Enjoy!
Chapter 32 – The Importance of family
The investigation had been swift and hard. There had been a party for Lily's mother, Rose Evans, because of her recent promotion. Lily and James had been invited, but had been forced to decline because of their work that evening. Petunia and Vernon were on holiday. There had been at least fifty Muggles there, including some of the best surgeons in the area. Voldemort – had he known – would have delighted in the fact that he was causing such a severe blow to the Muggle community.
The Aurors had been forced to claim that a gas explosion had been the cause of the deaths. And Voldemort had left it looking so awful in that one room that it was easily believed. Only the Dark Mark, hovering in the sky above the manor, suggested that there was magic afoot, provided they didn't look too closely at the bodies.
Lily was distraught. She had been completely destroyed by the news of her parents' death. She wished that it had been because they were Muggles, not her parents, but she could never be sure.
"I'm going to kill that murdering bastard." Lily proclaimed.
'No, Lils, you won't.' Kathryn thought. 'But you'll help cause him a lot of pain in the meantime.' Lily's death would give Harry protection, and thus bring about the first downfall of He Who Is A Prick as James had termed him. Well, actually, James had termed him something much worse, but none of them repeated it.
The funeral was terrible.
Petunia blamed Lily. She kept screaming about how she shouldn't be allowed to the funeral, that it was those freaks like her that did it, and that she had wanted their parents dead since she found out about the place.
Lily was struggling to stand. She was completely stricken by this turn of events. The last time she had seen her parents was shortly after Damion and Alura's wedding in January, when she and James had informed them of their betrothal. That was months ago. While she had sent letters, she had been too busy to see them. Voldemort had not only robbed her of her parents, but also of the free time she could have spent with them.
Lily was only standing because James had a firm grip on her, his face staring stonily ahead. He had met the Evans family only a few times, but he had loved them because they loved Lily. They had been lovely to him, and he had thought a lot of them, especially when Kathryn had explained what Rose's job had entailed. Surgery was a form of Muggle Healing, she had told him. It was to help people mend bones, or organs, and suchlike. That was an admirable job, in James' opinion. He respected people like Aurors, Healers and those who worked to help people the most. Managing a record company wasn't as high, but since his company dealt in numerous forms of music, including charity numbers and albums, Dave was still well- respected in James' eyes. He was also Lily's father, and that was enough for him.
Kathryn was almost as bad as Lily. She had spent a week with Lily's family, and had loved her friends' parents to pieces, even after such a short time. She had also been the one to take her friend back to meet them after Lily's lengthy disappearance. She had met them on a number of occasions, and thought they were wonderful, especially Rose, for whom she had the utmost respect, especially for being 'completely normal and un- arrogant compared to other surgeons'. In her coma, Kat had met surgeons when she was in hospital and they had always struck her as arrogant.
Sirius simply held Kat. He was strong for his friends. He had only met the Evans family once, three times if you counted Graduation and the station at the end of Sixth-year, but they had struck him as nice. He didn't know them well, but he was sorrowful for Lily's loss.
Lily had struggled to make her speech, but she had managed, looking at her parents' coffins, side by side in the church.
"I-I've never been one f-for religion." Lily began shakily. James gave her an encouraging smile. She kept on going. "But I pray that my parents know how much they were loved. By me, by Petunia, by their friends, colleagues and family. I pray that they are somewhere happy, together. I pray that they will k-keep on watching over those they loved." She looked down, tears meandering their way down her face. When she looked up, her emerald eyes were on fire.
"But I know they will always be with me, every step of the way. Through my happiness and hardships, through my life, and through my children's lives, should I have some." Her eyes sparkled for a moment. "I'm sorry that they did not live to see me married, if it hadn't been for trouble, they may have. I'm sorry they didn't live to see the birth of their first grandchild, whether mine or my sister's. I'm sorry they didn't live to see next millennium dawn. Because then there would have been grandchildren, marriages, happiness.
