Hey everyone, glad you all liked the last chapter because this is the last one before the epilogue and the story is completed. This is the final part where the battle takes place, and then a time skip of twelve years will be the epilogue where Katherine's children come home from Hogwarts for Christmas and a little family gathering takes place.
Enjoy!
The next night:
Katherine was waiting outside Hogwarts for the final attack of the Death Eaters and Voldemort. Tonight would be the final night, where Harry and Voldemort would face off each other and one would die. Charlie had recruited with his family, while Remus went along with Shacklebolt and Tonks stayed at home with her mother and Teddy. Everyone was waiting for the right moment to attack, but the Death Eaters had been unusually quiet, even inside the castle walls.
'Damn what the hell is taking them so long? I can't just sit here, I have to find the others!' without waiting for the signal Kitty raced off through the secret passageways into the dungeons, where most students were up against the walls being tortured by the Carrows.
"What shall we do first dear sister? The firsties or the thirds?" a giggle was heard before Kitty took full form and stunned the two death eaters; they fell to the floor and the students looked up in fear.
"Don't be alarmed kids, I'm here to help." She freed them from their restraints and they each rubbed their wrists. "Go back to your dorms, stay there unless told otherwise by a teacher or another student you can trust." The students scrambled out of the dungeons and left Kitty alone with the masters of torture. Looming over their bodies she gave an evil smirk and put her foot over the brother's throat.
"You will die tonight, but not by my hands." Her blue eyes glowed brightly in the dark and made her look fierce; she could feel the fear vibrating off them. "See you in the Great Hall…maybe." She walked down the corridors with her grandfather's dagger hidden in her left black boot, her wand was hidden in her shirt and her cloak flowed out behind her like a shield. As she went down the halls the eerie silence began to creep her out.
'Far too quiet in this big castle, guess I'd better find Snape while I'm here.'
"Hey what're you doing here?" a man shouted and Katherine turned stunning him. He flew back to the wall and hit his head on the hard stone. She looked to see the man was none other than Yaxley, one of the men she hated with a passion.
"Have a nice rest old fool, it may as well be your last." She left him sitting there and walked off in the direction where she could sense Snape's energy growing closer and closer, until she spotted him just twenty feet from her spot. "GOTCHA!" she cried out after tackling him to the ground. After placing a silencing charm on him she dragged him by his ankle into the Room of Requirement; throwing him to the floor he hit the hard wall and magic bindings were all over him. Her dagger tip was pointed at his neck as she released him from the charm.
"W-What the…?"
"SHUT UP! What's happening here? Why hasn't anyone been attacking the castle?"
"Katherine…what're you doing here?"
"I came to assist those in need…now where are all the other death eaters?" Snape struggled in his binds but it was useless. "Answer me dammit!"
"We were told to keep quiet for a bit, no one's been given orders yet to attack!" she sighed and pulled the blade back.
"Ok don't wet your pants…ugh…" Kitty felt a stabbing pain in her side and then a sudden rush of cries and screams echoed through the walls. "Looks…like it's starting…now." The binds on Snape faded and he stood up carefully.
"What's wrong?"
"It's nothing…just a cramp." 'Draco's in trouble…I have to find him.'
"No…it's your magic isn't it? I can tell you're not fully recovered." He tried to move towards her but she backed away.
"Get away from me…I don't need your help."
"Katherine please, let me help you out you can't fight like this."
"Help me?...you never helped…me before…" 'What's going on…this pain's getting worse..' another jab of pain hit her, this time full on her upper body. "Aagh…! D-Dra…D-Draco…." She fell to her knees and her body felt like it was going numb.
"Katherine…Katherine! Oh dear god!" Snape picked her up and carried her to another secret passage in the R.O.R. up to the headmaster's office. Setting her down she used what little strength she had to scratch his arm with her nails.
"Bastard…why…did you bring me here?"
"Such foul language Katherine, you should be more grateful." The voice of her old headmaster caught her ears, and she turned to see Dumbledore's portrait on the wall smiling at her.
