The Bond Between Siblings Solo Closed

October 2, 2020
Friday - 4:25pm
After Class/Before Dinner

Katrina sat in one of the many cushioned chairs with her legs propped up to hold her Potions book. It was an only slightly comfortable position, but she needed to get through this chapter. Occasionally she would mumble ingredients under her breath or wave her wand, but besides that, she was completely focused.

She nearly leaped out of her seat when someone touched her hair from behind. She spun around, expecting to see Hackasplat again or Beckett, but instead, Liams smirking face looked down at her. "Ughh, Liam, you scared me half to death," He simply giggled and took a seat on the chair armrest.

"Get off from that you'll break it," Katrina chastised, trying to hide a smile. Liam rolled his eyes and dramatically pulled a chair beside hers so he could lean over and see what she was doing.

"Whatcha doin'?" He asked taking out his wand and mimicking a movement she had done right before he has spooked her.

"Potions..." she groaned, closing the book, "You need something?" It was fake annoyance. Honestly, she was delighted that her brother chose to come beside her. They hadn't really talked since the thing with Beckett a few weeks back and she knew that the whole thing had rattled him. But she had seen him hanging out with a group of boys so she knew he was doing alright.

"Can't a boy chat with his sister every once and a while?" He said just a bit too sweetly. Katrina knew something was up.

"Cut to the chase,"

"Well, I was hoping you could teach me some older spells. Like third year or something, so I could show off to the group,"

"No way, Liam," Katrina's answer was immediate and a little harsh, "Firstly, I would get in a world of trouble. Second, you wouldn't be able to do it without the extra knowledge. And third, you aren't even learning your normal classes very well," The third year knew after the words came out of her mouth that they were too harsh. A hurt look spread across Liam's face and he slid back into his seat with a frown.

"But I could help you with your studies if you want? Get you up to date," And with that, the first of many tutoring sessions grudgingly began.

October 4, 2020
Sunday- 9:12am
During/After Breakfast

Katrina padded into the small hall after her morning run, breakfast, and a shower. She promptly collapsed into the same chair as usual and got out a paper. It was due time that she wrote a reply to her guardians. New guardians. She took out the previous letter and read it over again, thinking about how to respond.

She heard fast footsteps approach and peered over the back of the chair to see Liam with freshly dyed hair. "I like the brown, suits you," Katrina mentioned, tucking the letter away to do later. A little procrastination didn't hurt anyway.

"Kitty Kat, I want to talk," Katrina stiffened, worried by Liam's tone. "Of course, what about?" She sat up, paying more attention to his body language. Was he hurt? Had he gotten in trouble? Had something happened that she didn't know about yet?

"What happened at the Blossomball? People said there were big bugs and roses that set people's blood on fire. They also said there are hags in the castle and something about a dude named Harry Potter killing someone and I'm scared," Liam looked a whole lot younger with tear-filled eyes and a panicked expression, "Is this school even safe?"

"Come here Liam," Katrina extended her arms and pulled him into her lap like he was a toddler again. She stroked his hair, oblivious to the fact that it was staining her palm brown. It's what their parents used to do, hold them in their laps. Even if they had grown much too big for it. It was a family thing, like music. But without their parents, Katrina needed to do it for Liam.

"Of course this school is safe. There is a whole staff of prefects and professors and a rulebook for a reason. And I promise to always keep you safe no matter what,"

"Really?" Liam looked deep into Katrina's eyes as if searching for any conviction, any lie, "Of course, I love you and won't let anything happen to you. That's why I protected you against that girl before,"

"You got punched, Kat! I was stupid and you got punched for it! I don't want to you get in trouble or get hurt for me," He wiped at his eyes angrily, hiding evidence of the tear that ran down his cheek.

"I chose to step in and that girl is not to be crossed. Believe me,"

There was some silence where Liam sat in her lap. Katrina knew how it felt. She felt it all the time. Wondering if this was really a safe place to be. Wondering if she could protect the ones she cared about. It was a scary world and often too much for the younger students. Heck, too much for the older ones too. But they needed to learn about these things, learn spells and potions so they could protect themselves.

"The Blossomball was pretty bad," Katrina finally said, pulling up the sleeve of her sweatshirt to show a healing scar the size of a golf ball on her arm, "I got stung by one of the mosps trying to get someone out of the way. The roses were just enchanted with a bad type of magic and they are gone now. Everything was so bad because we all broke the rules. But I knew something bad was going to happen so I went to protect my friends,"

She looked at Liam, "I am not going to let you go to the Autumn Ball. I care too much about you,"

Liam looked at her a little hurt, "But I want to protect my friends, protect you! And, what if nothing goes wrong? Then I would have missed out on an awesome night for nothing!"

"Protect your friends by convincing them not to go. Maybe set up a mini party of your own in the dorm. And I don't need protection. I know enough spells now that I can take care of myself much better, and I'm really good at healing spells," Katrina looked at Liam, "If there is one thing I ask you, its that you don't go to the ball,"

October 9, 2020
Friday - 6:29pm
After Dinner

Katrina had heard that Liam had got detention yesterday. She didn't know what he did or what the punishment was though. She came into the Small Hall and searched the groups for Liam. She had better chances of finding him in here than anywhere else. She came across the group that he was often with. The guy with the scar on his face and the other guy who she hadn't heard speak a sentence without a profanity.

Sure, it wasn't a good group, but from what Liam said, they weren't as tough as they seemed. Besides, there was only so much interfering she could do without making Liam mad and making him a rebel. This was just one of those things she was going to have to deal with.

However, Liam wasn't there. And he wasn't in the dorm or in the bathrooms or in the library. Katrina went back to her normal chair and sat down, puzzled. Maybe he was actually getting help from a professor or doing a club or something. That's when she heard it. A muffled sniffing.

Katrina stood up and looked around the chairs before seeing a familiar mop of brown hair curled up between two chairs. She rushed over and sat beside him on the ground. Boomerang chose this time to peek behind a chair and curl in Liam's lap as well. He always had the knack for knowing when someone wasn't feeling good, after all.

"Th-they kicked me out... told me I was immature a-and not cool enough," Liam mumbled, noticing Katrina and Boomerang. He hiccuped sadly and buried his head in his hands.

"Oh Liam," Katrina pulled him in for an awkward side hug, still on the ground, "It was those boys, wasn't it? Did they hurt you?"

"Yeah i-it was Issac and Rob-bert and the rest," Liam's shaky breaths broke apart his words, "No they didn't hurt me, they just pushed me out and wouldn't let me in the dorm. And then I thi-think they are waiting for me to try to leave. I don't know what they are planning though. But they know some awful spells,"

Katrina instantly felt her protectiveness surge up. "Don't tell them, don't go after them, please," he whined, giving Katrina a heart-wrenching look.

"I won't-- but come on, lets get out of here," Katrina helped him to his feet and got her wand out, hiding it where Liam couldn't see but the rest of the boys could. When they saw Liam on Katrina's far side they started whispering, Katrina gave them a look and gestured to her wand. They backed down, knowing it wasn't worth it... this time.

Katrina exited the Small Hall knowing she was never going to let those boys hurt her brother ever again.

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