Story: The Twins and the Order of the Phoenix
Main Characters: OC: Samantha Carter, OC: Katherine Carter, Sirius Black, Remus Lupin, Ginny Weasley.
Disclaimer: I own nothing that J.K. Rowling has created, hell I don't even take ownership of my OC's, if you want to expand on the Black twins, please let me know so I can read your creations!
Note: I will be following the events of Order of the Phoenix from the perspective of my OC's. You'll notice that I tried to keep the chapter titles inline with the original book, however because we're focused on characters that are not in class with the Trio there will be some divergence. I love constructive criticism. Please message me with suggestions so I can improve.
Chapter 1-The Order of the Phoenix
Bloomsbury Street was a perfectly ordinary street. Brownstones and short apartment buildings took up the majority of the neighborhood with a bodega on the corner of one end and a parking garage on the other. If you looked to the left above the parking garage the lights of Fenway Park could be seen. Bloomsbury was fairly quiet for being in the heart of Boston, just 4 blocks from Yawkey Way. On a good day, you could sit on the roof of the parking garage and hear the announcements from the park.
Fenway Park happened to be where Samantha was trying to drag her mother and sister to on a beautiful June afternoon.
"Pleeeeaaaaasssssseeeee!" She whined from the small dining table in the kitchen.
Her sister, Katherine rolled her eyes from her perch on the window seat. Book in hand she was trying to ignore the persistent chatter of her twin.
"Listen, I'll wait in line for the tickets. You guys can meet me at the gate when the game starts…"
"We can get hot dogs and pretzels before we find our seats and I'll buy us ice cream in the 7th inning" Kat interrupted, mimicking Sam perfectly.
Sam glared at her, "Why do you always have to…"
"Interrupt every time I'm talking." Katherine interrupted again, finishing Sam's thought.
"Stop that! Mom, make her stop doing that!" They both said in unison.
"Listen you Professor X want-to-be…" Sam started
"That is so rude!" Katherine said, "Mom she can't say that"
"I didn't say anything!" Samantha said, I just thought it. She stuck her tongue out at her sister who rolled her eyes in response.
Olivia sighed loudly from the sink where she was washing dishes.
Merlin, give me strength she thought before rounding on her two daughters.
Whoever said kids got easier as they got older was a liar. When Samantha and Katherine were babies they were little angels. Yes, they cried and needed constant attention and Olivia spent the majority of her time split between comforting them. They were never on the same schedule and had the tendency to wake each other up during nap times but…
Now that Olivia thought about it, her children were always a pain in the ass.
"We've annoyed mom." Katherine said to Sam in a half whisper.
Yeah, I figured that without being a mind reader thanks. Sam thought to which Katherine rolled her eyes.
Katherine from a young age demonstrated Empathic tendencies that only seemed to grow stronger over time. She was not a mind reader like Sam said, though she could certainly read Sam's thoughts as if they were her own.
"I think that's more of a twin thing." Olivia had observed in the past.
One thing was certain, Katherine could read people pretty damn well. She understood when people were angry, worried, lying, happy, sad, excited. When she was younger it was overwhelming to handle the emotions of people around her, she often would find herself crying or laughing for no apparent reason.
She tended to avoid crowds as a child, scared of her reaction to certain people. As she grew and began attending school it became easier to control her powers. Having Samantha with her helped as well. When she was with her sister, it was easier for her to focus on Sam's emotions and herself, tuning out those around her.
Katherine often joked that Sam's thoughts and emotions were so loud they easily drowned everyone else out.
Despite her growth into her Empathy, Katherine still preferred small groups and quiet activities. like reading, to large crowds. While Samantha wanted to spend every moment in the hustle and bustle. Going to Red Sox games, outdoor concerts, Quincy Market, wherever people were.
Katherine learned to make the most of these adventures, often sitting with Samantha on the steps of Faneuil Hall and people watching. She was excellent at making up stories about the tourists based on the emotions she was sensing.
"I am not annoyed with you. I could never be annoyed with you." Olivia said, putting the last pan away.
"You are my little angels" She said, first grabbing Samantha's cheeks to kiss the top of her head before making her way over to Katherine to do the same.
Samantha complained but Katherine accepted the show of affection knowing that despite the eyeroll that accompanied Olivia's words, the sentiment was sincere.
One thing Katherine and Samantha could never say is that they lacked love. Olivia could drown them in her maternal nature. Even when they attended school, she would send a consistent string of letters and care packages and would visit Ilvermorny School of Witchcraft and Wizardry on occasion, sometimes even taking the 2 hour drive because she liked to do things "the Muggle way"
"Katherine, was there something you wanted to do today?" Olivia asked, returning to Samantha's original question.
