Howdy there. Here's a two for one. A double dose, if you will. I'm giving ya a nice big feast before a fast. Well, my surgery is tomorrow, and as much as I love writing, it'll be on hold for at least 2 weeks. Sorry, but I'll be wallowing around in lucidity in my bed high or narcotic pain killers. What a treat, I tell you what. So make me feel better by leaving me lots and lots of nice reviews eh? YES REVIEWS DAMMIT! Do it! Thanks, as always, for your support. – Bex
Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter (but oh! if I did... ahem... anyway ... ) nor any of the other people or wizarding world. Just my amazing character of Kathryn Adara Riddle. Everything and everyone else is the brilliance of J.K Rowling. I'm not worthy! I'm not worthy!
CHAPTER TEN : What Goes Up ...
"I'm
so glad I've found this
I'm so glad I did
People are fragile
things, you should know by now
Be careful what you put them
through
People are fragile things, you should know by now
You'll
speak when you're spoken to
It breaks when you don't force it
It
breaks when you don't try"
"Munich" Editors
X
Kat was so immersed into Hogwarts, A History Harry hardly got a word in. She batted her hand at him, in a much Hermione-like fashion if he attempted to bother her. So when he put a hand on her shoulder to tell her goodbye for his meeting with Scrimgeour, all he got was a slight grunt and mumbled "see ya later". He sighed as he turned from her. Hermione caught his eye when he made his way to the portrait hole.
"Good luck." she mouthed to him. He smiled and waved.
"Come in Harry." McGonagall's sharp voice pierced through the heavy oak door. As he entered the room he saw Rufus Scrimgeour, Alastor Moody and of course Dumbledore's portrait. But Harry had to do a double take as he saw Dumbledore staring intently at Sali.
"Good evening Harry." Scrimgeour's yellowish eyes held Harry's cold ones for a moment.
"Evening." he said tersely, remembering their last meeting after Dumbledore's funeral.
"Harry, I want to apologize for getting off on the wrong foot with you." Scrimgeour started. But Harry waved the words away.
"What is it that you want." he said bluntly.
"I want to cooperate with you. And your plans to destroy Voldemort." his yellow eyes lit up and he stood to his full height.
"Oh." Harry said, taken aback. "Well, er..." he stuttered, attempting to find something intelligent to say.
"Indeed." Dumbledore said. "Harry, I know that you and Rufus had a difficult time getting acquainted with each other, but please, for my sake, be as helpful as possible in Rufus' qualms."
"Yes sir." Harry said mutely.
"So, you may be wondering what you're doing here." Dumbledore smiled. Harry nodded. "Well, we, as in all five of us," he gestured to Sali, "were worried that you are distracted."
"From what?" he said dumbly.
"Precisely." Moody muttered.
"No really! What?" Harry said.
"Perhaps the destruction of He Who Must Not Be Named!" McGonagall said shrilly.
"Oh." he mumbled. "I'm not distracted." he said indignantly.
"What about Miss Riddle?" she said standing.
"What about her?" he said, smiling at the thought of Kat's purr of a laugh.
"You've spent nearly 3 months searching for her, not bothering doing anything else." she retorted.
"Well, I believe that as she is a horcrux, she is a major part of the plan. And now that she's safe here with me – us, I can concentrate on the other horcruxes." Harry said.
"Good that you think that." Moody mumbled to himself.
"Well, Harry. I'm glad that you believe Kathryn is safe here." Dumbledore said.
"What's that mean?" Harry demanded spinning around to face the golden portrait.
"We'll discuss that later, once we're on our own." Dumbledore said.
"Fine." Harry said breathing deeply to regain his temper.
"Potter, we caught a break this morning." Moody barked, making nearly everyone jump.
"What's that Mad-Eye?" Harry asked.
"We got three captives, only two dead. Muggles mind you, but deaths none the less." he cleared his throat. "The three cowering idiots let us in on a little secret that the Dark Lord won't be too keen on us having."
"And that is?" Harry said leaning towards the seasoned Auror.
"He's got loads of beasts on his side."
"Yeah, I thought we already knew that though." Harry blurted. Moody's face fell a bit but Dumbledore stepped in.
