Falling Slowly

Ch. 1 First Day of the Last Year, from Katie’s point of view. This is the sequel to Loving You, read it first please.

I sighed lifting my bag onto my shoulders as I started to head off for Muggle Studies. This year there was much talk about the subject since Muggle Studies was a subject that now everyone had to take at least one year of, much to the displeasure of those who still believed that pure-bloods were superior to others but did not dare speak it.

I sat down in the familiar classroom in which I had spent so much time in over the past six years. My now brother-in-law, Professor Malfoy was standing at the front of the room, tilted his head at me. Jason was one of the rare people that I felt comfortable talking to, along with the rest of my immediate family and my grandpa.

I looked around the room at my classmates, including several Slytherins (who were now forced to be here) did not look happy to be here. One black boy who had long slanting eyes and high cheek bones saw me looking at them, and gave me a piercing look causing me to look down at my desk. I could feel the blush rise to my cheeks.

Just at that moment Jason cleared his throat. The class became quiet as he started to talk. The class went quickly (too quickly for my taste since this was my favorite subject).

“One of the projects we will do this year is a year long school project. I will be assigning everyone a partner to work with,” Jason said, making me groan internally since I hated working with other people, “I will assign your partners and subjects at the end of October, and part of your project will be graded on how well you work as a group.”

Jason ended the class and people started to leave and collect their belongings.

“Hi professor,” I said somewhat timidly as I approached the front of the class looking down at my feet.

“Hey Katie,” he said, “How did you like my first class?”

“It was quite good,” I said only glancing up at him.

“Rose and I wanted you to come to dinner sometime this week in our rooms,” Jason said.

“Alright,” I said, “I look forward to it.”

“I’ll see you on Wednesday night then?” Jason said.

“I’ll see you then,” I said turning to leave and head to my next class.

Wednesday came and I went to find my sister and Jason’s rooms by the directions that Rose had given me before term started. I was grateful that I would be spending time with people that I felt comfortable talking to. I found the painting of a waterfall and said the password (oh no), the painting swung outward to reveal a small living room that was decorated in dark shades of blue. Jason was sitting on the couch with one and a half year old, nearly two year old Paige on his lap.

“But I want the candy Wason,” Paige said, “Daddy father said I could have it.”

“Dad said you can have it after dinner,” Jason said, “We can fire call mum and ask her.”

“No Wason,” said the little girl, “I wait, and I be good.”

“Hi Jason, hi Paige,” I said.

“Katie!” Paige said, “I get candy after dinner, don’t forget.”

“I won’t,” I said smiling at Paige before turning to Jason, “Where’s Rose?”

“She’s just changing from work,” Jason said, “I hope you don’t mind Paige being here, my parents needed break.”

“I don’t mind,” I said sitting down next to Jason.

I could see why Jason’s parents needed break from Paige, she was definitely a Slytherin, and Rose had told me that she had her father and brother wrapped around her little finger. I hated to think how both of them would handle it when she started dating.

“Wason I go find Wose,” Paige said climbing off of her brother’s lap.

Paige’s short legs carried her into the bedroom and Jason shook his head at his sister’s behavior. Soon Paige came back out leading Rose out by the hand.

“Here Wose,” Paige announced, “Now have dinner then candy.”

“Hey Katie,” Rose said hugging me as Jason started to be dragged off by Paige, “how are you doing?”

“I’m good,” I said, “How are you?”

“Good, busy,” Rose said since she was now running the Weasley Wizards Wheezes in Hogsmeade.

We sat down to dinner talking (with Paige doing most of the talking). I saw new pictures of my nephew, James, sitting with Charlotte and Charlie (who came back to England only just a year ago from holiday). Dinner finished, Paige was silenced briefly with her candy as I said good bye to Jason and Rose.

Time started to go by quickly, and soon we entered October. During the second week in October I was sitting in the common room one night while I started my homework when Professor Smith, who was my head of my house, walked into the room followed by a girl that I didn’t recognize. She had long brown hair with blue eyes.

“Hi Katie,” Professor Smith said.

“Hello Professor,” I said quietly.

“This is Amy, she and her family just moved here,” Professor explained, “she just got sorted into Hufflepuff, if you could show her to your dorm rooms.”

“Alright Professor,” I said.

“I thought he would never leave,” Amy said as we started to clime the stairs after I collected my belongings.

“Many students think he’s a little stuffy,” I said.

We reached our dorm room and I showed her the bed that was empty for her. I sat on my bed and watched Amy unpack.

“So what subjects are you taking this year,” Amy asked after she unpacked.

“Well Muggle Studies, Charms, and Transfiguration,” I said.

“So few?” Amy asked.

“It’s really the only ones I need to work with Muggles,” I said.

“I don’t think I could work with Muggles,” Amy said shrugging as she hung some of her sweaters in her wardrobe.

Amy continued talking and I only talked when she asked me questions as she continued unpacking her trunk. I found out that Amy was an only child, she moved to France when she was only nine, and she went to Beauxbaton until her parents moved back to England within the last week.

Amy asked me about my family, and I told her about my siblings, but I was reluctant to tell her about my father since I wanted Amy to be my friend because she liked me for who I was; not for being Harry Potter’s daughter. Amy and I went down to dinner, glad that I wasn’t sitting alone at dinner for once.

Please leave feedback, and there will be a character list at the feedback.

