Two days before the wedding, Katie, Harry, Ron and Hermione finally found some time amidst all their chores to sit down and converse about their upcoming Horcrux hunt. Ron, who was supposed to be cleaning his room, was instead laying back on his bed and idly waving his wand through the air. Hermione was sat at Ron's desk and sorting a large quantity of books into two piles. Harry had just entered the room and sat down on his own bed and Katie was putting some of her clothes into the bag that Hermione had placed an Extension Charm on.

"What are you doing with all those books, anyway?" Katie asked of Hermione as she closed the bag.

"Just trying to decide which ones to take with us," Hermione answered. "When we're looking for the Horcruxes."

"Oh, of course," Ron said, clapping a hand to his forehead. "I forgot we'll be hunting down Voldemort in a mobile library."

Hermione let out a sarcastic string of false laughter. "I wonder... will we need to translate Runes? It's possible... I think we'd better take it, to be safe."

She dropped the Ancient Runes book on to the larger of the two piles and picked up Hogwarts: A History.

"Listen," Harry said suddenly, sitting up straight. The other three turned to look at him with expressions of mingled resignation and defiance. "I know you said that you wanted to come with me."

"Here he goes." Ron rolled his eyes.

"It's going to be really dangerous," Harry pressed on as if he had not been interrupted at all. "This isn't an Easter Egg hunt around Hogwarts, all right? We're hunting down Voldemort. I don't want any of you getting hurt because of me. This is something that I have to do alone."

Katerina sneezed. "Sorry," she said, "I'm allergic to stupidity."

Ron let out a snort of amusement but Harry merely glared at her briefly before continuing. "Listen--"

"No, Harry, you listen," Hermione snapped, throwing Hogwarts: A History on to the larger pile rather aggressively. "We're coming with you. That was decided months ago -- years, really."

"But—"

The door swung open and Harry never got the chance to finish his sentence. The beaming, rosy face of Molly Weasley peered around the door.

"Katerina, dear, your brother just got here." Mrs Weasley told her.

Much faster than necessary, Katie sprung up off the rickety wooden chair on which she was seated and rushed down the stairs, followed closely, though much more slowly, by Harry, Ron and Hermione.

Just as Katie reached the kitchen, the front door opened and Arthur Weasley stepped inside. Chris entered just after him and he grinned when Katie rushed towards him and hugged him tightly.

"I'm so glad you're all right," she said. "I've been so worried ever since the Death Eaters went after you."

"I'm OK," Chris assured her. "How's your summer been?"

"It's been fine — Niall?"

Katie had been so distracted by her brother's arrival that she had not noticed Niall Murray step inside the house. He was leaning against the counter, his arms folded, grinning just as broadly as Chris. Katie was pleasantly surprised to see Niall — Chris had not said that he was coming too. Niall and Katie moved to hug and greet each other.

"I didn't know you were coming." Katie said. She was unable to contain the smile that was forcing its way onto her face.

"Yeah, well, I love a good surprise, you know me." Niall chuckled.

Casting her eyes around the kitchen, Katie found that the person she had been so anxious to meet was nowhere in sight. She frowned but did not give up hope, instead standing on her toes and looking over her brother's shoulder and into the garden through the open door.

"Where is he?" she asked, sounding more excited than she would have liked to let on.

Chris quirked an eyebrow. "Where is who?"

"Your boyfriend, idiot," Katie said. She was still on her toes and peering over Christian's shoulder. "Is he coming up the road? Could he not make it?"

A series of sniggers sounded through the room and Katie was perplexed to see Chris, Niall and Mr Weasley all staring at her with the exact same amused expressions.

"What?" she asked, feeling like she was missing some very important detail.

"Kat..." Niall laughed.

She turned to look sharply at him. "Yeah?"

Niall raised his eyebrows and, with a great leap of her heart, the realisation crashed down upon Katie and she found herself completely speechless. Grinning from ear-to-ear, she frantically pointed between Chris and Niall, each of whom seemed to be trying with all their might to hold back shouts of laughter.

"You," Katie said, pointing at Chris, "and you?" she pointed at Niall. They both nodded and Ron, who was standing in the doorway with Harry and Hermione, let out a cheer.

"That's great!" Katie exclaimed. "So, when's the wedding?"

Both Chris and Niall blushed fiercely.

