A/N: Sorry about the delay, folks. I had another funeral to attend. The husband of a friend died last week. Dennis McCarthy was a loving husband, avid religious leader, and highly respected in our community. He will be missed by many.
I also started back to school to finish my degree. Which requires me working a practicum as well as attend classes. So I am really pressed for time the next few months.
Also, yes, I missed last night and am posting on Monday instead. One of those rare but not unheard of happenings. You see, my mother was tired last night and went to bed right after supper. As that I did not want to wake her up, I just left posting to tonight.
Once again, please remember, my keyboard has issues.
And as always,
Enjoy.
Disclaimer: Honestly now, you have nothing better to do than try to figure out if I am infringing on someone's copy right and sue me for the whole three cents you'll get? Why don't you page down a few inches and read the story instead. It's a far better use of your time.
CHAPTER TWO: HEADING FOR HOME
After what seemed like hours, Harry collapsed down onto the ground as Katlin allowed them to take a rare break. Up until then she had cajoled and coaxed him along as quickly she could. Harry began to feel that Katlin was more eager than he was to get as far from Voldemort's lair as quickly as they could.
Harry sat with his head resting on his arms as Katlin came up and crouched by him.
"How are you doing, Harry?" She asked in a solicitous voice. "All right?"
Harry raised his head. Try not to look as tired as he felt, he managed a slight smile for her. "I'm OK. " He said.
Katlin returned the smile. "Liar. You're more asleep than awake. " She said in a gentle tone. "Look, I know this area pretty well. And just a short way from here is a small cave. We can stop there and catch some sleep, OK? Do us both some good. "
Harry shook his head. "No. Really Katlin, I'm fine. We can keep going. "
"Harry, Hogwart's is a good two or three days from here. Do you think we're going to walk straight there? No stopping?
We're going to have to sleep some time. Might as well do it while we have a safe place to do it in, hey?"
Harry thought about the offer for moment, then nodded. He doubted he'd slept more than a few hours the whole time he had been in the Deatheaters lair. And the idea of getting a good, uninterrupted sleep, even on the floor of a cave, sounded like heaven.
Harry managed to grab only a few hours' sleep on the cave's dirt floor before he found himself being shaken awake.
"Come on, Harry. " Katlin was gently prodding him. "It's time to go. "
Harry got groggily to his feet, his sleep-fogged brain slowly re-awakening to his present situation with more clarity.
"What time is it?" He ask, staring at the darkness around them.
"About one in the morning. " Katlin replied. "We'll be safer traveling at night. "
She reached into her robes and pulled out a small bag. Digging into it, she pulled out a bit of bread and handed it to Harry.
"Here." She said. "This is all I managed to get before we left. But it's better than nothing. "
Realizing how hungry he was, Harry gratefully took the offer bread. But as he hungrily took a bite, he turned his eyes to Katlin, who was stuffing the bag back into her robes.
"Aren't you eating?" Harry asked.
Katlin gave him a small smile. "I had some before I woke you. " She replied, then quickly changed the subject. "We have about three or four day's trip ahead of us if we travel quickly. We'll stay under the cover of the trees as much as possible. The Deatheaters will be looking for us. Likely on brooms. So keep a close look out. And if you see someone by themselves, let me know. If I can take down one of them, we can acquire a broom and speed up our trip considerably. "
Harry nodded as they set off through the trees. For the most part, the travel wasn't difficult. The uneven terrain make things less than easy going, but, Harry conceded, they could certainly be worse. At least there was no sign of any Deatheaters, and the weather remained clear.
Katlin said very little as they walked along at a brisk pace. Mostly she kept conversation down to giving Harry instructions. At times she would have him wait in an area while she went on ahead. Other times she let them stop and rest for few minutes, offering Harry some of their supplies during a short breaks. But during the whole time, Harry never saw her eat so much as one scrap of food herself.
Eventually Harry began to make out the rose colored hue taking over the sky
in the east.
Fog had been building around them due to the swampy area they were currently in. And while the fog served well to help hide them from any Deatheaters that may be trying to track them by air, it also made for rough travel on the ground. The added moisture in the air made breathing hard, as well as soaked into their clothes and shoes.
