JKR owns the people and places, I own Karista and the dream
PG-13 for mild swearing and some violence
thanks to Arcarum and HGILM123 on HPC.com
*******************************
Chapter 28: Close to tragedy
Karista danced around her little section of room, her music box roaring out music. She couldn't help but want to scream about her father, yet it seemed like ages ago that it happened. It was April now, and she vaguely remembered what had happened except for a few parties, some pranks. Other than that, there was a Hogsmeade trip tomorrow that was going to make everything just a little more interesting hopefully. She folded her laundry and carefully put it away, even though there was really no hope for it to be that way again until the next day for laundry.
"Karista," Hermione said, running in through the door. "You got a minute?"
Hermione was looking rather flushed, yet was giggling excitedly.
"Ron…well…he asked me to stay the whole summer," Hermione started, obvious enough that she wasn't finished. "And…well…I am going to be a bridesmaid in Percy's wedding!"
At that, Hermione started jumping up and down, giggling hysterically, until the door burst open again and Ron came in, looking at Hermione like she was crazy.
"Down girl, Down!" Ron boomed, putting his hands on Hermione's shoulders. She turned to him and was still laughing. "Relax…it's only a wedding."
It didn't help, and at anything, made the laughing worse. Hermione then hopped out the door, Ron nipping at her heals.
***
"All right…third years up front, no shoving," Filch called menacingly from the entrance hall. He was checking off names from the list in his hand, and glaring at the Weasley twins.
Karista couldn't help but be anxious, as it was the third and last time she would see Hogsmeade for a whole year and she didn't want it to end because she had so much fun there.
"Karista, you ready?" Harry mumbled in her ear.
"Yeah, let's get going," Karista smiled, walking slowly out of the entrance hall. The sun glittered brightly across the lawns making Karista curse herself for not remembering her sunglasses, which she unfortunately left up in her room.
"Where do you all wanna go fir-," Harry stopped. Malfoy had just stepped in front of Karista and was trying to get her attention.
"Karista, can I talk to you…alone?" Malfoy muttered, looking unusually pale.
"Um…okay," she said, allowing Malfoy to grab her hand and lead her into an alleyway.
"Karista," Malfoy whispered, looking at the ground. He was growing paler by the minute and was shaking. "I am really, really sorry…"
"It's all right, whatever it is, you'll be fine," Karista said, turning to walk down the alleyway. A tall man in a cloak and mask impeded her progress.
"N-no…n-no…I'm responsible for what is about to happen," Malfoy stuttered, looking at the death eater, who was now grinning. Another one apparated by the first one, and they both cackled.
"What the hell?" Karista shrieked, glaring first at Malfoy, then drawing away from the death eaters. "One more step and I'll rearrange your face."
The death eaters paused yet kept walking towards her.
"Stupefy!" she yelled, yet nothing happened. The shorter death eater cocked his head back and laughed while the other one drew out his wand. Draco simply cowered against a wall.
"Nice wand, Flannigan," said a cold yet familiar voice from behind her. When she turned to look, the person behind the mask smiled, drawing his own wand.
"Stupefy!" it called and Karista fell to the ground with a cold crack.
"Good work, Draco," Lucius Malfoy called, lugging Karista over his shoulder and apparating. Avery, the other death eater, smiled at Draco and apparated himself.
"Draco, listen to me…go straight to Dumbledore about this at once!" Snape yelled, before he disappeared. Draco huddled himself against the wall, sobbing miserably.
***
"Karista should be coming back now," Harry muttered, walking up the hill. They had searched most of Hogsmeade for Karista and even Malfoy before thinking that she went back up to the castle.
"We should go to McGonagall," Hermione said, taking off her traveling cloak.
"That wouldn't be a bad idea," Ron mumbled, looking equally concerned.
"Then tell me what it is you want to go to me about," McGonagall said from behind them, causing Harry, Ron and Hermione to jump.
"Karista…er…went to talk with Malfoy…and she never came back," Harry said, fear rising in his chest.
"Come with me then," McGonagall said hurriedly, her face now white.
Once they passed the stone gargoyle and stepped into Dumbledore's office, Harry realized something was seriously wrong. Sirius, Lupin and Dumbledore had pained expressions on their faces, and a large owl sat perched on Dumbledore's desk.
"Harry, have you seen Karista?" He asked soberly.
"No, but Draco-," he turned around and saw Draco Malfoy clutching his side, crying.
""T-they've got her…my dad, Avery, Snape…they took her…to my m-mansion," Malfoy stuttered, the tears falling hard to the floor. "I'm sorry…I'm sorry."
***
"Shit," Karista muttered, as soon as she woke up. "Nightmare City, here I come."
She tried to get up, yet realized that her wrists and ankles were tied. Not only that, she could feel and deep gash across her forehead and several bruises and cuts across her abdomen.
"Or maybe not," she whimpered, trying hard to free herself and not cry.
