Chapter One: The War Ends
A/N: Hey everyone. So first chapter of Book Two. Now, I've managed to get a job yay! So my time is really limited. This means that updates will not be very frequent but I will do my best to give them to you as soon as I can. Hope you enjoy this. This story will follow the plot of Prince Caspian.
No one really knows how they will deal with war and death until they are faced with it.
It's funny, really, how honourable serving ones' cause is made out to be when the reality is often so much different. The adult fighters, those who had never truly fought like the veterans, were liars. They said that it was just, that it was brave, that it was heroic. They were wrong. Oh, how they were wrong.
Kali gazed around the battlefield with a cold expression on her face. Around her, she was faced with the screams of the dying and the still bodies of both the young and old, her allies and enemies.
How did it come to this?
Many of the dead were children. Only children. Children who should never have been needed to fight. Children who should never have needed to die. Children, who were meant to be protected but instead had been used as cannon fodder for adults who much preferred to hide rather than fight the war that they should have ended decades before.
A fury unlike anything she had ever felt before rose up inside of her and Kali clenched her fists. Enough was enough.
"Potter." Moody limped up to the silent woman. Kali lifted her chin slightly to show her attention. "They're waiting for you." A sneer flittered across the woman's face before her stone expression reappeared.
"Show me." Her crisp, wintery tone was enough for a shiver to go down Moody's back. He said nothing else as he turned around and began to limp towards the school. He could sense the woman walking behind him on silent feet and winced. He remembered that day. The day that the ultimatum was given. The day that the war truly began once more.
Flashback Three years ago…
It wasn't more than twenty-four hours later that Kali received her answer in the form of Mad Eye Moody limping up her garden path. Opening the door before her 'family' could, she faced the veteran Auror with nothing more than a raised eyebrow.
"Well?" Moody grunted,
"You got what you wanted, Potter." He responded gruffly. "Dumbledore has agreed to train you." Kali nodded slowly,
"And his word that he will no longer attempt to manipulate and control me?"
"He will give it when you arrive at Headquarters." Moody answered. Kali tilted her head to the side,
"And my guarantee that he will not attempt to keep me there against my will once I arrive?" Something like approval gleamed in the Veteran's eye.
"He knows what will happen if he tries. It has been made exceedingly clear to Dumbledore and the rest of the Order about how screwed they would be if you decide not to fight. He won't try anything."
"Good." Kali nodded curtly, pleased that her Headmaster was finally understanding that she wasn't a pawn for him to play with. "Let's go." Moody blinked,
"Your things?" Kali simply patted her pocket.
"I've learnt a few wandless spells in the last few years." That was an understatement. Kali could cast just about any spell in her repertoire wandless thanks to her decades of practice in Narnia. Not that anyone knew that, of course. "Shall we?" In response, Moody merely grunted and offered his arm to her. Grasping it tightly, Kali inwardly prepared to be side apparated. It had been a long time since she had used this form of teleportation. In Narnia, she used 'poofing', a much easier and quieter version if not more eye catching with the smoke. A second later however, and they were gone.
Reappearing just before the wards of Hogwarts, Kali instantly let go of her escort and raised an eyebrow.
"Why here?" Honestly, could they be less subtle?
"After Black died, Dumbledore wasn't sure if our old headquarters was still secure." Moody answered, his tone slightly apologetic as he brought up her dead godfather. Little did he realise that she had gotten over and accepted his death many years previously. She merely nodded,
"It still is." She responded curtly, "I was his Heir and am now the Lady Black." Moody grumbled slightly, annoyed that no one had thought of that before moving out of Grimmauld Place.
"This way."
Moody led her past the wards and up to the school. Kali mentally greeted the ancient castle as Hogwarts welcomed her home. She was glad that at least one thing stayed the same. Even after spending so many years in Narnia, Kali still thought of Hogwarts as home.
"How many people are part of the Order now?" She questioned as they made their way swiftly towards the Great Hall.
"Just over thirty now." Moody responded. "We managed to recruit several more Aurors after the Dark Lord revealed himself. Kali just nodded. Thirty was pitiful, if she said so herself. Out of the thousands of adults that lived in the Wizarding World, only thirty could be bothered to fight? It was information like this that made her question whether the Wizarding World was worth saving in the first place.
Reaching the Great Hall. Kali didn't hesitate and she pushed the doors open and strode in. Instantly, everyone within the hall fell silent as they watched her from their seats. Kali inwardly sneered at the 'round table' they were all sitting at. As though they were anywhere near similar to King Arthur and his Court.
