MAY 7, 1976

"HAPPY BIRTHDAY, KITTY!" said the envelope.

Kathleen chuckled at the attached picture, a loop over her parents (Thad gazing a bit quizzically down to the camera) and siblings smiling into the photograph. The envelope was charmed to repeat the birthday wish, and once she'd listened to its message enough times, she Silenced it and placed it in a drawer for safekeeping.

Her presents were received that morning. Her parents got her tickets to see Liberty Aces, a new wizarding band from Northern Ireland. Molly made her gloves, Fabian and Gideon sent her a charmed deck of cards (which could change themselves to any other cards on command, and would yell out crude words at opposing players), her Aunt and Uncle got her Parisian chocolates and a set of stackable gold bracelets, and lastly, Mr. and Mrs. Finch sent her a newly published Muggle book called Interview with the Vampire. Even Theseus brought her a dead mouse to enjoy.

Kathleen curled in her blankets, not wanting to get out and go to lunch. She had all her morning classes, and the afternoon was free. She stretched her legs and arms, feeling a familiar soreness from last night in the spare classroom with Reg. Sighing, she rolled out of bed, nodding a greeting to Miksa, who was sitting at her desk and brushing her hair. Throwing on her spring school robes, which were only a thin layer of cotton, she readied herself to walk to the Great Hall.

On the way, however, she had just passed by the statue of Dagbert the Dunce when she was yanked into a familiar empty alcove. She tensed, before recognizing the smell of him and his murmured greetings. 

"Happy birthday," he said, kissing the area under her ear.

"Thank you," Kathleen said happily, curling an arm around his neck as he hugged her from behind. She turned to see his wide smile, and if she had to pick the thing she loved most about him, it would be that. Kathleen didn't see him smile often, none at all before Easter. Of course, there was the sarcastic smirk, or the teasing one, but she only saw him truly smile those two weeks ago, in the guest bedroom at Prewett Keep, where she swore to take care of him properly. And Kathleen, if anything, was honest. She ran her fingers through his hair, curly like hers, and he hummed pleasantly.

Something squawked behind them, making Kathleen jump. "What was that?"

"Oh," Reg mumbled, rolling his eyes as he held her face in his palms, an inch from his own. "I got you something."

Another squawk, and Kathleen turned her head out of Reg's grip, peering behind his shoulders to see a golden cage sitting on the windowsill, with a stunning white owl inside.

"Oh, Merlin, Regulus," Kathleen gasped in delight, as she stepped closer to the owl, large, with a few black spots along the ridges of its back, but otherwise pure white. It stared at her with pitch black eyes, and it looked like it was not too young but not too old. Theseus had quite the temperament, but this owl looked quite calm and peaceful standing in its cage. "It's so beautiful."

"She," Reg corrected as he grinned at her. "I thought you might want your own owl, and it must be a hassle always using your parents'."

Kathleen laughed, still in shock as she hugged Reg around the middle. "She's perfect, thank you, I- I don't even know what to say."

Reg stepped forward and gently unlocked the latch, inviting the bird to grasp its claws around his wrist. He winced a little as the weight dug into him, but held Kathleen's new owl as he brought her closer to inspect. Kathleen giggled, saying a hello to the bird, as she gently ran a few fingers over its feathery back. "She's yours to name."

"I think I'll call her Malka," Kathleen said softly, recalling the pretty name, and the childhood story of the lion-killer. 

Reg agreed with her choice, and soon, they sent Malka to the Owlery, as they both went down to Potions together.

Kathleen stood, arms crossed in front of the Fat Lady, who was currently spearing olives into her mouth by the fours.

"I wasn't at the meeting on Sunday when they announced the new password, I was in the Library, I told you And I am a Gryffindor, I've been in this house for five years!"

"Weekly House meetings are mandatory, dear, not my problem if you missed one," the Fat Lady sniffed, spearing another olive, swishing it into a martini, before popping it in her mouth. 

"This is the only time I've ever not known the password, can you just let me in for a minute and then I'll ask for it, and I'll come back out to tell you," Kathleen pleaded.

"Not allowed, dear, sorry," replied the Fat Lady.

"Please! You let people into the dorm without a password all the time!"

"Excuse me?" the Fat Lady exclaimed defiantly. 

"Like when-" Kathleen held up a hand, wracking her brain for answers. "In February, when you let Regulus Black and I in without a password, how about then?"

"Well," the Fat Lady's demeanor changed instantly, as she let out a small chuckle. "That was different, you were intoxicated. He was being responsible for you, and now you are not being responsible for yourself. Speaking of, I haven't seen him around the Tower since the third time, will he be coming again?"

"Third time?" That halted Kathleen's train of thought. "He hasn't been here three t- anyways, can you just please, please let me in? I'll tell the portrait of Rhys Prewett on the second floor about your beautiful eyes and your beautiful whatever- just, can you let me in for a second?!"

"No password, no entry!" the Fat Lady huffed.

"Ugh!" Kathleen threw up her hands in frustration, eyeing the stone gargoyles by the floor, prime for kicking. She paced around the entryway to the sound of the lady's chewing, wondering exactly how high her window was, and maybe if she could climb up there. 

"-Afternoon," said a new voice, and Kathleen turned to see Sirius Black, standing in mussed robes and hands in his pockets, looking curiously at the fiery girl in front of him.

"Hello, Sirius," the Fat Lady said saucily, and Black nodded at her with a grin.

"Kathleen, you good?" he inclined his head.

"Y- yeah," Kathleen stopped her gaping. She never really talked to the elder Black brother, even though she knew everything about him. He'd been the first year that Fabian and Gideon adopted in their seventh year, and it seemed like he embodied the twins with his pranks every single day. She also knew that he didn't live at home anymore. Looking at him, the facial similarities with Reg flickered together and away, like a fluttering photo overlay that she couldn't ignore. Kathleen wondered if he knew that the monsters hunting him were now after his baby brother.

"Alright," he shrugged, walking to the portrait door. "Verum Dicere."

He held open the door for her, and Kathleen shot another glare at the Fat Lady (who had moved on to crackers from her olives), before going through the hole and finally finding herself in her common room. She couldn't wait to take a nap, she had a busy day ahead. Kathleen needed to finish her research on the healing spell Reparifors, reply with messages to all her birthday gift senders, and send a special note to Mr. and Mrs. Finch asking if they wanted to come to tea at Prewett Keep over the summer.

"...Kathleen, wait up," Kathleen turned to see Black looking seriously at her, as one hand ran itself over his hair to push it back.

"What is it?"

Black gave her a smile, and Kathleen's eyes widened at how easy it was to do for him. "We're all proud of you, Kathleen, y'know? I know it's been hard, I don't think I could handle it if something like that happened to one of my best friends. Persephone was the best, and we've been giving you space. But just know we're glad you pulled through, hm?"

Kathleen swallowed uncomfortably, as the familiar ache lumped in her throat. Because no matter how new and exciting her life was now, she would never be same after Posey. But it was still good to hear from someone, another Gryffindor she knew. "Thanks, Sirius."

"No problem," he grinned, clapping her on the back. "We're glad to have you back."