Chapter 24 Holes in Her Soul Bellum closed his eyes. Everything went black as it should, but his mind still held the image of Cate he had just beheld. She was still looking at him funny, and it was something he couldn't shake off. She'd never given him a look like that before; not even when she was angry. He opened his eyes again, looking then to Sirius and Paige. Paige was still unconscious on the floor, and Sirius looked plainly bewildered by everything. But his gaze fell again upon Cate, whose dark brown eyes were now fixed upon him. "At least say something, Cate." He sighed. Cate's eyes were filled with a puzzled, and looked worried. She struggled for words, and managed to say, "I don't know what to say." Then, pushing her hair from her face, she reached her hand out, as if to touch him, but her hand went straight through Bellum, and the bone chilling "Well, it was something, at least." Sirius said, rather dumbly. He looked at Bellum with a look that said, "Give her time." Paige was stirring, and caught Sirius's attention when she moaned, rubbing her head. She had bumped it on her fall. Another look to her ghostly father made her feel as if she were in a dream-- no, a nightmare. He looked so unreal. There was no color in his skin, his eyes were sad, and there was no smile on his face. "Daddy?" She squeaked, and Cate looked back at her. Bellum nodded. "Yeah, Paigie honey." He said, trying to smile at his youngest daughter. Paige looked back at him, trying to speak, despite the lump in her throat. "I'm glad you're back." She said softly. Looking at her mother, father, and grandfather, she left the room, feeling that they'd all rather talk these matters out themselves. Sirius cast her a sideways glance, and decided to follow her example. Cate and Bellum were left alone. For a few minutes, they watched each other. Neither moved much, but Cate shifted her weight from hip to hip often. She wasn't going to break the silence. So finally, Bellum did. "I still love you, Cate." He said softly. Cate's deep brown eyes filled with tears, and she looked into his empty eyes, and replied. "Then why'd you die? Why'd you leave me alone?" "Cate..." Bellum sighed. "If I could stop dying, believe me... I would. If anyone could help dying, we'd all be alive. No matter how much someone loves them." Cate put her face in her hands, and wept. Bellum put a hand on her shoulder, and she shuddered. He wished his touch didn't have that ghostly feeling. But he wasn't alive. What else could he expect? He was beginning to have second thoughts on becoming a ghost... Would he just spend his time floating around, haunting people? That was a typical ghost story. Or he could go to Hogwarts, if Cate couldn't accept him the way he was now. Nearly Headless Nick could use some company. "I'm sorry, Bellum." Cate said, after about five minutes of crying. "This was just a shock to me. I don't know what came over me." She closed her eyes. "Maybe it's the hormones running through my body now. You know I can't handle stress when I'm pregnant. I really am glad to see you." She forced a small smile. Bellum's heart leaped. But it soon landed... right back in his own throat, when he thought for a bit. She was just making excuses. What sort of woman would want a ghost for a husband? She couldn't touch him, and she had no one to hold her when she was sad. His thoughts must have shown by his expression, because Cate spoke to him again. It was music to his ears, and her voce was soft and soothing. "I love you." She said. "I love you more than anyone! It doesn't matter if you're dead, alive, ghost, or human. I still love you." He was crying now too. There was a pain in his heart for Cate. He wished he were solid! He wished again that he could touch her. She was so beautiful. The candles created a glow in the room, and her dark brown hair was shining. Her skin was glowing, and the light seemed to be coming from her. But her eyes were sad. When he had looked into her eyes before they had shined when he looked into them, as if they were reflecting his love for her. "Christmas vacation is coming soon. Ethan and Felicity will be home." Cate said. "We'll wait until then before pulling them out of school." Bellum nodded. They were going to come home to a bit of a shock... Not what they'd expect for Christmas. "Merry Christmas!" He thought. "Your dad's a ghost!" ~*~ Felicity plucked at her robes. She was on the train to go home for the Holidays, seated next to Blick and Malicia. Ariana Malfoy was on the other side of the train, for all she knew and cared. Since her father's murder, she hadn't said much to Ariana. "Another Holiday in the Blick household." Blick sighed. "My family has ALL the relatives. My cheeks will be squeezed by Granny, and she'll proclaim out loud how much her little Adam has grown." "We don't do much." Malicia said simply. Felicity didn't feel like asking why. "I don't know what it'll be like at my house this year." She said. Christmas had always been a happy time at her house, even for her. It was hard to be unhappy when there were piles of gifts, and smiling faces. "Since my dad's gone and all..." Malicia looked at her. Her eerie green eyes with reddish flecks seemed to be burning into her mind, so she could see what she was thinking. "We're your family now, Felicity." She said. "My father is your father. We're Death Eaters now... or in the process of becoming them. All we have is each other. Not even your mother can accept this, Lissy." Felicity sighed. She was right. Her mother was a different person now. Different than she was before she had any children. But she, Felicity Rose Pugnare was going to follow her footsteps, and she wasn't going to make the same mistakes. She was going to be powerful. People would fear her. ~*~ Brynn Black sighed. Chaos surrounded her. This could be only because she was sitting between Bryce and Mac. Ethan had been rather quiet lately, not that she blamed him. "C'mon boys... there's trouble that needs to be caused, and people that need to be bothered!" She said brightly, pulling the three boys off to another compartment to cause trouble. This led to her contest with Bryce to see who would be first off the train. Both jumped off while it was still moving. ~*~ Cate sighed, opening the door to her bedroom. Ethan and Felicity had come home, and she left everyone downstairs to talk to Bellum. She didn't feel as if they needed her at the moment. This should be Bellum's time with all 4 of the kids. Ethan and Felicity had reacted quite well to his return as a ghost. They were mature enough to understand, much better than Paige had. Ethan even smiled. Felicity had looked slightly stunned, but her eyes lit up. Cate groaned, as she flung herself on the bed. "Three more months of this..." She grumbled, patting her stomach. Making a face, she thought of Meagan. It