And another chapter! Day early this week because, oh joy, I'm going to
Wales for the weekend! And I mean that seriously! I was born in Wales so
yay!
On with the story. Hope there's enough lovey-dovey stuff in here for Saturnpyroprincess!
Chapter 19 – First day of the last year
The rest of the summer passed in a blur for Kathryn. The questions asked by Ministry Aurors after the attack on the theatre... Helping Sirius move in... Learning yet more martial arts from her father... While she knew she did them, she barely processed it.
Even when collecting her new books and supplies in Diagon Alley, she was distracted. She struggled to concentrate on anything. Even packing her belongings was done in some kind of stupor.
In the end, Sirius knew he had to shake her out of this somehow. And on the morning of the first of September, he found it.
"SIRIUS CALHOUN BLACK!" The voice rang through the station, just as it had one year before.
James grinned at Lily. "I knew this would work."
Lily grinned back. "Let's enjoy our last moments of freedom before we have to become perfect upstanding model students."
"Yeah, how on Earth did Dumbledore pick *me* as Head Boy?"
"Maybe he thought it would steady you out. Certainly you were steadier last year, what with the captainship of Quidditch an' all."
Before James could reply, there was another shriek.
"SIRIUS, PUT ME DOWN, RIGHT NOW! I'M WARNING YOU..."
"Not until you break out of this stupor you've been in ever since the end of July." Sirius told her firmly, still carrying her over his shoulder. "Otherwise I'm not letting you down.
"I THINK I'VE BLOODY WELL BROKEN OUT OF THE STUPOR, MATE! NOW PUT ME DOWN!"
"Ah, but I quite like having you there..."
"Sirius..." Kathryn's voice was silky sweet, smooth and dangerous. She felt herself on the floor instantly. "Good boy." She grinned, and then turned away.
"Ah, ah, ah." Sirius told her, pulling her back. "I need a reward."
Kathryn grinned, her anger swiftly evaporating. She could never stay angry with him for long. "Well, okay, just one..."
"Agh, can't you two do that in private?" Lily asked aghast.
Kathryn leaned back in Sirius' arms to look past him at her friend. "Nuh- uh. Sorry." And went back to kissing him.
"Kathryn, Sirius, you're scaring the First-years." James pointed out, observing a number of terrified-looking eleven-year-olds, staring.
"Oh, sorry!" Kathryn giggled, breaking away from him.
James grinned. He looked at the First-years. "You lot for Hogwarts?" It was an accurate guess since they had three owls and a cat between five of them.
They nodded.
"Come on. You go straight through the barrier between platforms nine and ten. Sirius, Kat, show them how it's done."
A wicked light shone in Sirius' eyes.
"How to get to the *platform*, Padfoot, nothing else." James told him sternly.
Kathryn giggled. "Who'd've thought it? James, a ringleader of the Marauders, being responsible?"
"I'm warning you two..."
"Oh, James, let them have their fun. We can give them detention for snogging in corridors later." Lily told him breezily. "You'd best hurry up. The train's leaving in ten minutes."
Kathryn and Sirius took the trolley from Elise, who smiled, and proceeded to the barrier. Kathryn leant against it, Sirius beside her, carelessly holding onto the trolley and they slid through.
The First-years blanched.
"It's nothing to be scared of." James smiled.
Remus and Radella grinned as they passed. "We'd best make sure Kathryn doesn't hex Snape into oblivion before school starts."
The First-years went even paler as the two Seventh-years passed through.
"Don't worry. She only does that to Snape and his cronies in Slytherin. Besides, they're in our year and would hex kids like you without hesitation. Be careful of them, 'kay? You look like you need to be." James knew that none would be in Slytherin and therefore be safe. "They look on anyone without utterly pure blood as scum. Not realising, of course, that *they* are the scum."
"I'm not sure that one of your duties as Head Boy is to scare First-years." Olden frowned. "It certainly wasn't one of mine."
James grinned. "I bet Kathryn doesn't know you were Head Boy."
Olden nodded. "No she doesn't. She didn't even care about being Head Girl. She said it would..."
"Take the fun out of life?" Lily grinned. "Uh-huh, besides, she already *knew* it was going to be us, as Sirius revealed. At least she's no longer catatonic."
"She likes being headline news still though." Damion grinned hearing the conversation and then he and Alura went through the barrier.
"It's not hard." James turned back to the First-years.
One of them, a boy with light brown hair and unusual violet eyes, nodded, took a deep breath and ran at the barrier, looking thoroughly shocked as he got through. The rest of the First-years, as though heartened by this, followed.
"Come on." Lily grinned. "It won't do for the Head Boy and Girl to be late."
They walked through the barrier, followed by Kathryn's parents. None of the others' parents had come, all sending owls or messages telling them they'd pick them up at the end of the year and to behave – Remus' letter told him not to get any more detentions, Damion's to stop sneaking into Gryffindor Tower, Lily's a congratulations and to work hard, James' a request to take his job 'seriously' and not abuse his position (something James had been shocked and annoyed to hear), Alura's and Radella's merely contained well-wishes for the coming year. Sirius, naturally, did not get one, but was told sternly by Kathryn's mother to be careful and to attempt not to hex everything that moved over the next year. Olden told him not to 'harm my daughter in any way, or I will come after you and you'd wish Voldemort had had at you by the time I'm finished'. He then cheerfully clapped Sirius on the back, leaving him pale. Kathryn had been told numerous things to which she had replied: "Look, I'll try and stay out of detention, alright? I've got better things to do." at which she'd looked wickedly at Sirius, purely to annoy her mother. (And she succeeded easily.)
"Hey, we'll see you later, okay?" Sirius and Kathryn grinned. They had already put their luggage on the train.
"Yeah, we've got to go order the Prefects around." James groaned.
Lily grinned. "And I never thought I'd live to see the day James Potter baulked about ordering Prefects around."
He smirked. "There was only one prefect I was *ever* interested in."
Lily and James entered the Head compartment which covered about half of the first carriage while the others continued to their usual compartment at the end of the train. Peter was already inside.
"Good holiday, Wormtail?" Sirius asked, grinning.
"You don't want to know." He replied, wincing.
"Didn't magic even help you?" Sirius asked innocently.
"You know full well, Padfoot, that you can't do magic in Australia until you're eighteen, not to mention the fact that my birthday's at the end of August, and that's only because I was a week early."
Kathryn was silent, thinking. If Peter Pettigrew had been born on time... This may never have happened, for he would not have been such a close friend to James and Sirius and Remus. It was so strange, how such little things, Peter being born early, Damion being put in Ravenclaw, not Gryffindor, her prophetic dreams, or Sight as Avia called it, could make such a difference to these people's fates. She sighed, knowing that many of them, she would never be able to change.
Sirius and Peter were talking, and Alura, Radella, Remus and Damion were having a heated discussion. Kathryn was alone with her thoughts. She hugged her knees to her chest, feeling her wand against her thigh, and leant her head back, closing her eyes, just for a moment...
------------
A woman screamed.
"No! You shall never control that which lies in this house!" She shouted.
Voldemort snarled. "Move aside, you foolish woman, move aside. You have no bearing here, Mudblood!"
"Mudbloods do not exist, you fool!" A man yelled.
"Call me a fool... So be it, both of you! Avada Kedavra!" In a flash of green light, two bodies fell to the ground. The Dark Mark glowed in the sky.
