It had been a day of trials, testing Keller’s thin patience to the point of almost breaking - he could have been a saint and still been on a knife’s edge by the time it hit his lunch break. Not only were their stocks of medicinal potions severely depleted - no thanks to the third floor Plant Poisoning department - but they were short staffed and, somehow, overrun with patients who had all bought dodgy wands from a dealer in Dublin. Patients had been flying in all morning, and Keller hadn’t had a chance to breathe, let alone eat, so with the most severe cases under control and the rest being handled by his fellow Healers, he bowed out for a break.
He had never quite understood the reasoning for connecting St. Mungo’s to the Ministry; it seemed unnecessary and, perhaps, a little unhygienic - but today he was grateful for the distraction. With his head still back in the ward he’d just come from, mentally running through his patient’s charts and what he would need to attend to first upon his return, he collided with something - someone - at around shoulder height. Blinking down, he saw brown hair and Auror robes, and without hesitation dropped to one knee to begin collecting their papers, which were now strewn around the lobby thanks to his carelessness. It wasn’t until they looked up, however, just as Keller was about to apologise that he realised he’d accidentally bumped into a familiar face – “Merlin,” he murmured, suddenly finding himself launched into a hug, her small arms wrapping around him. It seemed like she hadn’t grown much since they’d last saw one another, Keller thought with a smile.
“Hey yourself,” Keller said, patting her back gently, as though she were an over-excited golden retriever he needed to be careful with. “New job?” he queried, pulling back to get a better look at her robes. “Aren’t you a bit young to be serving and protecting our fine world? Not that you wouldn’t be great, but– they do know you’re still a teenager, right?” It was all in jest, Keller’s light teasing how happy he actually felt to have run into Katie again; it ignited some nostalgic part of him that he suppressed these days, too busy to dwell on the thoughts of what had happened in the past. But seeing her, in the flesh and looking healthy, made him feel proud - even if so much had gone wrong, at least they could say that they’d lived through it together.
Katie’s nose had been to the grinder for the past year, and she’d gotten a lot of shit for her streamlined training. Few hopefulls could get through the three year process to earn their badge, but she along with a dozen others were what the department called ‘specialized’ fast-tracked through the Auror Program, given mentors or even chosen by specific ones. Most of these trainees were an odd mix between those who were ‘legacies’ (those who came from a long line of aurors and that were often given special treatment by the department). Oh, they had the marks to get into the program, and certainly a number of them the talent, but in Katie’s humble opinion some would do much better in the normal three year program. But even then they were given favor and even liencey. The department had grown slack without Mad Eye Moody and the silence of the militant group that plagued Katie’s Hogwarts years, and Colin often grumbled that they were getting soft again, like during the times of Potter’s schooling. Happy that the group seemed to disperse and enjoying chasing after the black market trafficking. But then there were those that were handpicked by certain teams, as being better, faster, stronger, material that were better suited for focused work within certain areas of their work, the Gryffindor liked them. They were focused, and she recognized a few that were older than her at Hogwarts, but they didn’t seem to like her. In fact for the first time in a very long time Katie wasn’t well-liked, her easy-going ways, happy smiles and favor from Colin Port were enough to have both sides of the stream-lined program growling at her back. But there were a few brightsides, she’d met a few of the auror she’d ‘tailed’ at Hogwarts, and they idly mentioned wondering why she’d followed them so, but never explained why. She even grown to like them, even Blue Eyes, who still was terrifying if she had any sense. So, as she felt when she first came to Hogwarts, Katie was the odd one out, the Rookie, the Wild Card, the single open slot that was filed by the leader of the specialization program, and her own personal mentor and the one who thereabouts dragged her by the ear to the damn Ministry herself. Bloody Colin Port. Now, she was running about the Ministry, like a Blast-Ended Skrewt without a head, knocking into people and looking for all the world like she hadn’t slept in days... which was accurate enough.
However the singulary image of the excessively tall Keller Murphy was enough to have her smiling like one of her pranks during their time at school, which felt so long ago, but was in fact a little over a year. Once again feeling as if she was sixteen again, with her fingers stuck in some odd prank or other grinning sheepishly at the elder of the pair of them. It was a kind of safety to be caught in those eyes again and as Katie tucked her head against Keller’s chest, smiling brightly and excitedly, she hadn’t seen him in so long much like her other friends she could only feel a tiny bit of relief and happiness that he was there again. “Only barely a teenager, given me another seven months and I’ll have a badge and everything. All official and the like.” Katie pulled back and waved her wand to reorder the papers on the floor, before standing up, slowly and holding Keller’s large palms with her own smaller ones. They were still calloused, still long and filled with a reassuring strength she’d missed since his graduation. She didn’t realize how much she’d missed him up until this very moment, that little aching bit of her heart. All the shit they went through, all the fucking stuff they did, it didn’t go away and she sure as hell didn’t forget it. But it was different seeing him in front of her, it brought those feelings to the forefront. She felt seventeen and swearing herself to a cause all over again, though now she wore the robes of those she once spied on, and carried herself with a different dignity than she did in her red and gold tie and her tie-dyed hands and over-bright smile. Once she was a cocky proud Gryffindor with a chip on her shoulder, looking for something to be drawn towards, and had attempted to serve faithfully to the cause. But now she’d been dragged kicking and screaming, only to find a new sense of purpose and need deepset in her bones to fix that which she thought (and correctly assumed) was rife with inconsistencies and fraud. She gripped his hand tightly. “I’ve missed you Kell. So much. But I am serving, and protecting, like I did at Hogwarts, only a little more... legal and official. This time I don’t have to polyjuice to get into the records room...” she winked conspiratorially, remembering their jaunt into the Ministry. Their radical break in, probably her great achievement and something that Port didn’t know otherwise she’d probably get kicked out of the program itself.
