I do not own Twilight and Harry Potter. All characters of both stories, along with their storyline, belong to their respective owners, Stephenie Meyer and J.K. Rowling. However, all unfamiliar characters and storylines do belong to me.
~O~O~O~
Anchorage, Alaska, United States
Year 2000
She turned off the engine of her car and faced the house that she parked in front of. It was lovely and quaint, old-fashioned and with two levels. The roof was painted a deep burgundy, the colour slightly fading from being worn out. Its outside walls were made of wood and was coated in white, which however were slightly darker than the original. A wooden deck was structured out the front which had black railings and a set of stairs. But unlike the walls, the colour was of its own, just painted with a glossy cover which made it smooth and shiny and darker than the normal shade.
On the deck were a set of two cream sofas that aligned the walls besides the door and an armchair. White square pillows were strewn about the seats and across from the two sofas was a dark mahogany table, an oriental carpet in maroon and brown that was large enough to surround the sofas were laid in the centre underneath the table. Both sides between the deck stairs had flower beds which bloomed with flowers and other plants. How that was even possible from the limited sunlight, she did not know but she had to admit that they added to the charm of the house. An old lady suddenly walked out and waited patiently for the guy that was now making his way towards her.
Kaylee smiled when she saw the ever-affectionate short old lady hugging Daniel close to her. The mentioned elderly was her mother's mother, Laurelia Gardner. Her grandmother. She thought back to the last time she saw her. Although Kaylee had been very young at the time, one years old to be exact, she could still remember everything that had occurred during the hearing for her custody. Her poor grandmother accompanied by her grandfather had been against her father's cousin, Narcissa Black, and her husband, Lucius Malfoy. She had not stood a chance as the couple had manipulated the opinions of nearly every one that were voting. Therefore, the last time she had seen her grandmother was when she was being taken away after causing a commotion once the decision had been made.
She could still hear her grandmother's voice in her mind, how painful and grief-stricken they had been. It was to be expected after losing her daughter but the fact that Kaylee's guardianship had been won over by two people she had not known had magnified the grief twice more. Kaylee did not know how she had managed to cope but that was just her grandmother's character, she realised. A most compassionate woman of strength.
Daniel and their grandmother had been conversing lightly while she thought but as Kaylee returned her attention back on them, she noticed her cousin was about to introduce her. Her grandmother glanced over in her direction when he did, and both waited for her to come out. Taking a deep breath, she pushed the car door open and stepped out.
Laurelia did not know what to expect when her grandson had requested for her to meet someone. If she had been able to think for a moment, she knew she would have not come to this conclusion. As the girl made her way towards them, Laurelia had studied the girl's physical appearance and with alarm, she discovered that her distinguishing features were a replica of her late youngest daughter, Ariella Black. She never thought she would see her granddaughter again. Kaylee had only been a baby the last time she saw her. And now...now she was all grown up and had become so beautiful.
Tears gathered in Laurelia's eyes and she choked on a sob, placing a hand over her mouth.
"Hello, nana." Kaylee greeted softly, smiling warmly at her.
The dam broke.
She still remembers her, Laurelia thought before she sobbed and threw her arms around her granddaughter, hugging her fiercely while she cried, overcome with many emotions. Tears of grief, of pain and sorrow, tears of hopelessness when she was taken away from her spilled, but she also cried with tears of relief as she held Kaylee close to her. All of her emotions she bottled up when she lost the case all poured from her. Her body shook with sobs and all Kaylee could do was to hold her as tight as she did and reassure her she will never leave her again.
"My little dove," Laurelia murmured through her granddaughter's long silky hair. She finally pulled back, looking at her tearily. "You have grown and become so beautiful."
Kaylee smiled, her own blue-green eyes teary, as she gently wiped away her grandmother's tears from under her eyes. "Thank you, nana." she murmured. "I missed you."
"Oh, darling, I missed you too! There was never a day when I did not think of you," Laurelia's voice cracked.
"I don't doubt you did," Kaylee said, "But it's going to be okay, nana. We're here together now."
Daniel stood by as he let his cousin and their grandmother have their long overdue reunion. It was to be expected after eighteen years of no communication between them. From what he understood from his mother, Kaylee had been forcefully taken in by her father's blood relative in the Wizardry World after his aunt passed away and his uncle put behind bars for something he did not do. Daniel grew morose when he remembered back to what his mother told her, how his grandmother had arrived home with his grandfather right after the hearing for Kaylee's custody as she crumbled from grief of losing her daughter, her son-in-law and her granddaughter all in one week.