"But I know something else. Even though they aren't alive, they aren't breathing, their bodies are empty, I know they're living. Because I can feel them. I know that though I won't see them, they will be there. They will be there through my wedding, my marriage, my first child being born... I don't know when that will be. But when it happens, I know they will be there. If there is one thing to live for in this world when you think all is lost, it is love. It is the love of family, the love of friends, that makes life worth living. And one day, when I have my own family, I will know that they are there, watching over it, protecting it from harm.
"My parents were wonderful people, and I curse what took them from this world along with so many other brilliant minds, brilliant people. But I know that as long as my parents remain in my heart, with happy memories of how they lived, how they laughed, how they loved, not bitter memories of how they died, they will always be alive. Always be mine."
Lily stepped down from where she was speaking, and lost herself in a hug from James, as she let tears loose, praying that she would one day follow her own words.
It was worst when they placed the caskets in the ground. Petunia was nearly hysterical, but Kathryn was surprised with the amount of compassion Vernon showed his wife. But she guessed that he did love her. For all his faults, Vernon had always seemed to care for his family, be it only his immediate family.
When the service was over, Lily and Petunia spent a while accepting condolences from various people. Then they returned to the house, where the will was read. It was quite simple. Money was split equally between the two women and a number of possessions left to both. Other possessions were left to others – a painting to one person, a set of crystal to another. The house itself was left to a group that specialised in taking orphans in. Lily knew her parents had hoped that the house could become an orphanage. It was relatively large, old, but not too old, and had plenty of garden. Rose had been orphaned when she was young and cared for by the same group, and therefore they had left the house to them. It had usually been passed down through generations, but with two daughters, neither of whom would live there, Dave had decided to break with tradition.
Finally Lily got home, where she sat with James in silence. Until finally:
"I will do as I said. I will keep on with my life. I will not lose hope. I will remember the happy times, not the sad ones." Lily decided. "The importance of family. I never really thought about it before." She stopped.
"Family is what we're fighting for." Kathryn stated. "We're fighting for them to have a life in a world where they will not be judged on the purity of their blood, the colour of their skin, or the money in their bank account. We're fighting for them to live in a free world. A safe world. There's no good and evil, or right and wrong with family. They are your family, your blood. You care for them, you stick by them. In war and in peace, in sickness and in health, in life and in death. Your family never abandon you. They can't. Not true family."
"Petunia..."
"Petunia will one day prove that she loves you, Lily. She may not act like it, she may, in fact, hate it, but she will prove that she is your family." Kathryn gave a small smile.
"How do you..."
"I Saw it. Another thing from family." Kathryn gave a sad smile. Sirius knew that she was showing a brave face. He was sure that his betrothed had seen something terrible happen to her own family. But he would support her through that.
"I will remember the good." Lily said. "It will be hard, knowing that they aren't there, but I will learn and live. For my own family." She entwined her fingers with James'. "For the family that I will one day have."
"So that's a yes to kids in the future then?" James asked cheekily.
She merely gave him a sweet, short kiss.
"I'd say so." Sirius smirked.
Even on a day as sad as this, the friends gave each other cheer. They had to. If they forgot how to laugh, how to smile, how to love, how to be a family by friendship if not by blood, then they lost what they were fighting for.
Family. Friends. And a world where both would be safe.
"Hey, Sirius!" Kathryn called out one morning late that September.
"Hmm?" He replied from the depths of his wardrobe.
"How about we visit Mum and Dad and the others?" Kathryn asked. "I know the younger kids are at school, but I'd like to see who's there. And offer our services for the families there."
Magic's Haven was one of the busiest centres for people who had lost homes, livelihood, family, in the attacks over the summer.
Sirius appeared in the lounge, grinning. "Sure, why not?"
"You want to invite Lily and James?" Kathryn wondered.
Sirius shook his head. "They've gone to see James' parents. Hopefully it'll help Lily remember she's not alone."
