Chapter 21

When they reached the portrait, Harry said the password as Cat preformed the counter spell on Kagato. He held the portrait open as Cat kneeled down next to Kagato. Harry noticed that he didn't look very happy. He couldn't blame him. He wasn't very happy either.

"You guys coming in?"

Cat nodded. Kagato just stared at her.

" I am sorry, but you left me with no choice." Cat frowned. "I want to see her just as much as you do, if not more. I know how much danger she's in, you don't . Please, go inside Kagato."

Kagato shook his head. Cat sighed.

"We'll be in there in a minute Harry. I think that Kagato and I need to have a talk. Go inside."

Harry stood there.

"No. I think I need to hear this as well Cat. I know that you know more about what's happening than you let on. So does Lupin. I'm worried about her, just as much as the both of you are."

Kagato kept his eyes on Cat.

"Go inside Harry."

Harry closed the portrait. Cat looked over at him

"Harry, please go inside."

He shook his head.

"I thought we were friends Cat. You're going to tell him what's going on. Well, I want to know too."

She looked down a little, a hurt expression crossed her face.

"Harry, yes we're friends. And yes, I know more about this than either of you. But I'm not going to tell him anything. I just want to talk some sense into him because I know as soon as I turn my back, he'll go back down there."

Kagato was about to say something when they saw Dumbledore coming down the hall, holding Alex. Melody was right behind him, almost yelling.

"She's going to die if you do not let me finish what I started. It has to be given to her now."

"Please leave Melody. You've done quite enough."

Dumbledore and Melody both fell silent when they saw them. Melody said something under her breath. Cat stood, glared at her and to Harry's amazement, started yelling at Melody in druid. Melody yelled back and put her hand on the hilt of her sword, the locket around her neck softly glowing purple. Something under Cat's sleeve started glowing as she became angrier. Harry backed away from both of them. Ron opened the portrait to see what was going on.

"What in the bloody hell is.." He stopped once he saw the Headmaster. "Sorry Professor." He then saw Alex. "What happened? Is she ok?"

Dumbledore shook his head. Kagato had slipped over to the professor as Cat and Melody continued to scream at one another. He whispered in Kagato's ear and handed Alex to him. He quickly carried her inside, with Ron and Harry following closely. By this time half the house was blocking the door. Melody stopped yelling at Cat as she saw them taking Alex inside.

"Dumbledore how dare you! Bring her back out here now. I need to give it to her. I need to know what you did with it."

Dumbledore stared at Melody.

"Cat, go inside and wait for me in Miss Reese's room."

Cat nodded and went inside the common room. Melody shook in anger and the temperature around her seemed to drop. Everyone backed up. Dumbledore simply looked at her.

"Melody, she will receive it, however, you will not be the one to give it to her. I will once again ask you to leave."

Melody started to yell again.

"I will not let HER give it to her. She is our enemy. Let me in there. She is not staying here one more second."

Dumbledore crossed his arms and a sudden feeling of power filled the air.

"I see no reason why she shouldn't be the one. How long to you think your people will last once Voldemort finds a way to use the stone? If I were you, I'd be looking for ways to mend old grudges, not ways of making them worse. Now if you will excuse me, I have a student to attend to."

He turned and motioned everyone inside, leaving Melody in the hall, stunned.