113Disclaimer: Don't own it.
A/N: I'm sorry this took so long to get out! Opening night was a week from last thursday, and I was freakin out! I wasn't all that confident at the dances, and neither were the rest of the cast members. It went all right though. It was supposed to be on the 7th, but luckily for us (we sucked) we had a lot of cancellations due to snow, so we didn't open then. We opened Thursday the 13th instead. Well I hope you enjoy this chapter, and plzzz plzzzzzzzzzzz plzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz! REVIEW! Give a tired an sick actress something to look forward too! REVIEW!
Chapter 12 Secrets
The explanation took over an hour, and by the time everyone had calmed down (around 8:30), Kaitie and Hermione could be heard trying to wake up Ron, Fred, George, Mattie, and Nick. Harry hadn't noticed, but Lily had seen Snape leave after James came in the kitchen.
Once the girls had,-quite literally-dragged the boys out of bed; Lily made breakfast, and then the group headed to St. Mungos to see Mr. Weasley.
The group had fun visiting, and were assured that Mr. Weasley would get well, as long as he didn't try to get out of bed for the next few days. As they stood outside the ward waiting for the Weasleys to have time with their father alone, (which Lily insisted upon), and the adults went to get tea, Harry turned to Kaitie.
"Kait?"
"Yeah?"
"I'm sorry I've been such a jerk lately. I wasn't mad at you. I'm was mad at mum and dad."
"WHY?" Kaitie asked in surprise.
"I just couldn't understand why they'd leave me like that if they were alive."
"O. I guess I didn't realize they hadn't already told you," she apologized.
"That's alright."
Nick and Mattie were staring at their siblings, and they both wondered what was going on.
Mattie spoke up softly,
"if you were mad at them, then why did you cry when you found out who they were?" she asked Harry, confused.
"I really don't know Mat. I guess I was happy that they were alive, but angry at the same time that they didn't tell me. I got close with you three, because I knew you didn't have anything to do with it, but subconsciously I think I was mad-at least at Kait-because she got to spend the most time with them, and told me all these great stories. I guess I was jealous."
Kaitie ran to her brother with tears in her eyes. She hurriedly blinked them back,
"O Harry! I'm so sorry! If I'd known... You should've smacked me or hexed my mouth shut or something! Shauna thought you were mad that one time I told you about the quidditch match, so I stopped, but I wish you'd told me how you felt," she finished.
"'sokay," Harry said, "like I said, I was jealous." The four children sat in silence for a few minutes.
"I have an idea!" Kaitie exclaimed suddenly making everyone jump.
"What is it?" Harry asked.
Kaitie grinned wickedly and whispered,
"Tell you later." Harry scowled at her as the Weasleys came out of Arthur's room, and the group headed home.
December 21
Dear Kait,
I'm sorry I couldn't come with you to your house. My dog was sick, and since it was break, and my parents were getting ready to leave on vacation, I was allowed to go home. Dumbledore sent me a letter telling me what happened. Is Harry all right? What about Mr. Weasley? Will he be ok? How are you?
Ok, enough with the questions. LOL My parents said that, if its ok with your family, I can come to your house for Christmas. I don't mean to invite myself, (I hate it when people do that), but you said something about it last week. Well I'd better go. Hope to see you soon. (Don't do any good pranks without me.)
Shauna
Kaitie ran downstairs with the letter from Shauna in her hand. "Mum! Mum! Can Shauna come to stay for Christmas? Her parents said it was ok. Can she come? Please!"
Lily looked up from the laundry basket where she was folding clothes on her bed.
"Go ask your godfather. It's his house, but its ok with me," Lily smiled at her daughter.
"Sirius!" Kaitie called as she ran from the room, "Sirius! Siri- aah!" Kaitie collided with Sirius as she ran down the kitchen steps.
"Hey Kitty!" he laughed as he caught her, "where's the fire?"
Kaitie grinned,
"No fire, I was just wondering if my friend Shauna Louis could come for Christmas."
