. We sat up for hours talking about it… We all came to the same conclusion; I have to do this or he's going to kill me or he'll send someone else to do his dirty work for him." I sighed, "Another thing…" I lowered my voice, "Dumbledore wants me to spy for the Order. He wants me to break it off with George, go under cover, he wanted me to meet up with her on the 27th."

"Why didn't you do it?" Harry questioned.

I gave him a piercing stare, "Because I am not Dumbledore's play thing to manipulate and use as his own personal puppet, Harry. There's not a chance in hell I'm breaking up with George and I'm not stupid enough to walk into a trap like that. I think we learnt our lesson after our trip to the ministry, don't you think?"

Low blow.

"It's true, Harry." Ginny said, I could feel her eyes searching me, but I sat still and calm, I knew I should have had this conversation with my friends weeks ago, "She's been through enough."

"What say you?" I turned to Hermione, "You've been awfully quiet…"

"You often don't find my advice good enough."

"But I find your opinion very important."

Hermione smiled, a genuine, grateful smile, "I think we need to use this to our advantage."

"So have you seriously not heard from George today?" Ginny asked, sitting beside me in the library after lunch.

"Well, he sent me a good morning message and wished me a happy birthday, he also sent that delightful howler, but aside from that… no. But you've got to remember Saturday's are his busiest days in the shop. I'm sure I'll hear from him whenever he collapses into bed tonight."

She put her finger on the page beside me, moving it across the table, "You've been staring at this piece of parchment for ten minutes straight, Kit-Kat." Her eyes filled with concern.

"Well… I wanted him to know what I wrote in my letter to Bellatrix before I sent it." I tapped the letter folded on the table in front of me, "He's just busy, Gin…"

"So you're both okay?"

I smiled, "Of course!" I reached out with my left hand, placing mine on hers, emphasising the ring, "This ring is more than just a ring, okay? It's a promise that even though I've another two years to do here, and that I'm a fricking Lestrange and we're both pretty imperfect, that we're in this for the long run."

"Good." She said matter-of-factly, "Cause I need my sister."

"What's up?"

"Oh, nothing!" she shook her head, "I just meant in general. I need your face in my life."

I smirked, "That sounds like something I'd say. Gin, you've always got me. No matter what."

She wrapped her arms me from behind, slapping a kiss on my cheek. Walking away, swinging her hips, beaming, "A birthday kiss for the birthday girl."

I sat on my own shaking my head, smiling to myself. I lifted up a pile of books and slammed them, somewhat accidently on the table in front of me. I opened up a range of books on the pages talking about Paracelsus, as he was my focus for our first alchemy presentation.

"Paracelsus?" I heard a familiar voice, "My my, you are keen."

"You caught me." I took a glance at Theodore Nott and held my hands up momentarily before returning back to my notes.

"What's a pretty girl like you doing sitting down here? Should you not be partying up in Gryffindor Tower?" he continued standing next to me, "Or did the howler, announcing your seventeenth birthday for all to hear, get it wrong?"

"Oh, it is my seventeenth." I assured him, "But sometimes the peace and quiet of the library is nice."

He chuckled, "Did you escape your own party? Or is Gryffindor just not doing it for you anymore?"

He sat down on the chair beside me, pulling it so close that our knees were almost touching, he was demanding my attention, so I looked up at him, "Wouldn't you like to know?"

"I could show you a good time, Katy."

I raised an eyebrow, "There are only two people in this world who have permission to call me that. My mother and the person who sent that howler."

"And what do I have to do to have the honour?"

"You have to earn it."

"How?"

I shook my head, "If I told you, that would make it easy." I cocked my head to the side, "And one thing I most certainly am not is easy, Mr Nott."

He sat back in the chair, clearly taken by my response, I still gave him my attention, trying to make him feel uncomfortable, "I wasn't suggesting you are easy. I just wanted to replace your surname with mine, after showing you a good time."

"Does that one work with all the girls you try to pick up?" I couldn't help but laugh about how bizarre this conversation was.

"You're the first."

I don't think my eyebrow could rise any further, "Of course I am."

"So will you let me show you a good time?"

"Maybe some day." I said in a very disinterested way, which means not a chance in hell in girl talk, but I don't think he understood where I was headed, because he smiled, like he'd accomplished wearing me down.

He got up, bouncing slightly on his feet as he walked, then he turned and said, "You can call me Theo, by the way."

I lifted up my hand and waved lazily as he left the library.

"What was that?" Hermione asked, sitting down on the seat he had just vacated, slamming a pile of books down as she did.

"I have no idea."

Hermione smirked, "Theodore Nott was flirting with you. I mean, it makes sense, you are Hogwarts next top suitor when it comes to the Pureblood community, and you're easy on the eyes. My question is: Why didn't you mention George?"

