"No... no... no!" Katerina Blair yelled dramatically. "You have got to be kidding me!"
"Checkmate!" Ron Weasley grinned — his stupid, smug grin that made Katie want to punch him squarely in the jaw.
"How do you always win?" Katie cried, upturning the chessboard after losing to Ron for the sixth time consecutively.
Ron leaned back in his seat and stretched, a complacent look still plastered on his heavily freckled face. "Years of practice."
"Whatever, Weasley," Katie huffed. "I'll get you next time."
There was a gentle knock on the bedroom door and it swumg open, revealing the warm smiling face of Molly Weasley.
"Katie, dear," she began softly, "your brother is just about to leave.
Katie felt her heart sink but managed to paint a convincing smile on her face. "Oh — oh, yeah... I'll be down now."
Mrs Weasley's smile widened slightly but then she rounded on Ron, surveyed him quickly, and her smile melted into a scowl. "Fix your shirt." she reprimanded before shutting the door. Only when her retreating footsteps had died away did Ron begin to complain.
"Fix my shirt?" he grumbled indignantly. "There's nothing wrong with my shirt. What does she — are you OK?"
For Ron had just spotted the despondent expression that Katie was displaying. Upon realising that he had noticed, she snappily shook her head and placed the same false smile on her face as before.
"Yes," she said in a strangely high-pitched tone. Ron quirked an eyebrow in suspicion and she let out a heavy sigh. "No," she admitted finally. "I just... Is it selfish for me not to want him to stay?"
"No, no, of course not," Ron said hastily, leaving his seat. "I mean, you both lost your brother after all, you get each other. Of course you want him around."
Katie nodded in agreement but kept her eyes firmly fixed on the chessboard that was now lying on the floor, the pieces of which were angrily brandishing their fists at her — they were not happy that she had upturned their board and sent them crashing to the floor.
"Come on," Ron said, clapping Katie on the shoulder. "You should say goodbye."
They made their way down the rickety stairs in the Burrow and out into the overgrown garden. Over the hills, the sun was setting, bathing the front of the house in a gentle orange light and sending golden sunspots dancing across the pond that sat sparkling amidst the prolific grass. At the end of the short, winding gravel pathway that lead from wooden gate to the front door of the Burrow stood Christian Blair, his honey blonde curls ruffling gently in the warm evening breeze, and his best friend Niall Murray, whose sleek blonde hair was shining beneath the dazzling sun.
Mr and Mrs Weasley, Ginny and Hermione were gathered around the front door, seeking shelter from the setting but hot sun in the shade of a towering oak tree. It was evident that they had already said their goodbyes to Chris and Niall because they smiled and waved Katie towards the boys. Alone, she walked up the pathway as slowly as she could, not wanting her brother to leave after only two weeks of the summer holidays.
"Are you sure you're going to be OK?" Chris asked as she approached.
"Merlin, of course," Katie assured him. "You go have fun in Ireland."
Chris let out a sound that was somewhere between a laugh and a scoff. "I'm going to work in a bakery. It'll hardly be fun."
"Hey, you'll be working with your best friend and his dad, it won't be so bad."
Chris shrugged, smiling. "I suppose."
There was a brief and saddened silence before Chris spoke again.
"Listen, if you really don't want me to go—"
Katie cut across him before he could finish his sentence.
"Of course I want you to go!" she said. "You'll have a really good time. I was just expecting to have two months of summer with you, that's all."
"I know," Chris sighed out, a deep frown setting into his face. "But, hey, once you finish school, what do you say you take a year off before signing to any Quidditch teams? I'll take you to Ireland and show you all the sheep. They really love their sheep there."
Niall, who had not yet spoken a word in the conversation, let out a hum of agreement.
"It's true." he nodded pensively. Both Katie and Chris laughed, but their spell of joy was quickly diminished when quietness fell again, the conversation was extinguished, and they were left staring sadly at each other. Finally, when the first star appeared in the darkening sky, Chris stepped forward and hugged his sister.
"See you next summer." he said.
"Hopefully." Katie added before moving to hug Niall goodbye as well.
With one final nod to Katie, Chris and Niall turned and walked the rest of the pathway. For a moment it seemed that they were going to open the shambly wooden gate and set off into the forest ahead, but with a crack and a small gust of warm, evening wind, they had disappeared into thin air, leaving behind four footprints embedded into the gravel.
