Chapter Seventeen: Year of the Rat

Disclaimer: All characters belong to J.K. Rowling. The underlined portions are taken directly from the novel; I do not own those parts. They belong to J.K. Rowling.

Author's Note: This fanfiction is going to be different from my other stories. This picks up where "The Heart of Everything" and "The Heart of Everything: Shallow Bay" left off. The time in the books also changes. So, pay attention the time, so you don't get confused. Some of the chapters are other Marcus Flint/Katie Bell stories, just with more changes and deleted scenes added.

Time: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

Genre: Romance, Drama, and Friendship

Rating: PG-13

Bold: Flashback

Three Years Ago

The end of the term feast was normally at happy event at Hogwarts. This year, everything was cast in black to by tribute to Credic. Katie did not know why truly happened in the maze that night, but she knew that the truth would be known tonight. Dumbledore was not one to keep secrets from his students.

Dumbledore stood up and did not have to wait long for silence. "The end of another year." He paused and casted a look of sorrow toward the Hufflepuff table. The entire house had a look of anguish on their faces. "There is much that I would like to say to you all tonight," said Dumbledore, "but first I must acknowledge the loss of a of a very fine person, who should be sitting here," he gestured toward the Hufflepuffs, "enjoying our feast with us. I would like you all, please, to stand, and raise your glasses, to Cedric Diggory."

The entire student body and staff did just that.

"Cedric was a person who exemplified many of the qualities that distinguish Hufflepuff house," Dumbledore continued. "He was good and loyal friend, a hard worker, he valued fair play. His death has affected you all, whether you knew him well or not. I think that you have the right to, therefore, to know exactly how it came about."

He paused and looked directly at the students. "Cedric Diggory was murdered by Lord Voldemort."

A wave of panic struck the hall. Vast whispers and mutters filled the hall. All this was to Katie was an eye opener. People knew that this was going to happen. There was some people who knew that the Dark Lord would return.

"The Ministry of Magic," Dumbledore continued, "does not wish me to tell you this...It is my belief, however, that the truth is generally preferable to lies, and that any attempt to pretend that Credic died as the result of an accident, or some sort of blunder of his own, is an insult to his memory."

"Every guest in this Hall," Dumbledore, and his eyes lingered upon the Durmstrang students, "will be welcomed back here at any time, should they wish to come. I say to you all, once again-in the light of Lord Voldemort's return, we are only as strong as we are untied, as weak as we are divided. Lord Voldemort's gift for spreading discord and enmity is very great. We can fight it only by showing an equally strong bond of friendship and trust. Differences of habit and language are nothing at all if out aims are identical and our hearts are open.

"It is my belief-and never have I so hoped that I am mistaken-that we are all facing dark and difficult times. Some of you in this Hall have already suffered directly at the hands of Lord Voldemort. Many of your families have been torn asunder. A week ago, a student was taken from our mist."

"Remember Cedric. Remember, if the time should come when you have to make a choice between what is right and what is easy, remember what happened to a boy who was good, and kind, and brave, because he strayed across the path of Lord Voldemort. Remember Cedric Diggory."

Present Day

Katie closed her eyes. Emily was napping in the other room and Katie was grateful for a few minutes of rest. Both she and Marcus had been on their feet nonstop since Emily arrived. Katie had never known how much trouble a child could be until now.

Marcus was out for a few hours. He had gone to Knockturn Alley with Tonks to raid Natalia's shop and apartment. Really, Katie was happy that he was gone. She loved him, but sometimes a little alone time was a good thing.

Katie sighed and allowed sleep to overtake her.

Bellatrix kicked Marcus again. She drew her knife up again.

Marcus looked at her. His side was killing him. "Don't," he whispered.

"Are you begging for mercy?"

Marcus didn't answer.

"Well, I don't give anyone mercy."

Marcus braced himself.

"Time to die." She situated the knife inside his stomach.

This time, he let out a cry in angst and let darkness come over him like a runaway train.

"Leave him," Bellatrix said as she turned to leave. "He'll be dead within a few hours."

Katie woke up and looked around the room. She had thought that these dreams were over, but she guessed not.

Marcus was walking in the front door. "Are you okay?"

Katie pulled her blond hair back into a ponytail. "Yeah."

Marcus frowned. "You look like you've seen a ghost." He came over and sat down next to her.

Katie nodded. "I'm fine, really."

Marcus was still eyeing her, but he didn't say a word.

Katie knew that she should tell him what she was seeing, but she couldn't bring herself to. How do you tell someone that you are getting death visions of them? She knew that if the situation was reversed that he wouldn't tell her. Knowing him, he would send her far away to avoid her fate.

Katie laid down on Marcus's lap. "Just be careful," she whispered.

Marcus stroked her hair. "I always am."

Katie sighed under his gentle touch. "No, I mean really be careful."