Ch. 2 If You See Him, this is from Abby’s point of view. Just to be clear this fic takes place a year and a half after Loving You ended, Becky and Sirius had a son named Adam. Happy reading, :).
I still want her
I still need him so
I don’t know why we let each other go
If you see her
Tell her the light's still on for her
Nothing's changed
Deep down the fire still burns for him –Brooks and Dunn

I sighed as I sat in front of the fire with a glass of wine in my hand. I wished I could stop thinking about him, that I could stop loving him. It had been over a year and a half since I had last seen Charlie, and yet I was still in love with him. I still had dreams about Charlie and I getting married and having children one day.

When our relationship ended there were many nights where I had trouble falling asleep or I would cry myself to sleep. I decided not go back to the dragon reserve to work with Charlie and Bianca. as much I as I hated the thought of not working with dragons I decided to take a job at the ministry of magic and work the department for the regulation and control of magical creatures.

Last year whilst working at the ministry I met Heather, she quickly became one of my best friends who now shared a flat with me. Having Heather to confide in helped me deal with not having Charlie so long in my life. The door of our flat opened to show Heather there, who was soaking wet.

“How was your date,” I asked as she took off her soaking wet jacket.

“Horrible,” she replied.

“Really?” I asked.

“The only thing he wanted to talk about was Quidditch or himself,” she said.

“I’m sorry,” I said, “Wine?”

“Sure,” she said sitting down across from me as I summoned another glass from the kitchen and poured a generous amount of wine.

“I hate that we’re both single,” I said hoping the bitterness didn’t show in my voice.

“Me too,” Heather said, “but I think you found someone, you just need to go after him.”

“Heather please, he doesn’t love me anymore, I’m sure he’s moved on,” I said.

“You don’t know until you try and talk to him,” Heather said.

“Yeah what would I say when I did go after him?” I said “I’m sorry?”

“That wouldn’t hurt,” Heather said taking a drink.

“I don’t think I could face him,” I said shaking my head as I looked down at my feet.

“I think you could,” she said.

“Did you want to come with me to Diagon Alley tomorrow?” I asked quickly.

“Yes, and don’t change the subject,” she said smiling, “I think you should write him, to get some closure if nothing else.”

“I don’t know,” I said, “I just I’m scared you know what if he’s moved on.”

“Then be happy for him,” Heather said, “then you can start dating other men.”

“Maybe,” I said before taking a sip of wine.

Heather and I continued talking late into the night. The two of us went to Diagon Alley to help me look for dress robes for a ministry dinner that I had to go to. I was grateful for Heather’s help. As we left the shop with my new dress robes I ran into a solid chest, which almost knocked me over but I felt strong arms come around me and as my arms went around his neck as I dropped my package. My eyes locked with his blue eyes and my mouth fell open in surprise.

“Charlie,” I whispered.

Now switching to Katie’s point of view.

I sat in the library with my Muggle studies book out in front of me reading the chapter for the next class. I glanced at my watch, I had been waiting nearly twenty minutes for him to show up. Today in Muggle studies we started working on a project which would take until the end of term to complete, and we also had to work in partners. I felt some anxiety about working on a project with Jayden Zabini, but I was willing to give him a chance.

Five minutes later Jayden slid into the chair across from me. Jayden, who dad told me looked just like his father, crossed his long muscled arms as he pushed his chair back so that only two legs of the chair sat on the floor. We sat in an awkward silence for a moment before the librarian told Jayden to put all of the legs of his chair on the floor.

“What did you want to do the project on?” I asked timidly.

“What ever you want,” Jayden said sounding annoyed, “You’re the one that is supposed to be good at this subject.”

“Well I was thinking about doing it on maybe electricity,” I said flushing at his comment, “It’s not hard to find information about that.”

“Fine,” Jayden said, “just tell me what you want me to do to get the grade.”

I nodded, working with Jayden was going to be harder than I thought. Jayden and I split up the work, I was surprised that Jayden was willing to do half of the work since I thought he would make me do most of it.

“Is it true your brother got traded,” Jayden asked suddenly.

“Which brother?” I asked looking up at him from my book, which I had started to take notes from to help us with our project.

“Jeremy,” he said.

“Not that I’ve heard of,” I said, “I’m surprised that you would ask about my brothers’ Quidditch careers.”

“Just because I’m in Slytherin doesn’t mean I don’t know a good Quidditch player when I see one,” Jayden said, “I just wish they played for Slytherin instead of Hufflepuff and Gryffindor, don’t tell anyone that I said that though.”

“I’ll keep your secret,” I said grinning.

I left the library after I made an outline of how Jayden and I would do our project. My head was filled with our conversation as I made my way up to my room to put my things on the bed. I was surprised to find Amy sitting on her bed, sobs racking her body.

“Amy?” I said after setting my bag on my bed.

She looked at me in surprise, her face was red and puffy from crying.

“I didn’t hear you come in,” she said brushing her tears away in surprise.

“What’s wrong?” I asked as I sat next to her on the bed.

“I got a letter from one of my friends back in France,” she said, “I’ve been getting homesick lately…”

“And it made you think of home,” I said cutting her off, “I know how that feels. During my first year I would cry every time I got a letter from home, it took all of my siblings to make me stop crying.”

“I’m glad you understand,” Amy said brushing away some of her tears that had started leaking down her cheeks again, “and I’m glad I have you as a friend.”

“I’m glad you think of me as a friend,” I said giving her a small hug.

That’s all for now, and please leave feedback.

Ch. 3 Starting Over, from Abby’s point of view.

“Charlie,” I whispered.

My eyes where still clapped with his intensely blue eyes as we slowly pulled away from each other.

“I’m sorry,” I said bending down to pick up the package that I had dropped.

“How, how are you?” Charlie asked.

“I’m ok,” I said looking into his eyes again, “how have you been?”

“I’ve been alright,” Charlie said while he ran his fingers through his hair, “is it alright if go talk somewhere?”

