15th June

I woke up in the same position as I fell asleep, with my arms cradling Ginny. The room was brighter than it had been hours before when we crawled into bed. It was warmer, too. It seemed strange opening the curtains to see such a glorious day outside when the castle's residents were feeling quite the opposite. Sipping a glass of cool water woke me up, bringing me back to the reality of what happened between Draco and me last night.

"Parvati and Padma's parents collected them a couple of hours ago," Hermione said as she sat on the edge of her bed, sleep etched onto her face, "McGonagall was up here not so long ago, she says she's booked you in with Maura at 3."

"I should probably go and see Harry…" Ginny stretched, letting out a huge yawn, "I know how much he loved Dumbledore." She shivered, "See you downstairs in fifteen?"

"Of course." I said, hopping into the shower to rid myself of the physical memories from last night's fight, quickly drying and dressing myself, "'Mione?!" I called out in a panic.

Hermione hurried into the bathroom, half dressed, "What? What is it?" her eyes widened in horror as she gawped at me, "How'd you get that?" She stared at the circular deep purple bruise on my stomach, "Turn around." She gasped, "It's like an entrance and exit wound, but – did someone hit you?"

"No!" I panicked, "I was invisible the entire time!"

"Does it hurt? It looks like it hurts." She put her hand on the discoloured skin, there was no swelling, no pain, no heat. It made no sense. "Maybe you should see Madam Pomfrey…"

Throwing on jeans and a t-shirt, I hurried out of the Gryffindor Common Room, ignoring the many individuals trying to grab my attention as I focused on my destination. Hurrying down the many staircases, I thought of internal bleeding. I was being punished for letting Draco kiss me. At the door of the Hospital Wing, I realised that Hermione, Ron, Harry and Ginny were pursuing me closely, "Madam Pomfrey!" I called out, ignoring anyone else who might be around.

"Miss Pink? What ever is the matter?" she hastily exited her office.

I held up my t-shirt, my chest heaving, my heart pounding, "What is this?" I approached her, "Hermione said there's like an exit wound on my back, but I was – you know I'm an – don't you?"

Madam Pomfrey raised an eyebrow, "I figured that out quite a while ago, I just wondered why you hadn't told me. It would certainly have helped me treat you." she shook her head at me in her usual manner, "Please excuse me, Molly, Arthur, Kathryn has quite forgotten her manners."

An exhausted looking Molly approached me, "Did you take a hit last night?" she felt my forehead, tapping my hair with her wand to dry it instantly, curls springing out of nowhere.

I lowered my voice to a whisper, "I was invisible the entire time! I don't understand! What's wrong with me?"

"You took a bolt of red light, it should have hit me, but – it was like it was deflected somehow -" Harry said, "I wondered how – but then you saved me from Greyback and I just assumed you blocked it? But you -"

"Absorbed it." Madam Pomfrey filled the silence that Harry had not been able to, "Your body reacts differently to injury and, I'm sure you now know what I mean when I say, when you're invisible and hit by a spell, your body absorbs it. Powerful spells leave their mark."

My chin dropped, "So are you saying my body is going to stay like this forever?"

"No, no the colour will fade like a bruise would – do you mind if I -?" she indicated examining my stomach with her hand, "I've never worked with any other Invisibilia's. It's a very rare gift, you know."

"So I've been told. Though, I think my Grandfather was one. Bellatrix's father."

Hermione gasped, "Why'd you not tell us? Who told you?"

"Andromeda – I mean, Tonks' mum. Sirius told me too, not that either of us knew at the time that we were related." I answered her, "It never came up for me to even think to tell you. He's dead anyway, so I can't even ask him about it and Dumbledore – he said that I'd be hard pushed to find any information on Invisibilia in any textbooks. I learn something new about my ability all the time! What else do you know?" I implored Madam P.

"Mr Longbottom! Mr Longbottom!" Madam Pomfrey hurried down the length of the Hospital Wing to Neville's bed, "Stay in bed, Mr Longbottom."

