Hooray! New chapter up! Yay! The next month too. I'm so proud of myself.
And this chapter. Over 21 pages long! I just hope you enjoy it.
This chapteris ratedR, or rather M, rated for torture and language. By language, I mean the f-word, several times. It's not pretty. And yes, I know I'm evil for doing this to my characters.
I had someone who flamed me, claiming Kat was a horrible Mary-Sue. She's been called worse. But what amazed me… They read the whole story! Now that's a flamer with class! Congratulations to Jade Limill! Oh, and she won't be dying yet. So, that's not a point against her. And your URL did not show up.
Someone else said Kat's stupid for ranting about the future at various points. Heard of the word 'stress'? And, come on, she was in a coma for five years, you think she'll wake up normal? Besides, it's funny.
Anyway, enjoy, more stuff at the end!
Chapter 37: Guests of Voldemort
The first Cruciatus was thrown before she had a chance to respond. She tried not to scream, but willpower alone was not enough. The screams tore themselves from her throat. The pain was a million hot needles slowly piercing her flesh. It was fire licking at her skin, not staying long enough to burn, but enough to torment. It was acid, searing through her body, every litre of blood burning her.
It was torture.
"Stop it!" Sirius yelled. "Don't! Take me!"
Voldemort ceased the curse. Kathryn slumped, breathing heavily.
He turned to Sirius. "Ah, yes, the 'white' sheep of the Black family, if you'll pardon the pun. I expect better behaviour from my guests, you understand. But you'd rather I put you in pain than your dear beloved wife? So be it."
"Crucio." He hissed.
Sirius lasted only a minute before he began to scream. Pain beyond pain. Flesh ripped from his body. Hot knives whipping across his skin. Blood boiling torturously. And this was merely psychological pain, crossing his nerve endings. Voldemort had not even started the physical torture.
The curse lifted, leaving Sirius breathing as heavily as Kathryn.
"Now, Mrs Black, you might be wondering why you're here." Voldemort hissed.
"If you want me to cook for you, I'm more likely to poison you." Kathryn informed him tartly.
Voldemort sneered. "I have house-elves for cookery, you fool. No, I want that lovely gift you have. Clairvoyance, I believe. Visions of the past, present and future."
Kathryn gasped. Even though she half knew it anyway, it was still a shock to the system. Then she realised something.
"Where's Radella?" She wanted to know.
"The werewolf's bitch? I believe the vixen is about to experience her first full moon." Voldemort smirked.
"What?" Sirius frowned, then realised what had happened. "No. Oh no…"
"Oh yes. Why else would she be let go? Why, she had to deliver your beloved eldest brother, Mrs Black. And, of course, to make your werewolf feel all the worse when he realises that he's just had his last month with his bitch. I've never had a female werewolf at the full moon before. We're experimenting. What happens when the Cruciatus Curse is used as well as the transformation." Voldemort snickered.
"No." Kathryn rasped.
"Yes, Mrs Black. All the more pain for thinking she escaped. You don't escape me, Mrs Black, until you die."
Kat shivered. This was the man who had put her in a five-year coma, erasing her memory of before (though she had had one of two visions of it). It was impossible not to feel afraid.
"You nearly killed my brother!" Kathryn screamed.
"Ah, but not quite. No, your brother is quite alive. Merely trapped in the memory of helplessness as he saw his sister's best friend viciously attacked and bitten by a werewolf, and pained by the Cruciatus Curse. He'll never escape that. The Cruciatus traps someone in their own mind, until they can no longer feel the pain. Of course, then they never escape from it, either." Voldemort smiled sinisterly. "Of course, I've found the both of you so annoying, that I don't think Cruciatus would quite cut it. No, some more… unusual methods are going to be used to get the information we want."
Kathryn didn't want to know what.
Sirius did. "Such as?"
Voldemort clapped his hands and several torches sprang to life about the room.
Sirius swallowed at seeing what it contained.
"Such as this. I'm sure my Death Eaters can accommodate you. I will be back soon, I need to attend to your friend."
Several cloaked figures entered.
The two chained prisoners were moved.
Kathryn screamed as burning chains whipped her naked flesh.
XXXXX
Radella woke up in a cell, a heavy chain about her neck. Where were the others? She saw no one. He clothes had been torn from her, and she curled up to keep warm.
One window let the darkness of outside stream through. She gave it a glance – the moon had not risen yet. Remus was not yet in pain.
Remus. This was the second time she'd been kidnapped on the full moon. They did so deliberately, so that he was out of the game. His superior senses and his ever-increasing love made him an excellent tracker, and willing to do anything for her.
But she was now alone. Utterly alone. Cold, undignified, chained. A prisoner of Voldemort.
And to speak of the devil…
"Ah, Miss Leigh. Welcome." The snake-like man hissed.
Radella gave a scornful laugh. "Your accommodations for guests leave a lot to be desired."
Voldemort smiled sinisterly. "Not for one such as you. This is, you could say, perfect. Bare, chained, a window where the light of the full moon will soon stream through…"
Radella's eyes widened. "What?"
A cold, cruel laugh. "Surely you do not think you came out of our last encounter unscathed? Such a foolish bitch. Or do you prefer vixen? That is what you are now. I thought you'd be pleased to join your boyfriend's kind."
"Remus…" She breathed.
"The oh-so-famous Remus Lupin. Yes, just think how he'll react, knowing his beloved is one such as he. And now no longer able to enjoy that."