Kathryn let out a retching sob as she identified the victims... Her parents. Suddenly, a voice high with anguish shrieked:
"Magic's Haven, though thou art stained,
Repel the evil of He Who Must Not Be Named!
Forbid wizards' presence forevermore,
Except for those who hold key to thy door!" The voice rang out.
Kathryn gave a start. It was her voice. In fact, it was her. An older her, to be sure, but still... her. The older Kathryn swooped through the sky, what appeared to be giant eagle's wings giving her flight.
"Begone, Voldemort. Only those who hold a key to this place shall ever find it. Only I hold that key now."
"You left someone inside." Voldemort gloated. He seemed to think this was wrong.
"I know. Coventina Orenda, Avia to Kathryn Orenda. And Avia to Kathryn Black. Do not think that anything I do is not planned. For she who dwells within is there for a reason and she will not die because of it."
An unknown word escaped that Kathryn's lips. Instantly a crimson pentacle clashed with the Dark Mark, seeming to hold it at bay.
"A pentacle shall repel you. A lightning bolt shall destroy you." She prophesied.
Voldemort Apparated away.
Kathryn fell to the ground, fully human once more. "Mum. Dad." She sobbed, screaming curses into the night.
------------
"Kathryn?" A hand shook her awake.
"Wha-What?" Kathryn gasped, rubbing her eyes.
"I think you dozed off. Did you have a vision?" Sirius asked.
'Yes!' She wanted to say. 'Yes, I saw my parents killed!' But it was too private. She was alone in that scene, she would be alone in the knowledge. "No. Just sleep. Why'd you wake me?"
He pointed to Lily and James at the door.
"C'mon, Kat, you're all invited to our compartment, believe me, it's great!" Lily grinned.
Looking round for her luggage, Kathryn realised she must have been asleep for longer than she thought, and that they had taken the luggage already.
"Okay. So, who're the new Slytherin Prefects and can I hex them?"
"Regulas!" James looked aghast.
"My pathetic excuse for a brother, Mother thinks he's pure as driven snow." Sirius scowled.
"The other is someone called Anna Lendon." James added. "She didn't seem quite as rude as most of the Slytherins, but it's only the first day."
They walked down to the Heads compartment, Lily and James keeping an eye out for rule breakers and stopping a First-year from getting himself killed by Snape and a fight between two Third-years about Dark wizards and witches coming only from Slytherin.
Kathryn commented to them. "Yes, almost every Dark witch and wizard has come from Slytherin, Voldemort himself included. But some wizards, and witches, weak ones, have come from other houses. But that is not often. And remember that not *every* Slytherin is Dark, much as many despise them."
As she walked on, Sirius looked impressed. "When'd you get so philosophical about Slytherins?"
When it was a Gryffindor that betrayed Harry's parents. Kathryn thought, not realising she was thinking 'aloud', so to speak.
"*What*?" Sirius demanded.
"Nothing." Kathryn replied.
"Kathryn, I heard you. Who's going to betray Lily and James?" Sirius demanded.
"How do you know it's Lily?" Kathryn asked.
"It's obvious, Moldyvort as good as told us. He only needed to kill two of us, the men or the women, remember? Then he said neither child shall be born. So obviously unless something really weird happens, Lily has to be Harry's mother."
"Believe me, nothing weird in *that* sense will happen." Kathryn grinned.
"Glad to hear it." Sirius grinned back.
"As if anyone would want to go to anyone else when they had you." Kathryn smiled.
"Naturally." Sirius made no attempt to be modest as he kissed her.
Then he heard Lily and James approaching and pulled away.
"Don't want to get detention for snogging in the corridors before we even get to Hogwarts, do we?" He asked, taking her hand.
"Agh, they spoil everything. Every romantic moment has to be spoiled." Kathryn sighed. "God knows what'd happen when you proposed, or worse, if we got married!"
Sirius grinned. "Probably Voldemort'd come to give us his best regards in our marital life, and, while he was at it, kill half the guests."
Kathryn and Sirius proceeded to predict what disasters could possibly befall them on their wedding day with disturbing mirth. Lily and James were especially surprised when they realised what the topic of conversation was.
"You're talking about your wedding?" Lily checked.
"No, we're talking about what disasters could befall our wedding *if* we ever got married." Kathryn corrected her, giggling helplessly.
"I think she's got the giggles." Radella commented from a sofa at the other end of the luxurious compartment.
"Ya think?" Lily replied sarcastically. "It's kinda obvious isn't it?"
Kathryn giggled even more. "You've spent too much time with me, Lily, you're talking like me! Next you'll be swearing every other paragraph."
"You don't swear that much." James pointed out.
"Okay, maybe not, and the thing is, it was everyday tongue for me and my friends. I mean, I try not to, but it didn't always work. And I don't swear badly. I've stopped you lot from using the 'f' word several times, and I never use that." Kathryn pointed out.
"Your language is still the worst." Sirius sighed wistfully.
"I know. Mind you, I don't think I'll ever change."
"Oh good."
They dissolved into laughs and giggles once more.
James and Lily, sighing, flopped down onto a nearby settee.
"They're beginning to annoy me."
"I think someone slipped something into their orange juice." Lily grinned.
"Ah, orange juice, how I shall miss it!" Alura proclaimed dramatically. "All they ever have at Hogwarts is pumpkin juice."
"Not in the kitchens." James grinned.
Alura just stared at him. "What?"
"Surely you knew that they go to the kitchens practically every night?" Lily grinned.
"Not *every* night!" James protested.
"Just three times a week then."
"Padfoot, help me out here, mate!" James begged.
"I agree with Lily." Sirius remarked absently and then looked back at Kathryn.
What's with them? James asked Lily.
Probably conversing mind-to-mind like we are. Just as well. I'm not sure we want to hear what they're saying. Lily grinned.
"So, admit defeat?" She asked aloud.
James shrugged. "If I must."
Kathryn and Sirius' conversation, however, was completely innocent. Well, innocent of what James and Lily suspected.
We have got to get them into trouble. Sirius grinned.
Solum! That's not nice! We can't do that to our best friends! Kathryn was shocked, but then added, Can we?
'Course we can! After all, it's not like they're not going to try and get us for rule breaking. I *know* James, and he can be truly evil.
Evil is a little harsh...
Not *that* sort of evil! Evil as in wicked, teasing, pranking!
Oh! Well, we could probably get them for snogging in the corridors.
They'll just get us back.
Then we need to find somewhere new. A wicked grin lit her face.
"Are you two going to be sociable, or are you going to spend the rest of the journey gazing into each other's eyes?" Damion asked.
Radella and Alura nodded, after all, none but the Elemental Guardians had been told of their powers unless Voldemort had told his followers. Remus, however, looked thoughtful. Kathryn remembered her vision during the summer. He had known and understood their powers. How did he find out?
Before they knew it, the train was pulling in and they were hurriedly pulling on their robes, James and Lily's badges prominent. The rain was pouring, practically a storm, and they all did their robes up as extra protection as they ran for the Thestral-drawn carriages.
As they did so, Kathryn blinked.
"What the –?" She began.
"What's up?" Sirius asked.
"I can see the Thestrals."
"But that's not possible. You haven't seen anyone die!" Sirius frowned.
She frowned. "Unless it counts in my visions... But I saw Arthur Weasley die and I couldn't see 'em."
"What do you mean?" Radella asked her.
