Ten days to go! And I need to write two more chapters. Ooh dear!
Shorter this time, sorry!
Enjoy! (And get some tissues!)
Chapter 42: Life and Death
5th August 1987:
"THIS IS NOT A NURSERY SCHOOL!" 'Mad-Eye Moody yelled on seeing his Aurors crowded around the cubicles of the three females on Maternity Leave.
"But they're so sweet, Moody!" Dorcas Meadowes smirked, cradling Harry. She didn't know the younger Aurors well, being an 'old hand', but she was, like them, a member of the Order. She also had a weakness for children.
"I don't care how sweet you claim they are! You've got work to do!"
"You'd better not be insulting my granddaughter, Alastor. You are aware where Kathryn gets her temper from." Olden gave him an evil grin.
"And do you want to face Agnes Longbottom after insulting her grandson?" Harold asked. "Or me for insulting mine?"
Moody groaned. "I am not going to be intimidated by family politics!"
By this point, enough Aurors had left the cubicles for Kathryn to see Moody. She bounced up, Selene in her arms.
"Moody! I thought I heard your dulcet tones." She gave a smirk. "Say hello to Selene Rhiannon Black, the first Orenda grandchild."
"I'd say Black one too, but my parents are more likely to accept Narcissa's little snake as a grandchild than Selene." Sirius grinned.
Moody glared at them. Even with two normal eyes, his glare was fierce, and when he was angry, he'd often been said to have 'mad eyes', meaning several of the Aurors had latched onto Kat's nickname for him, for all it wasn't quite as apt as it would be some day.
"Here, Moody, hold her." Kathryn ordered, gently placing her baby into the Auror's stiff arms. He stood ramrod straight, his eyes fearful. "Gently now, support her head. Don't go glaring at the baby, she didn't do anything!" She snapped.
Moody glared at her, before looking at the bundle in his arms. Small, wearing a nappy and a white baby-grow with pink flowers within a pink blanket, with tufts of blonde hair and large brown eyes like her mother's, even Moody couldn't deny she was sweet. His scarred face lost its fierceness as he watched her, those childish brown eyes boring into his dark ones in a way her mother's seemed incapable of.
Swiftly, Dorcas Meadowes handed Harry to his grandfather, while Frank handed his son to his mother's old schoolfriend, Olden. Gathering them together, several cameras flashed, and the younger Aurors smirked.
"The three oldest Aurors!" Fabian Prewett sniggered. "Trapped by babies' innocent eyes."
Kat snorted. "I've met your nephews, Prewett, and there's nothing innocent about Fred and George. Cute, maybe. Innocent, never."
Gideon gave a laugh. "We've already told Molly we're going to corrupt them. It's our duty as one pair of Prewett twins to pass the skills onto the next generation."
Sirius raised a brow. "You think your nephews will be able to best the next generation of Marauders?"
"Bring it on." Fabian smirked.
Kat, meanwhile, retrieved her daughter. She grinned at Moody. "You never know, you might be holding a future Auror in your hands. Although if you want to really have fun, take a hold of Harry. He'll probably go very red in a few years' time when you inform him you held him as a baby. 'Specially if he's planning on being an Auror."
Moody gave the woman a look. "Hmm…"
Harold handed him Harry, clapping him on the shoulder. "Well, he's got to carry on the family tradition, hasn't he, Alastor?"
"Which one, being an Auror or marrying a redhead?" Sirius smirked.
"The latter he's got no choice in." Harold grinned. "Poor little guy'll fall for one, mark my words. Of course, he probably won't realise it for several years…"
Moody gazed into the young Potter's eyes, the emerald a startling colour on the baby. He felt like he was being examined, that the boy was trying to decide whether or not to trust him. Obviously, he passed the young boy's test, because he closed his eyes and fell asleep.
"Look at that." Kathryn shook her head in wonder. "He's only done that for Lily and James so far."
"I think I'm jealous." Harold sighed.
Moody just shook his head. "Have you seen Dumbledore yet?" He asked them.
"No." James responded. "Why would we?"
"Your son has intense eyes, Potter. As does your daughter, Black." Moody informed them. "Bring 'em to the next 'meeting'. I'm sure they'll all enjoy gushing over the new arrivals."