I looked to Hermione, "Sorry for freaking you out – I -"

She placed a hand on my shoulder, "It's alright, neither of us knew what it was."

"I'm assuming from what she said that this is normal for me, and that I'm not going to have any side effects or anything?" I questioned, "So I'm good to continue as normal, then?" I shrugged my shoulders, smoothing down my t-shirt, "How's Bill?" I glanced over to his bed where Fleur was lying with her head on his thigh, fast asleep, holding his hand in hers.

"No change." Molly sighed.

"Have you eaten?" I asked, "We were about to go down for breakfast or lunch, or whatever time of day it is? If you want me to grab you anything?"

Molly reached out and stroked my cheek, "We've had plenty to eat, off you go, all of you, we can't have you going hungry!"

The four of us sat at the Gryffindor Table, mostly pushing food about with our forks. Harry told us the uncensored version of events from the previous night, about a cave and a boat. He couldn't bear to give the details, that Dumbledore drank poison which caused him to call out in pain, that he wanted to die, that he must have deeply regretted something.

"Do you know what's funny?" I said, pouring myself another cup of coffee, "Not funny ha-ha, but funny as in, coincidence, that the last thing I think I said to Dumbledore was to warn him that I thought someone was trying to kill him and that he should watch out. If only I knew then that it was Draco – if only I'd been more perceptive during the summer when I met Bellatrix, then I might've been able to stop all this…"

Hermione put a comforting hand on mine, "There's no point dwelling on the past. None of us were to know…"

"What actually happened with you and Malfoy?" Harry asked.

My stomach filed with butterflies at the thought of Draco kissing me, I swallowed, emptying my mind, "By the sounds of it, he told me what he told you – well, Dumbledore – it seemed to be a relief for him to have told someone, he'd sworn not to tell anyone – an unbreakable vow."

"So how'd he tell you?"

"He told me without telling me, if you know what I mean?" I said, "He was a mess. I don't think I've ever seen someone so nervous. I tried talking him out of it, but he said he was doing it to protect me and our family."

Ron cleared his throat, "Still sounds weird to hear you say that. That the two of you share blood."

I nodded, my stomach was knotted at the thought. I was feeling all of these unfamiliar and extremely complicated emotions. Draco said it himself, that we had this connection. What if we do share more than just a bloodline through our mothers? What if I was in love with him? I cared about him deeply, yes, and I love spending time with him and I feel like we understand each other in some inexplicable way.

"Kathryn?" Harry repeated, "What else happened when you were with Malfoy?"

"He stole my wand and locked me in that classroom. He said that he was trying to protect me, I think he knew that Bellatrix was coming. He's been lying for me, he wants to keep me safe. I'm sorry," I confessed, "I was in such a state that I -"

"It's okay." Harry said quickly, sharing a glance with the other two, "I knew I was asking too much of you, but I also knew that you were the only person who'd get him to make the right decision. We just weren't bargaining on Snape showing up and -"

There was a long silence which was filled with Ron chewing a sausage. I slipped into a daydream where Draco told me that he loves me. I found myself looking along the Slytherin table for Draco without thinking. I felt a disappointment in the bottom of my stomach when I didn't see him. But of course he isn't here. I shook my head to rid myself of Draco's face in my mind.

"So what about you and Dumbledore and the Horcrux, you never mentioned it after giving the contents of the basin to Dumbledore?" I tried to deviate from my own uncomfortable truths.

Harry's hand delved into his pocket and he pulled out a locket and handed it over to me, "Open it.'"

I held the locket in my hand and examined it; there was nothing special about it. There was no weight in it, nor were there markings of any kind; nothing distinctive. I frowned, looking up at Harry as I prised the locket open, finding a fragment of parchment which I unfolded to read,

To the Dark Lord
I know I will be dead long before you read this
but I want you to know that it was I who discovered your secret.
I have stolen the real Horcrux and intend to destroy it as soon as I can.
I face death in the hope that when you meet your match,
you will be mortal once more.
R.A.B.

