The last chapter for year five. Ten chapters. You know, the amount I said I was not going to have. Yes, so never listen to me when I say how long something's going to be.


Chapter 29

The Daily Prophet photographers' cameras snapped and flashed photos of Harry and Katherine. Harry was just standing there, leaning on Katherine, with a dead look in his eyes. Katherine, however, was posing heroically.

"Dumbledore . . . I-I don't understand." Fudge sputtered, looking harassed.

"I will explain everything after I make sure Harry and Katherine are safely at school." Dumbledore said. "Send your Aurors down to the Department of Mysteries. There are a group of Death Eaters that have been apprehended by the Order of the Phoenix."

"But . . . but-"

"You will also sign an order removing Dolores Umbridge from Hogwarts. You will order your Aurors to stop looking for Hagrid." Dumbledore said as he pulled out his watch. "I will give you half an hour of my time."

Dumbledore picked up the decapitated head of the wizard statue. He tapped it and turned it into a Portkey.

"Professor, the others . . ." Katherine started to say.

"The Order will take care of them." Dumbledore promised. "Now, grab on."

Katherine's fingers wrapped around part of the head as Harry's did the same. Katherine felt the awful pull behind her navel and the Ministry melted away.

They landed in Dumbledore's office. The adrenaline rush had left Katherine and she felt every pain in her body. She wanted to collapse onto the floor and just fall asleep.

But one look at Harry changed her mind. Harry's eyes were dead and she could tell he was silently blaming himself for Sirius's death.

Katherine wrapped her arms around him. He buried his head into her shoulder and wrapped his arms around her. She rubbed his back, but didn't say anything. She knew from experience that just because someone says, "Everything's going to be alright," doesn't mean that it is.

Harry sobbed into her shoulder and Katherine pressed her cheek against his head. His arms tightened around her and she winced as his touched her rib.

"Did Dumbledore send you with some message for my worthless great-great-grandson?" The portrait of Phineas Nigellus drawled. Harry's arms tightened and Katherine winced again.

More and more of the portraits started to wake up. Katherine kept holding Harry and rubbing his back.

"Does this mean that Dumbledore will be returning?" A red-nosed wizard's portrait asked.

Katherine nodded. The witches and wizards were surveying her and Harry with great interest. Harry let go of Katherine and backed away a few steps.

"Dumbledore thinks highly of you." The wizard said to Harry.

The empty fireplace burst into green flames and Dumbledore stepped out. The portraits applauded the Headmaster's return. Dumbledore slightly smiled.

"Thank you." He whispered.

Katherine sat down in one of the chairs and let her head roll backwards and rest against the chair. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. It came out ragged. She cursed at the rib and hoped that it didn't puncture a lung.

"Well, you two," Dumbledore said. "Should be glad to know that none of your fellow students will suffer permanent damage."

Katherine opened her eyes and let out a shaky breath. "Mad-Eye? Tonks?"

"Alastor Moody is fine." Dumbledore said. "Nymphadora Tonks will have to spend some time in St. Mungo's, but she will be fine."

Katherine nodded and closed her eyes again.

"I know how you feel, Harry." Dumbledore whispered as he took a seat behind your desk.

"No, you don't." Harry snapped, his voice getting angrier.

"There's no shame in feeling pain, Harry." Dumbledore said. "It is your greatest strength."

"I don't want to talk about it." Harry said.

"Harry, this suffering means you're human-"

"THEN I DON'T WANT TO BE HUMAN!" Harry screamed. Katherine's eyes flew open and she looked at Harry pityingly.

Harry picked up one of Dumbledore's instruments and threw it as hard as he could at wall. It shattered causing many of the portraits to exclaim.

"I'VE HAD IT! I WANT OUT!" Harry yelled as he broke more and more of Dumbledore's things. "I DON'T CARE-"

"You do care," Dumbledore said calmly as he watched, without flinching, Harry destroying his office.

Katherine watched as Harry stormed over to the door and tried to throw it open. But it wouldn't budge. Harry turned around and glared at Dumbledore.