"She's awake," came a voice from a doorway. Karista looked up and saw the same three death eaters watching her. "Shall we tell him, Severus?"
Karista narrowed her eyes and focused in on the taller death eater and realized who he was.
"Professor Snape," she seethed, the anger boiling in her face.
"Yes, Avery, Lucius, you tell master she is, and see what he wants to do," Snape said, a hint of anger in his voice. Malfoy and Avery left, while Snape crossed the room.
"Silencio," Snape whispered, waving his wand over her mouth. Instantly Karista could tell that she couldn't speak, so she didn't try.
"Listen very closely Flannigan. You are in mortal danger here," he breathed. "Your wand won't work. You must trust me."
Karista nodded and he waved his wand again. Karista tested her voice, and stared blankly up at Snape.
"Good. Now, you won't believe me, but you are a Sorceress of Fire. You don't need a wand and you are already an animagus. You are more powerful than the dark lord," Snape whispered quickly, checking over his shoulder every few seconds. "You must look inside yourself to use the magic."
Karista, whose eyes had grown wide at hearing this, nodded her head and relaxed. Soon, a shuffling of cloaks was heard, and Malfoy, along with Avery, entered, following Voldemort.
"Ah…my darling Niece," Voldemort cackled.
"Niece?" Karista almost laughed. "How could I be your niece?"
Now it was Voldemort's turn to laugh. "you mean to tell me that you don't know? Well, looks like its story time."
"Do you remember the story of the Sorceress of Fire, Karista?" Voldemort asked, gazing intently into her eyes.. "Well, it's very interesting hearing about yourself in a history book, isn't it?"
Karista choked back a laugh while Voldemort continued.
"My mom, was once married to Tom Riddle, the filthy muggle, yet he was not her first husband. My mom was married to another muggle by the name of Clifford Higgins. They had three children, Anna your dearly departed mother, Emma and Jeremy, your…er…dead family," Voldemort laughed, taking a seat next to where Karista laid. "When Clifford found out that my mom was a witch, and a powerful one at that, he left her, taking Anna, Emma and Jeremy away from her."
Karista was trying to understand everything. Sure, it made sense, but she still refused to believe it.
"Continuing on, we all know Shaletza died giving birth to me. Therefore, the powers of Sorceress of fire, strong in females, were passed down to Anna Higgins, who attended Hogwarts with me. Now, she moved to New York and I caught up with her, gave her a poison, and she died a very slow and painful death. Now, I already knew about your Aunt and Uncle, and they were relatively easy…however, I didn't know about you," Voldemort's smile widened and turned into a sneer. Karista stared right back into his cold eyes. "So, if I kill you, then I will be the most powerful wizard in the world."
Karista shuddered, trying to catch her breath so that she wouldn't cry.
"And on top of everything, the death eaters are related to you because I give them my blood once they are initiated into being a Death Eater," he laughed, glancing over at Avery, Lucius and Snape who were nervously fidgeting by the wall. Karista felt hollow, like she wasn't even human.
"That was what my mom wanted to tell my father," Karista murmured out loud.
"Yes neicie-poo. Tragic as it may seem, you are going to die tonight, along with Harry Potter."
Karista could feel a tear roll down her cheek. She didn't want to die, and no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't do magic without her wand.
"It's not fair," she whispered turning her head away from Voldemort.
"Not fair for me, you mean?" Voldemort asked, a tinge of guilt in his voice. "How do you think your 'cousins' Snape, Avery and Lucius feel right now?"
***
"Harry, you can't come with us!" Sirius yelled, slamming his hand down on the table. "NO! NO! NO! It isn't going to happen!"
"ARE YOU KIDDING ME! THE GIRL I LOVE IS ABOUT TO DIE! I AM GOING TO SAVE HER!" Harry bellowed, matching Sirius' rage. Sirius' resolve seemed to flicker for an instant, then he sat down.
"Harry…you can't," Hermione sobbed into Ron's shoulder. He also looked pale and red eyed.
"I CAN DO AS I DAMN WELL PLEASE!" Harry yelled, crossing the room to the door. "ARE WE GOING OR NOT?"
Dumbledore, Sirius and Lupin rose and crossed the room with Harry.
"Minerva, please tell the heads of houses, except Severus, that they are to take their houses back to their common rooms for dinner. Have…er…professor Sinistra watch over Slytherin," Dumbledore murmured, the usual twinkle back in his eyes. "We might get back late."
"Professor, can we stay here…with Draco and Professor McGonagall?" Ron asked, his voice wavering.
"Yes, I think that can be arranged. Fawkes will watch over you," Dumbledore murmured, opening the door and leaving with Harry, Lupin and Sirius.
"Now Harry, we are going to have to use a portkey," Lupin muttered, lighting the tip of his wand and holding it out in front of him. "Let's use a shoe, then."
