Chapter Thirty-One: Amaranth

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

Katie looked down at Marcus's limp form, Jasmine's last hunting words echoing in the forefront of her mind. He could die. She had always thought that magic had a solution for everything, but what if there were some things that magic couldn't fix?

Jenna came rushing back into the room. "I've got the water."

Brad finished pulling Marcus's shirt off and dipped a washcloth into the water. He gently wiped the cloth against Marcus's stomach. "This is the part that I'm happy he passed out."

Katie smiled as she followed Brad's movements. There was too much blood and the fact that Marcus was still bleeding really put Katie on edge. How much more could he lose before he bleed to death?

She pushed aside his arm and applied pressure to his side. She did have to agree with Brad on this one. It was a good thing that Marcus had passed out because he would not had held still for them. She really didn't know how Brad managed to move Marcus.

Brad rinsed out his washcloth and set it on the dresser. "I'm going to lift him up and you two can use these to bind his wounds." Brad pulled out a roll of medical tape out of his pocket and handed it Katie.

Katie nodded as Jenna joined them.

"How long can you hold him up?" Jenna asked.

Brad shrugged. "He's dead weight, but he's not that heavy."

Jenna looked like she still had her doubts, but didn't say anything further.

"Ready?" Brad asked.

Katie nodded as Brad lifted Marcus's upper half off the bed. Together, Katie and Jenna wrapped the tape around Marcus's stomach and chest, making sure that it was tight. Once they were done, Brad gently placed Marcus back on the bed.

"Now, we just wait," Brad said.

Katie sat on the edge of the bed and began to stroke Marcus's dark hair. The only indication he gave of being alive was the slow rising and falling of his chest. Her fingers brushed against his forehead, causing her heart to race.

"His head's hot," Katie said.

Jenna put her hand to Marcus's forehead. "He is a little warm." She turned to Brad and took out her wand. "He shouldn't have a fever already, should he?"

Even though Brad shrugged, Katie could still see the worry on his face.

Jenna ran her wand over Marcus's forehead. When she removed it, the tip of it was a dull red. Without saying a word, she looked at everyone.

Katie took a deep breath.

"I thought everyone could use a cup of tea," Demi said as she stepped into the room with Haley right behind her.

Katie smiled at Demi. "That would be great."

Demi nodded and disappeared.

Haley sat down on the floor. "How is he?"
No one answered.

Haley picked at carpet, but didn't ask again.

"Should we get Nathanial and Jasmine?" Katie asked as she went back to stroking Marcus's hair.

"They should be back down in a couple of minutes," Brad answered.

Demi stepped back into the room with a pot of tea and a package of paper cups jammed underneath her arm. She poured everyone a cup.

Katie took a long drink and looked down on Marcus's pale face. She wanted him to open his eyes; it seemed like it had been forever since she looked into his soft brown eyes.

Jasmine stepped into the room with a large book in her hands. Nathanial wasn't far behind her.

"We think we found something," Jasmine said as she opened the book to a marked page. "It's probably a long shot, but nothing else looks like it will work."

"Bezoar will slow it down, but it won't completely saving," Nathanial went on. "It figures that they would use something that broke the rule. Any idea which Death Eater did this?
"My money is on Bellatrix," Brad said.

Nathanial nodded.

Katie looked at the spin of Jasmine's book: Forgotten Methods of Healing: The Lost Lands of the Worlds.

Jasmine looked back down at the book. "Due to its vast ability to home rare herbs, ancient witches and wizards thought it would be best to hide it before the world could abuse it's amazing powers. The last known record of Arctica is over a thousand years old. Many have tried to find Arctica, but none have been successful. It is said that you have to have pure intentions to help those in need and there must be no personal gain involved," Jasmine read. "Arctica is believed to the only home of the never ending flower, Amaranth. Amaranth is known for its vast healing powers."

Jasmine flipped forward a couple of pages. "The ancient tribes of Africa were one of the first non-wizard peoples to realize that Amaranth was not part of the so-called Muggle world. They noticed that flower never seemed to die. Generations would watch the same flower, but it did not die. Wizards grew concerned about Muggles seeing the planet and exposing their wrold. So, ancient wizards killed all known Amaranth planets in the world, with the expectation of those located in Arctica. Those left in Arctica were sealed off from the world and no one has seem Amaranth since then.

Amaranth is believed to save people from Death. It will not allow for someone to live forever, but will allow them to overcome a serious injury or illness. This never ending flower is a life source for those who most deserve to live. If a person has the wrong intention of using Amaranth, such as for personal wealth, the flower will turn on him and kill everyone close to him. The flower is not forgiving."
Everyone looked up at Jasmine as she finished reading.

"Are you saying that's our only hope to save him?" Brad asked.

Jasmine and Nathanial nodded.