"Let me out." Harry said in a cold and calm voice.

"Not until you have listened to what I've said." Dumbledore said.

"I DON'T CARE WHAT YOU'VE GOT TO SAY!" Harry roared.

"Harry Potter," Katherine snapped. "Stop acting like this. Sit down and control yourself."

Harry looked like he was about to slap her.

"You're not as angry as you should be with me, Harry." Dumbledore injected. "It's my fault Sirius died. I kept an energetic man trapped and those types of men are not going to sit at home while people they love are in danger. But there was no reason for you to go to the Department of Mysteries tonight. If I had been open with you, from the beginning, you would have known that Voldemort would try to lure you into the Department of Mysteries, and, therefore, would have never gone. And Sirius would have not gone after you."

Katherine looked at Harry to see his reaction; he seemed to be processing what Dumbledore had said.

"Please sit, Harry." Dumbledore said.

Harry slowly walked over to the chair next to Katherine and sat down.

"My great-great-grandson, the last of the Blacks, is dead?" Phineas Nigellus asked.

"Yes, Phineas." Dumbledore answered.

"I don't believe it." Phineas said before he marched out of his portrait to go to his Grimmauld Place one.

"I owe you an explanation, Harry," Dumbledore said before he turned to Katherine. "Miss Peters-"

"He's going to tell me-"

"Anyways. Yes, I figured as much." Dumbledore allowed himself a slight smile. "Harry, there is a connection between you and Voldemort. I had you study Occlumency because I was worried that Voldemort would discover the connection."

"I didn't practice." Harry muttered. Dumbledore said nothing for a moment. Katherine stretched and stifled a moan of pain as her rib moved.

"Harry, it's time I tell you why Voldemort tried to kill you when you were a baby." Dumbledore said. "He was trying to fulfill a prophecy that he only heard in part. He discovered that he was wrong, when the curse backfired. Since he returned to his body, he has been obsessed with hearing the entire prophecy. "

Katherine squinted her eyes against the now fully risen sun. Her eyes felt tired, but she knew that sleep could wait.

"The prophecy is smashed." Katherine said. "I dropped it on purpose."

"That was just a recording." Dumbledore said. "I heard the original prophecy made by Sibyll Trelawney."

Dumbledore stood up and walked over to the Pensieve. He raised his wand and touched the silvery substance. Sibyll Trelawney rose out of it and began to speak in harsh tones.

"The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord approaches. . . . Born to those who have thrice defied him, born as the seventh month dies. . . and the Dark Lord will mark him as his equal, but he will have power the Dark Lord knows not . . .and either must die at the hand of the other for neither can live while the other survives. . . . The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord will be born as the seventh month dies. . . ."

Trelawney sank back down and vanished. Katherine stared at Harry with her mouth agape.

"Professor, what does it mean?" Harry asked quietly.

"It means," Dumbledore said. "That the person who can destroy the Dark Lord was born at the end of July and who was born to parents who defied him three times."

Katherine shut her mouth when she realized it was hanging open. She looked at Harry with pity.

He's just a boy! He shouldn't be shouldering responsibility like Atlas! Katherine thought angrily.

"Me?" Harry asked.

"No," Dumbledore said. "There were two boys born at the end of July that year, both had parents who escaped Voldemort three times. One was you. The other was Neville Longbottom."

Katherine's jaw fell to the floor again.

"Voldemort chose the boy that would be a danger to him." Dumbledore said. "He chose, not the Pureblood, but the Half-Blood like himself. He gave you powers and gave you the ability to escape him four times."

"Why did he attack me when I was a baby?" Harry asked. "Why didn't he wait to see which one of us would be the more dangerous?"

"The eavesdropper who heard the prophecy only heard the first part." Dumbledore said. "He did not hear about the boy becoming Voldemort's equal."

"But I don't have any powers." Harry protested.

"Yes, you do." Dumbledore answered.

"Neither can live . . ." Katherine whispered.

"While the other survives . . ." Dumbledore finished.