Sirius picked up a shoe and handed it to Dumbledore, who muttered some words and waved his wand.
"We have one minute," Dumbledore said hurriedly, walking quickly outside, leading Sirius, Lupin and Harry.
"Everyone, we are going for a wild ride," Sirius mumbled, placing his finger on the shoe as a hook caught Harry behind his navel and he could feel himself spinning away from the ground.
Harry hit the ground hard followed by three other dull thumps hit the ground.
"Everyone all right?" Lupin called, rising to his feet and helping up Dumbledore. Harry stood and wiped the grass off himself, before lighting the tip of his wand.
"Now, the entrance to the manor is somewhere around here," Dumbldore murmured, walking up to a stone wall.
"How can you be so sure?" answered a cold voice from behind them. Four death eaters stepped forward, their smiles fading into sneers.
"I don't think this is very good," Sirius said, raising his hands in the air. Lupin, Dumbledore and Harry followed his lead.
"The dark lord will be happy to see you all," came the voice again, urging them back from the way that they came.
***
"My lord, they've found the Potter boy, as well as Dumbledore and some of Potter's friends," Lucius Malfoy said proudly in the hallway outside of Karista's stone room. "We've taken them to the dungeons."
"Very well, I shall visit them after I've dealt with…er…my niece," Voldemort said stiffly, retreating into another room.
"Karista, you really should have stuck by Draco," Lucius murmured, brushing his hand against her face. Karista tried to bite him, yet he turned his hand and slapped her. "Not a chance, Flannigan, not a chance."
"Lucius, the Dark Lord wishes to have a word with you," Snape said icily, his eyes glinting in the firelight. "I will watch over Flannigan."
"Very well Severus," Lucius muttered, casting another sneer towards Karista and sauntering out.
"Karista, it appears that Dumbledore, Harry and…" Snape paused, a sickened expression on his face. "Sirius Black and Remus Lupin."
Karista breathed a sigh of relief. At least Ron and Hermione were okay.
"Now…our 'escape' has gotten a bit more complex. It seems that we now have to save four more lives," Snape muttered, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. "Now…an illusion charm will work, yet not for long. I can at least get them out and then play a scene that will…"
Snape sat deep in thought for a few minutes, then clicked his fingers.
"Alright. Do you know how illusion charms work?" Snape asked, praying that she did.
"I think…you cast one on me, and that makes a 'double', right?" Karista asked. She had heard of illusion charms, yet had never seen one actually happen.
"Yes. It retains the same characteristics and such, yet it isn't much to brag about. You, of course, will have to control it. All you do is focus on yourself and you will hear the Dark Lord talking to you. Simply think of what you would want yourself to say, and it will happen," Snape said in one breath, quickly untying the ropes binding her to the table. "Now, you must remember…you cannot be seen by other death eaters. You can change into your animagus form, can't you?"
Karista thought for a second, then shook her head no.
"Though so…well, think of yourself, but as an animal," Snape muttered, pulling Karista up.
Karista thought long and hard, and it seemed as though minutes passed until…
"My god," Snape said, awestruck. Karista tried to ask him what was wrong until she realized her line of vision was lower and she had a tail. Instead of her voice was a deafening roar. "Quick, change back."
Karista thought of herself as a human, and she finally felt as though she was herself.
"Illusionemento invalidius," Snape murmured, concentrating hard. Karista could feel as though something left her, then came back. When she looked to her right, she thought that she was looking in a mirror.
"Test yourself," Snape said, looking at both Karistas. The real Karista furrowed her brow. I want outta here, she said to herself, only to hear it magnified. "good…well, we shall be going. Change into your animagus form…I think you can still control it from there."
Karista once again changed into her animal, not realizing that she now had four legs. Snape laid the other Karista out on the table and retied her legs.
"Thank you, Snape," Said the double, laying her head back down. Snape nodded his head and motioned for Karista to follow him out into the dimming corridor. Slowly, they passed wary death eaters, who were obviously intimidated by Snape's new pet.
"Now…you see that door? With the guards? Chase them away," Snape pointed at a wooden door with two burly looking Death Eaters talking to each other in a low whisper. Karista stealthily approached them, until they looked up.
"W-wha…w-what's t-that?" One of them said, nearly peeing his pants. The other one had already taken to running down the corridor the opposite way Karista came, yet she cornered the one that was too scared to walk. He sensed that she wanted in the door, and unlocked it, quickly ran after the other Death Eater. Snape entered the room and motioned for Karista to come with him.
It was very dark and very damp inside the dungeons. Off in the distance, Karista could hear whimpering, it almost sounded like Sirius.
"Hello?" Snape called, taking a torch off the wall. He cast the light down across a wall and saw the four chained against it, all bruised and bloody, except Dumbledore.
"Severus," Dumbldore mumbled, his eyes twinkling eerily in the dark. Snape rushed over and freed him while Karista, still in her animagus form, tried to loosen Harry.
