Published Janaury 2 2003
Keep Your Friends Close
Despite Katrina and Percy’s relationship, Harry had a wonderful time at the Weasleys. Percy couldn’t get everyday off from work, so while he was busy at the office, Katrina was free from Percy’s fussing over her. Everyone thought she was much more fun to be around without Percy there. Percy was very protective, but when he was gone, Katrina was much more adventurous. There were many extremely tall trees in the Weasley’s back yard, and Katrina liked to climb up to the tallest branches. She told them about the Parachuter Spell, a fun little spell that was mostly for recreational purposes.
With the spell, you would call out the incination, and then jump off something. When you jumped, you would fall only fast enough to be fun, it would slow your fall down just enough so you can land safely. It would make your landings safe and soft, and you’d always land solidly on your two feet Katrina old him the spell was mostly used by people who fell off their broomsticks, so it might help Harry if he ever got knocked off his broom during a Quiditch match. She promised to teach them all the spell when they returned to Hogwarts. Harry thought it looked like great fun, but Katrina told him he’d after to practice jumping off the first couple stairs in the staircase or something else that wasn’t too terribly high up. Otherwise it might he might break a bone.
Katrina said she felt a bit foolish, because she should have remembered the spell when she fell from Ron’s broomstick. She guessed the shock of the situation caused her to not remember her spell. As much fun as she had jumping off trees, she refused to go anywhere near a broomstick. Ginny later told them that Percy made her promise not to ride one again. Apparently, he was worried that she might fall off again, and wouldn’t have anyone to save her.
Before Harry knew it, it was the night before September 1rst, the day that they always board the Hogwarts Express at Platform 9 3/4. Harry was having a rough time getting to sleep that night. Mrs. Weasley had prepared an excellent feast, full of all Harry’s favorite things. All the different foods must have upset his stomach, because he kept waking up in the middle of the night from strange dreams. They weren’t connected to Voldermort or the Death Eaters. No, they weren’t anything like that. They were just strange dreams. The type that any ordinary person would have after consuming as many calories as Harry just had. That thought pleased Harry. He loved the idea of being an ordinary wizard without a care in the world, but he knew as long as he lived, that dream would never come true.
After one such dream, he awoke to hear soft music playing somewhere in the house. Ron was fast asleep, snoring lightly. Harry had the feeling that he was the only one in the house that could hear it.
He walked down the stairs and into the kitchen. He sighed. He should have known better. Sitting next to the fireplace, was Katrina, gently strumming her guitar. She didn’t know Harry was standing in the shadows watching her. He was glad because he was too busy trying to fight the feelings he had inside him. She was beautiful in the soft glow of the fire. The warmth coming from it seemed to light up her face, especially those green eyes. She wore a peaceful expression on her face, concentration fully on her guitar. Harry knew she loved that guitar more than anything else in the world. She wore a violent shade of pink terrycloth robe over a baggy button down rose colored silk night shirt, and matching silk shorts. It was her feet that made Harry smile, on them she wore a pair of fuzzy pink bunny slippers. Just like the kind that Muggle housewives and very young Muggle girls wore. A soft chuckle escaped his lips.
Katrina stopped playing and turned her face towards him. Wearing the knowing smile of a spinx, she spoke.
“Are you laughing at my slippers, Harry?” she said in a voice so soft, it was almost a whisper.
“Well, er, uh, yeah.” was his sheepish reply as he sat down next to her.
She giggled. “They’re kind of funny looking, aren’t they? Well, I think they’re neat.”
Harry smiled. “I think so too.”
“You didn’t come down here to talk about my bunny slippers, did you?” she asked.
“I heard music, and I came down to investigate.” he said.
“Oh.” she answered. “Did you like my song?”
“You have a beautiful voice.” Harry blurt out. He immediately felt a bit foolish for saying something like that.
You like Cho Chang, remember! he thought to himself. She’s Percy’s girlfriend.
Katrina didn’t seemed to think anything of Harry’s remark, her smile stayed the same.
“Percy said he didn’t like that song. He said it was too sad.” she told him nonchalantly.
“You played a song on your guitar for Percy?” he asked curiously. He had a feeling he didn’t want to know the answer.
“No, I never play for anyone.” she said as a matter of fact. “I only play for myself. Percy asked me to play a song, but I didn’t do it because he wanted me to, I did it because I love music.”