"Not particularly." Katherine shrugged, "I don't really want to go watch the Red Sox lose again though."
"Shut your mouth. We are currently number 1 in the AL East thank you very much, and today Clemens is pitching and Mo is killing it this season." Sam angrily defended her Sox. It's not their fault that Babe Ruth was a vindictive S.O.B. who paid a Warlock to curse the team.
"Okay, we understand dear. Sam you can go get the tickets. Katherine and I will meet up with you in 40 minutes at Gate A. Katherine, that gives you a chance to finish your chapter and mentally prepare for the shouting of your sister." Olivia grinned as she laid out the compromise.
Samantha, though slightly irritated by the jab from her mother decided to take the win anyway, jumping up to kiss her mother's cheek.
"Works for me. No-Maj cash is in the dresser right?" She asked, already heading up the stairs.
Samantha supposed that the main perk of being a witch was that despite their residence being an apartment in a 3 story walk-up surrounded by No-Maj, the wizarding world had cleverly converted a floor of the building for magical occupation. Adding Undetectable Extension Charms allowing for second floors and additional bedrooms that surpassed the availability in the downstairs No-Maj apartments that were mostly housing for college students and young professionals with minimal need for space and small disposable income.
Samantha was halfway up the stairs when Olivia shouted to halt her progress.
"Just enough for the tickets Samantha. It may be Muggle money but I still have to go to the bank to convert it, and the stuff does not grow on trees."
"Plus, how many baseball caps could you possibly need?" Katherine added, making her way out of the kitchen.
Sam didn't get the chance to retort. In her mind's eye she saw the door being burst open. She came back to the present in time to hear a commotion coming from the apartment hallway.
"Go upstairs." Olivia said calmly but Katherine could sense her anguish and moved quickly to stand beside her sister on the stairs, Olivia ushering them into her bedroom.
Once in the room she did a series of incantations that neither twin recognized. Suddenly Katherine felt panic grip her so fiercely she nearly doubled over from the onslaught of emotional turmoil.
Olivia turned worry evident but she kept her voice calm as she spoke. "Listen to me my beautiful girls. I need you to do exactly as I say. When I tell you to run I need you to take the path I give you and run as quickly as you possibly can. Do not stop, do not look back. Do you understand?"
"But Mom, what's happening?" Samantha questioned stubbornly, the thought of running from anything was not in Samantha's nature to begin with and from the look on her mother's face, she was definitely not leaving.
"There is no time. Promise me!" Olivia said as another flash of green could be seen from under the doorway of the bedroom, followed by the crashing noise of a door coming off its hinges.
Olivia pointed her wand out the bedroom window and sent a silvery beam of light shooting far into the sky Katherine followed the path of the beam and could have sworn it took the shape of a large bird before shooting off.
"Look at me" She grabbed both girls shoulders as voices could be heard from downstairs. "Stay together, have each other's backs. You'll know who to trust when they come for you. I love you both!"
She pulled them into a tight embrace as the voices grew closer.
"But mom.." Samantha began but Katherine cut her off. With a look of anguish, "We love you mom! We promise!" Katherine grabbed Samantha's arm as they pulled away from their mother. One look at her sister, and Sam did not need to be an Empath to see the pain her sister was in.
She looked back at her mom, nodding her head.
"To the window quickly. On my mark down the fire escape." She whispered positioning herself facing the door.
Shadows could be seen under the door as Olivia raised her wand above her head and brought it down in a fierce motion slashing through the air, a burst of blinding white light shot out of her wand sending the door flying into the hallway.
Chaos ensued as the people beyond the door went soaring backwards from the impact. Shouts could be heard from the floor below and footsteps clamoring up the stairs.
"Now!" Olivia told her girls. Katherine flew out the window with Samantha quickly on her heels she turned back and caught a glimpse of a silver masked figure coming through the doorway and Olivia sending another powerful spell hurtling through the air.
Katherine pulled her sliding down the ladder and kicked the lock on the way to extend it to the street.
There was shouting as apartment residents poured out of the main entrance. Their No-Maj neighbor from two floors down was yelling about a fire.
Another was saying home invasion.
Katherine pulled Samantha passed them all, tearing down the street as fast as her legs could carry her wand still in hand.
Samantha supposed the two of them looked like complete crazies dashing towards Boyleston with sticks in their hand, Katherine with tears pouring down her face.
With that thought in mind, Sam redirected her sister pulling her towards the T-stop where a large crowd was gathered having just got off the Fenway bus and groups were bounding up the stairs with Red Sox memorabilia. Sam slowed as they approached the stairs. Shoving her wand under her shirt sleeve and pulling Katherine against the wall to descend the stairs against the crowd.