"We knew he has beasts Harry, just not specifically which ones."
"Right." Moody said, gaining his composure again. "So anyway, he's got a Specimorphagus."
"Wow." Harry said.
"Yeah, and loads of dementors, acromantulas, some goblins, some giants, vampires, werewolves, couple of dragons and a manticore." he said in a hushed tone.
"Manticore?" Harry said, shocked. "How did he get his hands on one of those?"
"Noone knows." Moody said. "But what we do know is that we need to keep our eyes open, even more so now that we know what he has in his hands." Harry shook his head in approval.
"Perhaps we should alert the media, or let the people know how to defend themselves against these creatures?" Scrimgeour spoke up.
"Precisely." Dumbledore said. "Can you see that it happens Rufus?"
"I'll see to it Albus." He nodded, checked his pocket watch and then turned to Harry. "Well, Harry, I want you to know that I am indeed on your side. Keep that in mind next time I ask a favor from you." he gave one last nod at Dumbledore before limping from the room.
"I'll be off as well Albus." Moody said. "Lots to do with those sniveling bastards." he grinned in a sick sort of way before following Scrimgeour out of the door.
"Thank you Alastor." Dumbledore said. "Minerva, will you see to it that the gentlemen get to the gates without problem. They both have a slight disability in their walking apparatuses."
"Absolutely Albus." she nodded curtly at Harry before leaving them alone.
"So, what's this about Kat not being safe here." Harry blurted as soon as the door was closed.
"It's not so much that she's not safe here, as much as she's not safe anywhere."
"So what does that mean?" Harry locked eyes with Dumbledore.
"Harry," he said after a moment. "I don't think it's a good idea for you and Miss Riddle to have a relationship."
"What? Why?" Harry asked aghast, one because he didn't think Dumbledore knew about it, and two because he didn't think that he would care.
"This afternoon Severus received an owl from Wormtail, it was urgent that he come to Voldemort's aide. Apparently earlier this morning Voldemort had an... an episode and Severus had to cure him."
"A what?"
"He had a sort of convulsion, about the same time Miss Riddle and yourself were on the lake."
"Oh..." he said blushing, remembering that moment(s). "So, what does that mean then? I can cause Voldemort pain when I kiss Kat?" he said brightening at the thought.
"No, it means you send out a signal, a beacon if you will, to Voldemort. Never forget Harry, that you have a connection with Voldemort."
"I also have a connection with Kat." Harry sighed. "Why do you think that is Professor, when I'm around her I feel like I've known her for years?"
"Perhaps she reminds you of someone you already know?" Harry thought for a moment.
"She's totally unique. I don't know anyone like her." Dumbledore's eyes twinkled merrily regarding Harry.
"If you're sure." he said.
"Yeah," Harry began to get up. "Professor." he stopped.
"Yes Harry."
"I'd like permission to go to Diagon Alley tomorrow, Kat needs a wand and some robes, plus I need to withdrawal from Gringotts."
"Yes, Miss Riddle will be needing some supplies, you may go, but you must be extremely careful, Voldemort's spies are everywhere nowadays, especially from the news we just discovered. Keep your wand at hand."
"Yes sir." he began to leave again. "Professor."
"Yes Harry."
"Er– well, is her grandmother alive... and was she muggle?"
"The answer to both of your questions is no." Dumbledore sighed sadly. "Ione O' Tréan was a pure blood from a very high Irish family, she fell in love with Tom in Hogwarts, apparently she knew not of the evil that was constantly eating away at Tom." he paused. "I think she didn't want to know about the happenings when she and him weren't together intimately." he paused again. "McKayla was born the same year your father, mother, and of course Sirius. Voldemort did not know he had a daughter for roughly twenty years, and when he did discover he did in fact have a daughter, he did not care."
"When did he start to care?"
"I don't exactly know, probably about the time when he discovered about horcruxes, but I do know that the night before McKayla was murdered so was Ione."
"Should I tell Kat all this?"
"You can if you think she can understand and cope with it."
"I don't reckon she can, she has a heavy load on her, she got pushed into our world, and is being sort of cast out because of it. I can only help her so much. You should see her reading Hogwarts, A History, it's amazing how fast she can read, I've only seen one other --"
"Harry." he interrupted his ramblings about her. "I need to tell you once more, control your emotions with Kathryn, it's imperative, you may think not, but the connection between the two of you is dark magic."