"Never mind, I'll ask Professor Dumbledore when I get a chance. Or Kettleburn. After all, he is the Care of Magical Creatures teacher." Kathryn sighed and leant against Sirius, ignoring the fact that he was wet.
The company were talking, and soon Lily and James entered, looking even more bedraggled than they.
"I think they were a little nervous." Lily commented.
"So they compensated by being true little horrors? I bet those were the ones who'll be in Slytherin." James snarled.
"What happened?"
"There were some First-years who threw hysterics and wouldn't climb in the boats. Said the giant squid would get them." Lily explained.
"How did you calm them?" Remus wanted to know.
"Told them that James is twice as bad as the giant squid and if they didn't get in the boats, *he*'d get them and eat them for dinner." Lily replied cheerfully.
James muttered something darkly.
"I bet that went down well." Kathryn grinned.
"How did eleven-year-olds swallow *that*?" Sirius demanded.
"Probably because he was fuming." Lily explained. Then in thought-speech, And the waves got higher and the rain harder.
James! You're as bad as Lily! You two have got to quit manipulating the water and air! Sirius scolded.
You two have got it easy! James replied.
Uh-uh. Have you any idea how hard it is to stop fire sprouting from my fingers when I'm angry? Why do you think I yell so much? I have to vent it as speech rather than raw flame. Kathryn explained.
And me. I have to stop stones from moving and the earth from shaking when I'm in a temper. It takes so much control. Our powers aren't as easily ready as yours, but equally, if not more so, dangerous. Sirius informed him seriously.
James groaned and whacked his head on the back of the carriage.
"Anyone remember the Drying spell?" Peter asked hopefully.
"Aridus." James incanted, almost lazily, with a wave of his hand. The nine teens instantly dried off.
Radella stared at him. "No wand?"
"It's just a spell I can do." James shrugged. "Something to do with having an unusual amount of water in my nature."
"Huh?"
"It's an ancient belief, I can't actually remember who it was who believed it, could be the Celts..." James mused. (A/N: I can't remember either! If anyone can, please review and tell me!) "Anyway, whoever it was, they believed that people contain the elements, you know, as parts of their natures. Most people have a reasonably equal balance of all four elements, though normally one will be higher than the others. For example, they might have a little more earth in their nature, making them more reliable. There are a few people which have one element that's *much* higher than the others. They often have a gift with spells that pertain to that element, such as not needing a wand."
Wow, way to cover up your tracks. Kathryn murmured in her mind.
Actually, it's true. Lily told her. I read it somewhere.
Big surprise. Kathryn muttered. Lily, at times, could be a bigger bookworm than she herself (it was one of her supposed 'faults'), and reminded her very much of Hermione at times, such as this.
As they entered the Entrance Hall, Peeves, naturally, came to greet them.
"Ooo, if it isn't the Marauders and Enchanted!" He cackled gleefully, swooping down on them. "And the new Head Boy and Girl!"
Water bombs began flying.
"Oh, Pee-eeves!" Kathryn called in a sing-song voice. A hush fell on them. Kathryn was one of the few students ever to get the better of Peeves.
"What?" He demanded, cackling again.
"If you don't stop throwing water bombs, I'm going to be forced to do something that will stop you from ever producing little baby poltergeists." She grinned.
"Can't anyway." He stuck out his tongue.
"Doesn't stop it hurting as much as it does on a human male." She smiled viciously. "And, of course, I could tell you your dark, dastardly future..."
Peeves disappeared faster than a Peruvian Vipertooth after its prey.
Kathryn smirked at the cheers and entered the Great Hall with a decidedly happy expression that did not change until the Sorting Hat began it's song.
All she heard was the first few lines:
"When I was new and clean,
And worn by Gryffindor,
He shared a common goal,
With friends, so began the Founders Four."
"No!" Kathryn gasped, before feeling her body go rigid and she fell backwards, seemingly asleep.
She plummeted into her vision, wondering why she was having another that day...
------------
"There's news." Remus Lupin entered the office of Albus Dumbledore.
"What news?"
"The symbol of Fire Star has appeared once more." He explained.
"Where?"
"Australia. Apparently there were a group of foreign Death Eaters indulging in some Muggle torture. They are now in Azkaban, but none of them look too good."
"What happened?"
"No one knows. It appears that the Muggles were being tortured, a whole family, while others were held prisoner. Before the Muggles had their memories modified they spoke of a woman bathed in crimson light, with wings, shooting fire from her hands. They also said that none were killed, maybe burned, harmed, but none killed. They were all left unconscious, with extremely strong spells around them, ones to prevent Apparation, Animagus transformation, and any sort of escape. Best of all, they were British ones, learned by Aurors in the 1980s." Remus sighed, collapsing into a chair.
"So she has revealed herself."
"Do you think she knows of his death?"
"Of course she does. They are soulmates, and the curse... I can't help feeling that the Curse of Kali may be broken soon."
"Really?"
"I hope so. Why do you think she has revealed herself so publicly?"
"I don't know. But she always said that after Harry's Fifth-year..."
"She would change that future. I wonder how?"
"I don't know. I do know that the crimson pentacle was, once again, repelling the Dark Mark. Also, one of the Muggles gave her only words."
"They were?"
"'The Moon and the Army Commander shall meet and at sixteen, their magic shall truly reveal itself.'"
"Anything else?"
"Yes, but to the Death Eaters. She said what she has always said."
A pause.
"You're sure?"
"Yes."
"She said..."
"'A pentacle shall repel you. A lightning bolt shall destroy you.'" Remus nodded. "She says it to anyone who bears the Dark Mark, not to mention Voldemort himself. She must be talking about Voldemort's habits of leaving scars on those left alive."
"She is the pentacle. She has always managed to repel Voldemort when he has attacked her. The lightning bolt must refer to Harry. She has always known of his fate." Dumbledore mused.
"Harry's... fate?"
"Did I not tell you? I should have. Remus, Harry is the only one with the power to destroy Voldemort. And ultimately, they must meet in battle. Sybill Trelawney gave the prediction. One of her few genuine ones. She gave Harry another the afternoon before you discovered Peter two years ago. Unfortunately, neither Harry nor Voldemort can survive while the other lives. That is why Voldemort tried to kill Harry as a child. And then marked him as his equal."
"Wait a minute! Harry... and Selene. They are nearing their sixteenth birthdays, aren't they?"
"Yes. Just as their parents did, they shall gain control of their other magic. The Heirs of the Elemental Guardians."
"The Moon and the Army Commander." Remus frowned. "I didn't know that's what 'Harry' meant."
"Harry was named for his grandfather, Harold. His parents shortened it, but it is from that stem. Selene, of course, means The Moon and always has done."
"What does this all mean?" Remus wanted to know.
"It means that Kathryn Black is still alive. And she's starting to make this future a better place."
"I hope so."
------------
Kathryn gasped and shuddered awake. She was lying on the floor.
"Kat?"
Kathryn pushed her body up and hugged Sirius close, feeling vulnerable. Everyone was staring. She felt scared. But at least she was going to do some good.
"She should have a permanent bed in the Hospital Wing the amount of times she collapses." A voice commented.
Kathryn had never judged that her sense of hearing was much better than usual since the owner of this voice was sat at the Slytherin table at the other side of the hall. All the same...
Lucius Malfoy found himself floating in the air just as he had last year.
