A/N: You know, there are days I think have you guys all figured out. Then you go and do something like this to me.
Let's talk about dear old Kristen.
Folks, what did I do? Did I make her too likable? Has it just been too long since I introduced a new character? Is she really just that cute?
She was a 'throw-in' at best. A sounding board for Katlin. I never expected you guys to notice her, much less LIKE her!
Oh well. Such is life. It just goes to show you can never predict what your readers will latch onto.
However, I would like to point out rather firmly, this story is already written, and despite your feelings for or against certain characters, I am not inclined to change the plot.
SO, do NOT come whining to me later on, O.K.?
And that's all I'm gonna say.
Except, as alway...,
Enjoy.
Disclaimer: Still, despite the fact there are very few non-original characters in this story, I do not claim any of this as my own with exception to the plot....and most of the characters. Anything even remotely connected to Harry potter is the express property of JK 'I'm bored. I think I will buy a third world country and revitalize it over the weekend for a lark' Rowling and her less humanitarian minded publishers.
Chapter Thirteen C: A Night On The Town
While waiting to hear what Charly's explanation was, Orion decided he would do well to smooth over the waters with Katlin. She had not been pleased when she left him last, and nothing spoke of her mood louder than the fact that in the last few days that Charly had been in the house, he hadn't received as much as one e-mail from her. This from a woman whose last e-mail to him could have had her arrested for sending pornographic material via the internet. Not that Orion would have bothered reporting her.
Having heard nothing from her for the past three days, Orion decided that it was going to be up to him to re-open the lines of communication. Or at the very least, find out just how deep in it he was with his lover.
Letters were always good for that.
He started the letter with a very long, sincere apology that went on for most of the page and ended with an invitation to dinner. Orion re-read the letter a half a dozen times, changed it twice as many times, and reconsidered sending it a dozen more. But finally he hit the 'send' key on his computer.
Katlin kept him waiting three more days for a reply. A sign that Orion took as a good one, in that at least she was thinking it over. The return e-mail, however, left a great deal to be desired compared to her previous one. It was so short and formal that Orion could practically feel the coldness in it. But she had accepted the invitation nonetheless. So he had the opportunity at least to make amends.
Orion started by saying absolutely nothing when Katlin arrived at the house a half hour late. He simply greeted her with a small kiss on the cheek and asked her if she was ready to leave.
"I hope this isn't going to be a totally silent evening." Orion commented finally after they had driven several miles without so much as a word between them.
"You're the one not saying anything." Katlin replied in a level voice.
"Love," He said, turning briefly to her, "what more can I say that I didn't say in the note?"
"Did you asked your partner about his story?"
Orion paused. "No." He said finally. "But Charly still wasn't up to snuff even when he left to go home. He's still off the Department's active list even. It's only fair to give him a few days to recover."
"More like a few days to get his story right." Katlin added partially under her breath.
Orion sighed softly. "Love," he said finally, "could we please not argue over this? I thought this was one of those things we weren't suppose to talk about? You know. 'Business'."
Katlin sighed as she turned to the side, staring out at the scenery as they drove on. She thought back over the conversation she had had with Kristen and the promise she had made. Would it really hurt to give him a chance?
"All right." She said, trying to sound a little less formal. "You haven't said where we were going yet. You can start with that."
Orion paused again, causing Katlin to turn to him.
"Well?" she prompted.
"It's....sort of a surprise." Orion offered as an explanation.
Katlin turned back to the side. "All right." She replied. "I hope it's a good surprise."
"So do I." Orion replied in a quiet whisper, watching any hopes for an extended evening go right over the proverbial cliff. He slowly shook his head. He should have stuck to the standard. Get her into bed and shag her till sunrise. That always got him out of the doghouse.
Orion mentally shook off the thought. No. That wasn't what it was suppose to be anymore. He was suppose to be trying to show Katlin he was different from the other men she had known. And as such, sex wasn't going to be the reason or the answer to every problem between them anymore. Orion sighed a bit louder than he intended.
"That sounded hopeful." Katlin commented next to him.
Orion continued watching the road. "Did you ever find yourself in the middle of something, and have absolutely no idea how to get out of it?" He asked her candidly.
Katlin turned back to him. "Is that euphemistically, or are we actually in reality here?"
Orion shrugged. "I'm not really sure."
"Well, if you're not sure, how can I answer that?"
