A/N: A thousand apologies for the wait, but it's worth it, I promise. Enjoy.
x – X - x
Chapter 58 – Collateral damage
"She murdered our mate, let someone else take the blame for it and then lied about it, and you want me to forgive just because she's a bit upset?"
Severus sighed, deflecting a stray curse and tugging Robert around to face him once more.
"It's not a simple as that, and you know it."
"Wrong," countered Robert, wrenching his arm free and glaring at Severus with furious brown eyes. "It is as simple as that but you let that woman get away with anything. You don't understand - you didn't know Reg like we did. The three of us swore to protect each other."
Severus broke in at this, refusing to let his old friend finish. "But that's what she was trying to do, don't you see? Regulus asked her to do it, he wanted-"
"Don't you dare say he wanted to die," yelled Robert, wheeling around and thrusting his wand in Severus' face.
"I wasn't going to," sighed Severus, with an exasperated look. He shook his head, casting around for a better way to phrase his words. "Look, if you knew the Dark Lord was after you, who would you rather he sent after you? Bella or Kat?"
Robert glowered at him silently, clearly trying to think of way to answer that didn't make it seem as though he had a point, and failing; they both knew he'd never choose Bella. Indeed, if Severus had to die, he'd go without a fuss if the last thing he ever saw was Katherine's face.
"Would you have done it?" Robert's quiet question threw Severus for a moment, and then he shook his head slowly.
"I don't know – maybe not, but that's not really the point, is it? He didn't ask me, he asked her, and like you said, they were good friends – how could she refuse his last request?"
Robert let out a frustrated breath, half turning to blast an unwary figure twenty feet into a tree.
"She should have told us," he growled stubbornly, unwilling to give in. Severus shrugged again, catching a glimpse of violet hair amongst the throng of fighters, where Tonks was duelling heatedly with Rudolphus Lestrange. It was hard to tell from his position who had the upper hand, but it looked as though it might have been Lestrange. Severus looked back at Robert's strained expression and saw some of his own anguish reflected in the fierce brown eyes.
"Come on Rob," he tried, a trace of weariness in his voice now. "You know what she's like. She was afraid of our reactions – she didn't want to lose us again."
Robert laughed harshly, brushing sweat streaked blond hair off his forehead with the back of his hand. "Oh no, heaven forbid she drive us away unintentionally. That would be bad, wouldn't it? It's only ok if she means to do it, because then it's in our best interests. Katherine doesn't need us, Sev, she needs a psychiatrist."
"Don't be ridiculous," said Severus quietly, trying to ignore the ring of truth in Robert's words. Robert wasn't fooled so easily, though, and a sour grin formed on his lips.
"You know I'm right, Sev. She was pretty mental when we were at school, but that's nothing compared to her behaviour over the past year. Nicola said Katherine didn't know if Lupin was still alive when she first turned up again – that she'd been to afraid to check. That sound like the Kat you know? And she's been caught lying, for Merlin's sake - tell me when that's happened before."
Severus had to admit that he couldn't – twisting the truth was the one thing Katherine had always been good at no matter what. She'd been letting things slip lately – leaving Faye unprepared for Death Eater confrontations and then that time when he'd found her in Nicola's bathroom, her head in a complete mess…
"She's doing so much, she's practically splitting at the seams," continued Robert, pulling Severus to the fringes of the battle and gazing at him earnestly. "Trying to maintain her cover, help Potter, protect us… It's no wonder she keep getting her stories mixed up – she can't remember which line she told which person. Why she can't just tell us the truth for once I don't know."
"She has told us the truth," objected Severus, frowning at Robert, who raised his eyebrows sceptically.
"You think? She told you how she managed to be clinically dead for sixteen years and recover, yet? How she got out of Azkaban? How she knew what went on the night the Dark Lord rose again? Where the hell she's been for the past week?"
"Not the first three," admitted Severus grudgingly. Robert's light brows furrowed at this answer.
