KATELYN STEPS OFF THE TRAIN and turns, holding her hand out for Hermione. The girl takes it, stepping off the train as well and then coming to stand beside her. Ron and Harry exit after with Katie bringing up the rear.

She had gotten into a fight with Rebekah and had sought Katelyn for comfort half-way through their trip.

"Oh, I see my dad. Bye, Kalik!" Katie said, kissing Katelyn and Hermione's cheeks before rushing off.

Katelyn blinked and then shrugged while Hermione giggled at the abrupt exit.

"See your mom?" Ron asked curiously, looking around. He had seen Camilla in passing once, but not long enough to pick her out of a crowd.

Katelyn looked around and her eyes lit up when she found her mom talking with the Grangers. "Yeah! She's talking with your parents," she looked at Hermione before grabbing her and the older girl's suitcases and jogging over to the adults. "Mom!" She called out, putting down the bags and lunging at her mothers waist.

"Kal! Hi, baby," Camilla beamed, hugging her daughter tightly and peppering kisses to the top of her head, "Oh, I'm so happy to see you not in a hospital bed." She cupped her daughters cheeks, squishing them gently before releasing her.

Katelyn's cheeks pinked and she sheepishly scratched the back of her neck. "Yeah, it's been a rough couple of months," she laughed. Camilla hummed.

"How are you feeling, dear? Your mother told us about what happened in that game you play," Rose said as Oliver ruffled her hair in greeting.

"I'm good!" Katelyn grinned, planting her feet as Ron and Harry crashed into her back. "Boys, what the hell?" She frowned, looking back at them.

"Hermione tripped me—"

"Hermione stuck her foot out—"

Hermione rolled her eyes at the two boys. "I did not. You're both just clumsy. Do not blame me for your inability to walk," she snarked.

Ron stuck his tongue out at her and she shoved his face away.

Harry yelped as they fell into Katelyn and Hermione's bags. "I feel I've made a mistake," Katelyn sighed, staring down at the two boys who were scrambling to get up.

"I could've told you that," Hermione muttered before grinning and hugging her parents, "Hi, mama! Hi, daddy!"

"Hi, honey," Oliver laughed, rubbing his hand over her spine, "Are you being mean to your friends?"

"No," Hermione frowned, "They're idiots. This is just their default."

Katelyn snorted and nodded in agreement. She yanked Ron up by his collar when it was clear they were struggling very much.

"Hello, boys," Camilla greeted, setting a hand on the back of Harry's head. She brushed her hand over his hair, scratching his scalp lightly. "Are you two heading to the Weasleys for Christmas?" She asked curiously, looking around for Molly and Arthur.

As much as Molly didn't like her, she wasn't going to leave the boys unattended. She'd face a couple of snarky comments if it meant the boys got out of the platform safe and sound.

Ron and Harry looked at Katelyn who stammered. "Oh, uh, well—"

"Mom, dad. Meet Ronald," Hermione grabbed the boy's wrist and pulled him forward, "He's a friend we made. He's in Gryffindor, too."

Ron blushed under their attention. "Hello, Mister and Misses Granger. It's a pleasure to meet you," he mumbled awkwardly, shaking Oliver's hand.

"Hello, Ronald," Rose smiled kindly.

"It's just Ron," he squeaked, shifting uncomfortably.

"Of course," Oliver grinned, "What have you four gotten up to then, huh?"

The four shared a look. "I've been trying not to die," Katelyn said before the others could speak. They did not need to reveal that there was probably somebody working for Voldermort at the school who might be the D.A.D.A. teacher who may also have bewitched her and Harry's brooms. She smiled at the three adults who all stared at her silently.

Hermione face-palmed, sighing.

Katelyn cleared her throat. "Mom, I was hoping Harry and Ron could stay with us. Harry wasn't gonna be going home for Christmas and Ron's parents are in Romania for the holiday. I didn't want them to be alone so I said they could come stay with us."