Orion turned briefly to her, then back to the road. "Katlin, all I wanted tonight was for us to have a quiet, peaceful evening together. But for the life of me, I just seem to keep screwing things up."
Katlin turned a thoughtful stare to him for a moment. She had to admit, he was trying awfully hard to make things up to her. And it probably wouldn't hurt any of she gave him just a little more leeway.
"You don't keep 'screwing things up'." She replied in a bit softer tone. "And the letter was very nice. I think in it you apologized for just about everything you've done since you were three. And you're right. What's between you and your partner is 'business'. So, for tonight, we won't discuss it and try instead to have a 'quiet, peaceful evening together'."
Orion turned to her with a genuine smile. "Does that mean I'm forgiven?"
Katlin turned back to the side. Give the man an inch..... "We'll see." She replied, not entirely keeping the smile out of her voice.
Katlin decided the best way to lighten the mood was to make a game out of trying to guess where they were going. But she found she hadn't even been close when they finally pulled into the parking lot of a small restaurant just outside of London. Still early in the evening, the two were practically the only car there, with most of the others likely belonging to the staff.
"And how many friends of yours will we run into here?" Katlin asked as Orion held the door open for her. Wherever they went, Orion seemed to know no less then a half dozen people who either worked at the establishment, owned it, or frequented it regularly. But Orion simply gave her a small smile.
"Not one." He replied. "I thought, since we're trying to make something of this relationship, it would be nice if we started going to places where we were both recognized, not just me, or you because you're with me, but as a couple.
Katlin gave him a genuine smile as he held the door to the restaurant open for her.
"For a man constantly screwing things up," she told him past a quick kiss on the cheek, "I should warn you tonight you're doing a rotten job of it."
Orion gave himself a private, congratulatory smile as he followed her into the restaurant.
Just inside the doors they were met by a beaming Maitre d'.
"Good evening." The man smiled at them. "You are a bit early, I'm afraid. We don't start serving for another half-hour."
"I assume your bar is at least open?" Orion asked pleasantly enough.
"Of course, Sir." The man answered in an understanding way. "Will it be just two for dinner then?"
Orion dipped his hand into his jacket pocket, pulling out his wallet. "It will be just two for dinner." He stated, opening the bill fold and pulling out a good deal of money.
The Maitre d' followed his hands with the utmost attention. "I'm sorry, sir." He stated with a slightly uncomfortable stammer in his voice. "I...I'm not sure I understand."
Orion looked up at the man. "The lady and I prefer our privacy. How much to serve just us this evening?"
"Orion." Katlin began, her eyes widening slightly as she cast a glance at the man standing in front of them. But the Maitre d' hadn't taken his eyes off of the sheaf of bills in Orion's hands.
"B....but, sir......that would require closing the restaurant for the night. You're talking lost revenue...."
Orion began to finger through the bills.
"......and wages......" The man continued, still following the fingers movement.
Orion continued fingering through more bills.
"...and tips....." The Maitre d' added.
Orion peeled off several more bills.
"....and......valet revenue....." The man seemed to be honestly searching now.
Orion kept peeling off bills.
"....and........it would be a horrible inconvenience......."
Orion stopped fingering through the bills as he shifted his eyes back to the man. Abruptly he suddenly returned the bills to his wallet and placed it back in his jacket pocket. "Well, if it's going to be such a horrible inconvenience for you to make so much 'revenue' just to serve two people tonight, perhaps we can find somewhere else where they won't be so 'inconvenienced'."
The man practically dove after the disappearing wallet. "Oh, no!" He stated a little too quickly, but just as hurriedly pulled back, his hands folded tightly before him as he favored Orion with a patronizing smile. "Sir misunderstood me." He offered solicitously. "I merely meant that.....I would need.......need to inform the staff......that we would only be having two for dinner."
Orion returned his smile inch for inch. "Then off you go." He said.
As soon as the man disappeared, Katlin practically dissolved into fit of giggles as she leaned against her escort. "Ohhhh," she stated, "you are so very wicked."
"He was being a nuisance."
"You were baiting him....showing him that money. And where did you get so much muggle money, anyway?"
"Paper is easier to carry. And Gringotts accommodates me quite well in the larger exchanges."
"It must be nice...to be so rich."
Orion frowned slightly at the statement. "It has its price."
"For instance?"
Orion turned back to her with a very serious expression. "Its very lonely most of the time."
