A/N: Since the last chapter got some nice reviews, I thought I'd post this quickly and not keep you in suspense. First though, I'll reply to those of you whom I can't reply to individually:

ivy – I'm really glad you like my story, and your English seems excellent to me.

mandita – Yes, the end is indeed in sight, and I've actually planned the chapters our for once. Updates should be relatively quick now, as I've pretty much been planning this ending since about half way through Fire Burns. It's changed a bit, but it's remained basically the same. As for whether Katherine would kill Draco, well, I think she's mainly relying on the fact that Lucius will give in, but you never can tell with her.

Mysti - Good to know you liked the chapter, and I hope this update is quick enough. :)

Friend – I didn't mean to end it there, but I thought a 20 page chapter was overkill, so my apologies. As for seeing the last of Katherine, I might write a selection of snapshots in the time between leaving Hogwarts and the Dark Lord's first fall, but I'm not sure yet. There's definitely going to be another one-shot from Katherine's point of view up in the not too distant future, though...

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Chapter 53, Part 2 – The beginning of the end

"Katherine, unless you're intending to murder the Dark Lord very soon, there will most likely be another meeting between now and then," said Lucius, and it seemed to Harry that there was a touch of desperation in his voice. "And since I cannot hide my emotions nearly so well as our dear friend Severus - and considering, after all these years, the Dark Lord still has no idea as to the full extent of his feelings towards you, I must suppose he can hide them very well – he will know that something is amiss."

Katherine held his gaze for a moment, then looked over at Harry. "How long d'you reckon you need to prepare? A day? A week?"

Harry glanced at Lucius, but the damage had already been done there – he either told or he didn't, and letting him know the date could hardly make things any worse.

"About a week, I suppose," he said, thinking about it. "Maybe a bit longer."

"Think you can hold out for that long?" said Katherine, half grinning at Lucius. "Or do I need to kill you?"

"Are you serious about this?" asked Lucius, grey eyes searching hers earnestly.

"Deadly."

"Then I'll leave and we'll say no more about it."

"Wise decision," said Robert, smiling grimly. Lucius raised his eyebrows, looking morose.

"I doubt that, Avery, but it is, of course, the only one that gives me a fighting chance. And you," he added, turning to Katherine. "Are worse than your father."

With that, he left, striding out of the room and into the maze of corridors beyond.

"Charming man, I've always thought," said Katherine, watching him go with a vaguely amused look on her face.

"You're really letting him go?" asked Robert, staring at her.

"Lucius may be many things, Rob, but he's still human and he loves his son, however much he may pretend otherwise," said Katherine, looking mildly at him. "Besides, I owe him. Twice."

"For what?" asked Robert, frowning at her; he'd never heard Katherine and Lucius do anything but argue.

"Stuff," said Katherine shortly, and the tone of her voice carried its own warnings against pressing further. "You never answered my question, Harry. Did you find it?"

"Taking into account the fact that you never actually told us what to look for," said Harry, folding his arms and frowning at her from his position on the chair. "And sent us into a booby trapped house which, incidentally, has a very misleading name, and then took your bloody time coming to help us, it's a wonder we're still here at all. And what did Malfoy mean about Snape's feelings towards you?"

Robert glanced at Katherine, biting down a smirk and she glared at him, daring to make a remark, but he only smiled and became suddenly fascinated by the ceiling. Katherine sighed and slumped against the dark mahogany panels that lined the walls, left hand curled around her necklace, and met Harry's irked gaze.

"First off, I presumed that as soon you couldn't find any books by JH Raine, you'd go to Draco in case he was author of some dark magic tome. Did you?"

"Yeah," admitted Harry, grudgingly.

"And he said?"

"That JH Raine was an architect and that he built a place called Sunshine Palace, which is now used by Death Eaters," said Harry, glancing at Ron and Hermione, in case he'd missed anything, but they only nodded their agreement.

"And you didn't expect to find booby traps in a place used by Death Eaters?" questioned Katherine, arching an incredulous eyebrow.