I sighed, "Because I don't want to put him in any danger, that's why."

Hi Mum,
You may regard this message as my confirmation of devotion. I look forward to working with you.
Thank you for your letter and your gifts. I really love the picture of us. I've put it up on my bedside table. Do you have any pictures of Dad and me? I'd really like to get to know him, too.
I must say, I've noticed a few differences in Hogwarts this year… The new Potions teacher, Professor Slughorn seems to have taken a particular liking to some students, but ignores both Draco and me. I'm not particularly worried, the man disgusts me a bit, but is there any history there that I need to know about? Do I need to investigate further? I've also noticed that Dumbledore has hardly been present at meal times… Maybe he's unwell or something, but I'll keep you posted on that one.
With regards to Harry, I've had to do a lot of work to convince him that I'm not colluding with you. Don't worry, he'll be confiding in me within no time, probably when he needs help with homework. I've decided to embrace the whole 'you're the Lestrange kid' thing that appears to be following me; in class this week, Draco had to tell our teacher to stop asking me questions about the family and teach. I guess I'm just not used to being noticed.
Hope to hear from you soon,
KBL x

I re-read the letter before sending it with a school owl, I couldn't wait for George to reply any longer. Harry stood beside me, knowing how much of a big deal this is for both of us, I was under so much pressure to do this right.

"You know, if all this goes to pot, I'll have to fake my death and go on the run until you figure out how to kill Mouldy Pants before I can show my face in public again." I told Harry.

"And I suppose, you'll want me to 'kill' you, too?" He used air quotes to emphasise.

I smirked, "Only after we improve my street cred in the Prophet to make me look seriously powerful and unbeatable, then we'll have Mouldy shit his pants."

Harry laughed, "What if we both mysteriously disappear after a duel and work together to defeat evil? Harry Potter, the Boy Who Lived, the Chosen One and the Lestrange Kid, the famous crime-solving duo?"

"After we up my status, okay? It'll be Harry Potter, the Boy Who Lived, the Chosen One and Kathryn Pink, feared above all others, the Unchosen one." I imagined the newspaper title and caption, holding my hand in the air as though to present the idea.

"I'm sure by then it'll be much better." He smirked, "It'll be The Chosen One KILLED by the Lestrange Kid."

"That'll certainly up my street cred for the next day's headline," I surmised, "The Girl Who Conquered, Disappears."

The two of us were in stitches with the possibilities. Harry and Kathryn take on the world. Fighting crime, protecting muggles and muggleborns, creating a world of equality.

"And don't forget S.P.E.W. – Kathryn." He nudged me as I was about to walk into a child.

"Professor McGonagall wants to see you." Some random third year approached me as Harry walked me back to the common room, "She says it's urgent."

One look from Harry told me to go, my question was… what am I in trouble for now? "Enjoy your meeting." I told him as we split ways.

"You wished to see me, Professor?" I said very mysteriously, after knocking and letting myself into McGonagall's office, her expression seemed neutral, so it didn't seem like it was something bad.

"Kathryn!" McGonagall immediately set down her quill, pushing the pile of parchment aside, "Take a seat!" her tea set was sitting ready, "How are you?"

"I'm okay." I nodded.

"I've noticed that you've been having a tough week – don't deny it," she said as I opened my mouth to argue, "other students can be cruel, and you've held your head up high, but that doesn't stop me worrying about you."

I sighed, knowing that there was no point pretending everything was fine and dandy, "This week has been an adjustment, even Hermione has been nice to me, so you know things are bad when that happens!" I tried to make light of my situation.

She took a breath before saying, "You've been quiet, distant, and you looked like you were going to collapse whenever you opened a letter this morning at breakfast."

"That would be the ray of sunshine that is my mother." I said, "I chatted to Draco, he set me straight about what's going on."

"And George? Have you heard from him?"

I snorted, "I think everyone heard from him this morning." I shook my head and sighed, smiling to myself, "So much for keeping it on the down-low. But it was really nice to hear his voice, no matter how humiliating it was!" I chuckled to myself, "He sent me a message this morning, he's been working, so I'll hear from him again later."

"Well…" she pursed her lips, "With it being your birthday, and your seventeenth no less, I thought I'd get you a present."

I smiled, "There's no need, Professor."

"Shall I just send him home then?"

"What?"

McGonagall looked up at a point behind me and nodded.

I craned my neck and saw a flash of red hair, "GEORGE!" I let out a very high pitched noise as I jumped out of the chair and collided my lips with his, wrapping my arms around him, holding him tight.

"I've missed you!" he said breathlessly, laughing at the whole situation, "The shock written all over your face!" he brushed a curl back into place again, his eyes searching my face, lingering on my eyes, then my lips, I felt his hands go under the leather jacket, rubbing my back.

