21st December

This morning could have started off better. I had everything packed and ready to go to get the train to London, when Ginny kindly informed me that we were actually travelling by the Floo Network.

"I thought Ron -" she sighed, "That prat didn't tell you anything, did he?"

"No, no he didn't."

The two of us looked over and saw Ron saying a thorough non-verbal goodbye to Lavender. I chased after Hermione, who was quite determined to go home to her parents for some R+R where either of the R's were certainly not Ron. "Have a good time." I wrapped my arms around her, emotional as she was, "Say hello to your parents from me. Merry Christmas!"

I think she just wanted out of here. Who could blame her? She hurried down to Hogsmeade station where she would travel back to London on her own with the rest of the students. It appeared as though Harry, Ron, Ginny and I were the only ones appearing to be travelling home separately.

"Miss Pink…" McGonagall said after Ron and Ginny used the Floo Network first, "You are going to London to stay in which hotel?"

"The Treehouse hotel." I confirmed, "You escorted me there and we will meet at the hotel's entrance on the 3rd at 4pm for you to bring me back. It's all booked and confirmed."

She nodded, "And Mr Potter is staying at the Weasleys. You can tell her this if it comes to it. Dumbledore has put every manner of protection on the home, so long as you -"

"I've already promised Professor Dumbledore that I won't leave the confines of the Burrow, Professor." Harry said.

"Stay safe," McGonagall said, "And Merry Christmas."

"Merry Christmas, Professor."

"I need to talk to you." Harry said the very second the two of us arrived at the Burrow.

"Can it wait?" I asked, hauling my trunk away from the fireplace.

Upon seeing the serious look on his face, I dropped everything as he said, "No, it can't…" Ginny and Ron had both Fleur and Molly busy getting them settled in. This was probably one of the few precious moments Harry and I would be without prying eyes or people searching for us.

The two of us sat on the floor by the window, "What is it?"

"I followed Draco and Snape out of the party last night. I listened into their argument."

I moved myself closer to Harry, "I'm listening."

"I'm telling you all I know… Bellatrix has been teaching Draco Occlumency."

"Well that makes sense, there are so many things that Draco needs to be able to hide from others." I reasoned, knowing that she was quite the proficient Ligilimens, as was Snape, who also thought it prudent to teach me how to control my mind.

"Snape doesn't want to put Draco into detention or report him to Dumbledore, despite Draco avoiding Snape all term."

"Draco's been avoiding Snape?" I questioned, "Now that's a bit weird."

Harry's voice dropped lower, "It gets better, Snape said that he swore to Narcissa that he would protect Draco. He made an unbreakable vow -"

"But -"

"No, shush a second, Draco said that he didn't need Snape's protection, that he's been given a job and he's going to do it. He says he's got a plan and it's going to work but it's taking a bit longer than he thought."

My mind raced with the possibilities. Draco certainly hadn't been himself lately, and seeing him last night at the party only confirmed it, "And you have no idea what it is that he's been asked to do?"

"I was hoping you'd know, or at least have an inkling?"

I shook my head as I thought, "No, sorry… he won't talk to me about that sort of thing. We usually talk about family and how I can protect myself from everything that's going on."

"Snape asked Draco if he should consider bringing you into whatever he was doing." Harry whispered animatedly, watching my every reaction, "But he said that he wanted to protect you. He said that he trusts you, but he needed to do whatever he was doing on his own."

"What is he protecting me from?" I questioned, my fingers stroking the carpet I was sitting on, "He must be in way over his head. It's the same with Cissa."

"Did you see him last night?"

I nodded, "I don't think he's had a proper night's sleep in a long time… This is keeping him up at night, whatever it is."

"He's working with people, like Crabbe and Goyle, but Snape wants him to confide in him or you for help or assistance or anything."

"Snape wants him to tell me?"

"Does Snape think that he'd be able to bully the information out of you?" Harry's eyes then met mine in realisation, "He's counting on you to do the right thing and expose him and what he's doing to the Order."

