Disclaimer: The world of Harry Potter belongs to J.K Rowling. I have merely borrowed the world for my story.
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Kate Johnson and her younger sister Lizzy faced out to the calm blue sea. It was the beginning of the summer holidays, and the weather was perfect. They often took walks among the cliffs near their home; it gave them an opportunity to escape summer homework and they got to talk as sisters without worrying about someone walking in on them, as often happened at home. It was a very secluded walking area, and the light breeze swirled scents of summer around them. Despite being the younger of the two, Lizzy was already the same height as Kate and looked like overtaking her- something Kate got teased about constantly by her sister.
Being the daughters of the Minister for Magic, they had to be careful about where they went and who they talked to in case they passed on information to the wrong side. Now that Voldemort had risen again and his Death Eaters were spreading they had to be even more careful- but they knew they were safe in the Muggle seaside. They didn't have their wands on them- it was too risky. Despite it being secluded, they still had to walk through the Muggles in the town to get back home.
So absorbed were the sisters in girly gossiping and giggling, that they didn't notice the rustling in the bushes behind them. Kate barely heard the shout of "Stupefy!" from behind them; they were laughing so loudly at a recollection of a prank pulled at Hogwarts.
"LIZZY!" she screamed, as her sister fell over the edge of the cliff. She fell to her knees, shaking. "LIZZY!" she shouted again, even though she knew it would be no use. She crawled to the edge of the cliff, and looked down. She screamed at what she saw, and froze.
All around her witches and wizards were apparating. Kate didn't think about how they got there- she wasn't thinking of anything but her sister. Albus Dumbledore firmly but gently picked up the still-screaming Kate, and walked her away from the edge of the cliff. He managed to keep hold of her, even though she was kicking and screaming wildly. He set her down on the ground again, knelt down himself and grabbed her shoulders. "Katharine Jane Johnson!"
Dumbledore's voice must have had more effect than he anticipated, because she immediately fell silent. She was still kicking and struggling wildly. Severus Snape approached them. "A calming potion, Headmaster?" He offered forward a bottle. Albus took it, and somehow forced it down Kate's throat, for she soon looked calmer.
Kate leant against a rock, feeling nothing but numbness and fear. She was staring vaguely into the distance, eyes not focusing on anything. She was somewhat aware of people milling about at the edge of the cliff, and for some reason was horribly aware of Snape and Dumbledore on either side of her.
"Katharine, can you tell me what happened?" Dumbledore's voice was quiet and gentle.
"My- my sister, she- someone shouted, a stunning spell- Lizzy, she fell- the cliff-" Kate choked on her words. She tried to speak, but found she couldn't.
Dumbledore motioned to Snape. They walked a few paces away form Kate. "Severus, could you find out what is going on? If, as I suspect, the worst is true, I would rather Katharine hears it from us than from the shouting and general panic that is no doubt going to start." Severus nodded and then swept over to a Ministry official. They exchanged a few words, and he returned to Dumbledore with a sombre expression on his face. He spoke in a quiet voice.
"Sir, the worst is true. There is nothing they can do for her. Miss Elizabeth Johnson died as she hit the rocks." He bowed his head for a moment, showing rare emotion. Dumbledore knew what this meant from Severus. "Should we inform the staff? Surely better for them to hear it from us, than the Daily Prophet?"
"Quite correct, Severus. I shall stay with Katharine and break the news to her, and then I shall take her back to her house. Perhaps you could meet me there later? I suspect that some Sleeping Potions may be in order." Snape nodded, and with a crack he disapparated.
Dumbledore walked back towards Kate, and helped her to her feet.
"How is Lizzy?" It was the only thing Kate could think of. The conversation and shouting of the others had become a distant buzz.
Albus Dumbledore sighed lightly, and gently held Kate by the shoulders. "Young Katharine, I am very sorry, but Elizabeth is dead. There is nothing that can be done for her." There was a silence that seemed to stretch into eternity.
