An: This is the last chapter before the epilogue in this first part of the Trilogy. So please review its especially long for all of you who have asked me to write longer chapters. I hope 21 pages will be enough ;). So submit a review and tell me what you think of the hours of work I have put into this chapter. Also this is the last time to vote for a house. It doesn't matter if you haven't voted before now all votes will be counted. ENJOY... :D
Chapter 21 – Screams In The Night
Dumbledore's announcement deterred most of the student population from asking too many question regarding the reasons behind Katherine's visit to the hospital during the ball. However she still was forced to put up with the taunts of the Slytherins, but this only lasted a week or so before they moved on to their next victim. Harry had kept close to her the entire time making sure she was fine and didn't have another episode, proving Katherine's theory right: that she was far better off not telling people, now most of the time they treated her like a porcelain doll.
"Harry this is all very sweet, but I swear if you look at me one more time like I am going to break I will break up with you...which is something I really don't want to do as I love kissing you a lot." She smiled but she also was deadly serious.
"But... I'm not..."
"You are and you have to stop it." She stormed off up two the girl's dormitory leaving a very stunned Harry with Ron and Hermione.
"I'm not..."
"You are Harry, and you have to stop it. Katherine's not the type of person to let you rap her in bubble rap and to keep her safe she needs space" said Hermione.
"Bubble rap?" asked Ron.
"Muggle term" Harry and Hermione said together.
"I didn't realise...."
"I know but you will loose her if you don't learn to see her as she same normal girl she has always been. This is the same as your situation, you are Harry Potter and not the boy who lived, but people don't see that, most of the time." Hermione left and went up to check on her best friend.
"Ron what am I going to do? Every time I look at there lately I see her in my arms shaking. I'm so scared I don't want to loose her."
"Mate... I really don't know what you are going to do... personally I see why you're doing it was bloody scary that night... but I have no doubt you'll loose her if you can't work something out."
After a long talk with Hermione, Katherine had gone to sleep, which was anything but rest full. Her dreams once again were plagued by the memories of her past.
Flash
"Jillian, would you like to come with me to the shops?"
"Yep just let me get my bike."
The two friends rode down the small streets of their town.
Flash
The scene changed the two girls sat on Katherine's bed.
"Isn't life strange I mean how things work out?"
"Yep but it doesn't matter cos will always be together like sisters."
Then the two eight year old girls hugged.
Flash
"You just have to hold out one night I tried to get out of it but mum and dad are making me go."
"Alright."
Flash
Katherine was struggling to get out of the grasp of her mothers arms, while she was screaming and crying. "Jillian, Jillian... let me go...." Over and over again. "Please..." she cried. As the ambulance persons wield a trolley over to the ambulance while Jillian's mother cried.
Katherine was screaming in her sleep. "JILLIAN!!!... LET ME GO...PLEASE..."
The entire dorm had woken up, Hermione scrambled out of her bed to wake her friend from the nightmare. "Kath wake up, wake up..." Hermione shook her friend but she didn't wake.
"Lavender go get professor McGonagall now."
Professor soon arrived and found the 6th year girl still screaming the same phase over and over again.
"Ms Brown, go and get Madam Pomfrey Ms Patil the headmaster .... Girls be as fast as you can." The concern in the professor's voice scared the girls and they ran out of the room.
The entire Gryffindor house was now awake as no one had thought to cast a silencing charm on the room.
Everyone was gathered in the common room. Harry was frantic he knew it was Katherine who was screaming but he couldn't get to her as the stair and doorways wouldn't let him enter the girl's dormitory even Ron had tried to help.
"Ginny... what's going on?" asked Ron.
"They can't wake her she's stuck in some sort of nightmare Professors McGonagall and Dumbledore are up there with Madam Pomfrey."
The headmaster stood on the top step which led to the girl's dormitory. "Would everyone please make their way to the great hall now." Everyone stared blankly at the man. "I do not wish to have to ask you again, we have a very serious situation and there is no time to waste." He's voice was not full of anger and none of what he said was said sternly however, fearful and pleadingly.
The students quickly departed except Ron and Harry lingered "Mr. Weasley and Mr. Potter I ask that you two also go and wait in the great hall." The last two students quickly left.
As soon as all the students were clear the headmaster instructed all the ghosts and portraits to ensure them safe passage to the hospital wing, making sure none of the students where around, to see Katherine.
Katherine's screaming voice no longer filled the castle. Madam Pomfrey had cast a charm to silence her however they still could not wake her. Hermione was the only student left within the tower. The three adults had no idea what to do; they had tried all possible charms they could think of to wake the child. Even her cat had licked her face in an attempt to wake the sleeping child. It was decided she would be moved to the hospital wing so Madam Pomfrey could care for her.
"Ms Granger if you would..."started McGonagall.
"No... I'm not going this time..."
"Very well..."
The three teachers and two students left for the hospital wing. Katherine continued to thrash and in her sleep screaming still though there was no sound. It appeared she was relieving what ever it was over and over again.
Professor Snape had been called, and it was determined that no potion had done this rather a curse.