Katie stared desolately at the faint footprints for many moments, wishing that Chris didn't have to go to Ireland. Niall's dad owned a bakery, and ever since the Daily Prophet had confirmed the return of Lord Voldemort in late June, people who had jobs that weren't deemed 'essential' resigned out of fear of being out of the house while Death Eaters were roaming around, so as Mr Murray now had no staff, Chris and Niall were going to Ireland to help him out. Although she felt very selfish every time the thought crossed her mind, she had wanted Chris to stay because, as Ron had said, they resonated with each other. While all of her friends were upset by Leo's death, Chris was the only one that understood how she was feeling, because like her, he had lost his little brother.
The girl had been so distracted by the imprints in the small pebbles that she hadn't heard the crunch of gravel behind her as Mrs Weasley approached her. Only when she felt a hand gingerly grip her shoulder did Katie realise that Mrs Weasley was there. She turned around and found the woman smiling at her gently, though there was something about the smile that seemed sad.
"How about a cup of tea?" Molly said kindly.
***
"Not again!"
This time, as Katie made to upturn the chessboard, Ron grabbed her wrists before she could cause any destruction.
"Flip the board again and the pieces might just kill you in your sleep." he said gravely, though he followed this up with a laugh. Sure enough, when Katie looked down at the chessboard, she could see the pieces waving threateningly at her and performing rude gestures.
"Mum?" the voice of Ginny Weasley called from the depths of the house. There was a patter of footsteps and then Mrs Weasley replied loudly enough for Katie and Ron to hear.
"Ginny? What is it?"
"I was only wondering when Harry got here." Ginny said.
Katie and Ron exchanged glances, their eyes narrowed in confusion, before their eyebrows raised in synchrony.
"What? Harry? Harry who?"
"Harry Potter, of course!"
Ron stood up and walked towards the door.
"I think I'd know if Harry Potter was in my house, wouldn't I?"
Katie also got to her feet and crossed the room just as Ron reached out for the doorknob.
"Well his trunk's in the kitchen, and his owl."
"Oh, no, dear, I seriously doubt that."
Ron pulled his bedroom door open and he and Katie stepped out over the landing, where they leaned over the banisters and saw Ginny standing on the very bottom floor of the house, craning her neck to look up at her mum, who was descending the stairs.
"Harry? Did someone say Harry?" Ron asked.
"Me, nosy," Ginny said. "Is he up there with you?"
"Of course not. I think I'd know if my best friend was in my room, wouldn't I?"
From the kitchen, Katie heard a screech of an owl, followed by a soft thump of footsteps above her. Like Ron and Katie had done, Hermione leaned over the banister on the landing one floor up from them.
"Is that an owl I heard?" Hermione asked.
"You haven't seen him, have you?" Ginny called back up to her. "Apparently he's wandering about the house."
"Really?" Hermione said.
And then another voice, one that did not belong to any of the Weasleys but was very familiar to all of them said, "Really."
"Harry!" Mrs Weasley cried, tearing down the last few steps. Katie, Ron and Hermione rushed downstairs too, where they arrived in the kitchen to find Ginny and Harry unraveling themselves from a hug.
"Harry!" Hermione beamed and ran towards Harry, flinging her arms aroud him. Ron greeted him next and then Mrs Weasley, looking thoroughly delighted, shuffled towards him with her arms open wide.
"What a lovely surprise!" she almost laughed with glee as she pulled Harry into a warm and welcoming hug. "Why didn't you let us know you were coming?"
"I didn't know," Harry replied. "Dumbledore."
"Oh, that man!" Mrs Weasley sighed fondly. "But then, what would we do without him?"
Out of the corner of her eye, Katie saw Ron reach out to touch Hermione's face and eyed him sceptically as he done so. His finger had barely brushed her face when she flinched and swerved out of the way. His cheeks burned deep scarlet and he awkwardly gestured towards his own face.
"You've got a bit of toothpaste..." he told her, still blushing.
"How about some tea?" Mrs Weasley suggested as she bustled towards the teapot.
"Mum, it's one o'clock in the morning." Ron reminded her.
"Oh, never mind that! Sit down, Harry, have some tea. Anyone else?"
"I think I'll go to bed," Hermione said politely. "Katie, are you coming?"