Radella blinked. "What?"
"I've heard the first transformation is the most painful." Voldemort mused, fingering his wand. "And we've been wondering how the Cruciatus Curse effects werewolves in their wolf guise."
Radella gasped. "No…"
Voldemort turned to the window. "Moonrise."
Radella screamed as her body stiffened, bones crunching, breaking, reforming, tail sprouting from her spine, teeth sharpening, the bloodlust taking control…
"Crucio!"
The howls were heard for miles.
XXXXX
"The famous Kathryn Orenda." Malfoy hissed. "Not so big now, are you?"
"That's Black, Malfoy." Sirius snarled from his position. "You should know. How is my dear beloved cousin Narcissa?"
Lucius gave a stiff smile. "Pregnant with my heir."
Sirius gave a sarcastic smile. "How nice. Kathryn, isn't that nice? We'll be sure to send a card for the little snake's birth."
Lucius snarled, and flung the white-hot magical whip at Sirius' back.
"Do you enjoy your Mudblood, Black?" Another Death Eater sneered, drawing a finger down Kathryn's unblemished face. "Is it true they have fewer… reservations than purebloods? After all, they're practically animals." His hand went to fondle Kathryn's breast.
"DON'T YOU DARE TALK ABOUT HER THAT WAY!" Sirius roared, as Kathryn brought an unchained knee up to ram into the Death Eater's groin.
"You fucking bitch!" The Death Eater yelled, slamming a fist into Kathryn's face. In seconds, a purple bruise was forming on her cheekbone.
"Only one man can touch me, scum. It's not you!" Kathryn spat. "I guess we do have fewer 'reservations'. Say, Lucy, would your darling Narcissa spit in the face of a Death Eater who was fondling her? Of course not, she'd enjoy it. Whether that Death Eater was her husband though…"
Lucius snarled, and sent a curse at the woman, slashing her opposite cheek. Blood coursed down her face.
"Most of us won't hurt a lady. Since you're not one of those, however, we'll make an exception." Lucius snickered.
He turned to a Death Eater hovering by the door. "Find me the Vampiric Blades. Wouldn't want to waste all this blood now, would we?" A cruel grin lit his face. "Oh, and Stefans?"
"Yes?"
"Put the Snake Daggers on a fire to heat. It will save healing the wounds."
He turned to the prisoners.
"I hope to see you bleed." He snapped at another Death Eater. "Untie her, and tie them to each other, front to front. Strip them." A cold smirk graced his face as the blood drained from the two Aurors. "Scum like you deserve no dignity."
XXXXX
Auror Headquarters, the next morning (20th August 1986):
James swore. "This is so frustrating! We can't track them – hell, we can't even contact them!"
"Calm down!" Lily told him, placing a hand on his arm. "James, you'll help no one by losing control." She drew in breath deeply, and thought. "What do we know? He's kidnapped Radella, Kathryn and Sirius, though it seems that he was primarily after Radella. Why Radella? Why at the full moon?"
"Remus is out of commission." Frank suggested.
Lily shook her head. "The first time she wasn't even at home. There's got to be another reason for it being the full moon."
"We know werewolves transform at the full moon. Are there any spells that are best conducted then? Does Radella have any information?" Olden suggested as he paced. He had been assigned as the senior Auror to this case.
"No. I mean, none that I know of. She just monitors St Mungo's for the Order." Lily lowered her voice, then rose it as she thought aloud. "The Deadly Curses work best around the phases of the moon – I know that the Lust Curse turns the victim into a vampire under the full moon. But I can't think…"
"It's mainly potions or ingredients that have something to do with the full moon." James stated. "The odd magical creature – re'ems, for example, as well as werewolves."
"We always seem to come back to werewolves." Olden joked.
Lily's head shot up, as did James'.
"What?" Olden looked at them. "No, you can't think… He wouldn't…"
"He's done it before." Lily murmured.
James began to swear.
"What have we missed?" Alice asked.
"Radella. He turned her into a werewolf." Olden choked.
"What? Why?" Frank frowned. Then the wheels turned. "He turns her into a werewolf – via a bite, since the only dark magic we found on her was Cruciatus. He lets her go, has her deliver Jack…"
"Gives Remus a month with her whilst they think she's safe…" Alice continued.
"Then kidnap her again and torture her through her first transformation." James finished bitterly. "It's the most painful there is – feeling your bones break and reform, your muscles tear, internal organs change…"
"And knowing them, they'll give a dose of Cruciatus." Lily closed her eyes, holding back tears. "She'll return in a similar or worse state than Jack."
Olden was silent. He had stopped pacing, only to turn and punch the wall. "Those fucking bastards!"
James shuddered though. "Just think about it though. Radella they're torturing for their own pleasures and to mentally torment the rest of us – it'll break Remus. What are they doing to Sirius and Kathryn who have information vital to our cause? What about Kathryn's visions?"
XXXXX
Voldemort's lair:
"AAAARGH!"
"Scream as loud as you can, bitch, no one will hear you." The Death Eater yelled.
Suddenly Kathryn stopped screaming, her body going rigid, her eyes flooding with blood red light.
"Kat?" Sirius murmured from his place chained before her.
"What's wrong with the scum?" Lucius asked.
Sirius made a swift decision to spare her pain. "She… She's having a vision! Don't touch her!"