Harry trudged wearily after Katlin. Fatigue building with every step when a hand suddenly stopped him. Harry looked up to find Katlin standing still stone just in front of him.
"Katlin, what......?"
"Shhhh!" She hissed in a whisper, eager eyes scanning the area have them. "Something just moved in the fog. "
Harry froze on the spot. Looking around wide eyed, he found he couldn't see more than a few feet in any direction. A firm hand grabbed his arm and pulled him to the side. She waited for a moment, seeming to listen for some sound around them, then started him moving again.
Without a word, Harry followed Katlin's lead. Within a few minutes the fog began to thin and Harry found they were now hurrying across an open field. As they rapidly moved back to the cover of the trees on the other side of the field, Katlin abruptly put a hand out and stopped Harry in his tracks. Looking up, Harry saw some figures move in the fog, coming out of the cover of the trees.
"Stay behind me. " Katlin whispered. "And stayed down. If I say 'move', you moved. If I say 'stop', you stop. Understand? "
Harry nodded as he watched. The figures, all dressed in black robes, quickly spread out as they approached where Harry and Katlin stood, forming a circle around them. Harry watched Katlin's expression take on a fleetingly panicked look as she swung about. She hadn't expected the Deatheaters to surround them completely, Harry reasoned. And so did she have no front where she could keep him protected.
One figure advanced forward from the group, finally coming to stop several yards in front of them.
"Katlin Griss," the man stated in a formal tone, "you are accused of betraying your loyalty to the dark lord and the trust of your fellow Deatheaters. Surrender yourself and the boy to us and accept your punishment. "
Harry looked up at Katlin, who was standing stark still as though considering the man's words. But finally she held her wand up above her head.
"Get stuffed. " She replied.
Harry watched in amazement as the wand above Katlin's head suddenly expanded and lengthen until she held a poll approximately six feet long and a half inch in diameter.
The man before them quickly stepped back, but in his place three from the group came forward, all brandishing wands. Harry quickly pulled out his own wand as he turned to try and protect Katlin's back. At the site of him pulling out his own wand, the three remaining Deatheaters pulled theirs out as well.
The fight was quick and decisive. Harry had never seen anyone, Auror, Deatheater, or Unspeakable who fought like Katlin. Before he had even fired off a single spell, one of the Deatheaters before him was dropped by a flash of light. Harry chanced a quick glance behind him as the other two Deatheaters took cover. With the front of her pole, Katlin struck one of the Deatheaters directly in the face, taking the man down immediately. With a wide swing, she took out the other two in front of her, then, without delay, turned to face the remaining two behind them. In an instant the pole vanished back into her dark mahogany wand, which she used to fire off two rapid spells. As the last Deatheater fell, Katlin grabbed Harry by the hand and shoved him behind her.
"Run!" she all but shouted at him.
Harry took off at a sprint, heading almost blindly in the direction Katlin had sent him. He hoped it was for the trees, and simply kept running until he suddenly found himself in a thick grove.
A hand reached out and grabbed him, almost pulling him to a stop. But the instant Katlin had Harry's hand in her's she took the lead again, heading off as fast as Harry could keep up through the trees.
Thankfully the rest of the day they saw nothing more of the Deatheaters attempting to follow them. By mid-morning Katlin had slackened their pace down to a brisk walk. And by afternoon she had slowed down even more. She called a halt to their moving in the late afternoon, realizing how tired her charge was, even if he didn't say a word to her about it.
Digging into her robes, Katlin pulled out a few more bits of bread and handed them to Harry, this time along with a few slices of cheese as well. She even ate a little herself under his watchful eye. But he seemed overall pleased to see her eating something.
Katlin thought over her plan again as she watched Harry settle in for the night, curled up tightly in his robe, his head pillowed on his arm. He was a brave boy, that was for certain. But too trusting for her liking. Already he was following her without question. Had been ready to help fight off the Deatheaters that morning.
Never once questioned her actions.
The child was simply too trusting.
She would have to work on that.
Eventually Katlin fell asleep herself, granting herself at least a few precious hours sleep before getting them moving again. She promised to make the day tomorrow a short one. Maybe find another cave where they could spend the night tomorrow, rather than have to sleep out in the open and the cold.