"Headmaster." She greeted Dumbledore curtly as she came to a stop behind an empty chair opposite him.
"Kali, my dear girl." Dumbledore returned joyfully though his eyes watched the girl cautiously. Kali was different, that much he could see, but whether that was simply because of what happened during the last school year or something else, he wasn't sure.
"You will address me as either Lady or Miss Potter going forward, Headmaster." Kali rebutted sharply, "You lost the right to speak so familiarly with me when your actions led to the consequences of last year." Dumbledore nodded solemnly,
"Of course."
Kali gazed around at the rest of the Order. Some, were looking at her in disbelief, others, with anger. That didn't surprise her. They no doubt expected her to listen to their so called wisdom and shut up otherwise. Too bad that she wasn't the girl they thought they knew.
"Just as arrogant as your father, Potter." Snape sneered, glaring at the insolent girl. Kali turned to him,
"For the last time, Snape, I never knew my father, thanks to you." Immediately, Snape's face turned ashen.
"Miss Potter?" Dumbledore stared at the teen, alarmed. How did she know that? Kali blinked before a cold smile appeared on her face,
"The goblins are simply a fountain of information. It is amazing what they know and what they are willing to share. It is another mark against you, Headmaster, that you didn't inform me yourself that it was Snape who shared the Prophecy to Voldemort." Several of the Order gasped and shivered as the Dark Lord's name was used. Wimps.
"I'm sorry, Miss Potter." Dumbledore spoke quietly, "But that information was kept secret for good reason, to protect a good man." Kali laughed coldly,
"Him!?" She gestured disdainfully at the frozen form of Snape. "That man is vile and hateful. He is a bully and a murderer. In what world he is good?" She demanded hatefully. Dumbledore shifted slightly, concerned about the sheer killing intent he could feel coming from Kali. He was more certain than ever that the Horcrux was influencing her.
"As soon as he realised his mistake, he worked to fix it. He warned me of Voldemort's intention and so I was able to warn your parents in turn. He has also worked as a spy for the Order since." Kali scoffed,
"And what information has he provided that has been useful? Death Eater targets? Their location? Names?"
Many of those around the table shifted uncertainly as the argument continued. Kali was raising some very good points. Snape hadn't actually given all that much in terms of information and what he had given had turned out to be out of date. Dumbledore started at that, they hadn't gotten much new intelligence since Voldemort returned.
"I told you, I am still earning his trust back." Snape drawled, finally snapping out of his shock. "It was suspicious that I managed to escape a sentence to Azkaban whilst so many did not."
"Convenient." Kali sneered, finally taking a seat at the table. "Tell me, Snape, did you mind rape me on Voldemort's orders or simply because you are that much of a sick bastard?" She changed tack as she saw several adults nod in agreement. Before she agreed to work with the Order she was going to get rid of Snape. He was a lose end and a potential spy for Voldie. Another uproar erupted at that as several drew their wand and aimed at Snape. Good.
"ENOUGH!" Dumbledore called furiously, standing up himself. "Explain, Miss Potter." Kali straightened her spine as she stared coldly at the Potion's Master.
"It was during the so-called Occlumency lessons you forced on me." She stated evenly, "His instructions, if you could call them that, was to order me to 'clear my mind' before he cast Legilimens at me." Dumbledore glared furiously at Snape,
"SEVERUS SNAPE!" He thundered. Snape swallowed but continued to sneer,
"It is not my fault that the girl failed that basic instruction."
"That is not how you teach Occlumency, and you know it!" Snapped McGonagall, finally joining in. "How many times did you do this?"
"Up to ten times a session for the whole academic year," Kali answered for him emotionlessly.
"That's it!" McGonagall turned to Dumbledore, "You either get him out of this school or I will. I will not allow a mind rapist around children!" Dumbledore had nothing to counter her. What Severus had done was so far over the line that not even his forgiving nature could tolerate it.
"Severus Snape, as Headmaster of Hogwarts, I hereby strip you of your position of Potion's Master and Head of Slytherin indefinitely. You may never take up a position in this school again. So mote it be."
"NO!" Snape howled as a sickly wave of magic erupted from him as his tether to the school was ripped apart. Breathing deeply, he fixed his glare on Kali, "You!" He snarled, drawing his wand, and firing off a spell before anyone could stop him.
Having expected it, Kali tipped her chair backwards before rolling to her feet smoothly, drawing her wand in the same movement. Without a word, she shot a spell back before the Potion Master could react. Albus, and the rest of the Order, watched in stunned horror as Snape was thrown back as the spell hit. Blood spurted out of his body as it hit the ground. Everyone there knew he was dead.