Marcus said something, but she didn't catch it. She couldn't lose him; she loved him too much.

Emily's cries filled the room.

Katie started to get up, but Marcus stopped her. "You rest, I'll go," he said.

Katie watched him disappear. She only hoped that he would not disappear forever.

A few minutes later, Marcus appeared with Emily in his arms. She had stopped crying, but was eyeing Marcus. Whenever she saw Katie, her blue eyes lit up.

Marcus handed Emily to Katie. "I don't know what she wants."

Katie looked down at Emily, who seemed fine now. "I don't know. I really don't have this who parenting thing figured out."

Marcus sat down. "Does anyone have this parenting thing figured out?"

Katie laughed. "Our parents always made it look so easy." She shook her head. "Maybe they were just faking it."

Katie sighed. They just needed to keep their direction and go along with wherever this game was going to take them.

Marcus pulled something out his pocket. "Natalia's dead."

Katie gripped his hand. "I'm sorry," she whispered, even though she wasn't. She really didn't like the idea of him being around her all the time. She was fine with Tonks, but there was just something about Natalia; something that made Katie feel threatened, even though she knew that Marcus would never made a move on Natalia. However, Natalia had been very worried about Marcus.

Marcus just nodded. Katie noted that he didn't seem all that upset about it. "I found this on her body."

Katie shifted Emily around and took the paper from him. "The end of it all is near. Be careful as the path isn't always clear. Marcus-," she read. She looked up at Marcus. "Is that all?"

Marcus nodded.

Katie frowned. Natalia had known that something was going to happen to Marcus. It had been enough that she had paid a visit to Katie.

"I don't know what it means," Marcus muttered.

"Marcus, I think I need to tell you something," Katie started in. "I just have a feeling that something is going to happen to you. I've been having dreams of you dying."

Marcus looked at her and didn't say a word.

"Then, Natalia came to see me and told me that she was concerned. Your mother also suspects that something is up."

Marcus sat in silence for a few minutes. Katie was worried that he was going to flip out. "My mother knows about this?"

Katie nodded. "We all are just worried."

"I can't quit or they will kill me."

"I know."

Marcus sighed. "There's just no getting out."

Katie was happy that he believed her. "I know, but you do need to stay under the radar. Let them know you are there, but don't get in too deep."

Marcus nodded. "I'm not in that deep anyway. I don't get sent out anywhere."

"Yeah, but you're in enough to get to go to the meetings."
"I guess you are right."

Katie nudged him. "You know I am."

Marcus laughed. Emily gave him a look.

"Keep in mind that I am always right and this will be an easy marriage for you," Katie said.

Marcus didn't respond for a little bit. "But, what if you are wrong?"

"Then, don't tell me about it, but I will make sure you know if you are wrong."

Marcus snorted. "I kind of figured you would."

Katie looked at him. He was strong and put up the front that he wasn't afraid of anything, but she knew otherwise. If he wasn't afraid, then he would not have suggested that she should leave the country. Even though he hadn't come right out and said it, Katie knew that was what he wanted her to do, but she wasn't one to run away from a fight. If he was going to stay here and fight, then she was going to fight alongside.

Marcus offered his finger to Emily, who wrapped her little hand around it. "What?" he asked when he caught Katie looking at him.

"She likes you," Katie said.

Marcus just smiled.

"That will make your life a lot easier."

Marcus just nodded.

Katie eyed him. "Marcus, just be careful."

"You've already said that more than once," Marcus sighed.

"I know, but you do need to be careful." She paused. " Cedric Diggory was careful and look where that got him."

When Marcus didn't answer, Katie knew that she had hit a nerve. It was rather low to bring up someone dying, but she wanted to make a point. She wanted him to step up and become a leader. Sure, he was a leader in his own sense, but whenever it came to the Order and this spy business, he didn't. However, she knew that he wasn't influenced completely by them. She knew that didn't tell the Order every little detail.

He was just like those born in the year of the rat.

Katie took the sleeping Emily from his arms. "Why don't I put her back to bed and we have a little fun ourselves?"

Marcus smirked over at her. "How did we go from talking about dying to this?"

Katie shrugged. "We are not done with that talk, yet. You will listen to me or you will be sorry."

"Why are women like this?" Marcus asked as he pinched his temples.

"Like what?"

"So, discreet in their motives."
Katie eyed him. "I'm not being discreet."

Marcus nodded. "Yeah, are you. You have been dancing around telling me about your dreams for months."
Katie held Emily close to her. "I have not."
Marcus got to his feet. "Yeah, you have. It's been in your expressions. You're like an open book."
Katie walked down the hall. She had forgotten about how well Marcus was at reading people.

So, this isn't going like I planned. Oh, well. Before I forget this fanfiction will be the last in "The Heart of Everything" series. I did think about doing a fourth one, but then decided that three was a good number to go out on. Thanks for reading!