"P-professor…y-your cat…" Harry yelped, shaking at the sight of the large Panther trying to shred the ropes binding him.
"Karista! It doesn't work that way!" Snape whispered harshly, lashing away the final bindings against Dumbledore. Harry examined the large cat that sat in front of him. It had large violet eyes that shone in the dark. It was her. With a pop, Karista was sitting on the floor, untying Harry's ropes.
"Very clever, Miss Flannigan," Dumbldore laughed, rubbing his wrists and going to free Lupin.
"Never would have guessed," Sirius said, staring blankly at Karista as Snape untied his ropes.
"Pretty cool, huh?" she chuckled, finally untying the last rope and pecking Harry on the cheek. "You have to get out of here n-."
Karista froze. A small voice was talking in her mind.
-so…how does it feel knowing you are going to die soon?-
It was Lucius Malfoy. When she focused in on his figure in her mind, she could see him smiling, the dark lord entering the room behind him.
-Lucius, we will begin with the feast, he said slyly, exiting once again.-
-Good luck- Lucius muttered, turning on his heel and leaving.
"We have to get back, now," Karista yelped to Snape. He quickly understood. "they are starting the feast. That will give them a chance to escape."
"What do you mean us? You are coming with us!" Sirius said, grabbing at her arm. She flung him off.
"No, I'm not. I am going to finish the evil son of a bitch, once and for all," Karista said, raising her chin. Dumbldore, Harry and Lupin seemed to back off.
"Very well then. Karista and I will enter the hall while you two leave," Snape said icily, leading the way up the stairs. Once in the main hall, they could hear a large amount of laughing and applauding. The feast was over with.
"Karista," Harry murmured, pulling her towards him. "I love you."
"I love you too, Harry," Karista whimpered. She let a single tear roll from her cheek. "Go…go now until they notice you."
Dumbldore, Lupin and Sirius took one last look at her and smiled, grabbing Harry by his cloak and pulling him out the door.
"Now… I am going to injure myself, and make it look like you attacked me. You then fling me inside, got it?" Snape said, raising his wand to his face. He muttered a few words and let out a piercing shriek. Karista then burst open the doors and flung Snape inside, causing the hall around her to become deathly quiet. A few people raised their wands, yet Vodlemort waived his hand, motioning for them to drop them.
"ah…my niece seems to find it…valuable…to injure my loyal servants. Snape, please step aside," Voldemort said casually, watching Snape scamper out of the way. "Now…a bit of punishment…CRUCIO!"
A jet of bright red light came right towards Karista, yet for some reason, it didn't do anything but make a strange tingling sensation in her left arm.
"Hey, you son of a bitch," Karista yelled, clutching her arm. Voldemort dropped his wand, a look of terror on his face. "You just hurt my catching arm!"
She could feel another sensation moving through her right arm, and slung it back, as if throwing a ball. She muttered crucio and pointed her hand a Voldemort. He was too scared to move, and when a bright red light fell upon him from Karista, he writhed in pain, screaming bloody murder. Death Eaters, including Snape, simply stared, horrified. She lifted her arm, and the sensation was still there.
"I-I see y-you've learned quickly," Voldemort stuttered, gingerly rising to his feet, still tingling with pain. "Then I won't feel so guilty about killing you."
Karista's mouth, to her surprise as well as Voldemort's, turned into a smile.
"I don't think so," she seethed, steadying herself.
"Oh, I do…you see, I've already become immortal," Voldemort smiled, and laughed. The hall rung with laughter as Karsita knelt to the ground under the force of an invisible hand. She knew it wasn't Voldemort, or even a death eater, because it made her happy. Suddenly, a small voice in her head, which was very soft and peaceful, began to murmur in her ear.
"Karista, you know how to undo it," it said. It sounded like a woman's voice, soft and supple.
"No I don't," Karista said aloud back. The hall had become considerably lighter, yet Voldemort still stood laughing.
"Then I'll tell it to you," the voice said, beginning to mutter words in Latin that she alone understood.
"deny thy soul the power to be feared…deny thy power in the name of humanity and of those of good heart…deny thy grace from being re-entered into spirit…immortality is only a burden upon the heart and soul," Karista spoke, her body becoming worm and placid. Voldemort was on the floor, watching as something strange and silvery, in the shape of his body, hovered above him.
"thy courage be awarded, and thy strength be honored, thy gift be given in reverence to all that is good," Karista muttered, watching as Voldemort screamed for the silver shape to come back to him. It was floating towards the ceiling and growing lighter and lighter until finally, it was no more.
"WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO ME!" Voldemort screamed, rising to his feet, his face pale and bloodless. "WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?"
Karista simply smiled and stood up. But Voldemort was faster; he drew his wand, face screwed up in anger as she saw the words form on his lips.
"AVADRA KEDAVRA!" Voldemort Bellowed, a jet of green light piercing the room, flying straight towards Karista.
