Almost

Chapter 4: Visitor

Strictly speaking, Katherine should have gone through the visitor's entrance. She also should have checked in with the posted guard to have her wand examined. And she definitely should have had an auror or Order member with her. But there was a bit of a rush in treating the rules more like suggestions. Besides, no one in London had tried to kill her yet.

"Honestly, Katherine. You get more and more like a Weasley each day," Hermione said, shutting her office door behind her. "I told you I would come get you."

"I was in New York," Katherine responded with a shrug as she sat in the chair across from Hermione's desk. She set the bag with a sleeping Smithwick down softly at her feet. "Didn't make much sense to go all the way back to Idaho and wait. And Crawley had to work."

"What were you doing in New York?"

"Visiting with Picquery."

Hermione paused and looked up at Katherine, her eyes filled with a mixture of compassion and concern.

"Don't worry," Katherine assured her, smoothing her skirt. "He gave me the party line. We have rules for a reason, you're never singed your eyebrows off in a potions class, you'll spontaneously burst into flames if you go too close to Azkaban, blah blah blah."

"I doubt he added 'blah blah blah' at the end."

Katherine stared at her aunt over her glasses at the weak attempt of a joke. Hermione sighed, sitting back at her desk. "Look," she started again, "I am sure it is frustrating. But being an auror is about more than just courage or luck. You need at least five N.E.W.T. scores above Exceeds Expectations, proper training in Charms, Potions, Defense Against the Dark Arts, Transfiguration—"

"Harry and Ron got to become aurors without even finishing Hogwarts," Katherine reminded her.

"Sure, but they had already gone through their O.W.L. year. Not to mention we defeated the greatest dark wizard of all time," Hermione retorted, her eyebrows raised.

"All I'm saying is that it isn't unheard of for someone to take a nontraditional approach. A holistic understanding of education. I might not have taken Potions, but I did take a Philosophy of Language course that was quite the doozy."

"Well, if we have a case that demands that knowledge, I'll know just who to call," Hermione said with a kind smile. "Besides, even if they did let you start training, it we be another three years before you would be a full auror."

"At least the training would give me something to do. I want to help."

"You do help! You figured out the powdered curses all on your own."

"A one hit wonder." Katherine threw her head back, staring up at the painted ceiling of Hermione's office. "I ran into her this morning. She kicked me out of Picquery's office and told me what a 'luxury' it must be to have so much time to plan the wedding."

Hermione clung to the chance to change the subject. "Speaking of, Ginny and I were thinking we could go to Madame Malkins this weekend. Maybe look at dresses?"

Katherine only groaned in response, making Hermione laugh. "Just to look!"

She sat up, looking down at her hands instead of her aunt. Perceptive as always, Hermione came over to sit in the twin chair next to her.

"Come out with it now, you've got us all worried."

Katherine sighed, trying to brush if off with a flippant roll of her eyes. "After I saw all of your photos in that album, I don't even know that I want to try and compare in a dress. We'll just change the wedding theme to cardigans—everyone in jeans."