Fragments of Us
Disclaimer: This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.
Warnings: Violence, battle scenes (nothing too graphic)
Chapter 46 – Coming Apart
If newer Order members and those without Auror or similar training thought surveillance activities would yield results as quickly as they did on the first day of the Mission, they were sorely mistaken. By the end of January, their initial excitement had diminished somewhat, each telling the other that it was only a matter of time before the Dark Lord pulled together a cohesive strategy and things picked up. By mid-February, they wondered if perhaps Malfoy had abandoned his quest for whatever was hidden in the Department of Mysteries. By the first week in March, they were actually listening to the more experienced members who had been telling them all along that what they'd been experiencing was normal; the success tasted by Kate, Remus and Bill on that first frigid January day was the anomaly.
After putting in a long day in the office, Kate had come home and wanted nothing more than a hot shower, some dinner, perhaps some quiet time with Sirius and sleep. Stepping out of the shower, Kate stood in front of the full-length mirror in her bathroom, turning to the side to see the profile view of the progress of her pregnancy. As she was entering her third month, the flat planes of her abdomen had given way to a gentle swell beneath which the baby was developing on schedule according to Healer Selkirk. As Kate's clothing still fit and it was still a bit too early to see a great deal of change in the rest of her body, no one who did not already know of her condition was the wiser. While she and Sirius continued to share a bed and their physical relationship was passionate, tender and – Kate smiled – active, her body had not changed to such an extent that he even teased her about her slightly rounded tummy. She was, however, prepared for the time when Sirius would notice – at time that Kate felt was not too far into the future. Earlier in the week, Kate had spoken to her Healer about a concealment charm and its potential impact on the baby and was relieved to hear that there was no danger. To the Healer Selkirk's quizzical expression, Kate simply stated that the father was "away" at the moment and, although they communicated regularly, he also had friends with whom he spoke and she wanted to be certain no one gave away her secret before he came home and she could do so herself. It had more than the desired effect as Healer Selkirk was compelled to dab at the corners of her eyes for a moment, murmuring about how romantic they were. As Kate dressed after that particular appointment, she couldn't help but acknowledge to herself that she really hated the subterfuge with Sirius and so many of her friends, but Sirius' stress level had risen yet again – most notably due to Snape and his never-ending torture of Harry, Umbridge and her unbridled power lust that generally brought problems raining down on Harry's head and, of course, his anxiety that spiked whenever she was not sitting at her desk in the MLE department.
While they had not engaged in any true arguments, there had been several occasions of sharp words between them – during times when Sirius' worry escalated into full-blown fear for her safety. One evening, they were so irritated with each other that they each retired to their respective rooms after an evening spent in uncomfortable silence. They did not even have the relief of Remus' company as he was recuperating from the effects of the full moon the previous night. When Kate awoke in the middle of the night, she felt a distinctly warm weight on her feet and, upon casting Lumos was surprised to see Padfoot, curled up in a circle, his great, shaggy head resting on her feet. Kate had scratched behind his ears until he had transformed back to his human form and they had worked out their disagreement. Kate felt herself blush as she recalled how they had spent the remainder of the night and the fact that neither of them was seen before noon the following day.
A light knock sounded on the other side of the door and Kate pulled on her robe and opened it to find Sirius standing there. "Albus is downstairs with Kingsley, Remus and Bill. Something's happening in Wiltshire; Albus wants a full-out team response." His voice was low and he reached out for her, embracing her tightly; Kate could feel him tremble in her arms and she knew his stress level was steadily rising. Expecting him to repeat his general litany of warnings and anxiety-ridden dialogue, Kate was surprised when he added, "I love you. Now, get dressed and go get this bastard so we can have done with him once and for all."
Kate pulled back and her surprise must have shown clearly on her face as Sirius gave her a weak smile. "I reckoned you must have been getting sick of my usual speech. Thought I'd try something new."
Kate leaned forward and kissed him passionately. "Hold onto that. I'll be back and we'll pick it up from here, yes?"
"Just try and escape me," Sirius whispered, kissing her lips with tenderness.
"Never. I love you," Kate said when he broke contact.
Sirius sat over on the window seat while Kate dressed and when she had finished, he placed his hand on the small of her back and walked with her into the hallway.
When they arrived in the kitchen, there was a distinct undercurrent of both excitement and tension that pulsed in the air around them.
"What's happened?" Kate asked, squeezing Sirius' hand before seating herself next to Kingsley.
"Malfoy left Wiltshire the night before last. He used anti-tracking devices to mask his movements, but once he was clear of the estate, he failed to renew them. Apparently, he felt that there was no need as we would have had no clear starting point from his home," Kingsley explained.
"And, of course, we wouldn't watch any location but the estate in Wiltshire," Kate interjected, a hint of sarcasm in her voice.