"She told you where she went?"
"Yes, but that's her business. She'll tell you if she wants to." Robert looked for a moment as though he was going to argue, but then he shrugged.
"Fine, but my point stands. She's been keeping things from us and she doesn't seem to care that it's obvious. She never used to be this careless, and there was more at stake back then – more of us were still around for a start. I know Azkaban is meant to mess with your head, but Katherine's stronger than that."
"You think?" asked Severus softly, peering out from the trees they were sheltering behind with an unfocused look in his dark eyes.
"Think what?" asked Robert, confused by Severus' sudden change of mood.
"Do you really think Katherine's strong?"
"Well…yeah. She's the best fighter I've ever seen." Robert paused, watching Severus' profile closely. "Why? Don't you?"
Severus turned away from the battle to look at him, a wry smile on his thin lips.
"Not on her own. You saw what happened to her in our fifth year; she only got out of it when she started talking to us again. She works so hard to protect us because we're the ones who keep her sane. Without us, what does she have to live for?"
"She doesn't think like that," objected Robert, a deep frown marring his brow. "She doesn't see things like that. If she did, she wouldn't have been able to kill Regulus – she'd be destroying her own reason for being here."
Severus shook his head. "Don't try to apply logic to Katherine, Rob. Regulus asked her for a favour, and she granted it. She'll do anything for us, no matter how much it hurts her. You should have realised that by now."
"Katherine Riddle will do anything that will annoy Bella or the Dark Lord, Severus. Everything else is merely a way of passing the time."
Severus and Robert turned abruptly at the voice, wands at the ready, but relaxed as the newly risen moon illuminated familiar pale blond hair; it was Lucius.
"Having trouble?" asked Robert mockingly, running his eyes over Lucius' torn and bloody robes.
"Nothing I can't handle," muttered Lucius, glaring at him and leaning against the trunk of a tree for support.
"Who was it?" asked Severus, and Lucius' scowl deepened.
"Those bloody ginger freaks. Frances and Gordon Weasel or whatever they're called. What are you two up to, anyway?" he questioned, grey eyes narrowed suspiciously. "I thought this battle was what you wanted, wasn't it, Avery? Shouldn't you be out there fighting alongside your mental partner?"
"Have you seen her?" put in Severus quickly. Had Katherine rejoined the fight or was she still in the forest somewhere?
"Last I saw she was duelling Dawlish. Well, I say duelling, perhaps the more apt term would be annihilating," said Lucius with a careless shrug of his shoulders. "Why?"
"I was just wondering if she'd caught up with Bella yet, that's all," said Severus, casting a glance back at the battle. Lucius smiled grimly, following his gaze.
"Ah yes, I don't want to miss that confrontation. Those two have been fighting for the Dark Lord's attention ever since they met."
Robert and Severus stared at him incredulously, and Robert said slowly: "That's not why they fight. Bellatrix killed Sirius Black – that's why Katherine's after her."
"And before that?" asked Lucius, arching an eyebrow.
"They fought over Leon," supplied Severus with a frown. "Katherine told me Bella liked him."
Lucius smiled with a patronising air and shook his head. "Wilkes was never more than an idle fantasy to Bella. The only person she cares for is the Dark Lord."
"But they got along fine before the whole Wilkes thing," objected Robert. "I remember – I was there. They were practically best friends."
"Only because the Dark Lord was interested in Katherine," said Lucius with a patient sigh. "Bella saw his attention waver so she attached herself to his daughter to stay in the limelight. Of course, then Katherine started going off the rails, so Bella had to back off for fear of being tarred with the same brush. Don't you get it, they're jealous of each other: Bella envies Katherine's blood tie to the Dark Lord, and Katherine hates the fact that Bella is his favourite."
"That's crazy," said Robert quietly. "Katherine doesn't even like the Dark Lord."
"What's that got to do with anything?" asked Lucius, raising one eyebrow. "He's her father – she wants to come first."
