Disclaimer: Again, I don't own any of these people. Just read the story, ok?

Chapter Three

The Discovery

"More Firewhiskey, Kate?"

Kate narrowed her eyes at the large, leering figure in front of her. "No."

Gregory Goyle shrugged his massive shoulders and lumbered away to join his friend Vincent Crabbe. Honestly, they have the combined IQ of a shoe, thought Kate.

She was at a Death Eater party for new members. Most of the newbies were from Ravenclaw or Hufflepuff. No one suspects a Hufflepuff, she thought acidly. Fallon had always told her that, especially after The Bad Incident.

"I am especially disappointed in Draco. I know of his aversion to tattooing, but you would think he would like to be a more active participant in our Death Eater activities."

Lucius Malfoy, the host of the party, was stirring a cocktail and chatting with Vincent Crabbe's father.

"Yea, like our evil cake walks!" said the other man.

"Precisely" Lucius sneered, amazed at Crabbe Sr.'s stupidity.

Kate walked over to Lucius. "Mr. Malfoy! How are you? It is delightful to be here, thank you for having me. I couldn't help but overhear your conversation with Mr. Crabbe over here. Let me tell you about Draco's affairs."

She led a stunned Lucius over to a set of couches. Sitting down, Kate began to talk. "Draco is a darling boy. While it may seem as if he is not an active participant in our…noble cause, let me assure you he is. Draco makes sure that all the Mudbloods and Half-Breeds are put in their place." Kate sighed and continued. "Isn't it precious? He's taking after his father."

Lucius' cheeks tinged pink. "Well, Miss LeFay, let me assure you I am most pleased with this report. And let me also extend my hand as a sign for hopes of a long and fruitful business relationship." He paused, shaking Kate's hand. "What did make you decide to our cause? If I may ask."

Kate bowed her head. "Well, as you may know, I had a…relationship with Kevin Bole. After seeing what his family's foolishness did, I decided to show my outright support to the Dark Lord."

Lucius nodded his approval. "It was a pleasure talking to you, Miss LeFay. Please, help yourself to the punch and mingle." He bowed and walked away.

Draco SO owes me one, she thought. What she had said about her friend to his father was a lie. Draco had no intention of ever joining the Death Eaters, and he was too busy at Hogwarts studying and snogging Rayvn to care about Muggle-borns.

Kate spotted Goyle in the corner with Crabbe, guffawing about something stupid. She walked over.

"Oh Goyle." she said in a low, provocative voice, "I think I will take some Firewhiskey."

A half hour and twenty something drinks later, Goyle and Crabbe were spilling their guts about secret Death Eater information.

"So, I hear you two know all the Death Eater secrets, with your fathers being so close to the Dark Lord." Kate pried with a warm, flattering voice. She had not taken a sip of her drink, but the two oafs kept downing them.

"Yeah. Daddy knows a lot." Crabbe said stupidly, "He tells me the plans when he tucks me in at night."

"Me too!" added Goyle. "Like last night, Daddy told me how the Dark Lord is planning to attack Hogwarts a week after school starts this year."

Kate's mind was going at full speed. "Oh really?" she asked, trying to keep her voice calm, "Here. Have another drink."

"Yeah, the Dark Lord is talking of how he is going to free the dementors, and set them on Hogwarts. Everyone will be so consumed with fear and despair that no one will be able to do anything.

"But what about the teachers? Surely they will know how to fend off the dementors?"

A very drunk Goyle leaned in, his sour whiskey soaked breath filling the air, "That's what the guns are for."

Kate closed the gap between herself and him even more. "Tell me everything." she commanded.

It was time to pay another visit to Xanne's house.

*****

"And they are going to be setting dementors loose to give the Kiss to the students and they are going to have guns as well. Voldemort is supposedly has venomous snakes and other sorts of Dark creatures on his side."

Dumbledore stood, looking into the Pensieve. If Kate hadn't informed him, they would have been caught unaware, and Hogwarts would have fallen.

"Minerva. Get the Order to set more wards around the school. We need these three months to prepare ourselves. The battle is coming."

******

Kate was sitting, writing in her journal when someone landed with an "oomph" in her fireplace. Calypso looked up at Kate with excitement.

"Kate! He's awake! Kevin is awake and he's asking for you. Come on!"
She pulled her friend up and led her to the fireplace. "Come on! St. Mungo's!"

Kate was floo-ed over instantly, with Calypso seconds behind.

"He's in 4A. The second he woke up he asked for you"

Calypso left Kate to walk the rest of the way to room 4A. Breathing slowly, she pushed the door open. Kevin lay in bed, his cuts healed but the bruises still a nasty yellow color. His blue eyes, usually so bright and full of life, looked dull when he turned to see who it was.

"Hey Kevin." Kate said softly.

Kevin managed to work a smile. Kate knew it wasn't that he was unhappy to see her--she knew it hurt to smile.

Hoarsely, he whispered for her. She approached the bed cautiously, afraid to disturb Kevin.

"Come here, you." he said with the same tired grin.

All caution was thrown to the wind. Kate grasped Kevin around the neck, hugging him tightly. She felt him wince slightly, but then relax into her embrace.

"I missed you." Kate murmured into his ear. She felt something wet on her cheek, but she knew she wasn't crying. Kevin was.

"You are the only one I have now." he said, "He killed everyone else."

"Shh. I know. Kevin…I can't even say how sorry I am that that happened. But we'll get through this. Together."

She grasped his hand tightly, and together they sat, silently. After about five minutes, Kate decided to talk about something she knew Kevin would like.

"School starts soon. How about that?"

That hit a nerve--Kevin grinned and began to chatter about how excited he was to begin their final year. Kate also talked enthusiastically, thrilled to get his mind off his family for a while. She was chatting about some Transfiguration spell she had learned over the summer, and when Kevin asked to see it, Kate was happy to oblige. She pulled out her wand and rolled up her sleeves to perform the spell. And Kevin saw it.

Standing out livid on Kate's wrist was the Dark Mark, the evil skull and snake. And Kevin could hear his brother's screams, his father's shout of pain, his mother's crying.

"Get out." Kevin said abruptly. Kate looked at him, confused.

"What?"

"I said 'Get out.' Now." His blue eyes had never looked angrier, yet so hurt.

Kate put away her wand, her sleeve dropping back over her wrist. She looked down, and realized what he must have seen. "Kevin. Let me explain this to you."

"Get OUT!"

Her eyes filling up with tears at his anger, she gave one last look into his stormy eyes before leaving the room. Kevin was left to his very angry, sad and confused thoughts.