A/N: Thanks for all the great reviews; they're greatly appreciated. Here is the next chapter, as promised. :)

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Chapter 16 – One way or another

Katherine and Remus looked up into the bold faces of the trio.

"Augustus," said Hermione, something in her tone making her sound almost defiant.

Katherine stared blankly at her. "It's September," she put in helpfully.

"Augustus," repeated Hermione forcefully. "Regulus' middle name. Was it Augustus?"

"I think you already know the answer to that question," said Katherine softly. "Now what I want to know is, why is that important? The man died before you were born, he was a Death Eater, which you don't seem to consider an acceptable career move and he was a Slytherin which, seeing as you're all unmistakably Gryffindors, you won't be able to relate to at all. So why the interest?"

"You said he didn't run away from his problems," said Harry, folding his arms. "And that's practically an admission that he did have some - plus Sirius said that Regulus got too deeply involved in Death Eater activity. If he didn't try to back out, then he must have tried to destroy the organisation."

"Kill Voldemort?" asked Katherine, looking highly amused. "You think Reg tried to do away with a man who tells us on a regular basis that he is immortal?"

"No one's indestructible," said Harry firmly, gaze locked with Katherine's.

"That may be," she conceded quietly. "But I don't think anyone's told the Dark Lord that."

"It doesn't stop it being true," argued Harry, brow furrowed.

"You'd be surprised," smiled Katherine enigmatically. "There are some who would say you could fly if you didn't believe in gravity."

"That's just stupid," remarked Hermione, raising her eyebrows slightly.

Katherine grinned wickedly. "You think so? They were the ones who invented the broomstick."

"What are you saying? That he can't be defeated?" asked Harry, narrowing his eyes suspiciously.

"I'm saying that anything is possible if you want it hard enough, and the Dark Lord doesn't have any stupid things like morals to stop him doing exactly as he pleases," said Katherine sincerely, adding darkly: "You can't go to hell if you can't die."

"You think he really is immortal?"

"I think he believes he is," shrugged Katherine. "And if everyone else believes he is, I don't see that the logistics of it have to make any sense."

Harry frowned at her, emerald eyes searching her face for a clue as to whether Hermione's guess was right. If Katherine knew about the horcruxes, why was she pretending that Voldemort was indestructible...but then, just because she knew, that didn't mean she was planning on destroying them. Sure, she was concerned for Remus, but concerned enough to risk the Dark Lord's wrath?

"He's not immortal," said Harry firmly. "No one is."

To his surprise, Katherine grinned. "And that conviction would be why you're the only one who can vanquish him, right?"

Remus sighed heavily, as Harry stared at her. Vanquish... Was that just a coincidence? She couldn't know it could she...?

"Katherine, that's just a rumour. The Prophet's grabbing headlines," said Remus in a tired voice, looking wearily at his friend. "You of all people should know that."

Katherine glanced sideways at Remus. "Rem, will you do something for me?"

"What?"

"Cast your mind back a couple of decades and remember that I am not an idiot."

Remus scowled at her, but Harry spoke before he had a chance to retaliate.

"You know it."

Katherine tilted her head to one side and frowned. "Know what, exactly?"

"The Prophecy."

"What?" interjected Remus sharply, a mix of anxiety and anger on his face.

"I know it," said Katherine calmly, gazing up at Harry. "Tom doesn't."

"Wait, what? How-?" began Remus, turning her round to face him.

Katherine sighed, giving Remus an appraising look. "Really, think back twenty years. It's not that difficult." When Remus still looked blank, she rolled her eyes and said patiently, "I was head of the Hall of Prophecy in the Department of Mysteries, Rem. Seriously, why did no one notice that? Even Robert didn't; seems like everyone's dropped a couple of IQ points since I've been gone - except Nic, maybe. She seems to have doubled hers..."

"You know the Prophecy?" asked Remus, as though he still couldn't believe it. "The whole prophecy?"

"'Course I do," shrugged Katherine. "I filed it a couple of months before I got arrested – and you should really put that wand away Potter, it's only going to cause trouble."

Harry, who had been trying to work out if he knew any spells for pushing people over buildings, glared at her. "Trouble? Voldemort's trying to kill me and I'm standing on a rooftop with a convicted Death Eater who tried to kill my parents. I think I'm already in quite a lot of trouble, thank you very much. A little more shouldn't hurt."

"Firstly Potter, Voldemort is not here; he is completely irrelevant to this conversation. Secondly, yes, I did try to kill your parents – the operative word being tried. I didn't. This is unusual for me – you might want to give that some thought." Katherine paused for a moment, gazing at Harry's obstinate expression, then continued, "And thirdly, I can promise you that more trouble would hurt; I would make very sure of that."

"Is that a threat?" asked Harry angrily.

"Did it sound like one?" asked Katherine scathingly. "Because if it did, it probably was."

