"That'll go away eventually," Kate answered, waving her hand. "Promise. Your body gets used to it and after awhile it doesn't even hurt at all anymore. It's just... fun." And it felt good and it was sort of weird, because she'd always been using sex as a way to get close to guys who weren't good for her, but now it actually made her feel close to someone. That was unexpected, but not in a bad way.

"And it's just gonna hurt every time if you're not relaxed," she continued. "Which you won't be if you're worrying about Harry bursting through the door." Though she doubted he'd do that again. Even if Ron and Hermione weren't around, she sort of thought Harry might knock on every door in the hut just to be safe.

Kate paused for a moment, thinking Alice, of the words she'd said in that Barnabeez bathroom, how Alice had washed her mouth out with soap. It wasn't often that she admitted it, even to herself, but Kate had doubted herself in that bathroom. She'd been furious and disgusted, but she'd doubted herself, too. She'd felt, for a little while, like maybe Alice was right. Maybe liking sex made her a slut.

"Don't let anyone say you're not supposed to like it eventually either," she said suddenly. "Don't let anyone make you feel bad when you do like it. There's nothing wrong with that."