Chapter Four

It seemed like the month spent in Paris flew by. Bernard invited them to dinner nearly every night, and talked their ears off about his Hogwarts days with Ambrose Bell. Katie felt a little awkward during these conversations. She'd attempted to explain to Bernard her father didn't want to associate with her due to who she'd married - but this news only seemed to encourage him. What he intended with them, neither Katie nor Marcus knew, nor would he say.

Marcus continued his mission, and two weeks into their trip, Bernard invited him to a party held at his house. Katie was invited, of course, but she declined the invitation after learning it was the french death eaters meeting up. She stayed awake in the inn until well past five in the morning, when he finally came in, staggering and smelling like drink, but satisfied.

"He's agreed to come back to England with us," he gushed, sitting next to Katie on the bed, attempting to take off his shoes and nearly falling over in the process. "He'll be leaving next week to go on a short trip before having a meeting with the Dark Lord, which gives us that time to ourselves."

"That's great," Katie yawned, getting out of bed and heading into the bathroom. By the time she came out, Marcus had managed to get one shoe off. She sighed and untied the other, pulling it off and throwing it into the corner before climbing back into bed. "Just sleep in your clothes," she mumbled, pulling the blanket over her head to block out the light. There was rustling sound, and then the room went dark, Marcus wrapping her into his arms and burying his face into her hair. "What?"

"I love you," Marcus declared, holding her tighter. "Just thought I should tell you."

"Uh huh," Katie muttered, yawning. "I love you too, now shut up and sleep."

The next morning they had a letter from Bernard, asking Marcus to come for dinner. "You were gone all last night," Katie complained. "Nights were supposed to be ours, Bernard agreed, and you're going to be gone for breakfast too-"

"Kate." Marcus was rubbing his temples. "You know I have to go. I'd bring you with me if I could, but the invite was for death eaters only and we agreed you'd stay out of those types of meetings."

"There's just nothing for me to do," she sighed. "I've read all the books we brought, and I've written Poppy for reading material, but I've not gotten a response."

"She's probably busy, give her time," Marcus said firmly, slipping his shoes on. He stood, looking at his wife. "Relax, my love. It won't be for much longer. Bernard goes on his trip tomorrow morning, so today's the last day. Can you manage by yourself for one more day?"

Katie agreed, despite not having much of a choice, and Marcus left, promising to bring her back something to eat. She lounged around, deciding around noon to write a letter.

Dear Mother,

As I am sure Father has told you, I am married now, to Marcus Flint. He and I have, as you know, been together for quite some time, and upon my graduation from Hogwarts, agreed it was time. We rent a house in Hogsmeade, but we've currently gone on a trip to France.

Mother, it's beautiful here. We've been to see all the magical sights, and we've even visited some of the muggle ones. If I spoke French it would be even better, but it is what it is.

I wish I knew you were going to respond to this, but I'm positive it will be going in the trash immediately upon arrival, but I had to say this.

I am happy. Marcus and I are happy.

And I love you.

Your daughter,

Katie

She put the letter aside just as Sage swooped in, a response from Poppy in his talons. She took it from him and unfolded the letter.

A moment later, it fell to the floor.

It was hours before Marcus came back, whistling as he opened the door, but he froze when he saw Katie's face. "Kate? What happened?"

She held up the letter. "Dumbledore's dead."

Marcus went completely white, gripping the back of a chair. "How?" he asked, his voice coming out strangled.

"Some kind of curse, Poppy said. She wasn't entirely sure it was him; they found a body burnt in his office and had to run spells on it. They found a ring emitting dark magic nobody's ever seen before on his hand, so they've had it sent to Gringotts for testing, to William Weasley to be exact."

Marcus slowly sat down, burying his face in his hands. When he spoke again, his voice was barely audible. "They're sure it was his body?" Katie nodded, and Marcus stood back up rapidly, picking up a book sitting on the dresser and flinging it across the room. "Fuck!" He bent over, breathing hard. "This - just - this isn't happening." He looked up at Katie, tears just barely leaving his eyes. "How can we stop the dark lord without Dumbledore?"

"We have other people," Katie said, struggling to keep her voice calm as she walked over to him, standing behind him and wrapping her arms around his midsection. She pressed her cheek against his back. "McGonagall, for one. We'll kill that bastard one way or another, Marcus."

Their trip back to their home in Hogsmeade the next week was a near silent one. Neither of them had too much to say to each other, both attempting to process what had happened and what would happen in the future. Marcus had to go meet up with the death eaters immediately upon getting their things settled, and so Katie made her way up to the castle.

Pomfrey was in her office, slowly going through her stash of potions, and turned when she heard the door open. Spotting Katie, she walked over and wrapped the younger girl into a hug, releasing her after a moment and gesturing for the two of them to sit down at her desk. Katie blinked, almost seeing Dumbledore sitting there as he had the day he'd asked her to start her healer's training.

"When's the funeral?" Katie asked after a long silence.

"Tomorrow," the matron said, shifting papers on her desk and digging out an edition of the Daily Prophet. "You two came home just in time. They've been delaying it for a week because of the uncertainty - eight separate people have had to perform the genetics spell on the body before Fudge would believe it, and even still he kept pushing off the funeral until Aberforth put his foot down and insisted."

"I still don't understand how he died," Katie said, crossing her arms over her chest. "Your letter was a bit confusing."

"We don't know, exactly. I've never seen anything like it. His body was completely burnt up, but nothing around him was even touched, not even his clothes. The magic coming off the ring he wore was the only clue, but Mr. Weasley in the curse breaker's office is no closer to figuring out the dark magic."