Sam was grateful for the chaos of the tourists as she flicked her wand at the turnstile gate pushing through it with Katherine on her heels and hurried down another set of steps. D-line to Government Center was preparing to depart and Sam tugged Katherine's arm, slipping them both through the sliding doors. Just before the train took off.
The compartment was fairly empty, with most riders retreating up to the game. Sam and Katherine made their way to two seats in the back of the car and flopped into them.
Breathing heavily, the two sat in silence for a moment, adrenaline pumping in their ears.
Finally Sam broke the silence, "Who were they?"
Katherine had calmed down some without the added anxiety of high emotions from the crowd her brain was able to kick in to analyze their situation.
She turned to her sister, "I don't know but mom's fear was like nothing I've ever felt before, and their intentions...I've never felt anything so dark like that. It was like hatred and anger but different, I don't know how to explain it."
"Sam, they were there to kill mom, I'm sure of it. We should not have left, I'm sorry I shouldn't have run like that, but mom's desperation was overpowering and I had to do what she said, but if something happened to her…"
"Don't be sorry. You did the right thing. Mom's the most powerful witch I know, she'll know what to do and she'll come looking for us I'm sure." Sam said reassuringly, despite her brave tone though, Katherine saw right through it to Sam's true thoughts.
"I don't know what we do next. I'm scared too." She said, taking her sister's hand as the train slowed at the next stop. A man got on wearing an overcoat that was far too heavy for this time of year.
Katherine immediately stiffened. A woman sat in the seat behind them and Kat chanced a glance in the window reflection, though the woman did not look at them she knew something was wrong.
You sense something? Sam thought watching Katherine carefully.
Katherine nodded in response.
Chancing a glance at the man again.
Trench Coat? Samantha thought and Katherine nodded,
Woman behind us? Another nod.
Any others? Kat shook her head.
In her mind's eye Sam saw a woman with a baby carriage get on the train.
We'll get off at the next stop. I'll get up to stretch, we'll wait til the last second and dash. Hopefully we can time it right where another train might be available to hop on.
Katherine had several doubts about Sam's plan but given the fact that Sam couldn't read her mind to convey those doubts she simply squeezed her sister's hand as a sign of understanding. Sliding her wand out of her pocket and into her shirt sleeve, she was grateful for the hoodie she was wearing. The oversized sleeves flopped past her hands and allowed her to conceal her vice grip on the weapon.
Katherine had never dueled in real-life before, she had not even gotten into a school yard tussle like Sam was often doing. However, in her classes she always excelled and was praised for her wand work. She was also certain that when push came to shove, if she and her sister were in danger her survival instincts would kick in.
Sam casually stood from her seat as Kat inched forward on hers. Sam reached above her head grabbing the hand rail above in a long stretch as the train slowed.
The doors opened and a lady with a baby carriage entered attempting to move out of the way of the doors and effectively blocking Trench Coat from the twins.
The sisters took the opportunity and bolted for the door. The woman behind them was quicker than she looked and leaped out the door after them. Sam and Katherine barreled towards the escalator Katherine shot a quick spell behind them as they weaved through the crowd causing a suitcase to burst open, obstructing the woman's pursuit.
As they came to ground level two more trench coats could be seen making their way towards them slow but deliberate. Katherine shot a glance to their left where a man and woman with coats and fedoras also headed in their direction.
Sam pulled her to the right and down another set of stairs towards the red line.
Hoping they could take the tunnel from Park Street to Downtown Cross and lose them in the department store traffic.
But as they ran for the tunnel the lack of foot traffic caused Kat to slow with unease. It was unnatural, as if someone had put a no-maj repelling charm on the walk way removing all pedestrians.
It was then that the original trench coat and woman came towards them from ahead and the four from upstairs appeared behind them cornering them in the tunnel.
They produced wands and the teenagers returned in kind, back-to-back wands drawn.
Before a spell could be uttered however, a flash of light came from behind effectively taking out the two in front of Katherine, while a woman with pink hair and tall dark man in brilliant blue robes appeared out of nowhere, dropping the four other would-be-assailants with ease.
The twins stared in amazement and apprehension.
Who are these guys now?
Sam sent Kat the questioning thought who shrugged, reading no menace from the newcomers but not having any idea at all who they were or what their purpose was.
"Samantha and Katherine Carter I presume?" the woman asked, appraising the two teenagers with a raised eyebrow, "Who wants to know?" Sam asked not lowering her wand.
"We must go quickly, I'd imagine we set off quite the alarm and more will be on their way." The man said in an African accent
"Yeah, we're going to be heading out." Sam said edging towards the opposite end of the tunnel, Kat in her wake. "No-offense, but mom always taught us stranger danger." She said with a shrug.
She didn't notice the persistent clunk from behind her until she bumped into Katherine's paused form.
