Being that it was Hogsmeade weekend, the grounds were nearly empty of students. Nice and quiet except, minus the pair of arguing children. Of course, minus that.

"There's nothing wrong with the Whomping Willow-" Katie began to protest and was stopped, interupted by the Gryffindor boy at her side.

"Yeah, Cub. It's a harmless tree, that's why they call it the WHOMPING Willow." Legend replied sarcastically, emerald green eyes glancing at her skeptically.

Katie huffed, growing annoyed. "That's out of DEFENSE! What do you expect?"

"That's out of defense, what do you expect!" Legend mimicked in a high pitched tone.

"It's a Kneazle," Legend insisted for the third time.

"It is not, it's just a normal cat." Katie answered.

"How would you know?" The green-eyed boy challenged.

"It's not spotted and it doesn't have big ears."

Silence.

"What if it was, though?"

Katie tilted her head to look at the boy. "I suppose that would mean someone in our neighborhood isn't who we thought they were?"

Legend wasn't satisfied with this answer. "Why do you say that?"

"If it was a Kneazle and it didn't belong to either of us, then there must be another witch or wizard close by."

It wasn't very often Lorraine and Alphonse could visit anymore, not since they were children themselves.

But when they could, they would arrange a day for them to meet up and talk. Children included.

It was possibly the first time Katie and Legend were introduced to one another, and both were far too young to remember the event, or their very first arguement:

"Is that chocolate on your face, little man?" Raine asked, bending down beside the pair.

Katie shook her head. "Is mud."

"Is not!" Legend protested, his lip pushing out. It was not mud.

"Is so! It mud,"

Katie was a meanie. A big meanie!

She had Legend red-faced and ready to cry as she stood inches from him, head held high and arms crossed as she refused to look at him.

"Kaitlynnh, you be good. Apologize to Lysander," Her mother insisted, frowning.

"No! I did'nt do anyting!" The fiesty little midget cried, stomping her foot.

Katie's twin brother remained quiet, shyly off to the side, not wanting to take part in the chaos.

"Did too! She was been mean an scary, an ROAR!" Legend's lip quivered, beautiful emerald green eyes filling with tears.

"Katie, apologize."

"... Was not,"

"I don't see Professor Bunbury," Katie piped up, searching the staff table from where she sat amongst the Gryffindors.

"Good. She probably left." Legend muttered without care.

Several pairs of eyes turned on him, some curious and others narrowed; none of the offended eyeballs belonged to their group of friends.

"Don't like Bunbury?" Mat asked, practically bouncing in his seat.

Katie feared he might have gotten into chocolate on the train without her noticing. How? She had no clue.

"No, she's evil! Probably one of those part-veela witches," Legend made a face, obviously not fond of veelas for some reason.

"I can't find Nova." Katie exclaimed, a hint of anger raising the pitch of her voice.

Legend rolled his eyes, as if this was nothing new. "You suck as an owner. When do you ever know where it is?"

"IT has a name, Legend. Where's that thing of yours, Pluto. Have you been keeping an eye on that?" The young girl demanded, knowing they were heading toward another fight and not caring one bit.

She wanted Nova.

"Yes" He said evenly, cool green eyes narrowing on her. "Don't blame Pluto for your pet problems, he wouldn't touch that smelly rabbit."

Standing in front of one of MANY portraits decorating the castle walls, a Hufflepuff and Gryffindor could easily be found - or heard, - bickering. As usual.

"That's a guy." Katie said, an air of confidence about her.

"No it's not, it's a woman." Legend rolled his eyes, as if it was obvious and she should be agreeing with him. Which, in his mind, she should be!

".. It has a beard, Legend."

"So?"

"Seriously? Do I really need to answer that?!"

"Women can have beards! Mrs. Hairnet did," Legend used their old muggle teacher as an example.

Katie almost snorted.

"Hand me my dragonhide gloves," Katie requested, holding a hand out expectantly.

Legend's eyes narrowed on her almost instantly. When he spoke up, his voice dripped with sarcasm, "What do I look like to you, a house elf?"

"No. You look like a goblin."

They both knew this was a lie. Katie also knew her answer would bother Legend, whether or not it was true.

And she was right in thinking so.

"A goblin!?" Legend demanded. "You're the one who's a midget. I'm too tall and handsome to be a goblin, YOU'RE a goblin!"

"As IF! Hmmph!" Katie huffed.