"Not ones that try and decapitate you the moment you walk in the door, no," said Harry irritably, glowering at her. "If it wasn't for Hermione, Ron'd probably be joining the Headless Hunt right about now."

"Very good thing you've got Hermione then, isn't it?" said Katherine calmly, and hurriedly continued before Harry could cut in. "As for the name – Raine was a vampire."

"And?" asked Harry, totally nonplussed.

"Sunshine is deadly to vampires," said Hermione quietly, looking to Katherine for confirmation. "Worst way to die, for them."

"Right," agreed Katherine. "If he'd been human, he'd probably have named it Poison Palace or something similar, and coated the walls with arsenic."

"What?" This last comment drew blank stares from the trio.

"The walls are made of wood," supplied Robert, tapping the polished panels with his knuckles. "Also deadly to vampires."

"So this entire house is a death trap?" asked Ron, giving Katherine an unimpressed stare. "You sent us into a death trap?"

"For vampires, not for humans."

"But a death trap nevertheless."

"You want to kill Nagini, you need to track her down, something you can only reliably do with an object from this house," said Katherine serenely, looking at Harry. "Something else I was banking on Draco mentioning to you."

"The Obsidian Stone?" asked Harry, reaching into his jeans pocket and pulling it out; Katherine grinned.

"So he did tell you about it."

"It was the only thing he did know was in the place," said Harry, examining the stone. "Said it could charm snakes. Said he'd overheard you talking about it to some other Death Eater a few weeks ago." He scowled at her. "You could have just told us what we had to do."

"Where's the adventure in that?" asked Katherine, blue eyes glimmering with amusement once more. "Far better to use your brain and work things out for yourself."

"Well what are we supposed to do with it," asked Hermione, arching her eyebrows. "What use is charming a snake we can't find?"

"Draco only said it could charm snakes because that's what he heard me tell McKenzie," said Katherine, shaking her head. "That's not what it is really."

"Well what is it, then?" questioned Ron, peering over Harry's shoulder at the smooth, fist sized black stone.

"It's a summoning stone," said Robert, though his gaze rested on Katherine, not the object in Harry's hand. "You can use it to call Nagini – the Dark Lord created it a few months after he came back to power. Just an experiment, I think, and the snake was his test subject."

"Experimenting for what?" frowned Hermione, as Katherine glanced at Robert.

"Calling us, I suppose," said Robert, still giving Katherine a shrewd look. "In case he ever only wanted a certain person to come to him, or maybe he was just trying to see if you were still alive, Kat."

"He doesn't have anything of mine to put into a stone," said Katherine darkly. "You'd need blood or something."

"Maybe, but that's not the point, Katherine. Only the Dark Lord can use that stone – it's not of any use to us," said Robert, frowning at her.

"So this has been for nothing?" asked Ron, staring at Katherine incredulously.

"No - we don't need Tom to make it work, we've got Harry," said Katherine, tearing her gaze away from Robert and speaking quickly. "When we went after Hufflepuff's cup, you said you had a link with Voldemort, created the night he tried to kill you, and then that night in the graveyard he took your blood. That means when he made the Obsidian Stone, he made it work for both of you. You can use it because it'll recognise your blood and magical signature Tom left on you the night he failed to murder you as a baby."

There was silence for a few seconds, while everyone took this in, then Robert said in a quiet voice: "Katherine?"

"Yes?"

"That's the second time you've come out with something you couldn't possibly have known."

"What?" She frowned, staring at him in bewilderment.

"You weren't at the graveyard," said Robert firmly. "I know – I was there. First you mention the ghosts, now you know about the blood, which I'm presuming did happen, because Harry here hasn't denied it, but which I never saw. That happened before any Death Eaters arrived, so how the hell do you know about it?"

"That's not important," said Katherine, tugging at her necklace absentmindedly, and grimacing.

"Are you all right?" asked Hermione quietly, giving her slightly worried look.

"Fine," murmured Katherine, shaking her head. "Azkaban shadow, that's all."

"Azkaban what?" asked Harry, staring at her.

"The Dementors affect you if you stay there too long," said Ron, much to his friend's surprise. "Dad said the place gets into your head. Probably part of the reason why Sirius was a bit off sometimes, too."