"If she wanted to impress him, she'd tell him how she broke out of Azkaban single handed," pointed out Robert.
"She hasn't told anyone that, which probably means she's up to something." Lucius paused, apparently entranced by a burn mark on the sapling opposite him, then added: "Or maybe that's just the norm for her. She likes to have an air of mystery, doesn't she?" He looked up, grey eyes focusing suddenly on Severus. "That reminds me, did you notice she tracked down your necklace?"
"My necklace?" asked Severus blankly, wondering where on earth Lucius had got the idea that he owned jewellery.
"Oh you know the one," said Lucius, waving a hand dismissively. "The one you spent practically all your savings on. The snake one – you bought it as a Christmas present or something."
"Oh," said Severus, catching Lucius' meaning. "I guess she must have raided the lockers where her stuff was kept."
"No, that's my point," said Lucius, shaking his head. "It wasn't in the lockers – her stuff was sold on after she died. She must have spent a long time trying to track it down."
"So?" asked Severus, nonplussed.
"I think," said Robert softly, with a slightly preoccupied look on his face. "That Lucius is trying to point out that Katherine is in love with you."
"Oh," said Severus quickly, thankful that it was dark and they couldn't see the blush that crept onto his pale face. "Right."
"But he's not quite right," continued Robert, the distracted expression remaining on his thin face. "Because that necklace wasn't in her locker when she died, it was at Godric's Hollow."
There was a long pause, then Severus ventured slowly: "Would you mind repeating that last bit, Rob?"
Robert snapped out of his reverie and looked sharply at Severus. "Lupin identified it when he visited the Potter's house. It came into my department to be checked for transport spells – the Aurors thought Black brought it with him to the house as a momento of her."
"But the Aurors didn't know they were together," said Severus, not seeing where Robert was going. "And he wasn't even there that night."
Robert rolled his eyes, shaking his head fiercely. "Lupin told them about their involvement – he must have believed that himself, that Katherine had persuaded Black to join forces with the Dark Lord. And he was there the night they died – it's on record, he arrived shortly after they died, gave Rubeus Hagrid his motorbike - that's why I never thought anymore of it. I knew he wouldn't have been there with the Dark Lord, but he could have dropped it later on."
"Robert, is there a point to this?" asked Severus impatiently; he was anxious to get back to the battle, back to Katherine.
"Don't you see it?" asked Robert, eyes alight with something between triumph and fear. "Everyone thought Black dropped the necklace, because there was no other reason for it to be there, but there is another reason, another person who could have taken it to Godric's Hollow that night."
"But no one else was there," said Lucius, staring at Robert as though he'd lost his mind. "Unless you're referring to that giant oaf Hagrid."
Severus barely heard Lucius' remark – he was staring at Robert too, but not with disbelief.
"That's not possible," he said quietly, the horror on his face seeping into his words. "There's no way no one would have noticed. I mean, something that powerful, it'd…" His voice trailed off as he saw the answer in his friend's eyes.
"I told you she'd changed."
x – X - x
Katherine ducked behind a statue that had presumably been a person an hour ago and found herself face to face with a teenage girl with flaming red hair and dark brown eyes. They stared at each other for a moment, then the statue they'd been taking refuge behind exploded under the force of a well placed Reducto and they tumbled to the ground.
Katherine pulled herself upright and shot a particularly nasty curse at the culprit, before reaching a hand down to the young girl. The girl scowled at her, and scooted backwards, wand thrust out before her. Katherine suppressed a smile and shrugged her shoulders, looking around for her next opponent.
"Ginny, no!" The familiar voice made Katherine turn back around, and realise with a start that the girl had her wand drawn back, ready to throw a hex. "Ginny!" yelled the voice again, and Ron emerged from the crowd, slinging an arm around the girl's waist and pulling her backwards. "What do you think you're doing?" he all but yelled in her ear, blue eyes wide with shock.