"Why not?"
"It is dangerous to interrupt a vision that strikes whilst she is conscious." Sirius spoke.
Meanwhile, Kathryn Saw.
"But that's impossible." She saw herself say.
"No, it is not. But it is rare that the Elemental Warriors do spring from the Elemental Guardians. The Guardians themselves are rare – there have only been nine such groupings in wizarding history. Of the Warriors, only four times have they appeared previously. Once only, from the Guardians." Dumbledore explained.
"But I don't understand. How can she receive her power? She's only just turned fifteen!" James frowned.
"It is in her power's nature. Also, as two of them are related, what affects her brother will affect her more closely." Dumbledore explained.
"So instead of it being Ginny's sixteenth the powers are awakened on…" Sirius began.
"It's Selene's." Kathryn finished. "Because Ginny's were effectively called when Ron turned sixteen?"
"That's about right." Dumbledore responded. "What confuses me is the six elements. I believed there were only four."
"Fire, water, earth and air." Lily nodded.
"Electricity – lightning." Kathryn stated. "That, in certain respects, could be an element. It forms in nature thriving from one or two of the others. Not to mention it would explain how Harry struck the broom-shed until it turned to ashes. Thank Zeus the school brooms hadn't been placed out yet."
Lily shot her a 'look' as Sirius continued with the list.
"And spirit, of course. What held our powers in balance is held by a person in their group." Sirius nodded.
"What does this mean?" James wanted to know.
"It means that when Voldemort marked Harry, his element was part of what protected him. The shape of the mark… maybe even the destruction of your home." Dumbledore mused. "It might also explain Harry's struggle to master some of the more simple spells when harder ones come more easily. His powers have not been in balance because they were called to protect him at a very early age instead of at sixteen when his body was prepared to accept them. It might also account for part of his stunted growth and his sudden growth spurt."
"What?"
"Harry's powers appeared early, but he had no control and his body wasn't prepared." Kathryn translated. "Thus problems with his growth and magic. Most likely his magical reserves are much larger than they would have been because he's had to repress his power over lightning for so long."
"Okay, so how does that help us?"
Kathryn grinned. "Mouldyvort's goin' down!"
Kathryn's eyes snapped open. She looked around, dazed.
"Kathryn!" Sirius gasped. They had been unable to make telepathic contact since they arrived – the chains suppressed their magic, including Elemental gifts. Voldemort had known something.
"Six of them…" She murmured.
"Who?"
"The Warriors." She frowned, then remembered where she was. She had to make a statement, fast.
"What did you see?" Voldemort demanded, having been fetched.
"Six Warriors shall rise when the Veil is breached!" She cried. "The Grim shall see death, but the Seer shall bring him back! The Warriors shall rise from the ashes of the flying house! When the Marked Lion enters his sixteenth year, the Warriors shall rise to fight the evil that stalks them!"
She then collapsed, as though with exhaustion.
Voldemort looked at them, then his Death Eaters.
"Come, leave them for now. The werewolf is insane, and we have some vital information. I want to know what else you got from them."
The Death Eaters swept out.
Kathryn looked up at Sirius.
"Was that all right?"
"Hush, they'll have listening spells."
"I had to tell them, Sirius, I had to say something…" Kathryn began.
Sirius nodded. "I know." He looked up at the ceiling. "They got Radella. She's gone."
Kathryn nodded. "This'll break Remus. He loves her so much. And werewolves are enough like wolves that he'll never love another. She was his life-partner."
Sirius sighed. "I know."
XXXXX
Auror Headquarters:
"Where the hell is she!" An angry voice demanded, storming into the Planning Room in Auror Headquarters.
"Nice to see you too, Remus." James groaned. He was pale and wan – bags were already forming under his eyes.
"Where's Radella?" Remus demanded.
"Kidnapped. Again." Frank informed him. "This time with bonuses."
Remus frowned, then looked around. "Where – where are Kat and Sirius?"
"Same place she is."
"Shit."
"Yeah, that's what we thought." James responded.
"Can you help at all?" Lily asked. "Your connection to Radella… The others have their magic bound otherwise we'd sense them…"
Remus nodded, looking down. Sirius and Kat as well as Radella…
He took a deep breath. Filled his mind with thoughts of his mate… He ignored the fact that the wolf's desire to call her his mate was clear. It never before, part of him wondered why it had started to now. But he didn't think on that. He needed to find Radella.
Radella Leigh. Petite, ash blonde, blue-eyed, porcelain-skinned. Blushed beautifully. Kind, sweet, unprejudiced. Soft and smooth and gentle. She reminded him of a warm spring morning, the sun's rays still gentle, a soft breeze blowing, the scents of spring flowing into his nose. There was an elfin quality to her. A Healer, a helper. His friend, his partner, his lover. His life-mate.
Remus had always had the uncanny ability to sense his girlfriend's position, so much so that it had once saved their lives. But now…
Pain. Trapped. Another creature. The moon's brutal rays. Pain. Her body was on fire… Metal… Acid… Blood… Need blood… Pain. Pain. PAIN! HELP ME!
Remus' eyes snapped open and he gulped in air.
"What is it, Remus?" Lily asked, her voice soft.
"Ra-Radella." He murmured. "I sensed her… More powerfully than I ever had. She was in pain. Terrible pain. She could think of and feel nothing else."
"Do you know where she is?" Alice persisted.
