Chapter 53: Another Orphan

February 12, 1979 Hogwarts…

Katherine was in her office answering correspondence from teachers and parents. She had to admit she liked her job. The only part she didn't like was the fact that Minister Fudge owled her all the time for advice. She of course only answers a scare few owls. She'd even written to him once that he was a grown man and should be doing this himself.

There was a knock at the door and she sighed allowing the door to swing open with a wave of her hand.

"What is it?" Katherine asked as she finished a sentence and looked up.

She blinked looking at the man before her. He was now completely bald and white with red snake like eyes and slits for a nose.

"Hello Headmistress. I see my appearance has shocked you," he chuckled coldly and humorlessly.

"Somebody looks to have not been practicing the dark arts very well. What do you want Riddle?" Katherine asked in a bored voice.

"That's not my name anymore McGonagall," he hissed as Kendra came down stairs carrying a sleepy looking six year old Kendra Katherine.

"The baby woke up and couldn't find crazy granny," Kendra stated before gasping at the sight of the man.

The little girl lifted her sleepy head up and frowned at the man.

"Ah and who would you be?" the man smiled sinisterly.

"KK come on come here," Katherine stated.

Kendra hesitantly let the girl down on the bottom step of the stairs. The girl looked timidly at the snake man before hurrying to Katherine and crawling up into her lap snuggling and playing with Katherine's long black hair.

"Kendra dearest this is Tom Riddle and old student of mine and Albus'…although lately I hear he's taken to calling himself Lord Voldemort," Katherine stated.

"Lord Voldemort? What a silly name," Kendra laughed as she stepped of the stairs and stood my Katherine.

Voldemort growled lowly but gave a forced smile all the same.

"Kendra is Albus' mother," Katherine stated petting Kendra Katherine's hair.

"I see," Voldemort nodded.

"I don't really know why you're here I have all the teachers I need and as I said before I shall not hire you as long as I am in this position," Katherine stated.

"I came to warn you as it were. You should not keep resisting me. It would be a shame to spill such beautiful purity," Voldemort replied and swept out of the room.

"Was that a threat?" Kendra frowned.

"I certainly hope so. Otherwise it sounds like he wants my virginity," Katherine stated covering the baby's ears.

"Then he's dumber than he looks because you lost that years ago," Kendra stated.

"Mmm," Katherine nodded dropping her hands.

"Granny I don't like that snake man," Kendra Katherine stated.

"Good then don't go anywhere near him if you see him again," Katherine stated.

It was that moment an owl chose to fly in the open window and land on her desk.

"Hi," Kendra Katherine smiled as she petted the owl and offered it a treat from the candy dish on Katherine's desk.

The owl nipped affectionately at the girl's fingers before taking the candy and flying off leaving a rater official looking letter behind.

"Not another owl from Fudge is it?" Kendra groaned.

"This is from France," Katherine frowned looking at the crest on the back, "An official letter from St. Boudreaux's Hospital."

"That's interesting," Kendra stated kneeling down.

Katherine opened the envelope and took out the letter. Her eyes getting more and more worried as it went on; although it was a very short letter. The main points though upset her greatly.

Headmistress McGonagall;

It is with regret we tell you of the passing of Mrs. Alison LaCoult-Potter. She died of Dragon Fever. There is an epidemic going around France right now.

We're also taking this time to inform you that Charles Potter is gravely ill with the disease and we do not foresee him recovering. We request you come to see him off and bring the bodies back for burial.

Again it is with regret we tell you this but it must be done.

Regards,

Healer Voltaire

Head Healer of St. Boudreaux's
Hospital of Magical Maladies

"Merlin," Kendra whispered.

"I…Kendra I have to go. Tell Albus he's in charge till I return. Tell Madra and Ben what's happened but don't tell James anything," Katherine stated as she stood and hurried up the stairs. She had left Kendra Katherine in her chair.

"Granny's upset," Kendra Katherine stated.

"Yes she is," Kendra nodded, "Come on we have to go find your daddy."