"You'd think you'd learn." Kathryn commented bitterly as Sirius helped her up. "You always make snide comments about everyone, especially those who happen to have something that they don't really want. Like visions that make you fall asleep. Your son will be exactly the same. He'll make snide comments about those who are Muggle-born, yet can best him on every exam, those who have less money than he, but have enough love for those who aren't even family, and those who have fame they never wanted, a scar he never wanted, and a fate he never wanted. Like father, like son. Maybe, when he enters Sixth-year, I can levitate him into the air too, hm? After all, you will *not* be in a position to stop me. And he'll deserve it. Because, like you, some absolutely foul comment will erupt from his lips and he'll need to learn. I wish you would. I wish all of you would!" Her voice rose sharply, addressing everyone. "It is people like you who spread discord and enmity, stop houses from uniting, and ultimately, help Voldemort on his way."
Again the shudders and gasps as she said his name.
"For cryin' out loud! Fear of a name only increases the fear of the things itself! Do you want to give Voldemort the edge he needs by increasing your own fear of him? Mind you, I guess that's exactly the kind of thing some of you want, or need, to do." She looked darkly at Malfoy. "Make yourself fear him, and spread discord, mistrust, dishonesty, fear. I won't let you do that to me. I refuse to fear Voldemort and his name, and I shall always believe innocent until proven guilty. In *most* cases." She looked at Bellatrix Black, sat with the young Bartemius Crouch, who was only a Third- year to her Seventh. "In some I don't *need* proof."
She sat back down, by which time Professor McGonagall, the new Deputy Headmistress since Professor Kennan had retired the previous year, was reading out the names of the First-years and Sorting them.
"Kat, you ought to let him down." James informed her.
Kathryn looked behind her carelessly. "Oh." She saw Malfoy was still in the air. With a snap of her fingers the Levitation charm ceased and he fell to the floor, hard. "Why I couldn't've just left him there..."
"It's not that pretty a sight, seeing him in the ceiling. Not like the candles." James explained.
"Of course."
"What did you see?" Lily asked.
Kathryn sighed, running a hand through her hair, pulling the front back from her face. "Something to do with the symbol of Fire Star, which I have no idea what that means. Remus talking to Dumbledore about some incident in Australia, about twenty-two years into the future."
"Oh, so not immediately important then?"
"No. And those are the visions that confuse me. Why would they come to me? I mean, surely I get them for a reason?" (A/N: Yeah, so I don't have to write the incidents later on! I can go straight from one time to another! So remember her dreams!)
"I guess. Don't worry, Kat, they'll be explained some day." Sirius told her encouragingly.
"I hope so."
At the end of the feast, Dumbledore gave his speech, as usual.
"Now, since you are all fed and watered, I request a few moments of your time to listen. Firstly to our new students, and some older ones who seem to need reminding, the Forbidden Forest is, as its name suggests, forbidden to all students." Sirius and James exchanged smirks. He always seemed to address the comments about 'older students' to the Marauders. "Secondly, our caretaker Mr Filch has asked me to remind you that there is no magic to be used in the corridors. And I would like you to join me in congratulating Professor Johnson and Miss Kestrel in their marriage." There were a lot of cheers as this was revealed. "They are both teaching the class, and I expect they'll inform you how they wish to be addressed as having two Professor Johnsons could be confusing." His blue eyes twinkled. "Also, please welcome Professor McGonagall as Deputy Headmistress, as well as Head of Gryffindor House and our Transfiguration teacher." Some more applause. "Lastly, I would like you all to learn well and enjoy this year at school. I trust none of you intend to not enjoy yourselves."
And as he said those words, the Marauders start-of-term prank took effect.
Everyone laughed, except Kathryn. Her skin became clammy, her breathing sped up, her muscles tensed. While most people saw the ceiling turn strange shades of pink, orange and purple, Kathryn saw something completely different. Her eyes clouded. All she could hear were shrieks of terror, all she could see was blood, ruins, bodies – blackened, ripped, torn – *fresh*. She looked about her. Where was she? What was happening? She looked up. The Dark Mark stained the sky. Night sky, stormy sky. People lay dead everywhere. She walked on, down through a hole. She caught a glimpse of a sign and then the shattered remains of a statue. A statue where only a servile house-elf now stood. The sign said Welcome to the Ministry of Magic.
"NO!" Kathryn screamed.
She felt someone grip her upper arms.
"Kathryn? What is it?"
"The Ministry! They're going to attack the Ministry." She gasped.
"Who?"
"Death Eaters. Every-everyone will be killed!" She stammered.
She felt a cool hand on her face, another grasp her hand. "Kathryn, it'll be okay."
"It hurts." She whimpered.
"Kathryn?" Another voice asked. "What did you see?"
"The Ministry. In – in ruins. Blood, bodies... everywhere. It was fresh... I could *smell* it..."
"When will they attack?"
"Tonight."
"You're sure?"
"Yes."
"Thank you. I suggest you go up to your rooms. If you have any other problems, you'll be able to contact James and Lily, the Head Tower is by the Gryffindor Tower and I believe that Sirius has the password." The owner of the voice left.
Kathryn's vision was spotty, she couldn't focus. She realised the second voice belonged to Dumbledore and the first to Sirius. She gripped hard onto her boyfriend.
"Was it our prank?" Sirius sounded worried. "If it's hurt you, I'll..."
"No, I don't think it was the prank. Maybe something about it – the magic – made me see the vision. But I didn't fall asleep."
"No. No, you didn't." Sirius frowned.
Slowly the couple got to Gryffindor Tower. Kathryn noticed that everyone appeared to have left after the prank, not noticing something was wrong. As they entered, Lily and James ran over. "What happened?" Lily asked. "Kathryn, are you okay?"
"Yeah, yeah, I'm – I'm fine. Just – just a little shaken. I-I had another vision. But..." Her voice trailed off.
"But what?"
"I didn't fall asleep. Mum never mentioned anything like this."
"Kathryn, I'm sure its fine. But are you okay? You look shaken." Lily placed a hand on her friend's arm, worried.
"No. What I saw... It was awful. An attack on the Ministry and... it looked like they'd had no way to defend themselves."
"C'mon." James ordered, going through a door to the side of the common room and down a passage into a larger room.
Sirius frowned. "I never knew this was here."
"Yeah, I discovered it when I was being nosy, but it has the entrance to the Head Tower." James explained. "Hey, Drake, Paige."
A portrait of an attractive young man and woman picnicking in a field responded.
"James, Lily. You're Head Boy and Girl then?"
"Yep."
"Good. Who are these two?" The woman, Paige, asked.
"Kathryn Orenda and Sirius Black, our best friends. They're coming up with us, is that all right?"
"Certainly. Password?"
"Lion's Lair." Lily grinned. "Appropriate, don't ya think?"
Kathryn nodded.
There was a quick explore of the bedrooms, living room and bathroom before they stayed in the living room, or common room, that was much like a smaller version of the Gryffindor common room.
And as they talked and laughed, Kathryn fell asleep, her terrifying vision gone, but not forgotten.
* * *
A/N: So, whaddya think? Good or no? Review and tell me! If you have any questions, all you need do is ask.
Thanks to meenyrocks for reviewing. I guess you won't get here for a while, but never mind. Charmed is great! No, I haven't seen the new series, I really want to though. And I can't believe that Leo left, either! It's so sad! I love Charmed and Buffy, so there you go.
Right, message about changes. Thriodien and I have officially gone onto separate accounts. She's now called Seer of Faith for some reason. And *still* hasn't posted any fics up. Get moving girl! So the feedback goes only to me. Okay?
