I painstakingly avoided Draco after that confrontation in the Hospital Wing.

At first, he tried to talk to me as he showed up at my office as soon as he got better then even to my room at the teacher's lodgings in the castle. But I shut him out because the guilt of taking his side even though he had hurt my friend was too much for me to ignore.

I knew from the twins who had recently visited Katie in St. Mungo's that she was slowly recovering and might join school next year to complete her studies. And to think that she was driven to such a state by Draco Malfoy made me seethe in anger and frustration.

Anger because it was the right way to react upon finding out that he cursed her. But I was frustrated because I knew he wasn't doing it willingly.

He was following orders from that damned Voldemort.

In a sense, I was punishing him for something he didn't really have a say in.

As days passed with me continuing to ignore him, he stopped trying to reach out to me too. The final Quidditch matches took place, Gryffindor won the cup and Harry and Ginny started dating. Back at home, preparations were underway for Remus and Tonks' wedding. They had gotten into a relationship not long ago and were getting married in a private event to which only our family and a few others were invited. 

I had gotten Rem's letter and the invite, but lately, I had been occupied by the mystery my past and present were stuck in. I would attend the wedding, of course, and it felt as if a lot had happened quite quickly, but everything was at a standstill in my life.

With the Quidditch Season coming to an end, and the weather fluctuating to worse spells of rain, I didn't have much to do at the castle either. I considered asking the Headmaster for a leave to go to the Burrow and sort my thoughts out. But then, I was a newly appointed member and I didn't want to take unnecessary privileges.

I was feeling homesick, however, so I decided to go to the Gryffindor Common Room in my free hours. The common room was a second home for me as I had so many memories connected to it, both from my own time and from my time travel.

I got the password for the common room from Professor McGonagall and as I ascended the stairs to the Gryffindor tower, nostalgia struck me hard. All the pranks I had pulled with my brothers, the Fat Lady's concerts, Percy's lectures, and the escapades with the Marauders all mingled together in my head. 

The familiar sight of the Fat Lady's portrait met my eyes and I smiled to see her. She recognized me too as she straightened, her eyes lighting up.

"My dear, how long it has been since I saw you, I heard you joined the Professors," the Fat Lady exclaimed.

"Yes, I did. How are you doing?"

It was pretty much an invitation for her to launch into a description of the new opera songs she was practicing. But I didn't stop her from telling me. Right then, hearing her singing also was a part of the past that made me feel as if I had come back home.

After she was done singing, I spoke up, "Can you let me in? The password is Erumpent Horn."

"Of course, here you go."

The portrait shifted aside, opening the entrance to the common room. The warm feeling of stepping into the common room engulfed me, along with the smell of freshly burning fire in the hearth.

The familiar shades of scarlet and gold felt quite soothing and when I stepped in, a cheer sounded by the students already in the common room. One thing I missed most about being a student was stepping into that space and being surrounded by friends and other fellow students.

So it felt good to come back and see that not much had changed in all the time that I had been away.

"Kat!" Ginny spotted me soon enough and approached me, a soft smile playing on her lips.

"Hi Gin, thought I would drop by," I remarked, looking around and taking in the warmth and comfort of the place.

The common room always had that effect on me and I remember at times when I couldn't go to sleep, I would come out to read, sitting in front of the hearth until I dozed off.

"That's great," Ginny smiled but I could sense something was worrying her, "I was thinking of coming to your office anyway."

"Oh, is everything okay?"

"Yeah, come to the dorm."

I followed her to the dorms and when we reached her dorm, it was empty. She made me sit down on the bed and closed the door. It was clear she wanted to talk to me about something very important.

"So, what is it?" I asked, observing how her calm facade had dropped now that we were alone.

Ginny was a strong girl and she always kept her emotions in check. But ever since we had come closer to each other, she had started to trust me and shared exactly what she felt.

"It's about Harry," she sighed, taking the seat across from me, "I am worried for him."

"What happened?" I knew they had started dating and things were going well apparently. But seeing her look at me like that, it was clear something bad had happened between them.

"I think Harry is getting too obsessed with Malfoy," she spoke up, clasping her hands tightly together, "He thinks, no, he believes that Malfoy has become a Death Eater and wants to get rid of Professor Dumbledore which is absurd really but he just won't listen to us. He also thinks Professor Snape is supporting him in his mission because he's a Death Eater too and has changed sides without Professor Dumbledore knowing."

Oh, dear... The very topic I wanted to avoid has somehow become the crux of this conversation.

"What else does Harry say?"

"Well, Ron and Hermione would know more about that. You must have heard about Harry and Malfoy's duel too by now. Things are just getting worse and I am worried he will end up doing something terrible to himself," Ginny remarked and I understand why she felt that way.

On the other hand, Harry's assumptions regarding Draco weren't entirely false.

He was a Death Eater. Whether or not he wanted to get rid of the Headmaster wasn't something I knew. I just hope that isn't the case. As for Snape, the guy has struck me as suspicious from the first time I saw him. I wonder why Professor Dumbledore can't see that.

"So Kat, I don't know what I should do. I want to help Harry out, I really do. But it's so hard with the way he has been reacting to everything lately."

I nodded, squeezing her hand in reassurance, "I know... But if Harry is so insistent, that means he must have a reason behind it. I know him, he's not the type of person to lash out without a cause."

Her hazel eyes flickered slightly, "so you mean he's right? Is Malfoy a Death Eater?"

"I don't know," I stated firmly even though I knew very well that he was right, "I am just saying, he can be right. But I also understand that with the way he's reacting, it will end up harming him more."

"Exactly..."

"Well, I can talk to him about it if you want," I offered, knowing I needed to have a word with Harry anyway, "maybe he will listen."

Ginny's features relaxed at that suggestion, "Kat, thank you so much. Of course, he will listen to you. It would be a lot of help if you manage to talk sense into him."

"I can try but I am not making any promises," I told her, "and Ginny, I know you and Harry are together now which means that you are one of the people he trusts. Don't give him any reason not to trust you, okay? Sometimes listening to him and letting him know that you're there can help a lot."

She nodded and I knew she would take my advice seriously. Gin has had a rocky love life but I know her feelings for Harry are genuine.

I just hope whatever this rough patch is due to Voldemort and the Death Eaters doesn't end up breaking Harry and Ginny's relationship.

***