Kathryn looked down. The death of her parents was still taking a toll on their friend. It had snipped the last few threads attaching Lily and Petunia and broken Lily terribly, despite her brave words. Petunia blamed Lily, even though the younger woman had nothing to do with it. It had turned out that they had been attacked because they were a concentration of good surgeons, doctors and nurses, vital to Muggle life, not because it was hosted by Lily's parents. That was just a bonus, in Voldemort's opinion.
Kathryn nodded. "I wonder who's at home. Jack might be, I think he's got time off at the moment, and Avia's always there. The twins... Well, I think they're still in Africa for Gringotts."
Twenty minutes later, Kathryn and Sirius Apparated into the stately home known as Magic's Haven.
As soon as they got there, they looked around in surprise. With the knowledge that about twenty families were living there until they got their lives back in order, they were expecting it to almost look different. But it didn't.
Kathryn heard a shriek. Her hand instinctively flew to her wand before she realised it was that of playing children. She gave a defeated sigh. Voldemort had even reached her untouchable state – where a simple shriek had her brandishing her wand. She slipped it back into its holster and pulled Sirius into the grounds.
There were anti-Apparation wards about the house now, since there were so many refugees there, people were terrified Voldemort or the Death Eaters would come to finish them all off. The wards were centuries old, only those with the blood of Mystique and Ynyr could raise them. Once upon a time, the wards were down. Not so anymore.
"Missie Kathryn, you is back!" A voice yelled.
Kathryn laughed. "Hi, Peppy. Remember Sirius?"
"Oh, yes, I is remembering Master Sirius." Peppy nodded her head vigorously.
"Master?" Kathryn asked, surprised.
"Mistress is saying you is marrying him. I is wanting to join you." Peppy explained. "Mistress is saying I can."
Kathryn looked surprised. "Well, if you really want to, Peppy. I mean, I'd love it. You're such a good friend. You helped me out. Loads, from what Jack's told me."
Peppy nodded. "Master Jack is your favourite brother. He is telling me that he is telling you stories of when you were little. He is also saying you knows his missus."
Kathryn blinked.
Sirius stared at the House-Elf. "Missus?"
"His Poppy."
Kathryn let out a laugh. "Has he married her?"
"No, no, he is asking her, and she is saying yes." Peppy explained.
Kathryn grinned. "Took him long enough. He's what, twenty-seven?"
Sirius nodded. "Yeah, six years older than you. Twenty-eight in November. I can't believe it. Our own dear Madam Pomfrey."
Suddenly Kathryn's stomach felt like it had been plunged into a bucket of ice.
'She's Madam Pomfrey in the future too,' she thought, panicked, 'What if something happens to Jack? They don't get married? Oh, please, God, Merlin, anyone, don't let that be the case!'
"Flamma, you okay?" Sirius asked.
Kathryn blinked and looked up at him. She gave a smile, false. "Yes, I'm fine. Just... thinking. Peppy, where's my mother? Is she home?"
"Yes, she is in the garden. Everyone is sitting in the garden in nice weather." Peppy explained.
"Thanks." Kathryn smiled. "I'll talk to you later, okay?"
"Yes, Missie Kathryn." Peppy disappeared with a pop.
"Shouldn't your mum be at work?" Sirius asked as he and Kathryn weaved through the centre of the stately home, rather than entering any of the wings.
"Didn't I tell you?" Kathryn asked. "Ages ago, she quit. She's running the refugee centre here. They're all pitching in with making stuff, blankets, bandages, potions, amulets, everything that may be necessary. I just hope Voldemort takes a holiday this winter."
Sirius nodded. "I know. Merlin, all I want is to get married. Is that too much to ask?"
Kathryn shook her head, golden curls floating. "No. But Voldemort strives to destroy happiness. It is his goal. He wants to eradicate those of impure blood and make everyone unhappy."
"Then we can't let him." Sirius decided. "Next summer, we will get married and that is that."
Kathryn grinned. "I love it when you're so forceful."