"Somewhere in the Lake District." Remus gasped. "I couldn't sense anything else, her pain was so strong."
James swore. He looked up. "Hang in there, mates."
XXXXX
Kat and Sirius' cell:
"It's about time we used the Snake Daggers on you." Stefans – one of the Death Eaters – sneered.
Kathryn's eyes widened. She was naked now – her clothes had been torn to shreds by the whips. She was covered in cuts, bruises and welts. Lashes from the whip lanced across her back, catching her stomach and breasts on a few occasions. Her face was bruised from smacks when her tongue had become too sharp. At least she had not been raped.
She daren't think the word 'yet'.
Sirius was no better off. They were chained separately now, about ten metres apart, a central fire a few metres to Kat's right. She had a clear view of him.
His back was even more torn from the whipping – she wouldn't be surprised to see his shoulder blades exposed, though she hated to think it. He'd been beaten before hand – bruises ran along his face, stomach and chest. There was a long tear in one thigh from a Cutting Curse. However, Sirius had been exposed to the Cruciatus more than she had. She could see his hands shaking ever so slightly, though he kept a cold glare on his face.
'Please,' she begged someone – anyone – on high, 'Someone help us.'
She barely had time to scream as a Snake Dagger bit into her flesh.
Venom flooded her veins and she fell into darkness.
XXXXX
Auror Headquarters:
"It's been three days! You'd think we'd be able to find them somehow!" James yelled angrily. "We haven't got anything! Voldemort blocks any tracking spells, we haven't got any focus spells to work, their magic is bound as well! This is nigh impossible! We'll be lucky if they're lucid when we get them back."
"James!" Lily yelled back. "For God's sake, sit down! Tensions are running high enough in this room, and YOU'RE ALL GIVING ME A BLOODY HEADACHE!" She stood up and flounced from the room.
"Shit." James swore, flinging himself into a chair and beginning to brood.
"Don't you have anything?" Remus asked. "Can't your – er – others gifts help?"
"Snake-breath's blocked those as well." James groaned. "We can't get a hold of them telepathically, and Lily's empathy isn't working either."
"Damn." Olden sat with his head in his hands. "I can't lose my little girl again. I – I can't!"
He was shaking. This was all too reminiscent of when Kathryn had been placed in her coma more than ten years earlier.
"We'll get them back, Olden." James promised. "We will get them back. Kat and Sirius still have to be godparents to my kids!"
Olden gave a weak laugh. The group fell into a brooding silence again.
About ten minutes later, Lily reappeared, a light shining her eyes.
"What?" James asked, noticing the look.
She held out a box. James' eyes widened.
"But Kat has the key…" His voice trailed off as he saw Lily pick up the necklace Kat rarely took off.
"Looks like she took it off one day and didn't put it – or the key – back on." Lily smiled. "Thank God."
James nodded. "If we use the crystals to hone in on Kat and Sirius' souls with a spell…"
"We should be able to find them." Lily finished, unlocking the box.
An emerald, sapphire, ruby and diamond greeted their eyes.
James smiled. "Wish us luck."
"What?"
James froze the room.
He and Lily sat on the floor, placed the box between them, and joined hands. Instinctively, they knew what to say.
"Earth and Fire, crystals blaze,
Give answer to Water and Air's gaze.
Thy emissaries captured, alone,
Help us find them, flame and stone.
Evil took our loved ones away,
Find them, let us save them today."
The ruby and diamond (representing fire and earth respectively) blazed with power, filling with magic. The blue and green of James and Lily's power mingled to arch between the crystals and form a mirror-like screen, they caught a glimpse of Kat's tear-stained Sirius' blood-stained faces before all the light disappeared and the crystals and a piece of parchment fell back into the box.
James unfroze the room.
The others looked at him strangely. "Wish you luck with what?" Olden asked.
"What we just did – you couldn't see it." James explained. "We think we have a location."
Lily nodded, locking the box and holding out the paper.
"Coniston Castle. Magical castle hidden on Peel Island on Coniston. Muggles just see trees." She answered, and glowered. "Those bastards are going down."
XXXXX
Coniston Castle:
"We thought you'd like to see your friend." The Death Eater Kathryn thought whose name was Ovins snickered.
Kathryn and Sirius paled as they saw Radella chained up to the wall. She was barely responding, her delicate skin was bruised and cut – claw-marks went across her face, her ash-blonde hair was dirty and matted. She wore what appeared to be her own robes – they were ragged. Clearly, she'd been beaten after her transformation.
What was worst were her eyes. Glassy, unblinking, unfeeling. Blank. She made little or no response to anything anyone said unless in pain. She was trapped in her own mind.
"Radella?" Kathryn ventured.
Not even an eye-flicker to show she had noticed.
"Radella? You there? Remember us? Remember Remus?" Sirius tried.
Only the name Remus got a response. A long, wolf-like, piteous howl.
Kathryn stared.
Sirius analysed. "Response to her mate. We know they'll have 'mated'."
"You mean shagged?" Kathryn asked, her usual precarious grip on tact missing totally in pain.
Sirius rolled his eyes. "Yes, I mean shagged."
"Shut up, you two." Stefans scowled. "Unless you'd like another try with the Snake Daggers."
Kathryn shuddered. The blades injected venom into the blood, only for it to be neutralised as it caused most pain and before the victim died.