"So," Harry said, sounding like his stomach was in his throat. "One of us has to kill the other in the . . . end . . . right?"

"Yes," Dumbledore said. "Now, I suggest that both of you get some sleep."

Katherine stood up gingerly. Harry stood up next to her in a daze. Katherine took his arm and they walked slowly to the door.

"Miss Peters," Dumbledore said. Katherine turned around. "Bellatrix Lestrange was taught by Voldemort himself and you defeated her tonight. Good job."

Katherine smiled softly as she looked at the ground in embarrassment. "Thank you, Professor, but I got lucky. I was lucky that she had her back turned."


Katherine and Harry walked in silence through the castle. Katherine turned a corner, but Harry didn't follow her. She turned around and caught up with him. She stopped him by grabbing his arm.

"Aren't you coming to the Hospital Wing?" Katherine asked.

"No," Harry whispered, eyes downcast. "I need to sleep."

Katherine pulled Harry into a hug. "Take as long as you need. It's been an awful night."

Harry and Katherine broke apart. Harry continued walking to Gryffindor Tower. Katherine watched him go for a moment, then turned on her heel, and walked to the Hospital Wing.

"Oh, not you, too!" Madam Pomfrey said exasperated as Katherine walked in.

"What can I say?" Katherine shrugged with an amused smile on her face.

Katherine walked over to an empty bed. Madam Pomfrey closed the curtains around them and looked horrified at Katherine.

"What did you do?" Madam Pomfrey asked.

Katherine looked down at herself. She had lost her cloak at some point during the battle. Not that she really cared; there was nothing important on it, just her Inquisitorial Squad badge. The bottom half of her white buttoned-up shirt was covered in a lake of blood. The right shoulder of her shirt had a stream of blood on it. Her gold and scarlet tie was plastered to her shirt because of the blood. Her black pants were torn and were damp at the hems.

Madam Pomfrey began healing Katherine's broken rib. It snapped back into place and Katherine sighed in relief. Her eyes closed and a smile graced her face.

Madam Pomfrey continued to heal the cut on her head. Then Madam Pomfrey cleaned the blood off of Katherine's face.

"Anything else?" Madam Pomfrey asked.

"My jaw. I slammed it against the stone." Katherine answered.

Madam Pomfrey healed Katherine's jaw, and then directed Katherine to the bathroom. Katherine stepped into the shower and wiped away the blood and sweat from her body. She felt herself growing weary, but she couldn't go to sleep until she knew how the others were.

Katherine stepped out of the shower and dried herself. She pulled her dirty clothes back on and walked out of the bathroom.

Katherine looked around the Hospital Wing. Ginny, Neville, and Luna were sleeping and looked as though they were healed. Hermione was lying on a bed and looked to be still unconscious. Madam Pomfrey was hovering over an unmoving Ron. Katherine silently joined her.

"How are they?" Katherine asked quietly.

"Mr. Weasley has deep welts. I have put some ointment on them, but it will take some time." Madam Pomfrey said. "Miss Weasley's ankle has been mended. I heard that you were the one who put it in a splint."

"I did." Katherine said.

"Where did you learn that?" Madam Pomfrey asked.

"I have been reading a Muggle first aid book." Katherine said. Madam Pomfrey raised her eyebrow and Katherine shrugged. "It's good to know how to heal the magical way and Muggle way."

"Miss Lovegood has been healed of all her cuts." Madam Pomfrey continued. "Mr. Longbottom's nose is fixed."

Madam Pomfrey stopped speaking. Katherine felt fear clutch at her heart.

"And Hermione?" Katherine asked before she held her breath.

"She is lucky." Madam Pomfrey said. "If the curse had been verbal, she would have died."

Katherine's fist clutched and she grounded her teeth. She turned around to see that another bed was occupied by a pink clad, short, toady-looking woman.

"And her?" Katherine asked looking at Umbridge.

Madam Pomfrey smirked. "Dumbledore had to rescue her from some angry centaurs."