XXXXX
11th August 1987:
"You want a picture?" Sirius asked Dumbledore incredulously.
"Yes. We have lost too many people from the Order already. I'd like to have a picture of everyone now. We should have done so before this." Dumbledore stated.
"My parents aren't here." Kathryn stated.
"Mine neither." James added.
Dumbledore nodded. "Regrettable, but I'm hoping to add them to it at a later date. I want to have all the Order in a picture."
"You'll add Radella, and Alura and Damion?" Remus asked.
Dumbledore nodded. "If I can get pictures that will fit with this appropriately."
Lily shook her head. "Batty. He's completely batty."
Fabian Prewett grinned. "Great! Everyone in line!"
Alice, Lily and Kathryn carefully left their children outside of the camera line, fussing over leaving them for even a few moments.
Sirius dragged Kathryn away, standing next to James. James and Lily were stood either side of Peter. Peter had been most amazed by the children, and remarkably tender and almost soppy with them. Kathryn had been surprised by it, but she didn't know if he was spying yet. While she hadn't been overly friendly to Peter, she wished he wouldn't become the man she knew of, the snivelling coward that sold out his friends. She didn't even know the real reason he turned.
Moody groaned. "Do we have to do this?"
"Oh yes!" Dorcas Meadowes and Marlene McKinnon exchanged evil looks, dragging the Head Auror into the frame.
"And people say I'm the mad one." Aberforth Dumbledore commented airily.
Professor Dumbledore, meanwhile, was setting up the camera. There were more people than would fit the normal frame, but that didn't matter with magical cameras.
A few moments later, after everyone had been dragged into the frame (some seriously protesting), Dumbledore incanted a spell, and the camera began flashing, taking several shots of the Order of the Phoenix.
James and Lily couldn't help laughing, their arms around their friend. The friend who was to betray them in less than eighteen months' time.
Kathryn sank into her husband's arms, smiling at the camera, knowing that she'd disappear from the picture soon.
As they left, Moody pocketed one of the unaltered versions, not knowing he'd be showing it to a slightly depressed young man in fifteen years' time.
XXXXX
15th August 1987:
Kathryn lied on the sofa, tickling her baby's stomach as she lay on the mat beside her. Merlin, she was beautiful. She knew she'd never seen anything so beautiful before in her life, and never would, unless she had another child. Children were magical, and a newborn even more so.
She remembered her siblings' visits. Paul, for all his wailing at Christmas, had thought she was the most wonderful thing on the planet. He had grinned at Sirius, stating his surprise that he could contribute to something so precious, earning him a cuff around the earhole. Leila and Adalia had both – there was no other word for it – gushed over their niece. Jonah and Joseph had sworn that they'd bring back prized treasure for the family's new 'princess'. Her parents had brought Poppy with them. Kat had informed her that Selene was as much her niece as her siblings', considering that she should be married to Jack.
Jack. Her older brother. The big brother she'd managed to get close to, despite everything. The brother she lost. They'd been to see him, but even the sight of his newborn niece had been unable to break his trance.
Kathryn bit back a sob at the memory. While her siblings may have had bets on when she got pregnant, part of her felt that had Jack and Poppy got married when they should have, he might well have beaten her to the first grandchild.
It was as she lied there that a mysterious feeling crept up her spine. Hairs on the back of her neck began dancing with fear, and she sat up suddenly, wondering what was wrong.
A memory assaulted her.
She awoke from a vision. Sirius was questioning her. She lied about it, but she knew what she wanted to say.
Yes, I saw my parents killed!
Fear flooded her blood as her mind went into overdrive. Was it a vision to preserve or prevent?
A crack signalled Sirius' arrival.
"Oh, Sirius, thank Zeus!" She cried, demanding a hug. "Sirius, I've got to get to Mum and Dad's. I think something's happening!"
"I'll come with you." Sirius told her.
"NO! Stay here. I think – I think I had a vision about this, a few years ago. Stay with Selene. Call the Order. I might need help."
Sirius pulled her close, kissing her fervently. "Be careful. I can't lose you."
"I know, love. And I will."
In a flash of flames, Kathryn Black disappeared from her home.
XXXXX
Magic's Haven:
Elise Orenda 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!" Olden 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.
