Almost

Chapter 1: Fuss

"Waine—come on, we are supposed to be there in fifteen minutes." 

Katherine pulled the blanket over her head, turning away from the door of her bedroom, making Crawley laugh.

"You're impossible," he said, coming around to tug the blankets away from her face. "It's your family we're going to see, why am I the one ready to go?"

"Because you weren't up all night working," she groaned in response. She refused to open her eyes.

"Fine, I'll go alone. I bet Molly made that chocolate cake. Don't think I won't eat your slice."

Katherine finally glared up at him. "You can't go without me."

"I went to England before I knew you, Katiebird."

"Yeah, but if you go without me, you'll have to face the Weasley's alone. Even Gran's cake isn't worth that."

"Then you'd better get a move on," he said with a kiss on the top of her nose before turning to her closet. "Do you want to wear jeans or a dress?"

"Pajamas," she said, rolling onto her stomach. "Pajamas and blankets."

"Almost-Mrs. Waine-Crawley, it is your birthday. You are not wearing pajamas or sleeping or working it away. How about your red cardigan? They love when you wear it, and it's basically a blanket."

She only groaned in response.

"Sorry," he corrected dramatically, "almost-Mrs. Crawley-Waine."

"Crawley-Waine sounds better. Otherwise, it sounds like your first name is Wayne."

"I don't care what you call yourself, just get up," he said, tearing all of the blankets off the bed with a flourish.

Katherine flipped over quickly, pulling her knees up to her chest at the sudden cold and hiding her hands under her pillow. Once she was sure he hadn't noticed the twisting ring on her hand, she grumbled, "We need to pick a time zone before I pick a name."

"Well, we don't have to do either today," he said as he walked into her bathroom and turned on the shower.

She curled herself up tighter and began to shiver. It was warm and sunny outside, but the house was a constant 68 degrees. He passed her on his way back into his own bedroom, kissing her on the way out.

"Twenty-five looks good on you."

"You said that about twenty-four," she called out, rolling her eyes.

"And I'll repeat it at twenty-six. Now hurry up or I will tell them all it was your fault and they'll be forced to like me better."

She laughed and listened for his own door to shut before grabbing her backpack off the ground, removing the small silver box, and returning the ring to what Crawley would call its rightful place. Immediately, the sleepy fog in her head was rushed away by the surge of magic in her, crackling through her limbs and chest as it roared back to life. No cup of coffee could work so quickly.

Grateful for another close call dodged, she went into the bathroom and relished the hot shower, even if she couldn't linger for long. She jumped out and quickly dried her hair, a bolt of blue green static leaving her fingers and running down the length of her brunette tresses. Behind her curling iron sat the hair potions Angelina had given her long ago, and she rifled through to find a Quick-Curl Cream. Katherine still preferred to do her hair the muggle way, but there simply wasn't time.

Only ten minutes later than when they were meant to be at the Burrow, Katherine slipped on her shoes and noted Corliss's empty cage before walking to the fireplace and an impatient looking Crawley.