It had been eight hours now since the girl had been discovered screaming in her bed. Classes were cancelled and all the students were confined to their common rooms where the house elves got what ever they needed.
An Order meeting was called and it was concluded that it was Voldemort who had come after Katherine, as a chance to get back at Harry for taking once of his most loyal servants, Wormtail.
Potter,
I believe you received my gift, what do you and your red haired girlfriend think? I can stop it but I want you to serve me and I will release her from the nightmares and wake her.
Lord Voldemort.
The note had been intercepted by Moody before it could reach Harry as he saw the black crow bringing the note, as he entered the castle.
Now the order where using all resources available to find a way to wake the girl from the nightmare she was forced to live over and over again.
The Gryffindor port hole swang open as a fairly dishevelled Hermione entered she had tears streaming down her face as she enter in her pj's.
All the Gryffindors soon crowed around Hermione asking her questions about what was happening. Ron and Harry soon made their way thorough the crowd they both look at Hermione who began to cry harder when she saw them.
Ron had had enough, as people still yelled out questions he scooped Hermione in his arms and with the Harry's help pushed through the masses to the boy's dormitory.
"Guys get out" said Harry sternly as he faced Seamus and Dean who where playing a game of exploding snap on the bed.
Ron placed Hermione on his bed who was still crying taking the bedspread off Harry's bed, he rapped it around her, and then rapping his arms around her he held her tight.
"Hermione... tell me what happened?" asked Harry, so many thoughts were going through his head, about what was happening to Kath and Hermione's current state only served to reinforce his fears.
She continued to cry and between her tears she managed to stutter out a few words. "She just kept screaming... we have to help her... please.... we have to do something." The tears fell freely from her eyes, staining her cheeks as they ran down the face.
"Mione we will. You just have to tell Harry and me what happened and then we can help her" said Ron as he tried to comfort her.
"Hermione I promise we won't tell anyone else what happened, please," said Harry.
"She was screaming... and I got up to see what happened... she keep saying the same thing over and over again... I tried to wake her but I couldn't .... No one could....they took us to the hospital wing and they still couldn't do anything .... Madam Pomfrey placed a spell on her to stop the sound. But... she just kept screaming despite that and thrashing around. They said she was stuck in a nightmare.... We have to do something we can't leave her like that...It was the most horrible thing I have ever seen... we have to do something...." said Hermione as she buried her head in Ron's shoulder and continued to cry.
Ron rubbed her back trying to comfort her while he looked at Harry, who was shocked. The women he loved were stuck in a nightmare living it over and over again.
"Hermione did you hear anything else what did they say about Kath when you were in the hospital wing?" asked Harry
"Professor Snape said it was a curse but they don't know which one.... When they told me to leave I waited outside the door and listened seeing if I could find out anything more. Harry.... it was Voldemort who did it to her.... They talked about a letter they had gotten that was to you... they said how they were calling the entire Order to do research on the curse. They said how the letter went on about how... He said something about 'did you receive the gift?' and said he could stop it all if you agreed to serve him....."
"Ok" said Harry, the wheels in his mind turning as he took in all the information that his best friend had told him.
"Mate... what you are going to do?"
"I'm going to go to Voldemort.... And give him what he wants."
"You can't its suicide!" said Ron frantically.
"If it was Hermione you would do the same thing. I can't leave her like that Ron... if there was another way I would take it you know it...."
"I'm coming with you.... There is no way you are going alone."
"I'm coming with both of you as well" said Hermione her voice less shaky as she began to calm down.
"Alright.... But you guys are just to get in there and get out again with Katherine..." They reluctantly agreed.
"Alright... now what we are going to have to do is get Katherine and that letter because if it was really Voldemort who sent it, then there has to be some sort of instruction on it that I can read on how to get there...."
"True but as soon as we take either Kath or the letter, they are going to know something is up" said Ron.
"That's why we are going to have to do it in two parts. You guys are going to have to get Katherine while I get that letter, since it's bound to be in the Orders procession under heavy guard."
"Harry we aren't going to be able to get her, she's caught in a dream she thrashes around and screams the entire time... no spell has worked on her to stop her and they don't want to sedate her in case she has ingested some potion that Snape hasn't noticed" said Hermione.
"We don't have a choice. Are you sure you two want to do this, you will be intentionally going to see Voldemort."
"Have we ever missed a fight before?" said Hermione.
"There is no place I would rather be then at your side mate" said Ron.
"Alright this is what we are going to do...." Harry carefully laid out his plan for the two. He would take the invisible cloak to find the letter, while the two of them were going to go up to the hospital wing to get Katherine, they couldn't take the cloak as Harry needed it to get past the order and it would be no use if Katherine kept thrashing around. They would take their brooms to fly out the window of the tower so they could get to the entrance hall and then split up. Once they had each completed their tasks they would met in the Quidditch pitch and figure out their next step.
They landed just outside the steps to the entrance hall. Ron had ridden double with Hermione as she wasn't the best flyer at the best of times.