He was not yet born at the time as his mother had only been a month pregnant with him, and he thanked his lucky stars that he was not present when his grandparents went home. Otherwise, he would have gone through the same pain as his parents did, who had been affected greatly by the way their parents had reacted. His grandmother crying and his grandfather doing everything he can to make things better. So, yes, although he was told of the event, he was especially glad he was not there physically. He would have not been able to bear it.
Smiling sadly, Daniel wrapped his arms around two out of four of his cherished family and led them inside the house.
~O~
Kaylee placed the batch of choc-chip cookies in the oven that she, her grandmother and Daniel had baked together. It had already been two hours since she met her grandmother and during that time, she learnt that her grandfather had passed three years ago after acquiring a brain haemorrhage due to a fatal car accident.
"Your grandfather died peacefully after he had been able to say goodbye to us. His only regret was that he never told you how much he loved you by his self, how he never got the chance to see you again." her grandmother had tearfully informed her after she asked about his whereabouts. "He loved you very much, Kaylee. You were his little dove. Did you know he was the one who christened you with that nickname? Dove because it's what you reminded him of."
Suffice to say, it had not been pretty when Kaylee found out she will never be able to talk to her grandfather again. It was her breaking point as she had lost so many people already. First, her lovely mother, then a couple of her friends from Hogwarts who had not been able to make it out alive. Lara, a fellow half-blood from Ravenclaw she had befriended with Hermione. Hayley, a sweet and loyal girl from Hufflepuff she made friends with when Kaylee realised she had none. Jacqueline, a Gryffindor muggleborn she and Hermione had assisted when she needed help studying. Then there was Venus, a girl from the house of Slytherin who had not held any prejudice against blood purities and due to that, had been classified as an outcast by her house. And now, she learned that her grandfather had passed. Kaylee's father might as well be in that count as he was nowhere near waking up. Not unless she and Hermione can complete the potion, or elixir, they were formulating for her father, as well as Neville's parents.
She was able to calm down afterwards, albeit still feeling sad about the whole thing. However, this occurrence had only urged her on to finish the potion for her father. She vowed that she will not lose anyone else she loves if she has the ability to prevent it from happening.
Currently, she was sitting down with Daniel and their grandmother around the kitchen countertop, flicking through albums and albums of her as a baby. Both muggle photos and the magical moving pictures were out and open on the surface of the countertop, and Kaylee smiled as she examined all of them. Most of the photos were candid shots and some had been taken intentionally, however the emotions were all genuine. Everyone had been happy. Her parents, her grandparents, aunt and uncle had the biggest smiles on their faces while holding her as a newborn, pride and joy being clearly deciphered from their expressions. Even though Daniel's very identical father had no blood relation to Kaylee, he still loved her as if she was his very own blood and flesh, and it really touched her.
The two pictures she loved the most were of her first smile which had been taken by a magical camera so it moved. All of them had been there and upon smiling with tiny teeth already growing, they had grinned like one of them had won a lottery, her mother and aunt jumping in glee while her father kissed her forehead. And the second photo she cherished was of her alone with her parents. Although this picture did not move, it was equally special as Kaylee was able to see how much love her mother and father had for her through their expressive eyes. Her mother carried her within her arms, a lock of her blonde hair escaping from its braided updo which she, as a newborn baby, had clenched in her tiny hand. Hovering behind them, his chin on her mother's shoulder, was her father who glanced down at her. Both were smiling lightly, eyes bursting with an overwhelming love, while she stared back at them, curiously.
Even though these photos were snapshots of memories she could not remember, it filled her with warmth to know none of her family had abandoned or rejected her like Narcissa and Lucius Malfoy had planted in her mind when she asked of them.
Kaylee grew tense when she heard a sound in the hallway but relaxed when she found no evidence or signs that could lead to being attacked, just soft footsteps of someone who knows their way around the house.
"Mhm, it smells good, Mum," a soft and feminine voice called out. The sound of the front door closing was heard next before two people appeared in the kitchen. One was obviously a woman and the other a man. She knew who they were. Her aunt Isabel and uncle Christopher. Daniel's parents.
Kaylee took a shaky breath as she got an eyeful of her aunt. Who looked exactly like her Mum, except she had dark hair than the fair colour of her mother's. She did have the same blue-green eyes, which Kaylee also inherited.
"What are we having tonight?" her uncle asked, his voice deep. He and her aunt had not noticed her yet.
"Spaghetti and roasted chicken," her grandmother replied.
"Yum." her aunt said, walking further into the room. She smiled at Daniel. "Hello, darling, how was school?" then her eyes glanced at the albums scattered on the countertop before looking up and seeing Kaylee for the first time, sitting beside her son. Still smiling, she returned her attention to Daniel but did a double take.
And then her jaw dropped.