Katie, however, had no interest in sleeping. She felt as though she was reliving her previous summer all over again; sleeping as little as she could manage, and having the little sleep she got be broken by horrifying nightmares. These nightmares, however, were authentic and not product of Lord Voldemort's Legilimency. Almost every night she dreamed of Leo's murder much like she used to see her father's death, only now it was a real dream and not something planted in her head as a means to turn her to the Dark side, though, she supposed, Maria Blair had killed Leo right in front of Katie as hope that Katie would retaliate violently and awaken some sort of evilness resting inside of her.
"I'll be up in a bit." she told Hermione before seating herself at her usual seat at the kitchen table. Ron and Ginny said their goodnights before retreating up the stairs, leaving Katie and Harry sitting across from each other in awkward silence as Mrs Weasley hummed and made hot drinks.
"Tea, Katie?" she said brightly.
"Yes please, Mrs Weasley."
Mrs Weasley gave her a sharp look. "Molly, dear — for the last time, call me Molly. You're part of the family now, no need for formalities."
A warmth exploded in Katie's chest when Mrs Weasley said that she was part of the family. Ever since her father's death almost two years before, she had felt so lost and alone, and she still often did, but now, once more, she had a family and a place to call home. Harry, Katie noticed, was also thrilled by Mrs Weasley's words. A grin split across his face.
"Papers signed, then?" he inquired.
"Oh, yes," Mrs Weasley said merrily. "Signed them last week. She's officially a Weasley!"
Harry raised an eyebrow as he tried to stifle laughter. "Katerina Weasley?"
"Well, no," Katie shrugged. "Still Katerina Blair, but Mrs — sorry, Molly and Arthur are now officially my legal—"
"Parents," Mrs Weasley cut in with a smile. "Officially her adoptive parents."
"That's great!" Harry beamed. "Thank you!" he added as Molly placed steaming mugs of sweet-smelling tea in front of the two teenagers, who drank deeply.
"So," Mrs Weasley said, bringing her cup up to her lips. "Are you two OK now? No hard feelings?"
Katie and Harry's eyes met and for a moment he looked scared, but he visibly relaxed when her lips curved upwards.
"No hard feelings." she said.
***
Katie slumped into the kitchen the next morning, yawning wildly and stretching, to find Hermione ranting in a panicked manner while Ron, Harry, Ginny and Mrs Weasley watched her in a half amused, half agitated manner.
"Don't, don't, don't!" Hermione cried, flapping her hands hysterically. "I know I've failed everything?"
"What happens if we fail?" Katie asked groggily as she shut the door. Her words were drowned in a scream. Hermione was pointing through the kitchen window. Three black specks were clearly visible in the sky, growing larger all the time.
"They're definitely owls." Ron said hoarsely, jumping up to join Hermione at the window.
"And there's four of them." Harry added, hastening to join them. Katie, who was still feeling rather sleepy, hobbled over to the window also.
"One for each of us," said Hermione in a terrified whisper. "Oh no... oh no... oh no..."
"Oh, come off it, Hermione! We all know you've got 'Outstanding' in everything." Katie said, somewhat exasperated. But Hermione didn't respond — she was now nervously chewing her nails as the owls flew directly at the Burrow, four handsome tawnies, each of which, it became clear as they flew over the path leading up to the house, were carrying a large square envelope.
Mrs Weasley squeezed past them and opened the kitchen window. Only as the owls soared through and landed in a neat line on the table did the reality of the situation really resonate with Katie and she suddenly grew very nervous. She moved forwards to the owl carrying the envelope that bore her name and untied it with fumbling fingers. Next to her, Hermione's hands were shaking so much that she was making her whole owl tremble.
Nobody in the kitchen spoke. Katie detached the envelope from the owl, which took off out the window at once, and, taking a deep breath, opened the envelope and took out the parchment inside.
ORDINARY WIZARDING LEVEL RESULTS
Pass Grades:
Outstanding (O)
Exceeds Expectations (E)
Acceptable (A)
Fail Grades:
Poor (P)
Dreadful (D)
Troll (T)
KATERINA CHARITY BLAIR HAS ACHIEVED:
Astronomy: P
Care of Magical Creatures: E
Charms: O
Defence Against the Dark Arts: A
Divination: D
Herbology: E
History of Magic: P
Potions: O
Transfiguration: A
"I passed Transfiguration!" Katie exclaimed, sounding both disbelieving and exhilarated.
In an instant, Ron had swept across the kitchen, snatched the parchment from Katie's hand, scanned down the page, and grinned from ear-to-ear.
"No way!" he beamed, seeming just as shocked as Katie was by the fact that she had indeed passed Transfiguration. "You got 'Acceptable'!"