wasn't fair that Meagan didn't have to put up with being pregnant as long as she did! But then again, nothing in Cate's life was fair. By now, she should have been used to it. She closed her eyes and sighed, smoothing out her hair. She opened her eyes, and looked around the room. The red velvet bed curtains were open, and she reached out to touch them. So soft, and real. It gave her proof that it still wasn't a whole big nightmare. Sitting up (with difficulty) she looked out the window. There was snow on the ground, and it all seemed so peaceful. That was all she wanted... a peaceful life. Maybe is she moved to Antarctica, it would be peaceful? Who would journey there to bother her? She still stared at the snow. It reminded her of when she met Bellum. There was snow, and it was chilly. But inside the castle, it was warm... and he had been warm and comforting; like a warm fire. She was going off again into a daydream. But something broke into her daydream, as soon as it started. Literally, it broke into her daydream. An owl had smashed the window, and Cate had jumped back in surprise. A rather weathered and old looking snowy owl found it's way to her, and she untied the letter that was attached to its leg. "Poor thing... I think it's practically blind." She muttered. Searching around for a treat, and eventually finding one in the drawer of her night table, it took off immediately, as if it were afraid of her. "I hope this isn't a sad letter, like the last one I received." Opening the envelope and pulling out the letter, she unfolded the parchment, and read the first sheet aloud, to no one but herself. Cate, I realize this is an out of the ordinary event from you, receiving a letter from the Potter Household, but please, do read it before you toss it out, or do whatever you see fit with it. I copied these passages from Meagan's journal. I think they concern you directly, and they may change your view of her slightly. I hope this resolves any of the fighting. --Harry Potter. P. S. You have probably heard about the party celebrating the birth of our triplets. You're welcome to bring your family to the party. Cate raised her eyebrows. Why would Meagan write about her? Why would Harry bother to send it to her? Maybe it was a trick. A trick to keep her occupied in her own thoughts, or something. She tossed the letter aside, deciding she wasn't going to read it. But her curiosity got the better of her. After a few minutes, she brandished the second page, and read it silently. Cate felt as if a wave of emotions was trying to drown her. What did this all mean? The excerpts that were copied were so strange. What was the point that was trying to be made? After thinking about the letter, and Meagan's feelings, Cate was still debating with herself over the point. Scanning Harry's note again, she saw again that it was from her journal. This wasn't written to her at the moment. In the excerpts though, it said Meagan wanted her to see it, after she was dead. Why not now? "She pities me." Cate said to herself. "That's all. Pity is a powerful emotion. But is it really me she pities? Me, or my parents? She was close to them. I suppose I ruined their lives. All this time, I've just been in her way. Constantly competing against her, and winning. I bet she wanted me gone. Now... Now that Bellum died, her perspective changes. She feels sorry for me. I don't need pity! That's all I get! Poor Cate! Such a problem, little child! Now she's lost her husband. She's virtually insane. Poor Cate!" Cate took a deep breath. She suddenly hated all those people that pitied her. The people that sent sympathy cards. The people who tried to help her. They really didn't love her... they pitied her. That was all. What was she to them? What were they to her, rather? She'd show them that she didn't need their pity. Make them see she wasn't a helpless woman. Then they would hate ones being pitied. And she would pity them. She would pity them for thinking such things. She was going to the Potter Party. ~*~ A rather surprised Pugnare family was all dressed up, with the exception of Bellum. He was going, but would remain invisible the entire night. He didn't want Cate to lose her cool, which he expected she would. She always did when she was exposed to the Potters... Felicity fidgeted with her dress. It looked like something Cate would have worn when she was the Dark Angel of Light. It was showy, and flattering to her figure and it was of course, red. Paige gave her older sister a funny look. Felicity was only 12. There was no need for such an outfit at her age. Paige liked her dress. It wasn't tight, but it fit her well. She liked the red color of it, and the flutter sleeves. Her mother had put her hair up, and she felt very pretty, which her father assured her she was, with a smile. "I can't believe you made me wear a suit!" Ethan grumbled to Cate. "It's only a party. Dress robes would have suited me fine. But honestly..." "Dress robes are no longer fashionable attire for formal occasions." Cate snapped. "Ask your father." Bellum shrugged, sighing. Ethan rolled his eyes, and fooled with the cuffs on his suit. Jack giggled, as if this were something fun. Cate had dressed him up too. He was adorable in a miniature suit of his own; baby sized. His brown eyes sparkled, and Cate smoothed his tufts of dark brown hair down. This was the first time Cate had actually dressed herself up since Bellum's death. She looked much more like herself now, in a sleek silken dress, trimmed with gold. It seemed to sparkle with a golden light, and added to her glow. She had her hair braided intricately, and tied up at the back of her head. Her skin was glowing softly, and her eyes glinted gold. "You look beautiful." Bellum grinned. "I wish I was standing by your side, in flesh and blood, so I could properly escort you to the Potter residence." "I wish so too." Cate sighed; her eyes dimming back to their regular brown color. She looked down at herself, and glared at her growing stomach, which was preventing her from showing of her body. "So um, who's driving?" Ethan asked, after a few minutes of standing. "You." Cate groaned, tossing him the keys to the limousine. With an excited look, and his mood about the suit suddenly changing, he caught the keys, and practically sprinted to the limo, and thrust himself in the driver's seat. "Mind you, remember your mother's pregnant!" Bellum cautioned, disappearing. He was still there, but had a plan to remain invisible the whole night. "We're going to die." Felicity sneered. "Ethan's too dumb to even get us out of the driveway." Paige decided she was going to stay as far away from Felicity as she possibly could. Ever since Christmas, when Felicity had tied her to the tree, and pushed it over, her hatred for her older sister multiplied. "Well," She thought, as they