"Harry are you sure where doing the right thing?" asked Hermione
"You said it yourself Hermione, the Order had been working on this for hours, and they have come up with nothing. I can't just leave her up there and let her relive what ever awful thing he put into her head. I love her." He said not releasing he had actually admitted that he loved Katherine before allowed.
"Ok, then lets do this, we need to be back here in half an hour, but how are we going to get where ever we need to?" asked Hermione.
"The ford Angelina" said Harry.
"That's a great idea Harry but, as you should remember, that car is feral in the forest" said Ron.
"True, but it also met Katherine.... And I sent a message with Hedwig to the centaurs asking for their help."
"The centaurs don't help people.... how?'' asked Hermione
"They're great friends with Katherine and were only to happy to help. The car will meet us at the Quidditch pitch in half and hour so we better get going."
The two groups spilt up.
"Hermione do you have any idea how we are going to get Katherine out of that hospital?" ask Ron
"I do but we are going to need to find Nearly Headless Nick."
"Nick... we need a favour. We need you to get all the people out of the hospital wing."
"Ms Granger we ghosts also know what is happening. Where are you going to take Katherine?"
"We found a way too help her... please?" asked Ron.
"Alright but I hope on all Gryffindor honour that you know where you are doing and may god be with you," he snuck into the hospital wing leaving Ron and Hermione listening through the large oak doors.
Nick went in saying how there were a group of students lose in the halls and one of them had slipped and hurt himself. The teachers came rushing out leaving Katherine alone in the large hospital wing.
Harry made his way through the entrance hall towards the great hall were he heard the familiar voices of the Order. He peeked into the hall to find the all the order members deep in mysterious texts and scrolls. Moody wasn't in the hall, which Harry was thankful for. He slipped inside and moved around the through the hall.
His heart raced as soon as he approached Remus, Sirius, Peter and Arabella who were reading over many different texts. Talking and mumbling between themselves about different aspects, which might help while taking notes. However it seems the ideas were all dismissed quickly. As soon as Harry made it past the four people who he considered to be his family he could breathe again. Professor McGonagall was working up the front of the room at what was the teachers table the letter was sitting next to her as she read through an extremely large volume, 'magical curses of the mind.'
Harry in his invisible cloak moved quickly and silently past the people crowding the hall till he stood right in front of his head of house. 'Oh god I hope she doesn't look up.' He outstretched his hand forward so that it was still covered by the cloak, and reached forward grabbing the letter while he held his breath, making his way quickly out of the hall, until he stood directly behind Mad Eye Moody with his magical eye. He quickly ducted under the Slytherin table. Mad Eye turned around just as he had ducked underneath the table for cover. Harry once again held his breath trying not to make a sound as he hide from the Auror. Mad Eye finally pasted Harry not seeing the boy under the cloak as he made his way to the door at the end of the Great Hall which was the room in which the Tri-wizard champions had entered during his fourth year.
When Harry reached the entrance hall he breathed a sigh of release. 'There is no way I am ever doing that again.' He quickly ran out the large doors and made his way to the Quidditch pitch.
Ron carried a still thrashing and screaming Katherine down through the entrance hall out to the Quidditch pitch. Hermione had held Katherine's arms most of the time, to stop her hitting Ron to much. By tomorrow Ron would hold several new bruises including a very nasty black eye.
"I wonder how Harry went?" said Hermione
"Don't worry Hermione I am sure he would have got it." The three Gryffindor students reached the Quidditch pitch finding Harry standing by the Ford Angelina Ron hadn't seen since his second year.
Harry's eyes saw his girlfriend being carried by his best friend and ran over to met them. "Oh my god I never thought... I can't believe...."
Hermione cast a small cushioning charm on the grass around them. "Ron put her on the grass I cast a cushioning charm so she shouldn't hurt herself to much."
Ron placed the girl on the ground and the three stared as she continued to thrash around and scream however there was still no sound coming from her mouth.
"Hermione if this is how she was, how did they ...." The look on her face caused a shiver to run down his spine.
Hermione couldn't meet his eyes she just knelt down next to her best friend and attempted to stop her from inflicting harm on herself.
"Mate... they had her...."
"Oh god they didn't...."
"Harry I'm sorry they had her strapped down to the bed." Ron face was filled with pity and regret. "Harry... it seems it was the only way to stop her from hurting herself.... When were driving I think were going to have to ...." Ron didn't want to say it he wanted to curse himself as he said it.
"NO... NO... NO... I will never do that to her I will hold her in my arms ..... But I will not do that to her Ron... I can't do that to her...." Harry could never strap her down, he would take all the bruises she gave him but he couldn't try her down.
"It's alright Harry I'll never mention it again" said Ron trying to calm his now fairly unset friend.
"Harry how do you intend to find the location of Voldemort?" asked Hermione.
"Blood... on the bottom of the letter the word was written in the left hand corner in small letters." Harry cut his finger with his wand and dropped some droplets of blood on the letter. The words no longer their but instead a small map of how to get to a town just outside of Paris.