Voldemort felt grim satisfaction. Now he could have what he wanted. Magic's Haven. The name told the wizarding world everything. It's history was vital, and it's position would give him so much power.
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.
Voldemort started, only to look to the sky to find the voice's owner.
Kathryn Black swooped through the sky, what appeared to be a giant eagle's wings – fiery 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." Kathryn informed him. Part of her wondered if any other was inside. She hoped not.
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.
"NOOOOO!"
XXXXX
Sirius found his wife there a few hours later.
Kathryn was clutching onto her parents' hands, her sobs screaming in ways none could imagine. Pain filled her body in ways she'd never imagined. She hadn't lost anyone very close to death – only to insanity where there was a chance of rehabilitation. The closest had been Lily's parents, but that had been over two years ago.
Sirius walked over to her as Aurors swarmed the scene, pain in his heart. Two people who'd been better parents to him than his own, though not as close as the Potters. His in-laws, who he'd loved. And now Voldemort had killed them. He'd felt the rush of elemental magic here. Voldemort had been here, he had cast the mark, and Kathryn had removed what he'd desired.
It was fairly obvious that she'd somehow hidden Magic's Haven, being that the estate was no longer there, nor could anyone step inside where the grounds once stood.
Sirius approached Kathryn carefully. Slowly, he knelt beside her and peeled her hands from her parents. She willingly accepted his hug, hands prone, frozen, as she sobbed into his chest.
"They're dead, they're dead." She whispered, over and over again. "I couldn't stop him. I got here too late. He wanted the house, the magic. I stopped him, but I didn't stop him from killing them."
Sirius held her tightly. "Shh, shh. It's not your fault, Mystique. Sweetheart, it's not fault. Never will be. You couldn't stop it."
"I should have!"
"You couldn't." Sirius whispered, rubbing her back soothingly. "What happened to the house?"
"It's protected. Dad told me I had to stop Voldemort from getting it. It was unprotected on his death because Jack cannot accept it. So he told me to protect it." Kathryn whispered.
Sirius' eyes widened. "How?"
"Elemental spell."
"Kat, who was inside?"
"Avia. Avia's inside. She had to be. Magic told me. My vision told me." Kathryn choked on a sob. "I had to leave her inside."
"Your siblings?"
She shook her head. "Paul's at the Weasleys' for a week. Adalia's staying with Leila because she's closer to her summer job, and the twins have their own place. They're safe." She murmured, then looked at him with fear-filled eyes. "I don't know if there was anyone else inside though."
Sirius held her close. "It will be alright, Kathryn. I promise it will be alright."
XXXXX
It took Kathryn a long time to recover from her parents' deaths. By the time the will was read, she could think of them without crying.
Most of the family fortune had been left to Jack, of course, with Kathryn as executor of the estate until he became sane once more. Her parents had always believed he'd come back to them.
Paul and Adalia had been left in joint care of their older siblings. While Adalia had opted to live with Leila (the sibling she was closest to), Paul had been quite happy to accept Sirius and Kathryn's hospitality, since Jonah and Joseph weren't in the country often enough to care for them. Trust funds had been set up for them by their parents to fund the rest of their schooling.
There were also miscellaneous items left to various people – Kathryn's aunt and uncle, Olivia and Sidus Sinistra, Avia, who'd be unable to collect, Dumbledore, the Potters, Sirius himself, Moody.
Sirius looked at Kathryn tenderly as they left. "Care to tell me why I found Peppy in the kitchen yesterday?"
"Peppy?" Kathryn looked surprised. "I… I, erm…" She frowned.
Then she recalled two years ago, nearly, Peppy had informed her that she'd be going with them upon their marriage.
"Peppy told me a couple of years ago that she'd become our house-elf upon our marriage. I've not seen her since. I don't know if she came and didn't say anything, or what. You ought to talk to her."
Sirius nodded, holding his wife's hand firmly, his daughter in her carry-chair in the other.
Sliding his hand round her waist, he dropped a kiss in his wife's hair as Paul followed them out. "I love you. I always will."
XXXXX
Peppy, it appeared, had been unable to join the Blacks on their marriage for a number of reasons, not the least of which was her son's birth. It seemed that she had been shopping when Magic's Haven had been hidden, and she, with her son and spouse, had come to the Blacks to work for them.