pulled out of the driveway, after Ethan slammed on the brakes a few times. "It wasn't a totally bad Christmas." She had gotten an assortment of neat gifts, though it was nothing like it had been in the past. Hooking her seat belt, for fear of being thrown through the window, she replayed the events in her mind... ~*~ "Merry Christmas, Paige!" Bellum said, as cheerfully as possible. Cate was sitting on the couch, staring at the giant tree. "You've got gifts to open!" There was a large pile for her under the tree, and it was the only pile left. Everyone had gotten out of bed before she had.... as usual. Even Jack was sharing the joy, trying to open his own gifts. Soon she was waist high in interesting gifts, which she had plans for. Little did she know that in her own room, she had a gift from Nita. She liked that gift most of all. It was a charm bracelet, with a few charms on it. The charms on it were a small wand that emitted gold sparks, a small Golden Snitch that rotated around a broom, a pointed hat, a spell book, a shaggy dog, and one that said 'Friends.' Paige assumed that Nita had kept the charm that had said 'Best.' All of the charms, of course, moved. She tucked this gift deep in the back of her closet, in an old jewelry box, and looked at it every moment she got. This only made her wish more than her mother was friends with Meagan... Later that evening, Felicity had taken her captive, and magically bound her to the Christmas tree, and pushed it over. The candles that were illuminating it caught fire, and much to her dismay, she couldn't scream because of the cloth stuffed in her mouth, and the piece that was tied across her face. But lucky enough for her, the tree falling made noise. Felicity forgot to silence it. Cate had stormed downstairs, in a rage. She shouted something at Felicity, who had been laughing, and put the fire out. Then she saw Paige was tied to the tree. After Cate snapped, her fingers, and Paige sprung free, Felicity disappeared on the spot. Cate narrowed her eyebrows, and muttered something inaudible to Paige. Felicity appeared again, as if against her will, and Cate pulled her off by the ear, to discuss her punishment with Bellum. ~*~ "Yeah... Being nearly killed was worth it, to see mum harass her like that. I wonder what her punishment is..." Paige thought, as Ethan managed to pull the limo into a remote parking spot near the Potter house. "I hope she hates it." She opened the door to the limo herself and got out, stumbling. Heeled shoes just didn't suit her well. Felicity came out behind her, and Cate gracefully followed, carrying Jack. Ethan popped out the driver's side, looking quite pleased with himself. "How'd I do?" He asked, a little too happily. "Well, I'm still alive." Paige replied. "You passed." She giggled, and soon found herself facing the front door to the Potter house. She was going to open the door, as she had several times before, and run inside, but Cate tugged the back of her dress and stopped her. "Oh great..." Paige thought. "We're going to make an entrance. I bet everyone else is inside, and we're going to walk right through the doors and they're all gonna stare!" She shuffled behind Ethan, and felt a cold chill run through her body. "Sorry, Paige." Bellum muttered. Then she realized that she had backed into him. "It's okay." She smiled. "I wish I could be invisible." "No you don't." Bellum sighed, and at that moment, Cate opened the door. The door crashed against the wall, and the moonlight from outside illuminated the Pugnares, creating a rather frightening appearance. The guests all stared at this sudden appearance, and even more at Cate. Cate hadn't been seen in public since... Bellum's death. The crowds parted as Cate walked down the center of the room, her family following, Paige now holding Jack, and ducking behind Ethan. She didn't want to be here, really. She was really hoping that Nita would be around somewhere, as well as Bridgett, Dominic, and Max. She gasped, as a pair of hands reached out and grabbed her, pulling her into the massive crowd. "Let go of me!" She said firmly, holding tighter to Jack. A hand covered her mouth, and she tried to bite it, but failed. No one seemed to be noticing her plight, as they were all too busy staring at the rest of her family. Finally, after a bit more of a struggle, she was facing Nita and Bridgett, in an empty hallway. "Good Lord, Paige!" Bridgett exclaimed. "It took the both of us to capture you!" Paige laughed, shifting Jack to her other side, resting him on her hip. "Sorry... All you had to do was say it was you!" "She tried to bite me!" Nita squeaked. "Now my hand's a slobbery mess!" Paige laughed again. Bridgett put on a serious face, and said, "Good thing she didn't get her teeth in your hand... she might have rabies! Look at that rabid face. Yeah... I think she's diseased." "So how does it feel to be an older sister now, Nita?" Paige asked cheerfully. Nita rolled her eyes, and made a rather irritated sound. She was dressed in a light blue dress, which seemed to have been thrown up on by one of the triplets earlier in the evening. "That's all I've been asked all evening." Nita sighed. "But, it's not all that. All the babies to is cry, eat, poop, and... Throw up." She gave a disgusted look to her shoulder, and wrinkled her nose. "Welcome to older sister world." Paige smiled. Jack grabbed hold of her hair and gave it a tug. "Ouch! Well, just wait until they get to this age. He knows when he's being naughty. And he LIKES it... Poor Padfoot... That old dog has undergone so much torture..." "Hmm..." Bridgett shrugged. "Must be a baby thing. Brooke does the same thing. Hey, Nita... Where do you think Max and Dom went? They were going to the bathroom, then we kidnapped Paige." "Err..." Nita wrinkled her brow. "They'll find us." "They can find us... by the triplets! I haven't seen them yet!" Paige said, bouncing Jack around in the process of her squealing and jumping up and down. "All right..." Nita sighed. "This way..." ~*~ Cate wrinkled her nose, facing Meagan's brother Mark. Her muggle brother... He looked at her in fright, squirming. He saw her eyes lighting up, and she took a step closer to him. "Please don't hurt me!" He said, very fast. "A muggle..." Cate sneered. "And this poor Muggle is related to Meagan Potter. How I do pity you." Cate was making it her new point to let people know she pitied them. "Don't hurt me!" Mark squeaked again, taking a step backwards, into his wife. He had seen Cate before, but then she looked less... pregnant. It had been years and years before, and now that he was face to face with her, she was even more attractive... and frightening. Her eyes were glinting, and her smirk was sinister looking. "Stupid Muggle." She hissed, leaning closer to him. His blue eyes were wide, and full of fear. He'd never really