"No, we'll use the Vampiric Blades." Lucius Malfoy smirked. "Wouldn't want to waste a drop of that precious blood. But then there are ways of harming you without squandering a bead."
Sirius bellowed as a Bludgeoning Curse smashed into his ribs. Then another into his right leg.
Kathryn screamed as an Animation Spell brought a bastinado to beat her body, ignoring the soles of her feet for more sensitive areas.
There was a loud crack above them.
"What the…" Malfoy began.
There was a loud sound as the castle's barriers were breached, and the Death Eaters convulsively grabbed their arms.
"Get to the Apparition point." Malfoy snapped.
"What about them?"
"Leave them. They're of no use to us now." He sneered, sending a last curse that knocked the two barely-conscious prisoners out completely.
The Death Eaters scurried away, not wanting to be caught by the opposing force.
XXXXX
It was with pure rage that the barriers around Coniston Castle were attacked. Lily and James easily combined their powers to create a storm and a cyclone of water that had weakened them. But it was Remus' Shattering Curse focussed at one of the base stones that did it. There was a breach in the barriers, and they could get through.
The castle was startlingly quiet. Their attack on the wards had obviously warned those inside. James swore, wishing that they'd been able to catch some of those responsible for their friends' kidnap.
It was merely a matter of time before the wards reconstructed themselves and sealed the breach. The Aurors worked in a swift, methodical fashion, aided by several other members of the Order of the Phoenix, Alura and Damion included. Peter had not been able to get out of work. Dumbledore had arrived seconds after the breach.
It was a startled and horrified cry that called the others to where Alura and Alice had found the three captives.
Sirius and Kathryn were bloody, bruised and battered, suspended from the ceiling by chains surrounding their wrists, their bodies sagging. Radella was chained to the wall, her eyes and face completely blank.
"Get them down." Dumbledore ordered, his voice in that quiet, hard tone that concealed rage. "Now!"
James flung out his hands and the wall chains shattered, the two brutalised and naked bodies falling into waiting hands. At this point, he didn't care who knew his abilities. He swiftly did the same to all the other chains and instruments of torture in the room – though he left the Daggers and Blades for Moody to pick up. Radella's manacles were done shortly afterwards, but she showed no sign of anything having changed.
"Della?" Remus went forward, his face worried. "Della, it's me. Remus."
She turned to look at him and began to howl. Remus looked bewildered.
"Enervate." James muttered over Sirius' body as Lily did the same to Kathryn.
"Ja-James?" Sirius murmured, confused. "Is – is this real? Not an illusion? They haven't stepped things up?"
James shook his head. "It's me, Padfoot. I'm here."
"What's wrong with her?" Alice asked, looking at Radella.
"Re-Remus…" Kathryn's voice was hoarse. "They… They… Her last kidnapping… She wa-wa-wasn't as unscathed as we th-thought…" She was hesitant and weak.
Remus, now holding his beloved, looked at her, confused. "What?"
"W-werewolf… They turned her… Healed the bite… T-to torture y-you…" Kathryn was gasping for breath now, her voice getting steadily weaker. "B-but… her – her first ch-change… Cruciatus…" Her voice petered out.
Remus stared at her, then Radella, his face stoic. Then he swore violently and punched the wall. He began sobbing, holding the now silent Radella in his arms.
"I'm sorry… So, so sorry…" He sobbed.
Dumbledore surveyed the ruin around them.
"Let's get them to St Mungo's. Private ward."
XXXXX
23rd August 1986, St Mungo's:
"How are they?" Lily asked the Healer, Matthew Banks, as he came out of the room housing Sirius and Kathryn.
"Physically, they'll be fine in a few days, if a little weak. Mr Black had several broken ribs, a severely broken leg and the skin on his back had been whipped so badly you could see the shoulder blades. Several cuts from curses. He also suffered from illegal Snake Daggers – the blade penetrates the skin and injects venom, which is neutralised at the point it becomes most painful, before killing the victim. He was also subject to Vampiric Blades, which absorb the blood. On top of that, he's was beaten badly to start with, he's missing a lot of blood, and he's not had food or drink for over seventy-two hours."
"And Kathryn?"
"Mrs Black also suffered from the Blades and Daggers. She was also severely whipped, but not so badly. Again, she had broken ribs from beatings and numerous cuts and contusions. Fortunately, she was not raped, though there are bruises on her chest that suggest some sort of sexual abuse. Her throat is incredibly sore from screaming. Both were exposed to the Cruciatus on numerous occasions. There were also traces of several vision-inducing potions and drugs in her bloodstream. She's a Seer?"
Lily nodded.
"He was probably trying to induce her into having a vision. She also hadn't had any food, but it does appear that she was not as dehydrated as her husband. If she was a Seer, they didn't want to damage her too much, whilst still wanting information." Banks continued.
James held his wife tight around the shoulders. "What about Radella?"
"Miss Leigh?" The Healer sighed deeply. "I was her mentor during her training. Such a gifted young woman… She has indeed been afflicted with lycanthropy, but it seems she was constantly inflicted with the Cruciatus during it. As such, she's completely trapped in her own mind, her mental capabilities have completely diminished and she only seems to react to Remus, who both her human and wolf side see as her mate. But she's incapable of expressing anything other than howls, which seem to be in pain. In short, she's insane."
Lily bit back a sob, hiding her face in her husband's shirt.
"No chance of recovery?" James asked.
