15th October

Harry waited until our free period together before lunch to spill the beans on his lesson with Dumbledore last night. He had been anxious to tell us all morning, but in Herbology class we were split up into different groups and Ernie is far too nosey a potions partner and cannot be fully trusted. Besides, in Potions class Hermione doesn't talk to Harry. Once she sees that book, or Ron in fact, the conversation dries up like wet sponge in scorching heat.

"So we were in Dumbledore's memory of the first time he met the boy Tom Riddle in the orphanage he grew up in. Merope went to the orphanage in labour, had Tom within the hour and died an hour later…"

I felt a shiver run up my spine. The poor girl didn't have anyone else…

"Merope was the one who insisted he was called Tom Marvolo Riddle. The woman who ran the Orphanage said that he was always odd. He scared the children – bullied them. One boy accused Tom of hanging his rabbit from the rafters."

"That's disgusting!" Hermione was astounded.

"Apparently Tom and the boy argued the day before. When they went to the seaside, two kids were never the same again after something happened in a cave."

I had grabbed onto my skirt and it was bunched in my hand, "What did he do?"

"Dunno…" Harry shrugged his shoulders, "So Dumbledore was then introduced to Tom and first thing he does is accuse Dumbledore of being a doctor sent to look at him. Even at that age he was very commanding. But when Dumbledore mentioned that it was magic that Tom could do, he was filled with excitement. He said that he could make animals do what he wanted them to without training them. He also said that he can make bad things happen to people who annoy him and make them hurt, if he wanted to."

"Bloody hell." Ron said, scratching his head, "He's always been rotten to the core."

"Tom had a box of trophies, stolen from the other kids, don't you think that's a bit…?"

I shivered, "Does he get some sick pleasure out of it? You read that sort of thing about serial killers keeping locks of hair, vials of blood, women's underwear -"

Hermione's face contorted, "Yuck."

Harry quickly carried on, "Dumbledore gave him some money and offered to go to Diagon Alley with him, but said that he didn't need him now that he had a map of where to go and the list of things to get. When Dumbledore told him to ask for Tom the barman, he seemed annoyed at having such a common name. And naturally he was really curious about his parents – he assumed his mother wasn't a witch, because then she wouldn't be dead, but at that stage Dumbledore didn't know anything about his past. Tom also let slip that he was a Parselmouth." He added, "In later years, Tom Riddle came to regret everything he told Dumbledore that day."

"Did Dumbledore know?" Ron asked.

Harry shook his head, "No, but he did keep an annoyingly close eye on him, considering how advanced his powers were and the issues with bullying and how he had no friends."

I smirked, "I'd love to call him 'Tom' to his face."

"Yeah, and would you like him to sign your death wish, too?"

"Well, if he has me cornered, I'd look him in the eyes and piss him off right before he got the chance to kill me, you know, gotta make every breath count."

Harry shook his head, "And what happened to the masterplan?"

I flicked my hair, "Last resorts, darling. But I'm hoping that I'd have distracted him long enough for you to get him from behind."

Hermione cleared her throat, "So while you two fantasise, I'd just like to interrupt and ask if Voldemort has ever had a friend?"

"No," Harry said very clearly, "Dumbledore said that people followed him, but he's always operated alone. Death Eaters have claimed to be in is confidence, that they alone understand him and are close to him. But he said that they're deluded. Voldemort has never had a friend, nor has he ever, probably, wanted one."

Ron grimaced, "That's actually a scary thought, the boy You-Know-Who. But why is Dumbledore showing you all this?"

"Well, it makes sense to know as much about Voldemort as possible. How else do we find out his strengths and weaknesses?" I said.

We continued our discussions at lunch, where Harry had asked Hermione about Slughorn's latest party.

"It was quite fun, really." Hermione said as I served her a mound of mashed potato, "I mean, he drones on about famous ex-pupils a bit, and he absolutely fawns on McLaggen because he's so well connected."

"Oh, I'd love to see his face well-connected with my fist again."

Harry and Ron snorted.

"He's toned it down a little, I think he realised after a month of detentions with Snape that he needed to clean up his act a bit," she reasoned, before continuing, "Slughorn always gives nice food and he introduced us to Gwenog Jones."

"Gwenog Jones?" Ron's eyes widened, his forkful of food suspended in mid-air as he goggled at Hermione, "The Gwenog Jones? Captain of the Holyhead Harpies?"

"The very one," Hermione said, "Personally, I thought she was a bit full of herself, but -"

Ron was green with envy.

A few minutes passed in silence, in respect to Ron's feelings before Hermione delivered the next blow, "Anyway, Slughorn's going to have a Christmas party, Harry, and there's no way you'll be able to wriggle out of this one, because he actually asked me to check your free evenings, so he could be sure to have it on a night you can come."

Harry groaned.

"And this is another party just for Slughorn's favourites, is it?" Ron was gripping his knife rather tight and digging it into table.