“I don’t mind letting you go for a dip whilst I sit on the beach if you want, but I like the sound of a stroll on the grounds,” she replied with a nod and a smile. Cassidy took a deep breath, holding her books to her chest as she made her way slowly forwards. “It’ll be nice to say goodbye to Hagrid at the very least, but we should make the best of the summer evening. I’m sure some sort of party will happen with the year group tonight, and I’m sure we’ll stumble upon it.”
Katie reached down to tangle their fingers together, the year had been rough, but with Cassidy at her side she felt as if she could keep going. “You can read a bit and I can see if the Giant Squid wants to try and eat me.” They pair were walking through the halls now, and Katie felt a bubble of panic in her chest at the thought of leaving. Leaving her home. “Oh there will definitely be a party, Gryffindor Common Room is going to be hoppin’ and we’ll get jiggy with it, Fiona is even letting us drink ourselves into a blood stupor!” The seventh year chucked, “Probably bonfire it up tonight as well, try and throw Brandon into the lake. But for now, we can hang out without the insanity of our friends around us.” The Gryffindor leaned over to press a soft kiss to her cheek, smiling almost shyly at her girlfriend. Merlin, she wanted to marry this girl.
“It’s not that your idea is stupid, it’s simply unfounded that using an owl to find a killer just by writing their name and tracking it to it’s location. Very few cases are that easy Rookie,” the older man snapped at her, Katie bit her lip and nodded her head, unable to actually speak against her superior. She kept in pace with him for a few more minutes before he sighed, “We could however give it a shot, but first, those,” he nodded to the stacks of paper in hand, “need to get to the accounting department. After your done you can take your lunch break, well closer to closing time and you have been here since four am. Hop to Rookie, we’ll need you back soon, know one knows concealing charms like you in the Department.” The man, Collin Port, left still muttering to himself about the imbeciles they worked with. It had been a full year of streamlined training through the Auror Program, in order to work with the Stealth Division. Port picked himself off of the recommendation of few professors and her own want to prove herself, now she was a few months into her first job but the lackey of the group, getting coffee, running papers, watching older aurors test her in the field and ask her random questions or her thoughts to make sure the fist was perfect. It was grueling, she started at 5am and kept going until they left her leave which could be close to midnight. Personally Katie was happy with her job though, even if she had a dwindling pepper up potion supply and a new addiction to caffeine. Her supervisor Mr. Port told her that ever auror developed some addiction or another to deal with the job at hand; caffeine, coffee, cigarettes, calming potions. It came hand in hand with the job.
Which was why Katie right now was rushing to get these papers downstairs, through the guest lobby where it was less likely she’d be stopped by each floor’s department head asking who she was, even if she wore the Auror uniform. However the small ex-Gryffindor, was too busy moving through the crowd that she didn’t notice the person coming her way, until they collided and the papers were flying, Katie cursing under her breath between apologies and grabbing and summoning papers to her with her wand. Port would ream her ass if she didn’t get all of these documents down to accounting, he hated dealing withe Ministry bureaucracy anymore than he had to. Until she noticed a hand holding out a few papers and she turned her head and broke into a smile, “What the fuck! First sorry, second what the fuck, third hey!” Katie pushed the papers into a pile then launched herself and wrapped them into a hug, a massive grin breaking over her face. She was aware how childish she looked, at 19 in aurors robes and uniform sitting in the guest lobby hugging them, but she didn’t really care.
So that’s it; our last lesson. And tomorrow we leave Hogwarts. It’s odd to think we’ve been here for seven years already… I’m not quite sure if I’m ready to leave. I am, however, feeling a bit free-spirited… would you like to do something before we head back to the dorms?
Katie made a face, Ancient Runes was never her favorite subject and she already shed a few tears leaving Old Sluggie’s room. So the Gryffindor just ran her fingers through her hair and sighed. “Go lie on the grass and cuddle? Maybe take a swim or dip out heads into the Forbidden Forest? Dunno babe.”
Katie Thorne after a long day at the Auror’s office, still dressed in her tie and switching into her extra shirt and getting ready to leave for the Pub soon. She needs to get some proper ale in her after a day of training.
In the years after Katie's work in the Auror Department, after several extensive injuries in the field, working on training new officers, and brief stint where she worked on a desk she began to grow restless again. Going up in years she couldn't do as much field work as she may have wanted to, getting more and more resigned to her desk, along with working on her own favorite passtime of potion experimentation that never seemed to fade even years after picking up the subject. She made several high profile arrests, fought for werewolf and vampire rights, was a decorated member of the Department. She was living comfortably, even if she was a bit bored. Her knees shook when she stood, she favored her left ankle, the scars on her back throbbed even more in her old age. She could almost laugh at her reflection in the mirror, grey hair falling in heavy curls, sharp eyes ringed by laugh lines, palms hardened from scars, burns and wand wielding. Katie never thought of herself as growing old, she seemed eternally young until one day she wasn't. Even her mentors of years passed had gone on. Her valiant, stubborn an somewhat rude mentor from her early years in the Stealth Divion Collin Port passed from Dragonpox. Slughorn had long since retired and subsequently died since her years at Hogwarts -- she attended the funeral and openly wept for him, opting to bring him flowers every year on his birthday. Katie was sentimental and grateful to the man that pushed her in her younger years though her stubbornness and temper set her at odds as a young adult. Minvera had gone the same, Markle was leading the school and Katie was slowly being shuffled in with the other gaunt, grey-haired aurors from her days as a field operative. She had made several more jokes over the year that she was going to follow sometime soon, Katie is sure that after so many years of cheating death - one the car accident, two the now infamous London Werewolf Riots, and then over two dozen life-threatening situations on job. Her luck was running out, even if her blood seemed to be tinged with Felix Felicis. Cassidy often asked that she take her name off of the roster of field-active Aurors, 'Plenty of young kids out there want to earn their medals Kat'. But she was stubborn, until she landed herself in St. Mungos with a punctured lung and the looming threat of permanent desk duty. The letter came a beacon, not unlike how it had come to her nearly 43 years before when she was still a child of 11, under the thumb of her uncle and angry at pretty much the entire world though she hid behind the masks that she carefully formed for herself. It was almost nostalgic, eating breakfast, getting the letter and almost immediately locking herself in her study to cry for a few moments before sending off her acceptance of the job.