Camilla sighed heavily, pinching the bridge of her nose. "Child," she muttered under her breath. Rose and Oliver tried not to laugh. "Of course you two can stay, though you have to send a Howler to your parents, Ron. Last thing we need is your family thinking we kidnapped you."

Ron nodded in understanding. "So we can stay?" Harry asked excitedly, grabbing onto Camilla's arm.

"Yes, I just said that," Camilla smiled softly.

Harry and Ron high-fived, making the two girls roll their eyes.

Camilla turned to Oliver and Rose to say her goodbyes and the four formed a circle to speak to one another.

"We've got to not act suspicious when we go looking for answers about Nicholas Flamel," Katelyn said seriously, "My mom can pick out a lie and a scheme really well. We must be careful. She'll pull us all out if she thinks that..." she glanced around, "you know who could be pulling the strings."

Harry, Ron, and Hermione glanced at each other before nodding resolutely.

"You can come over later, yeah?" Katelyn glanced at her friend who nodded, "She won't find it weird that you're there. Though, our time might be limited if we're getting ready for a party."

"Sounds good. You three come up with a plan—or send an owl if you need me to make one for you," Hermione said.

"I think we can come up with a plan," Ron crossed his arms. Katelyn and Harry looked at each other then at Ron. He huffed. "Yeah, yeah. We'll owl you."

Hermione smirked.

"Okay, kids. Time to go," Camilla said.

Hermione kissed Katelyn's cheek and waved to the boys. "Behave," she pointed at the redhead and the black-haired boy then grabbed her bag. She made her way to her parents, letting her father take her bag.

Camilla set a hand on the back of Katelyn's neck, brushing her thumb over the heated skin with an amused look on her face. "Stop it," Katelyn muttered, nudging her mom and grabbing her bag.

"I didn't say anything," Camilla defended though they could all hear the laugh building in her throat.

"Your face did," Katelyn scowled.

Ron snickered, wrapping his arm around Katelyn. "So did yours," he said. Then he yelped when Katelyn shoved him off. Harry shook his head, grabbing his friend before he could crash into a passerby. 

◂◊●◯●◊▸

KATELYN WAS ACTUALLY GETTING A decent amount of sleep for once. She hadn't realized how exhausted she was or how exhausting it was to be on alert all the time, even asleep.

She sighed heavily, snuggling into the warmth of her comforter and pillow. She imagined Hermione laying beside her, the two cuddling like they did when she was injured that night. She wondered, if they were older, would Hermione like her the way Katelyn liked her?

Or would they still be friends?

Just. Friends—

"Oof!" Katelyn jerked awake when her cousin jumped onto her side, crushing her. "Poppy!" She shouted, annoyed.

Poppy laughed and shook her cousin. "Get up! It's Christmas!"

She got up and slipped out of bed. She stretched her arms above her head, hearing her back crack. She sighed in relief and got up, slipping into her slippers.

Poppy excitedly grabbed her hand and tugged her along. They made their way out of Katelyn's room and down the stairs. She could hear the boys excitedly chatting with her mother and aunt.

They entered the living room, finding the tree with loads of presents underneath. Her aunt was sitting in the chair near the tree, watching the boys sort the presents into four groups while Camilla walked in with four glasses of what smelled like hot cocoa.

Then she noticed Ron and Harry's sweaters. "What the bloody hell are you two wearing?" Katelyn asked, tying her hair up into a messy bun as she yawned.

Ron and Harry looked up, grinning at the sight of her. Well, grinning even more.

"Oh, Mum made 'em," Ron said, smoothening his hand over the sweater with his first initial on it. They were kind of cute.

"That's no way to ask, Kallinikos," Eliza scolded lightly, shooting her a look before cupping her face and kissing her cheek, "Merry Christmas, darling."

"Merry Christmas, Ma," Katelyn muttered, wiping her eyes before going to Camilla and letting the woman hold her. "Merry Christmas, Mom." Camilla shot Eliza a small smile at the astonished look on her face.