said anything at all the Magical people, and they hadn't said much to him. Truthfully, they all scared him, and Cate was the most frightening looking at all. Her face was very close to his now, and he could see the details of all her makeup, and just how straight and white her teeth were. Clenching his teeth, and squaring his shoulders, he expected her to whisper some sort of curse, or something to kill him. Now she turned, and whispered in his ear, "Boo," and he jumped about a foot in the air. Cate laughed, and backed up. Mark's wife looked y terrified, but wasn't nearly as shaken as Mark. "Don't wet yourself, dear Muggle." Cate said, tossing her head, and turning around. The comment she had chosen was very ironic. Mark had wet his pants. The crowd didn't know if they should laugh, so they stood there, silently, fighting a laugh. Most of them hadn't realized there were Muggles at the party. But there stood Mark, quite wet indeed. Blushing scarlet, embarrassed, and relieved that he was safe, scuttled off to the bathroom with his wife, who kept throwing angry backwards glances to Cate. Quite satisfied with her self, Cate took a seat at a table, looking around at the crowd. Most faces were familiar, and most of them were also staring at her. They were beginning to feel less sorry for her... ~*~ Ethan tapped his foot. He didn't see any of his friends yet. He was sure that Brynn and Bryce were there someplace, but they were probably off planning a prank of some sort. He didn't know if Mac was there, and if he was, he had probably found Brynn and Bryce. "Ethan!" Came a voice, shouting from the top of the stairs. Brynn, Bryce, and Mac were waving their arms frantically, and beckoning him over. Blushing pink, because there were people staring at him, he climbed the stairs, and immediately Brynn commented on his suit. "It's not THAT big an event, James Bond." She laughed. "Hey, who IS James Bond, anyway?" "Ignore her." Bryce rolled his eyes. "I got quite a few comments too." He was wearing a similar suit. "Such as?" "When's the wedding, and why didn't I get an invitation?" Brynn chimed in. "You two gonna get married tonight?" "Yeah..." Ethan rolled his eyes. "To each other." Bryce reacted wonderfully, putting his arm around him, and batting his eyelids. "Where's the Honeymoon Suite?" He asked in his girliest voice. "Brynn and Mac have probably been in there the whole evening." Ethan remarked. "Hey!" Mac cut it. "Not true!" He grinned. "Only part of the night." Brynn punched all three boys on the arm, and smirked to herself, as they rubbed their arms. She looked different than her usual tomboyish self. Dressed in a tight black dress, with a low cut neck, and a slit to her upper thigh, she reminded Ethan of his mother. "See that all that punch on the table there?" Mac grinned, pointing to the refreshments table. Not for nothing, they were all famous for spiking the punch at Hogwarts... This situation wasn't much different to them. "Now where have you hid the alcohol this time?" Ethan asked. "Well, we can show you, if you want." Bryce grinned, as if to challenge him. Ethan's eyes flashed. This was the best he had felt in a long time. "Of course!" He said, and ran after Brynn and Mac, who were all ready sprinting down the hallway. ~*~ Amidst the arrival of the Pugnares, Brian, Crystal, Fred, and George had found each other in the crowd. Brian was just as dressed up as his older brother was, in a suit. With a tie. "WHY me?" He complained, loosening the tie at his neck. "I feel like there's a noose around my neck!" "That can be arranged..." George grinned. Fred was wearing an identical grin, and had his hands behind his back. "No thanks, being hung from the ceiling fan right now doesn't appeal to me." Brian replied. Crystal wrinkled her nose. She was dressed up too. Her dress was identical to Nita's, except her dress was dark blue. It was much too dressy for her taste. She'd rather be wearing her school robes than heeled shoes and fancy dresses. "I think some mischief needs to be made." She aid, matter-of-factly. "I assure, my older brother and sister will have seen to that." Brian rolled his eyes. "My advice to you: don't drink anything from the refreshments table." Crystal, Fred, and George stared at him for a moment, and shrugged. Brynn's head poked up from behind the table, and she made a motion for the boys to follow her. The four seemed to be the only ones looking at the table, for Cate was causing another scene. "Oh, come on..." Crystal sighed. "Let's entertain the crowd." Crystal led the way to the upper floors of her house, and looked around, before opening a door at the end of the hallway. It led up to the attic, which had an assortment of magical objects. "It's nothing like Brian's attic, but hey... knock yourselves out!" Crystal grinned, gesturing to the things in the attic. This would be a good deal of fun... if they ever got out of the attic. ~*~ Felicity made a noise of dissatisfaction. There was no one for he to talk to. She got a kick out of her mother harassing the Muggles, but it wasn't nearly enough to keep her entertained for the evening. Perhaps she could find Paige. It was enjoyable to hear her scream, while the tree fell over when she was tied to it. But her punishment was not. Cate had sentenced Felicity to clean the attic. The WHOLE attic. It would take up much of not only her winter vacation, but her summer one too. But maybe there would be something interesting in the attic. "Ha! Right..." She thought. "None of my grandfather's prank essentials interest me. That's all that's in our attic." Little did she know what really was in her attic... and just how old her mansion was... "Lissy!" Came a boy's voice. "I thought you weren't here! I saw your mom, older brother, younger brother, little sister, a whole mess of your relatives... but not you." "Hello Blick," Felicity smiled, at the tall boy with black hair. "How long have you been here?" "Forever." Blick said heavily. "All these happy smiling people, and how cheerful they are... it's making me sick." Felicity smiled as sweetly as possible. "Do I make you sick?" Blick blushed ever so slightly. "No." "I guess I'm just not good... at being good." Her eyes sparkled evilly, and she looked around. "How incredibly small this place is. There are too many people. I'm beginning to feel claustrophobic." She grabbed hold of his arm, and pulled him off to a hallway. Choosing a random room, she opened the door, and walked in. "Hey, not too bad. The living room." She smirked, taking a seat on the couch. Propping on rather bare leg up on a coffee table, she patted the seat next to her. "Have a seat, Adam Blick." A rather confused Blick took a seat next to her, smoothing out his straight black hair. But apparently he wasn't seated close enough to Felicity, as she scooted closer to him. "Tell