"That, and being cooped up in a house he hated," muttered Katherine, rubbing her eyes tiredly. "Equivalent of locking me up in here." She grimaced again, casting a bitter look around the room.

"You've stayed here?" asked Robert, arching an eyebrow.

"Not out of choice," said Katherine gloomily, eyeing the painting that hung over the fireplace with distaste, and for a moment she looked as though she was going to say more, but then she shook her head. "You should go home, Harry. Alert the Order and sort things out. A week from now, what's that? Next Tuesday?"

"Better make it Thursday – gives us a little more time," said Harry, rolling the stone over in his fingers. "D'you know how to use this?"

"Just hold it and call Nagini. You speak parseltongue, right?"

"Yeah. So I just call her?"

"Yes, and when she arrives, kill her. Don't suppose you've got a sword or something, have you? Only I have a feeling she might be impervious to spells."

"I don't own one, but I've got a good idea where to find one," said Harry, smiling grimly.

"As long as it's a decent one."

"Oh it is," said Harry firmly, standing up.

"Right, well if that's all, I suggest we leave," said Katherine, eyes lingering once more on the painting that hung innocuously over the fire. Curious, Harry glanced over at it, but couldn't see what was drawing her attention – the canvas was mostly black, with a few patches of dull reds and whites - not a proper picture at all.

"It's what you see when you close your eyes," Katherine said in a soft voice, and he turned back to see her watching him. Robert, Hermione and Ron were already by the door, waiting for them. "Nothing but darkness and after images."

"Why paint that?" asked Harry frowning sceptically, not moving from his spot on the floor, and Katherine smiled faintly.

"Because no one would want to see what made you close your eyes," she said quietly, casting a dark look at the painting. "Come on, this is not a place you want to be in longer than you can help it."

"Is that why you wanted us to get the stone?" asked Harry as they left, keeping his voice low so that only she could hear. "You didn't want to come back here?"

"It's not my favourite place, if that's what you mean," said Katherine, and though her tone was careless, he noticed that she too kept her voice quiet. "Besides, I admit I was a little curious as to whether you could do it or not."

"We would have been fine if Malfoy hadn't turned up," said Harry. "He was looking through the bookcases and caught sight of us in the corridor; Ron just had time to hide under the cloak so he could send a message to you before he came out. Are you sure we can trust him? I mean, you told him you knew the Prophecy. Why'd you do that?"

"To make sure he didn't go running to Tom," replied Katherine, smiling a little at his perplexed expression. "Trust me, it'll work."

"Why?"

"Because Severus is Lucius' oldest friend." She glanced at him, then sighed. "Oh fine. We've only got a week to live so I may as well tell you. If Lucius went to Tom to tell him about this, there's a very good chance that Tom would use Legilimency on him to get the full story. With me so far?"

"Yeah," said Harry, though he wasn't quite so sure of where this was going.

"Up until I told him about the Prophecy, he was right – he could have persuaded Tom I was mad or something, and I would've been punished, but I'd live."

"But if Voldemort found out that you've known the Prophecy this whole time he'd kill you?" finished Harry, looking questioningly at her.

"To say the least," agreed Katherine, glancing ahead at Robert who kept looking back at her, a concerned expression on his face.

"But that doesn't explain why he won't tell," pointed out Harry, frowning at her.

"He won't tell, because if he got me killed, Severus would kill him," said Katherine, running a hand through her glossy black hair.

"Because you're friends with Snape?"

"Yes," said Katherine slowly, not quite meeting his gaze and as Harry looked at her, he was suddenly reminded of the way Lupin had looked when Harry had asked why Katherine had forgiven Snape for murdering Dumbledore; it was exactly the same look that Katherine now wore, a look that he was learning meant: 'there is more to this than I am willing to divulge'.

Malfoy had said that Snape had feelings for her, and if, as Katherine thought, those feelings meant that he'd kill his oldest friend if he put her in harms way, Harry was inclined to think that they were a little stronger than simple friendship. And Lupin knew, of course, that was why he understood that Katherine wouldn't care that Snape had killed Dumbledore, and why, when Harry had asked about her and Sirius, he'd hesitated for a moment before saying that she'd loved him.