“I, um,” I said as I looked at Heather.

“You go on,” Heather whispered, “you two need to talk.”

I watched Heather walk away, I felt my stomach feel with butterflies as I looked back as Charlie. He hadn’t changed one bit since the last time I had seen him. Charlie and I walked to a little café, where we sat with our drinks at a little table in the corner of the shop. We sat in awkward silence but there was so much I wanted to say to him but unable to say it.

“Are you seeing anyone,” Charlie asked suddenly.

“I’m not,” I said.

We slipped back into an awkward silence, I sipped my tea as I started to avoid his eyes. Time seemed to drag on slowly while we didn’t say anything. Please say anything I thought; please tell me that you missed me too or that you have been as miserable as I have. We slowly finished our drinks still in an awkward silence, both of us avoiding the other’s eyes.

“I better get home,” I said once I finished my drink.

“Can I walk you home,” Charlie asked with an eager look on his face that I couldn’t say no to.

I nodded before we stood to leave as Charlie put several galleons on the table. We apparated right outside my flat building before we walked several flights up to my flat.

“Well this is my flat,” I said stopping and hesitantly turning to unlock the wards that Heather and I had put up.

“Will you have dinner with me tomorrow night,” Charlie asked quickly, “at my place?”

“I don’t know,” I said turning towards Charlie.

“Please Abby,” he said.

“Alright,” I said.

“I’ll pick you up at seven, here?” he asked.

“At seven,” I agreed.

Charlie smiled at me before he walked away (which I couldn’t help but watch). I barely slept that night as I thought about dinner the next day. I went to work after getting barely any sleep and I worried about what was to occur later that night. I went home two and a half hours before Charlie said he would come and get me so I could shower and get ready.

I had a hard time choosing what to wear, I wanted to look good for him but I also did not want to seem too eager incase Charlie no longer had feelings for me. At seven I heard a knock at the door, and I smoothed my hands on my dress and took a deep breath as I headed towards the door. I opened it to find Charlie standing behind it; he looked amazing.

“You look beautiful,” he said.

“Thank you,” I said looking down as I blushed.

“Are you ready to go?” Charlie asked.

I nodded, Charlie held out one of his large hands to me, I took it just before he Apparated outside the wards of his house. We walked inside where we were greeted by the smell of cooked food. Charlie had set up his small kitchen with many candles, his table had food waiting for us.

“This looks wonderful Charlie,” I said touching his arm.

We sat down to the food that Charlie had made. Unlike the day before we were able to talk freely. I found out that Charlie still worked with Bianca while Bianca’s grandmother watched Charlotte (who liked to call Charlie ‘Unc’), who would turn two in several months. We talked for hours after we’d eaten, it was growing late but luckily I didn’t have to go to work the next day. I helped Charlie clean up from dinner before we moved into the sitting area. I tucked my legs under me as we sat down on the couch.

“I’ve missed you,” Charlie said.

“I missed you too,” I said, my heart started to speed up.

“I wish I hadn’t left that day,” Charlie said, “I regret that now.”

“Charlie,” I said, “It’s alright.”

“It’s not,” he said, “I died everyday that I wasn’t with you and... and yesterday when I saw you I knew I had to try again.”

“Try again at what,” I asked in a whisper.

“At getting you back,” Charlie said as one of his large calloused hands touched my cheek, “at winning your heart back.”

“You have nothing to win back,” I said softly, “my heart is still yours.”

Charlie lifted my chin and gently kissed me, his lips were rough in texture but his kisses were gentle just as I remembered. My arms moved around his neck as he deepened the kiss. We broke apart several moments later, both of us breathing heavy.

“I love you, I love you,” Charlie said as he put his forehead against mine.

“I love you too,” I said as my fingers ran across his jaw line.

Charlie pulled me into his arms and I rested my head on his shoulder.

“Charlie?” I asked.

“How come you didn’t try and contact me earlier than this if, if you still wanted to be with me?” I asked.

“Because I’d thought I lost you forever,” Charlie said, “and that you deserved to find someone else.”

“Oh,” I said, “I’m glad we ran into each other.”

“Me too,” Charlie said as he tightened his arms around me and I knew that I was safe since I had Charlie back in my life, and hopefully for the rest of my life.

Ch. 4 Confusion from Jayden’s point of view.

I felt my fingers touch her hair that ran down her shoulders while my other arm tightened around her waist and we sat on the grass overlooking the lake. I felt her turn her head causing our lips to meet.

“Katie,” I whispered as I hugged her closer to me.

I bolted up in bed, sweating and breathing hard. That was the second time I had that dream. I couldn’t imagine what my friends would say if they knew what I was dreaming about. Katie had become my friend over the last few weeks while we would work on our Muggle Studies project together and we had gotten to know each other fairly well.

My mind usually always seemed filled with images of Katie lately. How her face would light up as she would talk about different things Muggles would do or invent, or how she would talk about her nephew, Adam, the color of her brown eyes. You have it bad a voice in my head said.

“I don't,” I said lying back down, I was awake the rest of the night.

The next morning seemed to come mere seconds after I fell asleep. My day dragged on slowly, I had trouble staying awake in my classes. After dinner I started to walk to library to meet Katie to finish our project. I found her sitting at a table, her vivid red hair spilling over her shoulders.

“Hey,” I said softly as I sat down.

“Hey,” Katie said looking up with a smile on her face, which made my mouth go dry, “Are you alright?”

“Yeah I’m just a little tired, I didn’t sleep well last night,” I said my voice a little higher than it normally was.

