I Only Wanted

****

    Katie woke up on September the first in a bad mood. She woke to hear Percy screaming about something. But Katie couldn't be bothered to find out what it was about. One look at her clock, she realized how little time she had to get ready and get ready. She took a quick shower and threw on the closest clothes she could grab. She put her hair up in a ponytail and began throwing things into her trunk haphazardly. She retraced her steps, checking the room carefully to see if she had forgotten anything. Satisfied, she walked over and opened the door to her room. Crossing back over to her trunk, she lifted it with difficulty. She stumbled slightly, cursing softly.

    "Need help?"

    Katie looked up to see Fred leaning on her door frame. What she had said to him came furiously back into her mind. She had snapped at him. One of her best friends. She looked at him sadly and nodded. Fred only smiled and walked over, carefully taking the trunk from her hands.

    "Don't forget your broom," he said, nodding towards the fireplace where her broom was propped.

    Katie walked over and got her broom. She turned to find Fred gone already. She walked out of her room, shutting the door softly. She spotted Fred halfway down the stairs. She walked down after him, hearing Percy shout once more.

    "Just admit you did it, Ron! I wouldn't be so mad if you'd quit lying to me."

    "I didn't do anything, Percy. You probably did it by accident and now you're blaming it on me," she heard Ron say, followed by a slamming door.

    She heard Ron following her down the stairs, but she had to run to catch up with Fred. He was making his way out the front door of the Leaky Cauldron. She followed him and saw him place her trunk in a car waiting outside. Walking up behind him, she put her broom beside her trunk.

    "I'm sorry, Fred."

    Fred looked at her curiously. "For what?"

    "That other day, when I snapped at you."

    Fred smiled then. "Don't worry about it. You were right anyways. Its none of my business."

    "Still-" Katie started, before Fred held up his hand.    

    "Don't worry about it, Kate."

    "Thanks Fred."

    Fred just smiled, leading her back inside the Leaky Cauldron. They were met by a heated argument between Ron, Percy, and Mrs. Weasley.

    "Just drop it, Percy," Mrs. Weasley was saying.

    "Fine, you always take his side," Percy said, storming off back up the stairs.

    Ron walked over to Harry and Hermione, his face still as red as his hair. Katie rather enjoyed seeing the Weasley's mad. It always amused her. Her and Fred shared a laugh, sitting down at a table, by Mr. Weasley. They were soon joined by George. He had a mischievous grin on his face.

    "I have to hand it to Ron, he really ticked Percy off," he said laughing.

    Katie rolled her eyes. "You guys need to easy up on Perce. He's going keel over from stress one day and then what?"

    "Since when do you stand up for Percy?" Fred asked.

    "Since that vein in his neck looked like it was going to explode," Katie said, her voice hushed as Percy came back downstairs, carrying his owl, Hermes, in its cage.

    The twins laughed out loud at this, gaining a glare from Percy as he passed them. Katie tried to smooth it over by smiling, but Percy only slightly relented. He seemed to be studying her as he walked over to sit beside his father. Mr. Weasley folded his paper beside them and checked his watch.

    "Time to get going kids. Let's load up the cars."

    The boys helped with the trunks, and then the kids divided into the two cars. Mr. Weasley, Harry, Hermione, Ron, and Percy in one car. Mrs. Weasley, Fred, George, Katie, and Ginny in the other. During the ride to King's Cross, Mrs. Weasley tried to make polite conversation.

    "Katie dear, you look awfully pale. Are you feeling ok?"

    "I just haven't been sleeping is all, Mrs. Weasley," Katie said politely.

    But Mrs. Weasley didn't look convinced. This horrified Katie. If she couldn't convince Mrs. Weasley that she was alright, then what would the professors do? Lost in thought, she stared out of the window she was leaning against, and watched as water droplets began to hit the window.

    "Oh, I had hoped the rain would have held off. But nothing we can do, I suppose," Mrs. Weasley stated from the front seat.

****

    Once at King's Cross, trolleys were fetched, trunks were unloaded, and everyone set off for the barrier to Platform 9 and ¾. When they reached it, Mr. Weasley suggested they go in pairs. He went through with Harry, followed by Fred and George, Katie and Percy, Hermione and Ron, and Mrs. Weasley and Ginny. As they all made their way over to the train, Katie noticed Mr. Weasley pull Harry aside. She watched curiously for a moment, before Percy jolted her back to reality.

    "Katie? Your trunk?"

    "Oh, sorry Perce," she said lifting it off the trolley and passing it onto the train to Percy.