Katherine E. Thorne, eternal troublemaker, decorated Stealth Division Auror, mad scientist when a cauldron was shoved in front of her, was going to be the next Head of Gryffindor House (because really who was a better option than she) as well as the potions professor. Professor Thorne, it all sounded so proper, much like how all her name when read out properly before crowds did - Sergeant Katherine Elizabeth Thorne, Auror of the Department of Law Enforcement, Second Head of Stealth Division, Captain of Squad I of the Stealth Division, Master Potioneer. However, for all her decorations, when it was all said and done, with her 34 years of service to the Wizarding World, Katie was tired, still brimming with energy, but tired. Becoming a professor of a subject where she had attained mastery, becoming Head of House that she was still proud of -- the banner behind her desk in her office was proof enough of that-- was a dream for the woman who spent so many years putting life and limb on the line. Katie handed in her resignation, was met with letters of praise, an article in the Daily Prophet as well as the Quibbler exemplifying her years in the field, high lighting her greatest arrests, quoting conferences, and telling all about her plans for becoming a professor. An Auror Only party was held that Friday, a Bon Voyage of sorts to her that was met with booze and while Katie left a mess of newly christened recruits finding themselves turned bright orange from the tops of their heads to their toes, and several dozen other highly decorated officers portraying peacock tails many of whom took her prank with pride and strutted around the office and Diagon Alley with it, all in good fun. Her children were ecstatic, happy that their mother was finally 'Not trying to get her old arse killed.' It was apparent her wife Cassidy was still not above giving their eldest child a smack upside the head even if they were old now. Katie spent the summer writing up lesson plans, pranks, brushing up on early potions lessons and making sure all information was up to date. Along with updating her wardrobe that once consisted of perfectly professional robes and clothing of deep reds, purples, black, grey, white and deep green to more vibrant colors. Orange, and bright happy yellows, whites and beige. Button down shirts, open button robes with high back collars, fun ties and switching from work slacks to dark colored pants that everyone swore up and down were jeans. She visited her classrooms and her office. The classrooms brightened and mock windows set into place to reflect the outside by the West Bank of the Black Lake where she often spent her Hogwarts days, posters of safety-gear, posters of gruesome deaths should they fuck up, along with a massive banner along the back of the Gryffindor crest. She took back her potions room, still stuck under a multitude of curses and hexes she set on it, the old posters, bookshelves, cabinets and the rickety old couch set into place. Katie went about fixing that as well, until it was just as she wanted it back when she was a student--- it was her Golden Twilight years, and Katie always wanted to write a book about her creations in spells and potions. To further immortalize her name even if it was only to potions geeks like herself.
Katie was 55 when she started her work at Hogwarts.
Katie was 64 when her first book was published.
Katie was 70 when she published her second.
Katie was 72 when she became Deputy Headmistress of Hogwarts.
Katie was 80 when she became Headmistress of Hogwrats.
Katie was 98 when she finally went permanently blind
Katie was 99 when she retired from teaching, living out her last years with her children and grandchildren.
Katie was 104 when she died, days away from getting a letter for getting an Order of Merlin Second Class for her contributions to the potion making world, her service to the Wizarding World during her career as an auror and her dedicated years of teaching.
Katie died as Former Headmistress Katherine Elizabeth Thorne, Former Head of Gryffindor House, Former Sergeant Auror of the Law Enforcement Department, Former Captain of the Stealth Division Squad I, Former Secondary Head of the Stealth Division, Master Potioneer, Author, and Receiver of the Posthumous Order of Merlin Second Class.
But really Katie died as Katie Thorne, Trickster, Gryffindor, Prankster, Potions Nut, Orphan, Spy, Auror, Idiot, Lover, Mother, Grandmother, Great-Grandmother, all around jokester and possibly the least serious person anyone would have ever met. At least, if you asked her that's what she'd say.
Katie lives in a small flat in London, it's not in a particularly good neighborhood but that is to be expected due to her relatively small Auror Trainee salary she gets once a month. The flat is small, with a bathroom, a small kitchen, living room that doubles as a work place and a bedroom that overlooks the street where Katie keeps a little window garden. She shares the apartment with her girlfriend of 4 years Cassidy Turner, though the couple is almost always extremely busy with their career paths. Cassidy floos or apparates from London to Romania, while Katie goes to the Ministry every day. The pair bustle, read, and work together to try and make their flat home though they are rarely there together except for later night and early mornings. On weekends they spend their days together, talking, walking around London. Their life is domestic, centered around their work, each other, their friends and family. Katie doesn't know if she could have asked for a better life than the one she leads now-- in peace with someone she loves and adores. The Auror Trainee wants to get their life stable though, before she asks Cassidy to marry her. The idea of it has been on her mind since they graduated Hogwarts, but Katie knew it would be a long time until she would become a proper Auror and Cassidy finishes with her studies, so she hasn't brought it up. But she's been slipping away money into a private Gringotts account waiting until she gets her badge, a proper salary and some experience under her belt until she can take that next step with Cassidy.
