Thanks for being patient everyone, just been busy with the holidays and other stories just booming with ideas. This chapter brings things down a bit for Katherine, cuz as of a few days after she left the manor her magic isn't what it used to be, at least not for the most part.
Enjoy!
Two weeks later:
Ever since Katherine and Charlie left Malfoy Manor, Katherine had been feeling rather ill and had been in bed more than half the time. Charlie had been taking care of her but for some reason the illness just kept getting a bit worse; he sent for Remus and Tonks, knowing they might have an idea what was wrong.
"Here darling…" he brought some hot tea to her bed and she took the cup with shaky hands.
"Thanks." He sat down on the side of the bed and rubbed her arms.
"What could be causing this? You've never been this sick before?" just then emerald fire appeared in the fireplace and in came Tonks and Remus with their baby boy Teddy.
"Hey Dora…Remus…" Kathy moaned lowly. Tonks handed Teddy to Remus and went straight over.
"Kathy how do you feel; oh dear Godric you're burning up!" Katherine's face was flushed red and her forehead was really hot. "Remus could this be…?"
"I hope not, check the book." Remus gently placed little Teddy in a cradle he summoned with his wand and Tonks brought out a book that explained everything about enchantresses. He flipped through some pages and looked a few over before showing the page to Tonks.
"That's…!"
"My ancestor…" Katherine moaned again trying to sit up but Charlie wouldn't let her. "What's the passage say?"
"It mainly talks about her powers, but also the reason she almost died at a young age. She had a magical breakdown…"
"A what?"
"Magical breakdown, it's when an enchantress uses so much of their magic that their body begins to weaken; if the magic is used again before it has any time to fully heal then the consequences could be fatal. They could be sick forever, lose a sense like hearing, talking, or sight, or worse dead." Moesha the cat meowed and took a spot on Katherine's stomach.
"How long has she been sick Charlie?"
"Not too long Tonks, she was fine for a while after we came back from Malfoy Manor. Then just two days ago she was running a fever but today she nearly fainted of nausea."
"How much magic did you use Kathy?"
"Not much…since we got home."
"And the manor?"
"A fair amount, just to play with Bellatrix and the others." Dora and Remus groaned at that answer.
"Katherine Elizabeth Malfoy you know you're not supposed to play around with your magic like that! Are you asking for a death wish?"
"NO!" the room shook a little. "I got carried away ok? I just wanted some revenge on those fools…" Katherine started coughing and Charlie rubbed her arms for comfort.
"I understand your ambitions but you have to be careful. The last time this happened was the night you killed Greyback's pack, you were bedridden for a month."
"That…was the first…time t-that happened…I got over it."
"Yeah you did but if you had done any more you would've died. Kathy you can't be so reckless…"
"I know, I just wanted to make sure they felt the same way I did. Draco…he knows…" Tonks and Remus exchanged looks and Remus set down the book to tend to Teddy. "It's ok…we're safe with him. As is he…"
"That's one good thing, now you seem to be improving a bit but you have to be sure you don't use any magic until you're fully healed. Your fever's going down…" Katherine sat up slowly and let Moesha get settled in her lap.
"I'm just glad things are good between me and my brother. My spell keeps him alive and protected from dangerous spells. Lucius found that out the hard way…" she giggled and stroked Mo's fur.
"You hit him hard didn't you?" Kathy nodded and Dora smiled. Remus continued flipping through the pages whilst the two women continued to talk until Kathy got a closer look at Teddy.
"He's gotten big since we last saw him, in the picture I mean. His hair though, it's red not blue."
"Yes we figure that's his way of improving his looks, kind of like me."
"Yours are affected by emotions, and by the looks of things I think Teddy needs a change." Kathy pointed to the oddly moving baby and Remus pulled out a diaper bag while Dora cleaned him up.
"I'll feed him Remus, you take a break." She pulled down the top of her dress and pulled a blanket over her and Teddy while he fed. Remus kept flipping through pages until he stopped close to the last page.
"That's odd…the last few pages are scorched out."
"What do you mean scorched out?" Katherine coughed and Charlie handed her the hot tea. She gulped it down slowly and looked at Remus again.
"It seems that the last part of the book is burned, not very badly but it's hard to tell what the last few passages say."
"Is there a way to repair it?" Dora asked nearly finished with Teddy.