PG-13 for mild swearing and some violence
thanks to Arcarum and HGILM123 on HPC.com
*******************************
Chapter 28: Close to tragedy
Karista danced around her little section of room, her music box roaring out music. She couldn't help but want to scream about her father, yet it seemed like ages ago that it happened. It was April now, and she vaguely remembered what had happened except for a few parties, some pranks. Other than that, there was a Hogsmeade trip tomorrow that was going to make everything just a little more interesting hopefully. She folded her laundry and carefully put it away, even though there was really no hope for it to be that way again until the next day for laundry.
"Karista," Hermione said, running in through the door. "You got a minute?"
Hermione was looking rather flushed, yet was giggling excitedly.
"Ron…well…he asked me to stay the whole summer," Hermione started, obvious enough that she wasn't finished. "And…well…I am going to be a bridesmaid in Percy's wedding!"
At that, Hermione started jumping up and down, giggling hysterically, until the door burst open again and Ron came in, looking at Hermione like she was crazy.
"Down girl, Down!" Ron boomed, putting his hands on Hermione's shoulders. She turned to him and was still laughing. "Relax…it's only a wedding."
It didn't help, and at anything, made the laughing worse. Hermione then hopped out the door, Ron nipping at her heals.
***
"All right…third years up front, no shoving," Filch called menacingly from the entrance hall. He was checking off names from the list in his hand, and glaring at the Weasley twins.
Karista couldn't help but be anxious, as it was the third and last time she would see Hogsmeade for a whole year and she didn't want it to end because she had so much fun there.
"Karista, you ready?" Harry mumbled in her ear.
"Yeah, let's get going," Karista smiled, walking slowly out of the entrance hall. The sun glittered brightly across the lawns making Karista curse herself for not remembering her sunglasses, which she unfortunately left up in her room.
"Where do you all wanna go fir-," Harry stopped. Malfoy had just stepped in front of Karista and was trying to get her attention.
"Karista, can I talk to you…alone?" Malfoy muttered, looking unusually pale.
"Um…okay," she said, allowing Malfoy to grab her hand and lead her into an alleyway.
"Karista," Malfoy whispered, looking at the ground. He was growing paler by the minute and was shaking. "I am really, really sorry…"
"It's all right, whatever it is, you'll be fine," Karista said, turning to walk down the alleyway. A tall man in a cloak and mask impeded her progress.
"N-no…n-no…I'm responsible for what is about to happen," Malfoy stuttered, looking at the death eater, who was now grinning. Another one apparated by the first one, and they both cackled.
"What the hell?" Karista shrieked, glaring first at Malfoy, then drawing away from the death eaters. "One more step and I'll rearrange your face."
The death eaters paused yet kept walking towards her.
"Stupefy!" she yelled, yet nothing happened. The shorter death eater cocked his head back and laughed while the other one drew out his wand. Draco simply cowered against a wall.
"Nice wand, Flannigan," said a cold yet familiar voice from behind her. When she turned to look, the person behind the mask smiled, drawing his own wand.
"Stupefy!" it called and Karista fell to the ground with a cold crack.
"Good work, Draco," Lucius Malfoy called, lugging Karista over his shoulder and apparating. Avery, the other death eater, smiled at Draco and apparated himself.
"Draco, listen to me…go straight to Dumbledore about this at once!" Snape yelled, before he disappeared. Draco huddled himself against the wall, sobbing miserably.
***
"Karista should be coming back now," Harry muttered, walking up the hill. They had searched most of Hogsmeade for Karista and even Malfoy before thinking that she went back up to the castle.
"We should go to McGonagall," Hermione said, taking off her traveling cloak.
"That wouldn't be a bad idea," Ron mumbled, looking equally concerned.
"Then tell me what it is you want to go to me about," McGonagall said from behind them, causing Harry, Ron and Hermione to jump.
"Karista…er…went to talk with Malfoy…and she never came back," Harry said, fear rising in his chest.
"Come with me then," McGonagall said hurriedly, her face now white.
Once they passed the stone gargoyle and stepped into Dumbledore's office, Harry realized something was seriously wrong. Sirius, Lupin and Dumbledore had pained expressions on their faces, and a large owl sat perched on Dumbledore's desk.
"Harry, have you seen Karista?" He asked soberly.
"No, but Draco-," he turned around and saw Draco Malfoy clutching his side, crying.
""T-they've got her…my dad, Avery, Snape…they took her…to my m-mansion," Malfoy stuttered, the tears falling hard to the floor. "I'm sorry…I'm sorry."
***
"Shit," Karista muttered, as soon as she woke up. "Nightmare City, here I come."
She tried to get up, yet realized that her wrists and ankles were tied. Not only that, she could feel and deep gash across her forehead and several bruises and cuts across her abdomen.
"Or maybe not," she whimpered, trying hard to free herself and not cry.