"R.A.B.?" I questioned.

My three friends shrugged their shoulders, "This R.A.B. person found out about Horcruxes and took the real one to destroy it…" Hermione said, "I wonder if they were successful?"

"I don't know…" Harry sighed.

"We'll figure it out," I told him confidently, "Don't worry." I reached over and stroked his forearm gently, "We've just got to look at this as a clue. If they called him 'The Dark Lord', that gives an idea about who they were -"

"A Death Eater?" Ron asked.

Hermione nodded, "A defected Death Eater more like. Or someone who is using the term ironically."

"Which means it could be anyone."

"Which means we're covering all bases, with the likelihood of them being a defected Death Eater. Look, Harry –" I paused, "I know things look bleak right about now, but we've got each other and Dumbledore allowed you to tell us for a reason, because we're here for you. Our four minds are better when we work together, just look at what we've overcome."

He nodded. My inspirational speech didn't hit quite how I wanted it to, but he was grieving and it would take time. A glance from Hermione quickly ended our conversation as Ginny came on scene.

"I went looking for you in your office, and I realised that this is your new office, now… I hope you don't mind be coming up? There was no password." I took a deep breath, "'Mione said you booked me in with Maura in fifteen minutes?"

"Yes," McGonagall nodded, her hand on her forehead, bewildered I'm assuming by the monumental role that she was now to take on, "You may use the fireplace here from now on. Ginger Newts will be my password in future."

I nodded, "Thank you Professor." I clasped my travelling cloak around me, "Professor?" I asked as I stepped up to the fire and she peered over her shoulder at me, "Is there anything I can do to help you?"

"You could tell me what Potter and Dumbledore were doing when they left the castle last night?"

I shook my head, "Sorry Professor, I can't tell you that."

"Thought so." McGonagall's head lowered and she massaged her temples, "If I'm not here when you get back, let yourself out."

I grabbed a handful of green Floo Powder and threw it into fire. Stepping into the office building in London, I was bombarded by George, who wrapped his arms around me in an all-consuming hug.

"Wowzah!" I uttered as my feet reached the floor, "How are you?"

"I'm okay!" George lowered my travelling cloak hood and had a good look at me, "I should be asking you how you are!"

I gifted a lingering kiss, not that I planned it that way, but because his kiss felt right, it was like home and brought me such comfort, Draco didn't feel like home, I didn't feel comforted, "I'm doing alright – I promise!" I said after he raised his eyebrows in surprise, "Look, George –"

"If you're going to apologise to me once more, I'm going to have to charm your quills, forbidding them to write the word 'sorry'." He smiled, "I'm looking forward to hearing what happened last night when we go in here."

I bit my lower lip as I tugged on my travelling cloak, "Erm – d'you mind – d'you think it would be alright if I – if you maybe sit outside?" I felt dreadful and couldn't look him in the eyes, I was being eaten alive with guilt, because I could barely process my own emotions never mind expect him to understand what happened.

"Hey – it's okay!" he lifted my chin with his finger, "I understand! I showed up here uninvited before your session and in all honesty, I simply couldn't wait until 4. I'll come back and I'll see you later?"

I nodded, "Thank you for being so understanding."

He kissed my forehead, "I've contented myself now that I've seen you. I'll see you in an hour!"

My spirit deflated as I flumped myself onto the couch in the waiting area for Maura. Hanging my head in my hands, I felt like crying, but I held myself together. I'd never experienced this sense of guilt before. I stared into space, a scuff on the floor blurred into nothing and turned into a scene of George and Draco fist fighting over me, as I sat with my head resting on my hands, elbows resting on my knees.

"Kathryn?" I jumped at the contact of Maura's hand on my back.

"Hi…" I said in a deflated voice.

Maura stood back and held her door open for me, "Come on in, let me know what's on your mind."

I sat on the bucket chair, staring into space. Maura handing me a cup and saucer snapped me back to reality again. She had sat down and was staring at me expectantly, "Did you say something?"