Poppy settled beside Ron who handed her a present with her name on it. She ripped it open, squealing when it was revealed to be the very thing she wanted. A Bumblebee figurine, her favorite Transformer.

As much as the Royals were a wizard family, they always tried to let their kids grow up with muggle things, too. Hence why Poppy loved Transformers and Katelyn adored the Disney movies. Especially Beauty and the Beast and Cinderella. (She had only seen it recently since it came out this September, but has made the boys and Poppy watch it seven times.)

"Kalik, look!" Poppy rushed over to her cousin who turned around. She showed Katelyn the Bumblebee figurine with a proud and excited grin, "It's Bumblebee!"

"Oh, my gosh! He looks so cool," Katelyn said, kneeling down beside Poppy and inspecting the toy, "Do you love him?"

"Yes! He's so awesome!" Poppy then pulled her cousin over and made her sit down before plopping into her lap, "Your turn to open presents!"

Harry handed Katelyn one with her name on it. It was small, most likely a jewelry box. Katelyn tilted her head, she didn't particularly like jewelry and her mom knew that. She ripped off the wrapping paper and then pulled off the box's top.

Her eyes widened as she stared down at the necklace. It was beautiful. The chain was silver and it led down to a silver pendant that had a green gemstone in the middle. A dark green emerald if Katelyn were to guess. Two silver snakes held it in place, curled on top of the gem, but not taking up too much space that you couldn't see it.

"Woah," Ron, Harry, and Poppy said as they all looked down at the necklace, too.

"Wicked cool," Ron added after a moment, sitting next to Katelyn's knee.

Katelyn's brows furrowed a little when she noticed the note underneath. She gently pulled it out and set the box down in Ron's awaiting hand. "Don't drop it, Ronald," she said seriously, shooting the boy a glare.

Ron gulped and nodded quickly, carefully holding the box with two hands for emphasis.

Katelyn relaxed and looked down at the note.

To Little Kallinikos,

Hi, sweetheart. I wanted to give you this for your eleventh Christmas. Your mother/ gave this to me during our third year at Hogwarts. Even though I wasn't a Slytherin, I carried it with me because it gave me strength and reminded me that I always had something to fight for.

I hope you can wear it now and always carry me and your mother/ in your heart. We're always going to fight for you. Let that give you strength.

Love is courage. Not a weakness.

Love,
//// //////
Aunt Lily

Katelyn wipes her eyes, sniffling. She didn't understand the crossed out words (/). They were heavily crossed out, hoping she wouldn't be able to read what it said. She felt a little upset by that fact, but let it go.

She knew her mom and Lily were close, but she hadn't imagined they were close enough to give such priceless jewelry—or for Lily to think about giving her the necklace.

She felt Eliza settle behind her. "We know we don't talk about Lily and James often," she said, glancing between Harry, Katelyn, and Poppy, "But they loved you three. A lot. Even though they never got to meet you." She brushes her thumb over Poppy's cheek. "Harry, you're always welcome here. We're family, okay? Just because Lily and James are gone... that doesn't change the facts."

Harry teared up a bit and he nodded.

"How come Lily gave me this? Or, well, wanted to, anyway," Katelyn asked quietly, looking down at the necklace.

"Because you used to love playing with it when you were a newborn," Camilla replied, brushing her hand over her daughter's head as she settled beside Harry. "So, before she passed away..." Camilla swallowed hard, wiping her eyes before her tear could fall, "She set the jewelry aside. She had already written a note and everything." She laughed softly. Fondly.

"Lily didn't like wearing it when she had to go long distances so she left it with me for safe keeping," Eliza continued, "She went to J—She went back home. Then... she was gone. So, your mother and I, we put it in the box with the note and waited till you turned eleven."

Katelyn's shoulders slumped a little and she nodded. Her skin prickled a bit around her wrist and a voice whispered liar sharply in the back of her head. She didn't understand why Eliza would be lying, though.

"Did... Did she leave anything for me?" Harry asked hesitantly. He didn't wish to break the moment, but he was curious. He didn't really know anything about his parents other than what Petunia said in passing about Lily.

