Another Weasley

The baby in the woman's arms cried, and it's tiny fists opened and closed furiously, reaching out for a woman and man across the room. The woman across the room walked over slowly, her black hair falling over her eyes, the man following. The woman in the bed's eyes flicked across the room, filling with tears. She didn't want to lose her newborn daughter, but her family didn't have enough money to support her through her life.

"Have you named her yet?" The black-haired woman spoke softly, the baby girl wrapping her fist around the woman's finger.

"It's up to you." The soon to be ex-mother said, barely a whisper.

A smile played on the woman's lips as she turned her head to her husband who was standing awkwardly behind her. "Kate Alexandra Howard."

"It fits very well," The woman holding the baby smiled weakly, "It's a fit with the ginger hair." She added touching her own fiery red hair softly.

The woman's eyes softened as the woman holding the baby handed her to her. A tear slid slowly down her cheek and she planted a kiss on the baby's forehead. "I'll never forget you."

The woman cradled her new baby daughter, and cooed softly, her husband shooting a glance at the distraught woman before them. "You'll meet again someday."

The woman's bright brown eyes closed as the couple left the room forever. With her daughter.

                                                                                *

Kate shot up quickly, beads of sweat clinging to her forehead. She felt clammy and unusually shaken as she looked around her small room. She sat up and wiped her forehead, dangling her feet off the side of her four-poster bed, hoping to cool herself down.

Sheets moved from the bed next to hers, and a dark silhouette appeared on the bed. "Kate?"

As her eyes came into focus, she saw that it was Hermione. She noticed how deep she was breathing and concentrated on slowing it down.

"Uh, yeah." She replied running her fingers through her slightly knotted hair. With a jolt, she remembered her 'dream'. "Oh, shit... uh...."

"What's wrong? Did you have a nightmare?" Hermione asked, worry seeped through her voice.

"I need to see Dr- Uh, Dumbledore!" Kate said mentally face-palming. Her and Draco were not going to have anything to do with each other.. She didn't need to tell him, but why say Dumbledore?

"I'll take you to him" Hermione said, already sliding her feet into her slippers.

"That's not necessary Hermione, really." Kate mumbled, trying ever so hard to get herself out of this situation.

"Shut up and put your dressing gown on, we're going."

Kate squeezed her eyes shut, but quickly opened them when the door to their room creaked open and she walked out. She slipped her gown on and made her way after Hermione, her slippers slapping the floor quietly. They reached Dumbledore's office in about 5 minutes, and Kate was coming up with a million excuses to just turn around and go back, but Dumbledore would surely see through them.

"Miss Granger, Miss Howard."

Kate stepped back in shock. Dumbledore was still awake, and it was well past midnight. A book lay open in front of him and Fawkes the Phoenix snored softly behind him on his perch.

"Professor Dumbledore." Hermione said politely, "I'll just leave you to it."

She dismissed herself from the room, and Dumbledore gestured to the empty seat across from him. Kate sat down slowly, crossing her ankles nervously. She twirled her plain silver ring around her finger, and took a deep breath out.

"So Kate, what brings you here tonight?" Dumbledore asked.

She cringed and decided that she'd tell Dumbledore the truth, and nothing but the truth. "I had a dream, except I'm not sure if it was a dream or if it was a memory, or maybe it was just my imagination." She rambled.

Dumbledore folded his hands underneath his chin and surveyed Kate, who was nervously staring back at him. "And what was this 'memory' about?" He inquired softly.