I'll post soon (next Friday probably),
Lol, Tanydwr
On with the story. Hope there's enough lovey-dovey stuff in here for Saturnpyroprincess!
Chapter 19 – First day of the last year
The rest of the summer passed in a blur for Kathryn. The questions asked by Ministry Aurors after the attack on the theatre... Helping Sirius move in... Learning yet more martial arts from her father... While she knew she did them, she barely processed it.
Even when collecting her new books and supplies in Diagon Alley, she was distracted. She struggled to concentrate on anything. Even packing her belongings was done in some kind of stupor.
In the end, Sirius knew he had to shake her out of this somehow. And on the morning of the first of September, he found it.
"SIRIUS CALHOUN BLACK!" The voice rang through the station, just as it had one year before.
James grinned at Lily. "I knew this would work."
Lily grinned back. "Let's enjoy our last moments of freedom before we have to become perfect upstanding model students."
"Yeah, how on Earth did Dumbledore pick *me* as Head Boy?"
"Maybe he thought it would steady you out. Certainly you were steadier last year, what with the captainship of Quidditch an' all."
Before James could reply, there was another shriek.
"SIRIUS, PUT ME DOWN, RIGHT NOW! I'M WARNING YOU..."
"Not until you break out of this stupor you've been in ever since the end of July." Sirius told her firmly, still carrying her over his shoulder. "Otherwise I'm not letting you down.
"I THINK I'VE BLOODY WELL BROKEN OUT OF THE STUPOR, MATE! NOW PUT ME DOWN!"
"Ah, but I quite like having you there..."
"Sirius..." Kathryn's voice was silky sweet, smooth and dangerous. She felt herself on the floor instantly. "Good boy." She grinned, and then turned away.
"Ah, ah, ah." Sirius told her, pulling her back. "I need a reward."
Kathryn grinned, her anger swiftly evaporating. She could never stay angry with him for long. "Well, okay, just one..."
"Agh, can't you two do that in private?" Lily asked aghast.
Kathryn leaned back in Sirius' arms to look past him at her friend. "Nuh- uh. Sorry." And went back to kissing him.
"Kathryn, Sirius, you're scaring the First-years." James pointed out, observing a number of terrified-looking eleven-year-olds, staring.
"Oh, sorry!" Kathryn giggled, breaking away from him.
James grinned. He looked at the First-years. "You lot for Hogwarts?" It was an accurate guess since they had three owls and a cat between five of them.
They nodded.
"Come on. You go straight through the barrier between platforms nine and ten. Sirius, Kat, show them how it's done."
A wicked light shone in Sirius' eyes.
"How to get to the *platform*, Padfoot, nothing else." James told him sternly.
Kathryn giggled. "Who'd've thought it? James, a ringleader of the Marauders, being responsible?"
"I'm warning you two..."
"Oh, James, let them have their fun. We can give them detention for snogging in corridors later." Lily told him breezily. "You'd best hurry up. The train's leaving in ten minutes."
Kathryn and Sirius took the trolley from Elise, who smiled, and proceeded to the barrier. Kathryn leant against it, Sirius beside her, carelessly holding onto the trolley and they slid through.
The First-years blanched.
"It's nothing to be scared of." James smiled.
Remus and Radella grinned as they passed. "We'd best make sure Kathryn doesn't hex Snape into oblivion before school starts."
The First-years went even paler as the two Seventh-years passed through.
"Don't worry. She only does that to Snape and his cronies in Slytherin. Besides, they're in our year and would hex kids like you without hesitation. Be careful of them, 'kay? You look like you need to be." James knew that none would be in Slytherin and therefore be safe. "They look on anyone without utterly pure blood as scum. Not realising, of course, that *they* are the scum."
"I'm not sure that one of your duties as Head Boy is to scare First-years." Olden frowned. "It certainly wasn't one of mine."
James grinned. "I bet Kathryn doesn't know you were Head Boy."
Olden nodded. "No she doesn't. She didn't even care about being Head Girl. She said it would..."
"Take the fun out of life?" Lily grinned. "Uh-huh, besides, she already *knew* it was going to be us, as Sirius revealed. At least she's no longer catatonic."
"She likes being headline news still though." Damion grinned hearing the conversation and then he and Alura went through the barrier.
"It's not hard." James turned back to the First-years.
One of them, a boy with light brown hair and unusual violet eyes, nodded, took a deep breath and ran at the barrier, looking thoroughly shocked as he got through. The rest of the First-years, as though heartened by this, followed.
"Come on." Lily grinned. "It won't do for the Head Boy and Girl to be late."
They walked through the barrier, followed by Kathryn's parents. None of the others' parents had come, all sending owls or messages telling them they'd pick them up at the end of the year and to behave – Remus' letter told him not to get any more detentions, Damion's to stop sneaking into Gryffindor Tower, Lily's a congratulations and to work hard, James' a request to take his job 'seriously' and not abuse his position (something James had been shocked and annoyed to hear), Alura's and Radella's merely contained well-wishes for the coming year. Sirius, naturally, did not get one, but was told sternly by Kathryn's mother to be careful and to attempt not to hex everything that moved over the next year. Olden told him not to 'harm my daughter in any way, or I will come after you and you'd wish Voldemort had had at you by the time I'm finished'. He then cheerfully clapped Sirius on the back, leaving him pale. Kathryn had been told numerous things to which she had replied: "Look, I'll try and stay out of detention, alright? I've got better things to do." at which she'd looked wickedly at Sirius, purely to annoy her mother. (And she succeeded easily.)
"Hey, we'll see you later, okay?" Sirius and Kathryn grinned. They had already put their luggage on the train.
"Yeah, we've got to go order the Prefects around." James groaned.
Lily grinned. "And I never thought I'd live to see the day James Potter baulked about ordering Prefects around."
He smirked. "There was only one prefect I was *ever* interested in."
Lily and James entered the Head compartment which covered about half of the first carriage while the others continued to their usual compartment at the end of the train. Peter was already inside.
"Good holiday, Wormtail?" Sirius asked, grinning.
"You don't want to know." He replied, wincing.
"Didn't magic even help you?" Sirius asked innocently.
"You know full well, Padfoot, that you can't do magic in Australia until you're eighteen, not to mention the fact that my birthday's at the end of August, and that's only because I was a week early."
Kathryn was silent, thinking. If Peter Pettigrew had been born on time... This may never have happened, for he would not have been such a close friend to James and Sirius and Remus. It was so strange, how such little things, Peter being born early, Damion being put in Ravenclaw, not Gryffindor, her prophetic dreams, or Sight as Avia called it, could make such a difference to these people's fates. She sighed, knowing that many of them, she would never be able to change.
Sirius and Peter were talking, and Alura, Radella, Remus and Damion were having a heated discussion. Kathryn was alone with her thoughts. She hugged her knees to her chest, feeling her wand against her thigh, and leant her head back, closing her eyes, just for a moment...
------------
A woman screamed.
"No! You shall never control that which lies in this house!" She shouted.
Voldemort snarled. "Move aside, you foolish woman, move aside. You have no bearing here, Mudblood!"
"Mudbloods do not exist, you fool!" A man yelled.
"Call me a fool... So be it, both of you! Avada Kedavra!" In a flash of green light, two bodies fell to the ground. The Dark Mark glowed in the sky.
Kathryn let out a retching sob as she identified the victims... Her parents. Suddenly, a voice high with anguish shrieked:
"Magic's Haven, though thou art stained,
Repel the evil of He Who Must Not Be Named!