"She's awake," came a voice from a doorway. Karista looked up and saw the same three death eaters watching her. "Shall we tell him, Severus?"
Karista narrowed her eyes and focused in on the taller death eater and realized who he was.
"Professor Snape," she seethed, the anger boiling in her face.
"Yes, Avery, Lucius, you tell master she is, and see what he wants to do," Snape said, a hint of anger in his voice. Malfoy and Avery left, while Snape crossed the room.
"Silencio," Snape whispered, waving his wand over her mouth. Instantly Karista could tell that she couldn't speak, so she didn't try.
"Listen very closely Flannigan. You are in mortal danger here," he breathed. "Your wand won't work. You must trust me."
Karista nodded and he waved his wand again. Karista tested her voice, and stared blankly up at Snape.
"Good. Now, you won't believe me, but you are a Sorceress of Fire. You don't need a wand and you are already an animagus. You are more powerful than the dark lord," Snape whispered quickly, checking over his shoulder every few seconds. "You must look inside yourself to use the magic."
Karista, whose eyes had grown wide at hearing this, nodded her head and relaxed. Soon, a shuffling of cloaks was heard, and Malfoy, along with Avery, entered, following Voldemort.
"Ah…my darling Niece," Voldemort cackled.
"Niece?" Karista almost laughed. "How could I be your niece?"
Now it was Voldemort's turn to laugh. "you mean to tell me that you don't know? Well, looks like its story time."
"Do you remember the story of the Sorceress of Fire, Karista?" Voldemort asked, gazing intently into her eyes.. "Well, it's very interesting hearing about yourself in a history book, isn't it?"
Karista choked back a laugh while Voldemort continued.
"My mom, was once married to Tom Riddle, the filthy muggle, yet he was not her first husband. My mom was married to another muggle by the name of Clifford Higgins. They had three children, Anna your dearly departed mother, Emma and Jeremy, your…er…dead family," Voldemort laughed, taking a seat next to where Karista laid. "When Clifford found out that my mom was a witch, and a powerful one at that, he left her, taking Anna, Emma and Jeremy away from her."
Karista was trying to understand everything. Sure, it made sense, but she still refused to believe it.
"Continuing on, we all know Shaletza died giving birth to me. Therefore, the powers of Sorceress of fire, strong in females, were passed down to Anna Higgins, who attended Hogwarts with me. Now, she moved to New York and I caught up with her, gave her a poison, and she died a very slow and painful death. Now, I already knew about your Aunt and Uncle, and they were relatively easy…however, I didn't know about you," Voldemort's smile widened and turned into a sneer. Karista stared right back into his cold eyes. "So, if I kill you, then I will be the most powerful wizard in the world."
Karista shuddered, trying to catch her breath so that she wouldn't cry.
"And on top of everything, the death eaters are related to you because I give them my blood once they are initiated into being a Death Eater," he laughed, glancing over at Avery, Lucius and Snape who were nervously fidgeting by the wall. Karista felt hollow, like she wasn't even human.
"That was what my mom wanted to tell my father," Karista murmured out loud.
"Yes neicie-poo. Tragic as it may seem, you are going to die tonight, along with Harry Potter."
Karista could feel a tear roll down her cheek. She didn't want to die, and no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't do magic without her wand.
"It's not fair," she whispered turning her head away from Voldemort.
"Not fair for me, you mean?" Voldemort asked, a tinge of guilt in his voice. "How do you think your 'cousins' Snape, Avery and Lucius feel right now?"
***
"Harry, you can't come with us!" Sirius yelled, slamming his hand down on the table. "NO! NO! NO! It isn't going to happen!"
"ARE YOU KIDDING ME! THE GIRL I LOVE IS ABOUT TO DIE! I AM GOING TO SAVE HER!" Harry bellowed, matching Sirius' rage. Sirius' resolve seemed to flicker for an instant, then he sat down.
"Harry…you can't," Hermione sobbed into Ron's shoulder. He also looked pale and red eyed.
"I CAN DO AS I DAMN WELL PLEASE!" Harry yelled, crossing the room to the door. "ARE WE GOING OR NOT?"
Dumbledore, Sirius and Lupin rose and crossed the room with Harry.
"Minerva, please tell the heads of houses, except Severus, that they are to take their houses back to their common rooms for dinner. Have…er…professor Sinistra watch over Slytherin," Dumbledore murmured, the usual twinkle back in his eyes. "We might get back late."
"Professor, can we stay here…with Draco and Professor McGonagall?" Ron asked, his voice wavering.
"Yes, I think that can be arranged. Fawkes will watch over you," Dumbledore murmured, opening the door and leaving with Harry, Lupin and Sirius.
"Now Harry, we are going to have to use a portkey," Lupin muttered, lighting the tip of his wand and holding it out in front of him. "Let's use a shoe, then."
Sirius picked up a shoe and handed it to Dumbledore, who muttered some words and waved his wand.