I sat up straight, thoughts racing even more, "But if I do that, then Bellatrix will know that I'm working against her and I'll be as good as dead." I thought, "That's if I'm not killed before then." I took a deep breath, "Look Harry, either way you look at this, it isn't great. What would we do with the information? If he tells me, he'll have told me because he wanted or needed to. And what am I supposed to do? Help Voldemort? Or go against Draco and get us both killed?"

Harry shrugged his shoulders, "I trust you to do the right thing."

"Harry!" Ron entered the room, "What're you doing down here? Come on!"

"No Molly, I need you to trust me." I said for what felt like the thousandth time.

"I told George that I didn't agree with your plan," she argued back, "it's not safe for you out there, you're too exposed, they'll find you and they'll -" she composed herself, "George isn't convinced either."

I tried not to lose my temper. I know this is her letting her feelings be known. Molly and I were so alike in this way, we argue when we want to be heard, to show that we're concerned, to try and emphasise how much of an ask this is, "Listen, I'm trying to protect everyone. I've told Bellatrix that I don't want to see her. I've told her that I'm staying in a hotel in London. I've booked it and if I need to prove that I haven't seen you or Harry or any member of the Order, I need to be able to use the hotel."

"But you're going to sleep here?" she seemed to understand my reasoning.

I nodded, "Yes. I've just got to make it look like I'm staying there. They'll see me go in, but they won't see me go out."

"Let me come with you."

"No, you need to be here with your children. I need you to stay here. Fred and George are with their staff." I looked up to Fleur, "Fleur will go with me. I trust her -" I said before Molly could argue, "trust me. We'll be back for dinner. I promise."

Molly knows by now that she can't argue with me when I'm set in my ways. I've told her exactly what I'm doing. I also suspect she's allowing Fleur to go with me on the off-chance I lose her future daughter-in-law in some horrific way, "Fine. You protect her, you hear me?"

"Yes, Molly." Fleur said. She was dressed in muggle clothes including a big heavy coat with a hood that covered her distinctive silvery-blonde locks. The two of us were braced to tackle the elements, it just so happened that today it was snowing.

"Thanks Kasrine, I feel like I was needing out of zat 'ouse."

"Fleur," I spoke covertly, "I can't talk to you when you're supposed to be invisible. People will think I'm mad." I reminded her as we walked through central London, one hand holding Fleur's and the other pulling my trunk.

We arrived at the Treetop hotel and I checked-in, seemingly alone, as Fleur carefully monitored around us, making sure I wasn't being watched or followed. Then I took the lift up to my room – number 307. The first thing I did was turn the 'do not disturb' sign around, closing the door behind us before finally releasing my grip on Fleur.

"Phase one complete," I said robotically, "Phase two commencing…" I opened my trunk and dispersed items across the room, toiletries in the bathroom, brushing my hair, leaving some on the floor, going to the loo, using the towels, leaving all the items I had spares of. I then climbed into the bed, messing up the sheets and making a poor attempt at making the bed again, leaving a book lying open on the bedside table. Fleur hung up some clothes, throwing 'dirty' ones into a pile on the floor, had shoes in a line in front of the dresser where she scattered some of my makeup. We had thought this through so extensively that we brought rubbish to go into the bins and bought food and drinks along the way to go into the hotel's mini-fridge. Final touch was putting my pyjamas from last night underneath the pillow.

I looked around the room, into the cupboards and drawers, coming across menus, a bathrobe, a hairdryer, which I plugged in, "I feel like something is missing…"

"You could probably be leaving some school books and parchment?" she looked into my trunk and saw what was left. I had already unpacked so much in Ginny's room, much to her annoyance, but she understood that it was necessary.

