"Nae, it's fine. I ken it prolly sounds bad, but I've been sleepin' down there anyway. We've got it fixed up - and my room hasn't had anyone in it since Christmas." Oliver gave her a reassuring smile before taking the potatoes from her. As if he'd let Katie, or any of his friends for that matter, sleep on the sofa.
The rest of the meal passed in good company. Emilie regaled Gram with her attempts at gardening and Oliver, for his part, could only watch on with a bright smile. Every now and then he'd give Katie a grateful smile, but for the most part his eyes were affixed to his sister and her every movement. He was so glad everything had gone well, so glad that Katie had done this for him.
Oliver wrote a quick note to his step-mother, which Gram flooed to his uncle John, who promised to ward it and owl it immediately - and after plenty of shortbread and glasses of milk all around, Oliver found himself with arms full of Emilie. He was sitting next to Katie on the couch, Emilie curled up in his lap and Gram shuffling about the kitchen.
"Katie, could ye get the doors for me?" he asked as he stood, shifting Emilie on his shoulder and heading for the stairs.