"Goblin."

"I am NOT putting my face near that."

With hands on her hips and dark narrowed eyes, Katie was serious.

Legend glared back, probably not a huge fan of the tone she used. It was a bit accusing.

"Whhhhhy? Just do it!"

"No."

"Come on, Cub-"

"Don't call me CUB!"

"-It's REALLY cool!" Legend insisted.

"How do I know you're not tricking me?"

"You don't trust me?"

"You could have switched the real telescope with one of those joke shop punching ones!" Katie shrieked.

"Mister Chosen, Miss Mae. Do we have a problem?" From behind them, the Astronomy Professor stood.

At the end of fourth year, Hogwarts held a reunion Ball for past and present students.

Their friendships were strained, and despite not knowing how, Legend asked Katie to dance. Oddly, she accepted.

The Gryffindor admitted he didn't know what he was doing, and the Hufflepuff taught him.

Things would be okay between them.

At the end of fifth year, another Ball would take place in honor of the Triwizard Tournament. It was not the traditional Yule Ball, but a Costume Ball instead.

Again, Legend asked her to dance. And she accepted, not knowing it would change their friendship forever.

Legend Chosen had gotten an A in History of Magic.

That wasn't even possible.. this was Legend they were talking about!

A skeptical, questioning look ever so present on her face, Katie Mae's dark eyes narrowed just a bit on the blonde haired boy. "How'd you manage that one?"

Eyebrows raised, Legend leaned back, relaxing with feet in the pool as he answered coolly, "I'm just that good."

"What was your speech for the Statute of Secrecy?" the Hufflepuff continued to eye him.

"Same as everyone elses - about the importance, blah blah blah, yada yada - just better obviously."

Leading them into the Forbidden Forest, how many times had Professor Saylen warned them in one way or another to be quiet and not attract the acromantulas? To only observe the cology of spiders from the top of the hill?

Before Legend or a couple other boys could stupidily test how close they could get without drawing attention to the class, and before Katie could protest, there were a few SNAPS of twigs breaking under feet, followed by CLICK, CLICK'ing.

As class began to panic and run, Legend grabbed Katie's arm and pushed her in the direction of Saylen's patronus.

"CUUUUUBB- COME HEREEE."

Nervously smoothing the black material of her dress as she ventured through the Great Hall, leaving Savannah to catch up with friends, Katie came to an abrupt stop; She would know that voice anywhere.

Following his voice, Katie weaved through others until she found the boy, leaning against a wall. He was wearing dress robes. Well, kind of.. he was wearing a nice black jacket and jeans, but it was more than Katie expected.

"You.. got dressed up," She observed, "I didn't think you would."

Katie had never really seen Legend dressed up, except for at weddings.

For their first Transfiguration lesson, Professor Pilliwickle had them conjuring butterflies.

Katie was thrilled. Legend was not.

"PAPILIO!" The boy yelled, producing a giant purple butterfly. It fell to the desk, twitching.

"Only you would mutate an insect and make it triple it's normal size."

Katie's amusement turned to horror as Legend poked it with his wand. "Legend! Don't poke it," He was going to hurt it!

Legend used a reducing spell, shrinking it. It didn't actually look too bad now that it wasn't mutated, he decided... until it flew over to Katie's desk.

"That thing is ugly and mental."

Mmmm. Cinnamon rolls! Katie loved them, especially the ones her mom and Grandma would make.

Following the warm, sugary scent, Katie took one from a plate on the table.

"Your little brother licked that one." Legend announced, green eyes fixed on her. A slight smirk making it's way onto his face as her brown eyes grew wide and suspicious.

"He didn't." Despite her reply, Katie examined the roll she had just taken a bite from.

"He did." Legend repeated.

"Eddie did it!" Johnny chirped as his older sister looked toward him, mouth a gape.

"EWWWW!"

The boys bursted into laughter.

Sitting in her mother's lap oblivious to the intense conversation going on between the adults as any one year, five month old would be, the child's big dark brown eyes followed the bobbing and pulling motion of another child in front of her.

At ten months old, baby Lysander was mobile; Happily crawling across the floor toward her without a care in the world.

Frowning, baby Kaitlynnh made to slap the head that was coming too close to her. Her little hand missed and nearly smacked her twin brother instead, but that didn't stop her from trying a second time.