"Just for the Slug Club, yes." Hermione said to Ron's great agitation. She looked to me for help, but I shrugged my shoulders, honestly not having a care in the world about some stupid party, it gave me an evening alone with a book and if I can manage it, a bar of chocolate if I can get George to send me some, I'll be content as a pig in shit. "Look, I didn't make up the name 'Slug Club'."

"Slug Club." Ron said in his very immature-yes-I'm-jealous voice, giving Hermione a sneer worthy of Draco, "Well, I hope you enjoy your party. Why don't you try getting off with McLaggen, then Slughorn can make you King and Queen Slug -"

Hermione interrupted him, "We're allowed to bring guests," she said, her face going progressively more scarlet as she spoke, "and I was going to ask you to come, but if you think it's that stupid then I won't bother."

I gave Ron the eyes cross the table. Don't be an idiot, mate. She's asking you out. COME ON! But I couldn't intervene, this needs to happen naturally, not with me sticking my oar into the middle of it. The two of them are CLEARLY IN LOVE, like, IN THE NAME OF THE WEE MAN, JUST SOMEONE, ANYONE ADMIT IT! But no. That would only make life simple and who's on this earth for a simple life? NOT ME!

Harry and I ended up feeling like two spare wheels. It was so freaking awkward. I reached forward and served him some apple tart and custard, the two of us eating to avoid breaking the uncomfortable silence.

"You were going to ask me?" Ron responded after what felt like a year, his voice was completely different.

Oh?

"Yes," Hermione responded, but not in the sweet, romantic voice that my ears were craving, but in anger, "But obviously if you'd rather I got off with McLaggen…"

I want to bang my head on the table. This is painful.

"No, I wouldn't." Ron said in a very quiet voice.

I chewed very quietly as Ron and Hermione stared at each other across the table. I think Harry was doing the same. We were pretending to be invisible, you know, cause if I actually made us invisible, that'd be totally obvious, right? Do. Not. Break. The. Sexual. Tension. They're having a moment. My best friends are falling in love and it's just magical and-

Neville accidently knocked over his goblet of pumpkin juice, in his haste to rescue the situation, the glass jug was tipped over and smashed, the contents flooding the table.

Now I look like I've peed myself. And the moment is well and truly gone.

23rd October

You look lost in your own world.
What are you overthinking now?
It's certainly not fire, earth, air or water.
-D

That was the first 'love' note I received as it flew across the Alchemy classroom towards me when Mr Junis had his back turned. We were half way through our allotted class time. We were all sitting spaced out across the room with enough desk-space to have all our notes around us. I glanced over my shoulder at Draco and shook my head at him before scribbling my reply.

Well, that wasn't particularly romantic.
I'm actually thinking about V
Has he ever been with B?
-K

Draco choked on his spit. His cheeks were pink and his eyes wide in shock.

I thought you were more of a P girl rather than a V one…
Or did the W turn you?
I'll be awfully disappointed if he has…
-D

I sent Draco a very cheeky wink across the classroom. Don't ask me where this mischievous side of me came from, I guess I was just bored and in need of a little attention. Blaise Zabini may or may not have caught me on whilst doing this, so I shot him a wink, too. Mr Junis looked up from the front desk at the sound of my sniggering. Oh, I'm such a bad girl. If my boyfriend was here…

In NI the P is referred to as the D.
Just so you know.
Answer my question about V and B.
-K

Draco had to excuse himself from the classroom. I overheard him laughing as he walked down the corridor towards the bathrooms. He was in there for a slightly-longer-than-is-a-socially-acceptable-amount-of-time.

I'd rather not think about that.
I'm assuming not, but I'm not sure.
It would be a bit weird…
Is this the usual sort of thing you think about?
-D

I'm definitely flirting with my cousin.

Wouldn't you like to know what I'm thinking?
You'd be rather disappointed, I'm afraid.
Have you heard back from your mum?
-K

I'm going to hell.

She's passed on the message to B.
Apparently the DL was angry at the DE's not being able to find you in Hogsmeade.
Thank Merlin, if you ask me.
Now I get you all to myself.
-D

These are definitely love letters. Nice bit of incest to keep us going if everything with George doesn't work out. Which, at this rate, if I go any further, I'm finished. I'm blaming it on my crazy hormones.

"Sir, those two are sending notes across the classroom to each other." Zacharias Smith touted to the teacher. Draco and I played the innocent until proven guilty card. My notes were firmly tucked under the waistband of my tights. Junis wasn't getting those.

"Nothing naughty, I hope?" he questioned, "But I suppose it doesn't really matter considering their quality of work is at a higher standard than yours, Mr Smith."

The whole class burst into laughter. We couldn't help it. Mr Junis really didn't give a shit, so long as our work was done and of a decent enough quality and we didn't get him fired, we literally could do what we wanted. Tomorrow we're having buns in class during our presentations. Now that is an idea all teachers should adopt.

26th October

Maura isn't the type of therapist who insists on seeing me every week. But Saturdays have now become Maura days, with the exception of going to Hogsmeade a fortnight ago. By the end of each week, my body tells me that I need to go back to her, like a diabetic needs insulin or how an addict needs their fix. It's crap that I'm not strong enough. I need her. She makes my head less full. She helps me sleep at night.