"Alright guys we have where we need to go." He handed over the map two his first true friends.
"I know this, my parents took we here once for a vacation," said Hermione.
"Excellent then Hermione you can be our guide. Harry you'll sit in the back seat with Katherine while Hermione and I attempt to direct the car to this town."
"Ron that's not going to be necessary; we just need to show the car the map and it will be able to get their. Apparently your Dad made some other modification to the car then what we knew. I heard him tell Sirius one day when Sirius was showing him his bike...he installed some sort of magical navigational system."
"Ok, if were going to do this we better get going... I don't think it will be much longer before they discover she is gone If they haven't already," said Hermione, as she glanced over her shoulder expecting any minute a crowd of very angry adults.
"I just wanted to say something before we go guys... if you come you guys will probably loose your prefects badge and Hermione I don't think you'll ever be head girl if we do this."
"Harry.... Friendship is worth more to me then any badge I might get" she said as she kissed and hugged him.
"Mate I was never prefect material anyway." The two teenagers came together in a manly hug.
Ron and Hermione made their way into the car. Harry bent down next to the women he loved.
"I promise everything is going to be alright angel," said Harry as he kissed her on the head. "I promise everything is going to be alright soon. I'll make sure it is don't worry."
He slipped his arms under Katherine and lifted her up to him. Despite the fact she continued to scream and thrashing about; when the two finally got into the back seat of the car. He rapped his arm securely around her, she still continued to scream however she no longer thrashed.
"Guys we have company coming... I think we should get out of here" said Ron.
The three students looked out the window to see 15 people running through the grounds trying to reach them.
"Ron what the hell are you waiting for?! Go before they get here all will never get to help her!!" said Harry as he cradled Katherine in his arms.
"Go." Ron said to the car.
"HARRY JAMES POTTER DON'T YOU DARE-" yelled Arabella her voice we clear over the other screaming adults, causing Harry to filch as he heard her cries.
However it was to late the car took off and was gone.
Leaving the adults behind stunned and fearful about what was going to happen next.
"Headmaster what are we going to do?" said Arabella frantically.
"My dear at the moment there is not we can do, too much time has past therefore Sirius can't follow them on his bike, as we are not sure where they are going and we can no longer see them as it appears Mr Wesley's invisibility booster is once again working. So at this point in time we will just have to use all our resources to find them. And we will find them I promise." He tried to comfort the frantic adults.
"There must be something we can do," said Peter.
"Yes use all you know, to find out where they have gone. I have no fear for Hermione, Ron or Katherine's safety but rather Harry and what he will do in order to keep them safe."
The 15 adults how had run down to try to stop the four students from trying to leave and failed quickly made there way back up to the castle to inform the rest of the Order of what had happened and to change their task on which they worked. No longer focusing their efforts on trying to stop the nightmare in, which the phoenix child was trapped in but rather to keep the boy who lived alive and his friends alive.
"Harry, what do you think they are going to say when we get back?" asked Hermione.
"Herm if we make it back I am sure, I'll never see my firebolt again and my next vacations for the rest of my schooling life we be spent doing chores for Arabella, but she'll be fine so what does it matter?" as he kissed Katherine once again on the forehead while she continued to scream.
"Don't worry Mione, the worst they can do to you is give you detention. Be thankful you don't have my parents." Ron smiled at her then rapped his arms around her and kissed her. "And Harry we're all going to make it back, I think I have a plan I'll tell you when I have working it all out in my head. Everything is going to be alright..." he whispered to Hermione "...I promise, don't worry."
The two boys held their lovers in their arms thinking about how the outcome of the day could be happy for all. However at this point in time they couldn't see how this could be even if they had said it numerous times.
Darkness fell and the adult were worried. Fred and George sat in a large corner of the room trying to figure out a way to help the people they considered to be family. They had spent numerous time with Katherine over the past year and watched the relationship her and Harry shared grow, until it finally blossomed into what it is today, and to them that was enough for them to consider the girl to be family, as Harry was their brother in all except blood, and anyone knew that nothing matter more to a Weasley or the twins then family.
"George I have an idea."
"Hedwig and the brooms...."
"Indeed..."
"Shouldn't we tell the Order...?"
"Nope this is not about the Order...."
"Family..."
"Family..."
"We'll send word when we get there..."
"Until then, not a word...."
The boys both drew the most serious expression across their face and slipped out of the room. They found Hedwig in the Owlery.
"Hedwig we need your help Harry's in trouble..."
"We need you to take us to him..."
"Girl we know you're the only one who can find him..."
The beautiful snowy owl cocked here head to one side, she new the two boys, there were friends of her Harry, and he trusted them, and they said he was in trouble. She hooted her agreement.
The owl took flight and the boys followed her on their brooms, which they had picked up on the way to find the owl.
"Arthur have you seen the twins?"
"No Molly."
"Bill? Charlie? Have you?"
"No Mum" the boys answered together in union.
"Don't worry Molly they will turn up."
The morning sun rose over the horizon. Waking Ron and Hermione how had fallen asleep earlier that morning. "Mate did you get any sleep?"
