I Only Wanted

****

    Minutes seemed to by like hours to Katie on the ride to Hogwarts. She hadn't said a word to anyone. She just stared out the window and half listened to the conversations going on around her. The rain was coming down in buckets. Halfway through their journey, the lamps had been turned on, due to the darkness looming outside. Katie had to keep wiping the window clear as it kept fogging up. She idly thought that it must be very cold outside, because it was pleasantly warm on the train.

    All of a sudden, the train started to slow down.

    "What's going on?" George asked.

    "We're not there yet, are we?" Fred said, trying to look out the window.

    Before anyone could answer no, the train came to a complete stop and the lights went out. Katie resisted the great urge to scream. She was terrified of the dark. She grabbed onto of Lee's arm in a panic. Lee fumbled before finding her hand and giving it a reassuring squeeze.

    "What in the bloody hell is going on?" Fred said, shifting beside Lee, "Lumos," he muttered and the compartment was bathed in a dull light.

    He stood and opened the compartment door. A cold washed over the compartment. Katie watched as Fred looked up and down the hallway.

    "Again, I ask. What the bloody hell is going on?" he said sitting down.

    They heard a scream a moment later.

    "That was Ginny!" George said, getting out his wand and lighting it also, "Come on Fred."

    As Fred and George went to get up, a blurred figure ran into their compartment.

    "Don't go out there! Close the damn door!" a panicked high-pitched voice said.

    Katie looked up and saw Draco Malfoy standing before her, looking utterly petrified.

    "Get out of here, Malfoy," Fred said viciously.

    "No way, I-"

    But at that moment, the door to the compartment slid open and a tall, hooded figure stood at the door. Draco scampered, practically sitting on Katie's lap in the process before sitting at her feet, huddled against the wall. Katie wanted to ask, 'Friend of yours?', just to torment Malfoy, but found she couldn't speak. She felt colder than she had ever felt in her entire life. Her heart seemed to have stopped and she felt dread wash over her. It was terrible.

    She hooded figure breathed shallowly, making Katie close her eyes and back against the wall, mimicking Malfoy. Lee followed suit, and George did also, trying to get as far away from this thing as possible. After what seemed like an eternity, the hooded figure drifted off. George scrambled to his feet and slammed the door shut, and Katie out of relief, let out a choked sob. Lee turned and hugged her, noting how pale she had become.

    Seconds later, the lights flickered back on and the train started to slowly move again. Katie looked down at Malfoy, who was still huddled at her feet, head resting on his knees and covered by his arms. Normally she hated the Slytherin, but he looked so vulnerable. She leaned down and shook his shoulder lightly.

    "Hey, it's gone," Katie said softly, and Fred chuckled.

    Katie glared at him and then looked down at Malfoy. He was paler than usual, and still looked terrified. Katie held out her hand and he took it, standing shakily to his feet. Close-up Katie could see a tear streak on his cheek. He looked down at her.

    "Thanks Bell," he muttered, before leaving their compartment.

    "Whoa, did Malfoy just show human emotion?" George said, and Fred began laughing.

    Katie glared at the both of them. "I never thought I'd stand up for the little brat, but leave him be. That thing, whatever it was, scared us all."

    "And I never thought I'd agree with Katie, standing up for Malfoy, but she's right," Angelina said, "Jesus, what was that thing?"

    The compartment door opened and they all jumped back. But it was only Percy.

    "Are you all alright?"

    "Yeah, but we heard Ginny scream," George said, sounding like an older brother should.

    Percy blanched. "I'll go check on her," he said, before dashing off down the hallway.

    Katie chose not to speak for the remainder of the trip. She didn't have anything to say, and she was still feeling woozy from whatever that thing was.

****

    About an hour later, they reached Hogsmeade Station. Katie stuck close to Lee as they made their way through the crowd. Fred and George immediately spotted Ginny and ran over to her. Katie watched as Fred picked her up and hugged her. She allowed herself a small smile. The way the Weasley siblings expressed their caring for each other was sometimes a little odd. But when it came to Ginny, the youngest and only girl, they all acted the same; they functioned in "protective, older brother" mode. Passing by the twins, Katie and Lee made their way towards the horseless carriages that would take them up to the castle. As they chose an empty carriage, Fred and George appeared behind them, dragging Ginny along.

    "We're coming with you guys. That way Alicia won't hop in with Katie and all," Fred said simply, grinning broadly, "Up you go Gin."

    George followed Ginny, and was closely followed by Fred. Katie and Lee climbed in and sat on the opposite side. Katie studied Ginny closely from where she sat. Ginny had gone through quite an ordeal the year prior. What with that nasty Chamber of Secrets business. From what Katie had heard, Ginny had been kind of….possessed by an old diary of You-Know-Who's and did his bidding. Katie had shuddered at that when she heard it. How dare he do that to Ginny. The little sister to all of them.

    "How are you, Ginny?" Katie asked tentatively.

    "Alright. Those two just embarrassed me in front of everyone," she said, a blush covering her cheeks.

