Chapter 8
(Katrina)
-7 Years Ago-
"Katrina Giselle Rose, get down here!"
I was in for it. Whenever my mother sounded like that, she meant business. I abandoned my project of cutting and piecing together scraps of newspaper from a "Quidditch Today" article and raced downstairs.
My mother was standing with one hand on the counter in our kitchen, practically fuming. "Katrina, what did I say about taking things that aren't yours?" She spoke softly, but the daggers behind her calm tone were obvious.
"Don't do it." I whispered, casting my gaze to the floor.
"Exactly. And why is there this scuff on my broom?" She picked up her Nimbus 400 from where it sat on its shelf in the kitchen, pointing to a tiny, but noticeable scratch. It was brand-new and her prized possession.
"...Because I took it..." I told her meekly. How could I not? I never got new things, and I wanted to try riding a broom like the Quidditch players in my newspaper cut outs.
"Right." She sighed, grabbing her wand. "Mors stimulus tuus," The tip of her wand flashed a white light that shot towards me and hit me in the chest.
"Mom? What did you-," I couldn't finish my question before the pain started. I seized up and groaned as it began. My whole body felt like a million scorpions were stinging at the same time. I reached behind me to steady myself, but nothing was there, and I fell over.
From my place on the ground, I looked up at my mother's solemn face. All signs of irritation were gone, but there was an odd sadness in her eyes.
"I wish you were never born." She murmured, tears welling up and threatening to spill. "My life would be easier if you had died."
Tears and snot ran down my face as I cried from the pain in my body. I don't remember how long I was on the floor in agony, but she was gone by the time it stopped.
-The Present-
I woke with a start, my eyes taking time to adjust to the brightness of the Hospital Wing. I quickly looked over to see that James was still asleep in his bed. Why did I remember that now, of all times? My mother had always had issues with me. I don't know exactly where it stemmed from, apart from her obvious hatred of "mutations". But, thinking back, that time was different than most. On a regular day living with my mother, she would mostly ignore my existence. I had a nanny for most of my life, and she was the one to take care of me.
Despite being a metamorphmagus and being largely frowned upon by my family, I was still a Rose. I was still part of the Threstle legacy, as much as Grandmother hated to admit it. I had to be groomed and bred into an heir to the family wealth and house. That meant a nanny, a tutor, and only the best wizarding schools.
I was a miracle baby. My grandmother had only one daughter, and she had no siblings. My mother was similarly cursed with an "inability" to have children. I was unexpected, but celebrated.
"An heir to the legacy! Rowena has smiled upon us today!" Was what my grandmother said when she heard the news.
But, I popped out with weird hair and changing features and poof! My life was over before it began. My father almost left after my birth, but my mother convinced him to stay only so she didn't have to be alone with the "outlier" they had created. He wasn't really "there" though. He always had business and important Auror stuff to attend to, meaning he simply flickered in and out of my childhood. Never there, but never really gone either.
And, save for that one time, my mother was never abusive. Maybe she would've been, but I got sent away to Beauxbatons the next year. Maybe I got lucky.
I looked over at James. I can't exactly complain, being that I'm going to inherit a massive sum of money, but it'd be nice to feel loved. I know James has felt that. I wonder what it's like...
James groaned slightly in his sleep, shifting his weight from his left to his right shoulder. He completely turned on his side, allowing me a perfect view of his peaceful face. He groaned again, slowly opening his eyes.
"James?" I put my hand on his, making sure he knew he was safe. I knew firsthand that waking up in a hospital bed after a nasty fall was disorienting.
"Katrina?" He croaked out. Quickly, I handed him a glass of water that Madam Pomfrey had left for him. He accepted it and chugged it down. When he was done, he sat up and looked at me, confused. "What happened?"
"Bludger to the shoulder after you jumped from your broom like an idiot. You got knocked off course and broke a few bones." I told him.
"Isn't it your job to make sure that doesn't happen?"
I glared at him, though I doubt he could see it without his glasses. "Alright, Potter. I dragged your sorry ass up here, and I haven't gotten a single thank you."
He smirked slightly, "Your hand is still on mine, Rose."
In horror, I realized he was right. I ripped my hand away as I felt the blush creep onto my cheeks. "Say thank you, you little shit." I growled, staring him down as he laughed at me. I didn't care how embarrassing that was, I was gonna get my appreciation.
"Thank you, Katrina. And thank you for sitting with me. Have you been here all night?" He asked.
