Cored

Chapter 30: Twenty-Three Wishes

"Why are we doing this?" Katherine asked George for the hundredth time that Sunday afternoon. They were sitting in her apartment as she got ready, flitting in and out of the bathroom.

"After Hermione's birthday last month, Mum became despondent that we had missed so many of yours. She's determined that we make up all 23 of them now."

"But it's October 7th," Katherine said. "My birthday isn't for another seven months."

"I know, but she's got it in her head that there is not a second more to waste. And you've seen her when she gets her mind set to something."

Katherine couldn't disagree with him, and she was grateful that Molly cared so much. Hermione's birthday, however, was a bit of a sore subject—George hadn't let her go because Lily and Hugo would be there.

"At least I get to go to this one, I guess."

George left the comment alone, knowing better than to go back down that path.

"Mum's been cooking and decorating all weekend. I bet you it will quite the spectacle."

"I hate being a spectacle," Katherine said, pushing her glasses up. "But who am I to say no to Molly Weasley?"

"That's the spirit," George said. "You look great."

She looked down at the black skirt and grey shirt that she had worn the first time she'd met him, but now paired with black tights. The skirt wasn't as loose as it had been that day, which she was grateful for—she could use the extra confidence it gave her. She had freshened up her hair color and used one of the potions to curl it, then pinned one side back and out of her eyes.

"Thanks," she said, pulling on her black boots. She put her wand in her backpack and nodded to George that she was ready to go. He took her arm and the popped away, but they didn't end up where Katherine expected.

"Mum told me to land out here," George explained as they walked through the hills toward the house. "Something about the best first impression."

It didn't take long until Katherine could see why. Molly had turned the yard into a masterpiece. There were lights everywhere, like the ones in Roxy's room, that George must have given her. They spun around in slow circles around the perimeter of the property, parting like an archway when George and Katherine walked into the boundary. There were flowers everywhere. Lee must have told them about the vines of her dreams because clematis and jasmine were climbing around every chair at the long table set up outside. The vines also snaked around tall taper candles of various heights running the length of the table, flames dancing softly in the breeze. The whole lot of Weasleys, except Charlie, were standing near the doorway. Molly stood in the front looking like she might burst with excitement.

"Happy birthday!" she said, coming swiftly to meet George and Katherine, gathering the latter up in a bone crushing hug that she had come to adore.

"This is too much," Katherine said, looking at the picturesque garden scape.

"Oh hush, we had a lot of time to make up for," Molly said, taking her by the shoulder and guiding her to the rest of the family.

Ginny was next to give her a hug, popping a flower she had picked off the vines into the pin of her hair. "Perfect," she said, pulling Katherine's curls in front of her shoulders. Percy shook her hand, Bill merely nodded.

"Come on," Hermione said, taking her arm, "look over here."

Katherine, Ginny, Hermione, started around the house, Audrey, Fleur, and Angelina following close behind. Somehow, they had managed to create a pond as big as her apartment, with a bridge to a gazebo in the middle. The gazebo was filled with lights, these ones dangling in long curtains around the structure.