Chapter 24 – An issue of trust
Stevenson Residence, 19 years previously
"Seriously mate, are you sure you know what you're doing?" asked James Potter, hazel eyes studying his best friend closely with a concerned expression. "I thought you were trying to leave all that behind."
Sirius shook his head, waving the hand that held a pint glass carelessly. "She's not like that – she wasn't brought up by purists, Prongs. She's…pretty normal."
Remus, who was sitting on the window sill behind them snorted into his glass at this remark and regarded Sirius with an amused expression. "How long have you been going out with her, Padfoot? Three years and you still think she's normal?"
"What? She is!" protested Sirius, looking bewildered as Remus shook his head in despair.
"She's also been eyeing up Eric Bateman for the past five minutes," chipped in Peter, joining them.
"What?" asked Sirius, whirling round, seeking out his girlfriend in the crowd of vague acquaintances. They were at Samantha Stevenson's wedding reception and the guest list mostly consisted of their old school mates, minus all Slytherins save for Katherine, who Sirius had insisted on bringing despite her protests that everyone would shun her. This hadn't in fact happened, but as Lily pointed out, this was most probably because everyone was too scared of what might befall them if they scorned her, rather than out of the goodness of their hearts.
Sirius spotted his nefarious girlfriend talking to Elliot North on the far side of the room and looking bored out of her mind. He frowned, wondering if Peter had been winding him up, but then he saw her eyes flicker over Elliot's shoulder in the direction of…yes, Eric Bateman. He scowled, and threaded his way over to her, ignoring Remus' chiding of Peter for being ridiculous.
"Everything all right, darling?" he asked, slipping an arm around Katherine's waist and frowning slightly at Elliot. Elliot backed off hurriedly, muttering some excuse or other and Katherine glanced up at him, bright blue eyes almost surprised.
"Fine – utterly bored, but fine. Is something up? You look like someone's scratched your motorbike."
"Hey – don't joke about that," said Sirius, treating her to his best puppy dog look. She laughed and kissed him by way of apology, then lent her head back on his shoulder and resumed her study of Eric. "But since you ask…" he said slowly.
"What?" she asked, tearing her gaze away and looking up into his reproving eyes. "What's wrong?"
"Aside from the fact that you're either incredible callous or deliberately trying to make me jealous?" he asked, looking hurt. Katherine's innocent gaze descended to confusion and she arched a questioning eyebrow at him. "Bateman," he said, contriving to put as much feeling into the one word as possible.
"Bateman…? Oh – oh, no, I wasn't-" she laughed, relaxing in his arms and stroking his hair absently with one hand. "I was just wondering what he was doing here."
"You know him?"
"Uh huh," she replied, casting another glance in his direction and this time Sirius could see the real feeling behind it – distrust.
"Dare I ask how?" he ventured, arms unconsciously clasping her waist a little tighter.
"Tom," she answered, twisting her head to look up at him. "Can't see anyone else thou-" She stopped, and Sirius followed her gaze. His eyes settled on a young boy of about twelve who was gazing calmly at Katherine with amber eyes. Something about the boy's face reminded Sirius of someone, but he couldn't quite place it at that moment.
"He's a bit young, isn't he?" asked Sirius, giving his mind time to try and make the connection.
"In training," muttered Katherine, twisting herself out of his arms and gliding through the crowd to meet the boy. Sirius leant against the wall, watching her talk quietly to him and he suddenly realised who the boy reminded him of – those hollow cheekbones and narrow eyes were Snape's.
"You two haven't had a fight, have you?" asked James, sauntering up to his friend and unfortunately not hiding the hope in his voice incredibly well. Sirius scowled at him, but he couldn't hold a grudge against James for anything and gave up the futile attempt to make his friend feel remorse for his relentless suspicion of his girlfriend. He sighed and shook his head.
"Bateman's a DE."
James started, staring at his friend. "Seriously?"
"Kat may be many things, but she's not a liar – not about things like that," said Sirius firmly, taking a swig of his beer.
"But he just went outside with Frank – said he had something to show him," said James, hazel eyes clearly showing his anxiety. Sirius opened his mouth to try and assuage his friend's fears, but Katherine reappeared at that moment, looking grim.
"Then I suggest you get after him," she said in a quiet voice, nodding in the direction of the door. "Otherwise Frank won't be around for very much longer…"
x – X – x
"Well she sounds absolutely mental," pronounced George Weasley, tossing down the paper and grinning at his brother. Fred shook his head, laughing and continued stacking the shelves of their shop.
Tonks frowned, drumming her fingertips on the counter. "It's not funny – she's dangerous. Just...look out for anyone suspicious, all right?"