"Sorry Ron I couldn't I..."
"I know, while don't you and me switch places for a bit while you get some rest, even for a little bit?"
"Ron it's not necessary don't worry." He drew the still screaming girl tighter to his chest. It had been 16 hours now since she had first been put into the horrific nightmare she was forced to relive over and over again.
Hermione gave him a worried look. "Don't worry Hermione I'll get some rest as soon as she wakes up. We will be there soon."
Half and hour later the car began to its decent from the skies towards the town of Creteil, where Voldemort wished to meet.
"Ron, did you think of that plan yet?"
"Yeah been the only thing I've been thinking about all night."
"Well let's hear it you're the best strategist I have every known and therefore I know if anyone can get us out of this alive it's you" said Harry while he smiled.
"Ok but it all depends on Katherine's ability to do magic when she makes up. As your wand isn't going to work against Voldemort if you two end up duelling... brother wands and all... and Hermione and I are most likely going to be busy with Death Eaters."
"True so what do you have in mind?"
"Well Voldemort said he wants you to serve him right so that means he is going to want you to take his mark, which we cant let you do because he will have a hold on you and you'll also be shunned because you would be thought to be a Death Eater... So what we need you to do is get him to ensure that he removes the curse first, or we have no way to wake Katherine up. Then while you're doing that, Hermione and I will be freeing our selves from the Death Eaters, doesn't matter how, when we get free they don't worry about us because Voldemort wont worry about us he'll be more concerned with you and Katherine. We'll get the car ready for our escape while the two of you get out of there. Now as soon as Katherine's wakes you need her to raise her shield it won't protect you as you know from unforgivables but it will stop the majority of things they throw your way. You two will have to fight your way out, but Harry you can't try to finish this thing with Voldemort. Katherine's going to be very weak and if she can even put the shield up I don't know, but it's the only option we have to save both of you."
"Alright... tonight we shall all go home together, the final battle won't be today," said Harry.
They all reached out together and with one hand and grasp the other two's they would fight together once again, to save a friend and a lover.
The car touched the ground, and Katherine's right hand slapped Harry across this face his eyes filled with tears not because it hurt but rather because of what had been done to her because of him.
"Hermione do you know where we are going?" asked Ron.
"Yes just drive and I'll direct you it's a small forest outside of the city, it won't be hard to find."
"Soon we will be there and everything will be ok." Harry whispered into Katherine's ear and kissed her on her cheek.
It appeared Ron's driving skills had advanced far more then what they had been in their second year.
"Guys where here" said Ron.
"Fred do you think we will get their in time to help them?"
"I hope so George... but we shall do our best to help them."
"Arthur the twins have gone and so has Hedwig, I think they have gone after Ron and the others, what are we going to do?"
"Molly will go find Dumbledore, and despite everything those boys are they will do anything for family, don't worry they'll make sure they come back. And then you can punish all six of them as much as you like." He smiled at his wife.
"Sirius how could we let this happen?" said Arabella.
"Bella they will come back, don't worry about it, by the end of tonight everything shall be alright."
"Arabella, Sirius is right, Kinsley's working with the Aurors now, and soon they believe they will have a current location on Voldemort, then will go and get them" said Remus.
"Bella, every thing's going to be alright" said Peter, he had only been back with his friends for a couple of months now but life and friendships had soon returned to how they should have been if fate had not cast them all such a rotten hand.
The car parked outside of the forest, where the four people got out. Harry carried Katherine while Ron had a protective arm rapped around Hermione.
"Last chance."
"Never," they both said together.
"Now let us get this over with" said Ron.
They all moved through the forest together, and before they reached the group of death eaters, they glanced at one another again and gave a silent nod and began to walk into the lions den.
"Ah Harry I see you decided to come, and take me up on my proposal, and look you brought some friends with you, more blood on your hands my boy." Voldemort smiled it was the most disgusting site the teenagers have ever seen; Red eyes mixed with a face that should have been dead and decaying many years prior.
"Voldemort you attacked the women I loved, and I didn't think you could seek any lower, and the blood on my hands is nothing compared to your own."
"Death Eaters take them," said Voldemort as he pointed to Ron and Hermione.
"Well it seems I finally have gotten what I wanted, the boy who lived to serve me."
"I always though you wanted me dead."
"No Harry far from it, you took what should have been mine seventeen years ago from me but tonight you shall take my mark and bow to your lord and master as it should have been."
"I shall not be doing anything until you remove the curse and wake Katherine. And then let her and my friends go and I shall join you without protest, you shall get what you want."
"They are of no consequence to me, a Weasley and two mudbloods are a worthy price to pay. Bring the child to me..." he smirked. He knew nothing about the phoenix child, or the role she would play or that there was a second prophecy. To him she was another mudblood and a way to get out the boy how had slipped through his grasp one to many times. He began to whisper a very strange phrase unlike anything Harry.
Fred and George had touched down on the ground a few minutes ago.
"George you apparate back and lead them here. And I'll go and help the others till you arrive back with the cavalry. And don't be long."