Oh yeah, Fred and George are to spend Christmas at the Burrow and not in the flat. So I've to sleep in Ginny's room whilst the twins have their old room together. I understand Molly's reasoning, that we're targets but I really could do with some alone time with George. But apparently it's not worth the risk. I can tell you something for sure: it is. I can't live my life afraid to go out.

"Good idea." I lifted out what I knew I didn't have homework for and left the books in a messy pile with a few quills and ink, "And I think that's us?" I jumped on the bed as Fleur moved some of the furniture, making the room look as lived-in as possible.

"I don't thenk we can do much more." Fleur remarked, looking around at how my trunk was in the middle of the floor, just that's exactly where I left it, kicked out of the way.

I smiled, "Want to do something cool?" I turned the light off and took her hand, making us both invisible, I walked through the door into the corridor. Fleur looked at me incredulously as we walked, taking the elevator down to the ground floor, making our way back to the streets of London again.

"Zat was incroyable." Fleur smiled as I made us both visible again in a deserted side street, our hoods up, barely recognisable as we apparated back to the Burrow again.

"I'm so glad you're okay!" George wrapped his arms around me before cupping my face in his hands, "I can't believe I -"

I smiled, "I'm fine!" I stood on my tip-toes and kissed him, "It's good to see you."

"Ladies and gentlemen, I recommend we all leave the love-birds alone, it's been a while and things are about to get steamy!" Fred announced to the room.

I playfully punched him in the arm before wrapping my arms around him, "It's good to see you're up to your usual antics, Freddie." I messed up his hair, "Good party?"

"Come on, it was a joke-shop Christmas party!" Fred beamed.

I added, "And it was hosted by you two? Must have been out of this world."

"I saved you cake." George took a piece of wrapped-up cake out of his pocket and handed it over.

"This. This is how I know you love me." I took a bite.

He helped himself to a bit, as did Fred, "It's also an apology for not coming into London, I'm glad you went with Fleur, though." He nodded to her with as much thanks he could muster for the girl he dislikes, "You got everything sorted in the hotel room?"

"Yes, yes!" I assured him, "Don't fret! It was carefully orchestrated."

"Speaking of carefully orchestrated events…" Fred held up a copy of today's Daily Prophet, "Someone looked drop-dead gorgeous last night."

I flicked my hair and pouted, "Well…" I winked at George, who now had the paper in his hands, "How do I look?"

He beamed at me, "Why don't you have a look for yourself?"

"YESS!" I shouted, punching the air, "HARRY WE MADE THE FRONT PAGE!"

"Do we look good?" he looked over my shoulder, he joked, "oh yes, very visually appealing. And we're the hottest couple of the year. I wonder what our first kiss was like? First date? Am I a good boyfriend?"

The two of us shared a look and laughed, "In your dreams, Pothead."

I opened the next full page spread, "Oh look."

"You got a picture with the Minister for Magic?"

"It's like you doubt my capabilities to schmooze." I tittered, "He was the one who invited me into the conversation. I hadn't a clue who he was until Blaise arrived with drinks and I had to pretend I knew all along."

"He looks like a stuck-up-pretty-boy." George commented, pointing at Blaise.

Ginny snorted, "That's because he is. Oh look, there's me!"

"Aw, you're so pretty!" I gave her a nudge, "I'm assuming you actually moved away from that corner at some point during the party?"

"Oi." She blushed, "Is there a picture of you and Myron?"

"Myron?" George repeated, "Myron Wagtail, Myron?"

I gave Ginny a shove, "Maybe? Don't worry he's not my type."

"Too bad there's no evidence of his conquest." Ginny sighed, "You should have seen the look on his face when you and Hermione left. You made quite the impression on him."

"Do you know why that was?" I questioned, "Because I treated the guy like a human being? And very subtly told him I wasn't interested? If you want him at your wedding, I'll write to him and ask."

"What about our wedding?" George elbowed me.

I laughed, putting an arm around him, "That would be cruel, honey."

