invisible string! → ron weasley ✓

ix. the first battle

"Oh, Kates!" she said, quickly pulling the girl into a tight embrace. "Thank Merlin you're all right!" As she pulled away, she glanced at the others. "How are they?"

"They'll be all right," Kates replied. "Where's Harry?" Harry, of course, had stayed down in the chamber, promising to be right behind them, but he hadn't emerged. Tonks' hair turned from bubblegum pink to an unremarkable brown—never a good sign.

"He's all right. Voldemort showed up, but Dumbledore fended him off and the Minister saw enough that he can't deny the truth any long. But, Sirius...he didn't make it." Kates felt as if the wind had been knocked out of her. She hadn't known the man long, but they had grown close during her stays at Number 12 Grimmauld Place. Worst of all, she knew Harry would be heartbroken; he was the only family he had that was worth a damn. After a pause, Tonks continued in a ramble. "Goodness, I'd like to tell you off for coming down here tonight, but I would've done the same thing myself. Listen, the others will be up here shortly and we'll get you lot sorted, but why don't you stay at my place this summer? Mum and dad would love to meet you, and we've got plenty of room. We just can't stand the idea of you being in that house any longer—"

"Thank you, Tonks," said Kates, and in spite of it all she managed a genuine smile, albeit a small one. She felt Neville's gaze on her, and she knew he'd be glad she gave up on her idea from earlier. If the battle had taught her anything, it was that she deserved to be a student for a little longer instead of a soldier. The time would come where she'd fight, but she didn't need it to come any time soon.

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THE DAY BEFORE END OF TERM, a healing McGonagall called Kates to her office. Kates had seen her since her return from St. Mungo's, but they hadn't gotten a chance to talk, and apparently the older woman wanted to change that.

In spite of the horrors that occurred within the Department of Mysteries—or maybe because of them—the time since had been spent in a most lighthearted fashion. She spent a great deal of her time in the hospital wing, where she and her friends met regularly until Ron and Hermione were discharged. They would play games or talk or laugh (a particular moment of Ron scaring the daylights out of a stunned Umbridge was a moment she'd never forget), but most importantly they enjoyed each other's company. She spent time with Dean and Seamus too, of course; at first they had been furious with her for doing something so dangerous and not telling them, but she knew it was only because they were worried about her. They were back to their old selves again in no time.

An odd feeling had been visiting her daily since the battle, one that was comparable to a huge weight being lifted off one's shoulders. The only thing was, Kates had no clue why she felt that way. If anything, the tension in the wizarding world was only rising...yet she felt a strange sense of calm and relief, even with all that in mind. She carried that feeling with her as she entered McGonagall's office that morning after breakfast.

"You wanted to see me, Professor?"

"Yes, Kinley, take a seat," said the woman, greeting her with one of her closed-lip smiles that revealed little to those who didn't know her well. McGonagall, much like Kates, seemed to be in a particularly good mood since her return to Hogwarts. "Care for a biscuit?" Kates took one without hesitation, murmuring a quick thank you as she shoved it into her mouth. She had, of course, saved room for such a delicacy, for she had met McGonagall enough times to expect the pleasantry. There was a momentary silence, then: "I heard about your use of wandless magic back in Umbridge's office. Now strictly speaking I cannot condone what you and your friends did that night, but in the process of scolding you I can say that what you did was very brave and your use of magic was quite impressive." Kates had to fight back a smile, and she noticed the professor was doing the same thing.

"If I weren't being scolded, I would say thank you," she replied smoothly. The professor's expression soon faltered.

"How are you doing? I understand you and Sirius Black were close." Kates' smile fell as well and she leaned back in the chair she occupied.

"I'll be all right, in time. He, er, he treated me like family—I mean, I guess we were, in a sense, but that doesn't mean anything. My parents taught me that a long time ago." McGonagall's shoulders slumped ever so slightly out of sympathy.

"Do you remember what I told you when we first met?" The question caught Kates slightly off guard, but she replied nonetheless.

"You told me a lot of things, and I remember them all."

"Well, when I told you that I had seen someone in your situation before, it was Sirius to whom I was referring." Kates sat up straight again with interest. "You surely know he grew up in a situation much like your own. Now he was...let's say, more mischievous than you," she allowed herself the ghost of a smile before continuing, "but dare I say you remind me of him. You are brave, highly skilled in defensive magic—and yes I know you consider your skill to be solely in charms, but you play to your strengths and as a result are better than you think—and you will do anything for your friends."

Kates felt on the verge of tears, but not in the way she had for the few days after the battle whenever she thought of Sirius. This time, the tears that threatened to fall were ones of positive emotions. Somehow, McGonagall always knew just what to say. The professor leaned forward, resting her elbows on her desk.

"I just want you to know, Kates, that whilst I cannot speak for him, I know he was proud of you, and that he believed in you."

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