"There might be, but it could take a while. You rest easy Katherine, but don't use any magic. Charlie make sure she doesn't."
"I already have, thanks you two." They bid them goodbye and left through the fireplace. Charlie handed Katherine a wand case and she took out a long black wand that looked nearly brand new. She stroked the smooth surface and carefully picked it up.
"It's been a while since I've used this. Not many, but a few memories are held in this wand."
"Are you sure about this?" Katherine looked admirably at her old wand then to Charlie.
"Yes darling, Dora told me not to use my own personal magic; she didn't say anything about using a wand that doesn't necessarily require my magic. Besides I left the mirror at the manor, it would've been easier to keep an eye on Draco, but I have to enchant another mirror." She pointed to the dresser mirror, a large decorated mirror that belonged to Andromeda; taking close aim, she pointed the wand at the mirror, moved it a bit, and soon a light blue swirl appeared and then she could see Draco resting in bed.
"He looks…ill." Charlie always pointed out the obvious. Katherine looked closely and saw that Draco looked in the same shape she was in.
"He might've caught something, he did look a bit grim when I last saw him. I don't sense anyone near the room…"
"They might be letting him sleep, or Narcissa could be making some potions for him. She's not Snape but she's great with a few ingredients."
"That reminds me, I should check on Snape just to see how he's doing." She moved her wand again and then Snape appeared but he was talking to someone.
"Headmaster, you have no idea how powerful she's become! She almost killed the Malfoys and me and Bellatrix!"
"Headmaster? He's the headmaster how is he…?" Katherine's question was answered when she spotted Dumbledore's portrait on the wall.
"Severus I know how strong she is, I was her teacher."
"You knew she was that powerful? Why didn't you tell Lucius and Narcissa?"
"She didn't want me to, and frankly they didn't deserve to know. Understand this Severus, her power is limited. If she overdoes it then her body will weaken and her magic will decrease."
"In other words if she uses too much magic then she could die or become fatally ill."
"Exactly, but if she lets her magic heal completely then she's fine. Severus I'm surprised you're this terrified of her." Dumbledore laughed and Snape snarled.
"Well how would you feel if you had just met your goddaughter, hidden for years as an adopted witch by the Tonks family, and all of a sudden she returns threatening to cut you to shreds with a magic dagger?"
Katherine laughed at that.
"Severus she's a strong woman, I know the pain she's feeling but as I hate to admit it even the Malfoys didn't deserve that kind of punishment."
"She has Draco under some spell I know it!"
"Katherine wouldn't do that to her own brother Severus. It's obvious they've gotten close since she's returned…that scene at the ball must've done some damage."
"Indeed, she disguised herself as a Chinese princess and then blasts Rodolphus into a wall. Not to mention the courage she has…"
"She must've inherited that from her mother, Narcissa may not seem very strong but she did have enough courage to come ask you for help despite all that happened to Lucius and Draco." Snape was speechless for a minute.
"Katherine is one hell of a woman."
"No arguments on that Severus, just make sure next time she comes around you don't sass her otherwise you could end up like Fenrir Greyback." Dumbledore laughed and Katherine giggled before taking the spell off the mirror.
"So Snape did know I was alive. He was just undercover for Albus the whole time…"
"It makes sense, but why did he kill him?" Katherine thought for a minute then her eyes widened.
"Knowing Dumbledore they must've planned it…at least that's all I can think of, but something's off. Why would Snape go through all that trouble with the Dark Lord, being both his and Dumbledore's spy, yet he still takes advice from the headmaster he murdered?" neither said a word until Charlie had a thought.
"Now that I think about it, I remember Remus talking to Dora about Snape when he was in school. He said something about him having a friendship with Lily Evans."
"Lily who?" Katherine wasn't familiar with many names of people she heard little of.
"Lily Evans, aka Lily Potter Kathy. Harry's mom…apparently they had a good relationship and then they split cuz Snape called Lily a mudblood. After that they went their separate ways."
"I'm guessing Snape was so distraught about the whole thing he had to go and join the death eaters and then had a change of heart sometime afterwards?"
"Pretty much, I remember Albus saying something about Snape being in love with Lily. Maybe that's the reason he's risking everything."
"He's so caught up in the past he's blind to everything else around him. Ok maybe not everything but it's like he's chasing a ghost!"