"We've seen her picture, Tonks," said Fred, standing up and looking seriously at her. "We weren't planning on giving her guided tour of this place or anything."
"No," agreed George. "But you have to admit, her track record is pretty cool. I mean not many people would decide the easiest way to get rid of a dozen Aurors is to turn the floor they're standing on into a portkey."
"Who told you about that?" asked Tonks, her dark eyes narrowing suspiciously.
"Moody," said Fred, grinning again. "He really hates her, doesn't he?"
"It took him years to catch her," said Tonks grudgingly. "He's not all too keen on her being out again."
"Is it true they've let him back on the Auror squad?" asked George, opening the till and starting to count out the change for that day.
Tonks made a face; she didn't know how these two managed to find out all this stuff. "He's advising on the case," she admitted. "He's known her for a long time, so they thought it wise to consult him."
The twins exchanged a look, then Fred asked carefully: "Have they consulted Remus?"
Tonks looked sharply up at him. "What?"
"He knows her, doesn't he? They went to school together," put in George.
Tonks frowned but was saved from saying anything by a knock at the door. Fred peered round the shelves to see who it was, then hurried to open the door. He returned a moment later, Remus himself in tow.
"Remus, what are you doing here?" asked Tonks, beaming at him.
"I've got a message from Molly – she's cooking a large meal tonight and wants everyone there – you included, Tonks," answered Remus, smiling back at her.
"What's the occasion?" asked George, shutting the till and looking over it at Remus.
"Well Bill and Fleur came back from their honeymoon last week and now they've got settled in their flat your Mum wanted to welcome her into the family properly, I think," said Remus, shrugging. "And she said to tell you specifically not to pull any pranks, ok?"
"Well you can tell her we'll be there," nodded Fred, returning to his shelf stacking.
"But we can't give a guarantee on the no jokes ban," added George, grinning broadly.
Remus chuckled and Tonks slid off the chair she'd been sitting on. "Well I'd best get back to work – I'm meant to be giving out warnings and you two have kept me here for over half an hour," she said, pointing accusingly at the twins.
"You could have left," objected George, looking innocent. "You were just enthralled with our charming company."
Tonks laughed and shook her head despairingly, then left the shop with Remus. Fred glanced at George thoughtfully, holding a box of brightly coloured fireworks in his hands.
"Well it is supposed to be a celebration," he said quietly.
x – X – x
Godric's Hollow, 19 years previously
"Now James, be nice," said Lily Potter, looking severely at her husband.
"What?" asked James, face the picture of innocence. "I am nice."
"I think what she's trying to say, Prongs, is don't scowl at Katherine all evening like you did last time," said Remus lightly, as the doorbell rang.
"I did not scowl at her all evening," protested James as Lily went to answer the door. Remus raised an eyebrow, looking reprovingly at his friend. "Ok, maybe I frowned a little-"
"Prongs?" Sirius Black's familiar head appeared round the door and James broke off hurriedly.
"Hi," he grinned, then, after an encouraging look from Remus added, "How's Katherine?"
"Fine, but she couldn't come - had to work late," said Sirius carelessly, sauntering into the kitchen and pouring himself a drink. James brightened up considerably at this news and by the time Peter arrived he was back to his normal self.
The five of them spent an enjoyable evening together until the doorbell rang again at half ten. James answered it, but the grin on his face disappeared when he saw who it was.
"I thought you were working late," he frowned, leaning on the door frame.
Katherine arched an eyebrow. "I was. I work quick." She frowned for a moment then asked suddenly, "Is Meredith Tyler your cousin?"
James started, hazel eyes narrowing slightly. "Why?"
"'Cause she's in Saint Mungo's," said Katherine promptly. "Got attacked – don't worry, she's fine – it's just a cautionary procedure. They're keeping her in overnight for observation."
A flurry of emotions crossed James' face at this news and settled on confusion. "How do you know this?"
"Like I said," said Katherine quietly. "I was working."
"At the Mi-" James stopped at the look Katherine gave him and smiled sourly. "Not at the Ministry."
"No."
"But Meredith's all right?" asked James softly.
"Yes, hardly a scratch on her," reassured Katherine, her blue eyes sincere. "I just thought I should let you know."
"Who is it, Prongs?" asked Remus over his shoulder as he headed to the kitchen to fetch more drinks. James was about to answer when Katherine put a finger to her lips and shook her head, retreating into the shadows of the garden. James' hesitation in answering, however, caused Remus to stop and walk over to him. "Everything ok?"
