On the last day of Arithmancy class, when the lesson had ended, Katie had left with tears in her eyes. Although it was still not her favorite class due to the amount of letters in her name, the Arithmancy classroom had held not one, but two of her favorite professors during her time in these halls. And Katie was willing to bet, whether or not he'd admit it, Legend would agree.

She had a plan, that later that night she would share with Legend. They weren't exactily back to being the best of friends, but she hoped he would help.

In a day, Katie would be a Hogwarts graduate, or maybe she was already. The exams were over.. she had just finished her Muggle Studies exam, and as far as she knew Ancient Runes was next, but she hadn't taken Ancient Runes during her final term. This was it.. there was nothing left for her to do.

Katie wandered the halls, feet guiding her toward the Hourglasses that held their ruby, green, blue and gold gem-like points. She hardly noticed which House was in the lead or wasn't.. it didn't matter now.

She'd come for Mat and Legend, her boys.

Katie was always careful around Danny, or she tried to be. Tried to keep her voice soft, temper low, avoid outbursts around him even though it was always Legend's fault. At times, Katie felt as if she had to take care of him in some way, even though he was less than a year younger.

The snow was soft and cold beneath her, sitting in it Courtyard beside her cousin. Though he couldn't see it, a smile formed on her lips as he rested his head on her shoulder and spoke of missing her upon graduating.

'I'll miss you too.'

Standing in front of her small jewelry box, Katie pulled the charm bracelet from her wrist. The one she'd started at eleven-years-old, each symbolizing one of her closest friends. Then the necklace around her neck, the figure skate Legend had gotten for her. She had been around fifteen, when he'd bought her that. Probably for her birthday.

They were old memories.. ones she cherished, but no longer felt she should wear. So much had changed since then.

Something caught her eye as she slipped each treasure into the box, the words 'Free Spirit' written in Italian gleamed back at her.

They had just graduated six months back, and it was their first Christmas in years where they wouldn't be traveling from Hogwarts. Atleast for the older ones, it was. This would be Orlando and Danny's last time.

Voices filled the large house, children were everywhere.. Her boys, where everywhere..

"LEGEND CHOSEN!" Kaitlynnh screamed as loud as her lungs would allow, followed by, "MATIAS SULO!"

The young woman practically flew upstairs after the pair, her wild brown curls bouncing at her shoulders.

A door shut down the hall.

"IT'S NOT FUNNY!"

Deep down, Katie knew she would be bored without them.

What, was she speaking Parseltongue?

A young Kaitlynnh Mae placed her hands on her hips. Dark, untamed curls bounced at her shoulders as she shook her head. Her dark eyes narrowed, glaring at a certain blonde haired, green-eyed boy.

"You aren't allowed to call William, Willie!" The Hufflepuff said, bossily. "Or Free Willie. Only I'm allowed to call him that."

There was a small, satisfied smile forming on the girl's lips as she looked sideways at William.

"I'll call him FREE WILLIE if I want. You're not the boss of me, Kaitlynnh!" Came Legend Chosen's response, his tongue sticking out.

Sitting outside a bakery, Katie played with the blueberry muffin in front of her, lost in thought until a young man appeared and took the seat across from her.

"Hello, Kitten." Giuseppe offered her a smile, before breaking off a piece of her muffin for himself.

"Hello, Goofy." Katie greeted back, pushing the plate to sit between them. "So.. I need boy advice."

Giuseppe leaned across the table, fixing her with a look that was a cross between amusement and daring her to deny what he was about to say: "This is about Legend, isn't it?"

"How did you know?"

Since the kids - her three baby brothers and sister, and the baby Chosen twins, who weren't really babies anymore but actually teenagers - were being so good, Katie decided why not pick up doughnuts or something fresh from the bakery for breakfast?

Pushing open the door to the bakery, the same one that Julian had taken her to not too long ago, Katie eyed the place a bit as she approached the counter.

Legend was suppose to be visiting, too. Arriving any time, but she doubted early.

What kind of baked sweets did he like again?

"Hi, I'd like.."

Smoothing her dress, Kaitlynnh let out a heavy sigh. Today was the day. Robin and Sparrow Chosen, and Eddie, Lucy, and Johnny Mae's eleventh birthday. Not to mention, New Years Day.

The chaos had already begun, and it was barely dawn.