Katie looked at the floor. It seemed like they were putting a lot of faith in something that they weren't even sure existed anymore.

Brad got to his feet. "Well, we'd best get started and decide who's going and who's staying."
"Jasmine and Nathaniel need to stay and Jenna's not strong enough to go," Katie said.

"You've got Emily," Jenna informed Katie.

"If you stay here, she'll be fine with you."

"He's your husband."

Katie nodded. "I know, but there's not much I can do here."

"She's got a point," Haley offered.

"And Haley's too young to go," Jasmine put in.

Haley gave her mother a look.

"I can go," Demi offered.

Nathaniel looked at his wife. "I don't think Jenna can handle the kids on her own."
"Haley will be here," Demi pointed out.

Nathaniel looked at Haley. "Can you handle the twins?"

"I suppose," Haley muttered.

Jasmine looked at Katie and Brad. "You two can't go by yourselves."
"There's really no one else," Brad pointed out.

Katie's mind was racing. There was somebody else. "What about Damon? He would be down with this. He helped with Fairyland and who knows what else and hasn't said a word."
Brad and Jasmine exchanged looks.

"He's always been hovering with us, so why can't he help with this?" Katie went on. "Besides, Marcus is his best friend."

"I suppose," Jasmine said after a few minutes of silence. "How do we get in contact with him?"
"That one is easy," Haley said as she picked up Marcus's mobile. "Text or call?"
"How are we going to explain this one in general?" Brad asked.

"I don't know."
A sudden thought entered Katie's mind. "Arctica is bound to be a big place. Wouldn't we need more than three people?"
Jasmine looked at Katie. "What are you saying?"

"What about Remus? I know that Tonks can't go, but Remus would probably be down for it."
"Remus would be a good one."

Haley was tapping away on Marcus's mobile. "He has both of their numbers in here."

"That doesn't solve our wording problem," Nathaniel put in.

"Just tell them like it is," Haley piped in. "There's really no sense in sugar coating it."
"She has a point," Demi added.

"Fine," Jasmine said," but give me the mobile. I think they would take it better if I told them."

Haley reluctantly handed the device over. Jasmine disappeared out into the hall to make the calls.

Katie turned to Brad. "Do we have enough heavy clothes to wear?"

"I'm not sure on that one."

Jasmine stepped back into the room. "Both can come. They agreed to meet you at your house, Katie."

Katie nodded and bent down to kiss Marcus's hot forehead. "We probably should be on our way, then."

Jasmine hugged Brad. "Be careful."

Out of the corner of her eye, Katie could see Demi and Nathanial saying their goodbyes.

Jasmine handed Brad the chest. With a final look at Marcus, Katie joined Brad and Demi in the centre of the room. She felt a familiar pull at her stomach and soon all were gone.

Katie landed on her back in front of the sofa. She slowly got her feet and looked around. Magic never ceased to amaze her. It was hard to believe that an attack had taken place here just a few weeks ago.

Brad pulled himself slowly to his feet. "They should be coming at anytime."

Katie nodded. "I thought Damon would have been here already considering we can see his house."

Demi shrugged. "Hard to tell."

The front door pushed open and Remus and Damon, dressed in heavy clothes, stepped in.

"I thought I heard you in here," Damon said.

"You were right."
Remus and Damon started to move closer.

"Wait!" Brad's voice made them stop. He had his wand pointed at them. "What were the first words I said to you when word of You-Know-Who's return got out?"
Remus had his own wand out. "We had a long and difficult fight against. The torch had to be handed over to the next generation."

Brad slowly lowered his wand.

"How is he?" Damon asked.

Brad shook his head. "Not good, but the knife missed his lung."
Damon just nodded.

Katie gulped and started up the stairs. "I'll see what kind of winter clothes we had up here."
Demi looked like she wanted to follow Katie, but didn't move, a move that Katie was grateful for.

Katie stepped into the master bedroom and began opening drawers. She knew that Marcus had a couple of heavy things that were too big on him and bound to fit Brad. She found what she could and carried them downstairs.

A few minutes alone could make a difference. However, Katie's head had been clear beforehand. She didn't understand why she really wasn't feeling anything. Sure, she was worried, but it really wasn't affecting her.

Katie handed the clothes to Brad. "I don't know if these will fit."

Brad looked at the clothes. "They probably will."

Katie started pulling on layers.

"I was just telling them that we need to head out of here soon," Brad said as his head poked out of a hooded sweatshirt.

Katie nodded as she pulled her final layers on. "I'm ready whenever the rest of you are."

Brad held the box in his hands. "Grab hands and let's go."

Katie reached for Damon's hand and took it as the familiar surroundings of home disappeared and a world of white appeared.

"It's still here," Remus said. "I really can't believe it!"

"I guess some myths are true," Demi said.