Haunted | 𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘰𝘥𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘕𝘰𝘵𝘵

Chapter 33

Dear Phoebe A. Black,

Thank you for helping me with Katherine's memories, I'll keep you informed on her progress. I know it probably doesn't mean much now, but I'm sorry for how I acted, I was a real dick back then. You're one of Katherine's best friends, and I would like it if we could be friends too.

From T. Nott.

Theo tiptoed around Katherine, he couldn't believe that she almost died during the final battle. He never thought of how Katherine had been affected in the war. 'No wonder she was so scared of everything that had happened' he thought.

Katherine laid on the sofa, wrapped in a thick blanket like a cosy burrito. She groaned as she tossed and turned, unable to get comfortable, she closed her eyes trying to get some rest, the missing pieces from her mind kept her awake at all hours trying to piece together what happened.

"Hi, how you feeling?" he said, brushing her hair away from her face.

"I feel lost like I don't know what was real or what I imagined," she said

"I can't imagine, how that would feel," he said, she grabbed his arm, pulling him onto the sofa with her she nuzzled her face into his chest, he held her close to him.

Katherine dozed off to sleep, Theo remained as still as possible, being aware of how little she had slept in the last couple of weeks. He held her more firmly when her breathing escalated, she wriggled in his arms, pushing him away, he tried to wake her up.

"Kat,"

"No, I won't tell you anything," she said,

"Katherine," her eyes snapped open, she looked all around, her breathing calmed as she registered her surroundings.

"I'm sorry, I don't know what-

"Don't you dare be sorry about anything," Theo said, "you been through a lot, more than I realise,"

"What do you mean?" she asked,

"Nothing, it doesn't matter, I'll make you a drink,"

Katherine watched as he walked towards the kitchen, to get her a glass of water. She creased her brows, something seemed off with him, however, Katherine couldn't quite put her finger on it. She sat up waiting for him to come back into the living room.

"Thank you," she said, taking the glass from him, "Are you alright?"

"I think I should asking you that," he chuckled

"You aren't yourself, where's the sarcasm and your smirk?"

"It's just been a very stressful couple of months," he said, he smiled "you know I think the children made it easier,"

"Yes, Bekah could always make me laugh whenever I felt down," Katherine said,

"Or like when Alex and I would talk about various Quidditch games, he wants to go to a game, I might take," Theo said, sitting next to Katherine on the sofa.

"Or the debates me and Lisa would have, she's very smart for her age," Katherine added, resting her head on his shoulder "I miss them,"

"Yeah me too, it's not healthy for them to keep moving around, not being sure if they're going to be safe," he said, kissing her forehead

"I'll see if I can work something out, then they can come home,"

***

25th December 1999, Nott Manor

Theo had been in contact with Jessica and asked that she could bring the children to Nott, she was more than happy too. After hearing what happened to Katherine she wanted to come and see her for herself, bringing her children along with her.

She hoped that if Katherine was surrounded by familiarity, like her children it would help ease he mind, just that little bit more. Jessica and Charlie both enjoyed, having their children for them, Archie and Alex, had grown close, as they both only had sisters, the pair developed a brotherly rivalry between them.

"Alright, now we behave when we go to someone else's house," Jessica said, as she knocked on the door, Alex, Lisa and Bekah hurried into the house.

Jessica's own children hurried through the house, they're eyes widened they had never seen a place as big as what Nott Manor was. They loved the sanctuary they grew up on in Romania, Nott Manor was such a different atmosphere, Archie felt as though he couldn't touch anything if fear of breaking something.

"Hi Kat, do you feel better now?" Anna asked, sitting on the sofa with her.

"Yes, a lot better, thank you,"

"We made you something," Mary said, holding Bekah's hand, they handed Katherine a picture the three girls had drawn, with 'get well soon' writing on the top.

"I love it thank you," she hugged her daughter and her cousin's twins girls.

"Alex, Lisa," Katherine called,

Katherine held Bekah's hands taking them into another room, where a grand Christmas tree stood the centre of the room. Tall piles of presents laid under the tree, Lisa and Alex hurried over to the tree, Bekah let go of Katherine's hand, to follow her brother and sister.

"Go on there are presents for you under there too," Katherine said, Archie, Mary and Anna ran over looking for their presents, Theo had set them in separate piles for each child.

"You didn't need to get them all this,"

"Jess, I've asked you for so many things these last few, I don't know how I could ever repay, you've put your family at risk, to help us,"

"You're my family too, Charlie's loved having them around, they're great kids,"

"Hey Kat," Theo gestured for her to come with him.

"I know we weren't getting each other presents but I did get you something," he handed her a small box, she smiled at him as untied the ribbon

"You really didn't need to,"

"I saw them and thought you'd like them," he said, she flipped open the box her she smiled at a pair of sapphire earrings.

"They're beautiful," she said, "this must have cost you-

"Don't worry about that," he said, "do you like them?"

"I love them, thank you," she kissed leaned up to kiss him, he chuckled

"What?" she smiled, nudging his shoulder

"Since you've been in my life, I smile a lot more than I use to, I love the kids more than anything in the world," he leaned down pressing his lips firmly against hers "and I love their mother just as much,"