Beginning of the End
Authors: Starchild and Saavik
Chapter Eight: Angels and Ministers of Grace Defend Us
***Disclaimer*** See Chapter Seven.
When you see // ..// it means the person is thinking and not talking.
********************
Albus apparated to right outside the schools grounds. There were wizards everywhere. The air stank with the smell of burning flesh and insulation. Where the school had stood was now a smoldering ruin. Above the twisted metal the Dark Mark hovered obscuring the trees. He took a step forward and caught his foot on a chunk of cement. People were running around frantic. There were women screaming and pulling on their husband's arms.
"My baby, where's my little girl? Sara, Sara can you hear me? Mommy's here hunny, just answer. Sara!"
"Josh, Josh, my god. Where is he? Where's my son? I'm his father damn it. Tell me what's going on!"
"Alex, he can't be dead. He can't be. No, he..He was just twelve. You don't die at twelve. Come on my little one wake up. Wake up for mommy. We'll go to the beach. I'll spend more time with you. Oh please lord, take me. Not my Alex. NOOOO!"
The voices started to drown each other out. Then he heard her. Over the shouts of fear, pain, and loss. One voice, shrill with the strain of screaming. "Get him, get Dumbledore. Tell him. TELL HIM. THE SCREAMS, MY GOD THE SCREAMS!" He knew that voice.
"Catilyna!" Dumbledore ran towards the woman. Two AMA (American Ministry of Magic) officials were trying to hold her down. Her long hair was almost dripping with blood. There were chunks of plaster clinging in with the red. Her eyes were wide and she did not seem to be seeing any of them. Her clothes were torn and her sandals missing. When Albus reached her side the two wizards let her go. For once Albus thanked the Chocolate Frog people for their cards. No one mistook him for a normal wizard anymore. Instant respect. He kneeled down next to the distraught woman. "Cat, what happened. Tell Dumbledore. I won't let them hurt you anymore. What happened? Did anyone make it out?"
Cat looked up at him. Albus took a quick breath. Her eyes held a pain he could not begin to understand. She was shaking. The tears running down her checks were leaving two trails in the dirt caking her. She heaved a huge sob down her throat and answered him. "HE came. So many. Green. My students ran. Tink. My god Tink." Cat stood upright and ran into the ruble. Albus followed waving the AMA goons back. Cat was throwing debris over her shoulder, franticly digging. She stopped when she caught sight of a small arm. For a moment Albus wondered if it was a child. Then he saw. It was a house elf. Female from the looks of it. He bent down next to Cat and placed his wand over the small form. She was still alive. He murmured a spell and the small creature's breathing evened. Cat looked up at him, seeing who he was for the first time.
"Albus, the children. I tried to stop him. I didn't even see his face. The mask, the eyes, gray, all gray. And so cold, like.." She shivered. "The kids ran out. I don't know how many made it. They were on the way to my house." Dumbledore helped her to her feet and gathered the house-elf up off the ground. They quickly made their way to Cat's cottage. Inside there were about a dozen extremely frightened children. The fifth year muggles study class by the look of it. Cat set Tink down and looked at the kids. A small Asian boy ran forward and hugged her. "You made it. You all made it."
"We thought they got you Mrs. Jackson." The Asian child intoned into Cat's hair. Cat pulled back from the hug and looked down at Tink.
"She must of blasted the Deatheater across the room. She was so brave. She fought him off and gave me time to get out."
"You ordered your house-elf to fight. Fast thinking Mrs. J." A tall rather elegantly dressed girl spit out.
"No Cassandra, Tink is free. I freed her over Christmas. Stephan didn't even know." Dumbledore noted the way Cat said the name Stephan.
//She found out. She was under a potion or spell and she knows now. Good girl, and smart. I wonder if there is a connection between this Stephan and the attack..//
The AMA found that the anti-apparition field inside the school had been disabled. The dark forces had appeared into each classroom taking out the students and teachers one by one. The only survivors were Cat and her class. Even the other house-elves from the kitchens had been killed when the building collapsed.