Katie hasn't had any contact with her Uncle since he kicked her out the day after she returned from Hogwarts in the summer between her 6th and 7th year. Showing off a killer black eye and a hastily packed trunk and knapsack Katie spent much of her summer before her 7th year couch surfing and crashing at friends houses before she found herself in front of her parents old home in Bristol in the last month before Hogwarts. It was a stressful summer to say the least, with the bulk of it moving from place to place, she was exhausted, lost weight as nightmares and memories seemed to plague her. The only shining light was her work in at Weasley's Wizarding Weasley, the only place in Diagon Alley that would employ the 17 year old girl. She spent time helping with inventory and at the cashier booth and sending out owl mail orders, it wasn't particularly enjoyable, but it was fulfilling to be surrounded by bright colors and laughter to help take the edge off of her growing depression.
Katie was sad. She had lost, broken and burned the last of the ties to her blood family. Though she fought with them, often, and they were emotionally abusive towards her, which she finally came to terms with realizing. They were still her family, her only family, the last of her family. Her sister was the only remainder of her parents love beside herself, and her Uncle was her father's only brother and the last link to that past and those memories she wanted so much. Desperately wishing she could find that connection Katie took to visiting her parents graves, often, leaving flowers and washing the gravestones. She could only imagine what her parents would have told her, how they would have felt about her being a witch and while Katie often though about this, it wasn't until this summer that it weighed so heavily on her mind that her dreams switched from nightmares to memories of her parents. She however, never went to go see her Uncle and Sister, not even two years after the fact. Nothing but sending them a cordial and simple Christmas card that went unanswered.
Katie for all intensive purposes did not turn out how many envisioned for her future to spell. For those closest to her, they were surprised at Katie's announcement she was to join the Auror Department. For those that knew her, they wondered how she got into the Auror Department in the first place. For everyone else they thought it was a splendid prank being pulled on them. But in truth it was not a prank-- it was reality. Her friends thought she'd work for a potions company after Hogwarts, fully expecting for Katie to continue on doing the labor of love that for her was potions. What everyone asked her was how exactly the Auror Department selected her to join the program, and just when did she write the application. Katie however did not write the application, it was instead the combined efforts of three Hogwarts Professors, a chance meeting with the head of the Stealth Division and quite possibly the complete and utter luck that Katie had for reasons unknown. But still, those that knew Katie well couldn't argue that it wasn't a good fit for her. Though Katie despised rules, enjoyed making mayhem and generally speaking lived and breathed trouble she always was one who believed in justice, good and honor. Finding the correct outlet was the best form, and setting her into a position where she could use those honed skills of sneaking around the Hogwarts Castle and following aurors around one could see how this Stealth Division would be a good fit for her.
Pax was in the side alcove outside the bar, the smoking section. A witch nearby was smoking something herbal, breathing blue sparks and purple smoke whenever she exhaled. Paxton himself wasn’t smoking, but he’d come here to meet with an American wizard who did smoke, whose third cousin was the “on-again off-again” interest of the Bent-Winged Snitches’ bassist. His brother was a man obsessed. Kieran had started in again on the Bent-Winged Snitches during band practice that day. There’s a whole wizarding community left completely untapped, Kieran had cried, Someone’s got to introduce them to muggle music! We’ve got to create some hybridity, lads. The Bent-Winged Snitches! Pax, you’ve got to find a way to hook us up. You’re the wizard. Send a Flew chimney-thingy or an owl…
But the conversation wasn’t promising at all. “Last I heard, she put a Permanent Sticking charm on his underwear,” said the American, “and they were off again. He had to miss a day of tour…” But Paxton had stopped listening. He’d seen something— someone— through the dirty pub window. Paxton excused himself politely, after offering to pay the man’s tab. He did so at the bar (it was her! he’d known it! it was her!) and ordered a Firewhiskey— but nothing whatsoever for himself— jittery with nerves. Last he’d heard from Katie was an outdated letter received half a year ago.
"Didn’t recognize you in those clothes at first," Paxton excused himself, taking the barstool next to her, "or we could’ve been talking twenty minutes ago. You look posh, Katie Thorne,” Pax said, warmly pressing her hand. “But I like the tie.”
Katie was started from her thoughts, the upcoming practice mission and what exactly she wanted to bake for the weekly Sunday brunch with the other trainees. With one look at Paxton, she wondered when exactly her life became so damn mundane as compared to him, who looked as worldly traveled as Meg did. But then again, Paxton was always had that look in his eyes ever when they were students at Hogwarts together. Her second thought was that it was Paxton, sitting before her, just the same as he used to in Hogwarts, but not the same at all. She leaned up onto her elbows, turning her tiny hand upwards to give Paxton's far larger one a loving squeeze before leaning over to press a soft kiss to his cheek. "I seem to get that a lot you know, no one ever knows it's me when they run into me on the street. It would almost make me sad if I didn't understand how they feel. Looking this posh is... strange and I dress myself every morning." It was true enough in actuality, she'd run into old classmates, people she used to party with, younger years out with the parents in the Wizarding World who would double-take at the usually scruffy looking Katie all knit up in Auror robes, ties and suits, hair pulled back into a loose bun and looking neatly put together. Neatness, rules, and duty never were words to describe Katie when she was a child or a teenager. But she seemed to enter the role almost flawlessly, as if she belonged there. "Twenty minutes? How long have you been here, I ought to have noticed you ages ago." Katie it seemed was running into old classmates a lot lately, people who left Wizarding Britain for the great wide world, everyone was slowly trickling back into their homeland, though Katie never left. "No matter, your here now and I haven't seen you in ages. Or gotten a letter. Or a Floo call. Come to think of it.. that makes the story of pretty much everyone else as well." Katie's eyebrows furrowed, it was true, everyone lost touch after valiant efforts for the first few months after graduation. "Who cares, you're home. How long have you bene back? Are you staying long? Can I buy you a couple of rounds of drinks?" Katie laughed and gestured to Malcolm not even waiting for the blond's response. "Mal! Be a good lad and get my dear friend a drink or a refill of his drink, whichever, we've much to catch up on and alcohol always works best! Put it on my tab while you're at it." The dark haired bartender smiled and odded. "Oh, the tie? Cassidy picked it out, said it matched my eyes when I'm happy or something. Which is odd because it's goldish...." Katie shook her head at the thought of her girlfriend, her silly wonderful girlfriend, in their neat little apartment that probably looked like a tornado hit it with the mountains of paperwork from the case she was helping her boss with.