"Kali," Dumbledore whispered, horror filling his gaze as he turned his attention to the girl who was staring impersonally at the body, her wand held at the ready in her grip.
"Headmaster." She returned evenly.
"You killed him." She smiled thinly,
"He was in the process of attempting to do the same to me." Her tone remained even, "I merely achieved my goal before he did."
"You didn't need to kill him." Dumbledore rebutted firmly, his grip tightening on his wand. Kali's smile became colder,
"Yes, I did." Her reply was simple. "This is why you almost lost the last war, Headmaster." Her eyes drifted around to everyone so that they knew her words were to them all. "You refused to use lethal spells against the Death Eaters. Death Eaters, may I remind, who were murdering, raping and torturing everyone they considered the enemy. So many died before I stopped Voldemort because you refused to do what needed to be done. This time, I refuse to let it get that far. I refuse to give those bastards another chance to inflict more damage and pain to the innocent."
"We are not killers, Miss Potter!" Dumbledore thundered, his kind 'grandfather' persona nowhere to be seen. Kali blinked, not intimidated at all.
"Yes, you are." Dumbledore started at that, his anger leaving him momentarily. "You are the murderers of the innocents who died after the Death Eaters were given a second chance and squandered it. You had the chance to save them and refused, because you thought they could still be redeemed. Or, because you didn't want physical blood on your hands." Her eyes turned to ice as she hissed at him, "Wake up!" Her tone was cold enough that many shivered, "You are at war, Dumbledore. Being a pacifist will not do anything other than ensure you lose with the highest casualty rate."
A stunned silence followed her words as each adult took in what she said. Kali watched them carefully. A few, like Moody and Tonks, were nodding grimly. They understood and agreed with what she said. Others, like Molly and Lupin, were staring at her in shocked horror and fear. They were the cowards. The ones who didn't want to believe that the world wasn't black and white.
"You have a choice." Her tone continued to be cold, but it was quieter. "You can either continue as you have and die, or you can wake up and fight. I will be doing the second option, but you have to choose yourself."
"I'm with you, lassie." Moody was the first to speak as he limped to her side with a firm nod. "Me too." Tonks added, following her mentor. The rest of the Aurors were next to join her. Nine had joined her thus far. Out of thirty.
"You have a point, Miss Potter." McGonagall stated grimly, "I may dislike the notion of killing another, but I cannot deny that the Death Eaters deserve it."
"Minerva." Dumbledore murmured in shock as he watched his second in command leave his side.
"Don't, Albus." She held up a hand, "Miss Potter is correct. We cannot expect to win if we are too afraid to permanently stop the Death Eaters." He had no rebuttal for that.
Most of the Order, in the end, agreed with her stance. Only Dumbledore's staunchest supporters, namely Molly and Dodge, stood by the wizened old Headmaster.
"You do not need to kill yourself, Headmaster, if you do not have the stomach for it." Kali stated, staring straight at him, "But you do have to step aside and allow others to do so. You cannot forbid us not too." Dumbledore stared at the girl for a long moment before nodding slowly.
"Agreed." He spoke reluctantly. Kali ignored his reluctance as she righted her chair and sat down. Gesturing slightly, she watched as the rest retook their seats before speaking up once more,
"Well then. Let's plan then, shall we?"
End of Flashback
Kali followed Moody into the Great Hall which was packed. It was full of the survivors and those who 'turned up' as the war was won. Most inside were the second group. Ministry workers and adult civilians, those who had been content to either hide away in their homes and wait for others to fight for them, or those who had been happy to live under the rule of the Death Eaters. Three years. Almost three years to the day she had effectively taken over the Order of the Phoenix did the war finally end.
The crowds fell silent as they realised, she had entered. They parted like the Red Sea as she strode up to the dais, Moody slipping into the crowds, unobserved.
She nodded to the fighters that she saw as she walked. Those who were still bloody and exhausted. Those who had loved and lost but still fought on because they knew if they didn't then the world as they knew it would be destroyed. Her heart hurt for the child soldiers that littered the crowds. Those whose innocence had been destroyed. Her fury only increased the more she saw. Reaching the dais, she stopped, took a deep breath, before spinning tightly on her heel.
"It is due to the bravery of a select few of the Wizarding World, that I can say that the war is over." She emphasised, 'few' but her meaning still managed to be lost as the crowds erupted into cheers at the news. Her eyes, to those who looked, clearly showed her hatred and disdain. "Enough!" Her cold voice cut through the noise with ease, and everyone quietened down quickly.