"We have one minute," Dumbledore said hurriedly, walking quickly outside, leading Sirius, Lupin and Harry.
"Everyone, we are going for a wild ride," Sirius mumbled, placing his finger on the shoe as a hook caught Harry behind his navel and he could feel himself spinning away from the ground.
Harry hit the ground hard followed by three other dull thumps hit the ground.
"Everyone all right?" Lupin called, rising to his feet and helping up Dumbledore. Harry stood and wiped the grass off himself, before lighting the tip of his wand.
"Now, the entrance to the manor is somewhere around here," Dumbldore murmured, walking up to a stone wall.
"How can you be so sure?" answered a cold voice from behind them. Four death eaters stepped forward, their smiles fading into sneers.
"I don't think this is very good," Sirius said, raising his hands in the air. Lupin, Dumbledore and Harry followed his lead.
"The dark lord will be happy to see you all," came the voice again, urging them back from the way that they came.
***
"My lord, they've found the Potter boy, as well as Dumbledore and some of Potter's friends," Lucius Malfoy said proudly in the hallway outside of Karista's stone room. "We've taken them to the dungeons."
"Very well, I shall visit them after I've dealt with…er…my niece," Voldemort said stiffly, retreating into another room.
"Karista, you really should have stuck by Draco," Lucius murmured, brushing his hand against her face. Karista tried to bite him, yet he turned his hand and slapped her. "Not a chance, Flannigan, not a chance."
"Lucius, the Dark Lord wishes to have a word with you," Snape said icily, his eyes glinting in the firelight. "I will watch over Flannigan."
"Very well Severus," Lucius muttered, casting another sneer towards Karista and sauntering out.
"Karista, it appears that Dumbledore, Harry and…" Snape paused, a sickened expression on his face. "Sirius Black and Remus Lupin."
Karista breathed a sigh of relief. At least Ron and Hermione were okay.
"Now…our 'escape' has gotten a bit more complex. It seems that we now have to save four more lives," Snape muttered, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. "Now…an illusion charm will work, yet not for long. I can at least get them out and then play a scene that will…"
Snape sat deep in thought for a few minutes, then clicked his fingers.
"Alright. Do you know how illusion charms work?" Snape asked, praying that she did.
"I think…you cast one on me, and that makes a 'double', right?" Karista asked. She had heard of illusion charms, yet had never seen one actually happen.
"Yes. It retains the same characteristics and such, yet it isn't much to brag about. You, of course, will have to control it. All you do is focus on yourself and you will hear the Dark Lord talking to you. Simply think of what you would want yourself to say, and it will happen," Snape said in one breath, quickly untying the ropes binding her to the table. "Now, you must remember…you cannot be seen by other death eaters. You can change into your animagus form, can't you?"
Karista thought for a second, then shook her head no.
"Though so…well, think of yourself, but as an animal," Snape muttered, pulling Karista up.
Karista thought long and hard, and it seemed as though minutes passed until…
"My god," Snape said, awestruck. Karista tried to ask him what was wrong until she realized her line of vision was lower and she had a tail. Instead of her voice was a deafening roar. "Quick, change back."
Karista thought of herself as a human, and she finally felt as though she was herself.
"Illusionemento invalidius," Snape murmured, concentrating hard. Karista could feel as though something left her, then came back. When she looked to her right, she thought that she was looking in a mirror.
"Test yourself," Snape said, looking at both Karistas. The real Karista furrowed her brow. I want outta here, she said to herself, only to hear it magnified. "good…well, we shall be going. Change into your animagus form…I think you can still control it from there."
Karista once again changed into her animal, not realizing that she now had four legs. Snape laid the other Karista out on the table and retied her legs.
"Thank you, Snape," Said the double, laying her head back down. Snape nodded his head and motioned for Karista to follow him out into the dimming corridor. Slowly, they passed wary death eaters, who were obviously intimidated by Snape's new pet.
"Now…you see that door? With the guards? Chase them away," Snape pointed at a wooden door with two burly looking Death Eaters talking to each other in a low whisper. Karista stealthily approached them, until they looked up.
"W-wha…w-what's t-that?" One of them said, nearly peeing his pants. The other one had already taken to running down the corridor the opposite way Karista came, yet she cornered the one that was too scared to walk. He sensed that she wanted in the door, and unlocked it, quickly ran after the other Death Eater. Snape entered the room and motioned for Karista to come with him.
It was very dark and very damp inside the dungeons. Off in the distance, Karista could hear whimpering, it almost sounded like Sirius.
"Hello?" Snape called, taking a torch off the wall. He cast the light down across a wall and saw the four chained against it, all bruised and bloody, except Dumbledore.
"Severus," Dumbldore mumbled, his eyes twinkling eerily in the dark. Snape rushed over and freed him while Karista, still in her animagus form, tried to loosen Harry.