"Yeah," said James quietly, shutting the door softly. "Fine."
x – X – x
"How are we going to get a note to Avery?" asked Ron, running a troubled hand through his already messy hair. "I mean, trying to make it look inconspicuous is just going to make it more so."
"Well how about if we just ask Remus to contact Katherine?" suggested Hermione, sighing heavily. "She did say he'd probably do it."
"And ask a lot of questions," put in Harry, shaking his head. "We don't ask Remus unless we really need to. We'll just have to send Avery the note."
"And you trust him?" asked Hermione, brown eyes sceptical.
"About as much as I trust Katherine," shrugged Harry, wiping his glasses on his shirt. "Probably less, actually."
"Precisely," said Hermione quickly. "Avery didn't seem that keen on us – at least we know Katherine won't betray us – she likes Remus too much to do anything to hurt him."
"But if we could send her an owl, she would have said," said Harry tiredly. "There's got to be a reason we can't and there'd be a lot of trouble if it got intercepted."
"Ron! Harry! Hermione! Dinner's ready!" Mrs Weasley's voice floated up to them, bringing an end to their conversation and summoning them downstairs. The table was set out in the garden and magically enlarged to fit everyone in. Tonks and Remus were there, along with Alastor Moody and Kingsley Shacklebolt. Mrs Weasley went inside to get some more punch and came back two minutes later accompanied by Faye Belle.
"Someone to see you, Remus," said Mrs Weasley, setting the drink down on the table and nodding at Faye. Remus glanced up and smiled and a few people called hello to Faye. Harry however looked cautiously at Faye out of the corner of his eye. Remus had smiled when he saw Faye, true, but then he'd frowned. It was a momentary thing, only lasting a second but Harry had noticed it and it didn't seem consistent with the greeting of old friends.
"Are you staying?" asked Tonks, smiling up at Faye, who shook her head.
"Just dropping off some papers for Remus," she answered, pulling some folders out of the bag she had slung over her shoulder. Remus stood up to take them, looking slightly bemused to Harry. "Stuff on the Dark Arts," she added in a softer voice, though still smiling pleasantly. Harry wondered if he was imagining it, but there was something distinctly un-Fayish about that smile.
At that moment there was an explosion that made Ron spill his punch over the table and everyone stared towards the far end of the garden where three rockets had just zoomed into the air, leaving trails of sparks behind them. A second later another firework ignited, spinning round and round in a tight wheel of white fire.
Harry joined in the laughter with the rest of them, though his eyes were drawn once again to Faye. There was something not right about her, he was sure of that. His eyes fell to the wand that was tucked into the belt of her jeans and started. He hadn't seen Faye that much, but he was positive her wand had been made of some kind of light wood – beech or maple or something, but whatever it was, it wasn't as dark as the wand that was now rested on her hip – that was ebony or mahogany surely. What were the chances she'd changed her wand? Were they less than the chance that the person standing next to Remus wasn't her?
Above them the remainder of the fireworks exploded in a shower of sparks and a whining rocket spelt out something Harry couldn't understand in French.
"Welcome to the family, Fleur," read Faye, smiling slightly and then Remus did something that made Harry positive that whoever it was, it definitely wasn't Faye that had given Remus the papers – he turned sharply and whispered something urgently in her ear as Fleur squealed delightedly and hugged Fred and George.
"What's wrong?" asked Hermione quietly, as Fleur turned to hug Faye, who smiled brightly at her and said something in French.
"That's not Faye," answered Harry in a low voice. Ron looked up at him, startled.
"Then who-?" asked Hermione, but Ron nudged her and raised his eyebrows.
"Who'd you think," he said quietly, glancing towards her. "Who else knows Remus?"
"She wouldn't risk it..." began Hermione, darting a cautious glance at Moody. "Would she?"
"Remus did say she wasn't exactly an animagus," said Harry in a soft voice. "The only other thing I know that can change shape at will is a metamorphmagus."
They all looked over at Remus and 'Faye' again, trying to find something that would confirm their suspicions as Fleur laughed and returned to her seat next to Bill. Faye said something quietly to Remus who nodded.
"I'd better be off," she said in a slightly louder voice, though Harry still had to strain to hear it. "Lessons to plan and all that."
"Right, I'll see you some other time, then," agreed Remus. Faye smiled and cast an eye towards the smoking remains of the fireworks.
"Almost worthy of the Marauders, that."
Remus laughed and muttered something in the affirmative, not noticing Fred and George's heads whip round to stare at the two old friends.
"Marauders?" asked George, trying to sound nonchalant and failing.
Faye glanced at them, then at Remus, who was frowning.