"Tom Riddle," said Harry through gritted teeth. If Katherine could make threats then so could he. The name didn't have quite the effect he expected, though afterwards he wondered what he had thought would happen.

Katherine just gazed at him benignly, though Remus visibly stiffened, which surprised Harry.

"Who?" asked Katherine calmly.

"Downstairs you asked if Greyback worked for Tom. How did you know his name?"

"Harry..." began Remus, but Katherine silenced him, frowning slightly.

"D'you hear that?"

"Hear what?" Remus stared at her in bewilderment. Harry had just asked about her father and she didn't seem even the slightest bit concerned.

"Police sirens," whispered Hermione, stepping up to the edge of the roof and gazing over.

"You'd better go somewhere you can get an alibi," said Katherine softly, gazing at Remus anxiously. "Because a load of muggles just heard a group of men being attacked by a big cat and that's going to attract Auror attention."

"It's not full moon," put in Remus, though he stood up all the same.

"Minor detail. You want to hang around here and hope no one suggests it might have been a wolf?"

Remus shook his head and sighed. "This conversation isn't over, Katherine."

Katherine shrugged and got to her feet. "Here, you can take this." She walked a little way along the rooftop and reached out into what appeared to be thin air. A sheet came away in her hand, light glinting off the silvery material and off the gleaming metal it had concealed.

Remus gaped, stepping forward to get a better look at it. "Is that what I think it is?"

"How did you get that thing up here?" asked Hermione, staring at Katherine.

"How d'you think? I flew," answered Katherine, looking slightly amused.

"Flying vehicles are illegal," frowned Ron, but he said it quietly.

"Not if you have a license," said Remus, running a hand over the gleaming bodywork.

"Precisely," nodded Katherine.

"Do you have a license, Kat?" he continued, glancing sternly at his friend.

"Of course."

"And it's still valid?"

"I wouldn't know. They took it when I went to Azkaban."

"You've been riding an unlicensed flying motorbike over London in broad daylight?" asked Harry incredulously, frowning a little – not in disbelief though; he looked like he was trying to put together a puzzle when he knew half the pieces were missing.

"Don't look at me like that – it's fixed with a DG," said Katherine defensively, fishing the keys out of her jeans pocket and tossing them to Remus.

"A what?"

"Disbelief Generator," explained Remus. "If anyone sees it, they can't believe their eyes."

"So they don't," smiled Katherine.

"Isn't that rather unethical?" asked Hermione, looking as though she thoroughly disapproved.

"Why? Doesn't do any harm."

"How do you know?"

"I don't. I also don't much care. Anyway, don't blame me, I didn't make it," said Katherine flippantly, peering over the edge of the building. The police car had stopped at the foot of the building and two policeman were getting out.

"You stole it?"

Katherine turned around and gave Harry an odd look. "Now why would you assume that? I was sent to Azkaban for murder and crimes against humanity, not petty theft. And seeing as you seem to be in the mood for awkward questions, it belonged to my fiancée. And no, I didn't steal it – I'm just borrowing it, ok?"

"So you're going to give it back?"

"Can't. He's dead," said Katherine shortly. "Anyway, Rem – you take the bike, and you three-" she gestured to the discontented trio, "- you apparate back to wherever you're supposed to be. I've got a friend who can cover your tracks."

"You can't do that for me?" asked Remus, swinging a leg over the bike all the same.

"Too short notice. They'll track your movements first – he can erase these three while they're checking for you," explained Katherine. "Now go – but I wouldn't mention our meeting to anyone if I were you."

"Why? Scared the Aurors will catch up with you?" asked Harry, looking mutinous once more.

"No, but what d'you think they'll do if they find out Remus – a werewolf – is connected with me – an escaped convict. D'you want him to see the light of day again? Then I suggest you keep quiet," said Katherine firmly, looking Harry resolutely in the eye. Harry glanced at Remus, who looked apologetic but nodded.

"You should go. It wouldn't look good if you were found here," he said wearily. The trio looked for a moment as though they were going to argue, but a few disgruntled moments later, they thought better of it and disappeared.

"Of course," said Remus thoughtfully. "It wouldn't look good for you if anyone found out you'd met Harry Potter and not killed him. What was it your friend said? 'Hate the parents, but not the son?'"

"I didn't kill James, Remus."

"You tried."

"I don't miss."

"You hit your partner!" said Remus hotly.

"Who d'you think I was bloody aiming for?!" snapped Katherine, then shut her mouth abruptly, but it was too late; she'd already slipped up. Remus just stared at her, not quite knowing what to make of it. Finally he asked softly:

"Why did you come here? When I opened the door, the first thing you asked was whether I'd seen the paper. What's in the paper?"

"Wouldn't know. I haven't read it," muttered Katherine, looking intently at her fingers.

"What was so important then?"

She did look up that time, glancing agitatedly at the door leading up to the roof, though of course the Aurors wouldn't be around for at least another ten minutes, and they wouldn't think to search the roof for another five...

