Chapter 6 – End of the line

A man sat in the shade of a sun parasol outside a small café in Diagon Alley. The lines on his face betrayed his age, which was sixty, give or take a few years. It was strange how he'd never realised he was growing older. Over a decade of peace had made him lax and now time was catching up with him.

He looked up cautiously, brown eyes flickering from one badly concealed recruit to another. Over forty years of loyal service, and this was how Lord Riddle repaid him. An ambush that a five year old could have spotted. He sighed, and returned to scribbling on the napkin that a thoughtful waitress had laid out for him.

Of course he'd always known that Riddle would finish him off in the end, but he'd hoped that he'd at least have the decency to send someone good to do it. Someone like Kensington or Snape, hell, even Rabastan Lestrange would have done. Not...well, he didn't even know the names of these people, which just went to prove his point. They were new; half of them couldn't even cast the Dark Mark properly.

He shook his head and smiled slightly, pocketing his pen and gazing bemusedly at the address he'd written on the serviette. He still wasn't sure if the rumours were true, but he had to try, and this was his last chance.

He looked up again and spotted the group of teenagers emerging from the new wizarding joke shop situated a little further along the road. It was a long shot, but it was the best chance he was going to get.

And she'd go after him, wouldn't she? She was bound to be curious at least. Or even if she wasn't, the boy would look for her when word got out. She'd been engaged to his godfather after all, and the boy-who-just-wouldn't-die would want answers.

He tossed a few sickles onto the table to cover the bill and stood up, keeping the folded napkin enclosed in his fist. Now or never...


"I don't know where those two get their ideas from," said Ron, fiddling with the latest gadget from his brothers' shop. "But I wish they'd tell me- Ow!" He pulled his hand back sharply, sucking at his finger. "How d'you make this thing work?"

"Give it here," sighed Hermione, taking the small sphere out of Ron's hands and tapping it smartly with her wand. Harry smirked at his two best friends and glanced up the street, frowning at the crowd around Flourish and Blotts. Diagon Alley wasn't as busy as it had been before the war started, but that only made the bustling throng of people more conspicuous.

Of course, the fact that the narrow street was not as densely populated as normal also meant that he was able to spot the man hurrying towards him while he was still a considerable distance away. He nudged Ron who had retrieved the ball like gadget from Hermione and was tinkering with it again.

"What?" asked Ron, glancing up as the strange man broke into a run. Harry was about to suggest that they head back into the shop for safety when a jet of green light illuminated the shadows on the opposite side of the alley, bounced off a hastily contrived shield charm and sunk into a girl on the other side of the street who collapsed immediately.

A little way down the street, another burst of green light erupted from a wand, but this one rose into the sky, twisting itself into the glowing outline of a skull and snake, visible even against the bright blue of the sky.

Harry was vaguely aware of someone screaming and then the entire street was in chaos. Ron dropped the sphere, which exploded with a loud bang and a flash of blinding white light. He grabbed Hermione's hand and pulled her towards the shop door which had been thrown open by Fred, who was standing there, wand in hand.

"Get inside, quickly!" he yelled above the clamour of frightened voices. Ron pushed Hermione in front of him and hurried through the door. Harry was right behind him, but before he could follow, someone grabbed his wrist and thrust something into his hand.

It was the man who'd been heading for him. Close to, he could see that the man was older than he'd thought, with lines on what had probably once been a rather handsome face and hair so blond as to be almost white. His eyes were deep brown and looked almost imploring up at Harry.

"Give it to Riddle," he said, his voice low and urgent. "Tell her she was right and that I'm sor-" He broke off abruptly, expression frozen mid sentence and at the same time, Harry felt someone grab the back of his jumper and yank him backwards, almost strangling him in the process. The man toppled over and fell with a sickening thud onto the cobbles as Harry was hauled bodily inside the Weasley Twins' shop.

Fred, or possibly George, Harry couldn't tell, slammed the door shut and slid the bolt firmly across before casting the colloportus charm.

