Chapter 21:12 retpahC

(A/N: G'day everyone... sorry about the delay... still no net at my house... that resulted in some problems... mainly that I didn't have my eighteenth and nineteenth chapters on the comp... I wrote the 20th one from memory! But NOW I got the common sense of using a CD RW and transfer the chappies from my comp to the net... I'm going on blah-blahing aren't I? Sorry... I'm just depressed... start of school... hmmm... Any other important notes?

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Chapter 21:12 retpahC

Kat looked at her clock determinedly. In the forty-eight hours before Nik woke up and the 'brotherly protection' began, Katrina planned to enjoy herself. Now that her powers were unbinded...well, let's just say... the people she disliked? They began doing some weird things.

Monday began with Severus Snape and his brother Stritius. In the middle of lunch, both of them stood up and clutching each other's hand, Severus' hand on his younger brother's waist, Stritius' on his shoulder, they tangoed down the narrow gap between the Slytherin and Hufflepuff tables. Reaching the teacher's table, they stopped abruptly and Severus transformed the silver chain around Stritius' neck into a chain of roses. Then, just as abruptly, Stritius began to sing... well, you wouldn't call it singing... more like screeching. "You drive me Crazy! I just can't see!"

Later, that day, it was Lucius Malfoy and Terrence from Gryffindor. If you remember, he was Kat's real date during the dance. Fellow Gryffindors walking in and out the common room, found Lucius Malfoy standing outside, crying his eyes out for "Terry!" It seemed that Malfoy had suddenly realized his unknown and rather undying devotion for Terrence. Terrence, on the other hand, had taken to hiding under his bed. Anyone outside the boy's dormitory could hear his faint whimpers.

The incidents aroused everyone's interest and even though all fingers were pointed to the Marauders they flatly denied they had anything to do with it. They claimed that they had "absolutely no freakin' idea who did it" but they were "damn proud" of the said person.

Sirius looked at James. "Prongs, we've got to find out who's playing these pranks."

"I know... It's ruining our reputation." He gave a life-is-so-unfair sigh.

"Who do you think it is?" Remus asked. "No one from Gryffindor... I mean no one in Gryffindor could play a trick on Terry... Ravenclaw?"

"Maybe... but they're too... too..." He searched for the right word.

"Freaky? Idiotic? Gitty? Too pink? Too gooey Martians from outer space who are trying to steal our brains?" suggested Peter.

"Too studious." Finished Remus looking at Peter oddly.

That evening in the Gryffindor common room, the Marauders had begun a full- fledged investigation to find the culprit. Which basically meant, they were throwing chocolate frogs at each other and trying to catch them in their mouths.

Katrina came through the portrait, carrying a stack of books.

Remus rushed to help her and placed the books on the table. "Extraordinary Powers For Dummies? How to make the best use of your magically induced powers?" He read the titles.

"What are you doing with these?"

Katrina looked at him appraisingly. "Come on, Remus. I thought it was obvious." "What was obvious?" Sirius asked.

"Seriously, you don't know?"

"Know what?" James asked.

"Know who's behind the pranks?"

"YOU KNOW WHO'S BEHIND THE PRANKS?" The Marauders yelled together.

"Don't yell so much. Of course, I know." She looked at them annoyed.

"Who?"

"Me."

"WHAT?"

Lily came downstairs. "Hey, Kat... Did you—What's wrong with them?"

The Marauders were still staring at Kat open mouthed.

Kat asked, "You didn't tell them, Lily?"

"Tell them about... Oh! Er...no..."

"What didn't you tell us?" growled Sirius through gritted teeth.

Lily thought fast. "Er... That there are only three weeks until Christmas!"

"Really? You're not kidding?!" Sirius grinned, satisfied. "Well, why didn't you tell me before, you silly-billy? You know I have to make a list to send Santa!? Let's see... this year I want..."

"Padfoot, you haven't been a good boy this year." Remus said.

"Yes! There are only three weeks until Christmas."

"I know that! But that's not what I was talking about."

"Oh. Kay."

"As you all know, my powers have been unbinded..." Sirius, Peter and James jumped up as Lily nodded knowingly.

"WHAT?!"

"Lily!" Kat said. "You didn't tell them."

Lily giggled. "Well, I thought maybe we could..."

She stopped at James' warning glance.

Just then, the missing Lara entered. "Hey do you guys know where Ralph is?" Everyone shook their heads and Sirius spoke, "Shouldn't you know where your own boyfriend is?"

Lara glared at him coldly but silently made her way out again.

"ANYWAY," said Kat.

"I was the one that made Malfoy and Terrence get together and..."

"And get the two Snapes to do that duet..." continued Sirius and Kat nodded.

"I have an idea..." Peter said slowly.

