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A/N: Review responses:
Strawberry Blond Chick: I agree I loved it to.
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Lexy758: Yes Katarina got what she deserved but an innocent had to suffer.
dressregina: I'm glad you think so.
Professor McGonagall: In this chapter there is a hint at an answer but you need to read the next one for a actual answer and the epilogue to know everything.
Quill of Minerva: Read and you will find out. Thanks for your review.
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A/N: Yes I'm back with two chapters of this story. Please read and it will make sense why I split this into two chapters instead of one long one. I will love you forever if you read and review, pretty please! MA
Risking My Sister Wrath or What Have I Done?
By Morgana-Alex
Chapter 7
Silence has never seemed as loud as it does right now and I hope it never will again, it is as if time has stopped and I am outside of it looking in. Albus is at Katarina's side and Severus has taken up residence in the darkest corner of this office.
I watch Albus as he casts a spell over Katarina. But I do not need to hear the results to know that my sister is dead, to know that I will never meet my nephew, to know that Albus will never hold his son.
I suppose you could say I am in shock, the shock of seeing Katarina crushed like a muggle tin can. But I know I am not in shock, I know that the only real thought in my head at this moment is that Albus is free and for that reason I feel incredibly guilty.
Albus covers Katarina with his outer robes and as he tucks them under her arms I realise anyone could be forgiven for thinking her asleep.
Albus stands and for a moment his eyes meet mine, there is a sadness in them that makes me want to run to his side, hold him and never let go. Yet I know I cannot, we both need to be strong; there will be time later to comfort and to grieve.
He's at the fireplace now summoning Poppy his demeanour a picture of McGonagall control, something I hoped never to see him project.
The medi-witch arrives directly and while Albus contacts the Ministry I lead her to the body.
Poppy casts a few spells over Katarina, in the last five minutes the results have not changed.
"I'm so sorry Minerva."
"Thank-you Poppy but Albus is the one we should be thinking of." My friend grabbed my arm and almost dragged me to the other side of the room.
"Minerva you have every right to grieve." How dare she tell me what I had a right to do.
"Poppy how many times have I wished for such an end? Even if I truly believe it would never come to pass, I have no right to grieve for anyone but Albus."
"Minerva you are a very intelligent woman so I won't waste your time by pointing out the obvious errors in what you have just said. But you have just lost your sister and her son I know you will feel that pain keenly and you must acknowledge that pain if you have any hope of helping Albus with his." I was about to interrupt my friend when she raised her hand and bade me silent.
"Minerva I know a little of what went on between Katarina and Albus and I know something of what has been going on between Albus and you. But I am not here to judge either of you and your feeling guilty will not help anyone." This woman knew me too well.
"Poppy what was the result of the second spell you cast over Katarina?" Poppy hesitated before answering; I got the distinct impression that I was not meant to know about that spell.
"The baby would have been a blue eyed Dumbledore." I had another question to ask.
"Are you sure the baby was Albus's son?" I had to ask for my own piece of mind and I feared also for my lovers'.
"As I said Minerva the baby would have been a Dumbledore." I thanked Poppy and she moved to talk to the orderlies Minister Fudge had brought with him. They would transport the body to St Mungo's where Katarina would await her burial.
Fudge was speaking with Albus, I could make out very few words but I knew they would be discussing the impact of the event on the School, Albus's standing and the part Snape had played in all of this – Albus defending him and Fudge looking to exploit anything he could to remove the potion master from Hogwarts.
I turned to watch Severus in his corner; if the walls were to envelop him I'm not sure he would object. His eyes are trained on Katarina, to be more precise her stomach.
Then it hit me, I had thought my former student depressed at the realisation he had killed the headmasters wife, I now knew his sorrow was only for the loss of the child. True in his past life as a servant of the Dark Lord he had had to chose between kill or be killed many times, however he had never so much as raised a hand to a child and here he had ended the life of one before it had begun. I did not need to read his mind to know that the events of the last hour would haunt him for the rest of his days.
I turned back to Albus and Cornelius as I heard the latter call my name.
"Minister."
"Minerva my dear my condolences and as I have said to Albus if you need anything please do not hesitate to contact me." He went to take my hand and was quite put out that I had left both in my pockets. He was lucky to get away with calling me 'my dear' and he wanted to push his luck even further – for perhaps the 1000th time I wondered how the man kept his job.
"Well Albus, Minerva I have to get going important matters to attend to." He bowed his head to us and after casting an accusing look at Severus; he took his leave following the orderlies into the fire.
Albus attention now focused on the young man he had come to think of as the son he would never have.
His eyes held no anger, no blame, no pity; only sorrow that the man in front of him would suffer more than he had already.
"Severus nothing that happened here today was your fault and no blame will befall you. It was a tragic accident and there is nothing you could have done differently. You need to remember that." Severus's eyes were as cold as ever, no amount of platitudes would heal the wound that had been carved in his heart, nor would they quite the demons that were his constant companions.
As he passed me I lay me hand on his arm, the only comfort he would allow me to tender and after bowing his head to me he closed the door. Leaving Albus and me alone.
Albus had sunk to the floor in front of the fire the moment the door had closed. His head in his hands, now I rushed to his side, there was no one left to hide my feelings from. I put my arms around him bringing his head to rest on my chest.
I felt his tears soak my robes as my own began to fall.
It was sometime before we moved and even longer before we spoke, each allowing the other silent company in grief.
A while later when I moved my head and raised Albus's so I could look in to his eyes.
"Albus..."
"Minerva I am so sorry, here I am indulging in my grief and you have lost far more than I." I wanted to shake him but I settled for a statement of facts instead.
"Albus I lost Katarina the first time I looked into her eyes and saw nothing but hate. I mourn for the child and I mourn for you." I made sure he was following me before I continued.
"Albus whether you were in love with her at the end or not, there must have been good times, you must have cared deeply for her once, and whether you remember his conception or not in a few months time you would have had a son. That kind of pain will take time to heal." I was crying now, it had taken a lot out of me to say those words.
"Albus I think its time for you to get to bed." I had meant it as a suggestion of sleep but he took it as an open invitation, he now had me pinned to the floor.
"Albus it will not help you to compound your grief with that." He sat back his head in his hands.
"Minerva tonight it seems is my night for apogees and I fear I now owe you another."
"It's alright Albus. I will stay with you tonight but as your friend not your lover." I stood and took his hand leading him in to the bedroom where this whole chain of events had started.
"It is time you got some sleep." I discarded my outer robes and in each other's arms we fell in to a fit full slumber.
A/N: I beg you, if you have gotten this far please leave this humble writer a review and i promise to upload the epilouge soon. MA