"Cheers, Kate," Tonks chuckled from her seat beside Remus, earning a smile from the werewolf before they all turned their attention back to Kingsley.
"Malfoy stopped briefly in Totland where he collected Spear and left again. The safe house, as far as we can tell, is now vacant. There is some indication that expansion spells have been cast inside the building but we haven't dared attempt to get close enough to verify that's true. We do not want to risk exposing our presence to Malfoy or anyone else who might be there." Kingsley stopped.
"Kings, where did Malfoy go after Totland?" Tonks wanted to know.
Kingsley hesitated then glanced at Dumbledore, who nodded. "Hogsmeade. Between the Forbidden Forest and the Black Lake, near Hogsmeade Station."
Albus cleared his throat. "As you know, the station is deserted in the evenings while school is in session. We believe that Lucius is facilitating the movement of some of the escapees to the safe house, using the station as a gathering place."
Kate nodded, smiling. "It worked, then. He took the bait."
Kingsley smiled and inclined his head toward Tonks. "Amazing what a Metamorphmagus can do." Seeing Sirius' bemused expression, Kingsley explained, "We realized that we'd been spending our time assuming that Malfoy had a plan. One day, Kate made the observation that it would be completely ironic if, in fact, Malfoy had no clue and wasn't doing anything because he didn't know what to do and was afraid of putting a foot wrong in front of Voldemort. So, Tonks morphed into one of the more junior Death Eaters. She … well – he, at that time took the information we had already, vague that it was, and dropped some hints about 'enhancing our strength by using the resources we already had'. It took Lucius awhile, but he finally caught on and picked up the gauntlet. He effectively began talking over Tonks, taking her comments and transforming them into a "plan" he positioned as his own…"
"…'After much thought', he announced to us all," Tonks interjected. "Bloody wanker!"
Kingsley gave Tonks a smile. "Old Lucius began talking about moving some of the "followers" from various safe houses throughout Europe to one location closer to "the goal". With the recently enhanced magical presence in Totland and Malfoy's unexplained appearance in Hogsmeade, it would seem that we are about to encounter those "followers" at the train station." Kingsley paused then withdrew something from the pocket of his robes. "Hestia," he murmured and, leaning over, Kate saw that it was a mirror. She looked at Sirius curiously and he shrugged. Leaning toward her, he whispered in her ear, "Ron mentioned to Bill that he'd seen the mirror I'd given to Harry. Seemed like a good idea to give another set to Kingsley." He drew back and looked at her.
"To Kingsley?" Kate whispered back, smiling softly at him.
Sirius nodded once. "I thought that if I gave one to you, you'd think I didn't trust you. Not so. What is true is that I'm not sure I couldn't keep from trying to contact you whenever I was feeling … anxious. That could put you in greater danger depending upon where you were when I activated the mirror. I reckoned if I charmed a pair of mirrors and gave them to Kingsley, he could figure out where they could best be used." He smiled. "I'm learning, Katie-girl."
Kate felt tears spring to her eyes. "I love you," she whispered.
"Love you back," Sirius replied.
Kingsley pocketed the mirror and looked around the table. "It's time," he said. "Malfoy's apparated into the station and appears to be waiting for someone to join him. He's alone at the moment." He turned to Kate. "Kate, you're with Remus, Tonks and Bill. You'll apparate to these coordinates. Arthur, Mad Eye, you come with me; your coordinates are here. We will be in Totland, in the event that some of the Death Eaters are able to escape and head to Totland. We'll be waiting for them. Hestia has the rest of our team at the station now, waiting for you. Kate – Order members are going to be responsible only for securing whichever of the Death Eaters show up; Tonks, you and I will arrest and bring them to the Ministry to avoid exposing the Order. Mad Eye – distribute the Hellebore – 2 vials to Kate and 2 for yourself. You both should give us the edge in this battle. Everyone else will be visible. You will not. Take the first when you arrive. Keep the other safe in the event we need to renew the charm. Are we all clear?" At their nods, he rose. "Let's go. Cast silencing charms the moment you apparate in. Ready?"
They traveled down the small corridor leading to "the porch". Exiting by the side door, they lined up, by team, in the side courtyard and, one by one, apparated to their predetermined destination. Just as Kate stepped to her place in the line, she caught Sirius' eye. "I love you," she mouthed. The last thing she saw before apparition was his solemn face, as he murmured, "I love you," in return. Kate closed her eyes and Grimmauld Place disappeared from view.