"I wanted a favour."

"Wanted? You don't anymore?"

"I don't know if you'd agree anymore," shrugged Katherine, and Remus was surprised to see she meant it. She actually thought he could refuse her something; she must be feeling guilty. The question was, exactly what did she have to be guilty for? She'd just said she hadn't tried to kill James, hadn't she...?

"Try me."

Dark blue eyes gazed into light brown ones. "I need you not to kill Severus."

Remus almost laughed at her for that, but the sound died in his throat. It wasn't that he didn't want to get his hands on the traitor, it was the fact that she'd said needed. Not, 'I want you not to kill Severus', not, 'please don't kill Severus', but 'I need you not to kill Severus'.

All of a sudden he was fifteen again and they weren't on a rooftop in London, they were on top of the Astronomy Tower at Hogwarts and Katherine was telling him about Tom Riddle and gazing glassily out over the grounds, face whiter than snow and just as cold. She'd needed him then. And he'd been there...for a week or two. Then term had started and they'd drifted apart, like they always did around others.

Only at Easter, they were still apart. It wasn't till the summer holidays started that she'd come back, full of tears and regret, and by then it was already too late. She wasn't the mischievous, fresh Katherine he'd known. She was...well, she was the new Katherine.

And now? He wasn't sure. This post-Azkaban Katherine was a different person too. A whole new personality, but the same old traits. The same vulnerability. And she needed Severus. She loved Severus. She loved Sirius too, and him of course, but that was a different kind of love. Different love for different people. Very different people.

"I won't," he said very quietly. Not because he'd get locked up for the rest of his natural life if he did, and certainly not because he didn't want to – the man deserved it after all, but because Katherine was in love with him.

And because she'd asked. She'd never asked him for anything before. Not anything important at any rate. Only that he stay with her, and she'd never actually asked that. It was just a mutual thing they'd decided on. Outcasts together.

"Not even when you find out what he's done?" asked Katherine, gaze falling to the floor again.

"He's killed Dumbledore and betrayed the Order," said Remus heavily. And stolen my oldest friend's heart, heaven knows how... "I doubt he can do much worse."

Katherine laughed a short, mirthless laugh. "He's a Slytherin. There are no depths to which we would not stoop."

We? Just how guilty was she? And for what? For not killing one of his best friends when she'd promised she wouldn't?

"Tell me," he ordered, getting worried by now. Katherine closed her eyes and said hurriedly:

"He was harbouring Peter Pettigrew at his house for over a year." There was a long silence. Katherine opened one eye cautiously and peered at him. "You're mad, aren't you?"

"You knew this?"

"Not until recently."

"How recently?"

"Couple of days."

"Before or after you burst into Auror HQ?"

Katherine made a face. "Before."

Well at least she was honest. "You didn't think to bring him in?"

"And have him handed over to the Aurors?" Katherine asked, eyebrows raised. She was actually surprised he'd suggested it. "Put up in a cosy little cell for a couple of days before Dad breaks him out? No thank you. I can think of much better punishments, thanks very much."

Remus scowled at her, not caring that he was wasting time. "And how do you suppose to find him if he has escaped? We've been trying to track him down for..." Then he stopped. Katherine had that look in her eyes again, the look that said: 'you walked right into that one, didn't you?'

Of course. That about summed up her view of the Order; bunch of idiots that couldn't find convict in Azkaban. Whereas Katherine...well, she was the needle in the haystack and as such she knew that the way to find all the other needles was to get a very large magnet and wait for them to come to you.

Peter was a Death Eater.

Death Eaters had meetings.

Of course she could find him. She could find him whenever she wanted to.

"I didn't know," she said quietly. "That there was a traitor, I mean. He must have joined after I got arrested. I would have told you if I'd known. Do you believe me?"

Remus gazed at her for a long moment, then smiled faintly. "Course I do."

She smiled back, and then voices floated up from the stairwell and she was on her feet in an instant. "Go."

Remus turned the key in the ignition and the motorbike purred into life. He had to give her credit – she'd even put stealth charms on the engine. Smart girl. He nodded to her, then was off without another word.

He didn't look back, he didn't need to. She would have got away. She always did.

Funny, he'd never even considered that one day she wouldn't. He hadn't believed the papers when they said she'd been arrested; he was sure they'd made a mistake. Katherine didn't go round getting caught. It went against her nature.

And yet she had. He'd always wondered about that. Didn't look like he'd find out why any time soon, either.

Still, he had another piece of the puzzle now. She'd slipped up, hadn't she?

She'd got caught and it had something to do with not killing James. And then there was what Faye had said last night: "She's not as careless as she used to be. It's like she's found something to channel her energy into..."

Whatever it was, he'd find out. One way or another...

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Now that wasn't a horrendous cliffie, was it? Barely even a hill. I think that deserves feedback. ;)