"What?" he said shocked.
"Yes, it was created at the same moment that the link with Voldemort was.
"How?"
"Well all parent have a special bond with their children, and the moment that it was forged with you it immediately connected you to his offspring, Kathryn." Harry stood there for a moment letting that sink in. "I know you may think it trivial, but this indeed is very serious Harry, do not let your emotions get the better of you, nor your hormones." Dumbledore's non twinkling eyes caught Harry's sternly. " I know I've said this already many times this years, but I need to impress upon the usefulness of Occlumency. Kathryn is here for safety, not to be put into further danger by your – relationship. Do you understand?"
"Yes sir." he turned abruptly and left the room. He made his way briskly to the prefect's bathroom. "Greenleaf." Harry said through gritted teeth as he charged into the marble room and stopped. With all the fury that he held in his being, he unleashed it on the bench, mirrors, towels, water taps, and sinks that were in the bathroom. He sank to his knees from exhaustion putting his head in his hands, he finally cleared his mind of everything including the pain that was chasing through him. The one time he was truly happy to be with a girl, and not he is told that he can no longer feel the things that he's never felt. He finally got up, cleaned the damage that he caused, and woefully started his journey to his dormitory.
XX
"Oi, Kathryn." a loud voice broke the sweet slumber I was partaking in. "Oi, Harry says you need to get up and meet him in the common room." Parvati, the pretty, annoying, Indian girl stood over me.
"How come he's not here?" I asked groggily.
"Well, for starters its against the rules to be up here, not that it's stopped him from seeing Hermione before." she said gazing at herself in the mirror making sure every hair was in place.
"Yeah but here was with me yesterday." I said rolling out of be and throwing up my hair in a messy pony tail.
"Yeah but things change don't they?" she said putting on huge dangling gold earrings.
"Whatever." I muttered slipping on my jeans under Harry's shirt (which, have I mentioned smells delicious).
"Yeah whatever, he said he's wait up for you by the fire." she said, and with one last fleeting glance at herself in the mirror, she was gone. I threw on my undershirt and a Hogwarts sweater, then strapped on my shoes. My stomach rumbled as I navigated myself down to the common room.
"Hello there." I said coming very close to him and opened my face, expecting a kiss. But when I didn't receive one I looked up into his eyes and was shocked to see no warmth in them. The frigid green balls scanned my face and then pulled away and found something else to freeze.
"Good morning, I got permission to go to Diagon Alley to get your supplies." he said mechanically.
"What kinda supplies?" I said solemnly sitting down.
"Well, robes, a wand, just normal supplies... we could get you some regular clothes also." he said, almost sounding like himself.
"Awesome." I said getting up, hoping that I was just imagining his coldness, hoping that at any moment he would kiss me.
"Indeed, off to breakfast, then we'll apparate to Diagon Alley from Hogsmede."
"Whatever you say." I said not fully understanding him. I saw a flicker of a grin, but even before I could blink it was gone. He picked up a cloak and handed it to me.
"You may want this, I shrunk it to fit you better, it's going to be cold to you out there."
"Thanks darlin'." I said taking it, and looked into his face, a glimmer of pain flashed across as he avoided my eyes.
"No problem, let's go." I had to almost jog to catch up to him as he made his way down seven flights of stairs and into the breakfast hall. "Let's eat fast so we can get to Diagon Alley early." he said sitting down and started piling his plate with eggs, toast, and bacon.
"Alright."
"Right, you ready?" Harry asked as I set my empty goblet down about ten minutes later (through agonizing silence).
"Righto." I said standing, still confused my his distantness.
X
"OY! HARRY!" a loud voice called from the right, the familiar Three Broomsticks.
"Morning George." Harry steered Kat over to the stocky red head.
"I'm not George, I'm Fred." the twin said indignantly.
"Don't give me that load of waffle, honestly, I've known you two for six years, don't expect me to not know the difference."