"Well I don't see why not. As long as your sure she won't blow our cover."
"O no! She won't! She's totally on our side! She even said that she would fight against Voldemort if it came to that. She's in the DA."
"The what?"
"Oops!"
"Kathryn. What's the DA?"
"Um..., ItsasecretclubHarryisleading!"
"Come again?"
Kaitie sighed,
"Its a secret club Harry is leading against Umbridge. Since we're not actually doing magic in that horrible excuse for a defense class. Harry, Ron, and Hermione started the DA, and we meet in the "Room of Requirement," once a week or so."
"Kathryn!" Harry yelled as he came down the steps behind her.
"I'm sorry Harry, it just slipped out! It's just Sirius, he'll probably help us!" Kaitie pleaded.
Her brother grinned as he stood beside her, "true."
"Hmmm, might I inquire as to what DA stands for?" Sirius asked..
"D-Dumbledore's Army," Harry said quietly so creature (who was passing) wouldn't hear.
Sirius grinned and pulled Harry and Kaitie into a hug.
"Just be careful and don't get caught," he advised.
"Now run along, Kitten, and write back to Shauna. She can come tomorrow if she likes."
"Yeaaaaah!" Kaitie yelled as she raced back up the stairs, setting Mrs. Black screeching, to write back to her friend.
Dear Shauna,
They said yes! Sirius was worried about you blowing our cover, and I accidently spilled about DA, but that's ok because he gave Harry some really cool books!
I can't wait to read them.
(Never practice the spells though... o no! Of course not! LOL)
Well see you tomorrow. Someone from the "family" will come to get you around 11.
Can't wait!
(Bye the way, you know who is coming to get you, so don't worry.) Aaaah! That came out wrong! Not that "you know who!" Its someone... O never mind, You know what I meant... I hope. LOL
Well see you around 11-ish!
love,
Kait
The next day:
Kaitie sat at the top of the stairs overlooking the hall. It was 10:55! She couldn't wait for shauna to get there! She was also curious as to who was bringing her. Her dad told her that it was someone from the order, and that shauna knew them, but who it was. Who did Shauna know that was in the order? Kaitie racked her brains. She knew of Sirius and dad and mum, but she'd never met any of them. Who was it? Just then the locks, chains, and bolts moved and the door opened.
In stepped Shauna, with Remus by her side, carrying a beautiful owl. It was big and brown with large amber eyes.
"Shauna! Remus!" Kaitie squealed leaping down the stairs. "I'm so happy to see you both!" She raced to hug Shauna. Remus sat the owl cage down on a table, and then scooped Kaitie up into a bear-hug. Kaitie hugged him back, and then turning in his arms, she yelled,
"Hey everybody! Shauna and Remus are here!"
Nick and Mattie were the first down the stairs shrieking, "Remus Remus REMUS!"
"Hey there nicky! Hey Matt!" Remus said smiling at the enthusiastic youngsters. Nick scowled at the nickname, (no pun intended), but hugged Remus tightly all the same.
Next came Molly, Lily, and Tonks (who was staying for dinner), from the kitchen. James and Sirius ran through another door off the main hall, just as Harry raced down the stairs with Ron and Hermione on his heels. James, Harry, Sirius And ron almost collided in the hall, which of course caused an outbreak of laughter. It's a good thing James came up with a silencing spell that would shut up Mrs. Black.
"Remus!" Harry said excitedly.
"Hey Harry!" Remus said, hugging the teen. He looked over harry's head, "hey Ron, Hermione, James, Molly Lily, Arthur... everybody."
Then a thought struck him as he looked at Sirius.
"Where's Amelia?" he asked.
"Who?" Sirius questioned, puzzled. It was then that Remus noticed Hermione making frantic shushing motions behind Sirius' back.
"O just another friend of Kait's. I thought she'd be here."
"O she went skiing with her mum." Shauna lied.
