AN/ Dedicated to all my impatient reviewers! You guys are lovely, and you're the reason I'm writing this basically.

Time for a change in the direction of the plot I feel…tell me what you think of the latest development…

~*~*~ Chapter Twenty Seven ~*~*~

Betrayal

Life inside the castle continued with whatever passed for normalcy there, and the world outside Hogwarts was sheltered from them, with small insights only occurring in the regular letters from the Weasley's, the Daily Prophet reports, and the Order of the Phoenix meetings. However, life outside the castle was nearly as quiet as life inside the castle, and while no news of Voldemort was definitely good news, it left Harry with an uneasy feeling in his stomach.

The four of them were sitting in the common room one-day trying to do homework, while a blizzard raged outside. Ron and Harry had abandoned Potions for a game of chess, which was becoming increasingly violent. Harry was nervously eyeing Ron's Bishop, who was looking particularly shifty when Catalina strolled over.

'Harry can I borrow a quill, mine just snapped, and I don't really feel like disturbing Hermione' she said pointing to the hunched figure of Hermione behind a tower of books.

OWLS weren't for another four months, but a manic energy seemed to have possessed Hermione who was now sitting in her seat by the fire every night without fail, surrounding by towers of parchment and books.

'Sure, there's a spare one in my bag' aid Harry kicking his bag unceremoniously over towards Catalina.

She started to rummage around and finally pulled out a quill, as well as something else.

'Your carrying this heap of junk around with you?' she asked, eyebrow raised.

Harry glanced over the thing held in Catalina's hand before turning his attention back to Ron's bishop, who as suspected, was now attacking his queen with its crucifix.

'Its not junk, it works perfectly fine!' said Harry, wincing as his queen fell limply to the boards floor.

'You got it working?' she asked turning the snow globe shaped object in her hand.

'Yeah, guess I must have forgot to tell you. Just tap it with your wand and say Retego' said Harry, who was plotting his revenge against the violent bishop.

Catalina sat next to the two, stone in hand.

'Retego' she whispered, as she pointed a finger at the stone, watching the white light arch towards the stone

'Hey cool' said Ron, watching Catalina wide eyed. Harry took the opportunity to finally wrestle Ron bishop to the ground with his knight, before it stabbed it repeatedly with its lance.

Ron's face fell when he saw the wreckage of what had once been his best player, and glared at Harry, who was staring innocently at the ceiling twiddling his thumbs.

'If the smoke goes purple it's the past, and if it goes green its the future' said Harry watching her looking at the stone.

'We reckon it shows you past and future alternatively, but we have tried asking for anything else yet' added Ron, and his other bishop crept behind Harry's castle.

Harry turned back to game in hand, groaning as his castle was beaten mercilessly by the former bishop's twin to the floor.

Catalina however was absorbed into the stone. The first time she'd looked at it she'd seen an hour in the past, and had seen Ron and Harry playing chess. The number of Harry's pieces on the board told her they hadn't been playing long.

'Retego futura' she commanded the stone, as watched as the green mist parted and showed her the common room in an hour's time. She saw herself walking up the stairs to the dormitory, watched closely by Harry.

'Right she's gone, lets go' said Ron distantly, standing up.

'Come on then' said Harry heavily, before the silver mist closed in on the scene.

Desperate to know more she commanded the stone to reveal the future again, and caught Harry, Ron and Hermione disappearing beneath and invisibility cloak, and watched as the portrait opened and swung shut again. Then the silver mist appeared again.

'Did I win my game' came a voice to the side of Catalina.

'What?' she asked looking over to Ron.

'Did the stone show if I win my game?' asked Ron again.

'Oh I, er, I didn't see' lied Catalina, whose thoughts were still with the images in the stone.

She became angry with the other three in the time that passed from her vision of the future. They were keeping secrets from her, and she didn't like it. Harry was shooting her thoughtful glances, and Catalina wished for the first time she could shield her emotions from Harry.

'I'm going to bed' she said shortly, heading up the stairs.

'Right she's gone, lets go' said Ron as he saw her disappear into the dormitory, standing up.

'Come on then' said Harry heavily, pulling out his invisibility cloak from under the chair.

He shrouded himself and his two friends under the cloak, noting that it was getting a lot smaller for them now, and headed towards the portrait hole. Their silent procession to Dumbledore's office gave Harry time to think about Catalina. She had been angry ever since she had looked into the stone, and he wondered briefly what she'd seen, before they reached the gargoyle.

They gave the password and headed up the stairs, and seating themselves in the gathering group of teachers and Phoenix members. While they waited for a few late arrivals Harry suddenly had a thought. After doing a quick calculation in his head he realised Catalina must have seen them disappearing under the cloak. He sighed as he understood why she was so angry, she thought they were keeping secrets from her, and doing things without her.

It was then we he also had another thought. If that was him, he'd want to find out what the others were up to. He looked around the room, at the long line of people in chairs, of which he was at the end. Harry casually ran his fingers through his hair, before dropping his arm over the side of the chair. The satisfyingly solid patch of air confirmed his suspicions, which were further strengthened by a small gasp coming from nowhere. He turned and looked down at the vacant position with a small smile on his face. Pretending to have an untied shoelace, he bent down and looked to his left.