"I shall... Keep safe..." And with a pop George was gone.
Fred wandered deeper within the forest in search of his brother and his friends. After a few minutes of walking he came across the Hogwarts students, Voldemort and the Death Eaters which serve him.
Fred saw his youngest brother and girlfriend being held captive by Death Eaters in front on him. He quickly pulled out some Weasley Wizard Wheezes' hot robe starters. They set a person robes on fire however they only burned for a few minutes without actually burring the person only severing to singe the victim's robes.
Four Death Eaters held his brother and his girlfriend captive while Voldemort was talking to Harry, who still held a screaming Katherine in his arms. Fred silently attached a hot robe starter to each of the four death eaters. The results were instantaneous. Soon the death eaters had released their holds and Ron and Hermione were free.
"YOU STUPID FOULS, HOWEVER THEY ARE OF LITTLE CONSEQUENCE TO US LEAVE THEM" shouted Voldemort.
Hermione and Ron ran as fast as they could away from the group of Death Eaters. A large hand caught Ron's shoulder. Ron and Hermione turned around. "Fred... what are you doing here?"
"Saving your butt little brother... how the hell were you planning of getting out of there with your hides in tacked?"
"A lot of luck was involved ok. But where is the rest of the Calvary?"
"George is getting them they should be here any moment."
"I think they are here" said Hermione.
Through the forest came 20 people, fifteen of, which they had seen before while taking off.
Mrs Weasley ran over and rapped her arms around both children, hugging them tightly, as she squeezed Ron and Fred tightly.
"Fred..."
"George..." the two smiled and nodded to each other.
"Well Ron I assume you had a plan when you came here so lets here it" said Sirius.
Ron and Hermione looked at each other, and then between the two of them began to retell the plan they had hoped would get them all out alive, which was based entirely on luck for the majority of it.
"Harry still has no idea that you're all here and so he is just going to keep going with the next stage of the plan, which is once Katherine is awake."
"Headmaster how well do you think Katherine will be able to do magic once she is awake?" asked Hermione.
"I am not sure Ms Granger."
"Then I think we should all surround them immediately as they are going to need our help very soon" said Ron.
The twenty three spilt up and began to hide around the sides around the death eaters and their Lord. Hidden beneath the cover of the forest the slowly advanced without being seen.
After 15 minutes of incantations Voldemort finally stopped. "It is done, now present your arm."
"I will not until I know she is fine she will awake and leave then I will do what you ask" said Harry.
"Very well, but this is the last time you will take my mark as soon as she is awake, then you will bow to you Master and Lord."
Harry still held Katherine in his arms however she longer screamed and thrashed about but rather lay peace fully in his arms. "Kath, wake up let me see your eyes." She began to stir in his arms and soon she woke. "I love," he kissed her on the lips and held her tight.
"Harry, where are we?" she asked as he put her down. She glanced around, and her eyes meet the eyes of a man she had never seen before. Black men in robes surrounded the two teenagers. "Harry?" her voice was barely auditable from all the screaming she was forced to do.
"It will be alright...."
"Why did you bring us here?"
"To make you better..." he stared at Voldemort.
"You you're the one that made me relive that over and over again. You fucking coward, you didn't have the courage to come after me so you attack me in my dreams making me relive the worst moments of my life over and over again."
"I would hold your tongue you do not know who I am."
"Actually I know exactly how you are. I want to know what Harry gave you to make you release me from my nightmare."
"He has agreed to take my mark and serve me like he should have long ago."
"Over my dead body" the blue shield rose around the two of them, Katherine wavered in her stance as it came up.
"Boy we had a deal, did you never learn to honour the deals you make?"
"Like you have always done."
"Well if you won't serve me then your body will lie cold under my feet along with the women you love just like you parents."
The curses began to be thrown from the death eaters, the two students and Voldemort himself as well as the many people hidden within the marshes. Many of the death eaters were struck down to the ground while other fled in fear. Voldemort had already decided that this would not be the battle in which the fate of the world would once again be decided and he disapparated.
Harry and Katherine made their way through the clearing trying to reach the tree line where they could effectively hide without having to worry about being attached from both sides. Katherine began to waver in her stance and the blue shield began to fade slightly before she passed out. Harry caught her in his arms. As none of the Death Eaters had figured out that the shield could only be penetrated by unforgivables. He picked up his girlfriend and ran as fast as he could towards the forest.
They reached the clearing and Harry kept running in search of the Ford Angelina. He found it and looked around Hermione and Ron were not around. "RON HERMIONE!! Where are you we have to go!" The shield had disappeared and Katherine was now unconscious, as he lay her on the back seat of the car. "Just wait here. I'll be right back." He shut the door, and quickly began to look around the area surrounding the car. "RON HERMIONE WHERE THE HELL ARE YOU???" Harry began to walk around looking for his two best friends.
Out of the forest came the 23 people who had helped them escape. "Young man you have no idea how much trouble you are in" said Remus.
"Ok but can we talk about this later and just get back to Hogwarts."
