Enchanting Expedition, a Story

Ten

Chapter Ten- Home Sweet Home

The next two days passed far too quickly for Kat's liking, as well as Draco's. After her fourth night staying, she had to go back home. She was happy though, she would be able to see her family for the first time since last summer, and Harry would be a sight for sore eyes amongst all the red. She and Draco hugged awkwardly as Lucius apparated her to the house. Arthur was already up so he met Lucius outside and told Kat that Molly was already up and making breakfast. He told her that he'd see her tonight when he got back from work. Kat heard the now-familiar popping sounds that meant that both men had apparated and gone to work.
She was immediately engulfed in a hug from her aunt, who asked if they fed her well and insisted on her getting started on breakfast early. Kat laughed and said that she was very well fed while at the Malfoy's. Molly allowed her to go upstairs and unpack her things.

"Oh, sorry." She and a boy nearly collided as they went in opposite directions on the stairs. "Oh, hey Harry! What're you doing up so early?"

"Kat? Hey!" Harry hugged her tightly and she returned the hug. "I woke up from a nightmare. What are you doing here so early?"

"Draco's father had to go to work early today so he figured he could take me since he was already leaving. Also, I wanted to catch Uncle Arthur before he went to work, and I did!" Kat skipped over Harry's nightmare, knowing that's what Harry wanted.

Kat waved at Harry and walked up to her and Ginny's room to put her stuff away. She quietly walked in and set her things on her bed to unpack later.

"Who's there?" She heard a sleepy familiar voice ask.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to wake you. Go back to sleep." Kat whispered, about to walk out of the room when Ginny gasped and ran up to her. Ginny hugged her for a long time, so Kat figured Ginny didn't care that she was a Slytherin.

"I can't believe you're here so early! I expected to see you later today, and more importantly, do you know if breakfast is done yet?" Ginny let go of her. Kat laughed at how Ginny hadn't changed one bit.

"It should be done by now, and good to see you too." They girls went downstairs and Kat saw Ginny blush as soon as Harry was even in eye sight.  "Ooh, you like him don't you?" Kat elbowed Ginny in the ribs and Ginny punched her shoulder.

"No! Shut up!" Ginny whispered and sat 3 seats away from him, making Kat laugh a little.

"So how did Ron take me going to Malfoy's?" I asked them both, sitting on the other side of the table entirely.

"Expectedly, as soon as we got here he started ranting about how Malfoy was a terrible person and how it was a terrible idea for you to go over there. Did you have fun though?" Harry answered.

"Oh, loads. His parents were really nice to me as well." Kat decides to stop there, not wanting to share many details, as they would make it seem like she was ashamed of what her family had.

Just in time too, it seemed, as Ron came down the stairs with Fred and George bouncing right behind him.

"Kat! Precious, darling Kitty Kat! Oh, how we missed you, didn't we George?" "We sure did Fred! Ookles of oodles! Tell us honestly, how terrible was your stay?" They nearly suffocated poor Kat as they hugged her at the same time. Of course, this only made her grin widely as she immediately felt at home.

"I missed you guys too, and it actually wasn't bad." The twins gasped and started inspecting you.

"Did they poison you? Or did they curse you?" They even picked up your arms and tickled you to make sure you were yourself until Molly walked in and ordered them to sit down for breakfast.

Percy then proudly came down the stairs dressed. When asked why he was dressed, he simply replied that they had a guest and one of the family had returned and gestured towards Harry and Kat. Fred and George immediately made a joke about how he worded his response.

"Welcome back Harry! It's a pleasure to have you as our guest Kat!" Kat joined in, saying it was an honor to be able to stay for a while. Harry laughed and Percy shook his head. He could deal with you but not his actual brothers. Ginny laughed at the banter until the food was put on the table. Everyone dug in greedily and Kat looked at Molly who simply looked happy to have almost all of the children back, plus one. Kat suddenly realized how much Molly did for those she loved and how big of a heart she had to be able to love so many, especially if they were like George and Fred.

"Thank you Aunt Molly." Kat's little comment nearly brought tears to Molly's eyes as all of the other children chimed in a quick thanks. She simply smiled and finally sat down and tried her hardest to ignore the three empty place at the other side of the table. She added a chair to the table when she learned of Harry coming over for the week.

Harry and Kat made eye contact and realized that they both came to the same thought, how much Molly loved who she considered family and how much she missed Bill and Charlie and Arthur when Arthur was away too often.

Breakfast was over soon and the twins ran outside yelling something about quidditch. All of the children except for Percy ran outside and began a match, Harry used a spare broomstick. Fred, Harry, and Ginny were on one team while George, Ron, and Kat were on the other. Ginny and Ron were dubbed Keepers and there would be no seekers or beaters. No one really kept score and the match lasted for hours until Molly came out and yelled that it was time for lunch already.
After they ate, they all had to do chores, except for Harry who helped out anyways, then they went back to playing quidditch. This time it was Fred, Ron, and Ginny against George, Harry, and Kat. Fred and George were the Keepers this time. Ginny and Ron were good teammates because they'd been teammates for years but Harry was born with skill and not only as a Seeker and Kat had grown up playing the sport as well. Fred and George kept the commentary interesting and the game really going though. Once dinner was announced, everyone went back inside to eat and get ready for bed. The day was over quickly, and Kat felt like she'd never even left home until thoughts of Draco crept into her head before she fell asleep. 'Not right now,' she thought to herself and it worked. Her mind let her peacefully go to sleep and she was more than a little thankful when she fell asleep with ease from her exhaustion.