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Kate apparated to her coordinates and found herself behind heavy shrubbery to the left of the station. The crackle of magic was tangible in the air; Hestia's team had already been drawn into battle. "Drink up, Kate," Remus' voice sounded near her ear and Kate nodded as she drew the Hellebore from her pocket, uncorked the vial and drank it in one go. She looked down at herself and watched the shimmer of magic pass over her body, rendering her image invisible. Looking over to where Remus had been, she saw them both making their way around the station. Sticking to their plan, Kate cast a strong silencing charm and moved to the back of the station where a large window afforded a view of the interior of the building. Malfoy was crouched in one corner, out of view of both Aurors and Order members. Almost in the style of Muggle western movies, he would periodically peer over the window sash and cast stunning spells in the direction of Hestia, Emmeline and the three more junior members of her squad – two of whom were lying on the ground, having been unable to evade his spell. Looking through the opposite window, Kate could see the LeStrange brothers dueling with Remus and Bill, whilst Spear had engaged Tonks.
Kate crept around the far side of the station building until she was level with the open window under which Malfoy was hiding. Aiming her wand at the top of his platinum blonde head, Kate whispered, "Petrificus Totalis" and was rewarded with the sight of Malfoy's tall body going rigid and keeling over backward to lay flat on the dusty station floor. Not pausing to enjoy the sight before her, Kate walked to the corner of the building where she had a clear view of the battle raging in front of the station. Tonks had stunned Spear and bound him securely; he lay beneath a large oak tree at the perimeter of the scene. Tonks now dueled Dolohov, a nasty piece of work who was cunning and dangerous – and very, very good at dueling. Kate waited until she had a clear shot and then sent her Stunner directly at his chest. He fell backward, away from Tonks, who quickly wrapped him in magical bonds and levitated him next to Spear. Kate knew that she had to move from that location quickly; she might be physically invisible, but her spells were not. It wouldn't do to be discovered while the battle was still in progress.
Kate traveled along the back of the station, putting distance between her previous position, but allowing herself a comparable vantage point to assist with the remaining duels. She looked over the front of the building and noted that the LeStranges were still going strong, but Remus and Bill were holding their own. Tonks had just stunned Augustus Rookwood, and was binding him securely when Kate heard a cry of "Finite" from within the building. Turning to peer into the window, she saw Lucius rise, face flushed in anger. Mulciber stood framed in the doorway, an evil grin slashing across the lower part of his face as he waited for Malfoy to join him. Kate double-checked the individual battles in front and noted with alarm that Hestia's entire team had been overpowered. It was now down to Bill, Remus, Tonks and herself against four of the most deadly of the Death Eaters.
"Stupefy!" Kate muttered the curse while aiming her wand directly at Rabastan LeStrange. A red bolt of light hit him between his shoulder blades and he fell forward into Remus. Reacting quickly, Remus bound the Death Eater and left him face down in the dirt as he turned to take on Mulciber.
"Werewolf", the Death Eater spat as he circled Remus, his wand drawn. "Filth, that's what you are. They gave you a wand, did they? A wand, but no job, no position in society." Remus held his wand on the Dark Wizard, his face impassive, his eyes focused on the other man. It was as if not a word had been uttered, so complete was his concentration. Kate longed to silence Mulciber, but knew that to be effective, she must select her shots to render him immobile; she could ill afford to allow her loyalty to and affection for Remus to make this battle a personal one. "Stupefy!", Kate murmured, pointing her wand at Mulciber. As before, the red bolt of light hit its target and Mulciber hit the ground hard, but Kate was not watching. Her eyes were locked on her hand, which was steadily becoming more visible with each passing second. From the corner of her eye, Kate could see her left arm similarly emerging. Although only a second had passed, Kate felt completely vulnerable and dove for the shrub to her left as she tried to wrestle the back-up vial of Hellebore potion from her pocket. Just as she managed to pull it free, a cool, controlled voice sounded from behind her.
"And the mystery of the invisible duelist is solved," Malfoy's smooth delivery could barely be heard above the sound of the fighting still underway. "Kate Morgan, isn't it? Sirius Black's former … lover, I'm told. Current Auror. Second in command to the great Shacklebolt. Harry Potter's beloved Godmother." Kate mentally reviewed the area she was crouched in and knew that the only escape route was to the right, but it put her squarely in full view of everyone in the front of the station. She heard Tonks and Remus battling Rodolphus LeStrange. If I can just wait them out.
"Get up where I can see you," Malfoy snarled, waiting a split second before crying, "Levicorpus!"
Kate felt a jerk on her right ankle, then the shrub began to fall away as Malfoy's spell lifted, then turned her upside down, guiding her away from her former hiding place. A moment later, Kate heard the counter spell, "Liberacorpus". Knowing she was going to hit the ground, she tried to tuck her body to ensure that she would not land on her head – or her stomach. Falling a relatively short distance onto the ground, Kate's left shoulder took the brunt of the impact. She tried to move it and, while painful, it didn't appear to be broken. Her relief was to be short lived.
"How dare you try to interfere with us?! Crucio!" he fairly screamed.