"Did you love Sirius?" he asked suddenly, unable to stop himself, and Katherine looked at him in surprise.

"Of course I did."

"Really?"

Katherine eyed him for a moment, then shrugged. "Yes, really. Just not as much as he loved me."

They'd reached the front door now, and Harry was glad to feel the sunlight on his face once more, even if it was fading as night approached. He looked back up at the stone walls, noticing something that he'd failed to realise when they were inside.

"It's got windows," he said blankly, and Ron laughed.

"Is that a problem?"

"There weren't any inside," said Hermione softly, nodding at Harry. "I thought that."

"Just illusions," said Katherine, shrugging when they looked at her. "Not that hard to do."

"But why bother?" asked Ron, peering into the closest one.

"Would you go into a house with no windows and one door?" asked Katherine, arching an eyebrow. "Can't even Floo out 'cause it's not connected to the network." She shook her head, turning away from the building. "I'm going home – no, scratch that, I'm going to the pub. Let me know when you've sorted things out – we can think of a plan to bring Tom to us."

"What?" asked Harry, glancing at her with a frown.

"In case you hadn't noticed, your side isn't exactly winning this war at present – Tom's forces are better equipped and have no scruples in killing anyone who gets in their way. If we're making a last stand, we're choosing the place. Might give us a bit of an edge, or at the very least stop innocent people getting hurt." She sighed, running a distracted hand through her hair again. "And you, Rob, get back to Cass. I promised you'd be back safe."

Robert gave her a mock salute and disapparated. Next to Harry, Ron and Hermione pulled out their wands to do the same, but Harry glanced at Katherine, who was walking away and said quickly: "You two go ahead, I'll catch you up."

"Why? What are you doing?" asked Hermione, looking worriedly at him.

"Just go – I'll be fine," assured Harry, running after Katherine. "Hey, wait."

Katherine glanced back at him, raising her eyebrows slightly. "What is it?"

"Did you mean it?"

"What?"

"That we've only got a week to live?" asked Harry, hearing faint pops behind him as Ron and Hermione departed. Something like pity flickered in Katherine's eyes and she shook her head.

"Just Azkaban talking. Ignore me."

"But we could, couldn't we?"

"Yeah. Could also get hit by a bus as you cross the street - doesn't mean you will."

"Challenging Voldemort probably has lower odds, though," said Harry, surprised to find his voice calm. "I mean, that's what the Prophecy says, isn't it? 'Neither can live while the other survives'?" To his bemusement, Katherine smiled at this.

"What? And you think that means you have to die with him or something?"

"Well doesn't it?" he questioned, looking seriously at her.

"Harry, when was the last time you just...relaxed. Did nothing? Had a water fight? Hung out with your friends, and no, researching ways to bring down the Dark Lord does not count as 'hanging out'," she added with a smile, sitting down on the low wall that ran around the dark building.

"What's that got to do with anything?" asked Harry, frowning at her in bewilderment.

"Because that's life, Harry," she said with a slightly rueful sigh. "You haven't had a normal life – first your family's forced into hiding, then you're orphaned and stuck with magic hating relatives for ten years, before you eventually go to Hogwarts and meet with Tom again. Fighting basilisks and evil megalomaniacs is not a life – you aren't free to enjoy being alive while Voldemort lives, and he can't breathe freely until you're destroyed. That's what the Prophecy means."

"So I've got a chance?"

"'Course you have. Got a very good track record, too," grinned Katherine, though Harry thought there was something a little dispirited about it. "Fought him off a few times now, haven't you?"

"And you? Have you got a chance?" he asked, studying her closely.

"There's always a chance," she shrugged, gaze wandering past him to the setting sun.

"But?"

"But somehow I just don't think Tom go down without taking me with him," she shrugged, voice curiously serene despite her dismal words. "Still, I have a week to tie up some loose ends and be with my friends. That's a lot more than most people get, and there are worse things than dying - Azkaban, for one."