    Katie grabbed her broom and made her way past Percy to seek out the twins. It didn't take her long to find them of course. They always had to be the center of attention. She found Lee, Angelina, Alicia this way too. They always shared a compartment.

    "Hey Katie," Angelina said, hugging her tightly, "I sent you an owl a few weeks ago and you're parents sent a letter back saying you weren't there. I was worried about you."

    "Oh, I-" Katie said, looking very uncomfortable, until Fred saved her.

    "She was staying with us. And since there's never enough room at the Burrow, mum and dad got us all rooms at the Leaky Cauldron. We've been there the past week or so," he said, not entirely telling the truth, but not lying either.

    Angelina looked at her, as if she wanted a conformation.

    "Yeah, exactly what he said," Katie said, making a mental note to adore Fred forever.

    "Oh, well, all the same. I was still worried," Angelina said, hugging her again.

    "Ok Ang, don't strangle her," Lee said, prying Angelina off of Katie.

    Katie finally noticed Alicia. She seemed to be looking at her with disgust. Actually, she was looking at her with disgust. Katie knew that look all too well.

    "Alicia, did I do something to offend you?" Katie asked, trying to keep her anger down.

    "You know what you did," Alicia said simply.

    Katie went to say something, when an outburst made them all turn.

    "Stay away from me, Percy Weasley!" a female voice screamed.

    "Penny, what is-"

    "You know," she said, glaring at him.

    "Well, I obviously don't," Percy said, the tips of his ears going red with anger.

    Penelope Clearwater walked down the car, dragging Percy with her, and shooting daggers at Katie.

    "You and her!" she said, pointing at Katie, "Alicia told me she saw you two together."

    "What!" Katie yelled, glaring at Alicia, "You bitch! How could you!"

    "Penny! Katie is my friend. More than that, she's like another sister to me. Nothing more, I can promise you that," Percy said calmly.

    "Alicia, just get away from me. Far away," Katie said, hands clenched at her sides.

    Penelope looked from Percy to Katie. "Is what he said true Katie? Because, I thought we were friends."

    Katie turned to look at Penelope. "Of course, Penelope. I don't know what she told you," she said, pointing her thumb over her shoulder towards Alicia, "but whatever it was, its not true."

    "She said you two were in the bookstore in Diagon Alley, looking well….close," Penelope said distressed.

    Katie's mind seem to rewind to that day. "We were just sharing insight on some stupid philosophy. Percy loves you, Penelope. Don't doubt it, you're a lucky girl. He's a good guy."

    The anger vanished from Penelope's face and she hugged Katie. "I didn't want to believe it, Katie. I didn't think you to be the type of person- Well, nevermind," she said, letting go of Katie and smiling, "I'm sorry for accusing you."

    "Its quite alright," Katie said smiling.

    She was rather fond of Penelope. She was nice, and very brilliant. And Percy was lucky to have her. Katie heard a sigh from behind her.

    "Katie, I-"

    Katie whirled on Alicia. "Don't talk to me. That was a cruel thing you did. What are you stupid? Why would I EVER do something like that! You're supposed to be my friend, and you go around doing shit like that! I can't take much more of this," she said, her hands turning to balled fists once more.

    She felt someone place their hands on her shoulders.

    "Calm down, love," she heard Lee's calm voice say.

    "No, Lee. I can't calm down. Why Alicia? Why!"

    "I'm sorry, Katie," Alicia said seriously.

    "Sorry? You're sorry! You almost tore apart a couple and a friendship, all because you thought you saw something. You should have asked me and not assumed. You're so stupid," Katie said, pushing past Alicia and walking into the compartment they had been standing outside of.

    Fred, George, Lee, Angelina, and Alicia followed her inside. Katie was sitting by the window, watching the families saying their goodbyes. Lee sat beside her since no one else would and placed an arm around her. Fred sat across from Katie, Angelina sitting beside him. Alicia sat beside Angelina, and George took the seat next to Lee. Katie just leaned against Lee.

    "Its alright, love. Calm down. She knows it was wrong now. Its water under the bridge, love," he said caringly, as the train whistle blew, announcing that it would be leaving soon.

    Katie tried to stop her blood from boiling, but it was hard to manage. Lee was the only person brave enough to even try and calm Katie when she was angry. Katie was notorious for having a temper. But it had worked to her advantage in a way. She was glad that Lee always knew what to say to make her smile, or laugh.

    But as the train pulled out of the station, Katie put her wall up, full force. This year would be the year. This year, she wasn't going to let anyone hurt her anymore. She had had all that she could handle. Enough was enough.