Chapter 26: Kathryn
Days went by as Trinity wandered through the English countryside aimlessly. The morning after she had fled Hogwarts, she had heard Professor McGonagall's voice in the Leaky Cauldron.
"Professor!"
"Mrs. Longbottom, I came as soon as your owl arrived!"
"She's upstairs, first door to the left."
Trinity's heart pounded against her chest. Professor McGonagall had come looking for her. She knew that she could not face the Headmistress, especially not after last night. Not after discovering all that had been kept hidden from her. She bolted into immediate action, grabbing her rucksack and Firebolt 3, and flying out the window.
That was four days ago. Trinity had survived by stealing food from muggles in the dead of night. It was no easy task. She did not stay in one place for longer than a single night.
On the fourth night, she found herself in front of an old, rundown mansion. It appeared to be the perfect place to rest for the night. She looked around. There was no one there; even the streets were empty. She reached for her wand, and gripped it tight. The front gate was locked. Trinity tapped it with her wand and whispered, "Alohomora." It unlocked. She pushed the gate open, wincing as it creaked loudly.
She walked up to the porch cautiously, hoping that no one would suspect her of trespassing, but there was no one there; she had checked. The front door was locked, and she knew that this should not have surprised her. "Alohomora." The door did not unlock. "Alohomora. Alohomora. Alohomora!" She kicked the door in her frustration.
"Isn't it against muggle law to break and enter?" Came a velvety male voice that sent shivers down Trinity's spine.
She whipped around to find a man standing behind her, but as he kept to the shadows, she could not tell what he looked like, other than he was tall. "Who—who are you?" She demanded in a shaky voice.
"I should be asking you the same thing," he replied smugly. "Stupefy!" He was almost lazy in the way he flicked his wand at her.
Trinity had no time to react. Even if she did, she did not know if she could do anything. She was thrown back into the house before slumping to the porch. Her vision blurred before she lost consciousness.
"Ooh, what is this?" A gleeful sounding woman asked.
"I caught her trying to break in."
"Wake her up. I'd very much like to speak with her."
"Get up, you!" Trinity felt a kick in her side, forcing her to roll over onto her back. "I said, get up!" Another kick, this one had more force to it though.
Trinity groaned as she forced her eyes open. Her head still hurt from hitting it against the siding. She stared up at two figures looming over her. She scrambled for her wand, only to find that it was missing.
"Looking for this?" The woman dangled the wand in front of Trinity, but kept it out of her reach. "I'm afraid giving you this would be counterproductive to my goals." The woman moved into the light, making it easier for Trinity to see her. She had matted dark hair, as though she had not cared enough to care for it. Her face was uncharacteristically pale, but her skin glowed in the light. Her eyes were dark. It was a face Trinity had seen before, and it sent a jolt through her stomach.
"You!" Trinity snarled. She scrambled to her feet and faced the woman, although she was not sure what she could do at this point. "You're Kathryn!"
"And you must be dear sweat Trinity." She reached out to caress Trinity's cheek, but Trinity jerked away. "I was wondering if I would ever get to meet you, with McGonagall and the Ministry keeping tight wraps on you."
"Everyone says you're evil." Trinity narrowed her eyes at her mother.
"Evil is a matter of perspective, daughter." Kathryn observed Trinity for a moment, waiting for a reaction. When all she got was a bitter frown, she said, "So McGonagall must've told you. Or was it that Messenger bitch?" Madness warped Kathryn's features, making her appear more like the pictures Trinity had seen in the Daily Prophet.
"I figured it out on my own," Trinity lied, sounding braver than she felt.
"I'm amazed. Considering you were raised by muggles. Tell me, daughter, did you come seeking me out to join with me?"
"Hardly."
Kathryn raised Trinity's wand. "Crucio!"
Hot, searing pain erupted all over Trinity's body. She fell to the floor before writhing in agony. She screamed as Kathryn laughed manically. It felt like the pain lasted for an eternity. In her mind, Trinity begged for it to stop. If her mother were merciful, she would kill her. "Mother!—Please!—Why are you doing this?" But Kathryn kept on going.
Suddenly, it stopped, and Trinity was left panting and sweating. She dared not move. To move would have been to feel pain.
"I am sure you've heard of the Dark Lord," said Kathryn conversationally. "They must've at least taught you that at that pathetic excuse for a school you go to."
"I don't care," growled Trinity before she could stop herself. She glared up at her mother with tear filled eyes.
"You will soon enough," laughed Kathryn. "You see, the Dark Lord envisioned a world with pure bloods at the top with muggles and other less beings as servants to witches and wizards. He was going to purify us. But then that Potter boy got in the way. Not to worry though; I still follow the old ways. Join with me, Trinity, and claim your place at my side."
"I'll never join you," snarled Trinity.
"Then you will die! CRUCIO!"
The pain erupted again, this time more intense than before. Trinity begged for it to end, for her mother to kill her and get it over with.
The door burst open, with splinters flying everywhere. It provided enough of a distraction that Kathryn halted in torturing her daughter. Trinity managed to look in the direction of the door to find Mr. Potter, Lynne, and Alex dueling with Kathryn and the unnamed man.
"Stupefy!" Mr. Potter roared. A jet of red light soared above Trinity and went straight for Kathryn.
"Protego!" The spell rebounded away from Kathryn.
"Avada Kedavra!" The man who had dragged Trinity into the mansion roared. A jet of green light flew toward Mr. Potter, but he jumped out of the way.
"Petrificus Totalis!" Mr. Potter flourished his wand as the man fell to the floor, stiff as a board.
"No!" Kathryn snarled. "Sectumsempra!" The curse grazed Alex across her chest. Kathryn laughed gleefully as she grabbed the young man and disappeared with a loud crack.
"Alex!" Lynne rushed to her daughter's side. "Harry, she's bleeding!"
Mr. Potter rushed to Alex's other side. "Lynne, I'm so sorry."
Trinity struggled to get up. "Alex—" She crawled over to them, not trusting her legs enough to walk. "Do something!" She looked up at Mr. Potter desperately. Tears were in her eyes.
"I don't know what to do," admitted Mr. Potter weakly.
"St. Mungo's," whispered Lynne.
Trinity nodded before loosing consciousness. Her body felt heavy as she lost awareness of her surroundings. Her mind went blank as she fell into darkness.