Legend was suppose to be arriving shortly, if he hadn't shown up the night before. She hadn't asked, and didn't go over to find out. He wasn't her responsibility, and she had no doubt he would be here. It was for his siblings, too.

"Garett's here," Came a voice from the doorway.

Katie nodded, and took a deep breath.

The castle walls were lined with torches that lit the rooms with a pale glow, just enough for her to see what was in front of her.

"Leah?" Katie called, uncertainly. "Kayla?"

Where was everyone?

"Julian? Mat? Danny?" The Little Mae called, one after the other. Nervousness kept into her voice with every name she called and got no response except for the echo of her own voice.

Brown curls bounced as she walked forward, finding herself in some hall with no idea where to go.

"Legend!"

Tears began to form in her dark eyes.

"Legend Chosen, where are you?!"

Tears streamed down her face, brown eyes red from all the crying she'd been doing. Katie stood in the livingroom, arms crossed protectively over her chest. From the other room, she could hear whispered words of 'Legend', and 'Portkey'. It wasn't until the tall blonde appeared in the doorway that the young woman practically flew at him.

"He's gone, Legend," Katie cried into his chest, barely comprehensible through her sobs. "Collin.. he didn't.. make it."

Frowning, Legend wrapped his arms around her smaller frame and squeezed. "It's going to be okay, Cub." He mumbled, only for her ears to hear.

Eying the pair of pups pacing around her niece, one in particular really, Katie made a face. They were both itty bitty, and she hadn't the slightest clue what kind of dogs they were.. but the one, the fat little blonde colored one, kept giving her looks. Dog looks.

It wasn't the fact it kept looking at her, it was more.. the look it was giving her, if that were possible.

"Mo, are you sure that's a dog?" Katie asked.

"Opposed to what?" Monique replied calmly, glancing over at her best friend.

"Do we know if Legend is an animagus?"

The ice rink was teeming with both children and adults bundled up in warm clothes, including scarves and hats, as if they were playing in the snow. Then again, who was Katie to say it wasn't cold? She'd been skating for so many years, she was probably just use to it now.

A small smile played around her lips, watching the taller, brunette boy in front of her as she skated backwards slowly, hands outstretched in front of her. "Are you sure about this?" Legend had sort of volunteered him to be her new partner.

"Yeah, of course." Carter grinned.

What was that noise? It sounded like someone was yodeling, but Katie couldn't be sure as she tightened her figure skate laces, tying them before she pushed off from the bench and went to join Carter, Legend's best friend, and her new skating partner, out on the ice.

"Hey! Watch those hands, Coach Man!" Legend yelled as he took a seat nearest the rink, wearing a wide grin the whole time. "She's mine!"

Legend had impeccable timing. Carter's face flushed, just when he was catching her in a jump - He lost his balance, and she fell into him, laughing.

Why was she worried? Why did it even matter? It had been quite a few years since the horrible break up, the calling off of the engagement, all of it. They had been sixteen and seventeen years old. Barely even of age. So.. why did it matter now?

Katie argued with herself, silently, sitting in Grandma Angelina's large window seat with a book pressed to her chest.

Because, she thought, Legend had been in her life many years before they had developed feelings for each other.. he had always been there.

And she didn't want him to completely hate Garett.

Seated at her desk in the History of Magic classroom, which was right beside Mackayla's desk, and in front of Legend and Matias' desks, with Jae's desk on her other side, Kaitlynnh Mae tried not to slouch or show that she was already bored.

"Pshhh."

"Pshhhh."

"Katie.."

Ignoring the voice behind her, Katie continued to stare ahead at the professor.

"Katie!"

"WHAT?" Katie turned, hissing under her breath, eyes narrowing as she did.

Legend grinned, "Can I borrow a quill?"

He had to be joking. "You didn't bring one?!"

"Nah, I did. I just wanted you to make that face."

Katie frowned, finally off the boat and mostily dry thanks to Grandma Angelina's spell work, and NO THANKS to Legend Chosen who had pushed her out of the boat, while he and Mat laughed their heads off - Payback was coming, oh yes, it was..

She was nearly ready to cover her ears, growing annoyed with all the voices and mostily, Legend's grandmother's complaints.