Harry didn’t know what to say to this, so he remained silent and waited for her to speak.
“Tomorrow morning we leave for Hogwarts.” she said solemnly, as the warm light from the fireplace danced on her cheek.
Harry nodded. “You’ll like it there. I know you will. It’s not as bad as you think it will be. You’ll make lots and lots of friends.”
Katrina titled her head towards the ground.
“And even if you don’t make any friends, which you will, it doesn’t really matter because you’ll have me there.”
She turned her head up, and beamed. Her gaze embraced Harry’s eyes, and he felt a shiver run down his spine, despite the crackling fire behind him.
“And you’ll have Ron and Hermione there too.” he quickly added as an afterthought. “And Fred and George, and Ginny.”
Katrina laughed. “How could I possibly feel lonely with all those Weaselys running around Hogwarts?”
Harry grinned. “I don’t know. How could you?”
With just Harry’s few words, Katrina’s heart lightened. “Thanks, Harry. I feel so much better now.” she told him.
“I’m glad.” Harry replied.
They sat there staring at each other for a few moments without speaking. It was Harry to break the silence with the questions spinning through his mind ever since the morning Hermione had so rudely awoke him and Ron.
“Katrina?” he asked.
“Yes, Harry?” was her answer.
He took a deep breathe. “I know about your mother.”
There. He’d said. She looked at him in silence with an unreadable expression, one eyebrow arched.
“Oh.” she said breaking the silence. “Oh.”
The cold, solemn look returned to her face, and Harry felt horrible for bringing up something like that, after he had cheered her up. And on the night before Hogwarts too!
“What do you know about my mother, Harry?” she said with no emotion.
“Er......She disappeared and was murdered. Probably by dark wizards or witches.” he said feeling very awkward and selfconcious.
She looked at him again with a piercing stare. He felt a shiver run through his heart.
“My mother.” she began. “My mother, well, I presume you found this information in an old newspaper or some book?”
“Er, yeah, uh, Hermione found it in a book about unsolved mysteries in the magical world.” he said feeling embrassed. He didn’t understand why she would be upset by this. If it was in books, could he not accidentally stumble upon that information somehow? Besides, Harry was in books and everyone in the wizard world knew the story of his tragic childhood.
“There’s more than what meets the eye to every situation, Harry” she said. “Things are not always what they seem, remember that.”
“Er, okay.” Harry said. “It’s really sad, though, that your mother was kidnapped like that.”
Katrina stood up and headed towards the door. Before she went through it she turned to Harry and spoke. “There are things about my life that you or nobody else will ever be able to understand. There are still many mysteries that I do not understand.”
Harry walked toward her. “It’s like that with me too, Katrina.” he said in a soft voice, a hushed whisper.
She smiled. “We are two very similar people, Harry. And yet, I’m not like you at all.”
Harry shook his head. “I don’t think I understand what you are saying. Your so much like me that it’s scary. I’ve never really met anyone like this before. You understand me better than anyone else because you’ve lived through some of the same experiences that I have.”
Her smiled widened and became more mysterious. “More than you know, Harry. More than you know.” He eyes seemed different to Harry somehow. There was a certain glow to them, they seemed so familiar. Something told him that he seen them before, not in his dreams, not before she showed up on Privet Drive, but somewhere else. Some time long ago.
She leaned forward and did something very unexpected. “Goodnight, Harry.” she said in a melodious voice, and she bent in close and kissed him on the cheek. Her lips lingered on his flesh for barely a spilt second, but it was enough. Without speaking, she turned and walked up the stairs to the room she was sharing with Ginny and Hermione.
Harry stood there in the kitchen doorway for about ten minutes, in total awe of what had just occurred. He felt happy, and numb, and a bit ill at the same time, all over his body. Then he left the kitchen and walked up those same steps that Katrina had just treaded a few minutes earlier, and headed to the bed where he would lie but not sleep.
************************************************************************** Harry climbed out of bed to a hectic morning. No matter what preparations were made the night before, somehow there seemed to be difficulties. People naturally seemed to misplace things, pr forget last minute tasks that need to be done. Harry was grateful that Percy left for his work before they went to King’s Cross. He knew that Percy would be able to see Katrina at the feast that night, but he had a feeling that Harry would drag out a long goodbye, or at least get emotional. Harry had no desire to see Percy the stuffy Head Boy and Prefect getting romantic and mushy over a girl.