Katie chewed on the inside of her cheek. "What happens now?" she asked quietly, with a glance toward the door. Pomfrey got the hint and cast a privacy charm. "With the order, who's in charge with - with Dumbledore dead?"

"It's -unclear," Pomfrey said slowly. "Professor McGonagall would be the obvious choice, but she is going to be busy this year attempting to keep Hogwarts going once it hits the press that Albus was found here. Alastor Moody is the second choice, but the man isn't stable after the events of the year before last."

Katie closed her eyes, feeling tears burn. She wasn't grieving for Dumbledore himself, exactly; she barely knew the man, and what she did know about him she didn't really like. His death, however, would change the tide of the war, and she could only hope it continued in the direction that would lead to you-know-who's demise. She stood, pushing her chair back. "I'll be back in the morning," she said finally. "Marcus should be home soon and he'll have news from -" She didn't have to say; Pomfrey gave her a short nod.

Despite what she'd told Pomfrey, Katie didn't immediately rush home. She took a detour to the entrance to Dumbledore's office and stood there for a long moment, staring at the gargoyles that blocked the passageway. Albus Dumbledore would never come down those steps again. She shuddered, wrapping her arms around herself.

"Mrs Flint?" She turned to see McGonagall walking in her direction. "May I help you?"

"I've just been to see Madame Pomfrey," Katie explained. "She - well, I know," she finished lamely, but McGonagall seemed to know what she meant as tears welled up in the transfiguration professor's eyes. The older woman gestured to the gargoyles, who moved aside, and she started up the stairs, stopping on the third to motion Katie to follow her. Katie did, trying not to be obvious about the fact she didn't want to go up there.

"Mrs Flint, this was marked for your husband," McGonagall said when they'd gotten into the office, passing her an envelope that had been sitting on the desk, and indeed, there was his name in neat script. "It has not been unopened; a compulsion charm on it makes the person attempting to read it put it down and leave the room. I can surmise from that only Mr Flint has the ability to read it." Katie put it in her pocket and turned to leave, but stopped when McGonagall said her name. "Before he passed, Albus told select members of the Order what your husband is doing." Katie turned back. "I am proud of him, and of you. You both are being very brave."

"Thank you, Professor," Katie managed through a closing throat, and she quickly left the head's office, wanting to clear her head on the walk home before having to see Marcus.

When she did get home, Marcus was already there, asleep on the couch. She tried not to wake him, but the shutting door jolted him awake and he stared at her in slight confusion as he tried to make sense of the sudden consciousness. "How was Hogwarts?" he asked, when he'd processed everything.

Katie mutely passed him the envelope. "Dumbledore's funeral is tomorrow, did you want to go?"

Marcus stared at the envelope for a moment before looking up at her. "I've been ordered to go, unfortunately. Even the dark lord is unsure how Dumbledore died, and he wants me to stay aware of the investigation."

"What would you find out at the funeral?" Katie wondered, going into the kitchen and rummaging through the cupboards. "It's not like they're going to be telling everyone how he died at his funeral. I don't even think they'll be able to show the body; from what I understand it was completely unrecognizable." She found a can of peaches and came to sit next to Marcus on the couch. "What does the other side know, anyway?"

"Nothing," Marcus informed her. "All they know is his body was found in his office. They don't even know the state of it."

"That's good," Katie said around a mouthful of peaches. "I suppose that means it wasn't one of them?"

"If it was a death eater they aren't confessing, and I quite think they would," Marcus said, dropping his head into Katie's lap. "The dark lord's pleased and would surely reward the murderer if they come forward."

"Well, maybe our side could figure out what killed him and use it to our advantage." Katie leaned her own head against the back of the couch, looking up at the ceiling. "You know," she mused. "It is rather strange that he died so suddenly and without warning. He wasn't even missing, so it happened rather quickly."

"We'll find out eventually." Katie looked down at him, not quite believing it, and Marcus went on. "I suppose I should read this letter now, eh?" He sat up again, tearing the seal and unfolding the letter, reading it silently before passing it to Katie.

Marcus and Katie -

Cliche this will be, but if you are reading this, I am dead. I am dead, I hope, in the progress of weakening Voldemort so that he can be killed. This isn't how I intended to pass this information to others, but if it dies with me, he will never be able to be killed. Katie looked up at Marcus, who gestured for her to continue. Voldemort, who was known in his youth as Tom Marvolo RIddle, has created something called a Horcrux, which is an object in which a piece of his soul is concealed. In fact, he's created more than one. I am leaving this evening to destroy one, a ring that belonged to Marvolo Gaunt. However, I have no idea of what the others could be, or even how many there are, and this is worrisome. I've left a collection of memories in my pensieve locked with a password.

Horace Slughorn has the key to one of them, and if the worst happens this evening, I need one of you to try and convince him to give up the true memory. He will know what is meant by those words.

This information must go to Harry Potter. He and he alone has the chance of killing Voldemort, and he must be given every clue possible for the task.

Katie stopped reading, looking up at Marcus in horror. "He's immortal?" she croaked.

"No, he's mortal," Marcus said, taking her hands in his and squeezing them as Katie's breath caught in her throat in fear. "These - these horcruxes are objects. There is every chance they can be destroyed. Dumbledore said he was going to get one the night he wrote this - a ring?"

"The ring that was on his hand," Katie breathed, remembering. "They - Pomfrey said it was emitting dark magic still. He didn't destroy it."

"We will," Marcus said firmly, giving her hands another squeeze. "We will find a way. The dark lord won't be around forever. We will end him."