"We don't know. This has never happened before. Even in Grindelwald's reign… there weren't this many Cruciatus victims. We just don't have the data. But she seems to be incapacitated in much the same fashion as Jack." Banks looked even more morose, but then became angry. "Two of our best and brightest Healers, and they end up patients here! They should be there to treat others! They shouldn't need treating themselves! It's not fair!"
"We know that." Olden sighed from his place on a nearby seat. He had listened to the diagnosis in silence. "It's that bastard Voldemort. He took my daughter away from me for five years. Then he took my first-born son, he was going to get married in a few months, Poppy was even more distraught than us. Now he's ruined the mind of one of my daughter's best friends and left my daughter and son-in-law in hospital for Merlin knows how long… How the hell did he get this far?"
James shook his head. "People supported him at first. The bigoted purebloods. Before they realised just how far he was willing to go. It was four years before they connected him to Kathryn's coma."
Olden nodded, then looked at the hospital wing. "I just hope they're all right."
XXXXX
It was a week before Kathryn and Sirius were healed and strong enough to talk about their ordeal. Neither had wanted to, but they had to give their statements, particularly regarding anyone they recognised.
Remus had locked himself in his room since Radella had been committed. She was in a private room, since no one was sure how her werewolf side would react with her unstable mental state. There was one speculation that the only time she'd be free was when she was the wolf. Remus blamed himself for not realising that she had been turned into a werewolf and not recognising the signs, but he had assumed it was whatever had happened to her, not thinking about what that might actually be. He barely stayed five minutes at a time with her, as his presence had numerous, sometimes dangerous effects on Radella, only hurting him more. He couldn't bear to see her in such a state.
Alura had struggled to get over seeing her friends strung up like that when she found them. For a moment, she had been sure they were dead. How relieved she'd been to find out they were alive! Damion had tried to convince her to stay at home due to her pregnancy, but she'd informed him that those were her best friends out there – she wasn't going to leave them! Besides, she wasn't that far along – only a month and three weeks – and she was only pregnant, not an invalid! Besides, pregnant witches often formed their own protection. In the early stages of her first pregnancy, she'd been invulnerable to physical harm whilst the embryo became a foetus.
But this latest kidnap had made them realise how truly mortal they were. Kathryn and Sirius were the first to make wills. The other Aurors swiftly followed.
XXXXX
1st September 1986:
Kathryn smiled at her husband as he lay in bed, breathing softly. It was the morning; a morning she knew was a busy one for parents and teenagers all over the wizarding world.
There was no quick fix to what they had been through. Moody had given them two weeks compassionate leave whilst they coped with the trauma. She thanked whoever was up there that she hadn't been raped. One or two had grabbed her chest, but Sirius called their attention. She remembered him yelling at them for touching his wife; she was a member of a pureblood family and should be treated as such. He even pulled rank, stating that they had no right to do this as the Black family was higher than theirs.
Malfoy had pointed out that he had been disowned.
Kathryn smirked. Technically, Sirius had only been disowned in words, and blasted off the tapestry. Magically, even legally, he was still a Black.
She loved him so much. Throughout their torture and imprisonment, he had constantly kept pulling the Death Eaters to him, to protect her.
That didn't prevent the memories and reactions though.
The first time she had seen a spell with a red hue she had screamed, thrown into a flashback. Sirius was having nightmares fifty-percent of the time. Neither was free from the torment, and both felt guilty for not protecting Radella more.
Smiling, she kissed her husband on the jaw softly, and closed her eyes once more, snuggling into his embrace.
XXXXX
Auror Headquarters:
An alarm rang through the Headquarters.
"What is it?" Moody demanded.
"King's Cross Station!" Caradoc Dearborn, a senior Auror who was also a part of the Order, informed him. "It's the Hogwarts Express."
"Where're the Potters?" Moody yelled, then remembered. "Damn, they've got today off. The Blacks are still on leave…"
"They that good, Moody?" Dearborn asked, having met them, but never worked with them.
"You've worked with Orenda, haven't you?" Moody asked.
"My partner for ten years before they swapped things around." Dearborn affirmed.
"That's his girl and son-in-law." Moody made by way of answer.
Dearborn whistled. "Impressive. Where's Harold?"
"Already out there. As is Olden. They were on-call, wanted to keep an eye. Most likely Elise tipped Olden off."
"How?"
"A vision."
"Ah."
"Yes, ah."
Moody looked around the others to decide on a team. "Davids, Laden! Meadowes! Get down there! Caradoc, call the Prewetts if you can get hold of them, they're deadly."
Caradoc nodded.
"We'll be there."
XXXXX
Fire's eyes snapped open at the same second as Earth's.
"The platform from which the children travel is under attack." Fire stated. "The others will meet us there."
"Then let us go."
They disappeared in a whirl of flames and rumbling of the earth.
XXXXX
Platform nine and three-quarters was in chaos. What children could had run onto the train, barricading themselves within compartments. Older students fought, along with parents.
It was still carnage. Several students lay dead, pillars had exploded, and there were numerous spell and burn marks on the train.
The Elementals swore, before getting to work.
"Earth!" Cried the Earth Elemental. "I command thee, cage the villains in stone!"
Fire had meanwhile sprouted her eagle-phoenix-like wings of fire, flying overhead, and sprouting fiery shields to protect the students. It was instinct – protect the children, they are our future.