I am outside
And I've been waiting for the sun
With my wide eyes
I've seen worlds that don't belong
My mouth is dry with words I cannot verbalize
Katie was no stranger to this office as she lounged on the Gryffindor red couch, her feet propped on the arm. As it were Katie was, for once, not in trouble, or at least not in the type of trouble that she usually found herself in front of Marke for on any given day for the past six years. She knew this was her office, she spent enough time her for various reasons, but right now she really didn't want to be here. Just like she didn't want to be in Slughorn's last week, or Flitwick's a week earlier. They wer all telling her the same damn thing. Lecturing her on what a good opportunity it was for her to join the Auror Deparment. How big of a deal it was for Collin Port to request an application for her personally. How McGonogall had even spoken with him through letters. But it didn't change the fact that she was being told she wasn't good enough to be a potioneer, to own a company, to gain a foothold in one. That she coudn't do it. That they were shoving her down a path to work for a place she didn't want to. Do spend a life ding something she'd be horrible at. She was a rule breaker, not an enforcer, what did they expect from her? They never expected anything out of her in the first place.
"Thorne!"
"Hmm?" Katie was startled out of her angry thoughts to stare at Markle with darkened eyes.
"Are you even listening to me?"
"Of course I am Georgette." oh yeah, sass her superior, great Auror material right here lounging in ripped jeans an a newly gained nose ring and tattoo.
"Do not make me take points from my own house Katie..." her voice sounded annoyed, but a special sort of annoyed, the type of tone that was special for Katie alone.
"Oh come on, we're both adults here. I am 18 now."
"Exactly, adults, which brings me back to why exactly I dragged you here in the first place. Slughorn tells me that you're on the pick for the Auror Program that Collin Port is putting together. Is that true?"
"Aye, it's true enough."
"You didn't even tell me you sent in an Auror Program Application! Let alone for one like the Stealth Division. I have to say, I'm a bit angry you kept that sort of information from me."
"Oi! I didn't send in an application! Slughorn did it for me, I don't want to go into that program, I'm still writing resumes for potions companies! As we speak I have Fiona reading over my personal letter."
"Don't you 'oi!' me Thorne, and why not? The Auror Program is a great program, you won't have trouble getting in, you're taking all the required NEWTS, you've got the grades. The Stealth Division Katie! It's right up your alley, you don't fool me, you've been sneaking around the castle for ages and you don't get caught for more than half the shit you pull around here."
"I want to be a potioneer. I want to make potions, own an apothecary! I want to experiment--"
"Which you won't do if you go along the path you are."
It was like a smack to the face and Katie sat up, leaning on her elbows glaring at the ginger seated behind the desk looking as serious as the time Katie set off fireworks in McGonogall's office. Katie felt that iron grip around her heart, clenching it tightly.
"Sh-shut up! I can make it--"
"Katie, I like to think I know you, and I really do. I've watched you grow up for the past six and a half years, I've seen you on the couch red-handed and filled with mirth over your latest trick, and I've dragged you in here kicking and screaming in tears. I saw you in the Hospital Wing when you were injured though you don't remember me holding you hand and helping Pomfrey administer spells to you. You have all the drive, all the skill, all the passion... but let's face it, no one is going to let you get any higher in any company. You don't realize how driven these companies are by old blood-- blood you do not have Katie." Markle's face turned soft as she regarded the angry girl sitting on her couch. "It's not that you don't have the skill, it's just the fact that these people are bigots and won't let you get where you want." Sitting up in her wingbacked chair Markle put both elbows on the table, lacing her fingers beneath her nose watching her with those piercing blue eyes. "In the Auror Department however... if you prove yourself, you can still experiment, you'll get a good decent wage, you'll be able to move up the ranks based on your merit. Also, let's face it Katie, as much as you buck the rules you know the law inside and out, you are a trickster who makes every angle work in your favor, you love justice and hate bullies. You're a quick thinker, aggressive in duels and perceptive but most importantly people don't see you coming. You're a wildcard, and you know how to use that to your advantage."
Markle sighed and ran a hand over her face as Katie moved to sit up, both feet planted on the floor looking at her hands. Hands that were scarred by her own knives, burned and mauled for a dream that seemed so close and according to everyone was so far away she would never get to taste it. Never get to achieve it, touch it. Could she buck their ideas of her? Could she ignore what they had to say? What if it was true, what if her blood wouldn't allow for her dream to be achieved. What if her blood made her sit, forever, in a singular position watching the thing she'd wanted for so long dangle in front of her and unable to snatch it, unable to grasp it. She'd go mad. Insane. She was already angry with the whole situation.