Katlin gave him a surprised look. "Lonely? I would think people would be lining up to be your friend if you have so much money."
"That's just the point, Love. They are, because your have so much money. Because of what they hope you can do for them."
"So what makes you think I'm not here for the same reason?"
Orion smiled at her. "Because your sleeping with me for information. I thought we had already established that?"
Katlin nudged him. "I'm serious. What makes you so sure I'm not after your money?"
"Because your not."
"Did your infamous Auror sixth sense tell you that?" She asked.
"No." He replied. "You did. When we first went to your apartment. You made a point of the fact that it was yours, and that you didn't owe anyone for it. That was very important to you. And in all these months, you've never asked me for anything. Even your pendant. As much as you wanted it, you didn't ask me to buy it for you."
Just then the Maitre d' reappeared with his most charming smile. "If you and the lady are prepared to be seated, sir?" He asked solicitously.
"I thought you didn't start serving for another half-hour?" Orion inquired casually, but with a small touch of sarcasm nonetheless.
"But sir is here now." The man replied with the proper smile. "And what is a half-hour? The chef would just be sitting about waiting anyway. And he is most eager to cook up something quite special for the sir and the madam."
Orion turned to Katlin with a genuine smile. "He sounds just like Tets, doesn't he?" He asked.
Katlin gave him a sharp elbow in the ribs as she followed the Maitre d's lead.
The man quickly seated them at the center table and all but ran off to get their wine, insisting on choosing it himself. When he came back he presented them each with a menu, but Orion quickly waved them off.
"You work here." He told then Maitre d'. "I'm quite sure you would know what the chef's specialty is."
The man positively beamed. "Oh, indeed. Sir has made a very wise choice. Our chef is well known for his pasta dishes. He will be thrilled that sir and madam are allowing him to make his specialty for them. As soon as sir and madam are ready, I shall tell him to start preparing your meal."
Orion watched the man hurry off after pouring each of them a glass of wine and waiting to make sure his selection was approved of. He then retreated back to the front of the restaurant where Orion could still see the man hovering just within his line of sight, should he be needed.
With a small sigh Orion decided it was time to get past what for him would be the worst part of the evening. Katlin had never even broached the subject of their talk over dinner at his house. And as much as he might dread the answer, he was curious to know if she had thought anymore about it.
"I was wondering, Love," he started cautiously, "if you had given any more thought to the talk we had?"
Katlin stopped in the middle of taking a sip of wine from her glass. As she set it slowly back down, she followed her own movements with her eyes.
"As a matter of fact, I have." She answered truthfully.
"And?"
Katlin paused, trying to collect her thoughts as well as form her answer. "Orion, I told you before, what you are asking for I don't think I can give you....."
"Look, I know you've been hurt before," Orion jumped in quickly, ready to plead his case one last time, "Katlin, I am not 'all those other men'. And when you decide on this, and you remember all the others; the ones who hurt you, who told you all their lies of loving you, please don't think of me as well. Because, Love." he added softly, taking her hands as she turned to look at him, "all I have ever wanted is in your eyes. Each night I go to bed, the happiest I have ever been in my life is holding you in my arms. And I look forward to each day that starts the same way."
Katlin sat staring at him for a moment. Studying the man sitting across from her, she remembered back to all the things she had told Kristen about him. All the traits, the affection, and the caring he had ever shown her was also in those eyes that now also held the most hopeful, sincere plea she had ever seen. 'Just to give him a chance', Kristen's voice echoed in her mind. 'Would it really hurt to try one last time?'
"You didn't let me finish." She said with a small, soft smile, curling her fingers gently about his. "What you're asking for, Orion, I don't think I can give you. But if you are willing to try..., and willing to be patient..., then so am I."
Orion's face lit into the most genuine smile Katlin had ever seen on it.
"You mean that, Love?" He asked, barely containing his enthusiasm and the choked sound in his voice.
Not trusting her own voice, Katlin only answered with a small smile. The hand that had been clasping her's so tightly now reached up and gently caressed a path along her jaw and under her chin.
"I have to know," he asked, tracing a finger lightly over her lips, "what changed your mind?"
Katlin answered with the same small smile. "Someday I'll introduce you to her."
"Well, prepare her first."
"For what?"
"She's in for the biggest 'thank you' she's ever gotten."
Katlin's smile wrapped itself around the rim of her glass as she imagined Kristen's reaction to meeting with Orion's surely over-enthusiastic 'thank you'.