Harry made his way back over to the car. "Oh god not again" he pulled open the door and found Katherine in the mitts of a seizure. He pulled her out of the car and lay her down on the ground.
"Oh my," said Molly as she watched the child convulse on the ground.
"Harry I think it is time we get Katherine to the hospital wing. I shall portkey us there and the rest of you can apparate back."
"What about the car?" asked Ron.
The engine roared to life and the car took off again heading home.
The old headmaster picked up the teenager off the ground with strength no one knew he had. And touched the portkey he had just created out of a lemon drop he had in his pocket.
"Harry you will come with me" said Sirius as he looked at his godson.
"Ron you will apparate with me and Hermione Molly will take you with her" said Arthur and soon a series of pops sounded and the group which had moments ago stood in the forest now stood in Hogmeade.
As soon as the group had arrived the three students began to run back to Hogwarts; followed by the group of adults who walked quickly after them.
Harry was ahead of the group as he raced through the gates and through the halls of the school; that he new like the back of his hand, up to the hospital wing where he assumed his girlfriend would be. He ripped open the large doors which lead to the hospital wing. Katherine was in the back of the hospital wing where Harry usually slept. Madam Pomfrey and Professor Snape were trying to feed the Gryffindor potions, while Professor Dumbledore held her arms again down. He still saw the restraints that were still attached to the bed that had held her down hours ago.
"Stop it..." yelled Harry as he raced over to his angel's bed.
"Potter...."
"Snape shut up and leave her alone." Harry pushed this way through the teachers and sat next to his convulsive girlfriend he took her in the arms and the shaking subsided, until it was barely noticeable. Then she slept in his arms. While the three teachers and his best friends watched.
Soon the rest of the group that had been in the forest came in to the hospital wing. They could only stare at what was before them. Harry was whispering softly in Katherine's ear while Hermione and Ron sat on the edge of the bed holding each other. Hermione's head rested on Ron's shoulder.
Soon the adults disappeared leaving the four friends alone in the wing together with Madam Pomfrey, as they had an order meeting to attend to.
The Order gathered in the great hall. A different remanent of different discussions and arguments could be heard, all around the room; until Headmaster Albus Dumbledore stood up in the middle of the room, then it all fell silent.
"Now, as all of you have heard the four students are back at Hogwarts in the hospital wing at the moment, which we have Fred and George Weasley to thank for this, who's unique way of thinking allowed us to find the children in time."
A great applause filled the room, to commend the twins on their effort. As Molly hugged and kissed her boys praising them for what they had done.
"Now professor Snape will recount to us what he witnessed this morning."
"The children arrived, and were soon taken into custody where death eaters held Ms Granger and Mr. Weasley while Potter brought Ms Summers up to the Dark Lord carrying her in his arms. They began to talk and Potter agreed he would take the mark once the Dark Lord reversed what was done to Summers the Dark Lord agreed. Granger and Weasley escaped the means of what I would assume was one of Mr Wesley's joke shop items as the Death Eaters who held the two students robes began to burn." Everyone looked at Fred and George. "Mr Weasley, I was one of those four Death Eaters that you set their robes on fire. We shall be speaking later." Fred visibly gulped. "Once the two had escaped the Dark Lord removed the curse he had placed on Ms Summers, and then the order arrived." Snape sat down and the meeting continued.
The discussion drifted to how the curse was placed on Katherine as you need to be indirect contact with the person you were cursing. They concluded they would have to wait till the Phoenix Child was awake before that particular question could be answered. Plans for the children's' safety was also discussed. Harry would be fine as he was now living with Sirius, Peter, Remus and Arabella. And Hermione and Ron's safety was never in any question as no one new were the Grangers lived and Ron lived in a house full of fully trained wizards; however Katherine was another question. Her family had moved once to protect her but now that Voldemort had found a link, which he could exploit to get to Harry, he was sure not to give up, as he didn't know about the second prophecy which contained Katherine's role in the final battle.
Mrs. Weasley immediately offered to have to girl stay with her for the summer, as did Sirius as she was her cousins after all.
"Huh? I have another cousin?" asked Tonks.
"Tonks I forgot to tell you we'll talk after this, but yep you do have another cousin distant but sit related" said Sirius.
"Ok, family's, family; she can stay with me as well if she wants. However I think she would prefer to stay in the same house as Harry," said Tonks smirking at Remus while she said it, and it took all of his power not to laugh.
"Tonks!!" yelled Mrs. Weasley. "I do not think this is the time for such a discussion."
"Yes, well moving on. I think that at the moment Katherine will be able to stay with her family for the holidays, if it is seen to be that her safety is in jeopardy while she is their then we will discuss other options," said Professor Dumbledore as he continued the meeting. Discussing the latest muggle attacks and the alliances Voldemort might try to form.
Hermione had fallen asleep on Ron's shoulder, while he and Harry talked about what had happed and what was going to happen in the future.
"So what do you think they are going to do to us this time mate?"
