We will meet again ~ Fred Weasley

- Borrowed Lives -

"For a single hour, she lived another woman's life—and witnessed a thousand heartbreaks."

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The moment Ron took a step towards the Ministry entrance, Katherine's hand shot out instinctively.

"Not yet."

Her fingers closed firmly around his forearm, pulling him backwards until all four of them were once again concealed behind the corner of a nearby building.

Ron frowned.

"What?"

Katherine slowly leaned around the edge of the wall, studying the bustling London street with narrowed eyes.

The city carried on around them as though the wizarding world hadn't collapsed overnight.

Red buses rumbled past.

Taxi horns echoed through the morning traffic.

Businessmen hurried along the pavements clutching briefcases while tourists unfolded maps and children chased pigeons through the square.

It was strangely comforting.

For the first time since fleeing the wedding, Katherine almost felt...

hidden.

Amongst thousands of oblivious Muggles, they were just four more faces in the crowd.

The Death Eaters wouldn't dare cause chaos here.

At least...

she hoped they wouldn't.

She let out a slow breath before glancing back towards Harry and Hermione.

"They won't expect us here," she murmured. "Not yet."

Harry nodded once.

"So we move."

"Exactly."

Katherine straightened her borrowed jacket, rolled her shoulders back and forced herself to look as though she belonged.

"No rushing. No staring. No looking terrified."

She looked pointedly at Ron.

"And for Merlin's sake, try not to look like you're about to rob the place."

Ron looked genuinely offended.

"I don't—"

"You do."

Hermione snorted.

Harry hid a smile.

"Oh, brilliant," Ron muttered. "We're being hunted by Voldemort and somehow I'm still getting bullied."

"You'll survive."

Rolling his eyes dramatically, Ron fell into step behind her.

"Right then," Katherine said quietly.

"Let's go."

The four of them emerged naturally into the flow of pedestrians.

Nobody looked twice at them.

That, more than anything, unsettled Katherine.

Only yesterday she'd been wearing pale blue silk beneath a wedding marquee.

Now she was weaving through London preparing to assault workers of the Ministry of Magic.

Life changed far too quickly.