What if Katie knew about the dream I had I thought she wouldn’t want to see me again, and she deserves better than me. We worked silently on our project for several more hours before it was finished. I wish I could spend more time with her I thought as we gathered our belongings together.

“Katie?” I asked.

“Yeah?” she said looking up her hair falling slightly into her eyes, I wanted to brush it out of her face.

“I, um, would you like to go to Hogsmeade with me on Saturday?” I asked causing her eyes to grow wide.

This is going to be a mistake I thought.

“As just friends,” Katie said I knew it wasn’t a question.

“Yeah sure,” I said feeling my heart sink, “I’ll see you at nine on Saturday?”

“See you then,” Katie said as she hung her book back on her should her and made her way out of the library.

I sat down in a chair again as disappointment and this strange attraction swirled through me.

Switching to Katie’s point of view

My arms were full of packages that I had found, with a little help from Jayden, for my family as Christmas gifts. I was a little nervous when Jayden asked me to go to Hogsmeade with him, I wasn’t ready for any kind of relationship and I didn’t want to give Jayden the wrong idea. It made me look at Jayden in a whole new light though. Did he like me as more than a friend; I did notice his eyes on me when ever I entered a room. Jayden would often walk me back to my common room after we finished working in the library. Does mean he wants me as a girlfriend, I thought. He did seem disappointed when I told him I just wanted to go to Hogsmeade as friends though.

I didn’t know how to feel about Jayden. I knew that I could at least admit that Jayden and I had become friends while we worked on our projects together and that I was able to tell him things that I hadn’t been able to tell other people before. I soon found myself at my common room.

“Thank you for helping me find things for my family,” I said turning to Jayden.

“You’re welcome,” Jayden said, “Is it alright that I owl you over Christmas break?”

“Yes,” I said.

“Have a good break Katie,” Jayden said kissing me on the cheek.

“Bye,” I said breathlessly.

“Mr. Zabini isn’t it time you go back to your common room?”

Jayden and I looked to see Jason and Rose standing at the end of the corridor, Rose’s mouth was hanging open.

“Yes sir,” Jayden said, “I’ll see you later Katie.”

I watched Jayden head off to the Slytherin common room.

“Jason, why?” I started.

“What is going on between you and Mr. Zabini?” Jason asked cutting me off.

“Nothing, he was just walking me back from Hogsmeade,” I said staring at Jason in disbelief, “Why does it matter, Jayden is my friend.”

“Katie I want you to be careful around him,” Jason said, “he could be trying to-”

“Why can’t you trust him like my brothers did you?” I said cutting him off, “Jayden is my friend, and I’m not as helpless as everyone thinks.”

“I never said that,” Jason said, “he still could try something with you though.”

“What if I want him to try something?” I said, feeling angry.

“Katie, Jason please stop,” Rose said.

“I won’t trust him ever,” Jason said stepping towards me.

“My brothers should never have trusted you with my sister, and I can’t believe you can’t trust us,” I said before storming off into the Hufflepuff common room.

I put my things down on my bed in my empty dorm room (Amy was in the library catching up on homework in the library). Tears started down my face. I had never had a fight with someone like that before; I usually got along well with others. Why was I defending Jayden like we were in a dating relationship anyway?

Several days later Amy and I were on the train headed to Platform 9 ¾, I told Amy about the argument I had with my brother-in-law.

“You don’t like Jayden do you?” Amy asked.

“I’m not sure,” I said, “I don’t want to be in a relationship right now any way.”

“You two could be friends for a while first,” Amy said, “that’s what happened to my cousin, she was friends with a guy for a long time before anything happened between her and her male friend. They are married now and have two kids.”

“Maybe,” I said, thinking of Jayden and I becoming more than just friends one day, “my brothers won’t like it.”

“From what I have heard about them, most likely not,” Amy said, “but if they could accept Jason they can accept Jayden.”

“So what are you doing for Christmas?” I asked Amy wanting to get off the topic of Jayden.

“Most likely just Christmas morning presents, then dinner later on in the day,” Amy said.

“My family usually has a big party Christmas eve,” I said, “You want to come?”

“Sure,” Amy said her face lighting up.

“Good,” I said feeling glad that I had someone new to spend Christmas with.

Sorry for taking such a long time with this next post, I had such a huge surge of writers block. Please leave feedback.

Ch. 5 Christmas Past and Present, from Amy’s point of view.

“Mummy, mummy!” I heard a little voice yelling the moment I entered my grandparent’s house.

“There is my angel,” I said bending down to scoop up my daughter “Were you good for your great-grandma and great-grandpa Annie?”

“Yes mummy,” she said taking her hands on either side of my mouth, “when can I go to school with you?”

“Soon honey,” I said hugging her, “Are you going to help me unpack?”

Annie sat on the floor drawing a picture (of her mummy and her in front of the house) as I unpacked. Thoughts from three years ago entered my mind. I could feel the baby kick, my back started to ache I knew it might be labour despite the fact that it was a few days before my due date. I walked slowly from my grandparent’s house to Jacob’s house, the baby’s father, who only lived a few houses away from me. Jacob and I had been dating for nearly a year at that point.

The door was answered by Jacob’s mum, who said that he and my best friend Claire were in his room. I thought nothing of it, the three of us were close friends. I opened the door to Jacob’s room to see Jacob and Claire together under the covers.

“How could you,” I said tears filling my eyes, “how could you?”

I turned to leave ignoring the calls of Jacob and Claire after me, I had to leave. He won’t have anything to do with my child I thought running my hands over my belly. I walked home quickly and went into my room and lay down on my bed. Twenty-four hours later I had Annie, my beautiful angel. I remember being surprise at how much she was a mixture of her father and me. His nose and bright red hair, my eyes, mouth, and chin.