Three glasses of wine, an appetizer, and half a main course later, Orion was right in the middle of a story of one of his earlier exploits with his partner when a small sound interrupted him. Katlin looked up as Orion sighed loudly.
"Problems?" She asked.
"I'm sorry, Love." Orion replied, pulling out his wand. "I was on call tonight. But I was certain there wouldn't be any trouble."
Katlin watched Orion cast a quick concealment charm around them. As he conjured up a small fire, she discretely got out of view of whoever might be calling.
"Black!"
Orion grimaced as the face of his superior appeared in the fire. "Yes, Bale." He answered politely nonetheless.
"There's a Deatheater gathering tonight. Just got word on it. Several of them were seen apparating to the lair in Clamdale. I want you to sit in on that meeting."
Katlin's eyebrows went up slightly, but Orion didn't so much as acknowledge that she was in the room with him. Nor did she expect him to. As far as he was concerned, she well knew, the minute Orin Bale appeared in the fire, he was in the room alone. It made for less questions if his superior didn't think otherwise.
"How long?" Orion asked.
"You should already be there."
Orion waved the fire out without another word.
"I am sorry, Love." He apologized to her again, waiting for Katlin to reseat herself across from him before he lifted the concealment charm. "We'll have to cut the evening short."
"I'm going with you." Katlin announced as though it were a natural part of the conversation.
Orion looked up from laying his napkin on the table. "What?"
"I'm going with you." Katlin repeated, meeting his stare.
"Love, this is a mission, not part of the evening's planned activities."
"Orion, there is no Deatheater meeting scheduled for tonight." She stated at him directly.
Orion thought for a moment. "What's the possibility they called one you weren't aware of?"
"None." She replied shortly. "If three Deatheaters were getting together tonight to play cards till dawn, I'd have heard of it. We don't gather unless Voldemort has called for such a meeting. And if he knows of it, so would I, as head of the Elite. If they are meeting, they are doing it on their own. In which case, I would need to know what's going on. If they are meeting and I wasn't told, I want to find out why."
Orion shrugged. "Just keep to your side of the fence." He stated as he got up, dropping several large bills on the table after he dropped the concealment charm.
Katlin grabbed her wrap off the back of the chair as the Maitre d' came scurrying into the room.
"Sir is not leaving!?" He stated in dismay. "Was something wrong?"
"No. Everything was fine. Excellent, in fact." Orion replied. "A call....on my beeper." He added quickly.
The Maitre d' gave him a sympathetic look. "Oh, we are sorry, sir. I do hope sir and madam will delight us with their presence again soon?"
Orion smiled at the man as he guided Katlin out ahead of him. "Oh, we're becoming quite fond of this place." He said. "The service is very good."
The man scurried after them, apologizing all the way to the door. Orion finally left him with a very large tip and followed Katlin quickly out to the car.
"It was a very nice evening." She commented as Orion climbed in next to her.
Orion started the engine. "And it's not even over yet." He replied, gunning the car out onto the highway.
Orion followed Katlin's directions until she estimated they were within a few miles of the Deatheater lair where the meeting was taking place. Once Orion had the car hidden, they apparated to a side wall of the lair, which like Katlin's own lair, was hidden in a large mountain cavern.
Running her hand over the wall, Katlin quickly found a small notch carved into the side of the cliff. Pulling out her wand she stuck the tip into the notch.
"Every Deatheater lair has a side opening." Katlin told Orion as a small doorway materialized before them. "And you owe me for that piece of information."
Orion shrugged. "Most Departmental offices failed their fire code inspections because they don't have enough exits. Will that do?"
Katlin sighed as she led the way into the lair. "Just stay behind me." She instructed.
A pair of arms quickly wrapped themselves around her waist and a body pulled up tightly against her's. "My favorite place."
A sharp elbow found his ribs again.
"Orion!" Katlin hissed at him as she deactivated one of the detection spells. "This is serious!"
"I'm aware of that, Love." He replied. "I just don't see why it involves you at the moment. And isn't our being here together against the rules?"
"Orion, there is a meeting going on here of which I have no prior knowledge. I need to know what's going on. Now, I would be here anyway. As far as I'm concerned, you just happen to be tagging along."
"I thought it was the other way around."
"Other way around?"
"You're tagging along with me."
"Just stay close, will you?"