"Well, Dumbledore also got her fired." Katherine said with a smile.

"You need some rest." Madam Pomfrey said changing the subject.

Katherine nodded, grabbed a chair, walked over to Hermione, and placed the chair on the left of Hermione. Katherine leaned back in the chair, folded her arms above her stomach, and closed her eyes.

Sleep was a godsend. She could rest and let her thoughts gently mull over everything that happened last night. Her first real battle against Death Eaters. Clutching the profusely bleeding Tonks to her stomach. Sirius's death. Taking two bouts of Bellatrix Lestrange's Cruciatus Curse. Harry being possessed. The prophecy. The responsibility now placed on Harry's shoulders.


A slight scream made Katherine jerk awake. Her eyes opened to darkness and she blinked to adjust them. The scream sounded again and Katherine was standing. She blinked again and saw Hermione sitting up and her mouth letting out moans.

Katherine grabbed Hermione's shoulders and the witch jerked out her grip. Hermione started fighting Katherine, who grabbed Hermione's shoulders again and forced her to stop moving.

"Hermione! Hermione!" Katherine said hurriedly. "It's alright! We're at Hogwarts! We're safe!"

Hermione stopped struggling and looked at Katherine.

"We're safe?" Hermione repeated.

Katherine took out her wand and muttered "Lumos." The light allowed Katherine to see the worried look on Hermione's face. Katherine released Hermione and sat back down.

"We're safe." Katherine said.

"What happened?" Hermione asked.

Katherine took a breath and told Hermione everything that happened after she had been knocked out by Dolohov. Hermione listened with a worried expression on her face the entire time. Katherine faltered when she reached the part about Sirius's death and she couldn't bring herself to talk about that.

"Who was hurt?" Hermione asked when Katherine suddenly stopped talking.

"Everyone. Tonks is in St. Mungo's, but everyone else is fine. " Katherine said before her face turned dark. " Sirius . . . Sirius . . . is dead. . . . Bellatrix killed him."

Katherine looked down at her hands as Hermione gasped. Katherine's head fell into her hands and she moaned.

"I'm so awful, Hermione." Katherine moaned.

"Why?" Hermione asked. Katherine didn't speak and Hermione waited patiently for her to start.

"I used an Unforgiveable Curse." Katherine whispered, her head still in her hands.

Hermione's eyes widened.

"I used the Cruciatus Curse . . ." Katherine drew a shaky breath. "And it sort of worked."

"I bet whoever you used it on deserved it." Hermione said to console her friend. Katherine's head snapped up and looked at Hermione with angry eyes.

"Yes, she deserved it." Katherine said harshly. "Harry knew that and he tried to use the curse, too, but he couldn't. I could . . . I could . . ."

"Katherine," Hermione whispered.

Katherine stood up suddenly and turned to look into the mirror hanging by Hermione's right side. Katherine looked at her reflection with self-loathing.

"Only awful people use that curse." Katherine said still glaring at herself. "People like that woman. Like Bellatrix Lestrange."

"You're not awful, Katherine." Hermione said.

"But the curse worked." Katherine said, her muscles tensed and her green eyes flashing. "Bellatrix was writhing, but not screaming. She wasn't in true pain. . . . But I knew how to fix that. . . . I knew that if I just put a little more effort . . . I . . . I would make her scream. . . . I wanted to hear her scream . . ."

"What stopped you?" Hermione whispered.

"Voldemort," Katherine laughed a short laugh. "Ironic, isn't it? Voldemort stopping me from being evil."

Silence fell. Katherine looked at herself in the mirror and backed away. She turned around to look at Hermione.

"I'll go tell Madam Pomfrey that you're awake." Katherine said. "You need to lie back down and rest. I'll finish the story later."


Harry hadn't told anyone about the prophecy and Katherine had not said a word either. Hermione was still healing, but everyone else was fine. The Ministry had finally acknowledged that Voldemort was back and Harry was suddenly The Boy Who Lived again, not The Boy Who Lies.