“Mummy why are you crying?” Annie said climbing on my lap.

“I was just thinking of when you were born,” I said.

“It’s my birthday tomorrow huh?” she asked.

“Yes love it is and my friend Katie is going to come over and help celebrate your birthday,” I said hugging my daughter close to me.

“Your friend Katie?” she said.

“Would you like that?” I said.

“Yes mummy, I would,” she said.

I remembered Katie’s surprise when I told her about Annie and invited her to my Annie’s third birthday party.

“Let’s go see what grandma has made for dinner,” I said standing up walking hand in hand with Annie.

The next day went smoothly; Annie talked up a storm to Katie.

“Thanks for coming today,” I said to Katie after she helped me put Annie to bed, who was cuddled up next to the teddy bear that Katie got her.

“You’re welcome,” she said, “You are welcome to bring her to the Christmas Eve party.”

“I’ll keep that in mind,” I said, “I’m sure she would enjoy that.”

____________


“Mummy why do I have to wear a dress?” Annie asked as I pulled a dress over her head.

“We are going to a Christmas party remember, don’t you want to look pretty?” I said, reaching for her brush to try and tame her hair.

“I want to look like me,” she said.

“Just for tonight,” I said.

“Alright mummy,” she said.

Holding tight onto Annie I flooed to the Burrow, Katie’s grandparent’s house. Since there were many people there I had trouble finding Katie.

“Here take this dear,” said an older plump woman to a red haired man before she turned to me, “you must be Amy.”

“Yes ma’am,” I said.

“I’m Annie.”

“Hello Annie,” she said, “I’m Katie’s grandmother.”

“I have a grandma too, but she’s at home,” Annie said.

“Do you want to help me find Katie?” Katie’s grandmother said taking Annie by the hand.

“Yes please,” Annie said.

I followed the two, grinning as Annie talked to Mrs. Weasley.

“Katie I’m here,” Annie said once she spotted her on the couch with a little boy with tawny hair who was sitting on her lap.

Annie sat on Katie’s lap and started to talk with Katie’s nephew, Adam. The night went quickly as I met many of Katie’s members of Katie’s family (most of whom I could not remember their names).

“Mrs. Weasley have you seen Annie?” I said going into the kitchen, “I think I had better get her home it’s past her bed time.”

“I haven’t seen her dear,” she said.

“I found her,” a tall boy with red hair said coming down the stairs with Annie in his arms.

“Chris gave me sweeties,” Annie said the surrounding area of her mouth was covered in chocolate while she held up a candy bar.

“Did you tell Chris thank you?” I asked.

“Thank you Chris,” Annie said her short arms hugging his neck (she still held onto the bar of Chocolate), “you are my best friend.”

“You’re welcome,” he said smiling over her shoulder at me, I got a strange feeling in my stomach.

“It’s time to go home Annie,” I said.

“Mummy I don’t want to go home,” Annie said looking at me.

“If you don’t go home how will Santa Claus come and see you?” Chris said.

“Oh will he miss me if I don’t go home?” Annie said.

“Yes he will,” Chris said.

“Alright,” Annie said, “we had better go home then.”

“Maybe your mummy will let me take you two home,” Chris said looking at me.

“Please mummy, Chris is my best friend,” she said.

“Alright,” I said smiling at Annie.

Chris and I flooed into my grandparents house, Annie in Chris’s arms sill, Chris followed me upstairs with Annie. The little girl had fallen asleep on his shoulder while I said good bye to Katie and Mrs. Weasley.

“I’ll just wait out here,” Chris said as he handed me Annie to put her to sleep.

I quickly changed Annie for bed and whipped the chocolate from her face. I kissed her on the forehead before meeting Chris back out in the hall.

“Hey,” I said smiling at him, “thank you for helping me with her.”

“You’re welcome,” he said giving me a goofy smile causing me to get that funny feeling in my stomach again.

I looked down at my feet unsure what to say next.

“So,” he said.

“So,” I repeated looking up.

“I was wondering if maybe you wanted to go get something to eat with me sometime,” Chris said quickly, “I know you have to go back to school soon, but maybe we could spend some time together before you go.”

“Like a date?” I said in surprise.

“Yes,” he said smiling, “I want to get to know you better and Annie as well. Maybe we could take her to the zoo or something.”

I sat there in surprise, no one had asked me out on a date since I got pregnant. Here was this man asking me out on a date and offering to get to know my child better.

“Yes, dinner sounds good,” I said smiling at him.

“Friday night?” Chris said.

“Yeah,” I whispered.

“Good, maybe we could take Annie to the zoo before our date?” Chris whispered back.

I nodded, “I’ll see you then,” Chris said kissing me on the cheek.

“See you then,” I said smiling at him.

I went to bed later that night, my heart feeling lighter than it had in years.

Please leave feedback…

Ch. 6 Falling Hard, this starts from Katie’s point of view.

“What did you want to do today?” I asked as Jayden walked along Diagon Alley.

Jayden had sent an owl to me the day after Christmas to see if I wanted to go to Diagon Alley with him. We decided to meet in the Leaky Cauldron before heading into the Alley.

“Just look around I guess,” Jayden said shrugging, “I do need to get more potion ingredients, though.”

“I’m glad that I don’t have to do potions any more,” I said as we headed towards the Alley.

“You don’t miss it?” Jayden asked.

“No,” I said knowing that Potions is one of his favorites, “I’m not very good at it either, and luckily I won’t need it to get the job I want. My dad didn’t like the subject much either.”

“Does your dad know that we are coming here today?” Jayden asked in a worried tone.