"I have. I didn't want to leave you in a confused daze when you woke up. So I stayed." I grabbed his glasses from the nightstand. "I also fixed these for you. The bridge was bent slightly, that's why they kept slipping off."
He took them from me and put them on. "Wow, that's so much better. Thanks!" He sounded like a kid presented with his favorite candy. James looked at me and I watched as his pupils dilated as his sight got better."Where's Sirius and everyone else?"
"They left last night. They helped me get you here and sat with us for a while, but I told them to go and get some rest."
James nodded and looked like he was far away.
I wonder what he's thinking about...
(James)
Merlin, my head is pounding. Did I drink last night? Sirius always said I was a lightweight. I opened my eyes slightly, completely prepared to be on the floor of the Gryffindor Commons and hungover. Instead, though my vision was blurry, I could tell I was in the Hospital Wing. Someone touched my hand.
"James?" I knew that voice.
"Katrina?" Ouch. My throat felt like it was made of sandpaper. I felt a cold glass touch my hand. Water. I quickly took it and drank it as fast as I could. Much better. Question time. "What happened?"
"Bludger to the shoulder after you jumped from your broom like an idiot. You got knocked off course and broke a few bones." She told me. Ah yes, the Chelmondiston Charge. I will master you some day.
I felt like teasing her. "Isn't it your job to make sure that doesn't happen?" Though her face was blurry, I could feel her glare.
"Alright Potter, I dragged your sorry ass up here, and I haven't gotten a single thank you." Her hand is still on mine. I tried to do my signature smirk in her general direction.
"Your hand is still on mine, Rose." I pointed out. Again, I was basically blind, but I could her blush as she snatched her hand away. If I'm being honest, my heart dropped at the loss of contact.
"Say thank you, you little shit." She kind of growled at me. Something fluttered in my stomach, just barely noticeable. Huh.
"Thank you, Katrina. And thank you for sitting with me. Have you been here all night?"
"I have. I didn't want to leave you in a confused daze when you woke up, so I stayed." I watched her reach over and grab something off the bedside table. I realized they were my glasses. "I also fixed these for you. The bridge was bent slightly, that's why they kept slipping off." She handed them to me, and I put them on. Sure enough, they didn't feel loose or like they would slide even a little.
"Wow, that's so much better. Thanks!" I was finally able to take in her appearance properly. Her hair was still maroon, but it looked slept on. Her cheeks were still flushed, I assume from when I embarrassed her, and her eyes seemed tired and troubled, but also happy as well. Realizing I was staring, I played it off as if
I was adjusting to my sight being normal again.
"Where's Sirius and everyone else?" I asked, trying to draw attention away from my eyes.
"They left last night. They helped me get you here and sat with us for awhile, but I told them to go and get some rest."
I felt myself nodding as I took in her words. In reality, I didn't give a flying fuck where Sirius was at the time. All I cared about was what was happening to me. And I don't mean physically. I couldn't stop looking at Katrina, I couldn't stop seeing about how relieved she looked, I couldn't stop thinking about how she gave up her sleep on a Sunday evening for me. Why? She knew I'd be okay. It was a broken bone, not a curse. And yet, she sat with me. Why? Why did she care? And why did I?
/\/\/\
After I was given a clean bill of health by Madam Pomfrey, Katrina and I walked to Potions. It was the final week of classes before Christmas Break, so that meant the halls were decorated with garland and wreath, and everything had a faint cinnamon smell to it. Next to me, Katrina began humming a Christmas song.
"Are you excited?" I asked her, smiling at how carefree she looked while humming.
"For Christmas? Duh. It's the best holiday." She told me in complete certainty. She turned her attention to me, suddenly looking bashful. "Did you happen to send an owl to your parents? Do they know I'm coming?"
"Yep." I confirmed. She visibly relaxed. "They sent one back just this morning saying they're excited to meet you."
"James, I can't tell you how much this means to me. My family sucks, and I'm so grateful that you're quite literally sharing yours."
"It's no problem, really. Sirius has a bad home life too, but he's my friend, and you're my friend. I'm not going to leave you with no where to go." She suddenly stopped and grabbed my wrist.
"I'm going to hug you now." Before I could respond, her arms wrapped around my waist and she pulled herself close. Taken aback, I froze for a second, but felt myself melt into the hug. She was soft and smelled nice, like vanilla and butterbeer.
The fluttering was back, but this time, it was definitely noticeable.