"You're smart not to trust anyone. Be wary of all or else you'll end up getting killed."
Sam turned to observe the newcomer.
He was a terrifying sight for sure. Mangled face, scarred on all surfaces. A wooden leg was the source of the clunk. The sound of wood hitting concrete with each step was unnerving, but not nearly as much as the man's eyes. One black and beedy, intensely sizing up Samantha as the other one, large and electric blue swiveled in its socket.
"Honestly Mad-Eye. Do you really think now is the time to discuss your trust issues and paranoia when the MACUSA has probably dispatched several officers to our location and the teenagers are terrified out of their wits?" The pink haired woman asked in exasperation.
"We're not terrified." Interjected Katherine, eyeing all three 'visitors' she opted to dub them as they most definitely were not from around here. The accent was a dead giveaway both foreign but slightly comforting. Her mother, being schooled in England, had retained her accent despite her long time residence in the states.
"Our mother sent for you?" She questioned, glancing at Sam, "She told us people would come for us and we'd know who to trust."
Sam eyed the three adults before tilting her head to her sister. What's your read on them? Can you be certain.
"They're trustworthy." She confirmed looking back at Mad-Eye. "Though I appreciate the warning for caution. I'm pretty good at knowing who to trust and who not. Where are we going?"
"Away from here. The more quickly the better, I'd rather not be part of an international incident." The woman said rushing over to stand beside the twins, tripping slightly on uneven concrete but righting herself instantly.
Tall, Dark and Quiet came to the other side beside Sam, "Shall we?" the woman asked, to which Mad-Eye nodded.
Sam felt a heavy hand on her shoulder and then a loud crack before feeling the sensation of being sucked into a too-small tube.
Her lungs constricted, her body felt squeezed and just when she thought she could no longer breath her feet hit solid ground causing her knees to buckle. She was saved from falling flat on her face by the steadying hand of tall, dark and…
"What is your name?" Sam asked dazedly, wanting a shorter identifier since black-guy seemed rude.
"Kingsley Shacklebolt." He said in a strong voice inclining his head to Samantha as he removed his hand from her shoulder and moved to help Katherine who had the misfortune of not being caught upon their arrival and was currently on her knees.
"And I'm Tonks." The woman said, brushing herself off from her own tumble to the floor.
"Sorry 'bout that. Tend to lose my balance on long apparitions." She told Kat who was upright again though looking a little green.
"No worries." She said quietly.
Mad-Eye was leaning against his cane observing them. "No time to dilly dally. It is almost time."
Sam glanced around observing that they were currently in a completely random field she did not recognize in the slightest.
"Time for what?" She asked cautiously as Mad-Eye turned to move up a small hill Tonks and Kingsley followed.
"To leave of course. We cannot miss our window or else risk being caught by the MACUSA."
"And why are we running from Magical Law Enforcement?" Katherine huffed following behind Sam. "I'm beginning to feel like we're fugitives." she told Sam.
"That would be because you sort of are." Tonks supplied, stopping at the top of the small hill as Kinglsey fetched an old boot that was just a few paces away.
Mad-Eye checked his pocket watch. "It's almost time."
"What do you mean we are fugitives?" Katherine asked incredulously
"You fled the scene of a magic induced explosion that nearly took out a city block. Underage magic was detected by you from down the street and the MACUSA have likely deployed half the East Coast to help with memory modification and maintaining the statute of secrecy from the Muggles." Tonks supplied
"Two minutes" Mad-Eye supplied, taking the boot from Kinglsey and ushering everyone closer.
"But we were attacked. Those masked people invaded our home. Who are they? What did they want? Where are we going? Where's mom?." Samantha exclaimed in a rush wanting answers
"We'll explain everything soon." Kingsley assured in a soothing voice.
"One minute."
"Who are you?" Katherine asked the one question Sam forgot, as they all grabbed the boot in a circle.
Tonks smiled, "We're the Order of the Phoenix." she said just as the world lurched underneath, cutting off any reply from the twins.
This time, when the world came back into focus Samantha did collapse to the ground. She huffed as the wind was knocked out of her. Kat made a similar noise next to her.
The room they landed in was dark. On the left there was a small kitchenette, to the right, an alcove with a small bed and chair. A small table with chairs was situated just off the kitchenette and that is where Tonks moved and took a seat.
Sam and Kat looked at each other before following suit and collapsing into the seats across from her.
Kingsley was pacing the parameter of the room with his wand muttering incantations, and Mad-Eye was reviewing various instruments on a table towards the bedroom side of the room including a glass frame with swirling mist inside it.
"Now what?" Sam asked, more to herself than anyone else.
"Now, we wait." Kingsley said simply taking the seat next to Tonks and sweeping his hat off his head.