Sirius pulled her close and they enjoyed a tender kiss in that moment.
"Eurgh!" A voice stated.
Kathryn pulled away and narrowed her eyes. "Who are you?"
"Celina." The small girl replied.
"And Celina would be?"
"Who are you?" She asked.
"Kathryn."
"Then Celina would be your cousin." The girl grinned.
"Cousin?" Kathryn stared. "I didn't know I... Why didn't they tell me I have cousins?" She wanted to know.
The girl shrugged.
"So, are you on Mum's side or Dad's?" Kathryn asked.
"Uncle Olden's. My mummy is his little sister." Celina explained.
"Well, I'm your Uncle Olden's eldest daughter. This is Sirius Black, my betrothed." She introduced.
The little girl looked at him with examining eyes. "Do you know that Sirius Major is the Dog Star?"
Sirius grinned. "Yep."
"What's betrothed?"
"It means we're going to get married." Sirius explained.
"Oh."
Kathryn looked at the dark-haired girl suspiciously. "What's your daddy's name?"
"Sidus Sinistra." The girl grinned.
Kathryn laughed. Sirius looked at her strangely.
"Shall I take you to Auntie Elise?" Sam asked.
"Yes," Sirius gave Kathryn a sideways glance, "that's probably a good idea."
Sam led them out into the garden. By the time they'd got there, Kathryn had calmed down.
"What was that about?" Sirius asked his betrothed.
"A certain Professor Sinistra will be the Astronomy teacher at Hogwarts in several years' time." Kathryn explained.
Sirius grinned.
"Kathryn! Sirius! How wonderful to see you!" A voice called out.
Kathryn smiled and ran to hug her mother warmly. "Hi, Mum. How's things?"
"They're going on. How are you?"
"On leave. After the summer..." Kathryn's voice trailed off.
"I understand, dear. Sirius, it's lovely to see you."
"And you, fair lady of Magic's Haven." Sirius swept a dramatic bow.
Elise laughed. "So polite, isn't he?"
"Only sometimes." Kathryn remarked dryly. "Anyway, since when have I had an aunt and cousin on Dad's side, and how come no one told me?"
Elise blushed. "I'm sorry. It slipped our minds. You settled into things so well, we forgot. I'm surprised you haven't met them, it has been five years."
Kathryn shrugged. "I've had a very busy five years, I guess. So, how old are you, anyway, Celina?"
"Ten. I'm going to Hogwarts next year." The girl replied.
"Have fun." Kathryn grinned at her mother. "What's it like with none of your children around at all?"
"Strange." Elise replied. "But there are plenty of other children, so I get along."
"And where are my aunt and uncle?" Kathryn asked. "Do I have any others?"
"No. Your uncle Sidus is doing his job – he's an astronomer. Your aunt Olivia should be somewhere."
"Mummy, come and meet them!" Celina's voice interrupted.
"I'm guessing Celina got hold of her, hmm?" Sirius suggested, grinning.
"Yes, I believe she has."
"Meet who, Celina, I don't know anyone who..." Olivia looked into a pair of large brown eyes identical to her sister-in-law's. "Oh."
"Hi. I'm Kathryn, your niece, who everyone forgot to inform had an aunt. You are?" Kathryn held out a hand.
Olivia laughed. "I see she got the Orenda gene for forthrightness."
"You better believe it." Sirius grinned. "Kathryn doesn't know what tact is."
Olivia shook the hand. "Olivia, but most call me Liv. Your little brother keeps calling me Auntie Olive, which I must say is annoying."
"Paul is annoying. He had a really bad habit of walking in on Sirius and I when we were trying to have a private moment. Thank God he wasn't at school with us." Kathryn celebrated.
"Sirius?"
"Sirius Black, ma'am, Kathryn's betrothed and the black sheep of the Black family, if you'll pardon the pun."
"Black sheep?"