me, Blick," she whispered in his ear. "What are you afraid of?" "Err..." Blick sputtered, looking at her. He didn't really think he was afraid of anything. If need be, he'd face death, and spit in its face. No sort of animal scared him, or any machine or curse. "Nothing, I guess." He replied. Felicity scooted even closer to him, and looked into his black eyes. He could see his own reflection in her deep brown ones. She was pressed close against him, and her nose was close to his. He noticed just now how revealing her dress was; he could see down it. "Um... Liss--" His prying sentence was cut short, for he couldn't speak any longer. The reason for that was due to the fact that Felicity had leaned forward the mere two remaining inches, and kissed him. It wasn't anything he ever would have expected, especially from Felicity. The kiss seemed especially long. Perhaps it was because he had never been kissed before, or for the simple fact that he was only 12. So was Felicity for that matter, but all the same... He felt as if some sort of burden had been lifted from his chest. Suddenly, Felicity pressed against him didn't seem like such an awkward thing. "Um... Well then..." He said, trying to sound as if it were no big deal. But he looked at Felicity again, and said, "So what'd you do that for?" Felicity shrugged. "Well, you were afraid of me for a bit there. Intimidated, rather. Now that you got that out of your way, you're supposedly fearless again." "So how could you tell I was um... Intimidated?" Blick asked, wrinkling his brow. "Oh, it's just an instinct." Felicity shrugged. "Now it's back to our not- so-peaceful lives..." She stood up, and walked out the door, leaving Blick to sit there for a bit. Then, realizing he was alone, he quickly followed her back off to where everyone else was. ~*~ "Uh..." Muttered Maxwell McKenzie. "Bridgett, you're hurting me." "Well, it isn't my fault that we're all smashed against each other in this here closet, is it PAIGE?" Bridgett replied. She was sitting on top of Max, and her face was covered with a smelly old coat. "I didn't choose the closet to hide in... NITA!" Paige replied, trying to stand up. But that was too hard a task for her, as Dominic was piled on top of her, squashing her. "Would you rather have been caught?" Nita shot back in reply, getting hair in her mouth. Her face was pressed against the back of Dominic's head, and his hair got in her mouth as she spoke. "I don't care whose fault it is." Dominic complained. "But I want to get out of this closet!" "Remind me again who wanted to spy on Felicity... Oh yes... That was our dear friend Paige." "I say it was well worth it." Paige said, in defense for herself. "It's not every minute of the day you get to spy on your 12 year old sister." "Your 12 year old sister that's kissing boys in MY living room," Nita reminded her. "Yuck, Dom! When was the last time you washed your hair!" "Last week, thank you very much. I was trying to achieve a nice grungy look, for your information." Dominic replied, trying to shift positions, and accidentally kicking Bridgett, who kicked him back. "Ooooouuuucch..." "Can anyone reach the door knob?" Max asked. "I'd be able to, but there's one slight problem..." Bridgett said, annoyed. "What?" Her four companions asked. "THERE IS NO DOOR KNOB!" She yelled, practically in Paige's ear. "Oh... Um..." Nita replied. "I forgot... this is the HALL closet. I've been locked in here before. By the twins." "Then why didn't you remember there was no door knob on the inside?" Dominic cried, sounding as if he were in a lot of pain. "Max, your elbow just met my side. I don't think they're getting along." "Okay..." Paige said, gasping for a breath, and trying to get Max off her. "Let's review the scenario. There are 5 of us. We're all locked in the smallest closet imaginable, there is no doorknob, and these coats are muffling our sounds. I think we're stuck here until someone wants a coat. That could be ages!" Everyone groaned. In their struggles to get off each other, there were several ripping noises, and no one knew whose clothes ripped. Paige's shoes kept stabbing Dominic, and Dominic wriggled to get free, while Nita squashed him, and Bridgett and Max squashed her. They had moved around some; everyone was in a different position then when they first locked themselves in. But they were still... locked in. ~*~ Cate rubbed her temples. She had a headache, and her feet hurt. She felt like an over inflated balloon, and her lower back was in pain. "Damn pregnancy..." She muttered. Bellum (Or his ghost, rather) had been whispering soft words in her ear all evening, trying to comfort her. Using one chair to sit in, and the other to prop her feet up on, Cate hardly seemed fit to be in public again. A nearby triplet broke into tears, and wailed. "Get it away from me!" Cate yelled, the pain in her head even worse with the wailing. The middle-aged woman holding the baby looked at her, wrinkling her already wrinkled nose. It was at that moment one of the men that had been following her all night put his hand on her shoulder, and asked her if she wanted a massage. Feeling that this was the last straw, Cate clenched her teeth. "Get your hand off me." She hissed, turning around to face him. The poor portly 20-ish man cowered in fear, and took his hand off her shoulder. Now that Cate was standing, she felt she'd have to say something to the rest of the onlookers, before she sat down. "Cate..." Sirius muttered, stepping closer to her. "Don't." He had been keeping a close watch on her all evening, for the same reason Bellum was. "Keep your nose out of this." She hissed, and backed up. Immediately, she felt cold, and a chill seemed to engulf her. She shuddered, and her eyes rolled back. She had stepped into Bellum again. Once he floated away, invisible still, the cold left her body, and she looked normal once again. The crowd was murmuring, thinking she was possessed, or something of the like. The comment, "Poor child! So beautiful, yet such a troubled life she leads..." Caught Cate's attention. Using Sirius to steady her, she stepped onto a chair, and from there, moved atop the table. Barefoot, pregnant, and angry, she glared at the crowd. "I don't need your pity." She said, looking at Meagan in particular. "You should be needing mine. All of you feel sorry for me. 