"For most of the people in this hall, you have my eternal scorn." A mutter of unease spread through them, many looked up uncertain as to where she was going whilst many others looked outraged. "Seventy-two adults fought for this world and against tyranny. One hundred and eighty-seven children fought for this world and against tyranny. Thirty-one of those adults are dead. One hundred and thirteen of those children are dead." She paused and glared at them. "And you think you get to celebrate as though you accomplished something!?" Many of the adults looked away, unable to meet her gaze as her point hit home. "You disgust me." Kali shook her head, "I honour those who fought, and I grieve for those we lost but the Wizarding World at large will forever hold my disdain. Three years we fought and died. Fought and died whilst most of you were content to cower or live under Voldemort's role." She could see that every word she spoke was hitting home and was glad for it. Someone had to say it. Someone had to speak up and tell them that their behaviour was not tolerated.
"Get out." Her words stunned them. "For those who fought and are injured, you may stay. Hogwarts welcomes you always. The rest of you? Get out. You spit on those who spilt their blood to defend you. None of you deserve to be here. Go home, where you were so content to remain whilst children died screaming for you." It was that last sentence that struck them the most. And it was that last sentence that made the majority of them leave without an argument.
Kali watched, along with the remaining fighters as most of the crowd left. There were a few dozen that remained stubbornly to their spots.
"Do you need individual invitations?" She asked coldly with a raised eyebrow.
"You have no right to kick us out of Hogwarts, girlie!" One yelled, clenching his fists. Ah, a pureblood no doubt. One who probably had a privileged position under Voldemort's regime.
"I am Lady of three Ancient and Most Noble Houses. I am the saviour," she spat out the word, "of the Wizarding World, General of the Phoenix Order and Destroyer of Voldemort." Every word was matched by a single step forwards until she was mere inches from him. "I earned the right to kick you out when you did nothing when children were dying in your place. You may think being a pureblood gives you rights that the rest of us do not, but make no mistake, you are wrong." She snarled, her wand appearing in her hand before she dug it under his chin,
"Now, I am going to give you one chance to leave this place under you own power or I will show you the power that Voldemort did know not."
The man had gotten steadily paler as she went on. The fact that he was outpowered was hitting home in his privileged brain. Nodding frantically, he turned tail and ran. Straightening up she glared at the rest of the remainders. "Anyone else care to question my decision?" In response, she got many shakes of the head and they quickly left the hall.
When the last had fled, she relaxed slightly and turned to the survivors. "You did yourselves and future generations proud." She told them firmly, "Once everyone had rested and seen to injuries, I would invite you all for a last meal together. To commemorate our fallen and to celebrate our achievement." Quiet murmurs of agreement greeted her words and she smiled at them, a genuine one that had be oh so rare since she returned from Narnia. "Excellent. If you need help, let me know." Her words were both an invite and a dismissal and they all heard it. Most dispersed, off to their secure bunks in the dungeons or the Room of Requirement. Only five children remained, ages ranging from thirteen to fifteen. The youngest, Kyle, had been one of the last new students permitted into Hogwarts two years ago. After that, the decision had been made that muggleborn pupils would not be invited for their own safety. After all, Hogwarts had been attacked daily by Voldemort's forces since Kali had gone on the offensive shortly after her sixth year had started.
"Kyle." She knelt so that she could be on more of an even footing with him. "What's wrong?" In answer, he merely pulled up his shirt to reveal an array of dark bruising. Frowning slightly, Kali gently placed her hand on his stomach before sending out a pulse of magic. Her frown deepened as she received the results; three broken ribs and several other cracked ones. "I need you to lie down, Kyle." She told him calmly. In response, the boy merely obeyed, lying down on a mattress that Kali conjured. The other children were silent as they watched their general heal Kyle. After Poppy died during the second year, Kali had become their most skilled healer. She never said where she learnt in, much like she kept secret all her knowledge that she shouldn't have known.
The cracks were easy to heal, unfortunately, the broken ribs were harder. She had to be careful that they healed in the correct position whilst also permanently conjuring tiny pieces of rib bones in order to mould the pieces together. Finally, she relaxed and stepped back. With a nod, she helped Kyle sit up slowly. "Be careful." She warned sternly, "No heavy lifting for two days at least and no jumping or running either."