They sat in tense silence for several minutes. Both Katherine and Samantha too caught up in their thoughts and anxieties to bother speaking.
What had happened to their apartment? Who were the masked terrorists? Was the MACUSA really amassing a full-scale manhunt to find them and if they did find them, then what?
All of these questions swirled in Sam's mind, making her head hurt. She glanced at Katherine to see if her sister was coming up with any answers when she noticed Katherine's empty expression.
The vacant stare was unnerving from the girl who was always thinking, always aware of what was happening around her, always observing.
Sam joked that Katherine could be a modern day Sherlock Holmes due to her keen observation skills. Her awareness of those around her heightened by her Empathic abilities, and her general curious nature led her to some interesting insights into people and situations.
One of their teachers at Ilvermorny called her nosy and suggested she learn to focus on her own business and keep her nose out of others. Sam had suggested that the teacher learn to focus on her attitude and stay out of Katherine's business.
That did not end well for Samantha.
Regardless, the fact that Kat's eyes were not at their usual sharpness, concerned Sam. A growing sense of unease filled her stomach as Katherine continued to drown in her own thoughts.
Katherine for her part was in a terrible state. Now that the adrenaline had worn off, all she could do was go back to the moment her mother told them to go upstairs. Katherine had never in her 13 years experienced such terror, even more disturbing was that the terror was not her own, but that of her mother's.
Olivia had never so much as showcased anxiety to her daughter as far as Katherine could remember. Yes, she got angry sometimes, and sometimes her concern for Kat or Sam's wellbeing could be overpowering, but never unadulterated fear.
Even now, removed from the situation, Kat could feel the anguish grip her heart. She could feel the intentions of the masked invaders, the darkness that gripped their souls.
"Kat. Kat. Katherine!" Sam was shaking her shoulders rather violently jostling Kat from her thoughts, she came to as if waking up from a dream.
The first thing she noticed was Sam's face as her hands gripped her shoulders.
Concern and anguish reflected in her grey orbs that mirrored her own.
"It's okay. We're safe here." Sam said quietly, soothingly.
Kat then noticed that Tonks was standing, wand gripped tightly in her hand and Kingsley was sitting rimrod straight, fists clenched.
Katherine blinked, calming herself down. "Sorry, I didn't realize I…"
"You're fine." Sam said reassuringly, rubbing her hands up and down Kat's shoulders. "You're fine."
With that the tension broke, and everyone in the room resettled.
"Cuppa tea anyone?" Tonks asked, pointing her wand towards the kitchenette to put the kettle on. She sent a china tea set careening towards the table and almost decapitated Sam who ducked before getting smacked.
"Ooh sorry!" Tonks apologized standing from the table and in the process knocked over the cream that had skidded to the very edge of the table but was now spilled across the floor.
"No worries." Sam said slightly breathless.
Kat looked at the cream pooling under the table, "No sense crying over spilled milk."
When the kettle whistled, Shacklebolt put his hand on Tonks' arm and brought his own wand up to bring the kettle over and make up everyone's cup.
Kat offered him a grateful smile, taking a small sip of tea. Sam grimaced at the flavor, but didn't complain. Looking around the room her eyes landed on 'Mad-Eye'
She got up from the table stretching and walked towards the man whose face looked like it had been poorly carved out of wood due to all the scarring.
"So, how'd you lose your eye?"
"Really Samantha?" Katherine said before anyone else could respond.
Kat turned to Mad-Eye giving him an apologetic look, "Sorry, she got dropped on her head as a baby and isn't all there."
Sam stuck her tongue out at Kat before returning her attention to the ridiculously gnarled face of the one-eyed (one real eye at least).
"So?" she prodded.
"It's part of the job." Mad-Eye said gruffly.
Sam raised her eyebrow, about to ask more questions when a pop sounded and a single feather appeared on the table in front of Tonks.
"It's time to go." Kingsley said standing. Mad-Eye nodded and grabbed an old clock off the table of devices he was monitoring.
"Grab on." He said gesturing to the clock.
"Again?" Sam asked, letting out an exasperated sigh.
Tonks just said, "Yep." touching a finger to the clock, a second later the room lurched and the pull of the portkey sent them all hurtling to the next unknown destination.
They landed with an oomph. Sam was quite pleased with herself that she did not fall this time though she rocked dangerously from side to side.
Kat was held up by Mad-Eye as the room around her came into focus.
Paintings lined the walls, the occupants blinked down at her from their perches, some jumping into their neighbor's portrait to whisper something. She turned taking in the table of instruments, the bowl of candies and finally the impressive desk and winged-back chair behind it. Clearly they had arrived in an office of some sort.
She gave Sam a side-eyed stare but her sister just shrugged. I'm just along for the ride at this point.