"You know the Marauders?" asked Fred, eyes alight with interest.
"Oh dear, have I got you into trouble?" asked Faye, looking at Remus with bright emerald eyes and trying very hard to suppress a smirk. The twins frowned at this comment and Faye grinned wickedly at them. "Yes, I think I'd better go now." She smiled slyly at Remus who was still looking confused and hoisted her bag up onto her shoulder. "Bye Moony."
Fred and George's eyes very nearly popped out of their heads at this last remark and rounded on Remus who was half smiling now. "Ah, I always did wonder where Harry got the map from," he said quietly.
Faye grinned at him and walked towards the back door, intending to leave. Harry jumped up from his seat, muttering something about needing the toilet and followed her. He caught up with her by the front door.
"Katherine?"
Faye stopped, turning her head to look at him with narrowed eyes. "Damn you're sharp."
"Can I talk to you?" he asked as she leant against the door, arms folded.
"You are, aren't you?"
"It's about...them."
"What about them?" asked Katherine, her eyes playful. "We haven't found anything yet if that's what you're wondering."
"No, I just wanted to tell you that two of them are already destroyed. And," he hesitated, then pressed on resolutely. "And there are seven of them. Probably." He shrugged and added, "That's what Dumbledore thought anyway."
Katherine tilted her head sideways, surveying him with interest. "What were the other two?"
"A diary and a ring. I destroyed the diary and Dumbledore did the ring," answered Harry in a subdued voice.
"A diary?" asked Katherine, arching an eyebrow. "Tom had a diary?"
"He used it to possess...someone. It made them open the Chamber of Secrets," said Harry, glancing up at her.
"And you found the Chamber?"
"Yes."
"You went in a girl's bathroom?" Harry stared at her and she smiled grimly. "You're not the only one who found it. You can speak parseltongue, then?"
"Yes," replied Harry quietly. "I didn't know the diary was a horcrux when I destroyed it."
"No, you were only twelve I seem to recall," she said, looking oddly at him.
"How do you know that?"
She smiled again and said mysteriously, "You're the stuff of legends, Potter. A friend told me – no, not Remus. A different friend. How did you kill it, anyway?"
Harry frowned at the term 'kill' but replied: "I stabbed it with a basilisk fang."
Katherine arched an eyebrow again. "And where was the basilisk at this point?"
"Dead."
"Who killed it?"
"I did."
"With magic?"
"No, with a sword," said Harry, frowning. "Why all the questions?"
"I'm intrigued," said Katherine, smiling languidly. "What about the ring?"
"It was Salazar's – I don't know how Dumbledore destroyed it," replied Harry, glancing back towards the garden. Someone was sure to come looking for him in a minute, though Ron and Hermione would hopefully stall them for as long as possible.
"Well in that case we're over half way there. Assuming the seventh part is in Tom, that leaves us two more to find."
Harry frowned at her, not quite agreeing with her arithmetic. "Three more," he said slowly.
Katherine smiled. "I forgot to tell you – I destroyed one too. A statue – when I was seventeen." She laughed, though Harry could detect little mirth in it. "I didn't know it was a horcrux either."
"What was the statue of?" asked Harry, not quiet sure he believed her, but her next words convinced him of the sincerity of her words.
"Rowena Ravenclaw."
Something of Ravenclaw's. That just left Hufflepuff's cup and Nagini...
"Dumbledore thought Nagini might be one," ventured Harry. "And he thinks Tom stole Hufflepuff's cup, too."
Katherine raised her eyebrows. "Nagini?"
"Voldemort's snake."
"Tom has a snake?" asked Katherine, giving Harry an incredulous look. "Seriously? Well, I'll see if I can find her – it should be easy enough to do away with her, but we'd better leave that till last. I'm pretty sure Tom will notice if someone kills his pet – better aim for the cup first."
"You said you had an idea where to look?"
"I'm working on it."
"The locket was in a cave," offered Harry and Katherine smiled grimly.
"Ah, well that eliminates one place. I thought he might have hidden one there – it was the first time he really used his powers, I believe. Well I'll see what I can do. Something as powerful as a horcrux corrupts the things around it."
Harry frowned at this. "The locket didn't."
"No? Kreacher was always a spiteful little thing, but he wasn't mental," said Katherine quietly. "He wasn't normal Harry – that kind of madness doesn't stem from being alone for a couple of decades. I should know; the Death Eaters who escaped from Azkaban had the Dementors to deal with and even they're not as crazy as Kreacher was." She sighed heavily as the clock in the lounge struck nine. "I should go. I promise I'll owl as soon as something comes up. Goodbye Harry."