"If you become an Auror Katie, you'll get money, prestige. If you become an Auror and work hard, show your strength in potions, work with other departments, you may get to do experiments for the auror department in potions. They won't hold you back if you've got the talent, the skill. You can create, make money and live a dutiful life, a fulfilling life Katie. That's all I ever want to see from my students, to live a happy life that you love." Markle stared at Katie and let her lips curl into a smile, "You hate bullies, you hate people who do nothing to help others. Most of all, you hate being left in the dark... Thorne, if you work for the Ministry, you can change it from the inside out. That's what you were trying to do all last year wasn't it? Change the nature of the world around you. Become an auror and you can do that. Work for a potions company that holds you back and you cannot. Duty, chivalry, honor, glory, bravery, compassion, that's what makes up any Gryffindor, and it's what makes any good Auror. I don't see what makes you any different than that." Markle stood and gathered the papers on her desk, "Slughorn wrote you application for you. Which you of course knew-- what you didn't know was that I helped him. Yes, yes I lied that I didn't know. But I'm still angry that it had to be Slughorn to tell me that you're wanted for the program, you ought to have told me. However, I wrote you a recommendation letter, so did he as well as Flitwick. Your marks, your skills, even your record of detentions give you an edge. I actually have the results of the application in my hand, whether you choose to say yes or not is you decision." Markle pulled up the rolled up scroll and held it out to Katie who stood, shakily on her feet. She took it in hand, the feeling of the rough pressed parchment in her hand made her mouth grow numb.
"Wh-what if I don't take it.... what if I don't do it."
Katie wasn't sure of anything at this point.
"Then you aren't the gir-- no, you aren't the cub I thought you were."
"What if, they don't let me in? What if I'm not even good enough for this? I'm not good enough for potions, and if I'm not good enough to be an Auror, than what am I good at? All I can do is pull pranks, work potions and fight. That's all I have, wh-what if I can't even do that?" tears steamed up her vision, blurring it and the world around her. She always focused on what she was good at, what her skill was. Katie always knew who she was, but she always knew she wasn't quite good enough for anything else. She never was good, she was only ever great in a few things, and even then they were things others were better at. Her uncle was probably right about her, she was nothing. Nothing at all. This scroll, it would prove that to her. Then what? If it proved that then what did she have? Nothing. No potions. No fighting. No stealth. She couldn't do anything else-- she didn't know how. Her hands shook and she collapsed back onto the couch, Markle following suit to sit next to her. Not quite touching, but her presence was enough.
"They won't bar you Katie, you are good enough."
"H-how? How do you know?"
"Cause you're Katherine Thorne, you fought off werewolves for the sake to find your friends. You put up a brave face when you're hurting. You do your best when no one is watching. You don't turn your back on your friends. You're Katie, you're good, and you're one of my cubs and one of my cubs is good enough for this."
Katie stared at Markle before back to the parchment and roll and slowly pealed off the official stamp. It opened, the crest of the auror department standing proud at the top.
"...what does it say?" her head of house's voice was soft, quavering a bit.
"I-...I got in."
Katie sat there and looked up at Markle.
"I... you... how...?" her lips failed to find words and watched as her professor stood up.
"I always know, because I want what's best for my students. This, is what's best for you Katie. The question is are you going to take it or run from it? I never took you for a fool once Katie even as you played one in the classroom. But I especially didn't take you for a coward, those scars on your back alone prove you have what it takes. But do you have what it takes to do your duty to change what you see fit and what's best for you?"
Katie sat there, her fingers already pressing against the rough outline of the raised scars along her back. Her duty? Honor? Bravery? Cowardliness? Change? Words in Katie's book meant nothing. Words were fake. Action was real. Aurors were action. Action of change, the action of duty and honor, the action of rejecting cowardliness. Katie set the scroll back onto the table. Her teachers, did this for her, out of belief in her that she could do this. That alone proved that she had to take this, she had to do this. To prove to them she was a worthy gamble.
"I guess... I'm just a wild card right professor?"
The shine in Markle's eyes, the pride and love set Katie back into her chair, nailing her there. She smiled, she really did smile, not one of her broad Cheshire grins, or a sly upturn of the lips, a smirk or a laugh. She smiled, it was smile, shy even with one lip pursed out and her nose scrunched up lightly. If Markle believe in her, if Flitcwick and Slughorn did... then she had to as well. So Katie smiled, a true smile because her fate had been decided.
First Pick Katie Thorne for the Stealth Division of the Auror Department-- Wildcard, Gamble and the best of the whole lot. She had what it takes, because they told her she did.
"I would pay good money to see the look on your trainer’s face when you walked in there with ducks all over your tie. How does anyone take you seriously in that department? You must be good at your job." Olivia shook her head, to her Katie would always be the clever mess of jokes and smiles that she’d known for so many years no matter how straitlaced she might appear in her ironed dress clothes and soon to be fancy title. Olivia still had a hard time believing that Katie was training to be a magical cop, not because she didn’t believe the girl was capable but because she never would have expected Katie Thorne of all people to be working for the Ministry of Magic. Olivia for one was glad that she didn’t have a Ministry job, she never would have been able to handle sitting behind a desk filing paperwork and stepping gingerly around everyone’s ego. Art school was exactly where she belonged, surrounded by people who were just as eccentric as she was. "Well at least you all have a little strangeness underneath that layer of Ministry bullshit," Olivia had become slightly more comfortable with swearing since she’d entered art school, listening to the rude phrases thrown back and forth between the other students in her class had lowered her sensitivity to the words though she couldn’t deny that the words still sounded slightly foreign coming from her mouth. "I expect having having Cass to come home to helps with the stressful job though I am glad that flirting with me helps too, you know how I love to flirt." Olivia laughed, sipping her drink, "Another one of the girls at the studio asked me for drinks and one of the regulars at the shop bought me a coffee the other day, I think I may have a problem." She nodded, Cass had good reason to be cautious with the way things were, especially with Katie working in the Ministry, "She’s got to look out for you, you’re a troublemaker. We’ve got to make sure nothing happens to you, Cass and I would never be able to handle it if something happened to you." Olivia tilted her head, looking at her computer screen from different angles, "Well if you didn’t know Grace you wouldn’t know what she looks like to be able to say it resembles her," Olivia reasoned still looking at the image. "I wonder what else I put in on accident." The blonde sipped from her drink, relishing the burning of her throat as she swallowed. "You’re an auror-in-training miss Thorne, you’ve got to earn that badge before I start calling you that," she teased Katie, tugging on the girl’s tie again. "That really is a shame, I miss smoking with you. My muggle friends just aren’t as much fun to smoke with as you are." Olivia had started smoking weed more since she’d moved to London since most of the people in her classes smoked frequently. "I guess we just have to be grateful that Cass never has to worry about us, unlike your coworkers apparently. You always go home to Cass and I eventually make it home." Olivia made a fake concerned face at her own lack of attachments.