"What were you doing just standing there?" asked Ron, staring at him. Harry noticed that he had not yet released Hermione's hand. "They were Death Eaters!"

"It wasn't my fault," objected Harry, "That man caught my arm."

"You should have jinxed him," said Fred firmly, ushering them towards the large fireplace in the back room.

"No, he wasn't trying to hurt me," said Harry, watching the last few of Fred and George's customers Floo out of the shop. Every public building had to have one way fireplaces now, under a new legislation drawn up by the government. An emergency escape route connected to the Floo network, but monitored by Aurors. You could only Floo out of civic buildings, not in, unless you had a special pass issued by the government, although after a lot of negotiation, shop keepers had been allowed to carry restricted passes that allowed them to Floo into their own shop.

"Harry, people were firing Unforgivables left, right and center!" exclaimed Hermione, face pale. "You could have been hit!"

"If that man hadn't been standing in front of you, you would have been," said George, pulling the top off a new jar of Floo powder.

"No I wouldn't - they weren't aiming for me," said Harry patiently. "They were aiming for him."

Fred gave him a sceptical look as George passed him the Floo powder. "Why would they do that?"

"I don't know," admitted Harry. "But then why would they attack me in broad daylight, for everyone to see?"

"Because you weren't expecting it?" suggested Hermione, her fingers clutching Ron's hand unconsciously.

"We can discuss this later," said George, looking nervously back at the door of the shop. "Right now, the best thing we can do is get home."

The others nodded and one by one, Flooed back to the Burrow.


In a small house in Essex, the flames of fireplace flared green. A man with short brown hair and hazel eyes stepped out and nearly stumbled back into the fire at the sight of the woman curled up on the sofa.

"I wish you wouldn't do that," he sighed, stamping on the hem of his robes to put out the flames.

Katherine glanced up from her book and grinned at him. "Good afternoon to you to, Damon."

Damon scowled at her and threw his cloak on a chair. "Why exactly is it good?"

"I don't know, you tell me," said Katherine, putting her book down and gazing serenely over at him.

"Well, there's one less witch in the world. One less wizard, come to that," answered Damon, pouring himself a whisky.

"Isn't it a bit early to start drinking?" asked Katherine, raising an eyebrow.

"The wizard was Kelly Hunt."

Katherine stared at him, then walked over and took the glass he offered her. Death Eaters killing Death Eaters. Things must be bad.

"D'you know why?" she asked after a while as he refilled her glass for the second time.

"No," said Damon shortly. "I was in Knockturn Alley at the time. I think it was Crawford and Giles, and a few of their friends." Katherine stared blankly at him. "They're new," he explained, catching her expression.

Katherine frowned. She didn't like not knowing who was who. It made things dangerous when you didn't know which side people were on.

"Who was the girl?" she asked, gazing pensively into her glass.

"No idea. Looked about eighteen, probably just left Hogwarts." He sighed, running a hand through his hair.

"Is Theodore going back?" asked Katherine softly, not looking at him.

Damon shrugged. "Ask his mother. She never tells me anything."

Katherine gave him a sideways look and asked curiously, "Have you two actually broken up, or what?"

"She moved out," said Damon sullenly. "And took Theo with her. Can't remember ever making it official."

"So you're still married?"

"Technically," muttered Damon. "But considering the fact that we haven't spoken more than two words to each other for the past five or six years, we might as well be strangers."

"What about your son?"

Damon frowned, avoiding her questioning gaze. "I tried writing, but he never replied."

There was an uncomfortable silence, then Katherine set down her empty glass. "I should get going. I've got some things to do."

"Sure, oh and try to avoid any other DE's, will you? Severus let slip to Bella that you might still be around and well, you know how fast rumour spreads. If Bella was on the brink before this, she's practically hurling herself off it now."

Katherine smiled wickedly as she pulled on her cloak. "I'll be sure to bear that in mind."