Today we talked about the whole long distance relationship thing, the Katie Bell being cursed thing, the Death Eaters searching for me thing and my mother is a self-centred bitch thing. I've re-started biting my nails, a nasty habit that I only do when I'm overthinking. It's kind of hard to process all of your emotions when there's so much going on… I just had to be thankful that Bellatrix hadn't written to me to issue more demands.

I can't say I felt any better at the end of that meeting. I gave McGonagall a quick wave as she marked essays when I dusted off the soot from my travelling cloak and made my way up to Gryffindor Tower. I hurriedly pounded up the stairs, just wanting to get under the warm covers of my bed for an hour before dinner. It was just one of those days. Heading towards the tapestry to make the usual shortcut, I found myself watching an argument unfold between Ginny, who was kissing Dean merely seconds before my arrival, and Ron, who was accompanied by Harry, who was standing completely still, as though he'd seen his worst nightmare.

"I don't want to find my own sister snogging people in public!" Ron yelled angrily.

"This was a deserted corridor till you came butting in!" Ginny retorted.

Dean looked embarrassed, giving me and Harry a shifty grin that I responded with a shake of my head. You do not want to be in the middle of this, mate. "Er…" he took Ginny's hand and gave a gentle tug, "c'mon let's go back to the common room."

"You go!" Ginny said, "I want a word with my dear brother."

Dean was the lucky one, he had a third of the journey I had, now that he was on the other side of the brewing argument. I had to stand here and endure this, or climb a further five floors.

"Right." Ginny tossed her long red hair back out of her face and glared at Ron, who had now recognised my presence, "Let's get this straight once and for all. It is none of your business who I go out with or what I do with them, Ron -"

"Yeah, it is!" Ron said, just as angrily, "D'you think I want people saying my sister's a -"

If only you knew what McLaggen said. But this is the farthest it can be from the right time to offer that information on a platter.I guess George couldn't really talk in this instance. Whilst he and I weren't kissing in the corridors like that, he was all too happy to mark his territory whenever he deemed necessary, publicly informing everyone that I am his girlfriend. I miss that.

"A what?" shouted Ginny, drawing her wand, "A what, exactly?"

"He doesn't mean anything, Ginny -" Harry stepped in between the siblings. He's brave. Or, stupid.

"Oh yes he does!" Ginny flared up at Harry, "Just because he's never snogged anyone in his life, just because the best he's ever had is one from our Auntie Muriel -"

Ron turned beetroot, "Shut your mouth!"

Hold it together, Kathryn, hold it together.

"No I will not!" Ginny yelled, louder still, beside herself, "I've seen you with Phlegm, hoping she'll kiss you on the cheek every time you see her, it's pathetic! If you went out and got a bit of snogging done yourself, you wouldn't mind so much that everyone else does it!"

Ron pulled out his wand, too. Harry positioned himself in the middle of the two again. I shook my head and tried to walk past this all, as Ron took me by the arm, stopping me as he yelled at his sister, "You don't know what you're talking about! Just because I don't do it in public -!"

Ginny screamed with a derisive laugh, trying to push Harry, who was now standing with his arms spread in front of her, out of the way, "Been kissing Pigwidgeon, have you? Or have you got a picture of Auntie Muriel stashed under your pillow?"

"You -"

A streak of orange light flew under Harry's left arm and missed Ginny by centimetres; Harry pushed Ron up against the wall. Releasing his grip on me. I took a few cautious steps out of the way, not liking how I felt in the midst of all this. It reminded me of my parents arguing in front of me. It was eerily similar to being used as an object for them getting their anger out. I tried to push it out of my head. I'm really not in the headspace for this.

"Don't be stupid -" Harry warned Ron.

"Harry's snogged Cho Chang!" Ginny shouted, now on the verge of tears, "Hermione snogged Viktor Krum! Kat's had sex with George and kissed Oliver and she's even kissed me and Draco for Merlin's sake! It's only you who acts like it's something disgusting Ron and that's because you've got about as much experience as a twelve-year-old!"

She's bloody lucky she stormed off when she did. Harry quickly let go of Ron; the look on his face was murderous. "You've kissed Malfoy?"

"He kissed me and I pushed him off." I said before making myself invisible, getting myself the hell out of there before anything else could be said to hurt any more feelings.

I climbed into the Common Room after a bunch of first years. Dean was trying his best to comfort Ginny who was balling her eyes out, but the thing with Gin is that she needs to get her anger out in her tears, then she'll be fine. She doesn't want to be restricted by a hug. That's what growing up with boys does to you. But right now I was mad at her another emotion to add to my current repertoire. I really need that lie down some time around now.

Ginny came into my dorm over an hour later and climbed into the fort I had created behind the canopy curtains with blankets and pillows, "I told you that in confidence." The two of us looked at each other with her lit up wand, "I thought I could trust you to keep -"

"Here -" she handed me the remains of a bar of chocolate, "It's all I have left… Peace offering? I didn't know that you hadn't told Harry or Ron."