"P-professor…y-your cat…" Harry yelped, shaking at the sight of the large Panther trying to shred the ropes binding him.
"Karista! It doesn't work that way!" Snape whispered harshly, lashing away the final bindings against Dumbledore. Harry examined the large cat that sat in front of him. It had large violet eyes that shone in the dark. It was her. With a pop, Karista was sitting on the floor, untying Harry's ropes.
"Very clever, Miss Flannigan," Dumbldore laughed, rubbing his wrists and going to free Lupin.
"Never would have guessed," Sirius said, staring blankly at Karista as Snape untied his ropes.
"Pretty cool, huh?" she chuckled, finally untying the last rope and pecking Harry on the cheek. "You have to get out of here n-."
Karista froze. A small voice was talking in her mind.
-so…how does it feel knowing you are going to die soon?-
It was Lucius Malfoy. When she focused in on his figure in her mind, she could see him smiling, the dark lord entering the room behind him.
-Lucius, we will begin with the feast, he said slyly, exiting once again.-
-Good luck- Lucius muttered, turning on his heel and leaving.
"We have to get back, now," Karista yelped to Snape. He quickly understood. "they are starting the feast. That will give them a chance to escape."
"What do you mean us? You are coming with us!" Sirius said, grabbing at her arm. She flung him off.
"No, I'm not. I am going to finish the evil son of a bitch, once and for all," Karista said, raising her chin. Dumbldore, Harry and Lupin seemed to back off.
"Very well then. Karista and I will enter the hall while you two leave," Snape said icily, leading the way up the stairs. Once in the main hall, they could hear a large amount of laughing and applauding. The feast was over with.
"Karista," Harry murmured, pulling her towards him. "I love you."
"I love you too, Harry," Karista whimpered. She let a single tear roll from her cheek. "Go…go now until they notice you."
Dumbldore, Lupin and Sirius took one last look at her and smiled, grabbing Harry by his cloak and pulling him out the door.
"Now… I am going to injure myself, and make it look like you attacked me. You then fling me inside, got it?" Snape said, raising his wand to his face. He muttered a few words and let out a piercing shriek. Karista then burst open the doors and flung Snape inside, causing the hall around her to become deathly quiet. A few people raised their wands, yet Vodlemort waived his hand, motioning for them to drop them.
"ah…my niece seems to find it…valuable…to injure my loyal servants. Snape, please step aside," Voldemort said casually, watching Snape scamper out of the way. "Now…a bit of punishment…CRUCIO!"
A jet of bright red light came right towards Karista, yet for some reason, it didn't do anything but make a strange tingling sensation in her left arm.
"Hey, you son of a bitch," Karista yelled, clutching her arm. Voldemort dropped his wand, a look of terror on his face. "You just hurt my catching arm!"
She could feel another sensation moving through her right arm, and slung it back, as if throwing a ball. She muttered crucio and pointed her hand a Voldemort. He was too scared to move, and when a bright red light fell upon him from Karista, he writhed in pain, screaming bloody murder. Death Eaters, including Snape, simply stared, horrified. She lifted her arm, and the sensation was still there.
"I-I see y-you've learned quickly," Voldemort stuttered, gingerly rising to his feet, still tingling with pain. "Then I won't feel so guilty about killing you."
Karista's mouth, to her surprise as well as Voldemort's, turned into a smile.
"I don't think so," she seethed, steadying herself.
"Oh, I do…you see, I've already become immortal," Voldemort smiled, and laughed. The hall rung with laughter as Karsita knelt to the ground under the force of an invisible hand. She knew it wasn't Voldemort, or even a death eater, because it made her happy. Suddenly, a small voice in her head, which was very soft and peaceful, began to murmur in her ear.
"Karista, you know how to undo it," it said. It sounded like a woman's voice, soft and supple.
"No I don't," Karista said aloud back. The hall had become considerably lighter, yet Voldemort still stood laughing.
"Then I'll tell it to you," the voice said, beginning to mutter words in Latin that she alone understood.
"deny thy soul the power to be feared…deny thy power in the name of humanity and of those of good heart…deny thy grace from being re-entered into spirit…immortality is only a burden upon the heart and soul," Karista spoke, her body becoming worm and placid. Voldemort was on the floor, watching as something strange and silvery, in the shape of his body, hovered above him.
"thy courage be awarded, and thy strength be honored, thy gift be given in reverence to all that is good," Karista muttered, watching as Voldemort screamed for the silver shape to come back to him. It was floating towards the ceiling and growing lighter and lighter until finally, it was no more.
"WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO ME!" Voldemort screamed, rising to his feet, his face pale and bloodless. "WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?"
Karista simply smiled and stood up. But Voldemort was faster; he drew his wand, face screwed up in anger as she saw the words form on his lips.
"AVADRA KEDAVRA!" Voldemort Bellowed, a jet of green light piercing the room, flying straight towards Karista.