Easier To Run

A/N : Well, another story finished. Thank the gods! This will be skipping ahead to when everyone arrives back at school. But I don't think anyone will have any problems with that. The beginning will be continuing from the next chapter to get Lee's reply in.

Ok, love you all and you know it! : )

Read on!

****

The next afternoon, Katie received a letter from Lee.

Kate,

Well, I won't say I wasn't shocked by that bit of news you gave me. In fact, you almost gave me a heart attack. Snape? Merlin, love. Your parents must have been mental.

But I can say that I feel honored that you decided to tell me about everything that has been going on this summer. About your dreams, I'm sorry, love. I don't know what to tell you. All I can say is, what with Percy out of school now, you're always welcome in mine and the Twins' dormitory. I know they wouldn't mind. So, if you ever need to talk, we rarely lock our door.

I'm sorry about your parents too, love. I can't imagine them as Death Eaters, but stranger things have happened, right?

I can't wait to get back to the castle! My mum is driving me mad with these dress robes. Please tell me you've heard something about what we need these things for. Mum is insisting on pictures.

Well, I'll see you in a few days and we can really talk.

Love,

Lee

Lee's letter had worked to calm Katie somewhat. She would have to deal with this on her own.

****

Snape had taken his godfather responsibilities to the extreme and although Katie rebelled immensely, she appreciated his concern. He had forbidden her to be on the grounds, as someone could break through the wards and snatch her. He also hadn't allowed her to send anymore owls in case they were intercepted.

"That's not fair, you know," Katie said arms crossed across her chest.

Snape scowled. "Do you want to be kidnapped? Because if so, then go ahead, put yourself in danger."

Katie glared back at him. "You know very well that I don't! Besides, they wouldn't be able to predict whom I was writing to. It's no one they're affiliated with."

"What about Draco?" Snape countered, eyebrow arched expertly.

Katie wanted to smack him. "I haven't written to him but once all summer. He writes to me."

"And Lucius picked right up on who you were in Diagon Alley," Snape said seriously, "I wouldn't put it past Lucius Malfoy to snoop through his son's things to find information on you. Honestly, you can't say that you haven't suspected it."

In all honesty, Katie hadn't. She had reasoned that Lucius need never know that she and his son were acquainted. The only person who really knew that were Snape, Madam Pomfrey, and Oliver, though she suspected McGonagall and Dumbledore did too.

"No, I hadn't. Lucius doesn't know that Draco came here because he knew I would help him. He thought you found him. You heard that lie that Dumbledore rambled off. And in public, Draco is the brat that everyone thinks he is. He's rude to me and any other Gryffindor. The only time he acts like a human being is when we're alone. Lucius would never suspect that his son was friends with the your goddaughter, a Gryffindor," Katie said pausing, "They would only want me if they knew that I knew that you were my godfather, right? Because they suspect the apparent betrayal," Katie said watching for Snape's reaction.

He nodded. "Exactly, and you've told you friends, haven't you?"

"Yes, but only because they asked. They would never tell anyone though. I trust them. And besides, I am a very good actress."

Snape nodded again. "I would be wary of Draco though, Katie. Only speak with him if necessary. Explain to him what's going on and I'm sure he'll understand. If worst comes to worst, you can use the owls here to communicate. Don't write your names on the letters, and no one will suspect," Snape said easily, "I'm doing all this for your own safety. You know that right?"

Katie nodded. "I'm just no good with authority," she said with a smile.

"Indeed," Snape said smirking, "Well, I'm glad we understand each other."

****

The week had finally ended and that night the students would be returning to school. Katie tidied up her things from the common, even though the house-elves had put all her things in a neat pile on a nearby table. She made sure all her clothes were in the drawers and that all her things were put away properly. It wasn't as if she had been living like a slob, but she had taken some advantage of having an entire room to herself.

She asked Dumbledore and Snape if she could meet the carriages, but they thought it best that she wait in the entrance hall. And when the weather had turned bad, Katie couldn't have agreed with them more. She ended up spending a good portion of the afternoon reading and watching the raging storm outside. She let Hekate fly around the common room, but informed the tiny owl, that she would no longer be able to do that after today. As the storm became stronger, she began to worry for the first years safety when they crossed the lake. But they were in Hagrid's capable hands and Katie knew that he would not let anything happen to the new students.

She placed Hekate in her cage around three in the two and got dressed in her school clothes. Walking out of the portrait hole, The Fat Lady called after her.

"Oh, dear, the students are arriving today, aren't they?"

"Yes, they are," Katie said, a happiness to her voice.

"No more of your nutty passwords, eh?" The Fat Lady said winking at her.

"No, now you have to deal with the new Prefects," Katie said laughing, "Well, I'm going to meet my friends as they come in."

"It's been nice having a tenant for the summer. Have fun, dear."

Katie nodded and practically skipped down to the marble staircase. She took a seat on said staircase in the entrance hall, her drab school robes, dress shirt, tie, jumper, and skirt adorning her frame. She heard a sound that she had learned to dread. Peeves' laughter.

"Oh! Bell-y, Bell-y, Bell! Won't get you wet, I won't! But the ickle squirts I will! And it won't matter none, cause they'll already be wet, they will!" Peeves cackled.