I broke off a chunk of the chocolate and ate it, giving her the remainder, "I only told you and George."

Ginny's eyes locked onto mine in shock, "Really?"

"Really, really."

Her cheeks gained colour, "Now I feel even worse…"

"I didn't know how the boys would react, so I thought it best to keep it a secret. It meant nothing and it was just embarrassing." Ginny looked at me with wide, apologetic eyes, "What?"

Ginny pulled her knees up to her chest, "Please don't kill me. Promise you won't."

"Ginny, you're my best friend, I'm not going to kill you." I said, "Spit it out."

"Harry and Ron, well… they saw Draco in the corridor."

"Oh please no." I felt my heart sink, "Please don't say they -"

Ginny nodded regretfully, "Ron shoved him against a wall and Harry punched him."

I bit my upper lip, "Once? Twice? He's in a coma, isn't he?"

She scratched her head, "Apparently Harry punched him in the stomach and Ron pushed him and he fell into the bin and he couldn't get out…" she tried to hide a smirk as she said, "he's in the hospital wing claiming he's got broken ribs and I gave Harry an alibi, screw Ron."

I couldn't stop shaking my head in bewilderment, "I don't even know what to say."

"At least you know they've both got your back?"

"I also know they'd look for any excuse to punch Draco."

She raised her eyebrows, "True…" she placed her long hair behind her ears, "Look, Kit-Kat, I really am sorry…"

"It's done." I said, "Just think twice before shouting out that I've had sex or kissed a bunch of people, it doesn't make for the best of rumours."

"I promise!" she held out her baby finger to pinky-swear, "Can we get lunch together? I'm starving and I told Dean to go down without me, he's really doing my head in."

I nodded, "Just so you know, you've missed someone out of the list."

"Who?"

"I once accidently kissed Fred."

She snorted, "I'm not even surprised. Could you tell it was him?"

"Of course I could! I've been kissing the other twin for a while now. I can tell them apart." I smirked, climbing out of the fort, breathing cool refreshing air, "Now you've got to tell me about Dean over lunch."

28th November

"Are you okay?" I asked Draco as he let out a whimper as he sat down opposite me in the library. We were the first two to arrive for our class with Mr Junis, the bell having just rang.

"Like you don't know what happened." He said moodily.

I furrowed my eyebrows, "No…? What's happened, Draco?"

"Pot-head and the Weasel attacked me out of the blue." He opened his robes and showed me the extensive purple bruising on his stomach, "Don't tell me you're oblivious to this?"

I shook my head, trying my best to lie convincingly. Reaching forwards, I touched the bruised area, Draco's body initially winced at my touch before welcoming it, "I -" I looked up at him, noticing the dark circles under his eyes, my hands now firmly by my sides, reasonably reassured that the boys hadn't caused a haematoma, "What did you do?"

"That's what I was going to ask you! They mentioned your name -"

"They did?" I had to clench my jaw, feeling emotional about the secret getting out, "Look, I haven't talked to either of them since they got back from Quidditch Practice on Saturday, they're acting like a bunch of pricks and I've had enough."

"You can always nurse me back to health." He smirked as Blaise and Theo joined us on either side.

I sniggered, "Or we can work on this week's project together?"

He smiled, "That'll do."

4th November

The truth is, I haven't talked to Ron since his argument with Ginny. He has treated me with the same icy reception as he has with Hermione, just through association. Harry and I had tried not to take sides, but since he spends the majority of his time with Ron and me with Hermione, we just sort of split.

"I don't understand what I've done, though…"

"Did Ginny not tell you?"

"Tell me what?"

I shook my head, "She let it slip to Ron about you kissing Viktor."

"But that happened ages ago!" she said incredulously, "Why would that make him behave like that? He's been horrible to me!"

I raised an eyebrow and returned back to my DADA essay on non-verbal spells. Is she really that blind to what is going on? I'm at a loss as to what to do with the two of them. It sucks spending meals apart, Ron sitting as far from us as possible, behaving like a dickhead whenever it suits him.

Hermione sighed, ripping up a piece of parchment, having made too many 'mistakes', she had to start again, "Why is he giving you the silent treatment, too?"

This is as good a time as any, I guess. I looked over my shoulder in our usual spot in the library, where we seem to be spending increasing amounts of time, the coast was clear, I took a hold of her hand, "Ginny also let it slip about Draco kissing me."

"He kissed you?" she said in a loud whisper, "When?"

"A couple of days after George left here last year." I said, "It was all a big misunderstanding and -"

She grimaced, "What was it like?"

"Weird."

"Then you found out you were both related a couple of weeks later and he didn't have a clue!" She was still wearing her face of disgust, "I bet that was awkward."

"You have no idea."

"I can't say I'm surprised, though, I think he's always had a thing for you. The way he looks at you, I mean, remember whenever you passed out in potions? He was a mess! Every time you've been in the hospital wing, he's visited, he asked you to the Yule Ball – don't deny it! And he's always looking for excuses to talk to you. I'm also pretty sure he'd never say no to you, either." When I didn't respond, she asked, "Why didn't you tell me?"