"No, she can't be..." whispered Kate fearfully. She tried to pull away from Dumbledore's grasp, but he held onto her shoulders firmly. "She's not dead! She's not..." Shock ran like a lightning bolt through her.
"Katharine, she is." Dumbledore remained calm against the fighting Kate.
"She's gone?" Dumbledore nodded gently. Kate clapped a hand to her mouth, blood draining from her face. A small sob escaped her lips, before tears started cascading down her face. The kindly Headmaster held Kate in a gentle hug, before magically transporting them to the front hall of Kate's family manor.
Gently he guided her, still crying, to the Lounge where he knew that her family would be waiting to speak to her. Through choked sobs, she told those gathered what had happened. Dumbledore had stood quietly to one side throughout, not stepping in at all. When Kate had grown silent, he spoke. "I think that to prevent further danger, the Fidelius Charm must be performed as soon as possible." Walt Johnson, the Minister for Magic, nodded weakly. Both he and his wife were at a total loss for words.
Discussion took a turn towards the inevitable subject of funeral preparations- at which point, Kate ran from the room and up the stairs to her bedroom. Kate's mother made to go after her, but Dumbledore stopped her. "Let her be. She needs to be alone."
Kate didn't reappear all afternoon, not even for dinner. She ate in her room, where she had cried her broken heart out. She had a long, hot shower, dried her hair and changed into her pyjamas. She sank down onto the end of her bed, head in her hands, shaky and very scared, and more tears began to fall.
Downstairs, Snape apparated with a crack in the Lounge. No one even blinked. "I have the Sleeping Potions, Headmaster."
"Thank you, Severus. Would you kindly take one up to Katharine? She is in her room."
"Of course, Headmaster." Snape collected a goblet from the tray, and swept away upstairs. He walked along the hallway, wondering which one Katharine was behind, when he heard quiet sobbing coming from behind a door to his right. He knocked, and apprehensively pushed the door open.
Kate hastily jumped up, wiping her eyes with a large handkerchief. "Professor Snape." It was a struggle to get the words out. "Does my father want me?"
"Professor Dumbledore asked me to bring you this Sleeping Potion." Snape paused, unsure of whether to say more to the girl for fear of saying the wrong thing. He had never been good at comforting others. "My condolences for your loss, it must be difficult." Kate was surprised that he looked so uncomfortable; he was even smiling gently at her. It was a bit unnerving to see him being so tactful and sympathetic. "Here, drink this now, you will feel better for some sleep."
"Thank you, sir." Kate slipped under the covers in her large bed, took off her glasses and laid them on the cabinet by her bed. She accepted the goblet with the Sleeping Potion, and drank it all down. Snape took the goblet back, and Kate fell into blissful sleep.
For a moment, Severus Snape merely stared down at the sleeping Kate. She looked so peaceful- and for a moment, Snape wished she could stay like that forever, but he knew that she had to go through the pain to become stronger. He extinguished the light in her room, and then left, quietly shutting the door behind him.
He swiftly made his way downstairs to the lounge. Only Dumbledore remained there. He set down the goblet and empty vial. "How are they all?"
"Walt Johnson is scared, as is everyone. Katharine's mother has taken the news extremely badly, not that anyone can blame her. How is young Katharine herself?"
"I could hear her sobbing before I knocked on her door. She tried to hide it, but I could tell she had been crying for some time. Her eyes were red and puffy. I made certain she took the Sleeping Potion and she is sleeping now."
"I suspect that Katharine will need several sleeping potions over the coming days. She was very close to her sister. The loss will hit her hard."
"I am sure all the teachers at Hogwarts will do everything they can to make things easier. I will return in the morning with a supply of Sleeping Potions, and Calming Potions as well. I fear that Miss Johnson and her mother in particular will probably need them for a while."
"The funeral will be in a week's time, Severus. I expect to see you there." Dumbledore's word was final.
"Of course, Headmaster. If you will excuse me." Snape disappeared with a crack, and Dumbledore followed suit, after casting a protective ward around the house.