"O, pity, I'd like to meet her," Sirius commented, and Kaitie noticed a far away look in his eyes. It was only there for a second; however, and then it was gone.
December 23
Dear Kait,
How's everything going? Is Mr. Weasley alright? Mum said she knew him and Molly well before... you know. She flipped out when I told her what happened.
How's my dad? I bet he's going crazy, since Christmas is 2 days away.
Mum says he used to love enchanting the Christmas tree to sing, "I'm a Christmas tree. I'm a Christmas tree. I have such lovely branches."
She really misses him, but she figures he's probably forgotten about her. I smacked her and told her she was nuts, and that he couldn't possibly have forgotten her. She wasn't convinced. I think she wants him to come find her, so she knows he really wants to see her. I really want to meet him! I don't think she really means what she's saying; she's just scared.
I'm sending presents for you, Harry, Ron, and Hermione. I have a gift for dad, but he doesn't even know I exist! Kait, I'm gonna go crazy! Gotta go. Hope to see you soon.
Merry Christmas.
Love,
(your godsis),
Amelia B
P. S. Shauna wrote and said she was going to "GP." You two having fun? Her present is in the package too. You guys behave and no cool pranks without me!
Kaitie sat the letter aside, and wrote back:
Dear Emi,
Mr. Weasley's fine, and your right, your dad is going nuts about Christmas; so is mine. Your mum's absolutely nuts! I can tell your dad misses her! When he thinks know one is watching, he gets this faraway look in his eyes, and looks so lost. (I got a glimpse of it yesterday when Remus accidently mentioned you in front of him.) I really think it would do both of them good to see each other again. Please tell Olivia I said that! O and tell her to show some Gryffindor spirit! She was sorted into Gryffindor for a reason! Tell her to show it! Just suck it up already, and come see him!
Shauna and I have been having fun. We put apple sauce in dad's shoes this morning. He yelled, and then squealed like a girl when he put them on to go to work. We about died laughing, and so did the other trio. Fred and George had already put whipped cream and chocolate syrup in his pants! It got all over his legs, so he had to go wash again before he left for work!
He is going to kill us! Be glad your safe with your mum!
Well, Shauna and I are going to try and find creature, (we're bored), and maybe play with buckbeak.
Hope to see you, (and your mum), soon.
Merry Christmas,
Love,
your godsister.
KP
After sending the letter, Shauna and Kaitie sat in the drawing room planning pranks for the next semester.
"What about sticking peeves to Filtch's door with a permanent sticking charm?" Shauna suggested.
"no! Then he'd tell that it was us just to get us in trouble!" Kaitie shot down that idea. "I've got one!"
"Ooh! What's going on!" Harry asked eagerly as he entered the drawing room followed closely by Ron and Hermione.
"I'm about to reveal the plan I got at St. Mungos," Kaitie informed the older three.
"What is it?" Ron asked grinning wickedly.
Hermione frowned, "you do realize that whatever your planning will most likely get you all a month or more of detention, don't you?" she asked.
"Shut up 'Mione!" Ron snapped.
"Continue Kait," Harry said to his sister.
Kaitie grinned that Marauder grin and said, "Me, you, Ron, Hermione, Shauna, and Amelia, itching powder, bats cage, bucket of liquified slugs, doorway, and dung-bombs, in best caldron."
"No! Not me!" Hermione protested immediately.
"That would be hilarious!" Shauna exclaimed.
"Huh?" Ron looked confused. "Bats cage? What are you talking about?"
Kaitie rolled her eyes.
"Honestly Ron, your worse than Sirius."
"What about me?" Sirius questioned walking into the room along with James.
"We were just planning a prank on old Bat-Brain Snape," Kaitie admitted as the rest of the teens snickered
"Do tell!" Sirius said grinning like a school-boy. Kaitie repeated what she'd told the rest for her godfather.
"Ok, I know Shauna and the rest, but who is Amelia?" Sirius asked when she was finished.
"O, um-she's another friend," Kaitie said a little too quickly.