I finished writing the sentence I was on before answering, "I guess I just thought that the less people who knew the less 'real' it was. And Ron and Harry sent him to the hospital wing the other day after they found out."

Hermione's chin went slack.

"I knew I'd find you here," Ginny sat down opposite in her Quidditch gear, "Sorry to interrupt your conversation you two, but I need your help."

"What do you need?" I enquired, my hand now off Hermione's, knowing that this was never going to be good.

She sighed, as though on the verge of tears once again. This really wasn't like her at all, "Ron's making the team's life a nightmare. He saved three goals in practice today -"

"If you three ladies are going to have a conversation, may I suggest you pack up and leave?" Madam Pince approached us as soundlessly as a vulture landing to catch her prey, her voice an angry whisper.

I mimed the word 'sorry', picking up my quill and getting back to work. Ginny waited a suitable time before re-establishing her plea, her hand now in mine, "- he accidently punched Demelza in the face and she ended up in tears and, well, we need this to end."

"And what are you wanting us to do?" Hermione asked, a hint of accusation in her tone.

"I was hoping Kit-Kat would put him in his place…?"

"What're you doing?"

"Sitting here with my friends." I took a seat opposite Ron and Harry in the common room, after finishing the essay (and being chucked out at closing time).

"Not with her, you're not. You've chosen to side with her and that means I'm not talking to you either."

"Oh Ron, stop acting like a child and grow up." I snapped before turning my attention to Hermione, who was still hovering beside the sofa like a ghost who'd rather she wasn't seen, "Sit down, 'Mione." I said politely.

"Just f*ck off, go on, do one, I can't stand to look at either of you right now." He was losing his cool, and I just aggravated him more by staying there, staring at him, quite prepared to take all the verbal abuse he was willing to throw at me, as he yelled, "Why the f*ck are you still here?"

"Are you having trouble hearing me? Do you need me to shout too?"

"Come on, Kathryn, it's not worth it." Hermione grabbed my arm, and stood.

"Best thing that bitch has ever said."

"Excuse me?" I said without bothering to raise my voice from the seated position I hadn't budged from, "You can offend me all you like, but you do not talk to my best friend like that, you hear me? She has done nothing wrong. You've just got your knickers in a twist over some silly argument and your sulking has gone on far too long."

He spat at me across the gap, droplets hitting me on my robes and hands, "When were you going to tell us about Malfoy kissing you?"

"I wasn't."

"You're just trying to protect him, like you're protecting your whole family!" He yelled, "You're just using Harry to pass on information to You-Know-Who."

"Oh, that's news to me."

He looked murderous, his hand on his wand, but I wasn't scared, I've seen Ron like this before, "They're not the only people who want you dead!"

"I think I'm sensing a bit of déjà-vu here, Ronniekins." I smirked, "Your arguments are getting old, just like your attitude."

"If you don't move -"

"You're gonna what?" I laughed, "You're going to hurt me? Do your worst. I'll get you back a hell of a lot worse. You know it, I know it. Why don't you cut your losses and have an early night?" I pointed towards the boys' stairs up to their dorms.

His chest was rising and falling rapidly, he was ready to lunge at me. I rested back on the sofa, letting out a bored sigh. I wasn't backing down. I stared at him across the short distance between my seat and his. I could see Hermione in my peripheral vision, tense, grasping her wand in one hand and the sofa in the other. Harry was ready to jump to action, too. It had been over a week from the argument with Ginny and it was about time someone stood up to his aggressive icy indifference. I, quite frankly, don't give a shit what comes of this, and he can do or say what he likes to get whatever it is off his chest and we can be rid of this monster.

George reckons that someone needs to confront him. He also said that if I fancied punching him, he'd take the blame and take the detentions on my behalf. I don't quite know how that'd work, somehow. I still hadn't made up my mind if I wanted to use physical or magical violence. Hopefully I don't have to choose, I told him.

Ron was the first to break the eye-contact, taking a look around the common room at the mass of onlookers which had gathered. His eyes returned to mine and he gave me the dirtiest of looks, giving me the two fingers before smashing his feet onto the ground and making is way up to his dorm.

"I tried." I shrugged my shoulders.

Ginny and Dean approached me, "I salute you, sis."

"They don't say you've got balls of steel for nothing." Dean joked.

The thing with growing up in a household where arguments, the throwing of punches and ornaments were the norm, I'm quite used to taking the abuse. As a child I was dared to flinch, to show the slightest sign of weakness, and if I did, I was punished. Dad used his army training tactics on me. I learnt to internalise, but I'm still working on controlling my facial expressions. To my detriment as a child, I was always stupid enough to fight back, until the time I woke up with a black eye, in the back garden in the pouring rain. I don't like confrontation, but I'm all too good at getting myself stuck in the middle of it.