Katie noticed he was carrying several water balloons. "You better now, Peeves, or I'll sick the Bloody Barron on you."

Peeves stuck his tongue out at her and hid in the rafters. Katie waited for what seemed like an hour. She assumed that maybe the train was running a bit behind what with the weather and all. Teachers passed her on their way to the entrance hall, muttering their hello's. But Professor Flitwick stopped to talk with her.

"How are you, Miss. Bell?" he squeaked, not bothering to sit down so he could look her in the eye.

"I'm fine. A little nervous."

"That's normal for the start of the new school year," he said, "I must ask you a favor, Miss. Bell. That is, if you're up to it."

"Sure, Professor. What is it?" Katie said smiling.

She was rather fond of the tiny Charms professor.

"You did wonders with Mr. Diggory last year, and I was wondering if you would be so kind as to tutor him again this coming term."

Katie grinned broadly. "Of course, Professor. Cedric is no trouble. I get along with him quite well."

The tiny professor nodded. "That's what he said about you too, Miss. Bell. That's is why I asked."

"Yeah, sure. It's no trouble at all."

"Good, good," he said, patting her shoulder, "Well, I best get myself down to the Great Hall. Are you not joining us too?"

"Oh, yes, I am. I'm just waiting for my friends to arrive," Katie said.

"Oh, how nice of you. We'll discuss Mr. Diggory's schedule once classes start up," he squeaked, heading down the stairs, "I'll hold you after class sometime next week."

"Alright, thanks Professor," Katie called after him.

Katie resumed her waiting, spying on Peeves every so often. At long last, the doors to the entrance hall burst open, and the first set of people ushered themselves in. Soaked and frozen. Katie felt sorry for them, but had to giggle when Peeves began pelting them with water balloons. She was glad she wasn't one of them. Professor McGonagall entered a moment later, slipped on the wet stones, and grabbed onto someone for support. Katie noticed that it was Hermione. And sure enough, around her were Ron and Harry. After McGonagall shooed Peeves off, Katie walked down the marble stairs. Ron spotted her and smiled.

"Oi, Kate! Fancy a hug?" he said approaching her.

Katie shook her head. "No thanks, Ron. I like being nice and dry, thank you."

Ron ambushed her anyway. When he pulled away, he looked at her happily.

"How've you been?"

"Alright? I heard about you guys and the World Quidditch Cup," Katie said arching an eyebrow.

"From who?" Harry asked.

"Percy," she said and she put her hand over Ron's mouth to keep him from talking, "and you have no idea how worried he was about you three. Since Fred, George, and Ginny came back first."

Ron relented and Katie removed her hand. "I hate how you always see the good side of Percy. Makes me feel guilty," Ron said smiling.

Katie messed up his sopping hair. "You guys better get into the Great Hall before you catch cold."

Katie shooed them off after that, feeling ever so much like a mother hen. She stood on the first step and scanned the crowd for signs of her friends. She saw Draco walk in. He pointed in the opposite direction to distract his cronies and gave Katie a wink and a smile. Katie smiled back and then went back on her search. She spied Cedric.

"Diggory!" she shouted over the noise.

Cedric saw her and headed towards her with a grin on his face. As soon as he reached her, he picked her up and hugged her tightly. When he sat her down, he blushed.

"Oops, sorry about that," he said motioning to her now wet uniform.

Katie waved it off and looked up at the taller boy. "How are you?"

"I'm good. How're you?"

"I'm good now. I'm so glad that school's starting," she said smiling.

Cedric smiled back. "You look good. Healthy and all. At least I know they fed you," he said laughing.

"I would say the same about you, but you're soaked, so you probably wouldn't believe me."

"No, not really," Cedric said looking down at his uniform, soaked with water.

"Well, go warm up. I'm still waiting for my crew," she said laughing up, "I know they've got the fires going in the Great Hall."

"Alright. I'll see you around, Kate," he said making his way over to the Great Hall doors.

He hadn't been gone but a moment, when she was assaulted in the same fashion as she had been when she had gone to the burrow. Only wetter.

"Fred! George! Geroff me!" she shrieked, getting colder by the second.

"Now is that anyway to greet your friends?" Fred asked pouting.

"Yes, if they're soaking wet!" Katie said, looking at her uniform mournfully, "Well, I was dry."

"Well, kid, now you can officially join the wet party!" George said hugging her again.

"George!" she shouted in a warning tone.

George let go of her and pouted, mimicking his twin. Katie smiled and grabbed each of them, giving them exaggerated kisses on their cheeks. That seemed to pacify them. Lee approached her next. He embraced her more kindly than the Twins had. Katie rested her head on his wet shoulder and sighed.

"Hey Lee."

"Hey, love." he said pulling away, "Good to see you."

Angelina squealed and grabbed her the minute Lee let her go. "Oh Merlin, Kate, I've missed you."

"I just saw you few weeks ago, Ang, and if you don't mind, you're cutting off my air supply."

Angelina let her go and Alicia hugged her next. When Alicia let her go, Katie suggested that they all go into the Great Hall. As they did, Katie felt whole again. She had her friends, they were all at Hogwarts again, and Katie felt very safe for the first time all summer.