"Let's just get Bill and Fleur's wedding out of the way first," Mr Weasley said and he moved towards the kettle. "Tea, boys?"

"Yes, please." Chris and Niall chorused.

As Mr Weasley got to work on making the tea, Chris and Niall greeted the others. It did not slip past Katie that Chris and Hermione's hug lingered a little longer than the others.

***

The next day was Harry's seventeenth birthday and Katie awoke much later than she would have liked. When she entered the kitchen, everyone was already finishing up their breakfast and Harry was already halfway through the large pile of presents that had been left out for him. Feeling strangely nauseous, Katie decided to skip breakfast, but, after much pestering, accepted a hot cup of tea from Mrs Weasley.

"Thank you, Mrs Weasley." Katie had said.

"For the last time, dear, Molly," she had corrected. "Call me Molly."

After Harry's presents had been reduced to a cluster of torn wrapping paper that Molly vanished with her wand, Katie, Harry, Ron and Hermione retreated upstairs. As they passed Ginny's room, where Katie and Hermione were staying, Katie grabbed Harry's wrist.

"Will you come here a second?" she asked quietly, nodding towards Ginny's bedroom.

Looking slightly nervous, Harry nodded. Misinterpreting Katie's request, Ron made to follow her too, but Hermione seized his elbow and dragged him on up the stairs. Harry shut the door behind him and gazed around Ginny's room. It was small and bright; extra beds could not fit so Katie and Hermione had been sleeping in hammocks which were surprisingly quite comfortable.

As Harry admired a Holyhead Harpies poster that was plastered on Ginny's wall, Katie crouched down and pulled her old school trunk out from under her hammock. She had not gotten around to cleaning it out yet. Rummaging through it, she pricked her finger on something sharp and came across many old items that she would have to remember to throw away, before she finally found what she had been searching for: a small, black velvet box, encrusted with dust. It had not been opened for awhile.

"Well..." Katie began awkwardly, rounding on Harry. "Happy birthday."

"Yeah, thanks." Harry replied. His eyes kept flicking between Katie and the velvet box that she was holding carefully in her right hand.

"Gold's been a bit tight for Chris and me ever since Dad died and Mum disappeared," Katie said and heat rose to her cheeks. "I — I couldn't buy you anything but..."

Harry watched, apparently transfixed, as Katie opened the black box to reveal a thin, gleaming silver chain with an onyx crystal hanging from it. The necklace was old and slightly rusted, but still quite beautiful. The corners of Harry's mouth twitched, threatening a smile.

"Wow," he breathed. "That's really nice."

"It was Leo's," Katie told him. At this, his eyes snapped away from the chain, instead choosing to focus on Katie's face. He frowned while she smiled weakly. "And it was my dad's before that and — well, it was passed through the family. Chris found it in his dorm when we... you know, cleared it out."

Katie could feel herself becoming choked up. Pausing, she took a deep breath, blinked away her welling tears and continued on.

"Chris wanted me to keep it and pass it on to my son but, well, when have I ever had any luck in relationships?" she laughed hollowly and Harry's frown only deepened.

"Don't say that..." he began gently, taking a step towards her, but she smiled and waved him down.

"I want you to have it," she said and she held the box out to him. Harry gawked at her, seemingly at a loss for words. "Please," Katie pressed, a hint of desperation laced into her voice. "I really don't want to keep it, it just makes me sad and, quite frankly, there's no one else I'd rather pass it to other than you."

Harry stood still, completely frozen and silent, goggling at Katie, though now and then his wide eyes did drift to the chain that was glinting in the sunlight that was shining through the window. Many lingering seconds passed in which Harry did not move or speak so, to speed up the process and to ensure that he wouldn't refuse, Katie grabbed Harry's hand, placed the box on his palm, then closed his fingers around it. This seemed to bring him back to reality because he shook his head and began blinking again.

"Katie I... I don't know if I can take this..."

A warm smile tugged at her lips. "I want you to have it."

Harry reached out for the chain, hesitated, then very carefully, as though it was made of glass, plucked it from its case and draped it around his neck. With great difficulty, he managed to fasten the clasp himself, then he took the onyx crystal and began twirling it around his fingers.

"Thanks," he whispered and he looked up to meet Katerina's eyes, which were threatening tears once more. "Really, thank you so much."

