I am so so so sorry it has taken so long to update. My schedule is no excuse and I hope you are all so interested in this story. I don't want to delay you any longer so enjoy!
Chapter Eleven The First Bitter Taste
Another month of Katherine's pregnancy passed and nothing exciting happened. She was still working and Sirius was still attending to Order business, though he tried to be home earlier to spend more time with Katherine.
One night, however, Sirius didn't make it home in time for dinner or for anything else. Just before midnight Katherine got tired of waiting and went upstairs to put her pajamas on.
She heard the door open from her spot on the stairs. "Sirius?" She called.
The maniacal laughter was heard before Bellatrix Lestrange appeared at the bottom of the stairs.
"Oh look! Someone is home!" Bellatrix laughed, placing one foot on the bottom stair.
Katherine panicked, remembering that her want was lying on her dresser in the bedroom.
"So you're Sirius's little girlfriend?" Bellatrix looked absolutely crazed.
Katherine stood staring at the woman, waiting for her Ravenclaw intelligence to kick in. When she couldn't think of a way out she decided to borrow some Gryffindor bravery.
Turning, Katherine fled up the stairs and ducked behind the wall as a curse flew past her. More maniacal laughter filled the apartment and several pairs of feet came pounding up the steps.
Katherine slammed the bedroom door shut and snatched her wand from the dresser. "Collaportus," she whispered and then thought of something better. "Impervious." The door glowed blue for a second and then went back to brown.
There was a loud bang from the other side and Katherine tried to think of a way out. The apartment had been made so, as a protection, you couldn't apparate or disapparate in it. She rushed to the window and threw it open.
There was a deafening bang and Katherine was seized by something invisible and drug back into the room.
"No where do you think you're going?' Bellatrix asked. "It would be rude not visit with Sirius's family."
Katherine had never been so terrified in her life. It wasn't that she was scared for herself, but for the baby she carried.
A tall man stepped up behind Bellatrix and flicked his wand, sending ropes around Katherine's wrists.
"Bella, why don't properly welcome her to the Black family?" He asked, placing a kiss on Bellatrix's shoulder.
"You think so, Rudolphus?" Bellatrix seemed to be toying with the idea.
"Of course. Anyone who is important to Sirius should be welcomed into the family properly," the man said.
"I'm not sure." Bellatrix glanced at Katherine, who was reaching for her fallen wand, and with a wave of her wand she held Katherine's in her hand. "Sirius isn't here to watch, but, then again that might be a good thing."
Bellatrix mulled the idea around some more and then turned to face Katherine.
"Crucio!" She screamed without warning.
Katherine had never felt such pain in her life. It felt as if there were needles poking every tiny part of her skin and as if her blood was turning to ice while her bones were lit on fire. She screamed and writhed, but could not escape the pain for anything.
Bellatrix relented for a moment before going back to it. She continued to give Katherine brief respites before torturing for a longer time. The torture took Katherine to the edge of consciousness and she had stopped making any noise as the pain racked her body.
"I think that shall do." Bellatrix and Rudolphus stood above the limp body, before walking out the front door and disappearing.
Just before the darkness took her Katherine became aware of the warm, stickiness between her legs. She lay there for almost half an hour before Sirius came home.
He crept up the stairs quietly thinking that Katherine would be asleep, but when he got to the top of the stairs he saw that the bedroom door was wide open and he could just see an arm extended on the ground. Sirius ran in and knelt next to her. He gently shook her.
"Kate?" Sirius rubbed his knuckles over her cheek. "Katherine? Can you hear me?"
Katherine didn't answer him and he scooped her up and ran to the living room fire place. He took some powder and stepped in. "St. Mungo's."
An hour later Sirius was sitting in the waiting room on the Spell Damage floor. He had been sent outside while the healers took care of Katherine. He sat with his head in his hands, silent tears falling onto the linoleum floor.
"Sirius!"
Sirius glanced up to see Lily and James rushing toward him.
"We came as soon as we heard," Lily said sitting on one side of Sirius, putting a hand on his back.
"How is she?" James asked, sitting on Sirius's other side.
"I haven't seen her since we got here. They took her away." Sirius looked back at the floor.
The trio waited for almost another hour before a Healer came out to the waiting room.
"Mr. Black?" She gestured for Sirius to join her.
Lily and James, of course, couldn't let him hear potential bad news by himself so they followed, despite the strange look from the Healer.
"Mr. Black, I am sorry to inform you that the child was lost."
Lily put a consoling hand on Sirius's arm.
"However, Miss Clarke is awake and asking for you if you'll follow me."
Sirius nodded and began to walk into the sanctum of the hospital. "Be strong for her," Lily called out gently as he disappeared.
Katherine was lying in a stark white bed with her eyes closed. Sirius at next to her and took one of her hands in his.
"Kate," he said quietly.
Her eyes opened slowly and she turned to face him. She gingerly reached out with her other hand and stroked his rough cheek.
In that moment there were no words that could be spoken that would fix anything. Words were not for such a situation, their faces clearly said everything. Tears trailed down both of their cheeks.
Sirius kissed Katherine's forehead and they sat together in silence until Katherine drifted off to a restless sleep.
There you have it. I know it was a little sad, but sometimes you'll have that. Please review! No hate comments or flames please!
Happy reading,
Avonmora