Harry left the Hospital Wing because the others were starting to wonder what the prophecy had said. He walked into the entrance hall at the same time as Malfoy and his lackeys. They all froze.

"You're dead, Potter." Malfoy said in a low voice.

"Really? When did that happen? I'd think I'd notice." Harry said.

"You're going to pay," Malfoy said angrily. "Pay for what you did to my father . . ."

"I'm so scared." Harry said sarcastically. "Because you three are oh-so dangerous."

Malfoy's hand went to his wand, but Harry was quicker.

"Potter!" Snape's voice rang through the entrance hall as he came in.

"Professor." Harry nodded his head to Snape.

"What are you doing?" Snape said coldly.

"Trying to decide which hex to use on Malfoy." Harry said.

"Put your wand away," Snape said. "Ten points from Gryff-"

Snape looked at the giant hourglasses and smirked.

"I see there are no more points to take away. I suppose, Potter, we'll have to-"

"Add some?" Professor McGonagall asked as she came into the entrance hall. She had a bag in one hand and a walking stick in the other.

"Professor McGonagall," Snape greeted. "How are you doing?"

"I'm almost good as new." Professor McGonagall said. "Crabbe, Goyle, take my bag and my cloak up to my office."

They took her things and walked away.

Suddenly, the Great Hall doors opened and a girl raced out of them crying, "Professor McGonagall!" The girl crashed into the professor and wrapped her arms around McGonagall's waist. The professor staggered back and awkwardly patted the girl's back.

"Good to see you, too, Miss Peters." Professor McGonagall said. "Now, get off me."

Katherine smiled goofily as she ceased to embrace Professor McGonagall.

"Right then," Professor McGonagall said as she looked at the hourglasses. "I think Potter and his friends deserve fifty points each for informing the world to the return of You-Know-Who!"

"Oh, Professor, I think I deserve a hundred points." Katherine said, smiling arrogantly. "After all, I defeated Bellatrix Lestrange in a duel."

"Quite right, Miss Peters," McGonagall said, smiling. "But defeating Bellatrix Lestrange merits a hundred and fifty points. Don't you agree, Professor Snape?"

"What?" Snape snapped. "Oh, I . . . well . . . I guess . . ."

"So that's fifty for Potter, a hundred for the two Weasleys, fifty for Longbottom, fifty for Miss Granger, a hundred and fifty for Miss Peters," Professor McGonagall said and a shower of rubies started to fill the Gryffindor hourglass. "And fifty for Miss Lovegood. Now, Professor Snape you can take some points from Potter."

Harry and Katherine made eye contact and smirked.

"Well, I think you three should be outside on a day like this." Professor McGonagall said.


It was the anniversary. Katherine spent it by remaining in bed all day. Hermione tried to get her to talk, but Katherine refused. She cried herself to sleep, but got sleep, nonetheless.


Harry walked into the Common Room to see Katherine calmly reading. The Gryffindors had found out that she was only acting and apologized for their behavior to her. Katherine forgave them without hesitation.

Harry stood over her. She placed her finger in her book and looked up at him. She gave him a smile, but it disappeared when she saw that something was wrong.

"Harry-"

"Did you know that Cedric could have become a ghost?" Harry cut across whatever she was going to say.

Katherine picked up her bookmark and closed her book. She looked down and took a breath. When she looked up, she was wearing a sad smile.

"You talked to Nick, didn't you?" Katherine asked quietly.

"Yes," Harry said. Katherine looked off into the distance with the same smile still on her face.

"Yes, I know that Cedric could have became a ghost." Katherine said, turning back to Harry. She patted the space next to her and Harry sat down. "But even if he did, I wouldn't have become one when I died."

"Why not?" Harry asked.

"Because I don't fear death. When I die, I much rather go on than remain." Katherine answered.

"But you could have seen him." Harry said. "You could be speaking with him right now. You could have been with him."

"But for how long, Harry?" Katherine asked. "Fifty years or a month? The battle at the Ministry has shown me how fragile we all are. Harry, the Death Eaters took us out one by one so easily. You and I were daft enough to try to take on Voldemort and Bellatrix by ourselves."