Kat didn't share her sister's sentiment. She wanted to know what was going on. Who these people were, What the hell the Order of the whatever was and where was their mother.
Mom'll explain everything. Sam gave her a reassuring smile as she meandered around the room.
"Don't touch anything." Mad-Eye growled as Sam reached towards a contraption that was puffing out smoke.
She quickly pulled her hand back looking slightly sheepish.
"Okay, where are we now?" Katherine asked impatiently, she turned to Tonks. She was the most empathetic of the three adults in the room, and Kat determined that if she played on the woman's caring nature she'd be able to wrestle some answers from her.
Tonks gave her a sympathetic smile. "I know it's been a difficult and confusing day, but Dumbledore will explain everything in a moment."
"Who's Dumbledore?" Sam asked, as she continued to circle the room, one of the paintings scoffed at her and she gave it a glare, "Can I help you?" She said a little aggressively.
The painting promptly turned its attention back to the painting it was painting, ignoring Sam completely. Sam rolled her eyes. "Who paints a painting of someone painting a painting anyway?" She asked annoyed and the painting turned to glare at her.
"Someone is a little cranky." a voice drawled from above and Kat turned to see that it was a painting of a man in Green dress robes staring pointedly at Sam. If the artist had been trying to paint a portrait of arrogant superiority then they had succeeded whole-heartedly. Kat immediately disliked the man.
"Yes, well it's been a day." She said, turning her back on the painting.
"When is Dumbledore arriving, or do we have to go somewhere else after this?" She asked turning to Tonks again.
"He'll be along shortly." Supplied Kingsley. Sam rolled her eyes.
She was getting antsy. Antsy Sam tended to get irritated quickly. She paced back-and-forth her nervous energy coming off her in waves.
Mad-Eye glowered, keeping one eye on Kat and the other followed Sam's progress like he thought she was going to make a run for it.
Should we make a run for it? Kat thought suddenly and completely irrationally. Honestly, she doubted even if they did run they'd get far. For one, they had no idea where they were. Two, the MACUSA was after them for treason or something. Three, by the look of Mad-Eye he'd probably take them out in about 5 seconds.
She sighed. She was suddenly very tired. Kingsley seemed to sense this because he wordlessly waved his wand and a pair of chairs appeared.
Tonks took Kat's elbow and gently guided her to one of the chairs. "It's gonna be alright." She said with a reassuring smile, taking the chair across from Kat and giving her knee a comforting pat.
Kat nodded, about to ask more questions when the door opened.
Sam paused in her pacing as an old ass man entered the office.
What's with skinny Santa Claus?
Kat snorted despite herself, but immediately turned her attention to the man who came in after.
"Uncle Remy?" She asked standing up quickly from her chair and immediately greeting Remus Lupin, her mother's long time friend.
Kat felt an immediate comfort at the familiar face as Lupin greeted her with a strong hug.
"Katherine, thank Merlin."
Sam was at their side immediately and he quickly wrapped an arm around her shoulders.
"You're okay? Are you hurt at all?" he asked urgently, taking in both girls' appearances.
As he scrutinized their appearance the older man stepped further into the room allowing a third man to enter the office. The older man gave the other three a nod of acknowledgement and moved towards his desk.
The third seemed nervous. Kat immediately picked up on his anguish and uncertainty. He stayed by the door, staring intensely at the interaction between Remus and her sister, but immediately turned his attention to his shoes when he noticed Kat's gaze.
"I trust you were not discovered?" Old guy asked as Kingsley, Tonks, and Mad-Eye gathered around the desk.
"The Death Eaters scattered the minute we got to the building." Mad-Eye reported, "I wasn't able to identify any of them. MACUSA was on the scene quickly."
"We had a run-in with MASCUSA officials during the extraction." Tonks said, "We managed quick memory charms though, there shouldn't be any problems. I'll connect with my contact to be sure."
"Do that now." He said and Tonks nodded she made her way quickly out of the room giving the girls a wink and stopping to pat the arm of the man by the door before disappearing down the stairs.
"And the Ministry?" He asked Kingsley.
"Assuming Fletcher did his job correctly, there shouldn't be a problem. " Kingsley nodded and also made his way out of the room.
"When it comes to Fletcher, the only thing you can assume is you are being ripped off. I'd go to the Ministry now and make sure we were undetected." Mad-Eye said gruffly to Shackelbolt who nodded and left himself.
The old man in half-moon spectacles turned his blue orbs on the twins. "Please, take a seat." He told the girls motioning to the two chairs Kingsley conjured earlier.
Kat gave Remus a look and he nodded, taking them each by the shoulder and guiding them to their seats.
"This is Professor Dumbledore," he explained, standing behind the girls' chairs, "him and your mother organized the contingency plan in case something like this happened."