Forbid wizards' presence forevermore,
Except for those who hold key to thy door!" The voice rang out.
Kathryn gave a start. It was her voice. In fact, it was her. An older her, to be sure, but still... her. The older Kathryn swooped through the sky, what appeared to be giant eagle's wings giving her flight.
"Begone, Voldemort. Only those who hold a key to this place shall ever find it. Only I hold that key now."
"You left someone inside." Voldemort gloated. He seemed to think this was wrong.
"I know. Coventina Orenda, Avia to Kathryn Orenda. And Avia to Kathryn Black. Do not think that anything I do is not planned. For she who dwells within is there for a reason and she will not die because of it."
An unknown word escaped that Kathryn's lips. Instantly a crimson pentacle clashed with the Dark Mark, seeming to hold it at bay.
"A pentacle shall repel you. A lightning bolt shall destroy you." She prophesied.
Voldemort Apparated away.
Kathryn fell to the ground, fully human once more. "Mum. Dad." She sobbed, screaming curses into the night.
------------
"Kathryn?" A hand shook her awake.
"Wha-What?" Kathryn gasped, rubbing her eyes.
"I think you dozed off. Did you have a vision?" Sirius asked.
'Yes!' She wanted to say. 'Yes, I saw my parents killed!' But it was too private. She was alone in that scene, she would be alone in the knowledge. "No. Just sleep. Why'd you wake me?"
He pointed to Lily and James at the door.
"C'mon, Kat, you're all invited to our compartment, believe me, it's great!" Lily grinned.
Looking round for her luggage, Kathryn realised she must have been asleep for longer than she thought, and that they had taken the luggage already.
"Okay. So, who're the new Slytherin Prefects and can I hex them?"
"Regulas!" James looked aghast.
"My pathetic excuse for a brother, Mother thinks he's pure as driven snow." Sirius scowled.
"The other is someone called Anna Lendon." James added. "She didn't seem quite as rude as most of the Slytherins, but it's only the first day."
They walked down to the Heads compartment, Lily and James keeping an eye out for rule breakers and stopping a First-year from getting himself killed by Snape and a fight between two Third-years about Dark wizards and witches coming only from Slytherin.
Kathryn commented to them. "Yes, almost every Dark witch and wizard has come from Slytherin, Voldemort himself included. But some wizards, and witches, weak ones, have come from other houses. But that is not often. And remember that not *every* Slytherin is Dark, much as many despise them."
As she walked on, Sirius looked impressed. "When'd you get so philosophical about Slytherins?"
When it was a Gryffindor that betrayed Harry's parents. Kathryn thought, not realising she was thinking 'aloud', so to speak.
"*What*?" Sirius demanded.
"Nothing." Kathryn replied.
"Kathryn, I heard you. Who's going to betray Lily and James?" Sirius demanded.
"How do you know it's Lily?" Kathryn asked.
"It's obvious, Moldyvort as good as told us. He only needed to kill two of us, the men or the women, remember? Then he said neither child shall be born. So obviously unless something really weird happens, Lily has to be Harry's mother."
"Believe me, nothing weird in *that* sense will happen." Kathryn grinned.
"Glad to hear it." Sirius grinned back.
"As if anyone would want to go to anyone else when they had you." Kathryn smiled.
"Naturally." Sirius made no attempt to be modest as he kissed her.
Then he heard Lily and James approaching and pulled away.
"Don't want to get detention for snogging in the corridors before we even get to Hogwarts, do we?" He asked, taking her hand.
"Agh, they spoil everything. Every romantic moment has to be spoiled." Kathryn sighed. "God knows what'd happen when you proposed, or worse, if we got married!"
Sirius grinned. "Probably Voldemort'd come to give us his best regards in our marital life, and, while he was at it, kill half the guests."
Kathryn and Sirius proceeded to predict what disasters could possibly befall them on their wedding day with disturbing mirth. Lily and James were especially surprised when they realised what the topic of conversation was.
"You're talking about your wedding?" Lily checked.
"No, we're talking about what disasters could befall our wedding *if* we ever got married." Kathryn corrected her, giggling helplessly.
"I think she's got the giggles." Radella commented from a sofa at the other end of the luxurious compartment.
"Ya think?" Lily replied sarcastically. "It's kinda obvious isn't it?"
Kathryn giggled even more. "You've spent too much time with me, Lily, you're talking like me! Next you'll be swearing every other paragraph."
"You don't swear that much." James pointed out.
"Okay, maybe not, and the thing is, it was everyday tongue for me and my friends. I mean, I try not to, but it didn't always work. And I don't swear badly. I've stopped you lot from using the 'f' word several times, and I never use that." Kathryn pointed out.
"Your language is still the worst." Sirius sighed wistfully.
"I know. Mind you, I don't think I'll ever change."
"Oh good."
They dissolved into laughs and giggles once more.
James and Lily, sighing, flopped down onto a nearby settee.
"They're beginning to annoy me."
"I think someone slipped something into their orange juice." Lily grinned.
"Ah, orange juice, how I shall miss it!" Alura proclaimed dramatically. "All they ever have at Hogwarts is pumpkin juice."
"Not in the kitchens." James grinned.
Alura just stared at him. "What?"
"Surely you knew that they go to the kitchens practically every night?" Lily grinned.
"Not *every* night!" James protested.
"Just three times a week then."
"Padfoot, help me out here, mate!" James begged.
"I agree with Lily." Sirius remarked absently and then looked back at Kathryn.
What's with them? James asked Lily.
Probably conversing mind-to-mind like we are. Just as well. I'm not sure we want to hear what they're saying. Lily grinned.
"So, admit defeat?" She asked aloud.
James shrugged. "If I must."
Kathryn and Sirius' conversation, however, was completely innocent. Well, innocent of what James and Lily suspected.
We have got to get them into trouble. Sirius grinned.
Solum! That's not nice! We can't do that to our best friends! Kathryn was shocked, but then added, Can we?
'Course we can! After all, it's not like they're not going to try and get us for rule breaking. I *know* James, and he can be truly evil.
Evil is a little harsh...
Not *that* sort of evil! Evil as in wicked, teasing, pranking!
Oh! Well, we could probably get them for snogging in the corridors.
They'll just get us back.
Then we need to find somewhere new. A wicked grin lit her face.
"Are you two going to be sociable, or are you going to spend the rest of the journey gazing into each other's eyes?" Damion asked.
Radella and Alura nodded, after all, none but the Elemental Guardians had been told of their powers unless Voldemort had told his followers. Remus, however, looked thoughtful. Kathryn remembered her vision during the summer. He had known and understood their powers. How did he find out?
Before they knew it, the train was pulling in and they were hurriedly pulling on their robes, James and Lily's badges prominent. The rain was pouring, practically a storm, and they all did their robes up as extra protection as they ran for the Thestral-drawn carriages.
As they did so, Kathryn blinked.
"What the –?" She began.
"What's up?" Sirius asked.
"I can see the Thestrals."
"But that's not possible. You haven't seen anyone die!" Sirius frowned.
She frowned. "Unless it counts in my visions... But I saw Arthur Weasley die and I couldn't see 'em."
"What do you mean?" Radella asked her.
"Never mind, I'll ask Professor Dumbledore when I get a chance. Or Kettleburn. After all, he is the Care of Magical Creatures teacher." Kathryn sighed and leant against Sirius, ignoring the fact that he was wet.