Mrs. Figg was nice enough to loan the Weasleys her pink car, which had been repaired, for the day. Harry was not surprised to see that this car had magical qualities like the other wizard and witch owned cars he had ridden in before.
Passing through the barrier at Platform 9 3/4 was easy as could be, although Mrs. Weasley made them a bit late by hugging and saying tearful good-byes to all her children. She gave Harry an especially big hug and told him to be extra extra careful. She even hugged Hermione and Katrina. When she hugged Katrina, Harry thought he heard Mrs. Weasely say something about how proud she was that Katrina was dating her son.
Soon, Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Katrina were all seated in their own compartment. Fred and George went off to see their friend, Lee Jordan. Sitting on the seat next to them were Hedwig, Pig, and Dite, all in their cages. Hermione let Crookshanks out of his cat carrier, where he was snoozing peacefully on the floor.
As the day went on, Katrina seemed to become more and more anxious about her new school. Ron and Hermione seemed to notice her nervousness. Ron tried to distract her by making jokes, and Hermione pulled out her copy of Hogwarts, A History to show Katrina just how wonderful life at her new boarding school could be. Hermione was pleasantly shocked to see that Katrina already owned a copy and had read it a few times herself.
“Finally.” Hermione sighed. “Someone who’s read Hogwarts, A History! I was getting awfully tired of being the only one who knew anything!”
Her nervousness must have made her hungry, because when the witch came by with the trolley of sweets, and snacks, Harry thought Katrina might buy the entire lot! Not only did she buy snacks for all of them, but for herself, she bought a large variety of different treats. Katrina said it was because she lived in a different part ofd the world, she had never been exposed to any of those sweets. In fact, it seemed that Katrina bought everything except for......
“Pumpkin juice!” she explained. “I forgot the pumpkin juice!”
At that moment, Draco Malfoy walked in there compartment, with Crabbe and Goyle just behind him.
“Ah, look.” he said with an baneful smirk. “It’s Potty and the Weasel, and they even brought along their Mudblood friend. Aren’t you afraid to return to the wizzarding world after what happened?”
In answer, Harry silently and swiftly arose from his seat, put his hand in pocket ready to use his wand if necessary, and put on and expression of intense hatred.
“You won’t be so lucky the next time, Potter.” he said in voice marked by pride and loathing. Malfoy looked around the compartment and gave Harry, Ron, and Hermione a slow, long look of revulsion. Then his eyes fell upon Katrina. Busy with his intense dislike of Harry, he had overlooked the beautiful young woman sitting quietly in the corner. His face immediately change into an expression of wonder and curiosity. It startled Harry.
Malfoy walked slowly walked towards Katrina. Harry, who had been sitting in the seat next to her, tried to block Malfoy from getting to her, afraid he might say something hateful to her. But Malfoy just pushed on past, and seemed to be unaware of Harry, or anyone else in that matter.
“Who are you?” Malfoy asked mystified.
She blushed. “My name is Katrina Figg.”
Malfoy looked her over from head to toe. He puffed his chest a bit and spoke again. “My name is Draco Malfoy, the son of Lucuis Malfoy. I’m sure you’ve heard of my family. We’re a very noble wizzarding family and come from a long long line of pureblood wizards and witches.”
“Malfoy? Hmmmmmm.” she said thoughtfully. “I think I’ve heard that name somewhere before.”
“Well, you probably have.” Malfoy said braggidly. “It’s powerful respectable, great name. I suppose you are a pureblood? From the look of you, I can tell that you must be. Mudbloods and half-bloods, well, they don’t look anything like you do.”
Katrina smiled faintly. It was not a smile that Harry recognized. She had a glint of something in her eyes that Harry could not name. It made him feel quite nervous. What could Katrina possibly be up to?
“My grandmother and grandfather were top Aurors for the Ministry of Magic, my great uncle is none other than Albus Dumbledore, himself.” she said. “I guess you could say I am a pureblood, although it matters very little to me.”