And so, Tuesday, Professor Herlithan, the obnoxious head of Slytherin found herself awarding five hundred points to Gryffindor as well as Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw.

"Just to be fair." Said Kat.

Between Advanced Transfiguration and Divination, Sirius got a moment to talk to Kat alone.

"Umm... Kat?"

"Do you want me to look in your eyes or not Sirius?" she asked, staring at the wall behind him.

"Er...'in' would be faster, right?"

Kat looked him in the eyes. "No."

"Huh?"

"No, Sirius, I will not induce Lara to date you again nor will I 'kill off' Ralph."

"Kat! Just talk to her. Tell me whether..."

"NO!"

"Okay listen! I'm begging you... I miss her. I want her back. I made a mistake. A huge one. I want to apologize."

"Then, for Pete's sake, GO AND APOLOGIZE!"

"You think I haven't tried? Every time I speak to her, she runs away. What am I supposed to do?"

"CHASE HER, SIRIUS, CHASE HER!"

"Please. Kat."

She sighed resignedly. "I'll talk to Lara. I'll talk to Ralph. No promises."

He kissed her on the cheek before running into class. Kat went to find Lara or Ralph. Probably Ralph. He had a free period now, right?

Ralph was in his dormitory when Kat finally found him.

"Katrina." He said, startled.

"Ralph." She said tiredly, placing herself on Remus' bed. "We need to talk."

"What about?"

"Lara."

"What about her?"

"You're still going out right?"

''No... didn't she tell you? We... er, broke up... She said it wouldn't work."

"Did she tell you why?" she peered at the ceiling.

"No... but er, it was probably because of Sirius, right?" "Why, what'd he do?" "Nothing, I guess. I mean he technically didn't do anything. But she was still in love with him..."

"Ralph." She looked to his sad eyes. Suddenly, she sat up straight and in a strange voice continued, "I've got to go..."

"What? Why?" He sat up as well.

"Oh, by the way," she said as she walked out. "DON'T MOVE."

Ralph suddenly found he couldn't move.

An owl flew through the open window with a letter in its beak.

"Open it." Croaked Ralph.

The owl somehow managed to do so, and shoved the letter into Ralph's sight.

As he read it, his eyes widened. "OH SHIT! She was the freakin' controller."

Katrina ran all the way to Dumbledore's office and tried all the passwords she could think of. She even tried the controller approach. It, of course didn't work. She ran a hand through her hair. "UGH!"

"Miss Ellis? What are you doing here?" Professor McGonagall said.

"I need to talk to Dumbledore."

"Why?"

"Well, you know Ralph, right? He's really, really---"

"Whatever the case may be, the Headmaster has gone to France for a few days." "No! He should be here!"

"I'm afraid that's not possible."

"Call him. Right now." Katrina said firmly.

"Yes, yes of course, right away." She murmured faintly.

In fifteen minutes flat, Professor Dumbledore was following Kat up to the Gryffindor boy's dormitories. From outside the door, a faint pounding as well as cries of pain could be heard.

"Professor..." Kat said hesitantly.

"Let's go, shall we?" She nodded and he opened the door.

"Hurry owl, hurry!" Ralph cried. "We don't want Dumbledore finding out our master's secrets, do we?"

The owl was pounding its beak on Ralph's wrist... on his artery.

Kat said, "Ralph, tell the owl to stop."

"Stop it." Ralph said monotonously.

The owl flew out the window.

"Tell it to come back." Kat said.

"COME BACK!" yelled Ralph, but the owl paid no heed.

Dumbledore looked at Ralph a bit disappointedly but without saying anything to him, he pointed his wand at the mess near Ralph's bloody hand. "Scourgify."

Katrina stared at the Headmaster, astonished. "Sir, aren't you..."

"In my office, Miss Ellis."

Katrina nodded and thought carefully. She had to word this just right. "You! Ralph or whatever the hell--er, sorry Professor, whatever the heck your name is. Go straight to Professor Dumbledore's office and stay there! Cause no harm to anything or anyone. Don't touch anything but the floor on the way there. Make no contact with anyone! Now go. Immediately."

Ralph started walking robotically, Katrina and the Professor following at a close distance.

The Questioning:

Ralph had been verbally bound to a chair in Professor Dumbledore's office and Katrina had made sure that it was a very uncomfortable chair.

"Well then," Professor Dumbledore addressing Katrina, "Shall we begin?"

"Katrina, ask Mr. Nichols what exactly he is doing here, at Hogwarts."

"Ralph, what exactly are you doing here?" Katrina looked at Ralph. The boy glared sullenly at her, not saying a word.

"What the..." she wondered. "Oh Yeah! You! What exactly are you doing here?" Ralph began speaking. "I am acting as a spy. I also have to find and bring back... the controllers."