"I actually believe Muggle-borns and Muggles are real people, I got into Gryffindor, and I think Voldemort is a jumped-up bastard who's scared of his own name."
A shudder went round everyone listening, but for Kathryn. "It's just a name." She sighed.
"Well, pleased to meet you, Mr Black. You're betrothed to Kathryn, are you?"
"Yes. How long have we been betrothed for now, Kat?"
"Umm, you asked me just after we'd started the Auror Academy, that was '82, we're now '85... Three years next month." Kathryn replied.
"That's a long engagement." Liv stated.
"Well, Lily and James ran off for two years, and you can't really have a wedding without the best man and maid of honour, so we had to wait until the got back. We were hoping for this summer, but we're Aurors, so we were busy... Hopefully next summer." Sirius explained.
"God, I hope so." Kathryn sighed.
"Me too." Elise stated. "I want to at least see one of my children get married."
"What's this about Jack asking Poppy, then?" Kathryn asked.
"That was only last week, and if they're anything like you two in engagement length..."
"Hey, we've got special circumstances!" Kathryn protested.
"I know, I'm just teasing. Besides, I'm waiting for a grandchild." Elise grinned wickedly.
"Is this the appropriate time to start making mother-in-law jokes?" Sirius asked, gulping.
Everyone laughed.
"You may have to wait a little longer for that, Mum." Kathryn informed her.
"Fine. Anyway, did you just pop by for a visit, or what?"
"We were wondering if we can help in any way."
Elise grinned.
Kathryn groaned. "Uh oh. I know that look."
"So you should." Sirius informed her, somewhat tartly. "It the one you wear whenever you're feeling especially evil."
"Oh dear."
"Remind me to kill Mum when I'm not feeling so tired." Kathryn told her lover.
"I'll help if you like." Sirius agreed.
The two of them stumbled into the house in London, utterly exhausted.
Elise had easily thought of a chore for them – they were placed on child duty. In other words, they had to keep an eye on the numerous children stuck in Magic's Haven. They had to stop them from running into the woods (that was relatively easy after Kathryn informed them that if they wanted to run into the evil madman and be put in a coma for five years, be her guest), keep them fairly clean, feed them, and in general keep them out of too much mischief. It was lucky that that day was warm, and they had the kids outside.
And after the children found out that they were Aurors...
Well, Kat was bruised, aching and shattered. They had told stories about the Academy – some were quite funny. They had talked about some of the less brutal tasks they had been handed, and gave heavily edited versions of others. They had told them about the mysteries of Fire Star, Diamond Earth, Wind Flower and Water Stag. That was actually an interesting story. The group had appeared a number of times, saving people from individual attacks, especially women it seemed. Kat and Sirius did not explain about what exactly the Death Eaters planned on doing. They still had no ideas, it was almost as if there was magic blocking their minds from processing it.
"Why do they do it?" Celina had asked her cousin, wide-eyed.
"To protect the innocent." Kathryn had replied in a voice unlike her own, then frowned. "I guess. Think of it this way, if they're so powerful and so good at hiding, at least they're on our side, right?"
The group certainly seemed powerful. But they also seemed to be primarily defensive. None of the Death Eaters had been severely harmed. The responses to the attacks appeared to be quick, short, merely immobilising the Death Eaters for capture and getting the victims to hospitals if they were late. And not one of the victims had identified them, but for the colours they were wearing, and the fact that one – in red leather – had phoenix-like wings, except much bigger.
Kathryn had to smile though. She loved her family. And Jack was getting married! She could hardly believe it! But the nagging suspicion that something might happen to him was still there. Madam Pomfrey was still Madam Pomfrey in the future, not Madam Orenda. Was something going to happen? Would Jack die? Would they not get married? Or was she simply keeping her maiden name?
'Yes, of course, that's it. Kathryn told herself.
She could only hope that someone 'up there' could here her prayers.
'Keep my family safe, please. Don't let them die. Please, keep them safe. They have to live...'