"I don't recall you ever mentioning her before. Have I seen her? Would I know her parents?"
Kaitie hurriedly looked away as she lied, "no, the-they're from America."
"O," was all Sirius could say to that. It was clear by his tone that he knew Kaitie was lying.
"O I think I hear Lily calling us to set the table!" James said quickly, and headed out the door. Sirius made to follow his friend, "no mate, you stay here. You've been doing a lot lately, and look tired. Just take a rest. You'll be on guard duty tomorrow night, remember?" he then turned and headed out of the room.
"Yeah, I hear her too!"
"Lets go guys!" Harry and Kaitie agreed, and the six of them raced out of the room and down the stairs after James.
Sirius stared after them. "I know they're lying, and I will find out what is going on around here," he said to the tapestry of the Black family tree that was hanging on the wall next to where he stood. "I am a marauder. They can't hide anything from me for long."
"Have you heard from Amelia?" Lily asked. "Yeah, we got a letter earlier today." Shauna answered for Kaitie as her friend was busy digging out cutlery from the large and ancient wooden drawers on the far side of the kitchen.
"How's she doing?" Lily asked.
Shauna sighed, "she wants to meet him, but her mother's to scared that he's moved on.
"That's absolutely ridiculous! Sirius was only ever in love with Livi and she knows it! I think I'll write Ms. Olivia Denise Parkinson Black a little letter reminding her of that fact," Lily exploded.
"Shauna grinned, "Good idea Mrs. Potter."
"O please Shauna, call me Lily."
"All right, Lily," Shauna agreed with an even larger smile.
"Dad?" Kaitie asked her father as she handed him knives and forks from the drawer.
"Kait?" he replied with a smile.
Kaitie gave him a little mock glare before asking, "what do you think Sirius would do if he were to meet Amelia on Christmas?"
"I don't know for sure Kitten, but I think he'd be shocked, then confused, then angry that nobody told him, but over all extremely overjoyed to see his wife and to have the daughter he's always wanted." James answered. Then he frowned, "what's your plan?"
Kaitie grinned, "well I've got to write Emi and see if it'll work, but I do have a plan."
December 24:
Kathryn Lynn Potter!
I thought I told you not to play any good pranks without me!
(Tosses a shoe at you.) Smack! Bad Kitty! Bad! Kitty!
Anyway... I'm bored. I wish I was with you and Shauna and the "Golden Trio," (Haha), and of course dad. My mum got a letter from your mum today. Ok... It was a howler. It went on and on about how stupid she was for thinking dad would've moved on when she was the only woman he ever loved and ever would love, and that she should just suck it up and flue to GP and see him, and bring me with her, because he would absolutely flip out and that he'd love me and she could join... and we all could live with him! Wow! Major run-on! LOL
I think it got her thinking though!
Yeeeeeeeeeessssssssss!
Do you have a plan? Should I just force mum into the fire and yell out the address?
Well write back soon!
Love,
Amelia
Emi,
Sorry about the pranks, but we couldn't pass up the opportunity. You understand?
O, and yes I have a plan. Can you get your mum to the park near GP at 10 on Christmas day? Write back soon!
Love,
Kait
Bang! Hiss! "Awe man!" Gales of laughter could be heard from a bedroom on the second floor. Lily walked toward the room with an empty laundry basket in her arms. She knocked, and then opened the door, and looked in at the eight teenagers and two children. Harry, Ron, Hermione, Kaitie, Ginny, Shauna, Fred, George, Nick, and Mattie sat in a circle on the middle of the warn, puke green carpet playing a gigantic game of "Exploding Snap." Ginny's face was covered in soot, and Nick was giggling behind his hand. Harry looked up from examining his cards as she entered.
"Hi mum," he greeted her as Kaitie waved from the far side of the circle, and Nick and Mattie ran to give her a hug.
"Hi Lily," chorused the rest of the children.