Air and Water worked together, decimating each Death Eater they came across, whether mentally or magically.
The Aurors on-scene swore as they saw the Elementals.
"Who the hell are they?" Harold yelled at Moody, who appeared seconds before.
"No idea. Typical. One last attack before I retire." Moody groaned.
"What? Moody, there's no retiring now!" Olden yelled. "Lacerare!"
"Why not?"
"Because Kathryn knows that you're going to be responsible for the capture of several Death Eaters. We won't cope without you!"
"Really?" Moody asked.
"Yes!"
"Just as well I haven't given in my resignation then." Moody sighed.
Fire swooped over them, shrieking like a bird as she flung a net of fire at the Death Eater preparing to take a shot at Olden's back.
But she wasn't quick enough to protect herself.
"Crucio!" A shout was heard and her eyes turned back to brown as she screamed in pain and fell.
"Fire!" Earth yelled, running over to her as she screamed.
"No!" Earth screamed at the Death Eater, before being thrown into a flashback.
"No! Stop it! Take me!" Sirius shouted as Kathryn shrieked and writhed under the Cruciatus.
"Again, you defend her. How sweet. But it will be your downfall." Malfoy sneered. "Crucio!"
Sirius shuddered under the torment of the curse, before letting go and screaming.
Earth fell under the effects of the curse once more as his mind was clouded.
"What the hell?" Moody yelled. "They've never even been hit before, why start now?"
A shriek of rage interrupted them. "The pain! You throw them into memories of your cruelty! Begone, evil!"
Air had yelled. She joined hands with Water, winds propelling them into the air.
"Evil who attacks innocence,
Destructive force with no sense.
Begone now from this time and space,
Leave these fallen, leave this place."
All the Death Eaters who were free were forcibly Apparated from the platform.
Silence reigned.
Moody took control. "All right, all students on the train now! Aurors, secure the Death Eaters, and the fallen. Organise transport to St Mungo's for the injured. Come on, people, move!" He yelled.
Students quickly scuttled over to the train, desperate to gain the safety of its carriages.
"Let's identify these Elementals then." Moody told Olden as Air and Water strolled purposefully toward them.
Olden quickly knelt down beside the woman known as Fire Star and turned her over. Then gasped in shock.
"Good Lord!" He gasped. "Alastor… It's Kathryn!"
"What?" Moody asked, then looked at the groaning man. "Black!"
Water and Air suddenly looked at him, then their eyes rolled into the backs of their heads and they collapsed.
"Lily and James…" Olden frowned. "What on… Oh! Of course! I can't believe we didn't see it before!"
"What?"
"The Elementals. They're the Elemental Guardians. These four have always been such. There must be some compulsion for them to protect people when they aren't in a fight for whatever reason. Most likely linked to Kat's visions. Then, there's some sort of memory repression and confusion so they don't know that they are the ones who appeared. No wonder they've had no leads on the case!" Olden gasped.
The clothing had disappeared. All four were now in their nightclothes, and waking up, confused.
"Dad?" Kathryn asked, her brow furrowed. "What are you… Where the hell am I? Why am I in my nightclothes?"
"My thoughts exactly." Sirius joined her.
"Let's, uh, retire to somewhere more private." Olden suggested.
"Home, we can all Apparate there." Kathryn stated.
With a few pops, they were gone.
At Kat and Sirius' house (nicknamed 'The Neat Zone' by a stressed James), the four waited patiently for an explanation from Moody and Olden.
Not one to beat about the bush, Moody looked at them and said, "It seems you four are our mystery Elementals, Fire Star, Earth Diamond, Water Stag and Wind Flower."
"WHAT?" They all demanded in unison.
"It's true." Olden concurred. "We assume that your other selves blocked out the memories and left confusion to stop you from linking your position as the Elemental Guardians to the mysterious vigilantes."
"Is that why we were there in our night-things?" Kathryn asked, feeling self-conscious about appearing, even if she was wearing her fairly modest cotton strappy top and shorts.
"Yes. You each appeared in a leather suit of some sort. Presumably that forms from the clothing you wear and changes back when you go back to where you were." Olden answered.
"But why can't we remember…" Kat stopped as she and the others grunted in pain, their eyes closing as they were assaulted by memories.
"I think you remember now."
Kathryn looked at Sirius and walked over to sink into his arms, tears in her eyes.
"What happened to you two?" Olden wanted to know. "You fell under the Cruciatus, then it seemed like Sirius did."
"Flashbacks." They answered softly.
Moody nodded. "I'm sorry. Do you two need longer before you come back?"
"No!" Sirius shouted. He calmed. "No. I… we… need to work. Get back into things. So we won't have to think about it…"
Kat nodded, not trusting herself to respond calmly.
"All right then." James stated. "You two need get back to the office. If you don't mind, Lily and I are going to take full advantage of our day off." Then he looked up. "How did you know the platform was under attack?"
"Your father and I went along." Olden responded. "A hunch."
James grinned. "I know all about the old man's hunches. See you soon."
He and Lily disappeared.
Moody and Olden looked at the other couple.
"Are you two all right?" Moody asked gruffly.
Sirius nodded. "We'll be okay."
Kathryn nodded in agreement. "See you soon, Dad. We need a family dinner at some point."
"Yes, your grandmother's missing you."
"Then why doesn't she pop round?" Kat asked. "Just not today. Please."