Sirius had been grateful. With Kat in her mourning state, the housework had gone undone for several days. It also meant that they could leave Selene safely at home for a few minutes if need be.
It turned out to be a blessing that Paul was there. He'd had little time with his oldest sister. He'd been only one when she had been placed in her coma, and then she'd had two years of school and a further two of training. A year later, he'd gone to Hogwarts.
They consoled each in the loss of their parents, each understanding each other perfectly. Sirius hadn't been able to understand in the same way, as he had hated his parents.
Still, he prayed for a time when the pain came only on anniversaries and they could look back on happy times, and forget the sad.
XXXXX
29th August 1987:
"She said I could see the pretty baby!" A loud yell announced itself from the Floo.
Kathryn and Sirius were startled to see a seven-year-old Nymphadora Tonks fall out of the Floo with all the grace of her later years (i.e. none at all). The girl instantly bounced up, and Kat couldn't help smiling when she saw the girl's bubblegum pink hair.
"Dora, what're you doing here?" Sirius asked her.
"You said I could see the baby when it came." Nymphadora informed them, placing her head on Kat's shoulder. "You promised."
Another chime at the fireplace and a flustered Andromeda Tonks appeared, followed swiftly by her husband. "I'm so sorry, Kat, Sirius. She doesn't know, and, well, I made the mistake of mentioning Selene and Dora remembered the promise and insisted on coming, and…"
"Andi, it's fine." Kat sighed. She looked pale and wan – she hadn't been sleeping well – but she gave them a smile. "Have you met Paul?" She gestured to her younger brother.
Paul saluted. "Good morning, Mr and Mrs Tonks."
Ted smiled. "Well, I am surprised. Fourteen and up at eight o'clock? Must be a miracle!"
The boy shook his head. "Nope, curse-breakers have to be up at all times."
"Curse-breakers?" Andi asked.
"It's what he wants to be when he 'grows up'," Kat grinned as she stood. "I blame Joe 'n' Joe. They're curse-breakers and they put the idea in his head."
Sirius guffawed. "Like anyone can plant ideas inside the head of an Orenda! That's like asking a Potter to be smart about the girl he's going to marry."
The others laughed.
Tonks, tired of the adults' conversation, looked at Kat imploringly. "Please can I see the baby?"
"Her names' Selene, and yes you can." Kat informed her. She looked at Dora's parents. "Have some breakfast. Peppy always makes too much. C'mon, Paul, you've eaten too much as it is."
"But, Kat…"
"No buts."
Grumbling, Paul followed Dora and Kat into the living room where Selene was lying inside a cot.
Tonks' eyes widened as she peered over her with a breath of awe. "Oh! She's so small!"
Kat smiled genuinely, the first since her parents' death. "That she is. But she's perfect. Ten fingers, ten toes, two eyes and she's learning to smile."
"She's prrrrettty." Dora lengthened the word languorously.
"Yep, but she's got a good set of lungs on her." Paul informed her. "When she's upset, you know it."
Kat laughed, picking her daughter up from the cot and sitting down. "That we do. We've offered to put a Silencing Charm on your room, Paul, you know that."
He nodded, but shrugged. "I don't want to not hear her."
Kat looked at the wide-eyed Dora. Her hair had gone golden to match Selene's.
"Would you like to hold her?"
"Can I?"
Kat nodded. The cloud of gloom that had barely lifted since her parents' death was being slowly dispelled. It still hurt, but she was remembering the good things.
It was a good thing. All Sirius could say was that he was relieved that post-natal depression was extremely rare in witches (the body's natural magic helped their hormone levels get back to normal after birth).
"Sit here, Dora, next to me." Kat gestured.
Dora sat next to her, arms open. Carefully, Kathryn transferred Selene to the little girl's arms, positioning them to hold her comfortably.
"Support her head, she's not strong enough on her own yet." Kat advised. "Now you stay there while I get a camera."
Paul grinned, and began tickling Selene's stomach.
A few moments later, Kat entered with Sirius and Dora's parents.
"Oh, you two are so sweet, darling!" Andi cooed. "She's such a beautiful baby."