Katrina glanced at Dumbledore.

"Whom are you working for?" he asked.

"Whom are you working for?"

"Lord Voldemort in collaboration with Master Ellis."

"What did they want with the Controllers?" Professor asked.

Katrina began, "What did they--- Just a minute, Headmaster. I can make this simpler." She looked towards the boy. "Reply truthfully to Professor Dumbledore's questions."

"What did they want with the Controllers?" the Professor asked again.

"I don't know. Something about some plan of theirs."

"What is your real name?" "Frederick Kilmer." "How old are you?"

"Twenty three."

"What have you used as a charm?"

"Illusionment."

"How did you get into Gryffindor?" put in Kat curiously.

"Concealment Charm. All the evil blood in me was masked and only the courage was picked up by the sorting hat."

"Who performed the charm?"

"Lord Voldemort."

"Why Gryffindor house?"

"Master told me that's where the Controller would be."

"Did you know who the Controller was?"

"No."

"Did you suspect anyone?"

"Yes."

"Who?"

"Larika Anderson." Katrina gasped silently and pulling herself together said, "Professor, can I be excused?"

"Of course, but, I'm afraid you'll have to come down when the Aurors get here. Mr. Kilmer here has quite a reputation... along with a rather long list of arrest warrants. He'll be going to Azkaban."

"Azkaban?!" Ralph/Frederick bellowed just as Kat walked out. She needed to find Lara.

After long, long minutes of searching, Katrina found Larika on top of the Gryffindor tower, her head in her hands.

Kat sat down next to her silently. She looked towards the Forbidden Forest. It looked like a huge, never ending green ocean with the clearings as the waves, she mused. She looked back at Larika.

"Hey girl..." she said gently. "What's wrong, hun?" Katrina looked back at her ocean as Lara looked up, her face tearstained. "Nothi...nothing." She faltered.

"Really?" She stopped. Did she hear something from the stairs or was that just her imagination? She looked over.... No, no one was there...

"It's just... Ralph." Larika replied.

Katrina nodded dreamily and Lara stared out over the vast ocean. "You know what happened...and, now... I'm very confused... I thought, Sirius... and I.... And I guess, I was wrong... so, now I've lost Sirius and I've also lost Ralph...Both because of my own stupidity...Kat? Kat?" Katrina nodded looking at the rippling waves. "Kat? Look me in the eyes. Look at me." Tears streamed down her face and she couldn't for the life of her think why.

Katrina looked at her slowly. "What are you talking about... with Sirius?"

Lara looked confused, "Sirius... as in even though he knows I've broken up with..." "Whoa, whoa! Slow down! Who said he knows?"

"What!?"

"Yeah... I found out just now... from Ralph. None of us knew. Listen to me, Lars! None of us knew!" Larika looked down shamefacedly. "And er... about Ralph? I think you'll reconsider going back to him once I tell you what happened today..."

And Kat related the incident to Lara.

On hearing it, Lara started off, "WHAT!? SO, I was dating a Death Eater!? HE thought you were me?! WHAT!? But, but... what were you doing in his dorm?" She looked at Kat astonished.

Kat had the decency to blush. "I'm sorry but... I can't tell you..."

"But I think I can, huh, Kat?" A voice came from the stairs.

Sirius Black stood in the door, looking, in Lara's opinion, more gorgeous than ever. Lara's hand went to her hair automatically. "Sirius? What did you tell--?"

"I think I told her to... what was it again? Yeah, to 'kill off' Ralph."

"'Kill off'? What, you knew he was a death eater?"

Sirius shook his head. "Just an added bonus."

"Then...."

"Larika, will you go out with me?" Sirius asked, not quite randomly.

"Wh-what?" Lara said, a bit taken aback. "No way!"

Sirius smiled cockily, "Sorry, m'dear. Afraid it's a compulsion..."

"Huh?"

He smiled that infuriatingly heart-racing smile again. "Remember--- ...Lily arched her eyebrows. 'I dare you, any of you, to dress up as a girl for this dance. The conditions are that you have to get at least two guys to dance with you. Of course, this dare won't be known to them.' 'What do we get in return, if we do this?' James demanded. Lily looked at Lara and it seemed to the guys that they were communicating telepathically. Maybe... Lily replied 'Both me and Larika will be ready to go out with any of you four.' The guys looked surprised. 'Yes.' Sirius and James shouted together. Looking suspiciously at each other, they backed away a bit. Lily said. 'Deal'...

And James, Peter and Remus were more than happy to relinquish their rights...you're stuck with me"

Lara fought hard not to smile as Sirius sat next to her.

"Miss Katrina, do you know much about paint?" He asked.

Kat feigned surprise. "No, Mr. Black. Why?"