Her prayers would be answered. Someday. Some would be safe. Some would not. Her family included her friends as well. Remus, Radella, Alura, Damion, Frank, Alice, Lily, James... She never included Peter. She was doing her best to keep from making her dislike obvious, but as it came closer and closer to the day he would betray them...
Family was what she was fighting for. Family and friends.
"Alura?" Kathryn asked, hearing a voice call her from the living room the next day. She frowned as she entered. "Oh, hey Alura."
"Kathryn! Oh, it's so wonderful!" Alura gasped.
"What?"
"Well, I guess it's a bad time really, with Voldemort and all, but I'm so happy, and love is so important and..."
"Waitwaitwait!" Kathryn shouted. "'Lura, you're babbling."
"Who's there? At the house?" Alura asked.
"We all are, why?"
"Call them. We're coming through." Alura explained.
Seconds later, Sirius, James and Lily were sat in the living room, watching as Alura and Damion appeared through the fireplace.
"So what's this news?" Kathryn demanded, unable to wait.
"What, no 'hi, Damion, hi, Alura, how's your day been'?" Damion asked.
"Not after she's made me all excited about whatever's going on!" Kathryn snapped. "What is it?"
Alura gave them a radiant smile. "Well, with Voldemort and all, it may not be the best time for this, but it's just so wonderful..."
"Alura, you're babbling again." Kathryn informed her.
"Well," Alura took in a deep breath, "I'm pregnant."
"What?" Lily screeched.
James started, jumping up, and then grinned, shaking Damion's hand. "Well, you've had nine months of marriage, why am I not surprised?" He asked.
Kathryn just hugged her friend, grinning. "That's great! Who cares about Voldemort? This is much more important!"
Alura laughed, smiling incredibly.
"Well done, mates." Sirius grinned from his seat.
Kathryn was startled by the surprisingly calm reaction from Sirius.
Until he jumped up and grabbed the couple in a furious hug, laughing as he did so.
Kathryn shook his head. "If he's like this at the news of your pregnancy, I wonder what he'll say when I inform him I am?" She gave her friends a beat before adding. "Someday. Not yet."
"You gave us a fright there, Kat!" Lily gasped.
"It's hardly a fright!" Kat complained.
"I'm not sure your child is one anyone will want to mess with." Alura grinned at Kat. "Your temper with Sirius' pranks? Not a good idea."
"Depends, may get some recessive genes, but I sure as hell hope it's not the 'I-am-a-she-devil-from-hell' one Sirius' mum seems to have."
"What's that about my mum?" Sirius asked.
"Just insulting her, love."
"Oh, go right ahead then." Sirius replied in the utmost sincerity. Sirius hated most of his family by blood. His Uncle Alphard had been good, but he was dead. The only other one he cared for was Andromeda and her family, including a girl named Nymphadora. Though, as Kathryn had pointed out, "Who calls their kid Nymphadora?" She had yet to meet her, though apparently she was a charming six-year-old who hated her name and could change her looks as she did her moods. Being a Metamorphmagus helped that.
Another child being introduced to family. Alura was the first. Kathryn frowned. The child should be in the year above Harry. But she had no recollection of anyone with the surname Jackson in Hogwarts. Maybe they'd gone to a different school. But that proposed the question of why?
She shouldn't worry about that now. Now, all that was important was celebrating this event. She and Sirius would be back at work in a few days, having been given the month off. Moody was sure to have many difficult cases set up for them. They had been among the worst hit by the attacks. They had worked to the point of exhaustion, barely taking time to let their injuries heal. They were strong and powerful, and 'damn-good Aurors' as Moody had said. That was incredible praise from him.
They would fight. They would fight for a better world. For a better life. They would fight until Voldemort was defeated, or they were dead.
Unfortunately, Kathryn knew that for three of them, the latter came first.
Or did it?
Because in some of her more obscure dreams, she had seen past groups of the Elemental Guardians, along with a temple, ancient, but she wasn't sure of the location. And she got visions of the veil. All she had to wonder now was this.
