The first match of the Quidditch season came without the drama of the year before, with many Gryffindor members of the DA attending team practices so as to be on the watch for Slytherin sabotage attempts. They were, as usual, drawn against Slytherin for their first match and, in the days approaching the match, a knot of mixed dread and excitement developed in the pit of Kathryn's stomach. She knew he'd be there but she'd never actually found herself looking forward to it. One half of her mind was dreading lying to and deceiving her friends. The other half couldn't wait to be close to him again and didn't care for the consequences.
She went out to the pitch early after a small breakfast of toast and pumpkin juice. She sat for a long time in the teachers' box where he usually sat, hoping that he would show up. He didn't and, by the time the rest of the school started to show up, she made herself scarce; heading back to the team changing room where the rest of the team arrived in dribs and drabs.
She was silent as she yanked on her scarred leather gauntlets, irrationally angry at the fact that he wasn't there. She knew that she was reacting ridiculously; she shouldn't care if he was there or not. She hid her annoyance as they prepared to go out onto the pitch.
"I hope you're all ready to wipe the pitch with Malfoy's face!" She joked as they sped out, laughing to herself as she shot round the stands. Her heart soared as she saw him sitting in his usual seat. She gave him a quick smile as she sped past, diving for the centre of the pitch where Madam Hooch was waiting. She tried her hardest not to laugh in Malfoy's face as they faced each other; Malfoy once again trying and failing in his attempt to crush her fingers.
The balls were released and soon she was rocketing round the pitch, dodging Bludgers whilst trying to keep her hold on the Quaffle. Minutes later, the Quaffle sailed through the Slytherin centre hoop and Gryffindor were thirty points up. Malfoy's tactics of tailing Harry in the hope of catching the Snitch had not changed over the summer. She would have thought that he would have given this up by now as Harry easily outstripped him on his Firebolt. Nevertheless, Malfoy was there, a few metres below and behind Harry as he scanned the pitch for a glimpse of gold.
After nearly an hours playing and the score at Slytherin seventy and Gryffindor one hundred and ninety, Kathryn was beginning to wonder if they would be playing into the evening. There had been several attempted captures of the Snitch by Harry. All of them however had been foiled by either Bludgers being walloped at him or Crabbe and Goyle flying at him with deliberate intent to collide as he streaked towards the tiny golden ball. This had of course resulted in several penalties to Gryffindor who were, at this point, euphoric at the lead they had.
Kathryn watched Harry carefully whilst still fending off Slytherin attempts to score. As if in slow motion, she saw his body angle itself towards his broom handle as he sped off down the length of the pitch. As Harry, completely flattened against his broom, sped after the Snitch; Kathryn and the rest of the team put their plan into action. Fred and George had promised to keep their extendable ears off the market until they left Hogwarts so the four of them could use them in school. The other day, she had been walking up from Hagrid's hut when she had seen the Slytherin team training on the pitch. Giving in to temptation, she had sneaked into the stands and had listened to Malfoy telling them their tactics for the match. One of those had been 'if Potter goes for the Snitch just get in his way'.
To cancel out this interference, she and the rest of the team abandoned play and looped and swirled and dived to stop the Slytherin players from getting in Harry's way; cutting them off before they could even get near him. Moments later, Harry was clutching the cold Snitch in his fist; waving it victoriously to the cheering crowd. The final score; Slytherin eighty, Gryffindor three hundred and sixty. Dean Thomas was shouting this over and over again as the roaring crowds of Gryffindors, Hufflepuffs and Ravenclaws drowned out the heckling from the Slytherin end.
She didn't follow the rest of the team back up to the castle once they finally got back to the changing rooms. Instead, after spending a long time underneath the warm jets of water in the team changing room, she pulled on her worn jeans and a T-shirt. Walking out to stand on the crisp green grass of the pitch, she inhaled the warm afternoon air; savouring the silence and calm of the stadium before kicking off from the ground. She flew lazily round, practicing several tricky moves that she wasn't sure the teachers would approve of; particularly the one where she stood on her broom the way Muggles stood on skateboards. She finally toppled off when a strong gust of wind caused her to lose her balance. She lay sprawled on the grass laughing, gazing up at the pale blue sky with the wispy white clouds scudding across it.