24th December

Fred, George and I were on our way out to some last minute shopping, which was really an excuse to get away from the rising tensions between Molly, Ginny and Fleur. There's only so much you can intervene before you end up in the middle of it. With or without my input, those women are at each other's throats.

Harry and Ron were in the kitchen this morning preparing the brussel sprouts for tomorrow, we overheard them talking about Fred's left buttock.

"I beg your pardon?" Fred questioned as we entered the room, "Aaah, George, look at this. They're using knives and everything! Bless them."

"I'll be seventeen in two and a bit months' time," Ron spoke grumpily, "and then I'll be able to do it by magic!"

"But meanwhile," George sat down at the kitchen table and I followed suit, wondering where this conversation was leading to as he put his feet up, making himself comfortable, "we can enjoy you demonstrate the correct use of a – whoops-a-daisy."

Ron growled, "You made me do that!" he sucked his thumb, "You wait, when I turn seventeen -"

Fred yawned, "I'm sure you'll dazzle us all with hitherto unsuspected magical skills."

"And speaking of hitherto unsuspected skills, Ronald," said George, "what is this we hear from Katy and Ginny about you and a young lady called – correct me if I'm wrong – Lavender Brown?"

Ron turned a little pink, but did not look displeased as he turned back to the sprouts. Harry and I shared a wary glance. I was glad Ron's view to me was shielded by the twins, "Mind your own business."

"What a snappy retort," Fred said, "I really don't know how you think of them. No, what we wanted to know was… how did it happen?"

Ron faced us again, "What d'you mean?"

"Did she have an accident or something?"

"What?"

"Well, how did she sustain such extensive brain damage? Careful, now!"

Molly entered the kitchen just in time to see Ron throw the sprouts knife at Fred, who turned it into a paper aeroplane with one lazy flick of his wand, "RON!" she yelled furiously, "Don't you ever let me see you throwing knives again!"

"I won't," said Ron, "let you see," he added under his breath, as he turned back to the sprout mountain.

"Think it's funny, do you?" I aggressively questioned Ron, who I saw smirking to himself, "Playing with knives? Do you want to see what damage a knife can do?"

"Bloody hell, Kathryn, go back to your family where you belong."

I held up a hand to stop Fred and George's retorts, "You'd best hope I don't," I approached him, poking a finger hard in his chest, making him drop the sprout in his hand, "cause right now I'd get Bella to take you out first, with the way you've been treating me lately." I could see the desire in his eyes to stab me, "You dropped this." I summoned the sprout off the floor and had it prepared in less than a second, "Want some fresh air, Harry? I can do your half?"

Harry shook his head, "I promised Dumbledore I'd stay here, but thanks."

I gave Ron a good shove as I walked out the door, "That, was for bruising my shoulder."

"Remind us not to get on your bad side." George remarked as the twins caught up with me at the boundary of the Burrow.

"Nah," I said, "Ron only seems to listen to aggression these days, all those raging hormones, you know? He feels like an alpha male, but in a pride of lions, it's the lionesses who make the kills. He just needed a little reminder."

"Sometimes I don't know where I got you from." George took a hold of my arm as we disapparated and appeared in a side street in London.

I smirked, "Northern Ireland… Often with my head in a book?" Then I linked arms with Fred, "You're right about Lavender, she really needs her head seeing to."

The three of us shopped for a number of hours, treated ourselves to lunch and made my hotel room appear more 'used'. The reason shopping took so long is because I had no idea what to buy Bellatrix Lestrange. Yes, the woman may be my mother, but I've come to the realisation that I really don't know the woman in the slightest – I don't know what size she wears, I don't know her favourite colour, I don't know what she likes. Yet, this gift needed to scream devotion, pride, daughter.

I settled on an antique-looking leather bound diary and a pen. The gift was a representation of me as so to speak. I think it would hurt if she disregarded it. So I had to do some distractive shopping where I bought a tonne of muggle chocolate and three tubs of Ben and Jerry's. I also got Tonks a if-Myron-doesn't-send-you-something gift.