"Any ideas yet?" Orion asked quietly after they had moved through several hundred yards of corridor and quite a few detections spells that Katlin had disarmed along the way.
Katlin sighed as she disarmed another spell. "I'm still working with the idea this is just a group of malcontents getting together to whine and fantasize about what they would do if they were stronger. And if it is then I'll deal with them as they should be."
"How far to the meeting area?"
Katlin thought for a moment as she looked about them. "I haven't been in this lair in some time. But we should be very close now. And if I tell you to leave, Orion," Katlin pointed out strictly, "you do so."
Orion immediately bulked at the command. "Katlin, if things get messy I'm not going to just leave you....."
"Orion, listen to me. We can't be seen together, so at some point we have to split up. Now, if I'm seen, I can explain my presence here. Can you?"
"But Katlin....."
"Orion, if your seen, you get out as quickly as you can. I can handle things much better if I'm not having to worry about where you are and what's happened to you."
"Katlin, in case you've forgotten, this is what I do for a living."
"And in case you've forgotten, these are my people. And the ones who are here are, after all, the ones with the explaining to do."
Orion sighed and dutifully continued to follow her lead. A few seconds later Katlin turned them into a small side tunnel which led to a narrow staircase that had been carved out of the rock. At the top Orion found himself entering a small chamber that had also been carved apparently out of the rock itself, fashioned with a small open panel. As they peered over the edge, Orion found they had a perfect view from the opening of the larger chamber below where several people were already gathered.
"Definitely looks like a get-together of some sort." Orion observed. "Not many malcontents though."
Katlin quickly shook her head. "Those aren't malcontents." She whispered.
"You actually have happy Deatheaters?"
"Orion," Katlin whispered, her voice sounding anxious. "those are Elite. Every one of them. But why would they be having a meeting tonight? And here of all places? Elite only meet in Voldemort's main lair. And why wasn't I informed of this? I'm head of the Elite. I should have been told."
"Maybe your invitation got lost in the mail." Orion offered.
Katlin shook her head. "It's not a question of an invitation, Orion. This is protocol. I am the only Elite who can call such a meeting without Voldemort's knowledge. And if Voldemort was aware of this meeting, I would have been told. I should have been here."
Orion paused for a moment as he thought over something that just struck him in Katlin's words. Abruptly he grabbed her hand and started for the door. "We need to leave. Now."
Katlin pulled back. "What? Why?"
"Because this is a trap, Katlin."
Katlin still sat frozen in her spot. "How can you be so sure?"
"Because of what you just said. 'You should have been told'. But you weren't. So how would you have found out?"
Katlin thought for a moment. "Because I was with you when your superior called."
"That is the only way you could have known. They are setting you up, Katlin. From the day you helped me escape, I could practically smell the suspicion on Treaks whenever he was near enough. Every time I look in the man's direction he was staring at me like I was something he couldn't quite believe in."
"Like a ghost?"
"Like an adversary. Now he's out to prove it."
Katlin paused, then shook her head. "This is insane. You don't know Johnathan."
"Then tell me, is Treaks one of the people down there?"
Katlin paused again for a few moments. "Yes. But Johnathan is an Elite. They're all Elites down there."
"All your people. Your kind. Just the ones he would want to discredit you in front of."
Katlin thought, then quickly shook her head again. "I can't believe he would do such a thing, Orion. It's going to far."
Orion grabbed her hand again. "Well, it's not going any further. We're leaving. He'll never have his proof."
But Katlin pulled back again from Orion's insistent lead.
He quickly turned back to her, meeting a resolute stare he didn't like at all.
"Orion, Johnathan is going to get his proof." Katlin stated flatly.
"How?"
"We're going to give it to him."
Orion quickly crept back to where she sat. "Love, this is not the time for games. We need to get out of here...now."
But Katlin still refused to move as she turned to him. "Orion, I need you to leave."
"What?"
"I need you to leave, please."
"Leave?"
"I need you to trust me, and let me handle this. We have no idea if what you suspect is true. If it is, I'm ready for him. If it's not, I still need to know what's going on here. "
"Katlin this isn't just some tag-along for me. This is a mission. Now if something is going on here, my Department will want to know."
Katlin sighed quietly to herself. "Orion, I will tell you word for word what happens when I get back to the house. But I can't do anything if I'm distracted by knowing you're sitting up here."
"And I don't like the idea of leaving you in a potentially dangerous situation."