A figure in one of the boxes caught her eye and she ventured up the tower steps, climbing them two at a time in anticipation. He was sitting, as usual, on the front row. She walked along the row behind him, sitting down behind him; where peoples' feet would normally go when they were watching a match. She slipped her arms around his neck, resting her chin on his shoulder.
"So no major improvements to the Slytherin team over the summer then?" she said in a casual voice, kissing his cheek.
"No, actually, I'm starting to favour Gryffindor in terms of the team that will cause me the least embarrassment." He smiled, turning his head to kiss her. He paused for a moment, placing his hands on her waist and guiding her down so she was sitting in his lap. He resumed kissing her, his impatient hands beginning to roam beneath her top. She gave him a coquettish look before pulling away from his hungry grasp and scampering back inside the stands.
Undeterred, he followed her all the way to the Gryffindor team changing rooms. He grabbed her about the waist before she could move and pinned her against the nearest wall; his hands working her T-shirt over her head whilst her hands unbuttoned his shirt. Within minutes, they were on the floor; giving each other what they wanted, no holes barred. She was quite glad that people knew that she was just staying to practice. People had said that she was going to miss lunch, but she had stayed in truth, not to practice but to satisfy another appetite.
She walked back to the castle with an added spring in her step, her cheeks slightly flushed. She only nibbled at her lunch before heading back upstairs to finish an essay. Her good mood, however, was dashed when Hermione presented her with the day's copy of the Daily Prophet. There had been several unexplained Muggle killings; the Dark Mark hovering in the sky above the houses. One had been worryingly close to where Hermione's parents lived. She was suitably diverted from her Transfiguration essay and spent the rest of the afternoon discussing the event whilst trying to keep Hermione calm. They also used the Room of Requirement to talk to Sirius and Lupin; making sure that the Grangers were alright. They let them in on the information that they were under the protection of the Fidelius charm, just as number twelve was.
This did seem to relax Hermione, although she could not settle back down to her homework and spent the rest of the day curled up next to Ron in front of the fire. Harry and Ginny spent the afternoon planning the next DA meeting; they were now alternating between beginner and experienced groups because it was so popular. Teachers had also started to try and plan their lessons to coincide with certain things they did.
Kathryn, meanwhile, wandered the corridors without any idea of what to do. The news brought by the Daily Prophet had unsettled her she knew it would only be a matter of time before the Death Eaters sought out wizard targets; putting everyone she loved in danger. She thought of the photo Moody had shown her and Harry, all the people who had died the last time; their parents, the Bones', the McKinnons', the Prewetts'. Although they had somewhere safe to hide, they were not safe when they were out in the open; not least Tonks and Kingsley for the simple fact that they were Aurors.
"Something on your mind, Miss Potter?" a kind voice asked from beside her.
"Oh, Professor Dumbledore, I didn't see you sir." She said, quite startled at his sudden appearance. Instinctively, she blocked her mind, not wishing Dumbledore to see too far. Occlumency had actually worked for her when Snape had taught them in fifth year. She had only known him a few months and, despite despising him, her hatred was not as deep seated as Harry's at that time. She had kept at it over the years, shielding her mind from those who she wanted to keep out, and was now quite adept at it.
"Just news, Professor, bad news."
"The Daily Prophet, I take it." He said in a sombre tone.
"They're getting bolder, it'll be wizards next. I mean, they have targeted wizards before this, but those were specific attacks. Soon they'll begin killing anyone they fancy." She stated, not looking into his eyes. "And then us." She looked into his twinkling blue eyes, her voice laced with dread.
"Now, now Miss Potter." He reassured her, placing a long-fingered hand on her shoulder. "We are much better prepared this time and I do not intend to lose anyone."
"But, Hermione's parents-"
"Are perfectly safe, as are you." His tone was firm but kind and she could do nothing to believe him wrong. "Now, I'm sure you have plenty of work to do, off you go." Kathryn did as she was told, for about five minutes, until she came to the nearest free window seat. Dumbledore had to be right, after all, he had survived worse. She thought back to the dark times when they had all thought Dumbledore to be lost.