McGonagall cleared her throat before stating, "George, the connection ends at 9, Kathryn, don't miss curfew, I'd also appreciate it if you stayed here and didn't mention this beyond the most trusted of ears. Enjoy."

I let go of George, turning to McGonagall I wrapped my arms around her, planting a kiss on her cheek, "Thank you – thank you from the bottom of my heart."

She nodded and left, closing the door tight behind her.

"Now… the things I'd like to do to you." George looked me up and down, his eyes hungry as I twirled, "You're determined to embrace this style of yours, aren't you?"

I gawped at him, "This particular look is styled by Tonks. I'm rather fond of the jacket."

"I'll be sure to let Tonks know when I next see her." He smiled, "So you don't want to murder me after my present to you this morning?"

I couldn't help myself but smirk as I shook my head in disgust, "You – that was – something I should have foreseen… What happened to keeping everything on the down low?" I gave him a playful nudge.

"You're not ashamed of me, are you?"

"No!" I said immediately, "No way! I love you, I'm just thinking about -"

He chuckled, "I was joking. Now let me cuddle you and you can tell me all about the letter you sent." With a flick of his wand, a replica of the apartment sofa appeared in the middle of McGonagall's office. It was massively out of place, but far more inviting than the mahogany chairs, especially with George's open arms.

I showed George the letter from Bellatrix and recounted my conversation with Draco. George sat stroking my hair as I talked. He is so conflicted about the Malfoys and I can understand why – they lied to me about who I am for years, Draco isn't exactly Mr Reliable who gives off trustworthy vibes and let's not forget who they're working for. But I trust them and George trusts me.

"Wait a second." George stopped me mid-sentence, shuffling on the sofa, "Has Draco basically told you that he's a Death Eater?"

"Yeah," I nodded, "But I have no evidence. And don't do anything stupid with this information, George, I need to keep him on side."

"Okay, okay!" he held his hands up, "What?"

He has always been able to read me better than anyone else, yet he continues to surprise me, "Do you remember a Slytherin guy in my year called Theodore Nott?"

George took a moment to think, "You helped put his dad in Azkaban, didn't you?"

I cleared my throat, "Well, Theo… Uhm… He was flirting with me today," I scrunched up my face, "it was really weird… He wants to show me a good time." I think my distaste was written all over my face.

A brooding expression etched itself across George's face. His hands stopped playing with my hair, and his entire body remained quite still. I stayed silent, he just needed a minute. I stared out of McGonagall's office window as the orange sun set into the horizon. The actual anniversary of my birth was coming to an end, and my time with George was creeping to a close, yet I had so much more I wanted to talk about, to tell him, but this was important.

"I was afraid this would happen…"

"What?"

"One of your qualities that I have always loved and been exasperated by at the same time, is your inability to see how attractive you are." his eyes focused on a small desk filled with parchment as he said, "I could write you a list as long as my arm of how many guys want you." He cleared his throat, "Now that you know who you are – Pureblood, daughter of a well-known, often well-respected, well-feared wizarding family, smart, funny, attractive, driven, ballsy -" he chuckled to himself, "No wonder you're getting all this attention! All these people who didn't notice you before have had their eyes opened, and my guess is that this Nott guy is only the first to try and win your favour. Just think about how much of a catch you are, especially to other Pureblood guys."

"Oh." I reached over, placing my hand on his cheek before leaning in to kiss him. I hoped it would mean more than just a kiss to him, that it would signify our connection, our love, my commitment to us.

As we broke off our last kiss, my legs straddling his, I held his gaze, blowing a bit of hair out of my face, the two of us smiled at how inconvenient my mop of curls could be. "I miss you." I said, sighing, attempting to climb off him as comfortably for the two of us as possible.

"Don't go." He said, his hands on my lower back, pulling me back in again, "Let me enjoy looking at you a little bit longer." He summoned his travelling cloak and took something out of the pocket, "And you don't think I'd let you turn seventeen without spoiling you rotten?" He handed me a pink velvet rectangular box, "I mean it's no leather jacket, but -"

I opened the box before he could downplay it any further, "Oh wow." I lifted out the very feminine silver heart-shaped piece, "It's a locket!" I said in shock as I held it, using my nails to pry it open, "Georgie…" I couldn't help but pout as I recognised the picture we had a local from St Tropez take after he gave me the promise ring, sunset in the background, me in the red dress, the two of us lovingly posing in each other's arms, "It's beautiful. Thank you." I said as he helped me put it on, fastening it to the perfect length.

"I also got you something else…"

I pursed my lips, "I got you a Swiss Army knife for your seventeenth, this is more than enough, Georgie!" I held the locket in my hand, admiring it.