'What a troubled life I lead!' For something bad is always happening. Well, instead of pitying me, you pathetic souls should get on with your lives and leave me alone. There's nothing you can do! And if you tried, you'd be killed in the process, like everyone else has." She was referring to her early friends. When she was 12, her best friend was killed, and her other one was afraid of her... Zach. Cate scowled, and looked at Meagan again. "Then you have some other people..." She trailed off, still gazing at Meagan. "People who pity me because they knew my parents well. Wishing I was like my parents. Wishing that because my parents were gone, and wanting me to replace them." All of the party stared at her. In the crowd, Cate could pick out all of her children, except for Paige. Every young Potter seemed to be present... but what did Cate know. She didn't know that Nita wasn't there. So she carried on with her speech, pacing about the tabletop. "But you shouldn't replace people with other people, should you, Meagan?" She said. "One would think that one would learn that." Meagan said nothing, but desperately wished Cate would stop. She looked nervously at all her children, and at James Potter, who was standing beside Harry. "Yes... a replacement. That's all you are." Cate paused and pointed to Harry. "Our dear mother of 8, and beloved wife... Wasn't quite as beloved as she is now... For her heart yearned for JAMES Potter once. But he loved someone else. James loved Lily. Not her. She'd just gotten over someone else not loving her, though it was more of a schoolgirl crush." Cate looked at Sirius and Lizzie. "But all the same... heartbreak hurts. Then all your friends disappear. Scattered. Gone. What does she have left... Why, her friends' children. I believe those children would be Mr. Harry Potter and myself who resembles his father so much it's frightening. Even in his actions, he reminded Meagan of James. It was the man she couldn't have, but now she did... in another way." Cate's mouth formed a wiry grin, and she looked to the confused Potter children, Harry, (who had gone red in the face) James, and Meagan. Crystal was standing next to Brian, and her eyes were puzzled. She looked to her mother, whose eyebrows had narrowed. "That's right, kids! Did I forget to mention that your mother is the SAME age as James Potter? Didn't mummy tell you that all ready? Hm... Must have slipped her mind. Indeed, a victim of such a horrible curse might have gone a little forgetful." All four Potters (4, because Nita was trapped in the closet) old enough to understand... didn't. It didn't make sense to them. Cate explained further. "So she's got James back. If you all get what I mean. She's got a replica! What about the other child? Oh, I was juuuust peachy. I'd faded into the background, and everyone just thought I was a poor innocent girl who had a bad childhood. But Meagan was soon to learn that I was much more than that... Sometimes, you just don't appreciate people, until they leave... Then you wish you had been nicer... Wish you had done something earlier." The room was still silent. No one dared say anything. Cate seemed to be done telling a story, and now had a point to cut across. "So I was pitied. That was all. No one did anything. Everyone felt so bad for me, being alone in the world. Well, something showed them, and made them think otherwise. But it's happened again. Now everyone pities me again. Sympathy cards, flowers! Honestly, you idiots, will that help? The answer is no." Cate still paced about the table, her fists balled up. Suddenly, she stopped, and grinned oddly at the crowd. Her eyes flashed gold dangerously, and her skin shone brighter. She opened her fists, there was a brief flash of white light, and Cate rose off the ground then fell suddenly, unconscious. Lunging quickly, Sirius caught her. She was breathing, and still had a heartbeat, but showed no other signs of being alive. Sirius determined aloud that she was just unconscious, and that the people should keep their noses out of this affair. "Oh, come on Cate... what happened now?" He muttered. Cate screamed in agony. Nothing had happened! Instead, she was alone, surrounded by the stars. She spun around to face a man in old-fashioned robes, with dark brown hair and blue eyes. She gasped, and glared. "Gryffindor!" She hissed. "Leave me alone." She turned around, so she wouldn't have to face him and his righteous looks, and advice. But her turn left her face-to-face with Rowena Ravenclaw, whose stern, yet kinda gaze was fixed upon her. "Both of you!" She growled. "Leave me alone!" Opening her still clenched fists, she raised her hand to Ravenclaw, and opened her hand. A blaze of white light shot straight through her, doing no damage. "Dammit!" Cate shouted. "Go away! I don't want your sympathy, either!" Gryffindor appeared beside Ravenclaw, since Cate showed no sign of turning around again. "Then what do you want, Catherine Elizabeth?" He asked her. "I- I- I want to be left alone!" Cate sputtered, not truly knowing what she wanted to say to them. She knew they could see what she desired. Cate wanted Bellum back... she wanted to have a peaceful life. "That we can help you with," Ravenclaw sighed, waving a hand. She and Gryffindor disappeared, leaving Cate alone with the stars again. After Cate realized there was no way for her to get back to Earth, she shouted for them again. "No! Come back! You can't just leave me here!" "As you wish..." Came Ravenclaw's soft voice, and she appeared again, with Gryffindor at her side. "Now are you going to preach to me before you send me back? Are you going to tell me that my life is once again a mess? Well, I know it is all ready. Or are you going to send your pity like the rest of the world? Tell me you're sorry, but there's nothing you can do. I know. So just send me back!" Gryffindor looked her in the eyes. "There's a hole in your soul." He said softly. "Thank you, Oh Founding Father." Cate responded, her voice full of sarcasm. "Or are you sure I even have a soul? After all, I know it was you two that stopped me from killing everyone in that room tonight. And you knew I would have." "We know." Ravenclaw bowed her head. "We aren't going to let it happen again. The empty space needs to be filled, but you're too cold-hearted at the moment to let anyone try and help you..." "There you go again!" Cate shrieked. "Everyone says they can help! I DON'T WANT YOUR HELP!" "Nor do you want our pity." Gryffindor said, like he was talking to himself. "Then you shan't have it." Ravenclaw cast him a sideways glance. Her eyebrows raised, and she looked curious. Gryffindor wasn't looking at her, however, he was looking at Cate. "So then I'll tell it to you like it is." His blue eyes flashed, and he looked Cate in the eyes again. "Then, if you please... It's your fault. Your fault that your parents' lives fell apart. Your fault that your stepfamily died. Your fault you can't control your emotions. It's your fault you killed so many people, and your fault you tried to do it again. It's somehow your fault your husband died, because he loves you, and you love him. It's your fault that awful things happen to those that are close to you. Your fault. You brought this on yourself." Cate stared at him. She suddenly felt itchy all over, as if there were something crawling