"Dangerous?" Katlin laughed softly. "Orion, these are my people. And they are the ones with the explaining to do. Not me. Remember? Now please, I'll come to the house as soon as I can. I promise."
"Tonight?"
Katlin shook her head. "This is likely to be a bit messy. I'll probably need to talk to Voldemort before this is all sorted out. Give me just a few days, Love, all right?"
As soon as she was sure Orion was well beyond any detection by the others at the lair, Katlin made her way down to the main meeting room. The person she planned to center the majority of her attention on, the man closest to her equal that was there, stood in the center of the room. Johnathan Treaks.
"Johnathan!" Katlin stated sharply as she entered the room. "Explain this!"
But as soon as the man turned to face her, Katlin felt she had made a fatal mistake. Johnathan stared back at her past an almost feral smile. His eyes narrowing as she approached him. Something was most definitely not right.
"I think the person who has the explaining to do, my Love," he replied smoothly, "is you."
"Me?" Katlin questioned. "I am not the one standing here in the midst of an unauthorized meeting, Johnathan." Katlin turned to the other Elite members in the room. "Since Mr. Treaks seems remiss of an explanation, perhaps one of you would care to offer one instead?"
Not a soul in the room moved. But Katlin could clearly sense the growing unease among her fellow Elite. She quickly rounded back on Johnathan.
"What is going on here?" She demanded again. "Why was there a meeting that I was not informed of?"
"Oh, but you were, my Love." Johnathan replied with the same feral smile. "And I can't tell you how very disappointed I am that you got your invitation."
"Disappointed?"
"Yes." Johnathan replied, turning about now to face the others. "There's been suspicion for some time, Katlin, that you were engaging in a.....questionable activity. Activity I would never have believed of you, Katlin. Head of the Elite. But still I brought the matter to Lord Voldemort's attention a few days ago. Naturally, convincing him you were engaged in anything so...distasteful....was a difficult task. But he allowed me to set up this small test, to prove my claim."
"What in the name of dark magic are you talking about, Johnathan!?" Katlin demanded.
The man approached with all the air of not just her equal, but suddenly her superior. "Katlin Griss," he announced formally, "you stand accused of consorting with the enemies of our lord Voldemort. Of passing information to the Department of Mysteries and conspiring against your fellow Elite Deatheaters."
Even as Treaks accusation hit her, Katlin turned about suddenly as she felt the cold rush of air that caressed it's way up her back. Standing before her now was lord Voldemort.
Normally Voldemort would have demanded she answer the charge against her. But to her horror he said absolutely nothing.
By the stars! He believed them!
Katlin had never felt so frightened in her life. Despite her assertions to Orion she would be prepared for whatever happened, this she was not prepared for at all. She stared up at her lord with terror filled eyes even as she fought to get her emotions back under control.
"It is a lie!" She stated in as clear a voice as she could manage. But still it came out sounding very weak and frightened. "They are all lies." Tears quickly filled her eyes as she met the look on her lord's face. It was disbelief, anger, and, worst of them all, disappointment. "I have not betrayed you, my lord." She said softly. A statement meant only for him to hear. "I swear to you. I would never hurt you."
But Voldemort only turned his eyes slowly to the man standing behind her.
"As you know, my lord," Treaks stated in the same formal tone, "this meeting was arranged at the exclusion of Katlin Griss. The only way in which she could have gained knowledge of this meeting was from the Unspeakable Auror Orion Black. Information of this meeting was passed on by one of our informants to the Department of the Unspeakables, who verified that the information was passed on by the Department to the Auror Orion Black just over an hour ago. The only manner in which Griss could have learned of this meeting was that at the time she was with the Auror."
Katlin stood stock still the entire time as she listened to Johnathan unfolding his plan before her. She had reigned down her emotions as she listened. Calmed herself enough that she could quickly set to work on setting her own trap. The one she had planned out should Orion's suspicions prove true. Now she turned her eyes slowly to meet those of her lord, a cold anger shining in them now.
"Yes." She stated in a smooth, cold voice. "I was with the Auror, my lord. As have I been for weeks now. Seducing him. Playing him. Gaining information from him." Katlin rounded suddenly on the man behind her with a tidal wave of fury. "All of which has been jeopardize now because of you!" She nearly shouted at Treaks in her growing anger. "You and your inability to control your petty jealousies have put weeks of my hard work at risk."
"Katlin!"
