The Secrets I Tried to Hide

The next morning, Katie found herself to be the first person awake in her dormitory. Taking the advantage, she crept quietly to the bathroom to change. She shut the door and locked herself in. After taking a brief shower, Katie primped herself for classes. Finally, half an hour later, she walked out with her Gryffindor robes on and her pale blonde hair in a high ponytail and a slight application of blush added to her pale skin.

Feeling much better than the day before, Katie made her way to the common rooms. Noticing that two of her close former friends, twins Fred and George Weasley were conversing silently in front of the low fire, Katie walked briskly pass them.

"Katie, wait-"

"Save it, Fred. It's no use. I don't want anything to do with you. Now, you know what it feels like," said Katie in a clipped tone as she walked out the hole.

As soon as the words had left Katie's mouth, she couldn't help but feel a little guilty. 'But you shouldn't!' her inner consciousness had reprimanded. It was them, the ones who promised to always be there for her, that had turned against her first. Now, they expected her to welcome them back with open arms once they started feeling guilty? She didn't think so. If they wanted to become friends again, they would have to work to gain her trust.

Katie soon found herself at the Great Hall. She walked in and sat herself down at her usual seat at the Gryffindor table. No one protested this time because there was no one to see. It was a Saturday and rather early in the morning. The only ones there, besides herself, were Professors Dumbledore and McGonagall who were chatting together, and Oliver Wood who had just arrived.

"Bell," he greeted as he sat down across from her.

"Why did you quit?"

"I can't stand playing on a team with a bunch of discriminating people."

"Why do you have to be like this, Bell?"

"I'm the one whose being like 'this'? Look at the rest of the house. I can't take it, Wood. I've even considered asking to be re-sorted. Besides, what good would it do to have a player distracting everyone with her ancestry?"

"Is it really that serious that you would have to approach those measures? But, if you really want to quit, I can't stop you," Wood finally gave in.

"I'm glad you're finally agreeing with me, I only wish it could've been on better circumstances. Please excuse me," Katie said solemnly as she made he way towards the teachers' tables.

"Good morning, Ms. Bell," greeted Dumbledore as if he had been expecting her.

"Likewise," she replied.

"Professor, I was wondering if I could ask you a question about my placing at Hogwarts. I want to know if I can be re-sorted in to Slytherin, if possible."

"No, absolutely not!" came McGonagall's immediate reply.

"Let her speak her mind."

"I feel like I would be better placed in Slytherin."

"Ms. Bell, I have a feeling this has something to do with your being the heir to Salazar Slytherin. I have total faith in the Sorting Hat, I don't think he made a mistake by sorting you into Gryffindor."

"I never had this kind of request from your brothers. They turned out fine in Gryffindor. You aren't the first Bell to be in a house other than Slytherin," said McGonagall.

"But, Professor, they never revealed that they spoke Parselmouth!"

"If I remember correctly, you saved Mr. Creevy from the snake."

"I know, but nobody cares! All they can see is my despised heritage!"

"I'm sorry, Ms. Bell. We will not re-sort you. Perhaps if you asked your brothers to come, you might understand it a little better. They might be able to calm your nerves," Dumbledore replied soothingly.

Katie just nodded numbly and walked out of the Great Hall. 'Maybe he's right. I mean maybe it's time I used this opportunity. Winter break is coming soon they might be able to stay with me instead of all of us going back home,' Katie thought as she wandered outside.

Making up her mind, Katie finally went back inside to send owls to her brothers, asking them to come visit her. After sending her letters, Katie went back outside to enjoy the crisp weather, when someone called her name hesitantly.

"Katie?"

"Fred? What are you doing out here?"

"I'm sorry."

"For what?"

"For being a git and not trusting you."

"It's not that easy. I thought you and George, of all people, would stick with me. But, I guess we can't all be right."

"Will it always be like this?"

"It doesn't have to, but it will for now. I'm sorry, I really am."

Katie didn't have to face him to know Fred was being sincere. But, right now, she just couldn't face him. Too much had changed between them, everything changed.

As Fred walked back to his brothers, Charlie, Percy, George, and Ron, his shoulders slumped, he thought about how much had changed between him and one of his best friends in a time span of less than three days.

'Will things ever go back to normal?'

"What'd she say, Fred?" asked his twin George.

"She needs time."

"I feel absolutely ridden with guilt," bit out Percy

"Yeah, I feel like I've just stolen candy from a toddler," said Ron sadly.

"It can't have been that bad," assured Charlie Weasley, the second oldest Weasley heir who was visiting Hogwarts on business.

No one answered. They didn't want to believe it, but it was really that bad.