"A-Albus…"
"Quickly Severus, get that potion from under the desk." Snape got up and rummaged around a bit before coming back to Katherine and pouring a hot liquid into her mouth. Katherine felt consciousness slipping away from her, and her eyes were growing heavier and heavier until she finally fell asleep.
Dream Sequence:
Katherine was surrounded in a world of white mist, no one around but her until a shady figure began walking over to her; as they grew closer, Katherine could see it was a woman with a slim figure, silvery blonde hair, fair skin, and blue eyes just like her, but a bit older.
"Hello Katherine." Her voice was like an orchestra of cellos and violins, very deep yet soothing.
"Who are you?" she asked timidly…sort of.
"I'm Emilia, your ancestor from 500 years ago…or 300 if you count me dying at nearly 200 years old."
"You're the woman in the book…what are you doing here? Is this heaven?" Emilia laughed and shook her head.
"No dear, this is King's Cross, the land between earth and heaven. I brought you here to talk with you, of course you should thank Albus Dumbledore for this, he's the one who called me."
"How can he do that when his soul's sealed into a portrait at Hogwarts?"
"Oh sweetheart, the dead have all kinds of connections up here. It's only natural even if you are just a spirit trapped or staying on earth." Katherine nodded knowing that made more sense than being here.
"That's why Snape fed me that potion?"
"Yes, it was all part of you headmaster's plan."
"Guess the old fool's not as stupid as I thought. Now why am I here Emilia?" Emilia looked at Katherine and turned around looking at the train appearing from the clouds.
"Tell me dear, did you feel any pain before you fell asleep? Anything in your upper body, or sides?"
"Yes…I thought it was my magic telling me Draco needed me. And then it all went numb…why?"a small laugh and Emilia looked at her.
"It's your inner power awakening."
"What?"
"Your inner power…your most magical abilities are coming into full effect. It's a time to where you are at your most powerful but also your most vulnerable. Your magic is unlimited, but as you probably know the more magic you use the more your body wears out."
"How long can it last?"
"Only when the time of the battle between killers and heroes comes around; meaning the war in which you're facing is the only time you reach your full potential."
"When will it fade?"
"After the battle is finished…and then you will be back to your old self."
"What about my brother?" Emilia turned to her and looked with sharp eyes.
"Your brother? You have a sibling?"
"Yes didn't Albus tell you?"
"He most certainly didn't! This is not good…if you overuse your power then you and your brother both will suffer greatly. If you weaken then he'll weaken, and if you die he dies!"
"Yes I know about that…I also know a way to break the bond between us."
"The Deathly Hallows? That power is limited, it may not be enough to save you and your brother!"
"It's all we have, if it can't save me then I only pray it will save Draco. I have to get back, I can sense the battle's begun."
"Wait Katherine! If the deathly hallows don't work then you must have a magical substitute!"
"What?"
"A magical substitute, someone or something that can give the D.H.'s more power; someone or something close to you has to suffice for it. If it doesn't then you will die…and your brother as well."
"Then someone I know will do it regardless to save me, but they will save Draco. Farewell Emilia."
End Dream Vision:
Katherine awoke abruptly to see Snape was gone from the office but Dumbledore's face in his portrait seemed concerned.
"You alright Katherine? You were out for almost an hour…"
"An hour? Where's Snape?"
"He left; he had to go assist those in need."
"Right…where are the others?"
"The battle has begun; everyone's out looking for Harry or fighting the Death Eaters."
"I have to find Draco." As Katherine scrambled to her feet and pulled out her dagger Dumbledore's voice stopped her at the door.
"Wait Katherine! Did you understand what Emilia told you?"
"Yes…"
"Then you know what'll happen if you are fatally injured in the war, you cannot risk your brother's life!"
"I know that! But as of now all I can do is get him somewhere safe, I care not what happens to Narcissa and Lucius!"
"Katherine you know what your grandmother did to you and them. Don't blame them forever, if you're consumed by hatred and anger because of your parents then your magic won't work."