Katlin spun back around to face Voldemort. "My lord?"
The dark lord's voice soften just slightly. "Your actions, Katlin, I find questionable. Not in and of themselves, but in how you deployed them. You told no one of this 'work' you were doing. You know the dangers of such actions."
Katlin turned an apologetic look to Voldemort. "I am sorry, my lord." She said softly. "I was wrong not to tell you of this. But Orion Black is a very strong Auror. Very well versed in his skills. I felt that absolute secrecy was needed in order to fool him. To make the affair seem genuine. I didn't want to risk losing him. He's very high placed in the Department of the Unspeakables, and I felt what I could learn from him could be of great help to you."
Voldemort studied his Elite for several long minutes. Katlin could practically feel him in her mind looking for any lie. But Katlin had solidified the story right down to her subconscious for weeks. Engraining it so firmly that she nearly believed it herself. Sex for secrets. That's all it was about.
Finally Voldemort turned away from her, fixing his gaze now on a very uncomfortable looking Treaks.
"Treaks, I have been far too patient with you in this matter. You have accused the head of my Elite of a most serious crime and been found in error yourself as to her motives." Voldemort turned his attention then to the other Elite gathered in the chamber. "I find no clear evidence against Katlin Griss that she has betrayed any of you. All she has shown is poor judgment, for which she will be punished."
Katlin's head snapped up. Punished?
"Treaks' crime is far more serious, and I shall deal with him as I see fit. Katlin's crime is against the order of the Elite, not me. Therefore she shall be punished by you, her fellow members."
Katlin fought every instinct in her not to turn to face those standing behind her. To see their faces. She was getting off easy. The punishment was as nothing to what it might have been had Voldemort not believed her.
She only wished she could be there for Johnathan's.
Q&A
Werepup: Good old Kristen. Given a bit more time, she might have overshadowed Katlin as the main female character in this story.
'What's up with Charly' remains to be seen.
Sailor Sol: Kristen is a little over enthusiastic. But betray her best friend? Who happens to be one of the deadliest of the Elite Deatheaters? Not a move to live by, if you know what I mean.
The 'wizard in the north' thing came out as a fluke. I forgot Hogwarts is in Scotland, and how confusing that might be. But no, he is a separate entity unto himself. He is not Dumbledore. He is not associated with Hogwarts, and he cares just about as much.
Thank you for permission to use the line.
So glad you like the chapter numbering system.
whitemudfounder: Despite how strange it sounds, I figured the name had to have something to do with a story such as you told.
Again, sorry for the confusion, but no, the 'wizard in the north' has nothing to do with Hogwarts. But keeping in mind that Rowling, to my recollection, never said exactly where in Scotland Hogwarts is, you can safely assume this wizard is on the opposite side of the country.
sweets: Awwwwwww. You got numbered.
Sorry, Dear. The package has nothing to do with the pictures. But I hope you will enjoy it anyway.
The song came from the movie CHESS by Tim Rice, Benny Andersson, and Bjorn Ulvaeus (Yah, Abba!) called Heaven Help My Heart. I use a lot of songs from this musical, as a matter of fact. But this one just seemed to speak so well of the situation Katlin has found herself in. All in all it is a very sad song.
Katlin is trying very hard to see past the 'using' part of this 'relationship'. But most of her relationships have been based on just that premise, so she has a lot of baggage to try and unload if she's ever going to trust that Orion loves her just for who she is, not what she can do for him.
Ohhhhhhh! Another interview!? Good luck, girl!
Silverfox: And another who got numbered!
Actually, I'm still split on Tonks. Can't decide if I like her or not. Hard to like a character in a book you hated.
Yes. Believe it or not, Katlin has friends. Well....., she has a friend.
When you have two such opposing forces, it's hard to tell whose holding their cards closest to their chest. The basic line with Orion and Katlin came out clearest to date in this chapter. They will stand and protect each other, all politics aside. Orion knows he loves her. And he's starting to see that maybe...., just maybe, there is something more important in life than your work.
Katlin is still working on that one.
Orion and Charly are going to have a little talk. Just maybe not the one they need to have.
skahducky: Personally, I think towards the end of the book most of the characters just sort of ran out of steam, as did the plot line seem to.
Still can't seem to find much good to say about it.
Family Life
UndomielEvenstar: Thank you, Dear. So glad you enjoyed it.
All reviews are as of 08172003.