"Oh, well bugger, you buggered it up. OY FRED! HARRY'S HERE!" he bellowed into the pub. "Wait a tic, why aren't you at school? You lot don't get let out for Hogsmede for another three hours. Cheers mate! Sneaking out... taking a leaf out of our book are you? And with a bird no less..." his brown eyes surveyed Kat. "Enchantè mademoiselle." he said extravagantly bowing, taking her hand, and kissing it sloppily. Kat was giggling throatily, when Fred stepped out into the blustery day.
"Hullo Harry, Hermio--" he stopped and gawked down at her.
"Forgive my brother, he'll need a bucket for his drool soon. Oy Fred! Stop being so bloody rude."
"Er, hello." he said clearing his throat, "And you are?"
"Just the question I was going to ask." ejaculated George.
"This is Kat from America..."
"The dream girl?" the twins said together.
"Yup, that's me fellas." she smiled.
"So Harry, why are you here early?" Fred said raising his eyebrows at Kat.
"Oh, don't be daft," he said. "We were going to Diagon Alley to get Kat some supplies."
"Oh, brilliant." George said.
"Take a toffee for the road?" Fred asked sweetly to Kat holding out a fat buttered colored candy with a white center.
"We'd rather not." Harry said urgently taking Kat's outstretched hand, but quickly dropped it.
"Party pooper." they said together, as Fred stowed the Ton Tongue Toffee back into his green dragon skin jacket. "Well how about a Skiving Snackbox then?" Fred said.
"We've added two new flavors." George said.
"That may become useful." Harry said taking the small purple box, thinking how boring History could be. "Cheers! We have to run though. We may see you later today if we get done early."
"Until then." the twins grinned at Kat.
"Nice meetin' ya'll." she beamed up at the them.
"And you."
"Au Revoir!" George said taking her hand again.
"He's been practicing on his French ever since Fleur's friends have been working at Gringotts." Harry grinned.
"C'est bon, mais, vous accents ont besoin de l'aide. Aider beaucoup! " Kat said. George turned red, but Harry turned and continued walking down the road until it was secluded.
That's good, but, your accent needs much help. Much help indeed.
X
"Alright here we are." Harry said quickly separating himself from Kat as they arrived in the alleyway behind the Leaky Cauldron. Kat looked skeptically up at him, but he was attempting to find the right brick. "Three up . . . two across," he muttered tapping the correct brick with his wand. "Welcome to Diagon Alley." he said emitting Kat before him, as the bricks shifted themselves into an archway.
"Wow." was all Kat managed to say as she walked the cobbled street.
"What do you want to do first?"
"Well Hell, what am I allowed to do?" she grinned up at him, and he attempted not to smile back. "I mean, what are we here for?"
"To get your supplies for Hogwarts, so you can choose from a cauldron, a wand, some robes, dragon hide gloves, er . . . a telescope, brass scales . . . and er . . . one last thing, oh. Phials!" he finished the list. "But we have to go to Gringotts first, the bank." He added before she could ask.
"Well," she paused looking at the shops, and suddenly she stopped. "Oh Harry! Can I get a pet?" her eyes shone so brightly that Harry's harsh facade faltered.
"Alright." with an ecstatic shriek she seized his arm and drug him into the Magical Menagerie.
"I've always wanted a cat, but Aunt Mags claimed that she was allergic. Load of shit I always thought." she continued rambling as she surveyed the wall of cages.
"Can I help you with anything?" a gaunt woman asked behind the counter.
"Yes please, she's looking of a cat."
"A cat? Just a plain cat? Or a kneazle?"
"This one!" Kat gushed holding a spotted gray cat with large ears and a huge fluffy tail.
"A kneazle mix then, I'll have him crated and shipped."
"To Hogwarts, thanks very much." Harry payed the witch out of his pocket money. As they walked back out into the sunlight, Kat seemed to be floating she was so happy.
"Thanks Harry!" she squealed hugging him.
"You're welcome." he said hugging her back, temporarily forgetting himself. As he took in the scent of her hair, he remembered that he was no longer supposed to be happy and removed himself from her. "Let's get to Gringotts, we have loads to do today."
X
"Harry!" Hermione waved him down across the crowded pub.
"Hey, 'Mione." he said grinning, lugging two of Kat's bags into the booth forcing Kat and Hermione to sit across from him. "Where's Ron?"