"Then my fighting skills will have to do…I rarely used magic up until two years ago at the ministry, not after I almost died because of Greyback's pack. I'm not going to let my brother suffer because of them, even if it means I die after the bond is broken. Farewell headmaster…" the way she talked it sounded as if Katherine knew she would die, but at least all her life's work of protecting Draco would pay off. As she left down the spiral staircase she could hear the other portraits following Dumbledore's voice calling her to go back.
'Where are they?' when she reached out of the headmaster's office she could see hundreds of students and death eaters fighting back to back. Teachers were protecting who they could, but none looked strong enough due to the massive blasts from Voldemort's followers.
"You girl!" a man came up behind and struck Katherine's back but she turned on him and sliced his throat open with Abraxas' sword. The face told her it was Macnair, and his blood spattered onto her clothes and face. When he fell to the floor she stabbed him in the heart and raced off through the rubble and battles looking for the Malfoys or at least Remus.
"Gotcha Lupin!" she heard a gruff voice call out and turned to see Dolohov and Remus fighting in a classroom, Charms from the looks of it. Remus was holding out as much as he could but he looked a tad beaten and scraped up.
"Stupefy!" Katherine saw Lupin get pinned to the floor as Dolohov was about to cast another curse. "Ava-!"
"OH HELL NO!" Katherine busted into the room and pushed Dolohov away from her cousin-in-law. She held him to the floor with her foot and kicked his wand away. "You alright Remus?"
"Y-Yes…Katherine how did you…?"
"Remus?" Dora's voice came through and Remus was suddenly embraced around the neck.
"Wha…? Dora why are you here you're supposed to be with Aunt Andromeda?"
"I couldn't sit still cousin, I had to come! Teddy's fine with mum."
"Very well, get going both of you and keep an eye out for Bellatrix she's maddened with bloodlust tonight! I'll take care of Dolohov." The two left to join the battle whilst Katherine thrust her sword into the death eater's leg and he screamed in agony.
"Aagh..! W-What…?"
"Silence! You will pay for trying to kill my friends and family!" another stab to the leg and his cries got louder. "Not enough? How about this?" she slashed his chest, more cries. "Say goodbye Dolohov!" she raised her sword about to stab his throat when something grabbed hold of her arm.
"Katherine stop!" she turned to see it was her future brother-in-law Percy Weasley. "Let him go you don't have to kill him!"
"Let go Percy, he tried to murder Remus!"
"No Kathy, if you kill him then you're no better than him and the others!"
"You're one to talk, betraying your parents and siblings for the ministry two years ago!" Percy's grip tightened but he didn't let go.
"I was stupid, I'm here to help everyone out even if I die! Let Dolohov live, he'll be locked up for the rest of hi life anyway. Come on Katherine you're better than this, I saw what you did to Macnair…it's something I'd expect from your father, not you." Katherine's eyes widened and she realized she had gone far enough, but she couldn't let Dolohov go.
"Petrify him…I'm off to find my brother." Without waiting for Percy to answer she raced off turning the sword back into the halls of chaos. 'Draco where are you?' as she managed to race off again she heard a familiar cackling laughter coming from the Transfiguration classroom on the far left of the corridor.
"Looks like I'm going to have some fun tonight after all!" Katherine's eyes glared and she snarled.
'Bellatrix.' She slowly approached the laughing sound and peeked in to see Bellatrix and Rodolphus taunting Remus and Dora. The two were standing as much as they could, but it wouldn't be quite much against two ruthless death eaters.
"GET AWAY FROM THEM!" her cry was so loud it bounced off the walls. Bellatrix and Rodolphus were disarmed and backed up to the wall in an instant.
"Kathy? Where have you been we've been looking everywhere for you?"
"Shut it Lestrange, I'm not here to help YOU. Remus, Dora get out of here and go find the Weasleys I think they could use a hand." Remus tried to pull Tonks away but she wouldn't listen.
"No I'm not leaving you here with these freaks!"
"Go Dora, I can handle them myself! I already killed off Macnair and Dolohov so these two won't be as much of a problem." They left after Tonks nodded and Katherine's dagger turned into a sword and she pointed it at them. "You still want me back after all you've put me through auntie? Some backbone you've got…"
"Please dear, we just want you to get back to Lucius and Narcissa."