When the trio finally managed to escape the clutches of Mrs Weasley, who was alternating between fretting and scolding them, they hurried upstairs to the relative safety of Ron's room. Hermione shut the door behind them and cast an Imperturbable charm on it.

"Well?" she asked, looking expectantly at Harry. Ron glanced from one to the other with a confused expression.

"Well what?" he asked, staring at Harry.

"Harry was holding something when Fred dragged him inside," said Hermione, sitting down next to Ron.

"The blond man gave it to me," said Harry, reaching into his pocket and pulling out the soft fabric.

"It's a napkin," said Ron, looking dubiously at it.

"There's an address written on it," said Harry, examining the cramped writing.

"Did he say what it was for?" asked Hermione hopefully. "Maybe that's why people were trying to kill him - because he knew something he shouldn't?"

Harry frowned, sitting down on his makeshift bed. "He told me to give it to Riddle," he mused quietly. Ron's eyes widened and Hermione gasped.

"To Vol-?" she began, but Harry shook his head.

"No, see that's the really weird thing," he said, looking up at them, a trace of dry amusement in his voice. "He said: 'give it to Riddle. Tell her she was right.'"


Narcissa Malfoy pushed open the tall oak doors that marked the entrance to the Malfoy library and stopped just inside. She hesitated, then turned her head to the right and narrowed her eyes at the person lounging against the wall, reading a book.

"What are you doing here, Katherine? she asked acidly. "I thought I told you to stay away."

"You did," agreed Katherine shutting her book and smiling pleasantly up at Narcissa.

"And?"

"And I ignored you. Obviously."

Narcissa scowled at her and walked to the center of the room, sitting at the large table that Lucius had commissioned the year before last.

"What do you want, Katherine?" she asked wearily.

"Answers," said Katherine, tossing her book on the table and pulling up another chair. "Like, why are men so damn stubborn and stupid?"

"I take it you've been to see Severus, then? I told you not to," said Narcissa calmly, picking up Katherine's book with slender fingers. "What's this?"

"A book."

Narcissa gave her junior an appraising look. "I can see that. What language?"

"Greek," said Katherine flatly.

"It's not written in the Greek alphabet," pointed out Narcissa.

"It's new age Greek," said Katherine, her expression unreadable.

"Noisull id nanoit peced," read Narcissa carefully. "Doesn't sound like any language I've ever heard."

"Do you know every language in the world?"

"No, but-"

"Well that would be why you haven't heard it then," said Katherine with a dangerous smile.

"Fine. Keep your little secrets if it makes you happy," conceded Narcissa. "Just don't expect me to divulge mine."

"Not even why you made Severus take the Unbreakable Vow?" asked Katherine, gazing intently at the stately woman in front of her.

Narcissa held her gaze steadily. "The Dark Lord was trying to get Draco killed."

"Draco? Ah yes, your son."

"Yes, my son. Do you have children?" asked Narcissa, a very slight tremor in her voice.

"No."

"Then you can't possibly understand what I'm going through."

Katherine looked away, fiddling with her ring idly. "He's not Severus' responsibility."

"Who else was I supposed to turn to?" asked Narcissa sharply. "Lucius was in Azkaban-"

"Dumbledore," said Katherine quietly.

"That muggle loving fo-?"

"He was a good man," cut in Katherine angrily, looking at her, eyes blazing. "And a dmn good wizard. What chance do we stand now? Tom's won. There's no one left to defy him - the Ministry's a shambles, the wizarding world's a mess and Tom's picking off the strongest people one by one. We're screwed, Cissa. So Draco was in danger, so what? How many other children are going to die because of what you did? Everyone's got parents."

"And what makes them any more important than my son?" hissed Narcissa.

"They're innocent," snarled Katherine, glaring at her.

"So were the people you killed," retorted Narcissa.