“Yes, he didn’t like the idea at first but I told him that we are just friends,” I said.

“Oh,” Jayden said, out of the corner of my eye I could see the disappointed look on his face.

I looked down at my feet as we walked silently towards the apothecary. It seemed that Jayden would get upset at me saying that we are just friends. His behavior was strange and I knew that Jayden couldn’t see us as being more than just friends. He came from a family where blood status was important but my family thought that it didn’t matter at all. I did not have feelings for Jayden and I was sure that Jayden did not either. He is cute I thought as I watched Jayden pay for the supplies that he would need to restock his potion supplies. Jayden caught my stare when he turned away from the counter causing me to blush and turn my face away from him as we left the shop. We walked to a small restaurant where we sat to eat.

“Did you have a good Christmas?” he asked breaking the silence.

“I did,” I said, “Did you?”

“It was alright?” Jayden said shrugging, “Father wants me to marry a pure blood witch over the summer.”

“Does she go to Hogwarts?” I asked.

“No she goes to Durmstrang,” Jayden said avoiding my eyes (I had learned that if he avoided my eyes that he was upset about something), “he got angry with me because I said I wouldn’t marry her.”

“Are you alright?” I said as Jayden continued to avoid my eyes, “Jayden?”

I put my hand on top of his, he looked at me.

“What’s wrong?” I said.

“I don’t want to talk about it,” he said in a hollow voice.

“Alright,” I said knowing that when he was ready he would tell me what he was dealing with.

We continued eating in a comfortable silence and enjoying the other’s company. After eating we walked around Diagon Alley whilst talking. Before apparating home Jayden and I hugged each other good bye, I couldn’t help but notice that he flinched slightly when I tightened my arms around him.

_________________________

Going now to Chris’s point of view (Chris is Ron and Hermione’s second son).

“I’m not tired Chris,” Annie said, even though she had her head on my shoulder and her eyes were drooping, “We should go back to the zoo.”

“It’s time for bed,” I said as I laid down Annie on her bed after I helped her get changed.

“Will I see you tomorrow Chris?” she asked.

“If it’s ok with your mum,” I told her.

“Tell her it’s ok with me,” she said.

“I will,” I said as I kissed her on the forehead, “Sleep well.”

“Chris, stay here until I fall asleep. There are monsters under my bed,” she said.

“Alright,” I said.

I sat on the edge of the Annie’s bed. She looks like her mother I thought. Annie’s breathing soon evened out and I could tell that she had fallen asleep. I kissed her on the forehead again felling a surge of protectiveness rush through me. I quietly closed the door and walked down the stairs. I found Amy with her back turned towards me as she made us dinner (Amy’s grandparents, I had been told, were already in bed).

“Do you need any help?” I asked.

“You could set the table,” Amy said handing me some plates and silver wear.

I silently set the table while glancing at Amy as she finished cooking. We sat down and silently started to eat.

“This is really good,” I said.

“My grandma taught me how to make it,” she said.

“How long have you lived with them?” I asked.

“Ever since I was a baby,” she said, “my parents died a few weeks after I was born.”

“I’m sorry,” I said, “I couldn’t imagine losing my parents.”

“I can’t imagine it any other way,” she said, “They’ve helped me a lot, especially with Annie.”

“How old were you when you had her,” I asked.

“I was only fifteen,” she said, “I was going to give her up for adoption but they said that they would help me raise her.”

“Is her father still a part of her life?” I asked hoping that she wouldn’t get upset by the question.

“No he hasn’t been part of her life,” she said looking a little sad.

“I’m sorry if…”

“No it’s alright,” she said cutting me off, “I think it’s better this way; if he wasn’t good for me, he wouldn’t be good for the two of us either.”

I nodded as we continued eating. I was relived that Annie’s father was not a part of at least Amy’s life. I could at least admit to myself that I wanted to spend my life with her even though we had only spent a short amount of time together.

“Katie says that you help run your uncles’ shop,” Amy said.

“Yes, it’s joke shop in Diagon Alley and we just opened a store in Hogsmeade too,” I said.

“Do you have any siblings?” she asked.

“I have an older brother, Josh, he works with my mum at the ministry,” I said.

“What do they do?” Any said.

“Mostly law sort of thing, Josh was always the one to do really well in school, I wasn’t,” he said, “I think I’d rather have a big family than he does. I think I found the right girl to help me.”

“Do I know this girl?” she asked cheekily smiling at me.

“You might,” I said smiling back at her.

We continued talking as we ate and made each other laugh.

“I had better get home,” I said after I helped Amy with the dishes.

“Alright,” she said as we walked to the front door, “I had a nice night.”

“Me too,” I said stepping closer to Amy, “I’ll see you tomorrow?”

“Yes,” she said as she took a step towards me.

“Good,” I said stepping towards her again.

Amy leaned up and kissed me gently on the mouth.

“I’ll see you tomorrow,” I said grinning.

“Bye,” Amy said.

I apparated home feeling as though I was on top of the world, I now knew that I would spend the rest of my life with Amy and Annie.

Ch. 7 Waiting, this is from Katie’s point of view.

“How was your date with Jayden?” asked Amy looking at me in the mirror as she sat behind me while fixing my hair for the New Years Eve party that would start in a couple of hours.

“It wasn’t a date,” I said turning red, “You sound like my brothers, they kept asking me questions when they found out that Jayden and I went to Diagon Alley together. It seems they didn’t hear me say that we are just friends.”

“You do talk about him a lot,” Amy said our eyes meeting in the mirror.

“He is one of my closest friends though,” I protested.