9th November

Whispered news from Harry told me that Ron had threatened to quit the Gryffindor Quidditch team last night, but he managed to convince him to play today's match. If they lost, Ron would quit. The red and gold colours sported at the Gryffindor table this morning appeared to be doing nothing for Ron's pale complexion and hopeless attitude.

As Hermione and I entered the Great Hall, I witnessed Lavender wishing Ron luck.

He ignored her.

Still his usual delightful self, I see…

Harry offered him food and drinks, in the hope that he would take something, Hermione stopped in front of them, "How are you both feeling?" she asked tentatively, her eyes on the back of Ron's head.

"Fine," Harry answered, handing Ron a glass of pumpkin juice, "there you go, Ron, drink up."

"Don't drink that Ron!" Hermione said sharply.

Harry, Ron and I all stared at her, "Why not?" Ron asked.

"You just put something in that drink."

"Excuse me?" Harry said.

"You heard me. I saw you. You just tipped something into Ron's drink. You've got the bottle in your hand right now!"

"I don't know what you're talking about," Harry said, quickly stowing the bottle hastily into his pocket.

"Ron I warn you, don't drink it!" Hermione alarmed, it was like her hair was getting bushier with the added stress.

Ron picked up the glass and downed it in one, "Stop bossing me around, Hermione."

Hermione looked scandalised. I merely pursed my lips and gave Harry a shake of the head. She lowered herself and I nosily followed suit as she whispered to Harry, "You should be expelled for that. I'd never have believed it of you, Harry!"

"Hark, who's talking," he whispered back, "Confunded anyone lately?"

"Miaow." I gave made my fingers into claws as Hermione stormed off, expecting me to follow.

As I reached Hermione, Harry and Ron were making their way down to the pitch to change. She started whispers of objection to Harry's actions and I pretended to listen as she went on and on and on… It was when the owl post arrived that she finally shut up as Owlbert landed with a foot in her pumpkin juice.

"Hello you," I said, stroking the beautiful bird, "a gift?"

I reached out and took the box from the bird and gave him an owl treat from the pouch George left attached to his leg. Now that I think of it, it's probably for customers to make payments for purchases, and he must fill it for me.

"Would you hurry up and open it?!" Hermione said with urgency, all previous conversations having escaped her mind momentarily.

I took the string and untied it, my curiosity sending excitement through my body. I opened it to find a letter on top and a jumper below.

Hey Katy!
I thought I'd surprise you with a letter and a present. If I've timed this right, this package should arrive on the morning of the Quidditch game versus Slytherin. I happen to know that you love stealing my jumpers and I fished this one out (and washed it) to send to you. I wore it during every match I played with you as my girlfriend! Wear it with your usual Gryffindor pride.
I am also returning your camera which I may or may not have borrowed for the last few weeks… I'll explain what we used it for when you get back for Christmas!
All my love,
George x
P.S. expecting a snapshot of you in the jumper via return owl.
P.P.S. The more risqué the picture, the better!

I snorted at his last remark, preserving Hermione the embarrassment. She just didn't get mine and George's banter. I stood, taking off my scarf and current jumper, showing off the t-shirt I had on underneath and switching to put on George's jumper which was a bit more dress-like, covering my backside.

"Looks good!" Hermione remarked, eating a slice of toast.

Glancing around the room, the majority of students had already left to go down to the Quidditch pitch, so I said, "Hermione, let's take a quick pic of the two of us."

"Really?"

"Making memories." I smiled, "Besides, George wants proof that I'm wearing this beauty."

"Did I overhear someone say that Draco's sick?"

"Yeah," Seamus pointed in the direction of the players that were making their way onto the pitch, "This bloke Harper's supposed to be a real idiot."

I thought aloud, "Draco wouldn't miss the opportunity to humiliate Harry…"

"True…" Hermione said, "I wonder what's what made him too sick to play?"

I heard the sound of Madam Hooch's whistle and the match began.

"You two cut it fine – or are you just not interested now that your favourite beater isn't here anymore?" Neville turned to see me from the other side of Hermione.

I smirked, "But now I get to wear his old kit!" I showed off my new jumper.

"I wish I had one of those…" Seamus sighed from my other side, trying not to show his jealously that Dean was chosen for the team and he wasn't.

I smirked, "You could always snuggle up to Fred?"

"He's not really my type!" he laughed, "But you could always put in a favour for a mate?"

"I'll consider it." I then found myself distracted by the voice of the commentator…

"I think we're all surprised to see the team that Potter's put together this year. Many thought, given Ronald Weasley's patchy performance as Keeper last year, that he might be off the team, but of course, a close personal friendship with the Captain does help…"

Hermione rolled her eyes at me. It was Zacharias Smith.

"Oh, and here comes Slytherin's first attempt on goal, it's Urquhart streaking down the pitch and -"

"I can't look -" Hermione covered her eyes.

"Holy shit." I said.

"- Weasley saves it, well, he's bound to get lucky sometimes, I suppose…"

"He saved it?" Hermione uncovered her eyes as Ron threw the Quaffle to Demelza.