"They don't concern me, all I want is Draco and then I'm leaving."
"You can't take your brother Kitty…you…" before Rodolphus could finish Katherine cut his leg open and he fell clutching the wound. Bellatrix screeched and kneeled at his side.
"Kitty how could you?" Bellatrix screamed again this time from gash across her left arm. The sword pointed the tip at her throat and Katherine's blue eyes flared with rage.
"Never call me that…you have no right to call me that whatsoever! Now stay put or you'll both die tonight!" with that Katherine turned into mist and flew out of the classroom and headed straight for the Great Hall but something struck her and she fell to the stone floor.
"Ugghhh…" she moaned in pain and turned to see Yaxley behind her, pissed from when she attacked him before. "You…"
"Time to finish you off enchantress!" he fired curses at her but each one only grazed her.
"I should've killed you back at the manor, well too late now!" with one burst of magic Yaxley was sent flying out of the window out onto the school grounds. Katherine continued on her way until another stabbing pain made her fall to her knees. 'What's happening? I didn't use that much magic!'
"You are feeling weakened by your will Katherine." Emilia's voice called to her in her head.
"Emilia? What're you…?"
"Remember what I told you? You are at your most powerful but you're also very vulnerable. Those curses he's hit you with are starting to take effect."
"But how…!"
"Didn't you listen to me? Katherine you need to limit your strength or you'll be dead before this is over, you and Draco both!"
"Alright…alright…but Emilia can you tell me where Draco is at right now?"
"He's in the Room of Requirement, but hurry because it appears Potter's on his tail!"
"Thank you."
Katherine raced towards the R.O.R. all the while clutching her side which mysteriously started bleeding heavily. Her speed began to slow slightly but her magic kept her on her feet; a sudden rush of heat came from the corridor and she could see Harry, Ron, and Hermione dragging Gregory Goyle and Draco out of a burning room.
"Fiend Fire….HARRY! RON!" she called them and they spotted her. She went over to them before collapsing on her knees again.
"Kitty!" Draco cried out seeing the blood. "What happened to you?" he ran to her side and she smiled at him.
"It's nothing…how are you…?"
"I-I'm fine…thanks to them." He pointed to Harry and his friends. Hermione saw Katherine's wound and pulled out her want but Katherine stopped her.
"No Hermione…I-I'll be fine…get to safety, the Dark Lord wants Harry soon and it's not going to be pretty." The trio just obeyed and left the siblings alone, but Katherine soon had a look of confusion on her face. "Draco…why aren't you bleeding…like me?" he gave her a questioned look and she felt his side then he grabbed her hand after wincing.
"Ow…not bleeding…just hurts that's all."
"That's impossible…you should…be bleeding…t-the bond…ugh…" Katherine could feel her strength draining from her, and Draco looked as if he were about to collapse any second.
"Kitty…" he mumbled her nickname and fell beside her.
"DRACO! No…" she clutched his hand and used what small amount of magic she could to lift herself up and draped her brother over her shoulders. "Not yet…not yet…" 'Why is this happening? I haven't used that much magic yet my body's shutting down on me.' She carried him to a safe classroom and put up a shield charm to keep anyone from entering. Pulling out her wand she muttered a spell and her wound closed up but the pain didn't stop. Just as she was about to heal Draco, the castle walls shook and she could hear Voldemort's voice echoing throughout the place.
"If you continue to resist me, you will all die, one by one. I do not wish this to happen. Every drop of magical blood spilled is a loss and a waste... I command my forces to retreat immediately. You have one hour... I speak now, Harry Potter, directly to you... I shall wait for one hour in the Forbidden Forest. If, at the end of that hour, you have not come to me, have not given yourself up, then battle recommences. This time, I shall enter the fray myself, Harry Potter, and I shall find you, and I shall punish every last man, woman, and child who has tried to conceal you from me. One hour."