Malfoy looked very shocked and a bit taken back. “Dumbledore is your uncle?” he said with one eyebrow raised. “No wonder Potter here is hanging around you. He’s always been Dumbledore’s favorite little boy.” He frowned. “Well, your birth line is pure, even though it may not be as noble as I like my associates to be. But all in all, it is pure as mine.”
Hermione scowled at him. “Leave her alone, Malfoy.” she said.
Either Malfoy didn’t hear her, or he just ignored Hermione. Either way, Hermione’s threat got no reaction from Malfoy.
“Would you like to come for a walk with me, Katrina” he asked, offering her his hand. “I’ll buy you a pumpkin juice.”
Katrina accepted his hand, and Malfoy pulled her from her seat. “As a matter of fact, I just noticed that I’d forgotten to buy some with the witch with the cart came by.” Together, they walked toward the compartment door.
Harry, in both disgust and shock, called out to her. “Katrina!” he cried. “Where are you going?!”
“Shut up, Potter.” Malfoy said coldly. “The lady has obviously made her choice. She’s going with me.”
Katrina turned her head and smiled at Harry before shutting the compartment door. It was the Katrina Figg her recognized, the smile that he knew.
“Don’t worry, Harry. I’m just going out for a few minutes. It’s just a simple walk. I’ll be perfectly fine.” she reassured him.
“Coming Katrina?” he heard Malfoy call.
“I’ll be back in a minute. I’m a big girl. I can take care of myself. Believe me.” she said, then disappeared from Harry’s view as the compartment door shut behind her.
“Crabbe, Goyle, get lost for a while. I want to be alone.” Harry could her Malfoy order before their voices vanished.
Harry was utterly disgusted. “Did you just see that?!” he said, kicking the wall of the train in anger. “Ow!” he cried. Apparently, he’d kicked a little too hard.
Ron smirked. “Kicking the train won’t do you any good, Harry. You’ll only break your big toe and that might affect your Quiditch performance.”
Harry was not amused.
“Why would she run off like that with him?” he fumed.
“Well, maybe she just wanted some pumpkin juice.” Hermione suggested, putting her hand on his arm in a comforting fashion. It did little good to comfort him, especially since it was just the type of gesture that Katrina always did.
“Can’t she tell that Malfoy is bad news? She saw how he treated all of us, how he talked to all of, how he spoke about you and your family, Hermione! And she’s supposed to be our friend!” Harry cried. “And in just like that, she walks off with someone who said all those terrible things! He was flirting with her like crazy! He only likes her because she’s with us, and because she’s Dumbledore’s niece. She comes from a powerful family. Malfoy comes from a power hungry family full of Death Eaters.”
Harry shook his head in revulsion. “Can’t anybody else see what’s going on but me?”
“Ofcourse, we know why Malfoy is so interested in Katrina. And of course we know that it’s really terrible and pretty bloody stupid for her to be nice to him. Not to mention dangerous for her.” Ron said calmly. “Of course we know all this. But we all know that she will back in a few minutes and we can explain to her exactly what Malfoy is. She probably just doesn’t know any better.”
“Ron is right.” Hermione said. “She’s very ignorant of how life is in Britain for wizards and witches. And especially at Hogwarts. She doesn’t know that Malfoy’s parents are Death Eaters, and she probably doesn’t comprehend how big of a problem that Death Eaters are here because things are a lot safer in America since it’s so far away.”
Harry thought about what Hermione was saying for a moment. It did make sense.
“And she is very concerned about making friends when she gets to Hogwarts. She is afraid that nobody will like her, and she’ll be lonely and friendless. I guess she figured that Malfoy would at least be her friend since he was paying attention to her.” Harry said.
“Katrina was worried about being alone?” Hermione said shaking her head.
“What about us? Didn’t she think me and Hermione were her friends, besides you?” Ron asked.
Harry sighed. “I don’t know guys. I just don’t like the idea of her being alone with Malfoy. I don’t trust him.”
“Why would you trust him, Harry? It’s not like he’s your friend? He’s only done you harm!” Hermione said, laughing.
“I think you have feelings for this girl, don’t you, Harry?” Ron said in a teasing voice. “It’s not a matter of you worrying that Malfoy would hurt her. You’re just jealous!”
“I am not!” Harry began to yell back but Hermione spoke first.