The pain was like nothing Kate had ever experienced. For all that the effects of the Cruciatus Curse had been described in her training, nothing could prepare for the reality of its impact. She felt as if she had been hit with a thousand narrow, well-sharpened daggers, each of which hit with the force of a freight train – and heated to a temperature beyond imagining. To scream would have required breath and that had left her body with the onset of the curse; instead, her body writhed as only small mewling sounds escaped her throat. And suddenly, it stopped. Kate drew a deep breath and tried to clear her vision. In the distance, she saw a flash of white light and thought it was the after-effect of the curse.
"Crucio!" Malfoy's voice was low, but the curse was uttered with such malevolence, such complete evil, it was worse than before.
Kate's body convulsed with the force of the dark magic directed through it. Her fingers dug trenches into the ground, and her voice rose in a scream that cut through the misty night air.
"Crucio," Malfoy whispered once more, and she realized that he was bending over her now. Finish me, she wanted to cry, but she had no voice. The pain was unending and she felt as if she were breaking in two. Black crept into the edges of her vision and she welcomed the unconscious that was sure to follow. As before, the pain suddenly ceased. A misty black cloud sent a cool, gravelly wind over her body, still shaking and heaving. The smell of blood reached her nostrils and she could taste its metallic flavor on her tongue. Kate was certain she was hallucinating as her eyes struggled to close; she was certain the last thing she saw was the face of Albus Dumbledore, his usually merry blue eyes filled with a deep and certain fear.
And then, he, too, disappeared.
"Albus?" Remus ran up to the Headmaster, whose voluminous robes and crouching position hid the shape on the ground from view. "Hestia and the others are being transported to St. Mungo's. We have Spear and Mulciber in custody, but the others escaped. I've notified Kingsley of our status here and he's replied that there is no activity at present over in Totland. Tonks is looking for Kate – she had taken the Hellebore potion so it could take …Albus?" Remus finally realized that the older Wizard had yet to acknowledge his presence.
Albus took a deep breath and rose, giving Remus his first look at the ground before him. "Tell Tonks you have found Kate. We cannot take her to St Mungo's due to her dual position in the Ministry and the Order." He conjured a stretcher and gently, almost lovingly levitated Kate to lie on its surface. Her eyes were still closed and a small trickle of blood crept from one corner of her mouth and made a trail across her cheek and onto the snowy canvas of the stretcher.
Remus felt himself begin to shake and his vision blurred. "Albus, she needs medical…"
"I am aware of that, son. Her…" Albus was not given the opportunity to finish as Remus laid an urgent and insistent hand on Albus' arm.
"There's something you don't know," Remus whispered, his eyes never leaving Kate's face.
Albus covered the werewolf's hand with his own. "She's pregnant," he said, his voice kind.
Remus nodded and turned a very surprised face toward his former Headmaster. "How…."
"Kingsley. He told me only a week or so ago, when Kate threatened to invent her own field assignments if he didn't give them to her. I believe he was hopeful that I would need the information only to assist him in assigning her to less perilous missions," was the response. "I know her Healer quite well. Only her family prevented Molly Selkirk from becoming part of the original Order . Please contact St. Mungo's and have her brought up to the school. We can waste no further time here; Kate needs to be treated quickly."
Remus nodded and took a step away from Dumbledore before turning back. "Sir, if at all possible, we must not divulge the truth of Kate's condition to anyone else."
Albus nodded with a sad smile. "You have my word, Remus. No one else will know."
Satisfied, Remus turned to make his way to The Three Broomsticks to Floo through to St. Mungo's and retrieve the Healer. Casting one more look over his shoulder, he saw Dumbledore guiding the stretcher bearing Kate's body up the incline to the school, noting that he was moving at a pace not normally associated with a Wizard of his age.
Turning back to the road before him, Remus was forced back a few steps as Tonks crashed into his chest. He reached out and grasped her shoulders to steady her.
"What is it, Tonks?" he inquired, his voice gentle.
"I can't find her," she said softly and Remus was touched to see tears streaking through the dirt on the young Auror's face. "Kate. I've looked everywhere, cast about a million finites and …nothing. I can't find her," she repeated, looking up at him.
Remus embraced her tightly for a moment. "Albus found her," he said softly, his voice breaking a bit at the end. "He's bringing her up to the Hospital Wing at Hogwarts right now. Come. I need to Floo to St. Mungo's and bring a Healer back with me for her. We need to move quickly."
"It's bad if he won't transport her to hospital, Remus," the young woman said and Remus had no words as he watched Tonks' hair change from its usual vibrant pink to Kate's muted auburn color. He knew Tonks adored the older Auror and thought of her as a sort of mentor. Her relationship with Tonks' cousin deepened that relationship until Kate seemed more like a member of Tonks' family. Remus knew the young woman was devastated by what he had told her.
"Come," he said again, taking Tonks' hand and hurrying her along to The Three Broomsticks, the image of Kate, lying on the ground outside Hogsmeade Station filling his mind.