A tear slipped from Katie's eye and although she hastily wiped it away, Harry still noticed and he pulled her into a comforting embrace. No matter what danger lay ahead, no matter where destiny was to lead her, in those few moments as Harry Potter held her, Katerina Blair felt safe. It was almost like home.

***

Katie was quite ashamed to admit that her mind was elsewhere during Bill and Fleur's wedding ceremony. Harry had decided to wear the necklace that Katie had gifted him the day before for his birthday, and as Bill and Fleur were wed, she stared at the onyx crystal as happy memories with Leo flashed through her mind. She had not even realised she was crying until the band started playing and cheers erupted as Bill and Fleur started dancing. She rapidly wiped her tears and painted a smile on her face, but so many other people were crying tears of joy that Katie managed to blend in.

"Are you all right?"

Katie whipped around. Hermione had just appeared at her side. She was wearing a flowing, lilac dress and her hair was sleek and shiny. Her expression displayed clear signs of worry.

"Yeah, just thinking about Leo." Katie admitted. There was no point in lying. Hermione offered her a small smile and squeezed her shoulder in a reassuring manner. The pair had been so distracted that they did not notice a guest slumping towards them. He had thick, black eyebrows and a brooding nose.

"You look vunderful."

"Viktor!" Hermione shrieked, dropping her small beaded bag which Katie knew was holding everything that she was to take on the Horcrux hunt. As she scrambled, blushing, to pick it up, she said, "I didn't know you were -- goodness — it's lovely to see you — how are you?"

Ron came sweeping through the crowd, his ears glowing pink. He barely even spared Viktor Krum a glance before rounding on Hermione and saying, "Come and dance."

Looking surprised but pleased, Hermione took Ron's hand and they disappeared onto the dance floor together. Katie watched them go with a wide smile on her face. She had almost forgotten that Viktor was there until he spoke again.

"Ah, they are together now?" he asked.

"Er — sort of." Katie answered.

"This girl," Krum pointed to Ginny, who was wearing a gold bridesmaid's dress and dancing with Luna, "she is very nice-looking."

Katie, who knew all too well that Harry would not like to see Ginny slow dancing with a Professional Quidditch Player, hastily said, "Yes, that's my friend Ginny, but she's seeing someone. Jealous type. Big bloke. You wouldn't want to cross him."

"You," Viktor said so suddenly that Katie jumped. "You are that Quidditch player. Slytherin, yes?"

Feeling completely amazed that Viktor Krum, who had probably met hundreds of people in her lifetime, somehow remembered her, Katie felt a blush creeping up to her face.

"Oh — yes that's me." she stammered out, trying to smile.

"You are still very tiny," Krum said pointedly. "I don't think you have grown at all. Would you like to dance?" he added. Katie was very taken aback by how quickly he changed subjects.

"I — oh — no, thank you, I don't dance—"

"Yes she does!"

Katie did not have the chance to see who had grabbed her arm until they had steadily led her to the dance floor and she could focus on their face. Before she could object, Fred had already started leading her in a dance.

"You looked uncomfortable. Thought I'd save you," he sniggered. "Starstruck, are we?"

"I keep his signature in the safe pocket of my trunk and now he's telling me that he remembers me." Katie said, still feeling rather flustered.

"Don't lie, you were totally jealous when Hermione showed up with him at the Yule Ball." Fred smirked.

Katie blushed again. "I was not! And can you slow down, I'm not a good dancer."

"Oh, come on," Fred chuckled. He did not slow down and continued to dance just as energetically as before. Katie could feel her hair falling loose of its neat bun. "I'm your brother, you can tell me the truth."

Katie stared at Fred for many moments, then shook her head, grinning. "I don't think I'll ever see you as a brother."

It was rather odd for Katie to hear Fred refer to himself as her brother. After all, she had not really been that close with Fred and George until after the Quidditch World Cup. Ron, on the other hand, was like a brother to Katie a long time before the Weasleys took her in, just as Ginny was like a sister to her.

Fred clutched his chest in fake pain. "Ouch! What am I, then?"

"Partner in crime?" George suggested as he waltzed over to them and grabbed Katie's forearm. "I'll be stealing her from you now, Fred. I haven't got anyone to dance with."