“Most people don’t talk about their ‘closest friends’ that much hun,” Amy said.

Amy continued to work on my hair in silence as I thought about what she said. I did like Jayden as a friend but lately it seemed I thought about him more and more. I would see my siblings with their spouses which made me think of Jayden. So many other things would also make me think of him during the day like a scent or object. I also thought back to the time we spent together in Diagon Alley. Something about how he acted made me think that he was keeping something from me, something that I couldn’t put my finger on.

“I’m done,” Amy said breaking me from my thoughts.

“I like it,” I said looking at myself in the mirror.

Amy had pulled half of my hair away from my face and curled it.

“Jayden is going to die when he sees you,” Amy said causing me to blush.

“You never said how your date with my cousin went,” said turning around to face her as she sat on my bed with a huge grin on her face.

“It was amazing,” Amy said, “All Annie can talk about now is going to the zoo again with Chris.”

“Are you going to see him again?” I asked.

“Of course,” she said the smile on her face growing wider, “I just don’t know how we are going to get through being away from each other when I go back to Hogwarts.”

“I’m sure you’ll find time to spend together,” I said, “there are always Hogsmeade weekends.”

“True,” Amy said grinning at me, “then you and Jayden can be alone too.”

I could feel my face turn red again.

_________________

I looked around at my family as I sat with Annie on my lap, her head lying on my shoulder as she slept. ‘I wonder when Jayden is going to get here’ I thought as I carefully looked at my watch (only an hour and a half until midnight) without waking Annie. The next hour went by slowly as I continued to hold Annie while she slept. Maybe Jason was right about Jayden about him not being a good friend. I felt my heart sink, I really trusted him and thought of him as my friend.

Before midnight I was able to give Annie to Amy before I quietly headed up to my room. I sat on my bed as the tears filled my eyes. I had been looking forward to seeing Jayden tonight. I lay down on my bed and cried myself to sleep. The next morning I woke up feeling tired from the fitful sleep I had. After eating breakfast and a quick shower I curled up with a book in the sitting room.

I found that I couldn’t focus on the book that I was reading, my thoughts kept going to Jayden. Why didn’t he show up last night? I sighed closing my book.

“Hey mum,” I said when I found her in the kitchen making tea.

“Hey sweetie, tea?” she said.

“Sure,” I said sitting down.

Mum took out another cup and pored us both some. I took a long drink which helped calm me down some.

“Can I ask you something?” I said after mum said down.

“Sure,” she said.

“How did you know that you liked dad as more than just a friend?” I asked.

“I think I always knew,” she said a faraway look crossing her features.

“But, but how?” I asked.

“You just know,” mum said, “does this have anything to do with Jayden?”

“I don’t know,” I said, “I mean, well I feel confused. He’s my friend but I think I might like him more than that. But he didn’t even come to the party last night.”

“I’m sure there’s a good reason why he didn’t come,” mum said.

“Jason doesn’t seem to trust him,” I said.

“That’s because he sees you like a little sister and doesn’t trust any boy with you,” mum said, “Like I said there must be a good reason why he didn’t show up. Has he done anything like this before?”

“Well, no…”

“Then I’m sure there is a reason why he didn’t show up,” mum said.

“I hope you’re right,” I said.

“You want to help me with dinner?” mum asked.

I nodded, cooking helped me take my mind off of things. As I was setting the table dad walked through the door with a dark look on his face.

“Katie we need to go to St. Mungo’s. Jayden was taken there last night,” he said.

Please leave feedback :).

Ch. 8 New Start, this is from Kate’s point of view.
Recap: Jayden failed to come to the Potter/Weasley New Year’s Eve party which left Kate confused about her new feelings for him, hurt, and angry. Harry, the next day announced that Jayden had been hurt and had been taken to St. Mungo’s. Our setting today takes place in St. Mungo’s while Harry and Kate, who have special permission to visit Jayden.

My hands twisted in my lap nervously as we waited in the hall. What could have hurt him? Did he get into an accident of some kind? Did he get dragon pox? Was he keeping something from me? What was going on? I felt sick to my stomach to think that I thought him dishonest while he was hurt and here in the hospital.

“Do you think he’ll be alright?” I asked dad for the millionth time.

“He should be fine, from what the healers told me,” he said, “it was lucky we found him on time.”

“Found him?” I asked feeling shocked.

“Yes we found him in Knockturn alley,” he said grimly, “we are unsure of how he got there.”

I looked at my father in surprise. He had been found there. I couldn’t stand it anymore. My man was in there hurt and I couldn’t see him. I jumped to my feet and started pacing.

“You may see him now Mr. Potter,” a kind looking Healer said as she came out of his room.

I quickly made a beeline for him. On a bed laid Jayden. I swallowed hard once I saw him. His left eye was swollen shut with a huge cut under it. Another large gash ran along his right cheek. A large bandage covered his head.

“Oh Jayden,” I said sinking into the chair next to his bed, “how…”

“I’ll leave you two to be alone,” dad said as he stood outside the door.

He looked nervously at me as if he was afraid to tell me the truth. He swallowed hard before he started to talk in a strained voice.

“My father, my father he was drinking again,” and he said in a cracked voice, “he…he…”

“It’s ok,” I said, “you don’t have to finish. Oh Jayden I’m so sorry sweetheart, If I had known. I should have been there with you.”

“No,” he said quickly, “if he got his hands on you…”

He started to cough roughly. I stood placing my hand on his shoulder and giving him some water that was on the table next to his bed.

“Oh Jayden,” I said my worry growing about his health.

“It’s ok,” he said, “they said my lungs may take a little time to heal, they feel so much better than they did.”

