Cored

Chapter 22: Scars and Voicemails

"Is there some rule that we can't make food just magically appear?"

George didn't even look up from his desk where he tinkered. "Yeah, there is. You'll have to ask Hermione or McGonagall about the details, though."

It was only 9 the next morning and Katherine was already showered, dressed, and stories deep into The Tales of Beedle the Bard. She had been surprised to find George in his office on the Saturday morning, but was comfortable in her now typical armchair.

"I was just thinking how much I would like a peanut butter sandwich," Katherine said. "I didn't see a grocery store in the Alley though."

"No, not really a supermarket place," George laughed. "But there is one out on the muggle side. We could pop over."

Katherine nodded, marking her place in some story about a cackling stump and shutting the book. They wandered down the stairs, out the door, through the alley, in and out of the Leaky Cauldron, and onto the streets of London. George led her a few blocks away where there was a small store bustling with people getting a jump on the weekend. She found a loaf of bread, a jar of peanut butter, a box of granola bars, and a few apples to keep around the apartment. When they got up to the register, George reached for his wallet, but Katherine was faster.

"I would have gotten it," he said, holding the door open for her as they exited.

"I don't think they take galleons there," Katherine retorted.

"I have muggle money, too," he said. "They'll convert it for you at Gringotts."

"Is Bill always as busy as he was the other day?" Katherine asked, reminded by the bank.

George walked with his hands in his pockets. "Yeah. He works hard, and his job is demanding."

"He didn't seem to want to go to lunch the other day," Katherine prodded.

"I think he's taken this a bit harder than anyone else," George reasoned. "I mean, he's torn because Fleur wasn't lying—we were right gits to her when she and Bill were first engaged. It took a long time for everyone to come around. And I don't think he wants you to feel that way. But I also think, as the oldest brother, he feels some sort of . . . responsibility. Like he should have been around more or known what was going on. But he was already out of Hogwarts and working by the time you came into the picture, and with school it isn't like we were at the Burrow either."

Katherine nodded, trying to determine where to best put him on her chart. As they got back to the Leaky Cauldron, she paused.

"You go ahead, I'm just going to check my phone before we go back over," she said to George.

"Okay, I'll just wait inside for you." Katherine still couldn't get herself between the two worlds because she couldn't hold a wand, so he had to ferry her back and forth.

When she pulled the phone out of her backpack, she expected to just quickly search the news and see what was happening this side of reality. But her head went fuzzy when she saw a voicemail from a number she didn't recognize.

"Uh, hi," the familiar voice started. "It's me, uh, Kevin. I ran into George the other day and he gave me your phone number. I hope you don't mind. Anyways, I guess I just, uh, just wanted to check in and make sure you had my number so you can tell me when you are coming back." There was a pause. "I hope you're coming back. Soon, you know. It's been a while since I've done the wash and the towels just aren't as clean without you. Not that you have to come back and do laundry, I just—um, okay, give me a call back if you want."

Katherine listened to it again, smiling at his uncharacteristic stumbling. She closed her eyes and thought about sitting on his couch or drinking tea in their booth, almost smelling the perpetual beer scent he couldn't seem to wash off. She wanted to call him back, but it was 4 am in Iowa. So, she just put the phone back in her bag, shoved the static even deeper, and walked into the Leaky Cauldron.