"Hopefully she'll stay that way and avoid taking after her daddy in looks." Kat teased.
Sirius looked like Christmas had come early. To hear Kat teasing him again… He quickly looked mock-offended and shocked.
"You mean you didn't marry me for my dashing good looks?" He asked.
"Of course not." Kat then smirked evilly. "I married you for your skill with a wand."
Sirius' eyes widened and he coloured. Dora was oblivious, Paul looked suspicious and Andi and Ted laughed at him.
Still, it was worth any embarrassment to hear Kat tease him again. He had loved her parents, but it was far more personal for her.
He put on a lofty expression. "Well, I do suppose my Stunner is remarkable."
There was a light in her eyes that bordered on lust as she approached him. "Wasn't that wand I was referring to." She told him huskily, pressing her body against him for a moment and giving him a searing kiss.
"Hey, hey!" Paul cried. "Innocent eyes here!" He tried to cover Dora and Selene's eyes.
Dora shook him off. "Don't be silly, Paul. Mummy and Daddy do that all the time. 'Specially at night with no clothes on."
Andi and Ted looked mortified, Sirius and Kat amused, and Paul horrified.
Ted marched forward. "Hush, damned child, hush!" He cried, covering her mouth.
Tonks frowned and wriggled, trying to get free.
Kat and Sirius began laughing.
And in those dark times, joy was had, wherever and whenever how small.
XXXXX
Neville, Harry and Selene's Blessings took place successively, starting on the thirtieth and stretching to the first of September.
Alice had asked Kat to be Neville's godmother, much to the young woman's surprise. However, Alice did not have many close friends, and she had become much closer to her fellow Aurors whilst they were pregnant.
Frank had asked his uncle to be his son's godfather, much to his uncle's pleasure and surprise. Agnes Longbottom looked at her brother with disapproval – he could be somewhat flaky and unreliable, and as such completely unsuited to his job as godfather, in her opinion. On the other hand, she approved of Kathryn, much to the younger woman's surprise.
Harry's godparents were, of course, Sirius and Kathryn, as they had been promised long ago. Kat made a silent promise to her godson that he would not suffer any more than necessary in the Dursleys' home, and she would get him out of there as soon as possible afterwards.
Selene was Blessed with Lily and James as godparents. James had solemnly promised to corrupt her as much as possible and raise her as Harry's sister. Lily had protested at this. Kat had pointed out that Selene was a blonde and, besides, she needs a big brother to look after her, but not related so she can tell him to stuff it. This had offended Jonah and Joseph, who lodged loud complaints.
Dumbledore had performed the ceremonies. Harry's and Selene's had both taken place at the Potters, being as Kathryn and Sirius' house wasn't big enough for the guests. Neville's had been at the Longbottom manor – Snapdragon Hall. It wasn't as old or as big as Griffin's Roost, but it held them very well.
Kat gave a soft smile as she sent her brother to school, and then on Hallowe'en.
'One year to go,' she thought. One last year.
Little did she know that somewhere else in Britain the last of six was conceived.
XXXXX
A/N:
I killed them! Aargh!
Oh well.
Little Tonks is cute, isn't she?
And the photo scene. Not what I wanted, but at least it's there. And I couldn't help but torment Moody!
Nearly the end now. Just two more chapters – One last year and Hallowe'en, 1988.
I've also got two different starts for Harry Potter and the Elemental Warriors. I think I'm going to go with the second one. Not only is the opening chapter about seven pages longer, it doesn't reveal so much to Harry (and Ginny). More, it's the little things. And Kat gets to have more fun in the space we see her. It's mainly from Harry's point of view with the odd scene based on the Order or in Grimmauld Place. Nothing from Kat's point of view.
To the person who asked, yes my name has a meaning. It's Welsh and it means 'below the water', as in below a lake on a hill or something. It was supposed to mean 'fire and water', but I got my Welsh grammar mixed up (fair, since I've not lived there since I was seven and I went to an English school anyway) - should have been Tanadwr. I couldn't be bothered changing it, so here we are! And tell your boyfriend how annoying it is to read over someone's shoulder. Or else do it to him in revenge!
I've got to write more. Aargh!
Lol, Tanydwr