The two of us shared a look, "It's like Zacharias said, he's bound to get lucky at some point…"

"Dean was telling me that Ron has been -"

"Terrible?" I filled in the words.

Seamus nodded, "Yeah, I guess that fits. He wasn't as kind, though."

"WHOOOOOO GINNNYYYYYYYY!" I yelled as the Quaffle passed through the middle hoop, and she made it look easy. Luna's lion hat roared with pride as the crowd erupted in cheers.

The Slytherin Keeper miss-passed and Ginny intercepted, slotting another one through the hoops. Girl.

Minutes later, Vaisey attempted a shot at the Gryffindor hoops and Ron saved it. That's when Zacharias decided that slagging off Ron wasn't working and he moved onto Peakes and Coote, "Of course, Coote isn't really the usual build for a Beater, they've generally got a bit more muscle -"

Coote hit a bludger at Harper, hitting him on the back of the head with a thunk. Ron saved another goal, with what appeared to be his fingertips, Demelza scored, Ron saved another two goals, Ginny scored, Dean scored, Ginny scored again, Ron made a spectacular save. Gryffindor could literally do no wrong today, Slytherin hadn't scored a since goal.

"This is unbelievable!" Hermione spoke, watching as Gryffindor scored again and again, and Ron saved goal after goal.

"This is incredible!" Seamus yelled.

"He's making it look easy!" Neville commented, "Are you sure the team weren't just pulling a practical joke on us?"

The score was 100-0.

I didn't respond. Zabini was the closest to scoring, but Ron managed to get a foot to the Quaffle just in the nick of time. That was when the crowd started singing the old favourite 'Weasley is Our King' and Ron pretended to conduct everyone from on high.

"I've got to get evidence of this, next time Ron has a moment of doubt." I lifted my camera out, managing to get Ron conducting the crowd with Luna in her lion hat roaring in the distance.

"Get one of the four of us," Seamus said, "Make us look like we're on the pitch with them."

I turned around, getting Hermione, Seamus, Neville and myself in shot with Harry in the top corner and Ginny savagely avoiding a Bludger from Crabbe and Zabini getting hit instead. "Aren't we all just -?" I stopped midsentence, "WOAH REF!"

"What happened?" Hermione asked.

"COME ON REF!" I yelled with the rest of Gryffindor's supporters as Harper collided with Harry, hard and most assuredly deliberately. The noise quickly answered Hermione's question.

Harry zoomed after Harper, determined to get him back for his misdemeanour.

"And I think Harper of Slytherin's seen the Snitch!" Zacharias shouted through the megaphone, "Yes, he's certainly seen something Potter hasn't!"

I watched as Harry accelerated towards Harper. Harry hollered something to distract Harper, the Snitch almost within his grasp, his hand outstretched… Harper fumbled, overshot and Harry made a great swipe for the fluttering ball and caught it!

"WOWZAH." I screamed, "YESSSS!" I grabbed my camera and took a picture of Harry's triumphant expression, holding the Snitch high in the air, the rest of the team hurtling towards him in celebration.

Out of the corner of my eye, I watched as Ginny didn't join her team mates, but sped past them until, with an almighty crash, she collided with the commentator's podium. The crowd shrieked with laughter as the Gryffindor team landed beside the wreckage of wood under which Zacharias was feebly stirring. Ginny offered her excuses to McGonagall and Harry broke free from the rest of the team and hugged her, quickly letting go.

"Shall we go down?" Hermione stood to push her way through the crowds and I quickly lost her.

"PARTY IN GRYFFINDOR COMMON ROOM!" Seamus yelled to anyone who would listen.

I made my way towards the changing rooms to congratulate my friends, but by the time I got there, Harry and Ron were the only ones there with Hermione who was getting everything off her chest, "You spiked Ron's juice with luck potion at breakfast! Felix Felicis!"

"No, I didn't," Harry turned to face the three of us.

"Yes, you did!" Hermione argued back, "That's why everything went right, there were Slytherin players missing and Ron saved everything!"

"I didn't put it in." Harry was now grinning broadly, taking out the tiny bottle of Felix Felicis which was still full with the golden potion, the cork still tightly sealed with wax, "I wanted Ron to think I'd done it, so I faked it when I knew you were looking." He looked to Ron, "You saved everything because you felt lucky. You did it all yourself."

Harry pocketed the potion again, giving the three of us time to digest the news.

"There really wasn't anything in my pumpkin juice?" Ron said, astounded, "But the weather's good… and Vaisey couldn't play… I honestly haven't been given lucky potion?"

Harry shook his head. Ron gaped at him for a moment, before rounding on Hermione, imitating her voice, "You added Felix Felicis to Ron's juice this morning, that's why he saved everything! See! I can save goals without your help, Hermione."

"I never said you couldn't – Ron, you thought you'd been given it, too!"

Ron took his broomstick, placing it on his shoulder and as he walked past me, he made sure to give me a good shove into the doorposts as he went.

I grit my teeth, resisting the temptation to stun his arrogant arse.