"Kay," the girl smiled as Kendra picked her up and they left the office.


February 16, 1979 St. Boudreaux's Hospital…

Katherine had been in the middle of this diseased room for four days now. All around her were people screaming in pain and moaning.

Dragon Fever had no cure you either bested it or not. Nine times out of ten you lost the battle. When a person had Dragon Fever they experience all symptoms of the flu but as the disease progress their very bones creak and ache, their body literally feeling on fire from the high temperatures, and when the temperature is at it's highest even the slightest touch from someone leaves red hot burning boils on their skin. It was a terrible way to die.

Katherine had been in this for nearly four days now watching people die. She's barely eaten or slept she just keeps a constant vigil on her grandson. Because there are so many cases though Katherine has taken on the duty of caring for the man. She feeds him, administrators his potions, and sponges his hot body when he needs it.

Charles had yet to die but his death was imminent. One knew because his temperature never fluctuated or went down it just steadily climbed.

He felt the cool cloth once again on his head in hissed at the touch. He opened his fever glazed eyes and smiled.

"Hey," he said weakly.

"Hey sweetie," Katherine smiled softly. "Are you hungry or thirsty?"

"No…Just talk to me," Charles said softly.

"Okay…about what?" she asked setting the cool rag on his forehead.

"Tell me a story…tell me…tell me something about you," he coughed.

"Something about me…okay how about the day I met you," Katherine stated.

Charles nodded.

"It was a hot summer night. Grandpa and I were in a dead sleep. We were so in dreamland that Aunt Monica had to scream through the mirror to get our attention. Aunt Minerva and Monica had spent the night at your mother's home," Katherine stated.

"Did dad ever get to meet me?" Charles asked.

"No he didn't but you never seemed that interested in male influences. You liked to go hunting and fishing with grandpa but other wise you preferred to stay with you mother or me," Katherine stated.

"Gran you'll watch over James and mum won't you?" he asked taking her hand and even though it pained him he held it tight as he could.

"I will I promise," Katherine nodded tears coming into her eyes. She knew it was coming.

"We have a will in the vault. Most everything is James' when he graduates…but he has to graduate," Charles breathed shallowly.

"He will," Katherine nodded.

"There's something special for you and mum though," he sighed.

Katherine smiled wiping her eyes with her free hand.

"I love you Gran. You…you're one of a kind," he sighed as he shut his eyes with a small mischievous smile on his face.

"He's gone now hasn't he?" a healer asked walking by.

Katherine sniffed and nodded unable to say anything.

"I'll get the papers so you can take both bodies back. I'm very sorry," the man stated.

Katherine nodded still holding her grandson's hand. He had been her first grandchild and now he was gone.


Madra stood just behind her grandson watching him as he stared at the grave stones in the family plot.

Benjamin and Katherine had used this large part of their land for grave markers for their family since they burned them all as wizard tradition and then would spread the ashes over something that had special meaning to the deceased.

James had been out to the marker every day since the funeral.

"James dear it's getting cold out. Come on let's go inside. You have to go back to school with Granny in the morning," Madra stated.

"Yes…Gran said I had to finish school. She said dad wanted me too," James stated.

"Well you know she wouldn't lie. Come on let's go inside for some hot chocolate," Madra said holding her hand to the boy.

James sighed and turned taking his grandmothers hand as they walked back to the house.

"Grandma …we're just like Aunt Monica and Sev now aren't we. We're broken," he stated with tears in his eyes.

Madra pulled him closer patting his head with her hand.

"We're still together James you and me. And we still have lots of other family members. We're going to be just fine," Madra stated as they reached the kitchen back door.

"Yeah," James nodded, "Yeah we'll be fine."

Madra smiled and kissed his forehead as they entered the kitchen and found a plate of fresh cookies with two steaming mugs of cocoa.

"Sometimes I think Gran can read our minds," James laughed taking a mug and handing Madra one.

"I wouldn't put it past her," Madra chuckled.