The remaining students were sent home to their families. Dumbledore offered them places at Hogwarts for the coming year. Most were to stunned to comment. No one seemed to know what to do. Dumbledore stood with Cat gazing out at the now empty field where the Armstrong Institute had stood. There was no sign of Stephan. The AMA was not sure whether to believe Cat. Any evidence they had was gone. The only one left to back up her potion story was the house-elf. Like the British wizarding community the Americans did not trust the loyal creatures testimony. Cat had stopped crying. As a matter of fact Dumbledore had not seen a single tear or weak moment since that first sight of her. Once she had seen her students were alive she had taken charge. She had gathered them up and went to the AMA. The families had been so grateful and Cat had not even acknowledged their thanks. She had returned to her house and showered.
Albus was worried about her. She had been through hell in the last week and she was not dealing with it. She was repressing what had happened to her and the others. Ignoring the grief and the inevitable survivor's guilt. The only emotion she was expressing was anger at Stephan for his use of a love potion. Dumbledore understood that anger. He was just worried that she should be showing more. Instead she just went on doing what had to be done. //Like a robot, or Severus.// That thought was not encouraging. //Severus is so unhappy.// Albus shook his head. He did not want to deal with another one. Cat turned to walk back down the hill to her house.
"Do you know where you are going my dear?" Cat shook her head no. "How would you like to come teach at Hogwarts? I have a high hopes for the muggle studies class in the coming term. I would like them to learn some muggle games. I fear the children are too preoccupied with Voldermort and need to relax. They are children, they need to play. Would you like to teach it? After all I am inviting your class to come back to England with me for the coming year."
Cat smiled her eyes dancing. "I could keep an eye on my kids then. They could use a dose of home. Sure, Albus, I'd love to." Dumbledore smiled. //This could work out wonderfully. If only the fates let me work undisturbed. Perhaps I can kill three birds with one stone.//
"But first Albus, I think we need to talk."
******
A/N: Went a little Shakespeare in this one. The title is from Hamlet I, iv.
Hamlet is a very good play for HP's universe. As is Tempest. Revenge, mwhahahahaha.
Thanks to our readers, and keep the reviews coming! We LOVE to hear from all of you.
PS: Have a fav. Shakespeare quote? Want me to use it? Tell me and I will work it in. Starchild will just have to deal. We both love the bard, but I like to use his work a lot. If it were up to me, every chapter title would be a quote and every chapter would have at least one tie-in, quote, or reference.
Saavik, Live long and prosper.
Authors: Starchild and Saavik
Chapter Eight: Angels and Ministers of Grace Defend Us
***Disclaimer*** See Chapter Seven.
When you see // ..// it means the person is thinking and not talking.
********************
Albus apparated to right outside the schools grounds. There were wizards everywhere. The air stank with the smell of burning flesh and insulation. Where the school had stood was now a smoldering ruin. Above the twisted metal the Dark Mark hovered obscuring the trees. He took a step forward and caught his foot on a chunk of cement. People were running around frantic. There were women screaming and pulling on their husband's arms.
"My baby, where's my little girl? Sara, Sara can you hear me? Mommy's here hunny, just answer. Sara!"
"Josh, Josh, my god. Where is he? Where's my son? I'm his father damn it. Tell me what's going on!"
"Alex, he can't be dead. He can't be. No, he..He was just twelve. You don't die at twelve. Come on my little one wake up. Wake up for mommy. We'll go to the beach. I'll spend more time with you. Oh please lord, take me. Not my Alex. NOOOO!"
The voices started to drown each other out. Then he heard her. Over the shouts of fear, pain, and loss. One voice, shrill with the strain of screaming. "Get him, get Dumbledore. Tell him. TELL HIM. THE SCREAMS, MY GOD THE SCREAMS!" He knew that voice.
"Catilyna!" Dumbledore ran towards the woman. Two AMA (American Ministry of Magic) officials were trying to hold her down. Her long hair was almost dripping with blood. There were chunks of plaster clinging in with the red. Her eyes were wide and she did not seem to be seeing any of them. Her clothes were torn and her sandals missing. When Albus reached her side the two wizards let her go. For once Albus thanked the Chocolate Frog people for their cards. No one mistook him for a normal wizard anymore. Instant respect. He kneeled down next to the distraught woman. "Cat, what happened. Tell Dumbledore. I won't let them hurt you anymore. What happened? Did anyone make it out?"