"What do you think I'm doing?" retorted the younger girl, Ginny apparently, looking up at him with an expression of utter contempt. Katherine didn't bother to hide her laughter this time, and Ginny's head whipped around to glare at her with fierce brown eyes.
"I take it you two are related?" asked Katherine softly, noting the shared red hair and freckles.
"She's my little sister," said Ron, watching her with wary eyes.
"Only by one year," objected Ginny, wriggling free of her brother's grip and glaring at Katherine.
"Feisty little thing, aren't you?" grinned Katherine, eyes gleaming with amusement. "I'd stay away from Fenrir, if I were you. You seem just his type."
"Is he here?" asked Ron, casting an eye around the clearing.
"Somewhere," nodded Katherine. "Haven't crossed paths with him yet. Actually rather hoping I don't. He's not the nicest person to meet in a battle; tends to go for the throat, apparently."
Ginny snarled, and Katherine looked at her in surprise, then noticed the dark look on Ron's face too.
"What?" she asked cautiously. "You haven't met him before, have you?"
"He attacked our eldest brother," said Ron quietly, taking Ginny's arm again. "Didn't quite manage to bite him, though."
"Oh," said Katherine, frowning a little. Then: "Eldest brother? You've got more than one?"
"We've got five," answered Ron, giving Katherine an odd look. "Why?"
"They all got red hair?" asked Katherine, eyes focused on something over to his left. Ron nodded, and Katherine treated him to a half smile. "I shan't go killing any red haired people then. Excuse me."
"Where are you going?" asked Ron, before he could stop himself, and to his surprise Katherine paused to answer him.
"I owe someone a favour. Not gonna get another chance to pay them back, am I?" She grinned at his confused expression and darted off into the throng of people. Ron frowned; it was probably crazy, but he was getting the distinct impression that Katherine was rather enjoying herself. No, that was mad – no one enjoyed fighting for their lives…
"What was all that about?" demanded Ginny, breaking into his thoughts as she stared up at him with a disbelieving expression on her face. "Do you know her?"
x – X - x
Draco Malfoy stumbled over a fallen body and lashed out wildly with his arm when someone caught his collar and brought him up short.
"Where you off to?" asked a feminine voice and he twisted around to see a pair of bright blue eyes examining him closely. Draco said nothing; he wasn't about to explain to Katherine Riddle of all people that he was making an escape from his crazed uncle. From what he'd heard of her distaste for his mother and father, she'd probably hand him over with a smile on her face.
Draco tried to pull away from her grasp, but as he turned Rudolphus Lestrange emerged from the crowd, his face contorted with anger. He caught sight of Draco a second later, and was about to launch himself at his nephew when he saw the hand gripping his collar. A flash of confusion sped across his face as his gaze travelled up the arm and realised who it belonged to.
"Hello Roddy," grinned Katherine, tugging Draco back a fraction, so he was further from his uncle. "Where's Trix?"
"Hand the boy over, Riddle," growled Rudolphus, brandishing his wand threateningly.
"Why?" asked Katherine, pulling Draco a little closer and looping the arm that held him around his neck for a better grip. If Draco tried to make his escape now, he was in serious danger of being strangled.
"I hardly think that's any of your business, Riddle," sneered Rudolphus, hard eyes narrowed in dislike. "Hand him over or face the consequences."
Draco couldn't see Katherine's expression, but from the look on his uncle's face, she probably wasn't quaking in her boots. Cool breath tickled his cheek as Katherine leant down a little to speak softly in his ear, just loud enough for his uncle, who was only a few feet away, to hear.
"Did you know your Uncle Roddy used to wear women's dresses?"
Draco didn't move a muscle, keeping his expression carefully blank as his uncle's face bypassed scarlet and headed straight for purple.
"It's true," continued Katherine, either not noticing his uncle's reaction, or choosing to ignore it. "Your Aunty Bella used to use him as a kind of human Barbie doll."
Rudolphus raised a hand that was shaking with fury and directed his wand at Katherine's head.