"No," Camilla admitted and Harry slumped sadly, "But your father..." She reached around him, grabbed a square wrapped item and set it in Harry's lap, "That's another story."

Harry's eyes lit up a bit and he quickly ripped it open. He pulled off the lid of the box, his eyebrows shooting up at the sight of a cloak.

Eliza gently clasped the necklace around Katelyn's neck, kissing her temple when she was done.

"Pretty," Poppy murmured, gently playing with the pendant.

"Yeah," Katelyn whispered. She wondered how she would've gotten to Lily and James' house. Did Lily take her when she visited her mom and aunt? Had she already been with James and Harry? If she survived, why did her parents never say anything? Why didn't she have a scar?

Did Lily love her that much that she died trying to save both of them? Or had she been trying to save Harry and sacrificed herself for both without meaning to?

"'Your father left this in my possession'," Harry read, shifting to cross his legs underneath him, "'before he died. It is time it was returned to you. Use it well.'" He tilted his head in confusion and looked up at Camilla. "If you were here, how come you couldn't just say that? Why write me a card?"

Camilla lifted her head, meeting Eliza's gaze. They shared a silent look before Eliza nodded. Ron and Katelyn glanced at each other. "Well," Camilla shifted a bit and sighed, "It wasn't really left in my possession. An old friend of your fathers had it and I asked for it. I knew James would want you to have it, especially now that you're at Hogwarts."

Harry's brows furrowed. "Who is it from?"

Camilla smiled and booped his nose. "Another time, maybe. For now, look at your present, yeah?"

Harry huffed while Katelyn narrowed her eyes at her mother. It seems that there were a ton of mysteries that her mother and aunt were keeping.

But why?

Harry stood up and took the cloak out of the box, showing it to the group.

"What is it?" Ron asked.

"Some kind of cloak," Harry replied.

"Let's see, then. Put it on!" Poppy said.

Harry shrugged and pulled it around his shoulders. Camilla and Eliza both smirked a bit as Poppy, Ron, and Katelyn stared in shock.

"Woah!" Ron gasped.

Harry looked down, his eyes widening when he didn't see his chest or his legs. "My body's gone!"

"I know what that is!" Ron said as he stood up, "That's an invisibility cloak."

"I'm invisible?" Harry asked excitedly, spinning around.

Poppy scrambled up and grabbed the cloak, going inside. She giggled when Harry wrapped it around her to the point she couldn't be seen at all. "I'm a ghost!" Poppy said.

"That you are, darling," Camilla laughed.

"Those are really rare," Katelyn said, still kind of shocked, "Where did James find one?"

"Family heirloom," Eliza explained, standing up, "Now, you four. Finish opening your presents. Come on. Your hot cocoa is going to be frozen cocoa soon!"

"No!" Poppy and Harry cried out, rushing toward their cocoa. Katelyn shook her head in amusement while Ron snickered. 

◂◊●◯●◊▸

KATELYN BLINKED HER EYES OPEN confused as she looked around. She swore she was asleep in her bed a second ago.

Now she was staring at the dimly lit corridors of Hogwarts. She wonders idly if she was dreaming about the school. She sidestepped and touched the wall. Cold to the touch.

'Nope. Not dreaming,' she thought, looking around. How the hell did she get here?

She steps forward but trips when something pulls at her ankles. She looks down and frowns at Harry's invisibility cloak. She forsure didn't have that when she went to sleep.

She reaches down for it, picking it up and tossing it over her shoulder. Her feet are freezing as she touches the cold, very cold floor. This freaky dreamish-thing couldn't conjure shoes for her?

She pulls out her wand. "Accio slippers," she whispers. Her slippers appear in her hands and she slips them over her feet. "Better," she mutters.

Just as she's about to start walking, she hears something. Without thinking, she unfolds the cloak and wraps it around herself, head to toe. Foolishly, she follows the sound she heard.