"Oooooh." I said, "Doesn't this cardigan scream Remus?" I said at the checkout, where I also bought some fancy biscuits for Ted and Andromeda, a shirt for George and a book on engineering through time for Arthur.

"Katy, if you spend any more money -"

"Just a few more things…" I said.

George stopped me, making sure to have my full attention, "Look Katy, I understand. I get it. This time of year hurts. Everyone you've bought something for today loves you, okay? Every single person loves you with or without presents, you don't need to buy anything more, baby."

I had to clench my jaw to stop myself from getting emotional. His eyes were warm and loving, as he stood strong and unshakable, he was right.

Fred approached us, "That's everything I need."

I looked up to George and gave him a small smile, "Us, too. Let's go home, via me going 'back' to the hotel."

When the twins and I returned, I was welcomed by the open arms of Remus Lupin, "Oh I've missed you!" I held him tight.

"And I, you." he kissed the top of my head.

"How are you?" I asked, having a good look at him, "You've definitely lost weight." I had to be careful what I said after that in present company, "Are you looking after yourself?"

Remus looked over my shoulder at Fred and George who were both standing with all the bags, "Is she always like this?"

George approached Remus and they exchanged a very manly handshake that turned into a half hug before saying, "Only those she cares most about, mate." He took my coat and placed an arm around my waist, "It's one of her most endearing qualities. She's assessed you before you even have the chance to speak."

Remus smiled, "I'm fine, Kathryn."

"Kathryn?" Molly called, "Would you mind giving me a hand with pudding? I don't know where the time has gone today!"

"Duty calls, gentlemen." I smirked, rolling up my sleeves, "Something sweet and tasty coming up." I kissed George on the cheek, "I'll get my shopping off your bed later, okay?" with a flick of my wand I had a bowl, whisk, spoon and a number of ingredients fly at me from the pantry and I got to work making a pavlova and a non-bake cheesecake, there were now eleven of us after all.

"Woah, Gin." I was mesmerised by the sheer number of paper-chains decorating the living room, "I am impressed."

"Are you sure, Kathryn dear?" Molly placed a hand on my back as she entered the room with a plate of pavlova, "I'll give you mine!"

I shook my head, "Don't worry," I assured her, "I'll steal a mouthful of George's if that makes you feel better?" I joked. Molly accidently dropped the cheesecake on the floor when lifting it to serve, the bottom of the dish is removable and she completely forgot. Splat. Luckily I got the pavlova sliced into 10 good-sized portions, but as you can now gather, she wasn't very amused at me dipping out.

"Come here," George tapped the floor between his legs for me to sit and share.

No matter how much I wanted to sit there, I didn't want that dessert on offer. So I politely declined, summoning a tub of Phish Food ice-cream and a spoon, "I'm more than content with a pint of this."

"You've been looking any excuse to dig into that." George joked as Molly put on the radio for the annual Celestina Warbeck playlist and ensured everyone was sitting ready. I quickly took a seat beside Harry, who had dropped to the floor like me, the two of us sharing a grin and a gentle roll of the eyes.

Fleur started talking loudly over Celestina. Molly turned the music up louder. I watched as Fred, George and Ginny started a game of exploding snap after finishing their dessert. I caught Harry glancing at Ron who was glancing covertly at Bill and Fleur, as though looking for hints and tips. Oh please. I ate a spoonful of ice-cream and found myself daydreaming, somewhere far off and wildly inappropriate.

That was until I was rudely interrupted by George gently nudging me with his foot from the other side of the room. I ate another spoonful of ice-cream before flicking my wand and sending the rest of my dessert over to him. My mind was now on Draco Malfoy, as I overheard Harry sharing his musings with Arthur and Remus. I leaned in closer…

"Has it occurred to you, Harry," Arthur said, "that Snape was simply pretending -?"