The company were talking, and soon Lily and James entered, looking even more bedraggled than they.
"I think they were a little nervous." Lily commented.
"So they compensated by being true little horrors? I bet those were the ones who'll be in Slytherin." James snarled.
"What happened?"
"There were some First-years who threw hysterics and wouldn't climb in the boats. Said the giant squid would get them." Lily explained.
"How did you calm them?" Remus wanted to know.
"Told them that James is twice as bad as the giant squid and if they didn't get in the boats, *he*'d get them and eat them for dinner." Lily replied cheerfully.
James muttered something darkly.
"I bet that went down well." Kathryn grinned.
"How did eleven-year-olds swallow *that*?" Sirius demanded.
"Probably because he was fuming." Lily explained. Then in thought-speech, And the waves got higher and the rain harder.
James! You're as bad as Lily! You two have got to quit manipulating the water and air! Sirius scolded.
You two have got it easy! James replied.
Uh-uh. Have you any idea how hard it is to stop fire sprouting from my fingers when I'm angry? Why do you think I yell so much? I have to vent it as speech rather than raw flame. Kathryn explained.
And me. I have to stop stones from moving and the earth from shaking when I'm in a temper. It takes so much control. Our powers aren't as easily ready as yours, but equally, if not more so, dangerous. Sirius informed him seriously.
James groaned and whacked his head on the back of the carriage.
"Anyone remember the Drying spell?" Peter asked hopefully.
"Aridus." James incanted, almost lazily, with a wave of his hand. The nine teens instantly dried off.
Radella stared at him. "No wand?"
"It's just a spell I can do." James shrugged. "Something to do with having an unusual amount of water in my nature."
"Huh?"
"It's an ancient belief, I can't actually remember who it was who believed it, could be the Celts..." James mused. (A/N: I can't remember either! If anyone can, please review and tell me!) "Anyway, whoever it was, they believed that people contain the elements, you know, as parts of their natures. Most people have a reasonably equal balance of all four elements, though normally one will be higher than the others. For example, they might have a little more earth in their nature, making them more reliable. There are a few people which have one element that's *much* higher than the others. They often have a gift with spells that pertain to that element, such as not needing a wand."
Wow, way to cover up your tracks. Kathryn murmured in her mind.
Actually, it's true. Lily told her. I read it somewhere.
Big surprise. Kathryn muttered. Lily, at times, could be a bigger bookworm than she herself (it was one of her supposed 'faults'), and reminded her very much of Hermione at times, such as this.
As they entered the Entrance Hall, Peeves, naturally, came to greet them.
"Ooo, if it isn't the Marauders and Enchanted!" He cackled gleefully, swooping down on them. "And the new Head Boy and Girl!"
Water bombs began flying.
"Oh, Pee-eeves!" Kathryn called in a sing-song voice. A hush fell on them. Kathryn was one of the few students ever to get the better of Peeves.
"What?" He demanded, cackling again.
"If you don't stop throwing water bombs, I'm going to be forced to do something that will stop you from ever producing little baby poltergeists." She grinned.
"Can't anyway." He stuck out his tongue.
"Doesn't stop it hurting as much as it does on a human male." She smiled viciously. "And, of course, I could tell you your dark, dastardly future..."
Peeves disappeared faster than a Peruvian Vipertooth after its prey.
Kathryn smirked at the cheers and entered the Great Hall with a decidedly happy expression that did not change until the Sorting Hat began it's song.
All she heard was the first few lines:
"When I was new and clean,
And worn by Gryffindor,
He shared a common goal,
With friends, so began the Founders Four."
"No!" Kathryn gasped, before feeling her body go rigid and she fell backwards, seemingly asleep.
She plummeted into her vision, wondering why she was having another that day...
------------
"There's news." Remus Lupin entered the office of Albus Dumbledore.
"What news?"
"The symbol of Fire Star has appeared once more." He explained.
"Where?"
"Australia. Apparently there were a group of foreign Death Eaters indulging in some Muggle torture. They are now in Azkaban, but none of them look too good."
"What happened?"
"No one knows. It appears that the Muggles were being tortured, a whole family, while others were held prisoner. Before the Muggles had their memories modified they spoke of a woman bathed in crimson light, with wings, shooting fire from her hands. They also said that none were killed, maybe burned, harmed, but none killed. They were all left unconscious, with extremely strong spells around them, ones to prevent Apparation, Animagus transformation, and any sort of escape. Best of all, they were British ones, learned by Aurors in the 1980s." Remus sighed, collapsing into a chair.
"So she has revealed herself."
"Do you think she knows of his death?"
"Of course she does. They are soulmates, and the curse... I can't help feeling that the Curse of Kali may be broken soon."
"Really?"
"I hope so. Why do you think she has revealed herself so publicly?"
"I don't know. But she always said that after Harry's Fifth-year..."
"She would change that future. I wonder how?"
"I don't know. I do know that the crimson pentacle was, once again, repelling the Dark Mark. Also, one of the Muggles gave her only words."
"They were?"
"'The Moon and the Army Commander shall meet and at sixteen, their magic shall truly reveal itself.'"
"Anything else?"
"Yes, but to the Death Eaters. She said what she has always said."
A pause.
"You're sure?"
"Yes."
"She said..."
"'A pentacle shall repel you. A lightning bolt shall destroy you.'" Remus nodded. "She says it to anyone who bears the Dark Mark, not to mention Voldemort himself. She must be talking about Voldemort's habits of leaving scars on those left alive."
"She is the pentacle. She has always managed to repel Voldemort when he has attacked her. The lightning bolt must refer to Harry. She has always known of his fate." Dumbledore mused.
"Harry's... fate?"
"Did I not tell you? I should have. Remus, Harry is the only one with the power to destroy Voldemort. And ultimately, they must meet in battle. Sybill Trelawney gave the prediction. One of her few genuine ones. She gave Harry another the afternoon before you discovered Peter two years ago. Unfortunately, neither Harry nor Voldemort can survive while the other lives. That is why Voldemort tried to kill Harry as a child. And then marked him as his equal."
"Wait a minute! Harry... and Selene. They are nearing their sixteenth birthdays, aren't they?"
"Yes. Just as their parents did, they shall gain control of their other magic. The Heirs of the Elemental Guardians."
"The Moon and the Army Commander." Remus frowned. "I didn't know that's what 'Harry' meant."
"Harry was named for his grandfather, Harold. His parents shortened it, but it is from that stem. Selene, of course, means The Moon and always has done."
"What does this all mean?" Remus wanted to know.
"It means that Kathryn Black is still alive. And she's starting to make this future a better place."
"I hope so."
------------
Kathryn gasped and shuddered awake. She was lying on the floor.
"Kat?"
Kathryn pushed her body up and hugged Sirius close, feeling vulnerable. Everyone was staring. She felt scared. But at least she was going to do some good.
"She should have a permanent bed in the Hospital Wing the amount of times she collapses." A voice commented.
Kathryn had never judged that her sense of hearing was much better than usual since the owner of this voice was sat at the Slytherin table at the other side of the hall. All the same...
Lucius Malfoy found himself floating in the air just as he had last year.