"And you already died once." She grinned, blue eyes brightening for a moment.

"That I did."

They stood in companionable silence for a while, then Harry said: "Wait here."

"What?"

"Just wait here – I'll be back in a minute."

Katherine watched him disapparate with a bemused smile, and reached into her pocket for the sheet of paper she knew was glowing. Unfolding it, she saw Robert's neat handwriting, asking if she was alright. She grabbed a stone from the ground by her feet and transfigured it into a pen to write a short reply, assuring him that she was, then pocketed the paper again, eyes drawn once more to the imposing building before her.

Harry had been right when he'd guessed she hadn't wanted to enter it again; there were too many bad memories in there, ghosts from her past that she'd rather forget about. Still, with any luck, in a weeks time she'd get some peace at last; all she had to do was stay alive till then.

A faint pop reached her ears and Harry stood before her once more, something white held tightly in his hand.

"I suppose I should have given this to you months ago, but-" He shrugged, holding it out to her, green eyes not exactly defiant, but not quite apologetic either. Curious, she took the object, staring at it blankly.

"It's a napkin, Harry." She looked up at him, a mystified expression on her face. "What exactly am I meant to do with it?"

"Turn it over," was all the response she got, and, feeling a little silly, she did. There was an address written on the other side in bold black biro, but that wasn't what made her heart skip a beat and the breath catch in her throat. That handwriting, she knew that handwriting...

"Where did you get this?" she asked, voice barely above a whisper.

"A man gave it to me in Diagon Alley last August," said Harry, and when she looked up, his green eyes were as hard as diamonds. "We think his name was Hunt."

"Kel," said Katherine faintly, swallowing the lump in her throat, because it couldn't be, it just couldn't be what she thought it was - that was too much to ask.

"He told me to give it to a woman called Riddle," said Harry, still watching her closely. "Said to tell her she was right and that he was sorry."

"I was right?" repeated Katherine shakily, and it might have been his imagination, but he thought he could see the beginnings of tears in her blue eyes. "That's what he said?"

"Yeah," nodded Harry. "Does it mean anything to you?"

"That all he said?"

"Yes – someone killed him right afterwards," said Harry, as she folded the napkin up again, an odd look on her face. "You ok?"

She glanced up, and Harry saw she was grinning. "You've been hiding this since we met?"

Harry shrugged, wondering why he wasn't surprised that she found it funny – he'd been expecting her to be angry, but somehow this reaction didn't shock him at all.

"Guess you could call it...insurance," he said carefully, and her grin widened. "In case you were lying when you said we could trust you."

"Smart boy," she laughed. "But you could hardly be sure that this would mean anything to me."

"A man died giving it to me," he pointed out reasonably. "That does seem to indicate some importance."

"Only to me," said Katherine softly, then frowned. "Well, that's not quite true, I suppose. Tom would probably kill to get his hands on it, too."

"What is it?"

"It's an address."

"Yes, I know that," sighed Harry, rolling his eyes.

"Yes, you do," she said, a pensive look on her face. "And you're a nice person, Harry, so I'm...marginally sorry for this." Harry was about to ask her what she was on about, but too late he saw her make a complicated movement with her wand.

"What did you do?" he asked, checking himself for any signs of damage, though there didn't seem to be any.

"Just wiped the address out of your memory," said Katherine calmly, pocketing the napkin carefully. "Don't you recognise a Fidelus charm when you see it?"

"What? You mean that address-"

"You've been a secret keeper for the best part of eight months," grinned Katherine. "Passed on to you when Kel died, and I can't have you letting Tom find it out through that damned connection of yours."

"Would he want to?" asked Harry, looking surprised and Katherine smiled grimly.

"Oh yes, he's wanted to find her for years."

"Who?"

"Well, if it's who I think it is," she said slowly, a slightly apprehensive look on her face. "Someone who's supposed to be dead."

"Like you?" asked Harry with a grin, and Katherine laughed, blue eyes glinting brightly in the dying rays of sunlight.

"Yes, Harry, someone like me."

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