"Pretending to offer help, so that he could find out what Malfoy's up to?" Harry said quickly, "I thought you'd say that. But how do we know? And why would Snape suggest Malfoy talks to Kathryn?"

"Because Kathryn would tell us if Malfoy was in danger, or about to do something stupid." Arthur nodded to me, "Wouldn't you?"

I shrugged my shoulders. In all honesty, I don't know what I'd do… I might be putting my own life in danger by telling. Let's be doubly honest, me being here is risking my life, in one way or another, "I'd do the right thing." Was my response.

Lupin now entered the conversation, "It really isn't our business to know. It's Dumbledore's business. Dumbledore trusts Severus, and that ought to be good enough for all of us."

"But," Harry said, "just say – just say Dumbledore's wrong about Snape -"

"People have said it, many times. It comes down to whether or not you trust Dumbledore's judgement. I do; therefore, I trust Severus."

"But Dumbledore can make mistakes," Harry argued, "He says it himself. And you -" Harry stared Remus directly in the eyes, "- do you honestly like Snape?"

Remus' response was very diplomatic, "I neither like nor dislike Severus. No, Harry, I am speaking the truth," He said as Harry pulled a sceptical expression, "We shall never be bosom buddies, perhaps; after all that happened between James and Sirius and Severus, there is too much bitterness there. But I do not forget that during the year I taught at Hogwarts, Severus made the Wolfsbane Potion for me every month, made it perfectly so that I did not have to suffer as I usually do at the full moon."

"But he 'accidently' let it slip that you're a werewolf, so you had to leave!" Harry said angrily, looking back at me for support.

"I'm in two minds about the man, you know that." I said, "Please Harry, don't – you know I'm on your side -"

"The news would have leaked out anyway. We both know he wanted my job, but he could have wreaked much more damage on me by tampering with the Potion. He kept me healthy. I must be grateful."

Harry shook his head, "Maybe he didn't dare mess with the Potion with Dumbledore watching him!"

"You are determined to hate him, Harry," Remus said with a faint smile, "And I understand; with James as your father, with Sirius as your godfather, you have inherited an old prejudice. By all means tell Dumbledore what you have told Arthur and me, but do not expect him to share your view of the matter; do not even expect him to be surprised by what you tell him. It might have been on Dumbledore's orders that Severus questioned Draco."

Celestina ended her song with a very long, high note. Her operatic voice clearly wasn't the favourite of the family, with most of them clenching their teeth, the sound causing them pain.

"Eez eet over?" said Fleur loudly as Molly was clapping along with the sound featuring over the wireless, "Thank goodness, what an 'orrible -"

"Shall we have a nightcap, then?" asked Arthur loudly, leaping to his feet, "Who wants egg-nog?"

Arthur left the room rather promptly signalling to everyone it was now safe to stretch and engage in loud conversation. "So what have you been up to lately?" Harry asked Remus.

Remus looked to me and I shook my head. I hadn't told a soul what he'd told me to keep secret. He gave me a small smile before responding to Harry, "Oh, I've been underground. Almost literally. That's what I haven't been able to write, Harry: sending letters to you would have been something of a give-away. Kathryn's birthday letter told me that."

"I told him what you wrote, biggest smile you ever did see." I ruffled Harry's hair affectionately.

"What do you mean? Underground?"

"I've been living amongst my fellows, my equals," Remus said, "Werewolves," he added, due to Harry's look of incomprehension. "Nearly all of them are on Voldemort's side. Dumbledore wanted a spy and here I was… ready-made."

I understood his bitterness. Dumbledore has a way of asking too much of people. Especially vulnerable people who are too polite to say 'no'.

"I am not complaining," Remus caught himself on, "it is necessary work and who can do it better than I? However, it has been difficult gaining their trust. I bear the unmistakable signs of having tried to live among wizards, you see, whereas they have shunned normal society and live on the margins, stealing – and sometimes killing – to eat."

I moved closer, "How come they like Voldemort? Is he offering something?"