"You'd think you'd learn." Kathryn commented bitterly as Sirius helped her up. "You always make snide comments about everyone, especially those who happen to have something that they don't really want. Like visions that make you fall asleep. Your son will be exactly the same. He'll make snide comments about those who are Muggle-born, yet can best him on every exam, those who have less money than he, but have enough love for those who aren't even family, and those who have fame they never wanted, a scar he never wanted, and a fate he never wanted. Like father, like son. Maybe, when he enters Sixth-year, I can levitate him into the air too, hm? After all, you will *not* be in a position to stop me. And he'll deserve it. Because, like you, some absolutely foul comment will erupt from his lips and he'll need to learn. I wish you would. I wish all of you would!" Her voice rose sharply, addressing everyone. "It is people like you who spread discord and enmity, stop houses from uniting, and ultimately, help Voldemort on his way."
Again the shudders and gasps as she said his name.
"For cryin' out loud! Fear of a name only increases the fear of the things itself! Do you want to give Voldemort the edge he needs by increasing your own fear of him? Mind you, I guess that's exactly the kind of thing some of you want, or need, to do." She looked darkly at Malfoy. "Make yourself fear him, and spread discord, mistrust, dishonesty, fear. I won't let you do that to me. I refuse to fear Voldemort and his name, and I shall always believe innocent until proven guilty. In *most* cases." She looked at Bellatrix Black, sat with the young Bartemius Crouch, who was only a Third- year to her Seventh. "In some I don't *need* proof."
She sat back down, by which time Professor McGonagall, the new Deputy Headmistress since Professor Kennan had retired the previous year, was reading out the names of the First-years and Sorting them.
"Kat, you ought to let him down." James informed her.
Kathryn looked behind her carelessly. "Oh." She saw Malfoy was still in the air. With a snap of her fingers the Levitation charm ceased and he fell to the floor, hard. "Why I couldn't've just left him there..."
"It's not that pretty a sight, seeing him in the ceiling. Not like the candles." James explained.
"Of course."
"What did you see?" Lily asked.
Kathryn sighed, running a hand through her hair, pulling the front back from her face. "Something to do with the symbol of Fire Star, which I have no idea what that means. Remus talking to Dumbledore about some incident in Australia, about twenty-two years into the future."
"Oh, so not immediately important then?"
"No. And those are the visions that confuse me. Why would they come to me? I mean, surely I get them for a reason?" (A/N: Yeah, so I don't have to write the incidents later on! I can go straight from one time to another! So remember her dreams!)
"I guess. Don't worry, Kat, they'll be explained some day." Sirius told her encouragingly.
"I hope so."
At the end of the feast, Dumbledore gave his speech, as usual.
"Now, since you are all fed and watered, I request a few moments of your time to listen. Firstly to our new students, and some older ones who seem to need reminding, the Forbidden Forest is, as its name suggests, forbidden to all students." Sirius and James exchanged smirks. He always seemed to address the comments about 'older students' to the Marauders. "Secondly, our caretaker Mr Filch has asked me to remind you that there is no magic to be used in the corridors. And I would like you to join me in congratulating Professor Johnson and Miss Kestrel in their marriage." There were a lot of cheers as this was revealed. "They are both teaching the class, and I expect they'll inform you how they wish to be addressed as having two Professor Johnsons could be confusing." His blue eyes twinkled. "Also, please welcome Professor McGonagall as Deputy Headmistress, as well as Head of Gryffindor House and our Transfiguration teacher." Some more applause. "Lastly, I would like you all to learn well and enjoy this year at school. I trust none of you intend to not enjoy yourselves."
And as he said those words, the Marauders start-of-term prank took effect.
Everyone laughed, except Kathryn. Her skin became clammy, her breathing sped up, her muscles tensed. While most people saw the ceiling turn strange shades of pink, orange and purple, Kathryn saw something completely different. Her eyes clouded. All she could hear were shrieks of terror, all she could see was blood, ruins, bodies – blackened, ripped, torn – *fresh*. She looked about her. Where was she? What was happening? She looked up. The Dark Mark stained the sky. Night sky, stormy sky. People lay dead everywhere. She walked on, down through a hole. She caught a glimpse of a sign and then the shattered remains of a statue. A statue where only a servile house-elf now stood. The sign said Welcome to the Ministry of Magic.
"NO!" Kathryn screamed.
She felt someone grip her upper arms.
"Kathryn? What is it?"
"The Ministry! They're going to attack the Ministry." She gasped.
"Who?"
"Death Eaters. Every-everyone will be killed!" She stammered.
She felt a cool hand on her face, another grasp her hand. "Kathryn, it'll be okay."
"It hurts." She whimpered.
"Kathryn?" Another voice asked. "What did you see?"
"The Ministry. In – in ruins. Blood, bodies... everywhere. It was fresh... I could *smell* it..."
"When will they attack?"
"Tonight."
"You're sure?"
"Yes."
"Thank you. I suggest you go up to your rooms. If you have any other problems, you'll be able to contact James and Lily, the Head Tower is by the Gryffindor Tower and I believe that Sirius has the password." The owner of the voice left.
Kathryn's vision was spotty, she couldn't focus. She realised the second voice belonged to Dumbledore and the first to Sirius. She gripped hard onto her boyfriend.
"Was it our prank?" Sirius sounded worried. "If it's hurt you, I'll..."
"No, I don't think it was the prank. Maybe something about it – the magic – made me see the vision. But I didn't fall asleep."
"No. No, you didn't." Sirius frowned.
Slowly the couple got to Gryffindor Tower. Kathryn noticed that everyone appeared to have left after the prank, not noticing something was wrong. As they entered, Lily and James ran over. "What happened?" Lily asked. "Kathryn, are you okay?"
"Yeah, yeah, I'm – I'm fine. Just – just a little shaken. I-I had another vision. But..." Her voice trailed off.
"But what?"
"I didn't fall asleep. Mum never mentioned anything like this."
"Kathryn, I'm sure its fine. But are you okay? You look shaken." Lily placed a hand on her friend's arm, worried.
"No. What I saw... It was awful. An attack on the Ministry and... it looked like they'd had no way to defend themselves."
"C'mon." James ordered, going through a door to the side of the common room and down a passage into a larger room.
Sirius frowned. "I never knew this was here."
"Yeah, I discovered it when I was being nosy, but it has the entrance to the Head Tower." James explained. "Hey, Drake, Paige."
A portrait of an attractive young man and woman picnicking in a field responded.
"James, Lily. You're Head Boy and Girl then?"
"Yep."
"Good. Who are these two?" The woman, Paige, asked.
"Kathryn Orenda and Sirius Black, our best friends. They're coming up with us, is that all right?"
"Certainly. Password?"
"Lion's Lair." Lily grinned. "Appropriate, don't ya think?"
Kathryn nodded.
There was a quick explore of the bedrooms, living room and bathroom before they stayed in the living room, or common room, that was much like a smaller version of the Gryffindor common room.
And as they talked and laughed, Kathryn fell asleep, her terrifying vision gone, but not forgotten.
* * *
A/N: So, whaddya think? Good or no? Review and tell me! If you have any questions, all you need do is ask.
Thanks to meenyrocks for reviewing. I guess you won't get here for a while, but never mind. Charmed is great! No, I haven't seen the new series, I really want to though. And I can't believe that Leo left, either! It's so sad! I love Charmed and Buffy, so there you go.
Right, message about changes. Thriodien and I have officially gone onto separate accounts. She's now called Seer of Faith for some reason. And *still* hasn't posted any fics up. Get moving girl! So the feedback goes only to me. Okay?
I'll post soon (next Friday probably),
Lol, Tanydwr