"I'm not quite the best, but I'm up there you know. Gotta keep the Wizarding World safe and all that jazz. But I am good, maybe lacking in a few area, but good." Katie shrugged, she didn't really need to brag, her score cards and ranking at the end of each week did that for her. She was top in aggressive dueling and spywork, strategy along with medical potions. She may be lacking in defensive work and basic protocol and hand-to-hand combat, but she tried and worked hard. Katie glared at Malcolm who eyed her up and passed a glass of water towards her, it'd have to do for now. Leaning her chin on her hand she took a sip of the drink in front of her, wondering how exactly the world lead to this, her, enforcing the law when all she did for most of her life was break the rules. It was damned karma for all her trouble in school it was. She scoffed a bit, 'a little strangeness, if Olivia had been anyone else she would have broke out into laughter at the idea of a little strange. Katie was an oddball, hates the rules but works to enforce them, loves bright colors and noises and can't seem to shut up, works in the Stealth Division, hates stuck up pricks with big egos, spends time sucking up to Ministry big-wigs. Where did it all go wrong, Merlin must know that her trouble-maker predecessors must be rolling over in their sleep or graves. "Oh please, nothing is gonna happen to me, at least not yet. I've yet to do any proper field work and I won't for a little while yet. When I start getting real field mission, save the worry for then." Katie rolled her eyes, "I think you're the biggest lady killer I know. But hey, drinks with pretty girls and the possibility of getting laid. I'd take it if I were you." Katie sighed as she drained the cup of water and leaned back to let her head roll and neck crack, she had hoped that the fall wouldn't hurt too much, but it seemed as though the mock-mission left several aches on her body. "Whatever, when I get that badge you'll have to call me that! I'm close too, so get ready for it Via." Katie grinned, just six more months of the accelerated program and she'd be ready. "Yeah well, can't smoke when I run nearly 10 kilometers a day, gotta stay in high shape you know. Smoking won't help my lungs. But I do miss getting high with you, but I cannot. Please, Cass has nothing to fear from you, and my coworkers can bug off when it comes to my love life, cause it's totally solid." Katie shrugged and lightly smacked Olivia's hand, "Oi, hands off the tie, this is my favorite. Merlin you can never keep you hands off of me when I'm wearing my uniform. just wait until I start wearing a Stealth Divion proper outfit. Gods." Katie laughed and thought of her girl waiting back at the arpartment and let out a soft sigh, standing up to stretch. "Wanna come back to my apartment, I'm sure Cass would be glad to see you."
Her father had been strict when it came to her flights, a year and a half of traveling around and another half a year spent at home and he still didn’t trust her to be on her own. She had been scared, at first, though the good kind of scared that reminded you the adventure would be worth the fear. She was a child then though, just having turned eighteen when she first set off, but she was older now and she believed to be wiser too. As adult as she may have become she was still her parents daughter and after attempts at bickering with them she agreed that before heading back out into the world she would book proper flights in London and would allow them to see her off in a few days time.
And so she found herself in the Capital.
Flight booked, cases put away in her room and a restless feeling taking over her she had taken to the streets. It wasn’t quite dark yet, the comfortable fading light of the day told her it would be soon but she could still enjoy the rest of the evening before giving her parents a call. She wandered for a while, comforted in knowing that she was back on familiar ground and she reminded herself that while she was here she should pay Diagon Alley a visit, though perhaps another day. Instead she stepped into what seemed like a reasonably quiet pub and headed to the bar where she slid onto a stool and gave a small smile to the bartender and ordered a simple glass of lemonade. Moments later her drink was presented to her and she fumbled for a moment in her purse but before she had chance to pay someone placed money down in front of her and she rather quickly shook her head, “Oh no, that’s really not necessary.”
Katie was tired today, it might have been her day off but she had work to do, papers to go over, files to notate and a strict regiment of work outs to do that left her sore and tired. Then she had several errands to run and a co-worked to see about the McKinney Case they were working on. The only thing she had to look forward to was the pub, it was a neat place, a little farther away from home than usual and certaintly not the usual haunt where she spent time with Olivia and her co-workers and neddled the bartender Malcolm about letting her drink more. But it was familar and a nice stop before taking a bus back to her apartment loaded with a case and a new book as a present for Cassidy. Her girlfriend had taken the train to see her parents for the weekened while Katie passed on the chance due to the work load she had coming up. It was her first case, a raid she was helping plan under a watchful eye and she was rightfully nervous about the whole thing, she had to do well, otherwise it would only cement the fact she couldn't shine to her recommendations that were written for her and the gamble the department had taken on the tiny brunette with the too-wide grin and mischievous air. So Katie was here now, trying to calm down in a somewhat unknown place, hoping a drink would sooth her fraying nerves when she saw her. That tired look on her face faded away, and the grin poked across her mouth. She hadn't seen her ex-house mate in quite a few months and it'd been ages since she got a letter back from her during her travels, both muggle and magical post could only reach so far when it came to her wandering lass.