'How do I bring them back to life? And when do I do it?'
A/N: Sorry it's taken so long, but I hope this chapter was worth the wait. I think it embodies what they are fighting for, and what a lot of people fight for. They fight for a better world. Whether that happens is another matter.
Gosh, I had so many reviews for the last chapter, I couldn't believe it!
To you wonderful reviewers:
Raclswt: Sorry it took so long!
polgarathesorceress2: Thank you!
wolfstar100: Ah, now that's the big question! Take the hints and work with them. What do you think? Thanks for the review!
Yoshikuni-Miharu: It's supposed to be confusing! Why don't they know it? Magic, of course! Rather unusual magic. Heehee! I love magic, it's so useful!
Sk8erWitch: Yeah, you're not the only one confused. Oh well!
attackofthemarblesnatchers: I take it you appreciate the innuendo? I couldn't resist! It's a real part of Kat's character, she's spent too much time with the boys, but bear in mind that her best friends in her coma were also boys, so she's kind of on their wavelength... Or she's got a gutter mind, whichever you prefer! I'm glad you like it though!
Fanfic-Frankie: Thank you!
Callie Marie Black: Glad you appreciate the cliffy! Hahaha! I can deal with cruel when it's teamed with awesome. Thanks! I used your review to prove to my dad that fanficition's good!
Lenorathetrekkie: Finished my GCSEs now, including American West. Yes, they are an exam we take end of May/most of June the finishes off two years of a course. Nice, eh? Sorry this is so late, severe writer's block.
Hermione1981: Thank you!
nightblade-advanced: Thanks!
Harkeran Ginzoshou: (Hope I spelt that right) Thanks. Glad you like it.
Miss Black16: I believe the name for Sirius and Kat's child has been mentioned. Chapter 18, I think. Glad you like the way I've made it so that things that are there in the future are a result of the past. Kat knows about them and has to make sure they're in place. Don't worry about rambling. I do it all the time.
SmellyCat-190: Yeah, the visions frequently stink, don't they? Especially if they hurt. They make her cry, feel useless and hurt her physically and emotionally. The powers are cool though. I'm incredibly flattered you think my writing is that good, but I could never measure up to JK! Yeah, I had to have the people with Lily's blood out of the way, since JK said they're dead anyway. I can't believe I made your eyes water though! I'm so happy! (It means I've done my job!)
Shitza: For when you finally get here, thanks for your reviews. I'm glad you like my story!
Ra's Priestess: Glad you like it, and yes, their death was kind of important to this chapter, wasn't it? Took me forever to get rid of my writer's block!
Gray Dawn: Thanks for reviewing. Yes, I know its sad, but Harry's grandparents are all dead, so they had to be killed somehow. Sorry to leave you all hanging! And don't pout!
meenyrocks: Yep, you are definitely swelling my head! Glad you like Kat, I think she's cool! And thanks for the praise on my writing and structure and everything. It helps if you know where you're going. I do with this story, it's just getting there that's the problem (hence writer's block!). With the prophecies, that was a just a little something I wanted to put in. We know so little about Unspeakables, I needed something we did know for Kat to be part of. As for the symbols, nope they aren't the same as their own, and there's magic blocking them from understanding it. Someone else will have to connect the dots. I will try and update my other fics. It's tricky though, all comes down to when I'm inspired. I think I might have finished Chapter 5 of 'Of Heroes and Heroines' but that was just a couple of days ago. On the upside, it's incredibly long! I will try to update sooner, but I've got very little written of the next chapter either! Thanks for your support. (And I'm beginning to suspect you go to my school, but that's highly unlikely.)
Okay people, there's the next instalment, but the next chapter is really pissing me off! I will try and update. And for something else, there's my time-travel fic, 'Teasing, Teaching and Time Travel'. Gonna post up the next chappie of that tonight as well!
Lol, Tanydwr