Olden nodded. "She came to see you in hospital, but…"
"I wasn't with it?" Kat suggested.
"That's right, Kit. Bye."
"Bye."
The two old Aurors Apparated out.
Sirius looked at Kathryn and grinned.
"Well, since we're up, fancy some breakfast?"
XXXXX
The rest of September passed fairly quickly, without any large-scale attacks.
Radella's second full moon showed her as a fully-fledged werewolf. She wasn't quiet then. Her room was magically sealed and she did the same as Remus, both longing for their mate.
Kathryn couldn't help smirking on the nineteenth of September.
"God bless you, Hermione Jane Granger, Muggle-born witch, one third of the Golden Trio and Gryffindor 'know-it-all'." She smiled, toasting a glass when she thought about it.
And if you listened carefully enough, you could hear the earth celebrating the birth of the child too.
XXXXX
A/N: So? What do you think? Did I overdo the torture? Did I skip over the immediate recovery too much? Any constructive criticisms are welcome – they help me write a better story.
Speaking of, do you want major details of the pregnancies and Harry and the other littlies' first year? Or general chapters with a few sweet/cute/funny scenes? I don't want this story to go on too much longer. My aim is to finish it before Half-Blood Prince comes out, otherwise everyone will be reading that. Anyone else think that FanFiction's going to have a rather 'off' weekend when the book comes out, at least as far as Harry Potter's concerned?
I may as well stay on this subject. When I finish this, there will (probably) be a one-shot fic, fairly long, with various snippets of the fifteen years between the end of this and the next part just before Harry's sixth-year. When I write his sixth-year, I may include elements of the sixth book, but I will try to keep it an original story. Anything in canon that negates my story (changes in job for Lily, James and Sirius for instance) will be ignored.
Right, back to you!
Winner of the quote competition:
The quote you wanted was:
"Will it ever get better?" Radella wondered.
"The war? What do you want me to say?"
"Lie to me."
"It's terribly simple. The good guys are always stalwart and true, the bad guys are easily distinguished by their pointy horns or black hats, and, uh, we always defeat them and save the day. No one ever dies, and everybody lives happily ever after." Remus told her, giving an ironic smile.
"Liar."
Of course, it's slightly different, but this is from 'Lie to me', Season 2 of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. This is between Giles and Buffy in reference to growing up and her fight against demons.
And the winner is… Tina! You win a box of cookies – you got all the answers right!
A few notes to a few reviewers…
Saturnpyroprincess – I wasn't mad, just being myself, I was just trying to justify it. I know it wasn't a flame – you were just making a (rather sensible) comment.
Zekintha – I quite liked Hamlet, it's the essay writing that got me. And I'm glad you think that about Kat. I know she seems somewhat perfect at times. I'm really trying not to let her be too perfect though. After all, a Mary-Sue could fight the Cruciatuses Kat screams through in this chapter, eh?
SarahtheBardess – Is lycanthropy hereditary? Well, it's interesting, but… Wait for a new chapter! Hah! I'm evil. Good luck with ridding yourself of writer's block.
Sunflower – You reviewed Insanely in Love or one of my other one-shots, didn't you? Yep, my name's Welsh. It's supposed to mean fire and water, but we (my dad and I) got the grammar wrong, so it means under or below the water, primarily as being on a hill with a lake about you. I was born in Wales, but I don't know much Welsh anymore – we moved to England when I was seven, and neither of my parents are Welsh. My Nain (that's noth-Wales Welsh for grandmother) is, making Dad half, but he's from London area. Mum's Manx (Isle of Man), so I've got some strong Celtic roots! I guess I'm technically Anglican (it says that on my school records), but I think I'm more agnostic. I'm not sure I believe in God, but I like to think there's an afterlife. I do believe in ghosts and such though. As for Wicca, I'm afraid most of what I know is gathered from reading fictional books (and most of them are set in America!) and hearsay. A friend at school is a practising Wiccan. And the ancient Celts, since a lot of Wicca originates from them. I know about the solstices and such. And I do as much as I can for the environment. I'm weird, yes, I know. And yes, I studied French. When I wrote the first bit, I was studying it – still in GCSEs. Luckily, I've dropped it now. Yep, the British Isles are quite cool. We've got to have one of the biggest collections (if not the biggest) of stone circles and suchlike in the world!
Akasha of Night – A new reviewer! Or is it a new penname? Anyway, please keep reviewing! See, no cliffie this time! And I'm glad you think my writing gets better as I go along. It ought to, it's well over a year since I wrote the first few chapters, and the new ones are being put up as they're written!
Final notes…Quote competition:
Who said this, where's it from and, if you can, which episode?
'Well, they probably looked the same to you because your soul recognized their souls. I mean, we all tend to travel in the same circle of family, friends, even enemies throughout our various lives. And that's why our souls recognize each other. So we can keep finding each other. That's what soul mates mean.'
And…The photo that Moody shows Harry in the fifth book in Grimmauld Place. Do you want to see it? I have a few ideas. I'm just struggling with when to place it.
Anyone want to meet any other members of the original Order of the Phoenix? I've tried to include a few in here. I'll also try and get the Prewetts in at some point as well. I think they're fairly important. Plus they're Molly's brothers.
Anyway, feedback is most appreciated, and the more helpful suggestion, the quicker the next chapter comes. Just remember I have exams.
Lol, Tanydwr