"Hey everybody," she said smiling around at them all as Nick and Mattie rejoined the circle. "I'm sorry to interrupt, but I need your laundry. Molly's cooking tonight, so I'm on laundry duty." (Lily and Molly took turns cooking and doing laundry while they were at headquarters, so the work was more evenly divided.)
The group groaned.
"I'm flattered! You all like my cooking better than Molly's?"
"Huh?" all the Weasleys questioned looking at her in confusion.
"We never said that!" Fred objected.
"Not that we don't like your cooking, your both great!" amended George.
"We were just groaning about the laundry!" Ginny explained. Lily grinned, "I know I just had to say that. You presented me with the perfect opportunity, and I'm married to a Marauder, remember?" Everyone laughed, and started leaving to gather their dirty clothing.
Lily stopped Harry as he passed, "Professor Snape wants to see you in the kitchen," she told him. His face went pale. "What'd I do?"
"Yeah, what'd he do?" Kaitie asked from behind her brother. "None of us've pulled any pranks on him in weeks!"
"Aha! So that red Weasley hair, pink robes with glittery hearts, and women's voice for a week was you!" Kaitie gulped.
Lily tried, but failed to contain her grin, and then her laughter as she patted her children on the back.
"Actually, most of it was Kait and the Mini Marauders," but... We helped with the voice potion in his drink." Harry explained. The three of them burst out laughing.
"Thanks a lot Kait!" Harry said through his laughter, "Now I'm going to look at him and fall over laughing, and he'll know something's up!"
"S-sorry," Kaitie gasped.
"O-ok, Harry, try and, stop laughing, and, go talk to your professor," Lily gasped out.
Harry headed down the stairs still chortling. When harry entered the kitchen he'd gotten his laughter under control, but had a very hard time keeping a straight face when he saw his potions professor sitting at the kitchen table glaring at James and Sirius. Of course, james and Sirius were glaring just as fiercely back.
"You, ur, wanted to see me sir?" Harry asked.
"Yes Harry, do sit down," Snape sneered. Harry sat between his father and godfather facing Snape.
"So now that he's here, what's this about?" his father questioned cooly.
"I'm sure even you've noticed your son's visions of The Dark Lord?" Snape sneered
"Yes I have," James said coolly, and then voiced what Harry was thinking, "you know, Severus, I've only ever heard Death Eaters call him the Dark Lord."
"Yeah Snivelly, why does Dumbledore trust you so much?"
"I hardly think that's relevant to this discussion." Snape hissed.
"Right, why am I here again sir? I'm sure it's not to hear you three bicker," Harry spoke up. Snape glared his fiercest glare at the three people across from him as Harry got two other glares from Sirius and his father.
"I am hear on Dumbledore's orders. I assure you I do not take pleasure in your presents."
"Same to you," Sirius muttered. Harry kicked him under the table. Snape ignored him.
"I am hear to tell you that you will be taking occlumency lessons with me for the remainder of the year.
"What's occlumency sir?" Harry asked feeling stupid.
"It's blocking your mind against intrusion," said Sirius. "Like visualizing a wall or box around the thoughts you don't want seen if someone were to look in your mind," James elaborated.
"Basically," Snape agreed. "Write this day down! Severus Snape agrees with James Potter, AND Sirius Black!" The world must be coming to an end!
Harry bit back a laugh at the irony of three long-time enemies agreeing in favor of listening to Snape. He couldn't wait to tell Ron and Hermione! Then a thought occurred to him that he didn't like.
"O no! Wait! YOUR going to be teaching me occlumency?!" Harry yelled incredulously.
A/N: hope you liked it! Review either way please! I wasn't going to end it here, but I decided to keep you guise waiting a little longer. Ha! I'm so evil! lol not really. People have done that to me before, so if any of u've done that who r reading this, its payback! haha. And now I ask of u one more thing. Go take a look at my friend HyperLily's story, it is called "The Unexpected Twist." It's awesome!
Well happy Easter, and I'll try and get the next chapter out ASAP.
REVIEW! PLEASE?