So she did what any good Stealth Division Auror would do, she scoped out the place from her place leaning against the door, watching as the young woman sat at the bar, asking the bartender for something no doubt non-alcoholic. Katie reached up to play with the collar of her sweater, dark red and cable-knit, even after two years since the Riot her scars were still visible through thin shirts and she hated the stares she got when people could see them. The questions, and the answers she had to give, especially at the Ministry who's workers who would almost immediately peg her for a non-conformist for all that she worked for the Law. She was in dark wash jeans and forever wearing black well shined combat boots, her badge in her wallet and wand strapped to her inner left arm. She walked up to the bar, slowly, quietly with all the training that her auror training had instilled in her and all the practice of sneaky around the corridors and secret passageways of Hogwarts could give her. Eyeing the drink she pulled out a few notes and passed them to the bar tender with an easy smile. Thenc ame the voice, her favorite voice in the world, well one of them at least. Leaning against the oakwood she reached out to tug on one of the wayward locks of hair that adorned her Constant's head, "Now is that anyway to talk to a friend who hasn't heard from you in over a month? Let alone seen you in ages?" her voice jesting, but her heart pumping in excitment. Meg was home! even if it was just for a little while at least.
"You have great taste in band t-shirts but business attire is definitely not your strong suit love. I do enjoy your ties though, they keep you from looking too buttoned up. Oh goodness, I forgot about the ducks," Olivia laughed remembering Cassidy’s reaction to seeing the ducky tie Katie had purchased for work. Olivia was glad her job didn’t require her to wear dress pants, she would never have managed to keep her uniform clean and presentable. The blonde had a job at the bookstore/cafe down the street from her and Shiloh’s apartment building and all she had to do was pin a name tag to her shirt and maybe an apron if she was behind the cafe counter and that was good enough for her manager. "Oh but you have to be a snob to work for the ministry. Isn’t that one of the requirements?" Olivia smirked at her friend over the lip of her glass before finishing off her drink. "Were they? That’s funny though not particularly surprising, we never really stopped acting like a couple except that we don’t sleep together anymore. It is amusing that they think you could ever get away with cheating on Cass though." Olivia looked over at Malcolm silently asking for another glass of Firewhiskey. She looked back over at Katie, smiling as she heard the familiar Bristol accent slipping through. The blonde’s own accent was as strong as ever and a few of her classmates liked to tease her that they couldn’t understand what she was saying when she got worked up and started rambling. Olivia laughed, turning her head as she looked at her own art work, "It does sort of look like Grace. This piece is for one of my classes, I was sort of absentmindedly thinking about Hogwarts while I was working on it. I think the star bursts might be you and this bright red sort of sloshy bit looks like Firewhiskey so that’s probably Rei. I didn’t realize I’d actually outlined Grace’s face though, that was not intentional." Having Katie look at her work always helped Olivia work out exactly what she’d been thinking when she drew it, especially the abstract pieces. "No slacking Ms. Thorne, you can’t let them forget why they took a chance on you," Olivia teased, she knew Katie was as good as if not better than the other recruits she was training with even if Katie wasn’t so sure. "Everyone who knows you is constantly exasperated by you, it’s not just Cass. And you do probably drink too much," Olivia teased, taking her new drink from Malcolm, "But so do I." The ex-Ravenclaw had a tendency to go out drinking with her classmates after particularly long sessions in the art studio, "At least Cass doesn’t have to worry about you going home with your coworkers, Shi almost never knows where I am." Olivia shrugged, "I expect to be informed of any changes in any direction from one or both of you."
Katie waved a hand at the blonde, with a playfully annoyed look on her face. "The ducky tie is what's good in life, you should have seen my trainers face it was priceless. I thought for sure she was going to strangle me right then." Katie was still known to be a bit of a trickster, even around the office, in the smallest of ways of course and annoying her trainers and co-workers and cracking jokes was one way, along with juggling tea cups for kicks on her breaks. It relieve the monotonous feeling when she wasn't doing practical field training and stuck doing paperwork. "Oh I don't know, the auror department is sorta.... hodge-podge." It was true honestly, while everyone in there was rather intelligent and rule-picky they all had their quirks and strange oddities around them. Katie thought it was because they had to learn how to cope with the job at hand, whether you were a potions and stealth worker like herself, or specialized in magical-muggle homicides, they all seen a lot, even Katie on her field tours. "I mean, I've got a co-worker that's side interest in opera, believe me, it's not as fun as it sounds. We're not all that prim and proper, except when the upper crust of the ministry comes down for a visit..." Katie loved being an auror, she just hated the politics behind it, the dirty cops and background dealings, it irked her and many of her fellow trainees and especially her superiors Collin Port. "But you know, I can deal with it. Especially as long as I have Cassidy to come home to and you to flirt with. But seriously, like the day I manage to cheat on Cassidy is the day the world ends. Not that I ever would, but that girl likes to know where I am, the world is a tad too dangerous still and I'm singled out for my job. Not everyone like Ministry employees, and even worse us Aurors." Katie let her mind wander for a bit, swirling the dregs of her firewhiskey around in the clear glass. "A star huh? Love it. Well it is abstract and you never know what will come of it. If I didn't know Grace I wouldn't have guessed that it was her at all." Katie drained the cup and sighed, looking at it and woefully at Malcolm who raised a single eyebrow at her-- she was getting cut off. Pushing the glass away Katie pulled out a pouch from the inside of her blazer, magical extension charm, and placed several sickles on the bar. "That is Auror Thorne to you Miss Hughes, respect the badge!" a light laugh bubbled out from between her lips, "But I do so love my drink, it's my wonderful sin since Cassidy and my job stops me from smoking anymore." She missed the habit, the drags and rolling weed between paper. It was soothing, but she could hardly so such a thing now. "I think we mutually drink too much. Besides, Cass knows I'm completely devoted to her, and there really is slim picking in the auror department, the men are far too manly and the women don't exactly swing for me, except for a few but their already attached. Cass has nothing to worry about, I always come home." 'For now...' that thought always rang through her head, when she was an official auror and actually doing field work it was going to be a whole other story and far more danger that Cassidy may like for her to be in.
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