Cored

Chapter 31: Cleansing

The next morning, after Katherine had showered and done her hair and makeup, she felt like her jeans probably wouldn't make the cut. The Minister couldn't have expected much when he had summoned her there so suddenly before, but this time seemed more formal. She conjured the door to her house and went back to her bedroom. Digging through her closet, she found the dark grey skater dress her mother had bought for her to wear the previous Christmas. It still had the tags on it. Katherine had liked the simple look and thick, warm fabric, so she found a clean pair of black tights and a pair of low black heels before quickly reentering the apartment.

Once dressed, she began to pack the purse Ron and Hermione had given her the night before. She put the tempering inside, now snuggly tucked into the ornate silver box. She also filled it with her wallet, her phone, and her wand. She thought about bringing the blanket and her books but decided just her mother's notebook needed to make the journey. Katherine didn't feel right leaving it behind.

George knocked on the door and come in when she called out it was open.

"You've not worn that dress before, either. Where were you keeping all of these clothes?"

"Don't be silly," she said to him, closing the purse carefully.

"Come on, we got permission to take the floo rather than the visitor's entrance. Hermione should be waiting for us."

Katherine put on her jacket and slid the purse over her shoulder. It was nice to have something other than the backpack.

Downstairs, she found Lee and Ron looking at something at the counter.

"Katherine, look what Vander's got!"

Katherine was surprised to see Lee there, and so early in the morning, but she walked over to stand on Ron's side of the counter. It looked like a diagram of a field, but with little figures on broomsticks careening around.

"It's a journal page that Mohoutokoro sent me just because they thought I'd be interested. It's from one of the students who first learned Quidditch there, from some Hogwarts students who were trying to fly around the world and got in a spot of trouble."

"Fat load of good that did us," Ron said. "They're incredible."

"I just thought Ron would like to see it. And I wanted to wish you luck before you were off."

"Thanks," she said, giving him a short nod before turning to George. "Ready?"

"After you," George said with a smirk. Once the door had shut, he linked his arm in hers and added "What's happening there?"

"Nothing." Katherine said with a shrug. "I guess he just was spooked by all your talk of an inquisition. Probably thinks I'll come back missing limbs." As they kept walking, she changed the subject. "The sweater that Molly gave me, it's the same color as my blanket. Did she make it?"

George blushed. "No," he said, "I did. I watched her do it enough times. But I did get into her yarn for it."

They walked up to the fireplaces and George sent Katherine ahead. When she walked out of the green flames and into the entrance of the Ministry, she was taken aback again by how large it was. She wondered what the American building looked like in contrast.

"Nice bag," Hermione said, running up and giving her a quick hug. "Cute dress, too."

"Thanks," Katherine said, smoothing her skirt. "I didn't know what the proper attire was, do you think it's okay?"

"You look just fine," Shacklebolt said beside her. "There is no need to be nervous, you've already done the hard part. We just thought you'd want to be a part of this conversation."