Sounds like quick feet and panicked breathing. She turns the corner just as Professor Snape pushes Professor Quirrell up against the wall. She panics for a split second, holding her breath.

"Severus, I thought—I—I," Quirrell stutters.

"You don't want me as your enemy, Quirrell," Snape interrupts, his voice smooth and calm. Katelyn slowly moves around them, keeping her breathing quiet and her footsteps light.

"Wh—What do y-you mean?"

"You know perfectly well what I mean," Snape deadpans. Then he pauses and snaps his head in Katelyn's direction. The girl steps back immediately, silent as a mouse. Snape reaches out and his hand closes around nothing. He turns back to Quirrell as quickly as he turned before, "We'll have another little chat soon, when you've had time to decide where your loyalties lie."

Filch walks over to them, holding up a bulky lantern. "Oh, professors. I found this in the restricted section," he said, showing the broken lantern in his hand, "It's still hot. That means there's a student out of bed."

Katelyn ducks around the corner, making her way toward the library. Or at least, she would've if she didn't see a familiar red sweater. Quickly, she opens the cloak and yanks Harry by the collar inside.

"Woah—" Katelyn slaps her hand around the boy's mouth, pressing her finger to her lips. Harry falls quiet as they both watch the professors and Filch rush away from the corridor.

They stay out of their way and slowly make their way to the place where Snape was interrogating Quirrell. Katelyn pulls them through one of the doors that line the corner hall and closes it behind them.

She and Harry slip off the cloak.

"What are you doing here?" Katelyn demands quietly, "Especially in the restricted section?"

"What am I doing here? What are you doing here? With my cloak, too," Harry hissed back, setting his hands on his hips.

Katelyn narrows her eyes. "I asked first."

Harry huffed. "Fine. I went to sleep and then woke up in the library. I don't know why, but I thought, perhaps I should check to see if Nicholas Flamel was mentioned anywhere. Then a book screamed at me." He shook his head and gestured to her, "Your turn."

Katelyn frowned in confusion. "I woke up here, too. Though I ended up in a corridor near the library. As for your cloak... I don't know why it showed up. It was at my feet." She sighed, "But Snape cornered Quirrell and demanded that Quirrell didn't want him as an enemy."

Harry's brows furrow. "That's weird," he muttered, "See, Quirrell must be onto Snape so he's trying to intimidate him into staying quiet."

Katelyn hummed, raising an eyebrow. Or maybe Snape's onto Quirrell. She shook her head, she was too tired to deal with this.

"What's that?"

Katelyn picked her head up and looked at what Harry was gazing at. A mirror.

Harry grabbed her hand and pulled her down the steps toward it. Katelyn tilted her head as she read the words above it.

'Erised stra ehru oyt ube cafru on wohsi'

"Do you understand that?" Harry whispered.

"I... I feel like I've read it somewhere, actually," Katelyn admitted, but she was drawing a blank. She shook her head and shrugged, looking at the mirror. She moved around it, trying to see if there were any more words.

Harry stepped forward as she moved away, his eyes widening as two figures appeared on either side of him. He smiled as he looked at the figure on his right. "Dad?" He murmured.

The man winked back at him, smiling slightly. He was young and boyish. The freshly 21-year-old who was murdered by the Dark Lord. He had fluffy black hair, spiked up with two strands hanging down over his forehead. He had a pair of glasses on, similar to Harry's. He had bright blue eyes that showed off a mischievous glint.

A woman stood on Harry's left. Unlike the pictures of Lily he has seen, this woman had brown hair and green eyes. She seemed to be the same age as James, if not a little older. She tilted her head, looking at Harry silently before smiling softly at him.

"Who are you?" He asked quietly. The woman's eyes dimmed just a bit.

Theodore suddenly appeared behind Harry, throwing his arm around his shoulders and beaming. Harry blinked, and looked beside him but there was nobody there. When he looked back at the mirror, Theo was still standing there.

Then, another man came into the reflection. He looked younger than James and the woman, though not by much. He had short black hair, kind of like Harry's but more messy. His eyes were green and he was dressed the best out of everyone. He smirked at Harry, tilting his head in his direction.