"Not good, sorry Emilia but I can't just sit here and let this madness continue." Katherine closed her eyes, crossed her legs and put herself in a meditating position. In her mind she was focusing all living magic within herself and whomever or whatever else she could, into her body to make her temporarily invincible. If Harry alone could not defeat Voldemort, then she would have to step in; in the mean time she would hunt down the remaining Death Eaters and punish them all for their crimes against the innocent. A light glow surrounded her and it felt like a ray of warmth inside, meaning that she was fully prepared to take on anyone she wanted.
"Time to go, I'll be back brother, but don't leave here unless I come for you." She knew he could hear her, but he couldn't move from exhaustion. Leaving the room she turned back into mist and flowed out to the outdoor grounds where most of the Death Eaters were assembling to wait for Harry's arrival.
'There you are you monstrous snake.' She spotted Voldemort hiding in the clearing of the Dark Forest, waiting for Harry to come as well but more anxious than his followers. Taking form into a black crow she perched herself onto the highest tree branch she could see and observed as they all gathered around their lord.
'Where's Snape? Shouldn't he be here?'
"He's gone Katherine…"
"Emilia? What do you mean gone? He fled?"
"No…" her voice sounded remorseful. "He's dead dear, Voldemort had that snake of his kill him; one bite to the neck was all it took and then he bled out."
"What? But why…he was his most trusted…"
"That's what I thought, but since Snape was the one who killed Albus Dumbledore Voldemort thinks that the elder wand will not work for him unless he's killed the master."
"That was Snape…"
"No…you see he never defeated Albus, you should have known the whole time he was working against Voldemort correct?"
"Yes."
"Then there you have it, Snape was not the wand's true master, it was your brother Draco. But since Harry disarmed Draco back at Malfoy Manor, he is now it's master."
"So Snape's death was pointless? That monster, I'll kill him if it's the last thing I do!"
"Hey now don't get overexcited…remember you're only temporarily invincible here."
"I KNOW THAT!" the last words she spoke came out in a loud caw making many faces look up at the trees. The only thing that didn't make her look like a crow were her bright blue eyes that almost gave her away as long as she kept herself hidden in the shadows.
'Whoa that was close.'
"He ain't coming I know it. The boy likes to hide behind his friends and cowers away like a mouse."
"Yeah, too bad about Macnair though…someone cut his throat clean open and a lot of blood spattered everywhere."
"Reckon I know who did…" all went silent as a pair of footsteps caught everyone's ears, including the crow perched on a high branch in the trees. Voldemort turned around to see Harry Potter himself in the flesh, but as Katherine focused her eyes on him she didn't hear the loud booming voice of Hagrid begging Harry to run away.
"Harry Potter…the boy who lived…" he whispered lowly but loud enough for all to hear. "Avada Kedavra!" a burst of green light and Harry fell to the ground and Voldemort collapsed too.
"NO! HARRY!" Katherine screeched so loud her caws echoed throughout the skies and a flash of blue light stunned Katherine to the ground where she was stuck in her crow disguise. Someone picked her up and held her tight to them, recognizing the scent to be her deranged aunt Bellatrix.
"Oh look a crow…twill make a fine ornament in the manor. But milord…milord!"
'You crazy bitch didn't you see him fall?' Bellatrix held her tight and she could barely move away but as her inner magic increased she could feel her body slowly able to move again.
A few minutes later:
The Dark Lord had finally arisen from his sleepy ways and the Death Eaters were now trudging behind him with Hagrid carrying Harry's limp body. Katherine had been completely oblivious to their conversations and cheers as she kept focusing on her still paralyzed body.
'Almost there…almost there…'
"We have arrived my lord." Bellatrix spoke in her cackling voice.
"Stop." Voldemort's voice echoed over the crowd of witches and wizards still fighting some death eaters who stayed behind. Katherine's bones were finally able to move, but as Voldemort began to speak, Hagrid's sobs were heard but the movement of Harry's eyes caught her attention.
'He's alive? How did I not see this coming?' soon someone yelled loudly and Katherine saw Neville Longbottom standing up with all his courage and bravery he must've had locked away somewhere. 'Now's my chance.' "CAW!" she shrieked and her clawed feet clutched Bellatrix's arm squeezing out blood as the witch screamed loudly. She was freed instantly and took full human form right in front of Harry's 'dead' body. "Hello again Voldemort." She seethed.