“That’s stupid, Ron. Everybody knows that Katrina is dating your brother. We can all tell he’s absolutely in love with her. Harry would never try to steal someone else’s girlfriend. That’s not right!” she said.
As soon as Hermione finished her statement, the compartment door slid open. Harry held his breathe for a moment hoping that it would be Katrina returning safe and sound, but he was disappointed to see that it was Neville Longbottom.
“Hi Neville.” Harry said glumly.
Neville didn’t seem to pick up on Harry’s disappointment. He looked too miserable with his own troubles to care about anyone else’s.
“I’ve lost Trevor! I don’t know where to find him! I’ve looked all over the train.” he said with a look of great unhappiness on his face.
For a moment, a flash of hope lit up the sad boys face.
“You haven’t seen Trevor? Have you?” he asked.
The three of them shook there heads no.
Neville sighed. He flopped onto the seat where Katrina had been sitting. “I just don’t know what I’m going to do.” he said downheartedly.
Before they could begin to handle Neville’s problem, another problem walked into their compartment. Except this problem had aurborne hair, and wore a red short sleeved glittery sweater, black glitter jeans, red imitation snakeskin boots, and a very exotic and expensive necklace.
“I’m back!” Katrina Figg said in syrupy cheery voice. “Did ya miss me?”
“Terribly.” Harry said in a quiet voice under his breathe. Lucky for him nobody heard.
In her arms she carried a glass bottle of pumpkin juice and a green toad.
“Trevor!” Neville cried overjoyed. He scooped the toad right out of her arms and sat it in his lap.
“I take it that this is your pet.” Katrina said, half laughing. “The Hogwarts Express sure is a crazy place. With toads running around all over the place and such.”
Harry grapped her by her hand a lead her into a corner of the compartment opposite Neville, Hermione and Ron. They were so distracted by Trevor, and Neville’s happiness, that nobody gave much thought to Katrina or Harry.
“Are you all right, Katrina?” Harry whispered.
“Of course I’m all right. Why wouldn’t I be?” she whispered back with a stunned look on her sweet face.
“You were with Draco Malfoy.” he said in an expressionless voice.
“So?” was her reply.
“So Draco Malfoy is a very dangerous person. His parents are Death Eaters and he will probably be one too as soon as he is old enough. He’s very racist and hates people that don’t come from pureblood families. He’s always very hateful to Hermione. You heard the way he talked to her. And he’s always causing trouble for me and Ron.”
Katrina nodded her head. “So, basically he’s your rival. An enemy of sorts?” she whispered.
“Exactly.” Harry replied. “That’s why I don’t really want you hanging around with him. He’s not a nice person and I don’t want him to hurt you. I know you want to make friends when you come to Hogwarts, but you can’t make friends with him. He’s just not the good sort of wizard.”
“Friends?” Katrina asked. “Friends?” she repeated. “You think I want to be friends with Draco Malfoy, son of Lucuis and Narcussia Malfoy?”
Katrina laughed. It was a strange cold laugh. One unlike any that Harry had ever heard before.
“Oh Harry, there’s so much you have got to learn.” she whispered, putting her hand on his cheek. She leaned forward, very close to him. Like she was going to kiss him, but Harry knew he was not about to be kissed. Not by Percy Weasley’s most beloved girlfriend. “Didn’t anyone ever tell you that old saying? Keep your friends close and your enemies closer. Well, that’s what I am doing. I’m keeping my enemy closer. I know what the Malfoys are. I know what they are better than you do, Mr. Harry Potter.”
She turned away from him and sat down next to Neville. Harry just stood there in silence wondering what had taken place. He didn’t understand anything, but it seemed like he never understood anything since Katrina Figg walked into his life.
“What ever happens, Katrina Figg.” he whispered in his mind, as he watched her play with Neville’s toad, “Just remember to keep your friends close too. You know that I’d always be there for you.”
Harry shook his head, in attempt to shake his wrongful love for Katrina out of him. She belonged to Percy. His heart should belong to Cho Chang, like it used to before.
But somehow, it just didn’t feel that way anymore.
Author’s Note:
Originally, the events occurring in Chapters 9, 10, and some of 11 would be one big chapter. But I decided that it would be too long, too hard for the readers to read, too hard for me too write, and it would be much better if it was split up into three smaller chapters. I hope this does not make anybody mad!
-Amanda