"Going to kill me, Roddy?" asked Katherine quietly, straightening up and shifting her grip on Draco so that he had to move sideways, out of the path of his uncle's wand.
"Go to hell, Riddle."
Katherine laughed hollowly, a grim sound that made Draco's uneasiness increase triple fold.
"Already there, Roddy." There was a flash of green light that made Draco close his eyes, and then the arm around his shoulder loosened and fell away. Draco stood where he was for a second, hardly daring to open his eyes, and then he heard a spell go rushing past him and decided his survival odds would probably increase if he was able to see what was going on.
The first thing he saw upon opening his eyes was his uncle's prone body lying face down on the grass just in front of him. He jumped back, catching his foot on a rock and for the second time in as many minutes found himself being saved from falling by a strong hand on his collar.
"Clumsy, aren't you?" asked Katherine Riddle, giving him a bemused look. He stared at her, eyes wide; how she been that fast? His uncle had already had his wand drawn, and yet he was the one on the ground.
"How did you do that?" he managed to get out, forgetting to be scared of her for a moment. "Your wand was still in your pocket!"
Katherine's momentary frown smoothed out and she smiled a little. "I didn't live this long without learning a few things, kid. One of them being that you make damn sure you're quicker at duelling than your opponent before you stand around making small talk."
Draco stared into eyes as blue as sapphires and wondered if his father was right, and the real reason Katherine had lived this long was that she simply didn't consider the possibility that she could die. She certainly didn't act like any of the other Death Eaters he'd come into contact with so far.
"Come on," she said, tugging on his collar and heading for the trees. Draco followed – it wasn't as though he had any choice in the matter, and he wasn't keen to stay in the middle of the battle in any case. "Get your wand out, kid," muttered Katherine as they passed a young woman with violet hair was fighting a masked figure. Draco fumbled for his wand obediently as Katherine shot a quick Stunner at the woman's opponent.
Draco hesitated as the figure fell, but stumbled as Katherine kept going. She glanced back at him, a questioning look on her face and he looked down, concentrating on where he was putting his feet.
"What's your father told you about me?" asked Katherine, coming to a halt amidst a cluster of dark trunks and letting go of his collar at last. The moonlight filtering through the canopy of leaves above them illuminated Katherine's face, and Draco was surprised to see it looked almost amused.
"Not much," muttered Draco, adjusting his grip on his wand. "He doesn't like talking about you."
"Well someone's told you something," observed Katherine, frowning a little. "Else I'm pretty sure you wouldn't be terrified of me."
Draco opened his mouth to protest that he wasn't afraid of her, and then shut it again. It was a lie, and she wouldn't believe him anyway.
"Bella's mentioned you a few times," he mumbled, thinking of the night he'd gone with his Aunt to the Ministry of Magic to try and find information on Katherine. What would she do to him if she found out he'd helped his Aunt uncover her cousin's identity?
"Belle?"
Draco's grey eyes widened in shock at Katherine's voice and his heart sank as he realised she'd been using Legilimency on him.
"I'm filed under Belle?" asked Katherine again, looking confused. "And Julian…huh. Guess he likes me more than he lets on."
"Julian?"
"You didn't notice?" asked Katherine, arching an eyebrow and grinning. "He took my file while Bella was searching the R's. So much for not being loyal." She frowned a little, considering then added: "Or maybe he just didn't want Severus killing him. Probably more likely."
Draco said nothing; he didn't dare. From what he'd managed to pick up about Katherine, she was supposed to be a ruthless murderer who'd double cross you in a heartbeat, not someone who saved your life and then started making polite conversation.
A shadow moved amongst the trees and Katherine caught his wrist and pulled him towards her, wand arm outstretched. She didn't shout out 'who's there' or try and attack the newcomer, or do any of the things he was sure the rest of his family would have done, she just stood very still and waited.
The figure stopped a couple of meters away and a familiar voice called out: "Let him go."
Katherine squinted through the darkness and asked slowly: "Narcissa?"