"But this is a practical present…" he placed his hands on my hips and nudged me, "Up you get." I stood at the end of the sofa, one arm folded across my body as George peered out the window. He was in one of those moods where I needed to expect the unexpected. "I won't bite." He enticed me over, holding his arms open wide, wrapping his arms around me from behind, "What do you see?"

I do not like this game…

"I see that the sun has almost set."

"Go on…"

"I see Hagrid's Hut." I looked back and said, "Please don't say you've invested our money into buying it, it's really not my style."

George chuckled, "Stop mucking about and really look."

I cleared my throat and thought about what I was looking out at, what was different, or out of place, "Erm… I see… Oooh, there's an owl coming in." I pointed to the right, noticing the wingspan of the beautiful bird and the graceful movements, "There's two!" I noticed the second in the slipstream of the other.

George tightened his hug and whispered, "Happy birthday!" as the owls both landed on the windowsill. My eyes followed him suspiciously as he unlatched the window, allowing the two barn owls to hop into the room and swoop onto McGonagall's desk, "Stop looking at me like that!"

"But – I don't understand."

George walked over to the two birds and stroked one of them, "Well this is Owlbert and this lovely lady here wouldn't be prised from her man, so I had to oblige, I got her for you."

I gasped, "You didn't."

He smirked, "I did."

I took a few careful steps forward, reaching out and gently stroking the fudge coloured bird, "She's mine? Like actually mine?"

"Well, that's the purpose of gifting," He jested, "You're going to have to name her. Something that goes well with Owlbert of course."

I said the first name that came to mind, "Owlivia."

"Perfect!" He beamed.

I couldn't help myself but smile at him, wrapping my arms around his middle, resting my cheek in the nook of his neck, breathing in his scent, "Our time is almost up…" I whispered.

"Shhhhh…" we stood there in an embrace, "Five more minutes." He whispered back.

"What's it been like at home?" I enquired realising that I hadn't asked what things were like on his end.

He cleared his throat, "Yeah, everything is fine."

I pulled back from the hug and said, "Fine as in terrible or fine as in it's not great but it's fine?"

George smirked, "I've missed you." he then rubbed his face with his hands, showing off tired eyes, "I've been keeping myself busy with the shop and everything so that I don't have time to think about how quiet life is without you. I didn't want to burden -"

"You will never be a burden on me, George Weasley." I touched his lips with my finger to stop him from arguing back, "We're both feeling the same way and it really sucks being apart. But look, right now, the two of us have to try and not be completely miserable. You should go for dinner and drinks or something tomorrow with Fred."

"I feel bad because -"

"Don't." I interrupted, "So long as I get a message or two, I'll be happy. Tell me how you're feeling, you know I can't tell how you're feeling if I don't see you. A wise person once told me that." I Eskimo kissed him, "I don't want you to be unhappy or suffer because I'm here. I'll see you on Hogsmeade weekends and I'll see you during the holidays and we will make it work, but in order to exist as a long-distance couple, we've got to do a bit of self-care."

George's expression was incredulous, "Where did that just come from?"

"I told you, Hermione has been really nice to me this week."

George looked down at his watch, "We're going to get into so much trouble if I don't leave in the next two minutes."

"Ack, what's life without a little risk?" I grabbed him, pulling him down my level and kissed him before saying, "Promise me you'll plan something and keep me in the loop with everything, no matter how small or seemingly insignificant."

"I promise," he kissed me back, "I wish I didn't have to go."

I shrugged my shoulders, "We can always convince McGonagall to make this a regular thing." I kissed him again, the two of us slowly stepping closer to the fire.

"I consider it my goal in life." He sniggered, chucking some Floo powder into the fire behind him, "It was really good to see you, I mean, really good."

"I couldn't agree more." I smiled brightly, "It's always nice to see your face – and thank you for my presents, you really did spoil me."

"You deserve it." He kissed me one last time, "I love you."

"I love you too. See you soon!"

It has just turned 9pm. It's now officially past curfew. I was standing, staring into a fire in McGonagall's office, dazed. It was the flap of wings that made me realise that I had to get two owls out of her office and clear up the mess we had made – including the sofa – How am I meant to get rid of a sofa? And somehow also be in Gryffindor Tower all at the same time.

"Evanesco." I vanished the sofa, "Right lads." I said to the owls, clapping my hands, "I've never had a pet before, so I'm hoping you two know where the owlery is, because I'm not allowed to leave the castle right now. Erm…" I realised how stupid it was chatting to owls who don't even know me. I noticed something attached to the sandy coloured Owlbert and untied it, and breathed a sigh of relief as I noticed owl treats. I held one out to each of them, "I'll come see you both in the morning?" I opened the window and they flew off towards the owlery together. Excellent.

I took this as the opportune moment to straighten out the office, make myself invisible and make a run for it. The Fat Lady said she let me get away with it… this time.