"Are you talking to yourself?" Katelyn suddenly appeared to the right of the mirror.

Harry jumped a bit and looked at her. "No, I..." He grabbed her arm and pulled her to him, "Look, I think... I think it's my dad and, well, I don't know the others, but Theo's here, too!" He pointed to the right where James stood, "That's my Dad..."

Though Katelyn wasn't listening anymore as Harry stepped away from the reflection. She stood in the middle though she was older. Tall, like her mother. Her hair was shorter though and her hair was dyed red underneath the blonde locks.

She was wearing black dress pants and a Slytherin captain's sweater. She was smirking down at herself, wiggling her fingers in a wave.

Hermione suddenly appeared, older too. Her hair was curly and pulled back out of her face. She smirked at younger Katelyn, her arms wrapping around older Katelyn from behind. Her arm hung, revealing a tattoo of an otter along the inside of her forearm.

Poppy appeared next with Eliza, Camilla, and... Lily in tow. Poppy was much older, slightly shorter than Katelyn, but taller than Hermione even with the girls heeled boots on.

Eliza, Lily, and Camilla stood behind the three girls, smiling at younger Katelyn.

Lily looked like she did in the photo her mother had in her office. Dark red hair, green eyes. She was beautiful.

"—Do you know who they are?" Harry finished and Katelyn blinked back to herself. She turned to look at him, a bit confused. Harry raised an eyebrow back at her. "Were you listening to anything I said?"

Katelyn hesitated before shaking his head. "Harry..." she said slowly, looking back at the mirror and finding Hermione wrapping her arms even tighter around her older self. She blushed heavily. "I don't think we're seeing the same things," she admitted.

"Why? What are you seeing?" He asked, his brows furrowed.

"Well," Katelyn glanced back at the mirror, her blush intensifying if possible with how Hermione was looking at her older self and how her older self was looking back, "I'm... older. Poppy's older. My mom and aunt are there. Hermione is, um..." she quickly looked away, clearing her throat, "is there as well. And then there's... well, Lily is there, too."

Harry raised an eyebrow at her bright red face. "Why are you blushing?" He asked curiously.

"Uh, well, uh... nothing. Don't worry about it," Katelyn said, turning away from the mirror all together, "I'd say it shows the future, but... well, Lily and James are dead."

Harry winced.

"Sorry," Katelyn apologized, grabbing his hand, "I didn't mean—" She sighed and shook her head, "I'm just a little frazzled. Tell me what you saw again?"

Harry nodded. "My dad, he was there. A woman appeared beside me, but it wasn't my mum. She didn't have red hair at all. And then Theo showed up."

"My cousin?" Katelyn cocked an eyebrow, confused. Harry nodded. "Weird."

"Yeah. Then this guy popped up. It was weird. I don't know those two. But Theo and my dad? I don't know."

Katelyn sighed and turned back to the mirror, prepared to see the same sight though now it was just Lily. Katelyn blinked, confused. Lily smiled gently at her, reaching out and touching Katelyn's cheek softly.

Katelyn's breath stuttered as a phantom touch brushed her cheek. She turned her head, as if expecting to see the woman beside her, but... of course, she wasn't.

"We'll do some research in the morning. During the party," Katelyn said as she turned to Harry, "For now, let's figure out how we get ba—"

Katelyn jerked forwards and gasped. She was in her bed again. Poppy blinked rapidly, looking around for danger.

"Sorry," Katelyn said quietly, wrapping her arms around her cousin and pulling her back to her chest, "Just a nightmare. Go back to sleep, love."

Poppy mumbled something incoherent and slumped back onto Katelyn's, snoring softly.

Katelyn blinked once then twice before shaking her head. She needed to get it together. 

◂◊●◯●◊▸

AN: if you guys haven't figured it out, i'm changing a lot of what was canon around the marauders time 🤪  (and things will be different in canon.)

omg you guys, your author is officially an adult 😦