"Where is mom." Sam said quickly, looking back at Uncle Remy. At his pale face she turned to Dumbledore.
"What was her contingency plan?"
Kat had turned green beside her and looked like she was going to be sick.
Dumbledore's eyes filled with sympathy as Sam stood up.
Mad-Eye stepped in at this point, "She put up a fight."
Sam stared at him incredulously, "She put up a fight?" She asked, "She...she put up a fight?"
"Your mother and I prepared for this scenario…" Dumbledore began but Sam cut him off.
"You planned for this scenario? Really?" she looked back at Remus in disbelief.
"If you planned for this scenario then why isn't she here right now?" Sam asked angrily, "What the hell is the point of a plan if she dies in the...if she" Sam stopped on a sob.
Mom's dead. It played like a mantra in her brain, Mom's dead.
Katherine was silent, her brain had gone completely blank.
"The plan was to get you out. That was the priority." Dumbledore said gently, meeting Samantha's gaze. His eyes held sympathy, but also authority that paused Sam from the hysterics she could feel building within her.
Sam retook her seat. Putting her head in her hands for a second before standing up again. She walked around the room, she couldn't stay still.
"Sam…" Remus tried to reach out to her but she shrugged him off.
She finally stopped pacing, she felt cold, distant. Like she was experiencing the events from outside of her body.
"Who were they?" she asked looking directly at Dumbledore for answers.
"We are doing everything in our power to figure that out and…"
"No." It was Kat who spoke now, she was back and very much aware of the emotions in the room. Sam's anger, Remy's anguish, guilt from Mad-Eye and the man by the door, nothing from Dumbledore.
Katherine looked up into the blue eyes, then slowly took in every feature. At first glance one might consider Dumbledore to be old, kind, there was a twinkle in his eye, his soft voice was comforting, like that of a grandfather and he gave Kat his undivided attention as she appraised him. Behind the twinkle however, there was something else. A wall.
"You said you and Mom made a plan. That means you and her knew that this would happen. So you know who they are, you know why they attacked and you're going to share that information with us. Now." she said it so clearly, so matter-of-factly that Dumbledore's stare flickered for a moment in surprise.
Mad-Eye for his part looked completely taken aback, and Remus let out a breath through his teeth.
Sam however, came to resume her seat looking at Dumbledore expectantly.
"You are very much like your mother." Dumbledore said leaning back in his chair and putting his long fingers together in front of his chest looking pensive.
"You have had a long day Alastor. Thank you for your work." Dumbledore said, giving Mad-Eye his attention as he dismissed him. Mad-Eye nodded, never taking his magical eye off Katherine as he left.
"Sirius, Remus. I suggest you have a seat." He produced his wand and conjured two more chairs on either side of the two the twins occupied. Remy sat next to Kat and the man by the door, Sirius, Sam supposed, hesitated before taking the seat next to her.
Sam gave him a sideways glance before returning her attention back to Dumbledore.
"Well?" she said expectantly.
"You are familiar with Lord Voldemort?" Dumbledore asked.
"You're jumping right to it then." Sirius said, looking at Dumbledore dubiously.
"Katherine was very clear that she wanted to know who was responsible." Dumbledore said simply.
He can tell us apart. Sam thought pointedly, giving Kat a side-eyed look
"You're talking about Wizard Hitler, right? Pureblood obsessed, wanted to cleanse the Wizarding race." Kat said, ignoring Sam's thought.
Dumbledore nodded, "His regime didn't quite make it stateside, however, his reign of terror is still considered one of the worst in history. Most here refuse to use his name."
"Why would you refuse to use a name?" Sam asked but Kat elbowed her in the ribs, "Focus." She told Sam, before returning her attention to the conversation, "What's your point? Voldemort died like 15 years ago."
"Thirteen years ago, he disappeared, six weeks ago he returned."
Both Sam and Kat's eyebrows went up. "How…" Kat began but shook her head, "You know what, not important. Bad guys back from the dead. Okay, he's back for 6 weeks and goes after our mother who's a nurse at a muggle hospital across the ocean. Why?"
Remus sighed. "Last time, he tried to recruit certain witches and wizards he thought would help further his cause. Several of our classmates were involved in the war on both sides, and your mother was someone he wanted."
"So she says no, and thirteen years later he comes back, tracks her down and kills her?" Sam said in disbelief, choking slightly at the end.
Mom's dead.
"What's the Order of the Phoenix?" Kat asks, blocking out Sam's internal monologue.
"The Order is a secret group of individuals dedicated to stopping Voldemort and his followers from coming to power." Dumbledore says simply.
"And you founded this group?" Kat guesses to which Dumbledore merely nods.
"And our mother was part of this group? You're in this group?" She turned to Uncle Remy who nodded.