"Is she a pureblood?" The girl asked, coming to stand beside the blonde haired boy as they grabbed their things and headed off the dock. "Your Grandma Nancy, I mean."

"Yeah," Legend said, sounding confused. "Why?"

"Do I look like a House Elf to you, Legend?!"

Katie Mae with her wild brown curls and narrowed brown eyes, with hands on her hips, and Legend Chosen with his spiked blonde hair and cool green eyes, were at it again.

"Well.. actually.." Legend went to retort, and earned himself a glare.

"Don't, don't start. I am NOT a weird GREY CREATURE with HUGE EYES and I DO NOT WEAR RAGS!" Katie shouted, throwing her hands in the air. BOYS.

Legend snorted. "You're right, Katie, you'd make a HORRIBLE House Elf. You don't listen well, and you're not obedient."

Dear Legend,

Hey Legend, that's better. Anyway, I thought I'd send a package from home. Yours and mine, of course. Inside (if you haven't already found them) are letters from your parents, and mine, and brothers, sisters.. blah blah, yada yada. Also, I made the cookies. Don't worry, they're perfect. Sort of.

Somewhere in this silly box you should find well.. a lot of stuff. But Johnny drew you a picture, and when he gave it to me he was giggling. As you can see, it's of YOU putting out my cookie fire.

We miss you.

Love Always,
Katie Mae

Their final feast had begun, atleast for herself and her fellow Seventh Years. Katie stole a glance up at the staff table, and couldn't help but notice Headmaster Tate looked grumpier than usual. Her gaze quickly returned, as Legend sat next to her, and Professor Hadley approached.

A smile formed on her lips, a real one this time, and she joined in the conversation - Hadley had come to thank them for breaking into her office and leaving a gift, and Legend tried to convince Hadley to say she loved them and they were her favorite students. Oh, Merlin's beard.

"Ford, Anglia!"

Katie made a face, nose wrinkling as she heard the next first year's name. She glanced over to see the small girl run up to be sorted, and then her attention was stolen.

"Legend, stop playing around." Twelve-year-old Katie said, dark eyes narrowing on the Gryffindor for a moment, before offering a smile to Danny, her little cousin who had just been sorted into Gryffindor himself.

Legend ignored the curly haired girl, and continued to play with his spoon, twirling it-

The spoon slipped out of his hand, and smacked Danny in the head. Katie groaned, "Legend Chosen!"

As it turned out, camping probably wasn't the greatest idea of all time for this bunch. It was their first time as a group, and well.. yeah, no.

"What was that?!" Katie demanded, freezing in her tracks, she grabbed the arm nearest her - Leah's. The girls all frowned, but stopped and listened.

A loud rustle of bushes came from somewhere close.

"I'm sure it's nothing," Mackayla said, while Katie released Leah and peered closer in the direction of the noise.

Leah started, "What is that?"

"LEGEND!" Katie shouted, panicked. "JAE! DANNY! ORLANDO! MAT!"

"They're off finding wood.." Mackayla frowned.

"My dad's an auror, and he said that there was a lady who lived in a house, and she was murdered, and no one knows why or how or who did it - but the house is still abandoned to this day, and people say she still hangs around and haunts the place." Legend finally finished saying to his friends. He raised an eyebrow, a mischievous look in his green eyes. "We should find the house."

"You're making it up!" Katie accused, "It's not real."

"No, I'm not! I dare you to go inside when we find it! You'll see!"

Lost deep in thoughts, the Sixth year leaned against a pillar in the corridor to the courtyard, light streaming in through the openings. Something silvery caught her eye as it moved toward her and began to hop circles around her in mid-air, something completely majestic.

A gasp escaped from her, and she turned to keep the silver rabbit in her line of vision. It was beautiful, and someone's Patronus. But the corridor was empty. Katie glanced from one side of the corridor to the other to make sure it was still empty, and couldn't spot a single person.

".. Legend?"

It was still unbearable to think one of her baby nieces were no longer with them. The mention, or thought of Boo brought her to tears every time. Sniffling, Katie wiped her nose onto her sweater sleeve, eyes still red from all the crying she'd been doing.

The school year hadn't ended so well for her, with Legend and her friendship strained from telling him she liked him - after being forced, and now a death.

Somehow or another she and Legend ended up hugging, upon arriving home. A hug of comfort. And then, Katie brushed her lips to his.