Around ten o'clock Katlin woke to find Harry sitting on a log a few feet from her. His back was to her as he faced the darkness.
Quietly she got up and went over to where the teenager was sitting.
"Harry?" She asked a soft voice.
Harry nearly jumped at the sound, but quickly recovered himself as she sat next to him on the log.
"Looking for Deatheaters?" she asked with a small smile. "Because you're facing the wrong direction. "
Harry turned to her, but said nothing.
"Well, the only one I currently know of is right here."
Harry managed a small smile, then shook his head. "Just thinking."
"About what?"
Harry paused again, turning to the ground. "Home." he said quietly.
Katlin sat for a moment studying the boy next to her. "You miss them, don't you? Your Godparents."
Harry slowly nodded. "I'm thinking of how worried if they must be. Especially Arabella. She gets so....crazy whenever something happens to me."
"Oh, I think Ms. Figg will be just fine." Katlin replied in a cool, level voice. "She's quite resourceful."
Harry turned suddenly to the woman next to him. "You know Arabella?"
Katlin gave a small laugh. "Harry, I'm a Deatheater. You Godmother is an Auror. Of course I know her. How could I not? Vicious little thing she is, too." Katlin added in a colder voice.
Harry frowned. "Arabella?"
Katlin turned him. "And don't you ever doubt that. I would put that woman against any Deatheater I know, and feel sorry for the Deatheater. She's nearly as hated as your Godfather. "
Harry smile suddenly. "Really?" But the smile abruptly faded. "Oh! That's probably not a good thing, it is it?" he stated.
"Depends on who you are. " Katlin replied with the small, unfriendly smile.
Harry sat in silence for a few moments. "We're going to get home, aren't we, Katlin?" he asked quietly.
"Well, you are." She replied, pointing behind them. "My home is back there."
Harry looked up in surprise. "You're not going back to the Deatheaters?!" he exclaimed.
"They're my people, Harry. Where else can I go?"
"But they....they know you helped me. They'll....they'll kill you, Katlin."
"And the Ministry would do any less?"
"But I'll tell them...."
"What?" Katlin cut him off. "That I help you escaped? Brought you back home?"
Harry nodded.
"They won't care, Harry. None of that will mattered to them. All they will care about is that they finally caught the infamous Katlin Griss. They'll learn what they can from me, and then I will be sent to Azkaban faster than you can say Dementor's Kiss."
Harry looked shocked. "But....but you help me." he said again in a quieter tone.
"You don't know them at all, do you?" she ask, then turned back to the darkness. "No. When this is all over and you are safely back with your loving Godparents, Harry, I am going back where I belong."
"What will they do to you?" he whispered.
"I suspect I'll be punished."
"That doesn't sound good."
"They don't call it 'punishment' for nothing, Harry." she replied. With a slight pause Katlin sighed in the darkness. "But I've been through it before and I suspect I'll go through it again someday."
Harry gave her concerned look.
"Don't worry about it, Harry." she said softly. "The main thing is that you are all right. And as such, you should try getting some sleep. We're going to be traveling a long way tomorrow. And we won't be stopping much."
Harry nodded, then got up and went back over to where he had been sleeping earlier.
Katlin had turned herself about on the log as she watched Harry settle back down. The boy pulled his cloak back over himself and rested his head on his arm again. For several moments Katlin watched the reflection of his eyes as he stared at her.
"Aren't you going to go to sleep?" he asked finally.
"I will soon." she replied. "I have some thinking to do myself."
"About what?"
"Our plans for tomorrow. We at least should have some sort of a plan here, don't you think? We can't just keep making this up as we go along."
"I suppose."
"Then go to sleep." Katlin advised again. "A large part of my plan is that you aren't half asleep through the best parts."
Harry managed a small smile. "Goodnight, Katlin."
"Goodnight, Harry."
Katlin watched as the boy's eyes slowly closed this time, his breathing eventually leveling off into the rhythm of sleep. Finally Katlin turned her thoughts back to her plans, going over them again in careful detail.