"Not quite kitty, he's just trying to make up for telling the Dark Lord about the prophecy and getting the Potters killed and Harry orphaned." Katherine calmed down a bit after hearing her nickname. Charlie was the only one who called her that.
"Really Charlie I don't know if he's very brave or very stupid."
"Probably both, you gonna see him again once you're better."
"Maybe, just to get more answers, I'm gonna take a nap now."
"Ok kitty, sleep well." He kissed her cheek and left her alone and Moesha curled up next to her.
Dream Sequence:
Katherine stood in a nice green meadow with yellow and white daisies, wearing a long white wedding dress and veil, in front of an altar with a minister waiting for her groom to arrive. She turned and saw a man in a black tuxedo walking from the shadows, but she saw it wasn't Charlie; it was…it was…oh god her eyes widened and she nearly screamed.
"Hello Katherine." The hissing voice made Katherine shiver and she shook as the Dark Lord himself came up to stand with her at the altar. She looked around and saw that the audience was none other than the death eaters and their families, and the minister was Yaxley?
"What's going on? Where's Charlie?" she tried to move away but her body wouldn't obey her thoughts.
"That worm is dead remember darling? You killed him to be with me." Katherine's eyes widened but she started getting furious.
"What've you done with him? Where's Draco?" Voldemort laughed and Katherine saw Bellatrix walking up the aisle with Draco in chains, his flesh all battered and bruised and it looked like his left leg was broken.
"F-Forgive me…Katherine…"
"What've you done to him?" she screeched and tried to get to him but still couldn't move.
"He tried to save you dear." Bellatrix laughed. "So did mummy and daddy but they got themselves killed…you'll make our family's reputation sparkle and shine like the sun itself." All of the death eaters laughed and Katherine felt hot tears flow down her cheeks.
"No…no…I didn't want this, I don't want this!"
"It's already done Katherine, you are mine, now and forever more. Now let's get married shall we?"
"NEVER!" Katherine tried to blast him but her magic failed. Everyone laughed again and Voldemort turned Katherine around holding one arm behind her back.
"You will never escape me Katherine. You are mine and mine alone, no one will ever take you from me…not even poor Draco." He made a move and Bellatrix pointed her wand at Draco; a flash of green light appeared and Katherine watched in horror as her baby brother's body dropped to the ground, dead.
"NO! DRACO! DRACO!"
End Dream Sequence:
Katherine woke up panting heavily and held her hand over her chest feeling her heartbeat rapidly. She heard footsteps coming her way and Charlie came in the room also panting.
"We have to go Kathy!"
"Why what's wrong?" Charlie grabbed a bag and started packing their clothes and personal items.
"Remus just fire-called me, the death eaters are out hunting us both and they're almost here! Tonks and her family have gone into hiding, we'll meet up with them shortly! Hurry get out of bed!" Katherine couldn't move very well but her body was near completing its healing so she could move a bit faster.
"How did this happen? I covered our tracks!"
"I don't know but we need to go we only have ten minutes before they get here! C'mon I got you…" he helped her up and they made their way to the fireplace but the floo wouldn't work. "Dammit! We have to apparat—" just before he could finish a stream of black smoke busted through the window and more came through the front and back doors.
"Charlie go! I can hold them off for now…"
"No Kitty I'm not leaving you!" they kept destroying the home but Katherine used her wand to mend the floo for only one of them to leave.
"I'm the one they want now go!"
"No I won't…" Katherine set the spell and pushed Charlie and Moesha through the floo as the death eaters surrounded her; and who, none other than her own Aunt Bellatrix came up to see her smiling with her ugly teeth showing.
"Hello Katherine dear, how are you." She was using that same sickly sweet tone Umbridge would use and made Kathy's stomach churn.
"I was doing fine until you showed up Bellatrix."
"Oh don't be like that sweetheart, we just came to pick you up."
"You destroyed my home."
"You'll soon be in a better home, now let's not cause any trouble. The Dark Lord is waiting to meet you." Katherine snarled at Bellatrix but still let her apparate them all back to Malfoy manor, where Voldemort was waiting with the Malfoys.
"We've brought her here safe and sound like you asked my lord."
"Then tell me Bellatrix, why is she looking feverish?"
"She must've caught something my lord, there is a bug going around. Draco has it too…"
"Prepare a room for her then. Have a meal ready for her later…"
"Yes milord, right away." Macnair and Dolohov left the room with the others and all who stood were Narcissa, Lucius, Bellatrix, Katherine and Voldemort.