Kat nods, "So what are you doing?"
"We're quietly recruiting members and organizing defenses…" Remus begins but Kat cuts him off. "No, what are you doing to find the people who killed my mother."
"What were you doing to protect her in the first place?" She turns back to Dumbledore. "If you knew they were after her. Why didn't we leave, why wasn't there a plan to keep her safe."
"Where the hell have you been?" She asked loudly standing to turn accusatory eyes on Uncle Remus.
"This was not Remus's fault." Dumbledore said calmly.
"No, he just disappears off the face of the earth for two years, only took mom dying for him to show up."
"Sit down." He didn't raise his voice, he never even lifted a hand, but the way in which those two syllabuls were uttered had such power behind them Kat retook her seat almost involuntarily.
"I understand that you are upset. I understand that you are confused. And I understand that you have suffered a loss. We all have. That is no excuse for you to lash out at a man who has done nothing but care for you and your sister. It is on that note that you will be going with Remus to Order Headquarters."
"Hold the phone." It was Sam's turn to take up the interrogation.
She turned to Remus, "Uncle Remy, you know we love you, but Kat's right, we haven't heard from you in a while so I've got some questions." She turned back to Dumbledore, "and I'm gonna get answers."
She and Dumbledore stared intensely for only a moment before a snort from Sam's left took their attention.
"Should we start with who the hell you are and why you're here?" Sam snarked at Sirius who's face immediately paled and eyes went wide as saucers. Picture a deer-in-headlights, except a grown man with tattoos.
He stammered for a moment but Sam cut him off, "You know what, nevermind I don't care." She turned back to Dumbledore.
"How did mom know Voldemort was after her?"
Dumbledore paused in his answer seeming to mull it over. "How we get our information is classified Order business."
"So mom was an active member of the Order and that's why she was killed? It was your fault." Sam said so flippantly, she could have been making a comment about his fashion tastes.
"Samantha." Remus said sharply, "today was a tragedy. Everyone in this room loved Olivia…"
"You have a funny way of showing it. You go missing on us, he" she jabbed her chin at Dumbledore, "knew she was in danger, supposedly came up with an escape plan that didn't involve saving her life. I still don't know why you're here." She spared a glance in Sirius' direction
"Well that's a whole other matter." Sirius muttered.
Kat caught his change in demeanor immediately. "What?" She asked. Remus immediately stiffened beside her giving Sirius a warning look. Dumbledore simply leaned back in his chair observing them all.
"What?" Sirius said dumbly.
Kat narrowed her eyes at him. "You loved my mother?"
Sirius felt the identical grey stares on him. Piercing through to what little was left of his soul.
He knew it was a mistake for him to come with Remus. He knew this should have waited and he knew that the last thing these children needed was more emotional trauma. He looked pleadingly at first Remus, who was just as lost looking as he was, and then at Dumbledore who offered absolutely no help whatsoever with his twinkling blue eyes.
He looked back at the expectant stares that failed to waver. He took a deep breath, "of course I loved Olivia. Everyone loved Olivia."
Coward He thought to himself.
It seems his friend had finally decided to take pity on him. "Sirius went to school with your mother and I."
Kat's gaze never wavered from Sirius' face, "Right." she responded with such disdain that Sirius was sure she would call him out for the bastard he was right there in Dumbledore's office. His biggest shame, biggest regret was staring him down as he drowned in his own guilt and grief.
But there was no shouting, no accusations that followed. Kat sighed, breaking her eye contact and turned back to Dumbledore.
"What happens now?"
It was as if the tension released with that one sentence. Dumbledore smiled at her.
"You will return with Remus and Sirius to Order of the Phoenix Headquarters while we try to sort out the international incident we might have caused."
"What about our stuff? School, our friends?" Sam asked, for the first time reminding Sirius that the two girls before him were just girls, children.
How old were they now? Twelve? He thought.
"You are currently fugitives. We will work our back channels with the MACUSA to keep you out of harm, but for the time being you cannot return to your old life. We will manage the situation and come up with alternative options. In the meantime, you will be going to number 12 Grimmauld Place, London, UK." Dumbledore stated clearly and precisely.
He produced a coffee pot from the shelf behind his desk and held it out to Remus, who took it in his palm and offered it to Sam, Kat and Sirius to take hold of.
At this point Sam and Kat were too drained to say or question anything else as they each took hold of the pot the only thought running through either of their heads was,
Mom's dead.
Author's Note: I have been playing with the idea of Sam & Kat as characters for a long time. My first fanfiction featured a tale about Sam and the classic marriage contract trope with Draco Malfoy. I have since flushed the character out a little more and am prepared to take them through their Hogwarts Journey and beyond. I hope you enjoy!
~IntrepidReporter