Draco watched as his mother walked into a patch of moonlight, and saw to his surprise that his father was there too, one hand placed on his wife's shoulder, though to restrain or comfort, Draco couldn't tell.
"Please, Katherine," said Narcissa, eyes locked onto Katherine's. "You can fight us if you want, but let Draco go."
Draco felt the grip on his wrist tighten and risked a glance up at Katherine's face, but found no clues there – she was just watching his parents with a carefully blank expression.
"Katherine-" began Lucius, but was interrupted by Katherine's sudden input.
"Why do you think I would harm your son?"
"Aside from the fact that you're holding him hostage?" asked Narcissa, a shrill note of distress in her voice.
"Am I?" asked Katherine calmly, assuming an expression of polite interest.
"You threatened to kill him before!" shrieked Narcissa, pointing her wand accusingly at Katherine. Draco stiffened at this news, not daring now to turn and see what Katherine's reaction was.
"I did," she said softly, and Draco saw his father swallow uncomfortably and assumed she had switched her gaze to him. "But Lucius upheld his part of the bargain. I've got no reason to harm Draco."
"Then let him go," said Lucius, eyes the same dark grey as Draco's flickering momentarily to glance down at his son. There was a short pause, then Lucius did something that Draco had never seen him do before: he threw down his wand.
It landed with a soft patter on the dry carpet of leaves and rolled to a halt midway between the two parties. A moment later, after a hesitant glance at her husband, Narcissa followed suit.
"There – we're unarmed. Do what you like, Katherine, just let Draco go," said Lucius, proud head dipped, aristocratic voice quiet. "Please."
Draco felt his wrist being pulled back and he stepped backwards unsteadily, feeling warm breath whisper past his cheek as Katherine spoke softly in his ear.
"See that Draco? Mummy and Daddy love you. Did you know that?"
Draco turned his head slightly to meet Katherine's suddenly animated gaze as it dawned on him what she'd just done. A quick flick of her wand brought both his parents' wands flying into her hand, and she pressed them into his palm with a grin.
"You're crazy," said Draco quietly, unable to drag his eyes away from hers.
"I know," she agreed, straightening up. "Go on – go hug your mum while you still can."
Draco stood staring at her for a few more seconds, then turned and walked unsteadily over to his waiting parents, whereupon his mother threw her arms around him and squeezed him so tight he could scarcely breathe.
"Quits now, okay?" he heard Katherine say, and he pulled away from his mother, looking curiously back at the black haired woman.
"You were in my debt?" asked Lucius, raising light eyebrows in a good imitation of nonchalance that nevertheless didn't fool Draco.
"You saved my skin once before, Lucius," said Katherine evenly. "Now I've saved your son. Life for a life – we're quits."
Lucius frowned, as though he didn't quite understand. "I've never saved your life, Katherine."
Katherine smiled a little, as though he'd told a joke. "Never said it was my life you saved." She turned to leave, then paused and spun around again, looking more focused than she had before. "That reminds me, there's a guy around here somewhere, mid-twenties, brown hair, got a bird following him around – the feathered kind, not a woman – you hurt him, or allow him to come to harm when you could have stopped it, and I really will kill Draco."
There was silence for a few seconds, and then Lucius asked quietly: "Mid-twenties?"
Katherine grinned widely, black hair gleaming in the dim light. "Life for a life. You protect mine, I'll protect yours."
She turned again, but this time it was Lucius who called out to stop her. "Severus and Avery were looking for you."
Katherine glanced back at him, frowning. "Why?"
"I don't exactly know – they weren't making much sense. Something about Black and the Dark Lord?"
It might have been Draco's imagination, but he thought Katherine's face darkened at this, and she turned away.
"Oh. I know what that's about."
"They seemed quite anxious to see you."