"Still alive are you Katherine? I would have assumed your body would've given out by now…or have you some back up magic that keeps you on your feet even as I speak to you?" Katherine's legs were weakening, she'd held her crow form too long and the stunner was affecting her breathing.
"It'll be the end of you before I die…because if Harry really is dead then it's my job to make sure you're killed. I could do you like I did Yaxley and Macnair, but that would only be too easy wouldn't it?" a few gasps from around her were spoken.
"You killed Yaxley and Macnair?" Bellatrix screeched. Katherine pulled out her sword and showed the tip of it, along with the front of her shirt, were covered with Macnair's blood.
"Wasn't hard, he went down in one stroke." She smiled wickedly and Voldemort started laughing.
"You claim you're not a Malfoy eh Katherine? Well as it turns out you are just like them, killing your enemies when all these years you've shown mercy to others. Such a clever girl, you may be of use after all…"
"SILENCE!" her voice echoed like his across the Great Hall. "Since Harry has now been killed, it's my turn to finish you and that whore off!" she fired a spell at him but he deflected it hitting the wall. "Take that! And that!" she kept firing spells but she failed to notice the more she fired the less powerful they were. Voldemort deflected all her curses and spells, and her last one was aimed back at her, hitting her side where her wound reopened and the blood poured out.
"AAGH!" she screamed and held her side trying to stop the blood flow, but she could feel the strength draining from her body as her vision started blurring.
"Katherine!" she heard Charlie calling out to her and the other Weasleys followed his voice.
"Stay back!" she shouted back to them but then another battle erupted and the students went back up against the Death Eaters while Voldemort slowly approached her, wand directed at her face. Her forehead began sweating as she struggled to stay awake, but the pain was unbearable.
"Foolish girl…you could've had it all as my queen, but you had to go against my army to protect your idiot baby brother, when all along he was your weakest link."
"Bastard…" she spat at his feet and he smacked her hard across the face.
"Useless bitch…now from what I understand if an enchantress has a sibling they have a special bond right? Meaning if you die, then Draco will die…well I guess you'll be together after all, in the afterlife with your foolish ancestors and family. Avada—"
"NO YOU DON'T!" the spell was deflected with a shield charm and Katherine looked up to see her own brother, Draco Malfoy, standing in front to protect her from the Dark Lord.
"Dra…Draco?"
"In the flesh Kitty." He had a wound like hers but his blood wasn't pouring out as badly. Soon Lucius and Narcissa joined in, protecting their only daughter and eldest child.
"Leave our daughter alone!" Lucius shouted bravely for the first time against his 'master'.
"FOOLS!" Voldemort aimed another killing curse at them all, but it too was deflected by another shield and they all turned to see Harry Potter, alive and well in the middle of the Great Hall.
"Har…ry…" Katherine spoke lowly as Draco sat down beside her, his strength leaving him too.
"Kitty…are you alright…?" he whispered to her.
"N-No…I-I will be…soon—ugh…" she fell to the floor as another wave of pain hit her, and her strength was almost completely gone.
"Katherine no!" Narcissa and Lucius were at her and Draco's sides trying to help them but it was useless.
"N-No Lucius…Narcissa…it won't work…."
"No babies! You have to get up, you can't leave us yet!" Narcissa held them both to her and Lucius held onto them too.
"I-It can't be helped…without…the Deathly…Hallows…" those were Katherine's final words before consciousness left her fully, and beside her the same was Draco.
"No Katherine! Katherine!" the Malfoys, the Weasleys, and Lupins all cried out for her and Draco both, but Katherine's eyes had finally closed, and she gave one final smile to them all.
"G-Goodbye…mummy and…daddy…my family…C-Charlie…"
Oh no! Is this the end for Katherine? Will she and Draco both die for nothing? Wait until the next chapter to find out more! Leave a good review and I'll keep it up for the final chapter to this fic.
Later!