I nodded, unsure of what to say while trying to keep my thoughts away from what Jayden’s father had done. My frown deepened.

“Thank you for coming,” he said looking at me.

“Oh when my dad told me that you were here I had to come,” I said stroking his unhurt cheek, “I had to be here with you.”

“Thank you,” he said softly again.

“Here is your pain potion Mr. Zabini,” the kind looking Healer said as she came back into the room, “this should make you fall asleep shortly.”

“Alright,” he said drinking it as the Healer held it up to his mouth.

She quickly left the room, leaving the two of us in silence.

“Get some rest love,” I said holding his large hand.

“Will you stay?” he asked.

“Of course I will,” I said, “I’ll be here when you wake up.”

He nodded while closing his eyes. Soon his breathing evened out and I watched him sleep.

“Kate,” dad said coming into the room and standing behind me, “let’s go home, get some rest.”

“I won’t leave until he does,” I said, “please dad I need to stay with him, he needs me.”

“You sure,” he asked sighing, knowing how stubborn I could be when I wanted to.

“Very,” I said.

“Well I’ll go home and be back in a few hours,” he said squeezing my shoulder, “there are a few things I want to talk about with your mother.”

“Alright daddy,” I said glancing at him over my shoulder.

I watched Jayden sleep all night, I couldn’t take my eyes off of his face. I love him, I thought. I really do love him, I said blinking back tears. The thought was scary and yet calming to admit the truth at the same time.

“Please get better Jayden,” I whispered into his ear, “please get better soon, I love you.”

Little did I know that he heard me…

Switching to Jayden’s point of view.

The next few days were a blur. I healed quickly just like I had promised Kate I would. I heard her whispering to me that she loved me and begging me to get better. I know then that I had to for her. I made her a silent promise to get better. I knew I had to because I loved her too. I was lucky enough to be discharged the next evening after Katie’s confession. Both Harry and Ginny Potter invited me to stay with them. Harry promised that I didn’t have to go back to the house I once called home.

I loved being at the Potter’s. It was the best I had ever known. I saw how much love Kate got from her family and it made me envy the life she had, the love she got from her family. Things had changed between Kate and I. We were always touching each other when we were together. Holding hands, her hand on my knee, or my arm wrapped around her waist. I felt secure for once in my life because of her. We didn’t have to speak of what happened between us. Of our growing feelings.

The night before we went back to Hogwarts to finish our last term there I found Kate sitting on her bed reading a Muggle book she had gotten from her grandfather. Her flaming red hair hung around her face making her look like an angel.

“Hey,” I said quietly from my spot in the door way.

“Hey,” she replied as she closed the book and patted the spot on the bed next to her.

I sat down and pulled Kate close to me. I felt her snuggle into my chest. I held her tighter as I smiled into her hair.

“I’m so glad I had to take Muggle studies this year,” I said.

“Me too,” she said mumbling into my chest.

“Kate,” I said lifting her chin up.

“Yes,” she said meekly.

“I’m going to kiss you,” I said softly.

“I might be bad at it,” she said.

“That’s not possible,” I said before my lips met hers.

Her lips were soft and warm and tasted of peppermint. After a few moments we pulled away from each other. I looked down at her. Her eyes stayed closed for several moments before fluttering open. A blush crept over her face as she looked down.

“I think I wanted to do that ever since the first day of Muggle Studies that we had together,” I said putting my forehead against hers.

“I’m glad you did,” she said as I pulled her closer.

“I love you Kate,” I said gently.

“I love you too,” I could feel her smile against my cheek.

Nothing could get better.

Epilogue: five years later from Kate’s point of view.

I yawned as I took my shoes off near our front door. I had just gotten home from a much needed ‘girl’s night’ with Amy and Abby. The three of us had formed a new friendship over the last couple of years. I couldn’t believe that Amy and Abby were both having another baby. Abby and Charlie got married just a month after Amy, Jayden, and I had finished Hogwarts and quickly got pregnant with their first child Jordan. Now she was expecting twins. Chris and Amy got married only a year after we had finished Hogwarts. Chris was convinced that they needed a large family and Amy was willing to go along with it. They were on their way on to baby number three.

As for Jayden and I, we had been together since that horrible New Year’s Eve. We got married only three years ago. A little over a year ago I quit my job at the ministry to give birth to our baby girl April. Jayden didn’t like to admit it but she had him tied around his little finger.

“Jayden?” I called after hanging my cloak on the rack.

I didn’t hear him so I quickly walked through the house hoping that he and April were alright. I found them on the back porch. His back was turned to me. I could hear him murmuring all the different star names and the constellations to April while pointing to them as she nestled into the crook of his elbow. I smiled as I watched my husband and daughter together. There was my whole world in once place.

“Hey sweetheart,” I said slowly walking to Jayden.

“Oh you are just in time for bedtime,” he said, “we were just finishing up.”

“Mama,” April said holding out her pudgy hands out to me.

“Hi sweetie,” I said, “how is my girl?”

“Mama,” she said patting my cheek.

“Time for bed,” I said.

“Bok,” she said in broken English.

“Yes book,” I said carrying her to her room.

I quickly read her a book before placing the tired one year old to bed. I went to the small living room where Jayden was waiting with the wireless on. I slid onto his lap.

“How was your night out?” he asked.

“Good,” I said kissing his lips, “I missed you though.”

“Oh?” he said cocking his eyebrow.

“Yes a lot.” I said.

“Good, I missed you too,” he said nuzzling my neck.

I held him tighter.

“I love you forever,” I said.

“I love you too,” he replied.

The end. I want to thank all who have read this fic and to those who have been waiting patiently for this last post. SCD