"Ariella?" she whispered so low Kaylee had to strain her ears to catch it. Her uncle stopped fiddling with his phone when he heard his late sister-in-law's name. The vision in front of him made his eyes widen, his breath catching as he stared at a younger version of Ariella Black.
Kaylee sadly shook her head, smiling a little at them both. "No, auntie, uncle, it's me," she told them. "Kaylee."
Before she knew it, her aunt was already there, leaning down and embracing her. And like how her grandmother reacted, her aunt was sobbing into her hair and murmuring words of how she thought they would never see her again. After kissing her many times on the head, her aunt's arms were replaced with her uncle's and he crushed her to him and just held her.
Kaylee was so overcome from their affections that she managed to cry again. She could not help it. This reunion between her and her blood family was all she dreamed of, and more. It felt all sorts of amazing. She relished in the feeling, smile lighting up her face.
An hour later, she was seated beside Daniel as they ate dinner. Her grandmother had asked how she and Daniel had known each other, and from there Kaylee and Daniel recounted the story of how they had both met each other four years ago. After the end of her fourth year, she had been curious when she realised her relatives had still been alive and this led to her travelling to America to take a glimpse of her mother's side of the family. What she had not expected to happen was to literally bump into her cousin who had been fourteen at the time and had just finished high school. He had recognised his auntie Ariella in her physical features. Therefore, she had to tell him everything as he was too persistent.
"Why did you not tell us, Daniel?" Kaylee's aunt questioned, her expression confused.
"It's not his fault, auntie. I made him promise me to not utter a word to all of you about it." she answered for him. "A war in the Wizarding World had been brewing and I would not endanger any more of my family left. One was already too much, I couldn't add the rest of you in the lot as well. I would have hated myself if the Death Eaters had managed to take a hold of one of you. They would have killed you like they killed Mum."
"We understand that, sweetheart, but why were you even targeted?"
"Because I was my godbrother's godsister, and his best friend. Naturally, I was very loyal to him. And because he was the most wanted, they would do anything to acquire those that Harry loved, to get him to surrender for them just to kill him and take away the threat that he posed towards their lord." she explained to them. "If you had been captured, I would have undoubtedly turned myself in for the exchange of your lives, which will be in their best interest as they have me to use over Harry's favour."
They were silent after that, staring at her with multiple emotions,—shock, fear, anger, disgust—finally understanding the magnitude of what consequences could have occurred if she had revealed herself to them.
"I love all of you but I also love Harry, and that was the only way I could come up with that would not put lives at risks." Kaylee finished then she shot Daniel a glare. "But this one had not been swayed and he just had to know everything." but she rolled her eyes fondly. "We were just lucky no Death Eater found out."
Although her family understood why their lives could have been in danger, they wanted to know why there was even a war to begin with. And what had occurred when she moved to be put in the care of the Malfoys. Thus, Kaylee proceeded to tell them every single detail she had entrusted to Daniel, and everything else that had transpired after her first meeting with Daniel. By the end of dinner, they understood and was appalled at all the events that took place that she was involved in. She did, however, hide what could have been a painful revelation to her family, regarding her abuse when she was younger and the Malfoy Manor in which she suffered greatly from many dark spells. Like Hermione, she also endured an engraving to her arm except hers had been inscribed with the word 'filth'. She also hid the fact that there had been a fifty-fifty percent chance she could have not made it out alive from the war.
Other than those horrific situations, her family took joy in the fact that Andromeda Tonks won over her second custody hearing against the Malfoys. It was an upgrade from the Malfoys guardianship, and Kaylee had wholeheartedly and a hundred percent agreed.
"And Sirius? You said your father was in a coma after the war but you never told us who actually attacked him." her uncle asked.
She stared at him painfully as she recalled the exact memory by accidentally bringing it in the forefront of her mind.
The war raged on.
Everywhere was in chaos, and the air was filled with the stench of death.
A student's body flew across a distance. Another fell and did not get up. Dead. Eyes empty of life. Of light. Dull. Soulless. Vacant. Their voices never to be heard again. Their dreams which will never be accomplished were shattered. From their death, a family will be torn apart. Despair. Sadness. Grief. Emotions which will be felt by everyone affected.
One by one they fell. One after the other, the list of victims grew. Students. Professors. People that held true to the side of good against the dark and evil. Individuals who fought for the same values in life: freedom and peace and love.
Gryffindors. Slytherins. Ravenclaws. Hufflepuffs. One united front, tackling the threat of greediness of a wizard and his followers. They who are completely lost to redemption.
Lights from spells lit up, flickered then dimmed. Red. Green. The dangerous indicator of pain and demise.