"I'm glad you decided to come dear Katherine, forgive me if my minions surprised you."
"Like I had a choice, they destroyed my home."
"Oh I'm terribly sorry my dear."
"Cut the bullshit Voldemort, why did you have me brought here? To ask me to join your group of killers? Have me give you information on the last living members of the Order? Or kill me for trashing your party?"
"Now now dear Katherine I only wish to speak to you about your engagement to that Weasley man."
"What about it?"
"Well I think I speak for everyone here when I say he's not good for you."
"How would you know?"
"Your family thinks so, the Weasleys are blood traitors and on top of that completely poor. You wouldn't want to live in a life of poverty now would you?"
"They are not that poor, and money doesn't matter to me! Besides the only traitors here are the ones who kill innocent people for fun! Isn't that right Narcissa? Lucius?"
"Now don't be too hard on your parents Katherine, they only wish the best for you for which I may be able to help."
"By doing what?" Voldemort came closer to her and stroked a piece of her blonde hair. His touch was soothing, but creepy.
"I want to make you my wife." With that said Katherine slapped his hand away and backed away into the fireplace.
"What the hell is this?"
"It's simple my dear, I want you as my queen once I finish creating a new world. You would love it, have anything you desire, everyone would love you, and you'd be royalty just as your parents wish for you."
"What?" Katherine looked at the Malfoys and Lucius looked rather slim but Narcissa looked away. "Why would I agree to this?" Katherine started coughing again and she bent over covering her mouth. She didn't see the worried look on Narcissa's face.
"If you didn't well…I'd have to take some drastic measures. You wouldn't want anything to happen to your sweet cousin Tonks, or her baby would you?"
"Leave them out of this! I want nothing to do with you or these traitors!"
"You won't have a choice, it would be sad if Tonks had a terrible accident, but what about Draco? Do you want him to suffer?" Katherine kept coughing and she suddenly felt a burning feeling in her chest; this could only mean that Draco's condition was worsening.
"What did you do to Draco?" Voldemort smiled a wicked smile.
"I didn't do anything, he just caught a bug or something like you have. Now what do you say my dear?" Katherine growled and stood up.
"I don't care what happens to me…but if you dare harm my family any further than what you've done so far I'll kill you myself!"
"Is that a yes?"
"I'd rather die a painful, agonizing death than be your queen! What makes you think I'd be that stupid you old snake bastard!" Voldemort's hand suddenly went down on Katherine's face and she fell to the wall holding her stinging cheek.
"I wanted to do this the easy way Katherine, but since you've decided to be so hard-headed I'll give you some time to cool off. I'll give you 24 hours to consider this, if not then I'm afraid your family will pay the price and you'll be there to watch it. Take her to her room Bellatrix, Lucius."
"Yes milord." They each grabbed Katherine's arms and led her to a room in one of the darkest parts of the manor. Lucius unlocked the door and Bellatrix pushed Katherine into the room.
"You have to do this Katherine, if not you'll have the whole family killed." Lucius' voice was hoarse, barely comprehensible.
"I could care less if he wants to kill you Lucius, but I won't let anything happen to Draco or Dora."
"Katherine dear just think about it, you'll be queen of the Wizarding World. There's not a better honor than this one." Katherine turned and got into Bellatrix's face.
"I will never be the wife of a killer! Understand this Bellatrix, if anything happens to Draco or Tonks, or the Weasleys then your life is mine! I'll kill you then mount your head on my wall over the fireplace for all to see how disgusting you really are!" Bellatrix just walked out and Lucius followed, Katherine felt magic surround the room and she couldn't leave until her powers fully returned. The room was small but it had a bed, night stand, fireplace, and a window that viewed the backyard. "I have to call Dora!"
She tried to get the fireplace to work but it too was enchanted. Katherine had to contact Charlie and the others somehow, but the only other way besides her magic was the mirror, and that was up in her old bedroom in the attic.
'What will I do? Charlie I need you here…I need you, Dora, Remus, Draco. I need you all here…'
I know I hated to cut it off there but I wanted to bring a little tension on for the next chapter. Katherine's in a terrible pickle here, but it may get worse in the next one. What should you think happen? Charlie come to the rescue, Katherine free herself and Draco, turn of events or what? I'm up for ideas so please let me know what you want to happen in the next one!
Later!