We will meet again ~ Fred Weasley

- The Lines We Cross -

"I had spent months protecting the people I loved from each other. Eventually, I had to accept that I couldn't protect everyone."

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The days following Katherine's confrontation with Veronica seemed to drag endlessly.

At first, she had convinced herself that Ronnie simply needed time.

A day.

Perhaps two.

Maybe a weekend to cool off before they found themselves back in the common room together, pretending none of it had happened.

But a day became three.

Three became a week.

And still, there was nothing.

No speaking in the dorm.

No sarcastic comments muttered during breakfast.

No nights in the common room with the other Slytherin's.

No apology.

No explanation.

Nothing.

The silence was beginning to drive Katherine mad.

She still saw Veronica, of course.

Hogwarts was not a place where one could truly disappear.

Sooner or later, everyone crossed paths.

Katherine would catch glimpses of her across the Great Hall, laughing weakly at something Theo had said.

She would spot her in corridors between classes, walking quickly with her head down.

Sometimes she would glimpse her sitting by the windows in the library, pretending to study while staring blankly at the grounds outside.

Sometimes she would see her in the dorm, but she'd get straight in bed with her back to Katherine.

Every single time Katherine tried to approach her, Veronica vanished.

Not literally.

Just quickly enough to make the message painfully obvious.

Leave me alone.

The worst part was that Katherine knew it wasn't because Veronica hated her.

If Veronica hated her, this would be easier.

Anger she could handle.

Arguments she understood.

What she couldn't understand was this.

This desperate avoidance.

This constant retreat.

The way Veronica looked almost frightened whenever Katherine came near her.

It wasn't hatred.

It was fear.

Fear that Katherine would get too close.

Fear that she would start asking questions.

Fear that she would uncover whatever secret Veronica was guarding so fiercely.

Unfortunately for Veronica, Katherine Potter had never been particularly good at giving up.

Especially not when it came to people she loved.

Every day that passed only strengthened her resolve.

Something was wrong.

Terribly wrong.