Then, ten minutes later, George retreated to get a goblet of Firewhisky, and Katie was left standing quite alone in the middle of the dance floor. She did not want to dare the journey through the exuberant dancing pairs and risk being knocked over, so she stood, stiff as a board, scratching her neck awkwardly.

"You look lost."

Letting out a breath of relief, Katie turned to see Ron, smirking, approaching her. Without giving him a chance to say anything else, she seized his arms.

"Oh, thank Merlin," she breathed. "Dance with me so I look less awkward."

"I mean, I could always go and get Harry for you." Ron suggested, but he did not look at all disgruntled by the fact that Katie was forcing him to dance. In fact, they both got a good laugh out of it. Katie was terribly uncoordinated and Ron himself was not an extraordinary dancer, so they spent most of their time tripping over each other's feet and resorting into fits of laughter.

"I need a drink." Katie panted after what must have been an hour.

"You and me both." Ron said, sounding just as out of breath as she. As the pair brought themselves over to the drinks table, they found Chris and Niall quite locked together. It was hard to believe that they weren't suffocating each other.

"Oi, get out of it," Katie shoved them and they broke apart. "You're blocking the champagne."

"Just because you're upset you're single, doesn't mean you have to take it out on us." Chris grumbled as he wiped his lips, which were exceptionally swollen.

"Still mad that I snogged someone before you did, then?" Katie hummed.

Ron snorted and grabbed two glasses of champagne, handing one to Katie, who gave him a nod of gratitude.

"That is so not true!" Chris said defiantly. A pink tinge dusted his cheeks.

Katie rolled her eyes. "Whatever. Don't block the drinks — go shack up in a bedroom somewhere."

Niall took Christian's hand and they drifted towards the dance floor. Katie had barely taken a sip of her champagne, which she actually thought tasted rather vile, when a mystical, silver mass fell from the canopy, taking the form of a lynx. The band abruptly stopped singing as everyone turned their attention to the Patronus, which opened its mouth and spoke in the slow, deep voice of Kingsley Shacklebolt.

"The Ministry has fallen. Scrimgeour is dead. They are coming."

In perfect synchronisation, Katie and Ron dropped their champagne glasses, which shattered at their feet and grazed their ankles, and whipped out their wands. Throughout the wedding, people were screaming and Disapparating. Hooded figures in rippling black cloaks were appearing. The protective enchantments placed on the Burrow had broken.

"Hermione..." Ron whispered and then he shouted, "HERMIONE!"

Tightly gripping each other's arm so they did not get separated, Katie and Ron plunged themselves into the crowd. Katie saw Remus and Tonks raise their wands and bellow, "Protego!"

A flash of green light flew right over Katie's head but she did not dare look around to see if it had hit anyone. Ron was still screaming for Hermione, but Katie was adamant on finding Harry. It was obvious why the Death Eaters had come tonight — they were after Harry, and it was only a matter of time before one of them would find him and Voldemort himself would appear at the wedding.

"Ron! Ron!"

"Hermione!"

Hermione latched onto Ron's free arm.

"Where's Harry?" she cried.

"There!" Ron pointed dead ahead. Harry was pushing his way through the crowd towards them.

On Katie's left, Chris and Niall were duelling a very tall Death Eater. A burst of red light issued from the Death Eater's wand and hit Chris squarely in the chest, and he flew backwards into a table, crushing it, then lay still.

"Chris!" Katie screamed, lunging forwards, but before she could reach him, Hermione had grabbed Harry's hand and the four of them were Apparating. Katie felt the familiar sensation of being squeezed through a pipe, compressed from all angles, racing through darkness.

"Where are we?" Ron asked.

Katie opened her eyes. For a moment she thought that they had not left the wedding. They were still surrounded by people.

"Tottenham Court Road," Hermione panted. "Walk, just walk, we need to find somewhere to change."

"Muggle London?" Katie quizzed quirking an eyebrow.

"It's the place they'd least expect us to come."

They half ran, half walked up the wide, dark street thronged with late-night revelers and lined with closed shops. A double-decker bus that Katie almost mistook for the Knight Bus rumbled by.

"Hermione, we haven't got anything to change into." Ron told her as she led them down a side street, then into the shelter of a shadowy alleyway.

"I've got everything in here." Hermione said. She opened her beaded bag and pulled out a pair of jeans and a jumper, which she tossed to Ron, who goggled at her, marvelled.