Chapter 5

I am amazed with the response to my story. For some strange reason, people like the way I write. (Never ask me to analyse the way the human mind works, it's just too complex, full of twists, turns and dead-ends. But I'm rambling.) Ahem. Thankies to everyone who reviewed… my goldfish loves you all, as do I… as do I. Anyway, it's 11 o'clock at night, and I'm too tired, and too lazy to thank everyone personally. Do you know how much it takes out of me to write these? And you only give me a day! Now, if you want me to write a sequel about Kati, Ron and Ginny and Harry's new child, which I am not going to tell you name, gender or physical description of, then review and tell me so (boy, looks like I won't be writing a sequel then) if you don't, review and tell me so.

Kati listened to the hustle and bustle, as her Mummy and Daddy spoke to her Grandmother, and Grandfather. She walked over to her brother.

"I'm going to go for a walk. Tell Mummy and Daddy, ok?" Ron grunted, too busy playing with the magical toy he'd found to reply. She walked outside, and into the backyard. She looked around, and saw a hole in the hedge. Well, the garden isn't exactly boring, but there's probably even more interesting plants out there. She thought to herself. Just then, her cat streaked outside, and through the hedge. "Ivory!" She yelled, and chased after it. Ivory led her right across the paddock, and into a dark forest. She tripped over, scraping her knee, and tearing her dress. "Ow." She said. Oh well, I guess Ivory will come back in her own time. I'd better go back. She looked around, but couldn't see anything familiar. All that was there was trees, trees, a few rocks, and more trees. She cursed herself, for being so stupid as to go into the forest in the first place. She turned this way and that, searching for a way out. "Hello?" She called. The only response was the hooting of an owl, which made her shrink back, even further. "Is anyone out there?" She whispered. "Please, will someone find me?" She whimpered.

~@~@~@~@~

Meanwhile, back at the house, Ginny had noticed that Kati was gone.

"Harry?" She said.

"Hmm? What is it, love?" He asked.

"Where's Kati?"

"Well, she's right over the…" He turned around, and looked. "I don't know, Ginny." He said, sounding slightly frightened.

"Mum! I can't find Kati." She wailed.

"Relax, Mum." Ron said, "She told me she was going for a walk."

"Ron! Your sister is 3-years-old! She's too young to go on a walk by herself!" Ginny exclaimed.

"Well then, we'd better go and find her." Ron said reasonably. Ginny flew out of the house, and into the garden.

"KATI!!!" She called. "KAAATTIIIII!!!" But there was nothing, the sound just echoed back.

~@~@~@~@~

"MUMMY!!!" Kati yelled, "DADDY! RON!!! ANYONE?!" But no one replied. "Where's my Mummy and Daddy?" She whimpered. There was a low growling sound, and she pressed herself to the floor. "Go away," She pleaded tearfully, "Please just go away." The growl came again, sounding as if it was mocking her. She pressed her hands in her ears, and shut her eyes. "Leave me alone!" She shouted. She curled up in a tiny, muddy ball, "Please, leave me alone." She whispered hoarsely.

~@~@~@~@~

Sirius bounded along, thinking happily of seeing Molly and Arthur. He just might get a big juicy bone, if he arrived at the right moment. He heard a sound in the forest, and growled warningly. There was that sound again. He growled louder, and more menacingly. This time, he heard a voice. "Leave me alone!" He trotted over, and was totally unprepared for what he saw. A little girl, wearing a torn dress, and with scraped knees was lying in the wet, muddy earth. She was whimpering to herself. She shoulder-length braids had come out. He changed back to his human form, not sure what she would think of a dog.

"Are you alright?" He asked softly. She looked up at him with… green eyes!

"Can you take me back to my Mummy and Daddy?" She asked piteously.

"Uh, who's your Mummy and Daddy, and where do they live?" Sirius asked.

"The B-Burrow, and my Mummy's name is Ginny Weasley, and my Daddy's name is Harry Potter." She said between hiccuping sobs.

"Your dad is Harry Potter?" Sirius asked in amazement.

"Yes. Can you take me home?"

"Sure. What's your name?"

"My name's Kati. And you're…" Her forehead crinkled up, "You're my Daddy's godfather, right?"

"Yes, how'd you know?" Sirius asked in wonder.

"Because Daddy told me about you, and you look like he described." She explained.

"Ok, my name's Sirius, by the way."

"The dog star." Kati said, a ghost of a smile on her lips.

"Yup. I'm aptly named." He joked. She giggled, and put her hand in his.

"Do you know the way?" She asked. He put his hand to his chest, in mock enragement,

"Me? Not know the way?" He gasped, "Of course I know the way." He grinned. "I was on my way there, actually."

"Goody." She said, and walked with him. It wasn't long before he heard voices calling,

"KATI!!!"

"I'M OVER HERE!" She yelled, causing Sirius to wince. For such a short thing, she sure has a big set of lungs. He thought. There was a crashing of twigs, and branches, and Ginny Weasley, A much older and prettier Ginny Weasley, he thought to himself, came running towards them.

"Oh my god, Honeybee, are you ok?" She asked, checking over the little girl frantically. Sirius wondered why she didn't just do it with her wand, she'd been a Healer, he was sure.