"Didn't you know? Miss Larika here is an expert on paint... and particularly on green paint." Larika giggled and pulled at his hand.

Katrina slid out her place. She felt like James Bond after a successful mission. Her work here was done!

Kat wandered around, trying to find one of friends, Remus...Lily... James... even Peter would do. Where could they possibly be? She looked around her exasperatedly and suddenly the thought struck her... The Loft. She walked to the secret room, thinking about the last time she had been here... when she told them she was a controller. She had been so scared... terrified that they would throw her out of their close circle... Of course, she had been taught to hide her feelings... All the Ellis' were taught...She shook the dreary thought out of her head.

As she had expected, Lily and James were lying on the thick and comfortable carpet. Remus and Peter were sprawled across two of the five large pillow/ beanbags. Lily waved her hand lazily.

"Greetings, Tak."

"Tak?" she inquired as she pushed Remus to make room.

"Kat spelt backward." Explained James. "I'm Semaj. He's Sumer and he's Retep." "Where are Suiris and Akiral?" Lily murmured sleepily.

"Huh?" Kat looked to James.

"Sirius and Larika," he said wearily.

"Top of Gryffindor tower." Kat said.

"Together?" asked Peter sharply.

"Yep."

"What happened?" Remus said.

"In short? Ralph happened."

"Huh?" Lily asked.

"Hplar happened." Said Kat.

Lily sat up annoyed. "Yeah, I Know. But what happened?"

Katrina told them how she had found out Ralph's little secret. Of course, their reactions were no different form Lara's. Only the "SO, I was dating a Death Eater!?" was missing.

"But I didn't understand one thing... how did Hplar get into Rodniffyrg..er, Gryffindor?" Lily asked.

"Um.. maybe Remus can explain..."

Remus adopted his 'I'm a Professor giving a Free Lecture' attitude.

"Well, Class, basically the Concealment Charm can be adapted to hide various human characteristics from magical detecting objects like the Sorting Hat. I must say, it would take a good lot of power to trick the Sorting Hat. So, if you wanted to hide something from any detectors or anything, in Ralph's.. sorry, Hplar's case, his evilness, you would add some specific words at the end of the spell. Of course, deceiving potions or even binding potions having the same effect. Binding potions!?" Katrina looked at him wide-eyed. "Are you sure?"

Remus nodded. "Yeah!"

"So, maybe I'm not in Ravenclaw?!"

Everyone was sitting up straight.

Katrina suddenly glanced at her watch and cursed freely.

"Er..Don't you need to go to Professor Dumbledore's er.... Erodelbmud's office to send Nichols?" asked James.

"Thanks, Mr. I-state-the-obvious." Quipped Kat as she rushed out.

She ran all the way to Professor Dumbledore's office. "Pro-professor Dumbledore!" She panted. "I'm so so sorry!"

Professor Dumbledore was sitting in his usual chair, apparently talking to some student.... He definitely was not Ralph and Kat didn't pay much attention to him.

"No need to be sorry, Miss Ellis."

"Er- Professor, where's Ralph… I mean..Kilmer?"

"In Azkaban, of course." Professor Dumbledore looked faintly puzzled.

"But...er... I had given him instructions...and they can't be contradicted... at least not by Aurors..."

"Yes, but I believe other Controllers can contradict them, am I correct?"

"Yes, but there are only two controllers existing..." She stopped short and suddenly launched herself on the grinning handsome student. "NIK!"

After a few minutes of greeting each other, Kat remembered the binding potion question.

"Er—Professor Erodelbmud." She winced. "I mean, Professor Dumbledore, Remus was telling me that the Sorting Hat could also be deceived by Binding Potions..." "Ah... yes, I believe he is correct. Just as well. We shall re-sort you and sort Mr. Ellis. You have come just in time. The Sorting Hat was getting ready. And..." He looked at the watch hanging of his chain. "It should be ready...just…about… now. Who's going first?"

"Kat." "Me." Nik and Kat said in unison.

"Miss Ellis it is." Professor Dumbledore placed the hat on her head.

"Rodniffyrg!" The hat called out.

"Huh?" Nik questioned.

"That means," said Katrina. "GRYFFINDOR!" She was grinning.

"You next, Mr. Ellis."

The Professor placed it on his head.

After a few minutes, it called out----

Notes, notes to my wonderful reviewers and readers!!

Let's begin with saying :

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Then... PLEASE REVIEW!!

Then... SORRY FOR TAKING SO LONG!
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Then... I KNOW WE AREN'T GOING INTO L/J PROBLEMS...YET!!!

Then... SORRY ABOUT THE SEVERE LACK OF HUMOUR!
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Then... PLEASE READ MY STORY 'THE OUTCASTS'!

Then... SORRY ABOUT THE CLIFFY

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