Katherine shrugged, staring out through the trees to the ongoing battle. "It can wait. Got one more score to settle first." She did look back then, a grim smile on her face as she found Narcissa's gaze. "I hope you said goodbye to your sister."
x – X - x
Bellatrix threw a nasty scalding at Kingsley Shacklebolt and darted through the crowd of fighters to avoid any potential repercussions. She paused to draw breath before seeking out her next opponent and jumped as a voice whispered in her ear:
"Boo."
She whirled around and came face to face with the very person she'd spent the last hour searching for.
"Hello Trix," grinned Katherine, eyes shining with a mad sort of delight. "Sorry for doing a disappearing act on you earlier – had a few things to sort out."
"I'll sort you out," growled Bella, brandishing her wand and scowling at her opponent. Katherine's grin widened and she stepped backwards, spreading her arms and giving her a mock bow.
"Give it your best shot, Trixibell. Oh, by the way, did I mention I just murdered your husband…?"
x – X - x
Severus pushed his way through the throng of people, Robert a little way behind him. Severus was vaguely aware that Robert was deflecting a lot of curses that were thrown their way, but he wasn't paying enough to attention to consider helping. All he was concentrating on was finding Katherine before something happened to her.
He knew she was a good fighter, but Robert was right – she was cracking up – had been for the past year. He'd just never realised why until now.
"Sev!" He turned at Robert's harsh tones, frowning. "This way."
Severus retraced his steps and followed Robert, who was pushing his way to the front of a small crowd. Severus stopped just beside him and peered out into the ring formed by groups onlookers. Katherine and Bellatrix were dueling so heatedly that the air was a haze of bright lights and the grass beneath their feet was scorched with burn marks from stray curses.
"What do we do?" asked Robert softly, and Severus didn't need to look at him to know he was watching Katherine's every move, as was he. "We can't exactly interrupt them."
"No," agreed Severus, wondering if he could protect Katherine by sheer will power. Maybe if he tried to kill Bella…
"Don't. They keep moving – you're just as likely to hit Katherine as Bella," said Robert, placing a restraining hand on the arm Severus hadn't realised he'd raised.
"We've got to do something," said Severus, wrenching his gaze away from Katherine with a tremendous effort and focusing on Robert, trying to blot out the image of Katherine's lifeless body that was invading his mind. "We've got to…" He trailed off as the cold hit him, and he realised why his thoughts had suddenly taken such a dark turn.
Unwillingly he raised his eyes to the sky and saw the stars blinking out as what looked like hundreds of Dementors swooped down on the battlefield. Everything seemed muted, as though he was hearing it through a thick pane of glass, so it took so time for Robert's yell to get through to him. He turned his attention from the swarming Dementors to the duel going on before him, and his heart stopped beating.
Katherine had stopped dead, eyes wide as she surveyed the ranks of Dementors, wand held loosely at her side. Bella, too, had faltered, her dark eyes feverish, breath coming in quick, shallow gasps.
Severus stood where he was, unable to move. No matter how bad the Dementors' effect was on him, it must be a hundred times worse for those who had spent so many years in Azkaban, living with that feeling of despair every day.
Come on, Katherine. You spent less time in there than her – focus. Even as he thought it, though, he knew it was no use. Katherine might have been around the Dementors less, but she had more to fear than Bella did, especially now.
Then, despite the sinking feeling in his chest, Katherine did move – her pale face turned and her eyes locked onto Robert's. Her lips moved, trying to form words, but no sound came out and she looked away, closing her eyes.
Severus made to start forward, without any clear idea in his mind as to what he was going to do. He only knew that he needed to be near her, needed to hold her and make that tormented look in her eyes go away…
And then there was a flash of green light, and a soft gasp, and silence.
He stopped, feet frozen to the ground as the world ground to a halt and he stared in utter disbelief at the black haired figure on the ground.
And then someone laughed, a high, maniacal sound, and the silence was shattered.
The world started spinning again, so fast that he couldn't see straight and fell to his knees beside the body, Bellatrix's insane laughter ringing in his ears.
x – X – x
Please don't hurt me.