"I'm fine, Mummy. Mr. Dog Star saveded me." She said.

"Mr. Dog Star?" She repeated. She looked closely at Sirius. "Sirius! It's so nice to see you again!" She gave him a hug. Harry chose that moment to follow.

"Hey!" He yelled, "Get your hands off my fiancée!" Ginny let him go,

"Harry, that's your godfather you're speaking to." She scolded him, "And the saviour of our little girl."

"Sirius?" Harry said in amazement. "Wow! It's great to see you!" He gave Sirius a hug, "And you found Kati? Thank you!" He gave the little girl a hug too. "Are you ok, Kati?"

"I'm ok, Daddy, Mr. Dog Star helpeded me, and told me he'd show me the way."

"Mr. Dog Star?" He repeated, sounding much like Ginny. "Oh! Sirius! Of course."

"Can we go inside? I'm cold." Kati whined.

"Sure, Honeybee." Ginny said comfortingly. "We'll go in right away. You gave Grandma and Grandpa a big shock."

"I'm sorry. I was bored." She said softly, a tear trickling down her cheek.

"That's ok, sweetness, just don't do it again."

~@~@~@~@~

"Ginny!" Hermione called, bustling into the church dressing room, "Kati refuses to wear her dress." Ginny turned away from the mirror, and hurried into the adjacent room. She was already in her wedding dress. It had an **ivory hand beaded and embroidered tulle over silk satin organza A-line skirt and bodice, strapless curved neckline with a sweeping train. She decided against a veil, not wanting anything hanging around her face aside from her hair, when she kissed Harry.

"Kati, honey?" She whispered, poking her head in the door. Kati stood stubbornly in front of the mirror, pouting.

"I'm not wearing it." She said. She was looking at her dress, a stubborn scowl on her face. Ginny sighed, she thought her baby looked gorgeous in the **T-length dress. It had a satin bodice over a bouffant organza skirt. An embroidered floral pattern trims the natural waist and was repeated throughout the skirt and detachable sweep train. A dainty embroidered band circled the hem and edged the train.

"Honeybee, you look gorgeous." She protested. Her daughter turned to her, looking worried,

"I don't look like that bridal barbie?" She questioned anxiously.

"No, you're absolutely stunning." She assured her.

"Well… ok then." Katie said, sighing reluctantly. Then she brightened. "Auntie Hermione's dress is real prettyiful. Ginny laughed.

"Yes, it is, isn't it."

"Am I gonna get to meet the rest of my Aunties and Uncles and Cousins today?"

"Yes, Kati. You'll get to meet all of your uncles, the rest of your aunts, and all of your cousins. I promise." Kati nodded, satisfied.

"Good. I wanna meet my Uncle Ron. He sounds funny. Auntie Hermione was telling me about when he was in the first year, and he sounds so hi-hi-hilarious!" She said triumphantly, getting the final word out with some difficulty. Ginny smiled softly.

"He is, at that." She acknowledged. "Now, let's get going." Hermione came bustling back into the room, now dressed in her maid-of-honour gown. Ginny didn't want a big formal wedding, and had just decided on a flower girl and Hermione as her maid-of-honour. "Herm, you look gorgeous." She said, raking her eyes over Hermione's trim form, in the dress, which had a ivory Parisian crepe one shoulder top with cowl neckline and a chiffon side slit tie sleeve. It had an ivory chiffon A-line skirt. Hermione grinned,

"You think?"

"Definitely." Ginny assured her. "And that sleak-ezzy's (sp?) done wonders with your hair.

"Thanks."

"Welcome. Now, is it time to go?"

"Yup. Arthur is waiting for you, so he can give you away, and Harry is standing up the front with Sirius, eagerly awaiting your arrival."

~@~@~@~@~

Harry stood at the front of the church, waiting for Ginny to enter. When she did, he felt his heart do a flip. She was beautiful, dressed in a gown that accented her beautiful figure, and long red hair. Wait a sec, He blinked, long red hair? What happened? Ginny moved slowly up, and smiled at Harry's puzzled face.

"I lengthened it." She whispered. He nodded, and took her hand. They waited for the minister to begin.

"Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today in the sight of the gods, to witness the union of these two people in magical matrimony. Do you, Harry James Potter, take Virginia Amelie Weasley to be your lawful wedded wife, for richer or poorer, through sickness and in health, so long as you both shall live?" Harry gazed into Ginny's dark eyes,

"I do."

"And do you, Virginia Amelie Weasley, take Harry James Potter to be your lawful wedded husband, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health, for as long as you both shall live?" Ginny gazed back at him lovingly, and said,

"I do."

"Then, with the power invested in me by the gods, I now pronounce you man and wife. You may kiss the bride." Harry kissed her, only stopping when Ron Jr. said,

"Ew! Are they gonna be doing that a lot?" Rather loudly. Molly was red with mortification, but Harry just grinned.

"Yup, son, we are." He called back. Kati and Ron both ran up to the front of the church.

"This means we're a family, right?" Kati asked shyly, looking at Harry with huge green eyes. Ginny hoisted up Ron, and Harry picked up Kati.

"Yes, Kati-bee." He said, grinning madly. "It does."