Chapter 11: Cousins Meet in the Moonlight

Once again sleep had eluded the High Governor and High Priestess. It always happened during full moons. Perhaps it was because their senses were more alert or because their powers were weaker. Either way it was a rare occasion they slept on a full moon cycle.

Currently Oberon had left for the kitchens to retrieve himself and his bride a drink. Katherine had wrapped a simple cream colored shawl around her black silk night gown and had wandered barefoot onto the castle grounds.

The full moon may have lessened her power levels but her beauty increased as she stepped barefoot onto the cold grass and into the light. A light breeze blew through the grounds gently pushing her hair behind her and from the spot he stood in the shadows Voldemort understood why his cousin was so greatly desired even at her old age.

"I had a feeling you'd show up. Slytherins are not ones to not enjoy their torture however strange it maybe," Katherine said as she looked up at the moon and turned from where red eyes flickered in the moon beams. Her own emerald eyes glowed softly luminating his pale snake like face all the more.

Slowly the man slinked out of the darkness and into the moonlight with a cold sadistic smile on his face. She smirked at him as he moved closer.

"Such a pity," she clicked her tongue disapprovingly, "It is so sad those of magic descent are not aware of what they get into when performing old magic. If you knew you would not look as you do."

He glared at her.

"So you are the Katherine Gaunt. You know before I killed my Uncle he cried out to you," Voldemort stated lightly drawing his wand. She cocked her head and eyed the wand in intrigue.

"I suppose he would. Called for safety I suppose. He always believed he was a chosen one. Not true I have to admit," she shrugged and flicked her hair behind her shoulder.

"Yes an interesting legend that," Voldemort stated slowly circling the woman. He flicked his wand and a wand seven inches long made of yew and fairy wing flew into his hand. The wand was white and bone looking like his was but it glittered in the moon light.

"Then you had a reason for enlisting Pendragon?" Katherine asked. Voldemort nodded.

"Tell me…Tom Riddle isn't it…a very common name I admit," she said lightly unaware of how the name angered him. Or then again maybe she new perfectly well. One was never sure how Katherine's mind worked.

He snorted and pocketed her wand with a cold smirk.

"Tell me what you know about the Children of Hogwarts," Katherine replied.

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Harry was sleeping soundly when suddenly he jerked and the darkness of his empty mind was thrown into the nightmares he so often had.

"I know you protect them. That's why no one ever knows anything about them. Why they have so many secrets," he hissed softly circling the beauty.

"Very good," she said coolly. It infuriated him she was not even a tiny bit frightened.

"You can't protect them forever. Killing Dumbledore will be simple now that he's weak and defenseless," he smirked raising his wand. He was going in for it now.

"Can you kill Dumbledore? They've tried for years and can't. Can you kill the boy protected by the heirs of Merlin and Morgana? Can you kill the man I blessed myself?" she asked softly.

He was livid now. He didn't know she had done something like that. "Blessed him!? You blessed that pathetic half-blood muggle lover when you could bless me!?" he shouted.

"Minerva never batted you a second glance and you can tell Arthur I know his brother Imperioed my child to marry him!" she hissed.

"Sectemsempra!!!" he shouted and everything went black.


Harry shot of bed grabbing his glasses and wand tearing through the halls to the grounds. He knew that was where Katherine was being tortured and he had to stop it. The boy flung open the doors and stopped short when he saw the sight before him.

Katherine was wandless and a large deep gash oozed blood from her left cheek but other than that she stood tall and strong staring into the sky. No one was around her and she appeared unconcerned.

All the same Harry cautiously approached her and put a hand on her shoulder. The old woman turned and looked down at the teenager with a sad smile.

"Come along Harry the night air is not good for us," she sighed heading to the castle.

He followed at a more subdued pace. When they entered the grand foyer the first they saw was Oberon headed toward them with two steaming mugs.

Katherine smiled at him and because Harry was beside her he only saw her profile. Whatever Oberon saw though must have frightened him for her rushed to her; the mugs falling from his hands and shattering on the stone floor. It didn't faze him though for he swept the beauty in his arms and cradled her with a tenderness Harry didn't think a man like him had. Katherine shivered and Oberon pulled her closer running into the dungeons.

Surprised and worried Harry followed only to be shut out of the potion's lab. The only answer to his pounding was Oberon shouting, "Go to bed Potter!"

So Harry did…though sleep was not easy to obtain.