"Yes, Kali." The boy murmured quietly. Kali merely ruffled his hair in response before gesturing for the next kid to step up. The other children had a variety of injuries from cuts and bruises to spell damage. Kali was just glad that they had the knowledge she'd learnt in Narnia to back her up. There was no way she would have been able to heal most of the damage if it hadn't been for her trip there. Nodding finally, when the last child was healed she gazed at them all,
"Go rest. Take it easy all you and remember that you may come to me if you need to."
"Yes, Kali." They murmured before leaving the hall.
Kali watched them go as she allowed her body to slump. Finally, it was over. Rubbing her neck, she gazed around at the damaged hall. Her wards, of which she had added to Hogwarts original ones, had lasted more than two years before they fell. It was only in the last two months that Death Eaters had managed to enter Hogwarts grounds and only a week since they had managed to penetrate the castle walls itself. A week had been enough for them to causes lasting damages to the ancient castle. Scorch marks littered the walls and floor. The Gryffindor table was nothing more than a hunk of gold metal, having been used as a defensive wall by several rather ingenious fifth years. She wondered what the years to follow would have in stall for her. Didn't she deserve peace now? Hadn't she done enough?
A cough interrupted her thoughts and she automatically stiffened. Spinning round, Kali instantly called her wand to her hand, ready to fire a spell if needed. It wasn't, much to both individual's relief.
"Professor." Kali greeted with a slight inclination of her head, "Did you need something?" Professor McGonagall looked sadly at the young woman before her. If Kali had been closed off before the war started, then it was nothing to what she was like now. The girl did nothing that did not have a strategic reason behind it that would benefit either herself or her allies in some way.
"Miss Granger was asking for you." She replied solemnly, "I am afraid she does not have long." Kali's eyes widened slightly, her only reaction. Hermione had been hit with one of the darkest curses known to Wizard Kind, nasty thing that not only drained the life out of the victim but also forced their own magic to turn on them. Hermione, quite literally, had had her body destroyed from the inside out by her own magic. It was a horrific fate and not one that anyone could counter. Not even her.
"Where?" She demanded, striding over.
"Room of Requirement," McGonagall answered softly. Kali said nothing more before she moved swiftly out of the hall.
Sprinting through the halls, dodging debris and the odd individual that didn't wish to rest, Kali felt as though the last of her heart was shattering. Hermione. Her best friend was the only one she had left from her year group. Ron had died in the first year of the war. Lost in rage after finding out that his sister Ginny had been killed, Ron had left the safety of Hogwarts against all advice. He had taken down three Death Eaters before she was struck down himself. It was then that Kali and Hermione had resolved to only rely on each other. No one else was allowed to get close to them. Neither wanted to feel that pain again. She should have realised that being so close to even one person was a mistake.
Bursting through the doors, Kali ignored everyone as she headed straight for her best friend.
"Hermione." She whispered as she took a seat at the ashen faced girl's side. Grabbing her frail hand, Kali lifted it gently to her chest, holding it there as she reassured herself that Hermione was still alive. If barely.
"Kali." Hermione breathed, opening her eyes slowly as though even that small gesture was exhausting. "You came." Kali swallowed,
"Wouldn't miss it." She responded gently, all her walls down as she stared guiltily at her dying sister. Hermione smiled at that.
"Did we do it?" Kali nodded,
"We did." She replied softly, knowing that her sister didn't have long. Already, whatever strength she had left was fading rapidly. She had minutes. "We won, Sister." Hermione slumped slightly with a relieved sigh, her eyes briefly closing.
"Good." She whispered. Kali's heart broke at the deathly image that was the smartest witch of their age. "Good." She repeated. "I can go then. See them again." She opened her eyes and stared up at Kali with exhausted eyes. "I'm sorry to leave you, Kali."
Kali let out a small sob as she shook her head,
"No." She responded furiously, "You have nothing to apologise for, Hermione." She told Hermione firmly before she brought the cold hand to her lips and kissed it, "You've been in pain long enough." She whispered gently, "Rest, Sister. Be at peace." She watched as Hermione smiled sadly before closing her eyes one last time. Kali waited but one more minute as Hermione's breathing slowed until she stopped forever. Getting up, she leaned over the still form and kissed her gently on the forehead, "May Aslan greet you warmly, Sister." She murmured quietly before standing up. Turning away, she gazed up as everyone else in the room stared pityingly at her. Instantly, her walls came back up.
"Prepare her for burial." She ordered emotionlessly before striding out of the room. No one attempted to follow, not even Professor McGonagall who could only watch her last Lion leave with tears in her eyes. They all knew that the last piece of Kali that they had known prior to the War, was gone.