Only one student was left in the area against ten Death Eaters. She bore the colours of her house. Scarlet and gold. Her eyes were dark, the blue-green orbs fiery with fury. With wrath. The taste to avenge her fallen comraderies strong on her tongue. It spurred her on. It made her strong. And thus, she will not easily relinquish her life.
She defended. She fought. She avenged. She did not kill but she maimed.
One of the ten Death Eaters fell unconscious. Slumping. Crumbling. Out for the count. The girl faced the other nine, taking another two out while they were rigid with shock. But then they recovered. And they attacked harder together.
Though she ducked and she rolled, she was no match for seven against one. It does not mean that she will die without fighting. No, she will strike back with everything she had left.
And then he came. The only parent she had left.
"Kaylee!" His voice was full of panic and fear.
Kaylee was momentarily distracted and that was her undoing. Her father was her weakness, she knew beforehand. Her attention shifted to him and that was all it took for the Death Eaters to take the chance. At once, they all shot a spell. Red lights appeared. The Cruciatus Curse.
Kaylee screamed. She fell and landed roughly on her knees, dropping her wand which slid a few metres away from the floor. Although, she knew too well the sensation of the pain this particular spell brought, she would never really get accustomed to it. Like every pain anyone can imagine, it was inflicted onto them. Draining them of their energy. Of their life.
Then the agony was gone. She heard voices screaming the unforgiveable curse once more but she did not feel it. She heard Bellatrix cackle with madness. Crazy. Insane.
Kaylee did not feel anything but numbness. Confused, she slowly opened her eyes—which had somehow closed—and she found she lay on the floor. A figure was kneeling in front of her. Protecting her. Her eyes widened upon recognition of who they were. The familiar dark wavy hair of her father alerted her to him. He did not scream. He took it all in. The pain. Like knives stabbing you, cutting you, opening you all at the same time amongst others.
Kaylee tried to shout. She tried to move for her wand. But her muscles which ached would not let her. She whimpered and tried harder to speak, as that was the only thing that she could possibly do in that moment.
"D..Dad...Dadd...Daddy. N..noo."
She knew he heard her if his slight movement of his head was any indication. And then she heard him speak, his voice still strong. He was strong like a stone. Like someone made of steel. "I love you, Kaylee. My little angel. Know that I am so proud of you."
It was like he was saying goodbye. And she panicked. "N-no, Dad..dy. No. Pl..ease. Plea..se, d-don't le..ave me." she paused, trying to get up. When she still could not, she burst into tears. "I love you, too. So much."
After those words were said, his torture became worse. The same curse was repeated, each one becoming more painful than the last. Her father was beginning to get weak. She could see it from the trembling of his body. She wanted to reach out. She needed to do something.
Kaylee made another attempt to get her wand back, ignoring the pain, ignoring the ache. She would have been able to take it from the floor, she would have been able to save him, but a Death Eater kicked her on her back. They forced her onto her knees, one of their hands gripping her face hard. They forced her to watch as her father finally lay on the floor, all the fight dissolving from his system.
Bellatrix grinned at her, mocking her. She cackled once more. "Now, filthy half-blood, watch me as I kill your father." Kaylee screamed. She scratched at the arms that gripped her, that held the bottom part of her face painfully but they did not relent. Bellatrix lifted her wand and her mouth opened. And Kaylee was overcome with grief. With failure. She knew what will happen then. "Avada—"
But then they came. Mr. and Mrs. Weasley. The twins and Ginny. Charlie. Kingsley. Hermione. Ron. Harry. They took care of the last of the Death Eaters around her. The one who held her captive lost their hold and she was finally free from their clutches.
But they were still too late. Her father was immobile. His body unmoving. Motionless. His fate became that of Neville's parents' condition. Alive and breathing, but no sign of improvements from their comatose state.
She crawled and she cried as she made her way towards him. Kaylee desperately wished it was not real. That she was just seeing things. But when she got there, her wishes were for naught. He had been crucioed until he was unconscious.
So, Kaylee held him to her. Tight. Unmoving her hold of him. She cried. She screamed. She shouted. Until her voice was hoarse, until her throat became sore from her screaming and yelling. The others watched. Her extended family. Her friends. Her remaining professors. They flinched and they cringed at the raw hurt in her voice.
The heartache in her voice as she called for her father was painful. They, too, felt it. A deep agony. An unfathomable anguish. They were the sounds of genuine suffering.
It was then Kaylee understood just how much he loved her. As his only child, his love for her was unconditional. And she failed him.
She did not try hard enough save her father.
"Kaylee?"
She was brought back in the present when her grandmother called her. Her eyes were full of tears as she met her gentle gaze. "His cousin," she revealed. "His cousin was the one responsible. Bellatrix Lestrange. The same woman who killed Mum."