"Start from the beginning…" she said calmly, "and we can work through whatever is on your mind."

The worst thing was, I couldn't really tell Maura about the reasons behind last night. No Draco being a Death Eater, nothing about Voldemort's past and definitely zilch about Horcruxes. I felt like my head could explode.

"Kathryn…" Maura's soothing voice sounded, "don't bottle this up. Talk to me. How is Dumbledore's death affecting you?"

"It's not." I said truthfully.

Maura remained silent.

"Of course I'm sad that he's dead, everyone in the castle is affected by this, but his death is all part of a bigger plan. Voldemort just took out one of his biggest threats." I said, "And he's used his pawns to get it done. It makes me sick thinking about it."

Maura nodded slowly, "Were you part of the battle that took place at Hogwarts?"

Our eyes met, "I don't think I need to answer that. I always seem to end up in the middle of things." I paused and Maura didn't fill the silence, allowing me to gather my thoughts, "Bellatrix was there, and I duelled her. I definitely had the upper hand, I doubt she believes I'm alive. I guess that's the way I want it to be."

"I'm getting the sense that that something else happened…" Maura looked at me expectantly, but when I didn't respond she said, "I know you well enough to know when you're hiding things from me and you're telling me what you think I want to hear, but there is something else that is weighing on your mind."

"I'm sorry…" I whispered, my hand gripping onto a chunk of my hair, "I just feel overwhelmed by what happened. I can't even make sense of my own feelings on the topic in order to explain it to you."

Maura put her feet up on the seat beside her, she was making herself comfortable. Her quick quotes quill rested on the coffee table as she took a sip from her cup.

"I feel so guilty…" I began, knowing that the only way for me to feel less conflicted was to talk to someone about this. Maura was as neutral as they come, so I continued, "What I say here goes no further."

Maura nodded, "You know that our conversations are completely confidential unless there is an immediate threat to life."

"I know…" I said slowly.

"Kathryn?"

I looked up from the palms of my hands, "Yeah?"

"You're stalling."

I grimaced, "You got me." I played with a piece of loose thread between my fingers, thinking about Draco's lips on mine, his hands on my body, our connection – "Draco kissed me." I blurted, "And – and I let him." It was a relief to get the words off my chest, to finally tell someone, "I can't believe that I actually let him … in that moment I wanted it … I wanted so badly to – I don't know what came over me."

"Do you have feelings for him?"

I felt my body tense up, as though I was going into self-preservation mode, "No!" I said quickly, "I love George, I'm in love with George."

Maura set down her coffee cup slowly, "Is it possible that you are in love with two people at once?"

My heart pounded in my chest and my stomach felt like a mass of butterflies were preparing to attack, "I – I don't know… No."

"I've noticed that you've been talking about Draco a lot these last number of sessions. It is alright for you to be in love with two people. Tell me what you're feeling."

"There's this connection between us that I can't explain." I said, "I don't understand it, no matter how much we annoy each other, or are disappointed in the other, we always manage to – we can be completely honest with the other and we both know there's no judgement. I immediately forgave him for lying to me, I just wanted to protect him, I wanted to hold him in my arms and tell him that everything is going to be alright. I think he feels the same way about me. It's just that –" I paused, realising how quickly my thoughts and feelings were spurting from my mouth, I needed to call a plumber and get rid of the leak, "I think he's processed his feelings as desire and – I em – I don't know how to process this… He's family for goodness sake!"

"Forget that fact, you were not brought up together, you didn't know you were related until this time last year. Besides, half of the wizards in Britain are related in some way. This mutual attraction spans further back than this."

That was certainly true. I don't think I'd ever let myself be in a relationship with someone like Draco, when our lives are polar opposites, I lived that life for a matter of days and it nearly killed me. I looked at Maura, "So I know something for sure… I love George. It has always been George and it will never stop being George."

Maura nodded, "That's a good place to start. That's perhaps why you're feeling this sense of guilt."