So far, everything was going just perfect.
Q&A
Runaway
BellaMonte:
You're very welcome, Dear. I'm glad you enjoyed it.
Does it bother me that I have so many readers and not as many reviews? Not really. I mean, granted, I would love every person who reads my stuff to write at least 'Loved it. Hated it. Thank heavens trees did not die for this. Why aren't you selling this stuff? You are my idol.' But lets be realistic. My first story, Family Life, has over 130,000 hits. It has slightly less reviews. But I look at it this way, at least 130,000 people took the time to read it, and those who reviewed apparently enjoyed it.
Besides that, Dear, I have been in the writing game for near three decades. I have a very thick skin by now. You haven't been debased until you have an editor do it.
I never knew you could respond to reviews! But wait.....isn't that what I'm doing here?
Well, a few problems there. If people were forced to review, we writers would likely have fewer readers. And checking out my 'Hits' on my stories is a cheap thrill for me as well. Second, I don't write for reviews. I mean, they are VERY nice. Don't get me wrong. But this is simply what I do in between when I get bored with my paying projects, of which I currently have two I am working on. Soon three. This is just my hobby.
SilverFox:
Goodness, that was a long one! PAR does so like long reviews though.
Yes, Christenings should be done much earlier. I have no idea why my brother waited so long.
Ah, yes, Hershal. And the word is more 'infamous' than 'famous', Dear. But he is rapidly taking second place to Orion as the most interesting character who has yet to be seen. Which is interesting because Hershal started out as nothing more than a plot device in relation to Bo. Bo was becoming something of an omniscient character, which was not my intention for him at all. But basically, he had no weaknesses. So I came up with Hershal, the one person who represents a weakness of Bo's. One which he exploits at every opportunity.
Runaway is your typical Saturday afternoon matinee, yes indeed. Hits the ground running and doesn't stop. Hope you enjoy it.
OK. You have me there. Yes, it was one of the agents of the wizard in the north. The question is still 'who' though.
Bo does not kill, Dear. He never has, and to my knowledge so far, never will.
The reason Katlin never brought up her being married to Treaks is because, so far, it hasn't been necessary. Treaks is right off the idea himself now. He has what he wants. Control of the Deatheaters (sort of). And he will remain so for the time being while Katlin is busy helping Voldemort. All of which will, by the way, figure into Family Relations. Also, it does not behoove Katlin to publicize her marriage too much. Raises too many questions she would rather not answer. Like 'Married? To who?'.
And do not misunderstand something. Katlin did not just marry Orion to stop Treaks from forcing her into marriage. She genuinely loves him. Strange, but true.
But you want to talk about people who should be told? What about the groom's parents? Wouldn't they like to know their little pride and joy is married? And to who?
Oh yes. Talon knows exactly what Orion does with Bo. Orion is only a channeler. Talon is the host. Whenever Orion uses the 'Power', he is only channeling it. Sort of siphoning off of it. How could Talon not feel that. Especially to the extent Orion would have needed to use to destroy the lair? And Talon doesn't know what Orion and Bo 'get up to from time to time'. He knows everything they do. Or more accurately, he knows when his son tapes into the 'Power'. Oddly enough, however, you'll note he des not know what Bo does on his own. Which is a rather large telling of just how sneaky the boggart can be sometimes. Bo is not as innocent as he seems all the time. Like any good three year old, he knows how to lie.
Indeed, Talon Black is a most interesting man. 'Complicated' is the word I believe most would use. He does not go and seek his son out every time he uses the 'Power', since Orin doesn't do so that often. But he by no means missed the destruction of the lair. Why didn't he put a stop to things right then and there? For a simple reason we have discussed before. That being, 'What would happen if B was forced to choose between his host and his channeler?'. It's not a position Talon wants to place any of them in. And to have confronted his son immediately after the deed would have likely resulted in just such an event. He knew that in order t do what he did, several factors had to be present. 1, Orion was angry, 2, he wasn't thinking straight, and 3, he wasn't likely going to listen to his father...or anyone else at that time. So he did what any parent would do. He stepped back and let things go for a while. He was keeping a feel of the situation, but he wasn't going to interfere just yet.
