Where Your Loyalties Lie

Chapter Thirty-Five: Number 12 Grimmauld Place

So far the summer holiday had been very solitary. I had had loads of time to myself. My dad received full custody of me so I could call Spinner's End my second home now. Hogwarts was obviously my first. It had only been two weeks, but Draco had already written six times. He'd had a lot of alone time as well. His parents, of course, were busy with Death Eater duties.

Dad had been leaving the house almost every night after dinner. He wouldn't tell me where he went off to. Him being gone wasn't much different actually since I stayed in my room all of the time. One night at dinner, the question slipped out. "Where do you go when you leave the house?" I looked down at my lap. I didn't mean to ask that. He obviously wouldn't tell me.

To my surprise, he chuckled. "Curious girl you are. I was actually going to tell you tonight." I looked up and he continued. "Where I've been going is to meetings for The Order of the Phoenix. The Order of the Phoenix, or The Order for short, is a secret society Dumbledore had created when the Dark Lord was first at large. He has recently brought it together again after the events of the Third Task. Now the Weasley family, along with Ms. Granger, is spending their summer at headquarters for the Order. At a recent meeting, they invited you to stay there too."

"I'd love to!" I stated without a moment's hesitation.

"Good. You can pack tomorrow and we'll go there shortly before dinner."

~~~~~

Dad and I arrived at the Order's headquarters, Number 12 Grimmauld Place, shortly before dinner as planned. Mrs. Weasley instantly welcomed me and led me upstairs to put my things in the room I would be sharing with Hermione and Ginny. We both headed back down to the kitchen after I had put my luggage down. I received hugs from Hermione, Ginny, Fred, and George along with the usual awkward nod from Ron.

"Severus, would you like to join us for dinner?" Mrs. Weasley asked.

"I think that'd be nice. Thank you, Molly."

I sat down with Hermione on one side of me and Dad on the other. Ron and the twins seemed to be scowling at him. There was an empty chair straight across from me until a shaggy-haired man took it at the last minute.

I gasped when I realized who it was. "You're Sirius Black."

"It's alright. I'm not a mass murderer as the Ministry believes. It was Peter Pettigrew. Not me," Sirius explained with a laugh that sounded like a bark.

"Oh, alright then hi! Nice to meet you. I'm Katie Brown, daughter of this greasy haired fellow right here." I pointed to my dad.

Sirius laughed. "I like her already, Snape!"

"Yes, she's very amusing," Dad sneered.

Sirius and I got to talk and got to know each other over the course of dinner. "So Katie, are you on the Quidditch team?"

"No, I'm not a big fan of flying, and they never let girls on the Slytherin team."

Sirius momentarily choked on his drink. Dad looked amused at this. "You're in Slytherin? Forgive me, I assumed you were in Gryffindor"

"It's fine," I said casually.

"Well you certainly don't seem like a Slytherin. You're too nice."

"I get that a lot."

After dinner, I hugged my dad before he left. "Goodbye, sweetheart. I'll see you the next time I come here for a meeting."

"Bye Dad, I love you."

He kissed my forehead, "I love you too. Goodnight."

~~~~~

August arrived and there was one month left until school would start again. An owl tapped on my window. I took the letter from him and he flew away again. Sitting on my bed, I almost started to read the letter when George came in my room.

"What's that?" He asked.

"A letter."

"From Malfoy?" I nodded. He took it out of my hands and ran out of the room.

"Hey George, get back here!" I shouted. I chased him down to the kitchen, making sure to stay quiet by the portrait of Sirius's mother.

"Dear Katie," George began in a sickly sweet voice. He walked around the room, keeping the letter out of my reach. "It is only a month until school starts again. It's been way too long since I last heard your gorgeous voice and seen your beautiful face. I can't wait until we can be together in person once more. Forever yours, Draco."

I blushed as I jumped up in failed attempts to get back my letter. "George, you're making that up! He doesn't talk like that! Now give it back!" I tripped and we both fell over, me on top of George. The letter floated a ways away and Sirius picked it up.

"You're dating Lucius Malfoy's son?" Sirius asked.

"Yeah, so?"

"Nothing. That's quite an interesting letter, George. Thank you for sharing," he laughed.

I got up and straightened my shirt. "I'll take that back now, if you don't mind," I told Sirius, holding out my hand.

"I think I'll keep it." Sirius laughed as I tried to take it from him. I knocked it from his hand and it landed in the fire.

"No!" I cried. As I watched the parchment turn into ashes, I said, "Thank you for ruining my letter." I ran upstairs to go write back to Draco to let him know that I never got to see his letter.

I found a fresh piece of parchment paper and wrote to Draco:

Draco,

Unfortunately, I was unable to read your latest letter. It sort of got burned up...long story. But anyways, it's only a month until school starts and I cannot wait to see you again! I miss you so much!

There was a knock at my door and I gave the person permission to come in. I looked up to see that is was George.

"Are you here to destroy this letter too?" I asked him coldly. I finished the letter quickly with:

I gotta go. I'm sorry I couldn't write more.

Miss you!

Katie

"I'm here to apologize, actually," George informed me.

"Alright then." I gave Claire the letter and sent her off with it before turning to look at George and crossing my arms. "I'm listening."

George put his hands in his pockets and looked at his shoes, kicking an imaginary object around. "Well gosh, Kate, I was only trying to have a little fun. I didn't intend for the letter to fall into the fire. I'm sorry."

"I know...but you shouldn't have taken it from me in the first place. I haven't seen Draco all summer. His letters are my only connection to him when we're not at Hogwarts," I explained.

"I'm sorry," George repeated, looking up now.

I sighed, "You didn't mean for it to happen."

"So do you forgive me?"

"Oh come on, George. How can I not forgive you?"

He smirked. "That's very true." I laughed. "Now, come on, why don't we go mess with Ron or something?"

"Alright, sounds like fun," I laughed, following him out of my room.