No one was more cheerful than Carsyn that day. Whenever she was feeling well enough, she could play with Lysander; And not only did she feel well, but another baby was visiting while her mother and little Kaitlynnh's mother talked.

"Come on Lysander, this way," Carsyn gently guided her little cousin through the backyard, onto a pink hearts blanket spread out in the grass where the two year old curly-haired child sat. Carsyn smiled when Lysander safely made it onto the blanket and sank to his knees, "Say Hi to your friend, silly!"

"Hiii," Lysander mumbled, repeating what Carsyn said.

At first, Katie just blinked at the green-eyed boy. But after a moment, she gave a little wave of her hand.

Dark eyes shifting onto the little girl as she giggled, Katie made an attempt to hide her face in her arms, sheepishly.

"Aw, don't do that silly. You don't have to be shy," Carsyn's gentle voice was directed at her, as was her gaze. Slowly, but surely, Katie raised her head, a small smile all her own present.

"Much better!" Carsyn approved. "We should play game." What could she teach two children under three to play? "Let's play Chase!"

After a couple of hours playing in the sun, the children had tired themselves out and were napping in the living room, until Lorraine woke up Katie because it was time for them to go.

"Kaitlynnh go say goodbye and give hugs," The little girl's mother said, helping the sleepy toddler into her light sweater.

After hugging Carsyn first, stumbling over her own foot as she was released from the embrace, Katie then hugged Legend. Not expecting the little boy to kiss her on the cheek, or for the room of people to 'Awww!' at them, Katie's face flushed.

First Charms lesson of term, and Katie had been asked to meet Professor Descoteaux in his office after class.

Why? Because certain Gryffindor boys didn't know how not to be obnoxious while others who weren't completely drooling over their new Professor actually tried to learn.

Katie was usually very good in Charms, but not once during the lesson had she mastered the spell. Not even once had she made the turtle bath toy round and fill with water.

For the life of her, Katie couldn't focus no matter how much she tried.

The reason: Spoon throwing. She blamed Legend Chosen.

In all honesty Katie wasn't sure how she had managed to conjure it in her current state, or why she was even trying. It was mostily for a distraction.

Problem was, she wasn't terribly happy. Lissy had teased her about doing yoga or something of the sort for hours on end. Really, she was trying to clear her mind and grasp a happy memory. A powerful one.

It appeared briefly, the silver form of an animal in her grandparent's attic. She had only been able to hold it for a second or two, only a mere glimpse of her patronus.

A mere glimpse, but it was enough.

Dark eyes staring at the spot the silver form had been, Katie was seemingly frozen where she stood, shocked. A pained look flashed before her face as the voice of a memory shouted "Katie Cub" in her head, disappearing as soon as it came.

Her wand lowered, grip loosening, Katie's eyes closed.

Of all the animals it could have taken the form of, her patronus was a bear cub.

Turning swiftly from the room, Katie kicked at an old rusty cauldron on the floor as murmured words escaped her lips: "You better grow."

With all the noise it was impossible to get any studying done in the Common Room. It was on her way to the library that Katie came across the floor length mirror placed seemingly randomly on the fourth floor of the castle. And there, that Legend found her. Sandwich in hand.

"Wotchu' 'ooking at?" He said, swallowing the bite of sandwich in his mouth.

"Nothing."

Dark eyes stared past herself, focusing on the little bit of his reflection visible from behind her.

Nothing, really. And yet.. everything.

They were graduating soon. And suddenly, Katie didn't feel ready to let go.

Arriving at the feast, Katie had known when Orlando began to pull her toward the Gryffindors, it was a bad idea. She always sat with them, but this term.. it was different. This time, she had made a conscious decision not to sit at their table.

Her feeble protests fell on deaf ears as a cheerful Lando guided her into a seat, hugging his cruppy to herself. She had yet to give it to him, actually. But that was beside the point.

Seated across from them, Legend gave a formal hello to her mumbled 'Hi'.

It was downhill from there.

They had graduated exactily 18 months ago to the day. Katie had stuck with her original plans, and Legend.. he'd gone down a different path.

While she lived the Muggle life she thought they both wanted, Legend remained in England, training to be an Auror like his father had when he was younger and fresh out of Hogwarts.

Their relationship, or friendship, whatever it was these days.. it was strained, tearing at the seems, hardly existent.

In the beginning, they had sent each other many owls, writing back and forth when he couldn't visit.. and now, nothing. Katie was worried.