never until forever [s. black]

twentythree

"well this was fun." james snickers as they walk through the halls of hogwarts. katherine chuckles as she opens her coat to let herself cool down from the adrenaline rush. they had just gotten back from the avery mansion and her heart rate had barely reduced after the dementor incident.

"i hope for you it was, mister potter." they all stiffen as they turn to look at professor mcgonagall and katherine's heart drops as she notices emma standing next to her with arms crossed. sirius pushes her behind him.

"professor, just the person we were looking for!" peter exclaims, making katherine look at him questioningly.

"i'm sure. emma, return to your room." mcgonagall says, and katherine sees that emma is about to protest, but mcgonagall gives her a stern look. "this instant. and you five follow me."

"yes, professor." remus says in defeat as they all follow mcgonagall, but before emma leaves, she grabs katherine's arm.

"i don't know what's going on, but i hope you'll get your senses back. may i remind you, who they are." emma says, katherine pulls her arm away  and follows them. they walk into mcgongall's office and look at her innocently.

"i hope you have an explanation for sneaking out, at night." mcgonagall says pointedly and they all look at each other, before speaking at the same time, everyone trying to take the blame. "slow down, one at a time. katherine, you first."

"it's my fault, professor. they were just trying to help me." katherine says, making mcgonagall raise an eyebrow as she notices the bag that peter is holding and the picture frame katherine is clutching on. mcgonagall was well aware of who katherine's father is and had wished to do something the moment she saw the fear in katherine's eyes at the mention of her father. to see her standing there, with the marauders, especially sirius who had runaway from his own home during the summer, she knew what they had been up to.

"i see. i'll write out your father and brother as your guardians." mcgongall smirks knowingly, making katherine let out a breath of relief. "do you have anyone i can list instead?"

"uh-" katherine's eyes widen in panic, not sure what to say now. but james jumps in with a wide grin.

"i talked to my parents and they're fine with being listed as katherine's guardians." james says with a wide grin and katherine looks at him shock, as mcgonagall smiles approvingly and writes it down.

"very well. i have no idea what you have done tonight. and under different circumstances i'd have taken house points. but, you had good intentions. and i hope you take good care of katherine." mcgonagall says pointedly, making the boys nod reassuringly.

"don't worry, professor. she's in good hands." sirius grins, as katherine looks down to hide her tears that rolling down her cheeks.

"good, then off you go to your rooms." mcgonagall dismisses them.

"you're the best professor, minerva!" james exclaims and books comes flying at him, making him duck as he smiles cheekily. "i mean professor mcgonagall."

"go before i actually give you detention, james." professor mcgonagall says sternly and they all leave the office, walking in the direction of the dungeons. katherine stops, making them all turn and look at her questioningly. she looks up, biting her lip and they all notice her tears.

"thank you. you guys had no reason to help me or show me the map or to have come back for me when i tripped in the woods. no absolute reason. after all we spend six years hating each other." katherine says softly, making them all smile at each other and then pull her into a group hug.

"hey, you're basically one of us now. thaf is if you want to be." sirius says, as they pull away and she wipes her tears away.

"i'd love that. thank you." she grins, making them mirror her grin. they are all so happy, that they are unaware by the fact that someone had been listening to their conversation this whole time.