in her skin. Inside her skin. He cold stare was broken, and she turned again. "See... With that statement, even you admit that it would have been better if I had not been born. Then you'd just have Meagan, or my mother. They get along. They cause no trouble. Then everything would be perfect. People tell me that it wouldn't be all better if I hadn't been born. They just say that to make me feel better. But I know what they really feel. They too wish I had never come to existence." Cate said softly, silent tears streaming down her face. Gryffindor and Ravenclaw looked at each other. Ravenclaw put a hand on Gryffindor's shoulder, and her hazel eyes seemed misty. She nodded, and removed her hand. "You're wrong." Gryffindor said. "But not entirely. Everything would be different. But not for the better. It would all be worse. Much, much worse, my dear." "How so?" Cate said, turning around again. "If you had never been born... your mother would have met the same fate. Jacob James would have killed her before Sirius could do anything. Lily and James Potter would still be murdered, and Sirius Black thrown into prison. All without you." "It sounds the same. But I wasn't there in the future to mess things up even more." Cate responded. "But Sirius never would have gotten out of Azkaban. Knowing that Elizabeth was dead would have defeated his escape. He wouldn't be able to muster up the courage. In fact, he would have died after being there for less than a year. He would have starved himself, and the Dementors would have gotten to him." Cate stood silent. Gryffindor continued on, "That would leave the last Blood Heir gone... your mother. There was no you, and he was the last Blood Heir... The Slytherin heir. He soon would have gained power, since he was he last blood heir. Lord Voldemort would have grown so powerful that no one could stop him." "It's no different than when I was in power. People died. People were murdered. He's got my blood anyway, so what's the difference?" "Meagan would have been in too much grief. After the demise of Sirius Black, Remus Lupin would have committed suicide. Depression would have taken her over, and by the time Harry Potter would have reached a school age, his luck would be nearly out. Marykate and Meagan would have been close to him in his 6th year... Then Voldemort would finish him off. You wouldn't be there to occupy Voldemort. He enjoyed watching you. There was something about you, my heir, that intrigued him. But there was nothing to distract him. He would have killed Harry. "Then Meagan would have committed suicide. It would have been too much. There would be no heir at all for me. My lineage would be completely gone, and Evil would rule all. Marykate would still marry Ron, however, but they would have no children. This was due to the fact that Ron would be killed early in their marriage. Marykate would spend the rest of her life alone, feeling guilty that she was the only one alive. There would be nothing to stop Voldemort, because Dumbledore would have passed on. Darkness would engulf the world. There would be no heirs except for Slytherin's." Cate bit her lip. She had never thought of it that way. But one more thing was burning a hole in her mind... "What about Bellum. Would he have married someone else?" "No, Cate." Ravenclaw answered. "He would have been killed by Mors Vox when he was 19, and discovered. Dolere would have dug up his records in the American Ministry, and discovered he was a spy. His end would have been just as gruesome, if not worse." "There'd be no one left." Cate said softly. "Just because I wasn't there?" "Exactly." Gryffindor said. "You're the middle link in the chain, Cate. You connect good and evil, keeping everything together. Keeping it solid. Without you, everything would break. You're the balance." Cate blinked. Everyone would have met a tragic end. All because she simply wasn't there. It was enough to make her think... Just in that moment, she had faced the truth. It was cold and hard, but it was the truth. "See, Cate? It really IS your fault. Your fault that everyone is still alive. It's your fault Bellum fell in love with you, and escaped his fate. It's your fault there are 4 very beautiful children on Earth, and on more on the way. But it's not a bad thing that it's your fault." Gryffindor looked at her again. "Are you ready to go back? Are you calm? Are you going to stop trying to prove yourself to the world... again?" "Yes." Cate said. "I'm sorry. But I'm ready to go back." "Good." Ravenclaw nodded to Cate, her hazel eyes shining again. "Goodbye, Cate. We'll see you again." Cate waved slowly to them, and felt herself disappear suddenly into the darkness... ~*~ "Um... Do you think she had some of that punch or something?" Bryce asked skeptically. "That might have caused it." "No." Ethan answered. "I watched her. She didn't have any. She was too busy bickering." "Then it was another Power Trip." Brynn sighed. She remembered being about 7 or so, when Cate had gone on one, and the same thing had happened. "Is that a good thing?" Mac asked. "Uh... Not really." Bryce answered. "You never know what she'll do when she wakes up." "Errr..." Mac said. "Well, the three of you are all related to her, not me..." "Sadly." Ethan sighed. "Sometimes I wish I had a normal family." "We all do, Eath. We all do." Bryce patted his shoulder. They were in their own private corner in the Potter living room, where Cate's personal doctor was examining her. There were a lot of people listening at the door, but only Cate's immediate family was allowed inside, with the exception of Mac. The doctor glanced around, knowing exactly what the diagnosis was. It was the same as it usually was... A failed Power Trip. But he didn't feel like saying it aloud, knowing that there were people listening outside. Bellum was floating around, completely visible now. This was the alternative to pacing, which he would have been doing, if he were alive. There was no sign of Paige anywhere, and that was making him nervous as well. "Find my daughter!" He said to Bryce. Bryce looked a little taken aback, but he left the room, followed by Ethan, in search of Paige. No sooner than a second after he shut the door, Cate's eyes fluttered open, and she sat up quickly, gasping for breath. "Cate!" Bellum exclaimed, flying (literally) to her side. "Are you okay?" "Yeah..." Cate said, looking at him, and thinking of what would have been his fate. "I- I'm fine." "You had me worried there..." He said, looking at her again. "Sorry... it was another... Never mind..." She trailed off. They knew what she meant. "I think we should get out of this room, I don't like it." By that, Cate meant she wanted to leave. "Where's Paige? And Ethan?" "Er... We don't know where Paige is, and Ethan's looking for her." Sirius answered. "Just come to the kitchen