"But you beat her." Harry countered. Katherine sighed.

"I got lucky." Katherine said. "If her back wasn't turned, I would have died. I was tired and running out of tricks. Harry, I was so close to dying."

"I would have saved you." Harry said. Katherine smiled at him.

"And, were you in my position, I would have saved you." Katherine said.


On the Hogwart's Express, Katherine came across three slugs in front of a compartment filled with D.A. members. The one in the middle looked at her with grey eyes. Katherine placed her hand in front of the slug and it slithered on to her hand. Katherine opened the compartment and held the slug out for all to see.

"Alright, which one of you turned my brother into a slug?" Katherine asked with an amused smile.

The D.A. members laughed and all raised their hands. Katherine laughed with them.

"Well, I can't punish all of you, so . . ." Katherine laughed.

Katherine walked out of the compartment once everyone stopped laughing. She put the slug down and changed Draco back into a boy. He jumped up and tried to brush past her to get into the D.A. compartment.

"No." Katherine said, grabbing his arm. "C'mon, we're about to arrive."

"Are you staying with us? I thought you'd stay with Wonder Boy, or the traitors, or even the Mudblood." Draco sneered. Katherine's eyes harden.

"I'm not staying with you. Forgive me, but I do not wish to live with a Death Eater's family." Katherine said as the train pulled to a stop.

She let go of Draco's arm and went to go meet Harry, Ron, and Hermione. The four of them walked off the train together. Katherine was laughing at something Ron said, when the laugh vanished. Narcissa stood about ten yards away as if she was waiting for someone.

"Excuse me." Katherine said.

She walked over to Narcissa, knowing that the blond haired witch was not waiting for Draco. Katherine had noticed him leave with a house-elf. Katherine stopped when she was in front of her mother.

"Where are your things?" Narcissa asked.

"I'm not going to the Manor." Katherine said.

"And why not?" Narcissa asked.

"I don't want to live with your side." Katherine said.

"My side?"

"Your side."

"Katherine," Narcissa sighed. "I don't care about what side you're on. I want my family as whole as it can be."

Katherine stared at her for a moment.

"Please come home." Narcissa whispered. "I need my family."

"Alright." Katherine said. "Let me go get my trunk."

Katherine turned around and retrieved her trunk. Hermione raised her eyebrow.

"I thought you weren't going back there." Ron said.

"I've changed my mind." Katherine answered before she smiled pleasantly. "Have a good summer, Hermione. Don't get bored, Ron. And have fun with your aunt and uncle, Harry."

They smiled as Katherine walked back to Narcissa. Katherine smiled as she took her mother's arm.

"Thank you." Narcissa whispered before she Apparated them to Malfoy Manor.

"I'll always be here when you need me." Katherine smiled when they arrived. "Especially when Lucius can't be."

They walked into the Manor, and then went their separate ways. Narcissa went to the sitting room, while Katherine went to her bedroom.

Katherine shrugged off her cloak and placed her wand on her bedside table. She sighed and bent down.

You can do this, Peters. It's time. She thought to herself.

Katherine opened the bottom drawer of her bedside table. She pulled out a polished wooden square box. She stood up and placed the box on her bed. With slightly shaky fingers, she opened it.

Every picture of Cedric she possessed laid in the box. Katherine slowly and gently pulled out each picture. She smiled at the smiling Cedric and started placing the pictures all around her room. She placed one of her and Cedric in a close embrace on her bedside table next to the D.A. picture she had just pulled out of her trunk.

"Hey, Cedric," Katherine smiled as she spoke to the pictures. "Your funeral's tomorrow. I know it's late, but at least there will be one. The Ministry's stopped denying the truth about your death and I will be attending your funeral. I'm going to make a grand speech for you. . . . I love you, Cedric, darling."

Katherine said all of this without tearing up once. Perhaps, she had finally accepted his death. Perhaps, the cut has healed. Or perhaps, the cut had just turned into a scar.