Now you see, here is where things get a little touchy. Yes, Talon separated himself from the 'Power' by putting it in the boggart. But that only releases him from any of the negative effects of physically being the host. He can not, genetically, separate himself completely from the 'Power'. That is why, when Orion uses the 'Power', Talon can feel it. But Talon, as host, still control's Bo. Bo, for the most part, must do what Talon says, with a few exceptions. Separating himself from the 'Power', for instance, was not just a matter of Talon telling the 'Power' to get into the boggart. That was a physical separation. Something that neither host nor 'Power' should ever have been able to do according to the parameters of the original spell. Talon restructured the spell to allow that to be done. I'm sure we are all perfectly clear on this now. Oh, and by the way, the fact that Talon messed with the original spell does figure into the story line.
It's not even empathy really. Bo just likes some people better than others. Or more to the point, he cares for some people more than others, with no regard to his relation to them. For instance, Bo should be very close to Orion's father based on his relationship to the man. But the two, in fact, have very little to do with each other. But Orion is nothing short of Bo's best friend.
I can tell you that the project is a television script. How's that?
The other project is a novel of sorts that I am co-writing.
The other project is, again, a novel.
Yes, Dear. Long sharp, pointy needles.
Actually, I'll give you a gold star for that one, Dear. (Gold star that I now have to write out because keeps dropping my asterisks.) That was actually something I put in an earlier chapter that got meddled as the story progressed and I never went back and corrected it. The fact of the matter is they know what she looks like....they think. Remember that Katlin can change her appearance as it suits her. She, therefore, can be anyone. And Katlin rarely appears publicly as herself. Only a very talented Auror, such as Olivers, can recognize her on sight, not by how she looks, but by how she acts. At the party it was by the fact she was uncomfortable in her dress. In a room full of muggles, who cares? But in a room full of witches and wizards, you most likely have someone who made a last minute 'change' without considering the cloths might not fit just right. Charly just got lucky that night when Katlin, out with a bunch of Deatheaters, went out as herself. One of those rare occasions.
What do you mean, Dear, you accept the different last name as explanation though?
Actually, Katlin is not incapable of having children. She could become pregnant, it just isn't very likely. But still, no, she is not the biological mother of the five children she and Orion end up with. (And for those of you that read these, a little 'heads up', I never said Orion was the father either, now did I?)
Orion will certainly be more careful with Harry from now on. Especially considering the tongue-lashing he is for from a certain lady for losing him in the first place.
Nessie:
Whether or not Katlin is devoted to Voldemort has yet to be determined, Dear. You are not nearly far enough into the story to make that determination. In fact, I would say this one is almost left up to the reader right to the end.
Actually, I never thought about the Dark Mark issue. I just assumed it was on either arm. Thanks for the correction. I shall keep it in mind from now on.
As for the Knight Bus/Night Bus issue, I was just too lazy to go look it up.
Harry is just happy to get out of the lair. As he sees it, if he stays, he's likely dead. If he leaves, no matter who with, he at least has a chance.
I'm so sorry about your dog Tootsie. It is hard to lose a pet. Especially one that consents to warming your feet at night.
FEVER
HWayre:
You people stay up late at night thinking up these names, don't you?
Dear, I have 16 or 17 stories up right now. Where have you been?
Sparkling Cherries:
Hmmm....., a gold statue could be nice. If you do decide to make one, Dear, could you send it along my way?
How could I mistake that for anything BUT a compliment, Dear. After all, you were considering making me a gold statue.
THE BONDS THAT TIE
Sami1010220:
I am sorry, Dear, but I do not send e-mails right now because my e-mail account is.....strange. It is also, to my knowledge, not working properly. Which is what makes it strange, you see.
But to your question, yes, that was the end of The Bonds That Tie. So you may move on to the sequel.
No, no, Dear. If you read my bio page, you will note I do not put up stories I have not either completely finished or at least outlined in some way. And RARELY, if ever, do I post two stories at once. It's simply too hard to keep them straight.
Thank you, Dear. I am glad you enjoyed it.
All reviews are as of 01/16/2005.
And remember,
Ambivalent? Well, yes and no.