"I know!"
They high-fived while Mrs Weasley watched, smiling fondly, a red glow of happiness on her cheeks. Ron glanced down at Katie's results once more.
"Hey, you passed Defence Against the Dark Arts, too!" he announced. Katie cast a furtive look at Harry. She knew very well that, had it not been for Harry's teaching in the DA, she would have failed her Defence Against the Dark Arts O.W.L. "Of course you got 'Outstanding' in Potions, no surprise there."
Katie, Harry and Ron swapped their results around and exchanged chants of "Well done!"
"Hermione?" Ginny said tentatively, for Hermione still hadn't turned around. "How did you do?"
"I — not bad." Hermione squeaked in a small voice.
"Oh, come off it," Ron said striding over to her and whipping her results out of her hand. "Yep — nine 'Outstandings' and one 'Exceeds Expectations' in Defence Against the Dark Arts," He looked down at her, half amused, half exasperated. "You're actually disappointed, aren't you?"
Hermione shook her head but Katie and Harry laughed. Mrs Weasley, who had been reading Ron's results, looked up, beaming.
"Well done!" she said proudly, ruffling Ron's hair. "Seven O.W.Ls, that's more than Fred and George got together! How did you do, Katie?"
Katie was vaguely embarrassed by the fact that she had failed three subjects but passed the parchment to Mrs Weasley nevertheless. Molly, however, did not seem at all phased by the fact that Katie had failed three O.W.Ls, because she grinned quite as broadly as she had done after reading her son's results and wrapped an arm around Katie's shoulder.
"Two 'Outstandings'!" she said happily. "Oh, Katie that's wonderful!"
"Oh!" Hermione said loudly, for a fifth owl, this one with sleek and shining black feathers had perched itself on the windowsill. A bemused Mrs Weasley opened the window and the owl fluttered inside, landing in precisely the same spot that the owl carrying Katie's O.W.L results had been only moments before. Bound to its leg was a letter addressed to Katie who, just as confused as everyone else was, untied the letter from the owl's leg.
She tore open the envelope, pulled out the letter and scanned all the way down to the bottom, where a name was written in very fancy writing. A subtle smile tried to force its way onto her face but she fought very hard to conceal it.
"Who's it from?" Ginny asked conversationally.
"Draco," Katie replied, and as she turned to leave the kitchen, she noticed that everybody was staring at her and looking either appalled or shocked. Katie stifled a groan. "What?"
"You're still writing to Lucius Malfoy's son?" Mrs Weasley quizzed, clearly disgusted though she tried to mask it. "Even after his father was sent to Azkaban?"
This time, Katie actually did roll her eyes.
"You had no problem with me writing to him last year." she defended, folding her arms and giving Molly a piercing look.
"Yes, well, that was different—" she bumbled.
"How so?" Katie countered. "We already knew his dad was a Death Eater back then, so why would it change anything now?"
Mrs Weasley seemed at a loss for an argument to this, so instead she frowned, sighed, and said, "I just want you to be safe."
Katie let out a short laugh. "Draco isn't going to hurt me."
"Yeah, Luke said the same about Darth Vader in Return of the Jedi and then boom — Palpatine was electrocuting him while Vader watched." Harry said absently. Not a single word that had just rolled off Harry's tongue made any sense to Katie, and by the perplexed expressions etched onto Ron, Ginny and Mrs Weasley's faces, they were just as stumped too. In fact, for a moment Katie was almost convinced that Harry had officially gone mad until Hermione let out a snort of laughter.
Ron, whose eyes were bulging with raw confusion, glanced between the two of them as though they had four heads between them.
Katie raised her eyebrows. "Excuse me?"
For a second, Harry looked at her like she had lost her mind, then something seemed to suddenly click inside his brain, because he chuckled and let out a long breath of understanding.
"Of course," he said, still tittering, "you lot haven't seen Star Wars."
Katie's eyebrows only lifted further. "I haven't seen what, sorry?"
"Star Wars," Harry nodded in confirmation. "They're movies."
"Movies?" Ron questioned, tilting his head, as utterly lost as Katie was.
Harry and Hermione's eyes met and, after trying very hard to hold back, they burst into fits of laughter.
Katie left the kitchen after this to reply to Draco's letter, for she had no interest in hearing anymore about Star Wars and movies — the probably had something to do with telephones, whatever the hell they were.