We will meet again ~ Fred Weasley

- No More Time -

"The barriers were falling, the darkness was coming, and there was no longer anywhere left to hide."

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The door opened quietly behind them.

Katherine lifted her head from where it had been resting against Fred's shoulder, wiping hurriedly at the tears that still clung to her cheeks. Fred straightened as well, instinctively trying to compose himself before whoever had entered could see how badly the conversation had affected him.

It was Harry.

He stood in the doorway for a moment, his eyes moving between the two of them. He didn't need to ask what had happened. The evidence was written plainly across Katherine's face, and Fred's red-rimmed eyes made it equally obvious that neither of them had managed to walk away from the conversation unscathed.

Harry didn't comment.

Instead, his expression softened.

"We found it."

Katherine frowned.

"What?"

"Another Horcrux."

For a second, she simply stared at him.

Then the meaning of his words registered.

"You destroyed another one while I was gone?"

Harry nodded.

Katherine's eyes widened, genuine surprise briefly breaking through the heaviness that had settled over her.

"That's incredible."

She pushed herself away from the desk, looking between Harry and Fred.

"We struggled to destroy one for weeks."

"I know."

Harry slipped his wand into the pocket of his robes before leaning against the edge of the desk.

"Ron and Hermione are going to search for the diadem."

Katherine's heart gave a strange little jolt.

The diadem.

Of course.

She had told them where it was.

Helena Ravenclaw's words had been unmistakable. The lost diadem was hidden somewhere within the Room of Requirement, and Katherine had carried that knowledge with her ever since.

She had expected to be the one to find it.

Instead, Ron and Hermione had gone looking for it themselves.

For her.

So she could have those few precious minutes with Fred without worrying about another task waiting for her.

Katherine's expression softened.

"They haven't found it yet?"

Harry nodded.

"It should be one of the last."

A small breath escaped her.

"That means we're getting closer."

She could hear the relief in her own voice.

For the first time since Snape had told her the truth, something had gone right.

Something had actually gone according to plan.

Harry studied her carefully.

"Didn't you feel it?"