'You really shouldn't be here you know' he whispered before sitting upright.

Dumbledore chose that moment to begin the meeting and Harry had no choice but to listen. 'We have no news from the Ministry about the attack last weekend in Dorset' said Dumbledore heavily looking around the assembled figures.

'Now, this was the first attack we have seen since Hogsmeade, and we are prepared to bet it wasn't authorised. So this leads us to the question, what is Voldemort planning?' asked Dumbledore.

'I believe that's he is planning something big, so we have to be ready' said an auburn haired witch at the other end of the line.

This statement was greeted by nods from nearly everyone around the desk, and everyone looked to Dumbledore.

'I believe your right, what we have to do now is find out what. Our man on the inside tells us that there has been an increase in activity over the past few weeks. Now we have a list of known Death Eaters, and I would like you to get close to these people, follow them, try and find out what their up to. Fletcher, I'm assigning you Avery, and Snape I'm assigning you Lucius Malfoy. After his son's attack on Catalina Firelight, we know for sure that he is deeply involved' he said.

Harry heard Catalina gave a small gasp, which Harry managed to cover by coughing loudly, and unimpressively.

'After the attack on Miss Firelight, I'm sure you will appreciate my reasons behind this. Speaking of the Firelight family. I have been in contact with Charles this morning, and he believes they are nearly ready to come out of hiding and return to Firelight manor. I have tried to dissuade him, but he is adamant. In that case, we will need everyone we can spare on the first day of next month when they are to move in, to strengthen the charms around the manor, and protect them on their way' Dumbledore explained.

Harry could feel Catalina's panic, worry and even anger as she sat next to him, and he sent a warning glance to wherever he thought her head was.

'From what I can deduce, Miss Firelight seems to have become a target to the Death Eaters, after the attack on Hogsmeade on Halloween' Dumbledore stated to the shocked faces.

'What?' asked Harry angrily standing up, 'When were you planning on telling us?'

'Harry, I just did, now don't worry. There are numerous charms and protection spells on this castle and on her. She's safest here. And since you can now feel her emotions, we are forewarned if anything has happened to her' Dumbledore told him.

Harry sat down slowly, trying to ignore the small smiles of the other adult members of the Order. He could hear Catalina panic even louder now, but it was nearly being drowned out by his own worry. He could cope with himself being a target, but not Catalina.

'Now if that's all, you may all go, we'll meet back here same time next week ok?' said Dumbledore rising.

Harry quickly stood up, preventing people from trampling Catalina, and led her out of the office, and down the staircase. When they reached the bottom, Harry threw the cloak over his friends and himself and made his way towards the common room.

'Don't worry about Catalina' said Hermione to Harry, 'She's safe here'

Harry merely nodded, and watched his friends go up into their dorms.

'Coming Harry?' shouted Ron down the stairs.

'Nah, I'll be up in a minute' said Harry, sitting in the silence.

'OK Catalina, stop hiding' said Harry to the empty common room.

'I wouldn't be hiding if you were straight with me' came Catalina's voice from behind him.

Harry spun around to see Catalina pulling off her cloak, with a furious look of anger on her face.

'I wasn't allowed to tell you' said Harry calmly, trying to avoid aggravating Catalina even more.

'You go up there every week to discuss me and my family, and you don't think I should know? Were you going to tell me I was in danger? Or am I not allowed to know that either?' she asked furiously.

'Of course I was going to tell you' Harry answered, nearly being pushed back by the force of her anger. He had felt her this angry before, but not directed at him. It was a new, and unpleasant experience, and what's more he had no idea how to make it better.

'Yeah right' Catalina sneered, balling the cloak up in her hands and heading towards her dorm.

'Look Catalina,' pleaded Harry grabbing her arm, 'let me explain'

'Let go of me' she cried pulling her arm from Harry's grip.

'You've been telling a room full of strangers all about me, personal things Harry' she hissed, cats eyes flashing.

'Catalina listen –' began Harry, but was cut off by her furious voice.

'Leave me alone Harry' she whispered angrily before heading towards her dorm again

Harry made another move to grab her, he had to explain things to her, she'd got the wrong end of the stick.

'Get away from me Harry, I don't want you anywhere near me!' she shrieked twisting out of his grip and running up the stairs out of sight.

Harry stood in the same position for a few minutes, staring at where Catalina had just disappeared. Catalina's fury was washing over him in waves, and he felt so guilty and upset that he felt like he was about to be sick. He slowly climbed the stairs to his dorm, and sat on the edge of his bed.

'What was all that about?' asked Ron sleepily, 'I heard shouting'

'Nothing' said Harry shortly, pulling the curtains around his bed.

It took him a long time to get to asleep, thoughts of his argument with Catalina were swimming through his head. He had no idea what to do now, he had to explain to her somehow. But Catalina's angry voice kept filling his head.

Get away from me Harry, I don't want you anywhere near me!

Harry turned over a groaned, how was he supposed to sort this out?