"Suckin' face with that girl over there." Kat answered with a slight giggle, Hermione's eyes also shown with mirth.
"Meagan?" Harry asked.
"Yeah, its about time too, they've only been dancing about it for ages." Hermione sighed contently, as if a great weight has been lifted off of her. "It was hard work, but someone had to do it."
"And quite a good job you did Miss Granger." Harry grinned as he signaled over for three butterbeers. He sighed in relief. He was concerned that Ron and Hermione were going to have a relationship. He thought how awkward it would be if the two of them were actually together, and then, as it was inevitable, after the breakup, it would be even more unbearable. He preferred them bickering rather than them having a relationship.
"Did you play Cupid?" Kat asked.
"Obviously." Hermione scoffed.
"Just tryin' to keep up there Polly Anna, simma down." Kat said putting her hands up. Hermione caught Harry's eye, he gave her a hard glare, and she dropped the subject.
"Three butterbeers." Madam Rosmerta slammed the frosted glasses on the table. "On the house Mr. Potter." she winked at him as she pranced away in her high heels.
"You're amazed every time she does that. Just drink up and appreciate it." Hermione said following her own advice.
"I don't want to get free stuff just because I'm famous."
"Believe me Harry, that's only part of it."
"She's got the hots for ya darlin'." Kat said. Harry blushed and feebly protested but the girls persisted.
"Honestly Harry." they said at the same time. A spark flew through their eyes as they glared at each other, but Harry couldn't help himself as he laughed.
"Oi!" a loud voice broke the awkward moment.
"Hullo Ron." Harry said still grinning.
"Hello all." a girl said brightly. She has long honey colored hair that hung in her golden eyes perfectly, giving her a tussled sexy look.
"Hello Meagan."
"Hi, sorry to bother you Hermione, but I was wondering if you could help me with our Arithmancy work that's due Wednesday?" her gilded eyes lit up hopefully.
"Of course." Hermione nodded.
"Wicked." Meagan grinned and tugged the red-head away, Ron waved absent-mindedly over his shoulder.
"Ya'll are speakin' in tongues. I have no idea what you're talkin' 'bout." Kat said looking sad.
"Likewise." Hermione said, as she drained her butterbeer and left the table. "See you at dinner." she said to Harry.
"Everyone's in such a chipper mood today." Kat said sarcastically, her facade of fortitude shrouded her eyes. Harry almost forgot himself and reached for her hand, but caught himself and reached for a napkin instead. "Why are you doing this Harry?" she slammed her hand down on the napkin that he was attempting to attain. Her eyes swam with grief, Harry realized that it was causing her as much pain as it was him to be so distant.
"I – I–."
"Oi Harry!" FLASH! Colin Creevey's face popped from behind the camera.
"I'll get it developed straight away." he grinned.
"Now you can take yourself straight away." Kat said rubbing the spots from the eyes. Colin laughed shrilly as he turned to go. Kat looked to Harry for explanation, her expression was hard.
"You wanted to see the library right?" he said standing, remembering (woefully) those hours on the lake yesterday.
"That's not answerin' my question." she said not moving.
"No, but it'll answer other questions." he said grabbing the bags and started to walk away. Kat smashed her fist on the table as she got up and followed him out of the crowded bar.
X
"Saints alive!" Kat gasped as she gazed around at the library.
"Sit here and I'll find you a book that might interest you." he said motioning to their normal table. He returned several minutes later with Hogwarts, A History. "You can pick up where you left off."
"Thanks." her eyes were bright as she grabbed eagerly at the heavy book. She plunged herself into the books, as Harry took out the Potions essay he need to do. After about an hour and a half Harry looked up to see Kat more than halfway through, his jaw dropped. She didn't even look up when he got up to get another book, he was amazed at how fast she could read, he knew only one other witch that could read at that alarming pace. He returned to see her nose still in the book, but as he set the book (A History of Magic) down she finally looked up.
"Having fun?" he asked grinning despite himself.
"This is so fascinatin'!" she said happily. "Did you know that the suits of armor that are around the castle were some of the knights that served for King Author?" she gave him one fleeting jovial smile then thrust her nose back into the last ten pages of the over thousand page book.