"Your guess is as good as mine; the school can't really do anything but give us a detention. But our folks that's something entirely different... I don't want to even think what Sirius, Remus and Arabella are going to do to me after this one. I'll bet I'll never see my firebolt again;" but as he glanced down at the sleeping beauty in his arms "but I'd do it all over again for her."
"I know what you mean mate" said Ron as he kissed the top of Hermione's head as she slept. "So when do you think they will wake up?"
"Not till morning I think. But does it really matter when the most beautiful women in the world are asleep in our arms."
"I agree mate, it doesn't matter at all... not at all" said Ron as he gazed down at the woman asleep in his arms that he had hidden his feelings about since their first year. When he woke up to find her standing over him, after he had been knocked off the knight's horse, within the gigantic chess game McGonagall had transfigured, in defence of the Philosopher's stone.
The two sixteen-year-olds held their partners closer to their chests, as they settled down for a night of watching to make sure nothing else happened.
The night passed and the sun once again rose over the forbidden forest, causing the light to stream into the windows of the hospital wing. Madam Pomfrey had continuous checked in on the four students. Trying to get the boys to move and sleep in a bed each so they could get some rest. However each time they had politely refused telling her that they would not be moved. She finally gave up, after left the four students to get as much rest as possible.
The Order of the Phoenix meeting had gone all night, and when sun rose it finally ended.
"Sirius, you going to tell me about this cousin I never knew I had?"
"Sure Tonks... their great grandfather is Augnus who was the brother of Phineas Nigellus who was disowned from the family for marring a muggle like your mother except, their line was totally stripped from the tapestry they weren't ever mention because at the time... well you can imagine so they were forgotten."
"Cool so there are more of us, which seemed to have disgraced the family name... well I would like to meet this cousin of mine." said Tonks with a smile on her face.
"Later we'll all go and see them, but I think it about time some of us got some rest," said Remus. As they all made their way up to the suite Arabella and Remus had once shared with Sirius; Tonks and Remus heading off in one direction and Bella and her fiancée in another.
"Morning sleepy head" said Harry as his girlfriend stirred in his arms.
"Mmm... did you sit there all night?"
"Yes and there is no other place I rather would have been." And he kissed her. "You know if you are ready to tell me I would like to know what the nightmare you lived in was about."
She visibly shuttered at the thought. "Yes... I think you deserve it, however those two should hear it as well so I'll wait till they wake up, I don't really want to think about it more then I have to." She quickly glanced at her arm and the tattoo which lay underneath her sleeve. The words were as clear to her as if she were looking at them. Never again, never forget with 19/08/1995, she would never forget that night, and Voldemort had made sure now unconsciously, that the nightmare that she battle with for half her life would be back again in full force.
Ron gave a small nod to single his agreement with the idea; as he glanced down at the woman in his arms that began to wake.
"Well it seems we all made it back in one piece yet again" said Ron.
"You shouldn't have risk your lives for me, I am sure the Order would have eventually found a way to help me." As she glanced down at the restraints on her bed a shuttered and a tear feel from her eyes, she new what they had done.
"Enough... don't think about it.... We are here together and that's all that matters." She was going to protest again however she couldn't as she soon found that her lips were being occupied with those of her boyfriends.
"Ok... I won't say other word on the subject except thank you...but...."
"No, stop that there are no buts."
"Ok...Now I think you guys deserve to know about the nightmare Voldemort had me relive. ...I was eight years old and I came home from my great aunts house. And there were sirens... that were going off..., everywhere.... I umm...tried...to get over to the house, but my mother... was holding me back. They wheeled out the body... of my best friend. Her stepfather had killed her.... She was like my sister..., and I saw them taking her away...." She began to cry, everyone felt sorry for her, and Harry held her tight. 'They never understand they don't need to know, and they will hate you if you tell them everything. Never again, never forget 19/08/1995.'
They were content with the story Katherine had told them, they never thought to think that there would be more to the story then what she had said. The Order believed that it was a nightmare Voldemort himself had invented to trap her in.
Katherine was forced to stay in the hospital wing for the next three days in, which time Hermione, Ron and Harry never left her side. And when she was released the four of them returned to Gryffindor tower, together for the last week of school, for the year.
It seemed that no punishment was to be given to any of them for what they had done, their parents were so happy to have them back that they had forgotten the whole idea, which Harry and Ron were especially thankful for. And the school also concluded that no punishment should be given out due to the extraordinary circumstances of the situation.
Life returned to normal.
The End.
(Epilogue will be the next chapter, the then part two shall begin and the first chapter shall solve the entire mystery behind Jillian and Katherine.)
Review Responses:
Auntarctic: To achieve é you don't need a special keyboard it can be found in symbols or if you use auto correct or spell check you can get it. And about Tonks parents I can't remember for sure if Tonks father was a muggle born or a muggle there are just too many conflicting view. :D
Aalikane: well it certainly did cover all possible cases however its ten points for every review. Therefore 10 more points shall be added to Ravenclaw for you.
House cup points:
Gryffindor: 160 points
Slytherin: 100 points
Ravenclaw: 60 points
Hufflepuff: 30 points