and we'll get you some ice water or something." Cate sighed, and walked to the door. Upon opening it, she hit one man and two women in the head; they had their prying ears pressed against the door when she opened it. ~*~ Paige groaned. There was something pressing against her nose. It was her knee. Her leg was wedged upright... and she was wearing a dress. It seemed as if she had dozed off, as well as Dominic, whose head was on her arm. "Ugh... he drooled on me!" She cried. "Nice to see you awake, again." Came Bridgett's voice from below. "Now maybe I have a chance of moving you off me." "Hey, Paige!" Max said, fighting a laugh. "Those are some pretty hot underwear you've got on!" "Arrgghhh!!!" Paige cried. For a few moments, she had forgotten about her dress. But her leg was stuck between Nita and Dominic. Max snickered, and Nita kicked him as best she could. "There. Now he's in pain." She hissed. "Good." Paige replied. "Serves him right, little pervert, MAX!" "Okay... I say it's time we all try and move again." Paige said, shoving Dominic off her. He shook his head, and opened his eyes. "What'd I miss while I was slumbering peacefully? Paige made a nice pillow." He said, still rather sleepily. "Paige has-- OUCH!" "Thanks again, Nita." They all rolled around again, everyone moving around. Bridgett was now at the bottom of the pile, and pinching the person on top of her, who happened to be Max. Everyone moved again, to a slightly more comfortable squished position. They were still stuck. ~*~ "Um... Doesn't seem to good a time for a prank." Brian said. "Yeah..." Crystal replied. She wasn't in much of a mood for jokes, either. What Cate said still didn't make sense to her, and she wanted to ask her mother about it. "This is one of those times where nothing is funny." "I'd have to say I agree." Fred said. "Me too," George added. "Until next time?" Brian asked. "Until next time..." Everyone else said. ~*~ "We're aloooooone." Brynn whispered in Mac's ear. "Not even Ethan and Bryce are around." She ran her fingers through his hair, and kissed his neck. "This isn't our living room," Mac reasoned, kissing her back. "I don't think it'd suit Mr. and Mrs. Potter well to know that we've been making out on their living room sofa. "Closet." Brynn said quickly. "I saw a closet in the hall." Between kissing each other passionately, and making sure no one was looking, they made their way out of the living room, and to the hall closet. "That?" Mac asked. "That thing's TINY!" "So what?" Brynn argued. "We'll just be closer together." Mac shrugged, and kissed Brynn again before opening the door. Giving it a good tug, it opened after her turned the knob, and his jaw dropped at what fell out. Five 9 year olds were in a heap in front of him and Brynn. One of them was his little brother. Another was Brynn's sister, and two more were related to her. The last little girl looked like a Potter. "My ass..." Bridgett muttered. "Bridgett!" Brynn exclaimed, quite stunned at her younger sister's choice of words. "Lucky we got out of there now." Max said. "I have to go to the bathroooooooooom! I was in danger of wetting myself, and wetting the rest of you in the process." "Ewww..." Paige rolled over, moaning about a cramp in her leg. Her dress was ripped in several places, and her hair was a tangled mess. Dominic was rubbing a stiff neck, Max was nursing a scratch from Bridgett, Nita was rubbing herself all over, and Bridgett, was rubbing her behind. After all five of them had stood up, Paige saluted the couple and said, "It's all yours... ENJOY!" Then all five of the scuttled off as fast as their sore bodies allowed them to... Brynn and Mac stared at them, and immediately abandoned their closet make- out idea... ~*~ "Paige! I found you!" Ethan said, as Paige came out of the bathroom. He hugged her immediately, pretending not to notice what a mess she was. "Mom's angry... and we have to leave." "Um.... Okay?" Paige said, giving him a funny look. "If I don't ask, you don't ask..." "Fair enough." Ethan shrugged, and he let go of her. Bryce sighed, and went off in his own direction. Cate's eyebrows practically shot to her hairline when she saw Paige. Not asking, just staring, she pulled Paige out the door by the hand... that was their dramatic exit, to go along with their entrance... For Bridgett, the night wasn't over. After she came out of the bathroom, looking no different then when she was freed from the closet, she ran into the person she least wanted to run into... "Rico!" She hissed, backing up. Rico smirked at her. He was dressed in a slick black tuxedo, and his black hair was combed back. "It's hard to believe that you got even slimier looking." "Shall I pretend I didn't hear that, and not comment on your own attire?" He asked, in his Spanish accented voice. "Yes. Then we'll all leave in peace, and I'll try not to have nightmares about seeing you in... That tuxedo." "Well, I'm scarred for life. Bridgett Black seems to have been battling with her dress... and she seems to have lost." He said, looking her up and down. "That's it! I've had enough of you!" Bridgett hissed, lunging at him, and punching him in the face. He was too stunned to react at first, but by the time he was tackled, and his head hit the floor, he was ready to fight back. "My mother told me not to hit girls... But you obviously aren't a girl... you're a monstrosity!" He said, taking a swing at her jaw, and making contact. "Well, my mum never told me I couldn't hit a girl!" Bridgett shot back, rolling him over, and standing up to kick him. "That's why I'm allowed to hit you! I was never taught any better!" Before Rico could think of a comeback, or even hit her, his older sister, Reina, who looked quite embarrassed by his behavior, pulled him away. "WHY are you fighting with Bryce's sister?" She asked him, grabbing hold of his ear. "Because I HATE her!" He screamed, and Bridgett laughed at him, as Reina pulled him away by the ear. "Love you too, Reeky Rico!" She said, in a falsely sweet tone. ~*~ "Er-" Paige started, for conversation in the limo ride home. "That was some party." She looked at Felicity, and tried not to laugh. "My dear daughter..." Cate said smoothly. "Paige, sweetheart, what happened to you?" "Oh, someone locked me in a closet with Bridgett and Dominic." She lied, thinking that it seemed plausible. "Why would they do that?" Felicity sneered. "Stay out of this, Lissy." Cate said. "Or I'll double your punishment. Now, Paige..." "Well, mum, can YOU think of anyone that doesn't exactly like us?" Paige said, pleased with herself. It seemed that she was going to get herself out of this. Cate didn't say anything. She'd had enough trouble for one evening... Way too much trouble, rather... Her head hurt, and she ached all over. She wished that she had less than 3 months of being pregnant left...