By Chance to Intention

Chapter 11: For Katherine

"We all know him to be a proud, unpleasant sort of man; but this would be nothing if you really liked him."

― Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice

March 3rd, 2011

Katherine, mom talked to my Aunt Ginny and Uncle George! Rory, Fred, and Roxy are coming to your party this weekend. Mum said that she talked to your dad and that you'd be having it here. Do you know what kind of cake you want? Mum's not the best baker but we can try!

That's great Henry! I can't wait. I'm not really picky, make whatever you think you can!

Will do! Talk to you later!

Katherine was ecstatic when Henry wrote her saying Rory, Fred and Roxy were going to come to her party. She was considering various things they could do, thinking of the magical party games that she had read about and knew she would need to discuss potential ideas with Henry.

Now, only days away, she had started to become nervous. Having only met Henry's cousins once, she was worried they wouldn't really like her. Rory seemed great, she was the outspoken one that had talked to her the most. Even though there were a lot of questions about her dad she seemed kind enough, but now she was wondering what if they thought she was strange? She knew she was shy. She had a hard time talking or playing with kids on the playground growing up. Until she met Henry, she had never had a truly close friend.

He was different, Henry had been polite and similarly shy when they met at the library. They had been looking in the same section of books and he had spoken to her about what she had chosen. Their shared interests made it easier to talk to him. His cousins may not be similarly inclined, she thought recalling their talk of Quidditch. Despite this, having other kids around her made her happy, especially when she could share the topic of being a witch with them.

Magic connected them. Even if she did have little in common with Henry's cousins, she was excited at the prospect of having magical friends...

They were having dinner at Uncle Draco's, Scorpius was asleep but she had been occupying herself with her thoughts while looking out a bay window. Deciding to put her thoughts aside for now, she pulled out her book and continued to read.

March 4th, 2011

Hermione had felt guilty at her lack of communication with her friends, her guilt had increased twofold when she received an owl from Harry asking her how she had been. It was this that had resulted in a dinner with not just Harry, but Ron as well, as they had all been fairly distant as of late.

She didn't enjoy sharing a secret with Harry that Ron didn't know, and she knew Harry likely felt this way too. Making sure she went out of her way to arrive early, she rapped on Harry's door quickly before backing up slightly to wait. He came to the door only a moment later to let her in.

"Mione! You're early, Ron's probably going to be a little late. There's a snack plate in the sitting room already." He walked with her down the hall, she took off her coat and sat it on one of the chairs before sitting herself down.

"Thanks Harry, where's Vanessa?"

"She took the kids out to see her parents, she visits them often," he sighed, "We decided yesterday that when James starts showing signs of magic we're telling them. We want them to still be able to visit often and the earlier we do it the better."

"Well that's good Harry! Not all muggles react badly to magic, and Vanessa's parents love those kids, I'm sure nothing will change." She grabbed Harry's arm, he did look worried. "Harry, don't stress about it now, James hasn't been floating around the house yet, has he?"