"They think that, under his rule, they will have a better life," Remus explained, "and it is hard to argue with Greyback out there."

Greyback? Where have I heard that name before?

"Who's Greyback?"

"You haven't heard of him?" Remus clasped his hands together in his lap, "Fenrir Greyback is, perhaps, the most savage werewolf alive today. He regards it as his mission in life to bite and to contaminate as many people as possible, he wants to create enough werewolves to overcome the wizards. Voldemort has promised him prey in return for his services. Greyback specialises in children… bite them young, he says, and raise them away from their parents, raise them to hate normal wizards. Voldemort has threatened to unleash him upon people's sons and daughters; it is a threat that usually produces good results." He paused and divulged, "It was Greyback who bit me. What is it Kathryn? What do you know?"

I shook my head subconsciously, "Bellatrix threatened to give me to Greyback, she said he'd enjoy me." I said quietly, looking down at my hands, "I don't remember what it was she wanted, probably Harry -" I paused, looking up to see Remus go even more pale than he already was, "you told us that your father offended a werewolf when you were a child, it was Greyback?"

Remus nodded, "I didn't know for many years. I actually felt sorry for him, thinking he had no control over it, but now… I know he plans it, every full moon he positions himself where he can cause the most devastation." He sighed, "I cannot pretend that my particular brand of reasoned arguments is making much headway against Greyback's insistence that we werewolves deserve blood, that we ought to revenge ourselves on normal people."

"But you are normal!" Harry said fiercely, "You've just got a – a problem -"

Remus burst out laughing, "Sometimes you remind me a lot of James. He called it my 'furry little problem' in company. Many people were under the impression that I owned a badly behaved rabbit."

I couldn't help but smile at how talking about James had lifted both Harry and Remus. I declined the glass of egg-nog from Arthur. The stuff never appealed to me. That was when I caught eyes with George who held open his arms for me, where I gladly found refuge, sitting between his legs, resting myself against him.

"You didn't leave me any ice-cream did you?"

"Sorry… you're currently lying on it." He patted his stomach proudly, "What were you lot talking about? Looked serious."

I cuddled into him as he wrapped his arms around me, "Remus is working with werewolves, trying to reason with them, that they don't need to get revenge against 'normal' wizards, but this werewolf, Greyback, he's pretty dangerous, Voldemort has promised him prey. Bellatrix threatened to offer me to him, too."

"The more you tell me about that woman, the more I hate her." He stroked my hair gently, "D'you think Remus is okay?"

I sighed, thinking how he's purposely volunteering to do this, yes, for Dumbledore, but also to avoid Tonks and their feelings for each other. It's exactly as she told me. He's going to get himself killed rather than admit he loves her, "No."

"It's not like you to do nothing." He said gently.

"Who says I'm not doing anything?" I smiled mysteriously, kissing him gently, "I know exactly what he needs."

George raised an eyebrow, "Care to share?"

"Ask me no questions and I'll tell you no lies, my darling." I tapped him on the nose.

"That definitely means you're up to no good."

I chuckled, "Oh, I solemnly swear it."

This was the moment that Fleur thought was a good idea to mimic Celestina singing 'A Cauldron Full of Hot, Strong Love'. A glance shared between George and me saw us on our feet and out of the room before Molly had the chance to explode. Everyone else followed suit, hurrying up to bed as George stopped me on the first floor outside Ginny's room and encouraged me up another floor, to outside his and Fred's room.

"What're you doing?" I asked, placing my hands behind his neck after he pulled me in close, "You know I'd love to, but," I whispered, "there happens to be no free rooms and -"

He kissed me tenderly, "Meet me in the living room at midnight."

I raised an eyebrow, feeling my heart speeding up in my chest, "Is there a dress code?" I laughed.

"Pyjamas." He smirked, "I imagine it'll be the only time I'll have you all to myself all day."

I kissed him, "See you then."