"Er," Harry said, his eyes on Hermione, "shall… shall we go up to this party, then?"

"You go!" Hermione was blinking back tears, "I'm sick of Ron at the moment, I don't know what I'm supposed to have done…"

She stormed out of the changing rooms.

"I'll go after her," I told Harry, "Go up and enjoy the party. You guys were amazing and you deserve your moment, Captain."

I turned on my heels and followed the bushy hair towards the lake where Hermione sat, hands covering her face, her body shuddering in the effort of crying so hard. She didn't need to say anything, I understood perfectly how deep this all was. By no means am I saying that I've been through this, but a Weasley son has reduced me to tears on occasion and that hurt. I sat down beside her and held her.

"Did h- he hurt you?" was the first thing she said.

"Don't you worry about me." I stroked her hair gently, thinking about all the times I've been shoved much harder. I then thought about George gently shoving me onto the bed, seducing me. I shook my head and brought my mind back to the here and now.

"Why?" she questioned in anger.

I initially though it was rhetorical, but when Hermione took her hands away from her puffy eyes and sniffed loudly, I realised she was expecting an answer, "In my experience Weasley men take until at least Christmas of their sixth year to wise themselves up, but after that, they'll still argue with you until you're both blue in the face."

"Charming." She took the handkerchief I offered from my own pocket, "But you two argue because you're passionate people."

"And you and Ron aren't?" I asked.

She shrugged her shoulders, "Why does he have to be so mean?"

I sighed, "That, I will never understand… I think he's trying to process these things called feelings… I do recall you telling him that he had the emotional range of a teaspoon…"

She laughed.

"It's good to see that smile back."

I wiped her tears with another tissue and smiled, "Come on, you, let's go up to this party and show our faces. You just say the word and we can both leave."

The two of us didn't walk particularly fast, taking the long way to the Common Room, spying Seamus running down to the kitchen with a bag for extra supplies. I tried to formulate a plan of action as we walked – congratulating team members, chatting to Neville, trying to grab a minute with Ginny, drinking and/ or eating…

I climbed in through the portrait hole first, my eyes scanning the room for where everyone was. I quickly spotted Ginny who was helping herself to a bottle of butterbeer, Arnold on her shoulder and Crookshanks at her feet. Not too far away was Harry who was watching Ginny, longing was in his eyes. My heart was in my throat as I tried to push Hermione back out the doorway again, but I was too late. She saw everything.

Ron Weasley and Lavender Brown's lips were locked together, their bodies were wrapped so tightly together it was hard to tell whose hands were whose. I felt sick. I daren't think what was going through Hermione's head as I swooped out the door after her. Into the deserted corridor I chased after her into the nearest unlocked classroom. Her eyes were streaming with tears once again as she propped herself up onto the teacher's desk, forming a ring of yellow birds above her head.

"I can't say I saw that happening…" Yes, I knew Lavender was attracted to Ron, but I never saw Ron with her.

"Hermione?" Harry opened the classroom door.

"Oh, hello, Harry," she said in a brittle voice, wiping her cheeks with her sleeves, "I was just practising."

He nodded, his eyes meeting mine before falling upon Hermione again, "Yeah… they're – er – really good…"

I sat backwards on a chair, leaning over the back, facing Hermione who was struggling to keep it together, "Ron seems to be enjoying the celebrations." Her voice was unnaturally high.

"Er… does he?"

"Don't pretend you didn't see him," Hermione said, "He wasn't exactly hiding it, was -"

The door behind us burst open. Ron and Lavender basically fell into the room, one trailing the other, sharing a kiss before Lavender noticed us, "Oops!" she backed out of the room, giggling. The door swung shut behind her.

The silence was unbearable. Hermione was staring at Ron as though she'd love nothing more than for him to die on the spot, but Ron was avoiding her gaze at all cost. After seeing the threatening stare I gave him, he avoided my gaze, too.

"Hi, Harry!" Ron said with a mixture of bravado and awkwardness, "Wondered where you'd got to!"

Hermione slid of the desk just as I was about to offer Ron a string of unfriendly words. I watched her warily, knowing she had the power to be very dangerous. But was I going to stop her? Probably not. Not until he was within an inch of life, he is George's brother after all. The little flock of birds followed, circling overhead like a model of the solar system as she walked, slowly and erectly, ever-closer to a nervous Ron. "You shouldn't leave Lavender waiting outside, she'll wonder where you've gone." She whispered before walking past Ron to the door.

"Oppugno!" she gave a shriek, pointing her wand at Ron. This resulted in the birds speeding at him like bullets as they attacked him. I got to my feet and ran past him, unable to watch it, opening the door, Hermione followed me, letting out a sob as she slammed the door behind us and we walked back to the Common Room to hide in our dorm, "Before you say anything in his defence, Kathryn, I don't care."

"I wasn't going to say anything."

"Good."

I shifted uneasily on her bed, "But I do have an appointment with Maura in ten minutes…"

"Go, I'll be fine." She put her hand on mine and gave a squeeze, "Some alone time will do me good."