"I just don't know if I should tell him or not… It would break him to know, he's explicitly told me on a number of occasions that he doesn't care what I did to survive, he's just glad that he can hold me in his arms. Maura, I know it's George, I know he's the one, so why is Draco such a huge complication? I feel so conflicted when I'm around him. I let him kiss me and it felt weird, but it wasn't awful this time. I –" I let out a huge sigh, "I don't know what to do."

"You know I can't tell you what to do… I can only guide you through your own thoughts and feelings…" Maura sat forwards and wrote a number of things in the air with her wand that I needed to consider.

Will not telling George majorly affect my mental health?
Will it be better or worse for our relationship?
What am I going to say to Draco the next time we see each other?
Do I want to kiss Draco again?
Who do I feel a sexual love for?
Who, at the end of the day can I not live without?

And so the rest of the session was spent in open debate. She equipped me with the most important decision making skills for the future. I had already demonstrated my improving mental health, by managing to bring myself to a calm place to get out of the locked classroom. I also showed my friends my scar, and Maura insisted that they were big steps to take in my recovery. She told me that I was capable and in control of my life, not about what happens, but how I react. My plan was never to lie to George, we respect each other too much for that. But I also know that George would kill to protect me, and he can make rash decisions. But I couldn't lie to myself either. There are bigger things going on in the world right now. The most important thing is; I choose George Weasley.

17th June

"Kathryn, we need to talk." Hermione said this morning. It had been a late start for us, having sat up late last night, the five of us, just talking about anything and everything. The two of us were left in the dormitory as Fay and Lavender went downstairs for breakfast.

"This sounds ominous." I said, looking at her reflection in the mirror, putting on my mascara.

I could hear her pacing back and forth behind me, "I've been thinking…"

"Oh goodness, you might hurt yourself." I smirked.

"Kathryn, I'm being serious here." Hermione pleaded, her voice full of concern, grabbing my attention, "We need to talk about what's going to happen next. I think there's only one reason why Harry is still staying at the castle."

"Dumbledore's funeral? Yeah." I said exactly what we had both been thinking these last few days. We had watched him struggle, trying to get as much time as he could with all of us together, but especially Ginny, he doesn't know what the next number of months are going to hold. None of us do.

Hermione was clearly deep in thought as we bounced these ideas off each other, "I think Harry seems to be under the impression that he's going to go Horcrux hunting by himself after Dumbledore's funeral. Do you think he's going to go on the run straight after? Alone?"

I leaned against the dresser, making myself consider what Harry would actually do, "It's certainly feasible. He's always been the sort of guy who will do what he thinks is right, even if he puts himself in the line of fire. He certainly wouldn't want to risk any of our lives. I think he thinks that because Dumbledore had all these lessons with him, that he and he alone is the person who can hunt down and kill Voldemort. But I think the fact that Dumbledore permitted Harry to tell us and Ron, that he knew that Harry couldn't face whatever this is alone."

"So are you thinking what I'm thinking? That we need to go with him? Because I've been thinking a lot about what that would mean – us going with him and how we could survive on our own … We need to start planning, we don't know when we're going to have to drop everything and run, everything is so unpredictable right now. I'm thinking of going to the library, to grab some books on the Dark Arts and how to defend ourselves –"

"Wowzah, 'Mione," I was astonished by how fast this conversation was progressing, "we've got to protect others as well. It's going to be one horrible conversation with George, who will probably try and lock me up – and your parents, we've got to think about them and what they know and what Death Eaters are willing to do to get information."

Hermione swallowed hard, blinking hard fighting images of the prospect of her parents being tortured, "I didn't think of that… I'd never forgive myself. We need cover stories."

"We can make a list… Everything we need to bring and everything we need to do before we leave."

Hermione beamed, she always loved a list, "I was looking up how to master undetectable extension charms, too, so that we can pack everything we need to bring with us and not be suspicious." She told me of all her plans and suspicions, fears and ideas. I wrote as she talked.

George wasn't going to like these ideas one single bit…