Cat looked up at him. Albus took a quick breath. Her eyes held a pain he could not begin to understand. She was shaking. The tears running down her checks were leaving two trails in the dirt caking her. She heaved a huge sob down her throat and answered him. "HE came. So many. Green. My students ran. Tink. My god Tink." Cat stood upright and ran into the ruble. Albus followed waving the AMA goons back. Cat was throwing debris over her shoulder, franticly digging. She stopped when she caught sight of a small arm. For a moment Albus wondered if it was a child. Then he saw. It was a house elf. Female from the looks of it. He bent down next to Cat and placed his wand over the small form. She was still alive. He murmured a spell and the small creature's breathing evened. Cat looked up at him, seeing who he was for the first time.
"Albus, the children. I tried to stop him. I didn't even see his face. The mask, the eyes, gray, all gray. And so cold, like.." She shivered. "The kids ran out. I don't know how many made it. They were on the way to my house." Dumbledore helped her to her feet and gathered the house-elf up off the ground. They quickly made their way to Cat's cottage. Inside there were about a dozen extremely frightened children. The fifth year muggles study class by the look of it. Cat set Tink down and looked at the kids. A small Asian boy ran forward and hugged her. "You made it. You all made it."
"We thought they got you Mrs. Jackson." The Asian child intoned into Cat's hair. Cat pulled back from the hug and looked down at Tink.
"She must of blasted the Deatheater across the room. She was so brave. She fought him off and gave me time to get out."
"You ordered your house-elf to fight. Fast thinking Mrs. J." A tall rather elegantly dressed girl spit out.
"No Cassandra, Tink is free. I freed her over Christmas. Stephan didn't even know." Dumbledore noted the way Cat said the name Stephan.
//She found out. She was under a potion or spell and she knows now. Good girl, and smart. I wonder if there is a connection between this Stephan and the attack..//
The AMA found that the anti-apparition field inside the school had been disabled. The dark forces had appeared into each classroom taking out the students and teachers one by one. The only survivors were Cat and her class. Even the other house-elves from the kitchens had been killed when the building collapsed.
The remaining students were sent home to their families. Dumbledore offered them places at Hogwarts for the coming year. Most were to stunned to comment. No one seemed to know what to do. Dumbledore stood with Cat gazing out at the now empty field where the Armstrong Institute had stood. There was no sign of Stephan. The AMA was not sure whether to believe Cat. Any evidence they had was gone. The only one left to back up her potion story was the house-elf. Like the British wizarding community the Americans did not trust the loyal creatures testimony. Cat had stopped crying. As a matter of fact Dumbledore had not seen a single tear or weak moment since that first sight of her. Once she had seen her students were alive she had taken charge. She had gathered them up and went to the AMA. The families had been so grateful and Cat had not even acknowledged their thanks. She had returned to her house and showered.
Albus was worried about her. She had been through hell in the last week and she was not dealing with it. She was repressing what had happened to her and the others. Ignoring the grief and the inevitable survivor's guilt. The only emotion she was expressing was anger at Stephan for his use of a love potion. Dumbledore understood that anger. He was just worried that she should be showing more. Instead she just went on doing what had to be done. //Like a robot, or Severus.// That thought was not encouraging. //Severus is so unhappy.// Albus shook his head. He did not want to deal with another one. Cat turned to walk back down the hill to her house.
"Do you know where you are going my dear?" Cat shook her head no. "How would you like to come teach at Hogwarts? I have a high hopes for the muggle studies class in the coming term. I would like them to learn some muggle games. I fear the children are too preoccupied with Voldermort and need to relax. They are children, they need to play. Would you like to teach it? After all I am inviting your class to come back to England with me for the coming year."
Cat smiled her eyes dancing. "I could keep an eye on my kids then. They could use a dose of home. Sure, Albus, I'd love to." Dumbledore smiled. //This could work out wonderfully. If only the fates let me work undisturbed. Perhaps I can kill three birds with one stone.//
"But first Albus, I think we need to talk."
******
A/N: Went a little Shakespeare in this one. The title is from Hamlet I, iv.
Hamlet is a very good play for HP's universe. As is Tempest. Revenge, mwhahahahaha.
Thanks to our readers, and keep the reviews coming! We LOVE to hear from all of you.
PS: Have a fav. Shakespeare quote? Want me to use it? Tell me and I will work it in. Starchild will just have to deal. We both love the bard, but I like to use his work a lot. If it were up to me, every chapter title would be a quote and every chapter would have at least one tie-in, quote, or reference.
Saavik, Live long and prosper.