    "We did it because we love you!" George said, grabbing her in a hug as their carriage lurched and started carrying them to the castle.

    Everyone laughed at George's outburst, even Ginny. The five of them made small talk on the way up to the castle. When the carriage stopped and they all climbed out, she caught the tail end of Malfoy taunting Harry about something. A man in shabby looking wizard robes, halted this. Fred and George had however heard what Malfoy had said and were glaring at him menacingly. Malfoy addressed the shabby wizard as "Professor". Professor? She looked him over. The only available opening was, once again, Defense Against The Dark Arts. But, in Katie's opinion, the man looked weak. The shabby wizard turned and looked right at her, as if knowing he was being watched. Katie forced a smile, and ran over to Harry, following Fred and George. Harry, Katie noticed, looked exactly like Malfoy had on the train. But it worried her that he stilled looked this way.

    "You alright, Harry?" she said, as she came up along side him, Lee right on her heels.

    "Yeah, I just, well you heard Malfoy," he said, an angry blush covering his features.

    "No, I didn't."

    "I fainted on the train, when that Dementor came to our compartment," he said in a hushed voice.

    "Oh, Harry, are you sure you're alright?" Katie asked, but at that moment, Professor McGonagall called Harry and Hermione over to her.

    Ron began to follow, but McGonagall shooed him away. Katie smiled at the disappointed look on his face. She messed up his still wet hair as he joined their group.

    "Come on, Ron," Fred said, and they made their way into the Great Hall.

    They walked down the Gryffindor Table and sat in seats around the middle of the table (Fred, George, Lee, and then Katie). Ron went and sat with Dean, Seamus, and Neville, leaving open spaces for Harry and Hermione. Alicia and Angelina were already seated in seats across from them. Alicia, Katie noticed, was avoiding her gaze. Katie felt proud that her point had been so clearly taken. She was pulled from her thoughts as someone sat beside her. She looked to her right and saw that it was Oliver Wood. She sighed in her mind, when Paris sat beside him. Percy sat across from Katie, still looking slightly bothered by the ordeal on the train. He gave a faint smile to Katie and she returned it.

    The students filed into the Great Hall and took their seats. Soon after, the first years entered, led by Professor McGonagall. As the Sorting went along, Katie didn't see any signs of Harry and Hermione. She thought Harry might be getting checked out by Madam Pomfrey, the school's nurse. But she didn't know about Hermione.

    After the last name was called, Harry and Hermione made their way down the table and sat beside Ron. Professor McGonagall took the Sorting Hat and stool away and Dumbledore stood to make his beginning of the year speech. He talked about the Dementors and stressed that the Dark Forest was forbidden to all students. Katie thought he may be stressing it because of Sirius Black, the convict from Azkaban that was on the loose. She had heard people talking in Diagon Alley about articles in The Daily Prophet about Black. How he was, presumably, after Harry, since being heard saying "He's at Hogwarts" in his sleep. What he had done to get himself into Azkaban. All sorts of stories.

    Dumbledore than introduced their new teachers. Teachers? Plural? The shabby looking wizard was called Professor Lupin, and he indeed was the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher. He had a kind look to him. Katie liked him already. Dumbledore then introduced Hagrid as the new Care of Magical Creatures teacher. Katie found herself laughing. Of course, who else would assign a biting book. A roar of applause came from the Gryffindor table. Katie, herself, was particularly fond of Hagrid. When the cheering died down for Hagrid, Dumbledore announced the feast and the food appeared on the table. Katie ate in silence, picking at her food every now and then. She found her appetite wasn't as strong as it usually was. And hadn't been since she'd runaway. Oliver nudged her lightly, a look of worry in his brown eyes.

    "You alright?"

    "Fine."

    "I heard about Alicia," he said, keeping his voice low, "Dirty, rotten thing to do in my opinion. You had every right to be angry."

    "So glad you approve," Katie said sarcastically, pushing around the food on her plate.

    "Don't use that tone with me, missy." Oliver said, stopping her hand.

    She looked up at him. "Sorry, Wood. I promise I'll eat my food."

    She heard Percy laugh from across the table at Oliver's disbelieving look. But Oliver's look turned into a smirk.

    "Alright, Bell, you want to play? We'll play."

    Katie laughed and went back to pushing her food around. "Why would I want to play with you?"

    She looked up, eyebrows raised, grinning at the blush the covered Oliver's cheeks. He cleared his throat.

    "Dirty mind, Bell."

    "I learned from the best," she said, cocking her head towards the Weasley twins.

    "True," Oliver said, going back to his food.

    Katie looked across the table at Percy, who was trying desperately not to laugh. This in turn made her laugh. Lee turned to look at her, a grin on his face.

    "Katie's lost it ladies and gentlemen," he said, shaking his head.

    "I knew it would happen one of these days," Fred called up the table at them.

    She heard Oliver join in the laughter beside her. Once again, Katie found herself wanting everyday to be like this. Just like the day at Florean's in Diagon Alley with Fred, George, and Lee. But as they left the Great Hall, a voice completely ruined her good time. It was, as always, the voice of Marcus Flint.