Chapter 4

Author's Note: Other than the plot and some characters, JK Rowling owns the rest.

Leaves crunched underfoot as Katharine walked the paths that lead to the field. She had ten minutes left before 8pm, for when they had scheduled the meeting. The air was warm and buzzed with the sound of hundreds of bugs. Just as the minute hand ticked over to the top of the hour, Katharine stepped into the edge of the clearing and twin cracks of apparition were heard and two men were standing facing her.

Her eyes travelled over the first with wonderment. He was well into his second century and his tall form was dressed in vibrant purple robes with flashing silver moons. His hair and beard were long and silvery white, his long crooked nose held up glasses over which his light blue eyes peered at her and they crinkled in amusement as he smiled. When she could tear her eyes from the distracting moons, they turned to the second man. He seemed the anti thesis to the white haired smiling figure next to him. He was tall, at least six feet, and was dressed in all black. The cut of the robes was tailored and fitted his slender form in a way that brought to mind a military uniform. The bottom flared out dramatically and billowed slightly in the wind. He was pale with long raven black hair, which seemed so black it shone slightly blue, that hung on either side of his face. His nose was rather large and so crooked that it was obvious it had been broken more than once. He was scowling at her but it was the eyes that had shocked her. They were black and seemed to be able to pierce right through her. Katharine had never been so fascinated before by anyone as she was at this moment. The clearing of a throat brought her back to the matter at hand and she walked forward until she was right in front of them.

"I realize how strange my request may have seemed but I simply had to see you."Katharine paused and then continued, "I admit I'm still rather unsure how to say what needs to be said."

The Headmaster smiled, "Simply start from the beginning, my dear."

Katharine smiled back but hesitated. "I'm sorry; I'm a bit out of sorts. First, my name is Katharine Shaw. I'm an American as I'm sure you can guess. I suppose you could say I was sent here."

Dumbledore replied, "That's alright; I've been a bit remiss myself. You already seem to recognize me but my friend here is Professor Severus Snape the Potions Master at Hogwarts." He reached forward and Katharine shook the wizened hand. She turned to the younger man and was startled that he was younger than she had first thought. After a moment and a pointed glance from the older man, he sighed and unfolded his arms. Offering her his hand, the Professor drawled, "Pleasure, I'm sure." Katharine smiled slightly and took his hand in hers. In that moment she was completely unprepared for the surge of blazing power that pulled at her. The pleasant look on the Headmaster had faded to the intense face of a general. She was aware of the Professor pulling at her hand trying to get free but she tightened and concentrated on the feeling of wrongness that surrounded him. It seemed to originate from his left arm but as she pushed further the blackness spread outwards like the tentacles of an octopus. However, finding a break in the oily blackness, she came upon the feeling that she had just broken through to his true self. The brightness of his soul was extremely blinding and while there were small tears and scratches, it was whole. The contrast against the writhing blackness inside him had been what had caught her attention; it seemed as if there was a constant struggle between the man and the evil blackness that wanted to devour him whole.

Katharine was overwhelmed by this newfound power and retreated; she released his hand and it was only then that she became aware of the destruction going on around her. They seemed to be safe inside a circle but the breeze had picked up into hurricane force winds and was pulling trees from the ground and throwing them. She concentrated and finally the wind died down. Still breathing frantically, she turned back to the men who were staring at her. Katharine opened her mouth to explain but flashes of light began to fly past and explode into the trees behind them. She turned with her wand out and began to duel with a couple of the men. They were outnumbered but were holding their own. It was clear many of the men were frightened to be fighting against Albus Dumbledore. Kat herself was dueling champion at her former school and the Professor was incredible to watch. He was grace personified; his fluid movement belied the viciousness that shone within his eyes. It wasn't long before a few began to flee but not enough had gone. They were slowly being overtaken despite their skills and one of them hit the Professor with a bone breaker in the leg while she took a slicing hex to the chest. Movement at the tree line caught everyone's attention and the last bit of fighting paused as a man stepped into view.

Kat froze at the recognition she felt. This was the man who had stood over her parents, had tortured them and in cold blood murdered them. He had hunted her relentlessly for weeks and now he was here. He walked forward slowly, arrogantly sure he had her where he wanted. She felt a fury begin in the pit of her stomach and it began to expand as he laughed in triumph. For once, she didn't fight the blaze but welcomed it. It fed the anger and wasn't long before a few of the men holding her at wand point had begun to back away. She raised her hands and the wind steadily rose; the terrified screams of the men were ignored as she threw her arms out to the side. The wind raced around them and lifted them from the ground. They spun around and around as she continued to raise her arms upwards, the winds increasing to a howling speed. Suddenly, Kat clapped her hands together and an explosive shock wave detonated and threw her backwards. She landed and started screaming, pain causing her back to arch. The last image she had was of concerned blue eyes before her world dissolved into black.