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Chapter 27: Hickory, Picquery, Nestor

Katherine felt Hermione and Harry both stare at her. Harry looked confused, but Hermione looked a little hurt. "I mean, I like it here," Katherine clarified, wanting to reassure the witch and wizard on either side of her. "And I know that this is where it's safest for me to be at the moment. But America's my home. It's where my mother is buried. I've lived there for 23 years, I just . . . I just don't know if I could leave that all behind."

"So, do you want to be an American witch?" Shacklebolt continued.

"I don't know. Does it have to be so black and white?"

"Well, I'm afraid I'll have to throw your own uncertain answer back at you. I just didn't want to try and make a decision for you. If you are unsure, which is entirely understandable, we'll stick to the intellectual exercise. But it might help you mentally navigate this process if you have an idea of where you want it to end."

Katherine nodded. She was glad George wasn't here—it was hard enough to speak this candidly with Harry and Hermione there.

Suddenly, a paper airplane came floating into the room and landed on the desk. Shacklebolt picked it up and read its contents.

"They're here," he said, standing. "Time to go greet our guests. Harry, will you wait here with Katherine until we are ready?"

Hermione gave Katherine a reassuring smile and followed after the Minister. Harry wouldn't meet her eye.

"Please don't say anything to George," Katherine said. "I know it sounds bad, and I don't want to hurt him."

"The Weasleys are the greatest family I've ever met," Harry said after a moment. "I used to wish desperately to be a part of them. And when I married Ginny, I was blown away that not only did I get the love of my life, but the family of my dreams. They are the kindest and most generous group of people one could imagine. And you get to share their blood."

He looked at her finally, his green eyes bright. "How could you possibly imagine walking away from that?"

"I wish I could be more sure," Katherine said, her voice meek. She couldn't even pretend to be certain at this moment. "And you are right, Harry, all of this big family stuff is fun and wonderful and cozy and charming and feels like a fairy tale when it is good. But it's not what I expected. And I know damn well that fairy tales can come to a crashing halt."

"I'm well aware of the fragility of life," Harry said, "but I am also aware that the greatest strength we have in this world is love, which the Weasleys have in spades. So why would you leave your them behind?"

"I might be the shiny new toy to them right now, this fragile thing who needs to be protected and nurtured. But I won't be new forever. And then what? I live in the apartment above the shop while people worry that I could explode at any moment? My father is dead, so George takes me under his wing, and it starts some weird rivalry with his kids because not only do they have this new cousin but one that he didn't tell them about? Every family dinner comes with a side of having to listen to me ask questions about things that happened in the 23 years of my life I wasn't around?" Her voice had been even, but it took on an edge as she tried to keep it from breaking. "I leave my mother's memory back in the US because I found a replacement? Give up my last name eventually because people just can't be bothered to remember it isn't Weasley? Fred Weasley sent me away, Evie Waine stayed my family. She built a life for me, a muggle life for me. To protect me from all of this."

Harry just stared at her, his jaw still clenched.

"I'd love to be able to just make a choice and jump in with two feet. But I need more time to think. And I can't go anywhere until McGonagall says so anyways. So, please, just don't say anything to George until there is something to say."