"No they weren't," said Katherine fiercely. "I killed Aurors who were trying to kill me, I killed corrupt government officials who were making people's life hell, I killed Death Eaters who were trying to hurt my friends. No one I killed was ever innocent."

Narcissa arched an eyebrow and gazed malignantly at her. "What about Regulus?"

Katherine's eyes narrowed. "What about him?"

"What did he do wrong?" asked Narcissa pleasantly.

Katherine shrugged. "Ask Bella. She killed him."

"No she didn't. You did," said Narcissa softly.

"Bella told Dad she did," objected Katherine guardedly.

"She told the Dark Lord that he was dead. I'm her sister; she told me he was already dead when she found him."

"Maybe he had a heart attack," offered Katherine.

"Maybe you killed him," suggested Narcissa, smiling nastily.

Katherine smiled back grimly. "Maybe he was guilty."

"Of what?"

Katherine smiled sweetly and picked up her book. "Wouldn't you like to know."

Narcissa opened her mouth to reply but it was too late; Katherine had already disappeared.


Hermione and Ron stared at Harry in stunned silence. "Are you sure?"

"I know what I heard," said Harry firmly.

"But...his mother is dead," said Ron nervously.

"She wasn't called Riddle, either," remarked Harry. "She never married."

"Why did the man give it to you?" asked Hermione thoughtfully. "I mean, I know you're a national hero and everything, but that doesn't mean you know everyone."

"He knew he was going to die," said Harry, looking pensively at the address. "That's why he started running before those Death Eaters started shooting Unforgivables at him."

"Where is the address? Could we go and see what's there?" asked Hermione hopefully.

Harry shook his head. "Not unless you've got family or something we could stay with half way across the world."

"What?" asked Ron, looking puzzled.

"Read it." Harry threw the napkin to him. "Fairymeade Station, Jericho Qld 4726, Australia. So, any ideas...?"


Nicola Meliflua heard the key turn in the lock of the door and stood up, arms folded.

"What the hell d'you think you're doing, Kat?" she asked pointedly. A woman with curly auburn hair and deep green eyes stared at her, hand still on the door knob.

"Nicki?"

Nicola rolled her eyes and grabbed her friend's wrist. "Come on."

"Where are we going?" asked Katherine, as Nicola picked up her unopened suitcase and kicked the door shut.

"To my place. I've got a spare bedroom and you can't keep running across the country like this," said Nicola firmly, her brown eyes determined.

"But-"

"No buts. You don't have a choice in the matter, ok?"

Katherine managed to pull her hand away and looked bemusedly at her old friend. "Why are you doing this?"

Nicola glanced up at her, brown eyes serious. "Because I know what it feels like to lose a friend once. I don't want to have to do it again."

Katherine gazed at her for a moment, then looked away. Nicola smiled gently and tilted her head to look at the book Katherine was carrying.

"Noisull id nanoit peced," she read slowly. "Deception and illusion. I wouldn't have thought you'd need to read a book on that, Kat. Shouldn't you be the one writing it?"

Katherine glanced up at her in surprise. Nicola laughed, and handed her a portkey. "I'm head secretary for the Department of Magical Law Enforcement. I'm used to cracking codes. You weren't even trying with that one."

Katherine grinned and took the portkey. "I think you've been holding out on me, Nic."

"Yeah, well, keep it to yourself. Men don't like women to be more intelligent that they are," replied Nicola, smiling wickedly. "Which is why you and Sirius were never going to work."

Katherine arched an eyebrow. "What would you have done?"

"Oh Sirius, definitely," said Nicola quickly.

"I said what, not who," said Katherine, rolling her eyes.

Nicola grinned. "I know. I'd choose Black, but only because you'd kill me if I said Severus because let's be honest, Kat - you and Sev just fit together."

"Tell him that," murmured Katherine.

Nicola met her gaze and smiled faintly. "I did. The day you went to Azkaban."

"What did he say?"

Nicola smirked and tapped the portkey to activate it. "He said to tell you that."