I have nothing to say, really, other than enjoy the chapter!
Kathryn opened her eyes as there was a tap on the door, and turned her head towards the faint sound. She forced herself to sit up, and her muscles ached as she did so. She guess that maybe the poison had still had some effect on her body. She felt the stone in her pocket, and hastily stood, digging it out and shoving it through the hole in the wall. She fell back to her knees, dizzy from her quick actions.
"Hide that, quickly, before she sees it!" She hissed, lifting her shirt and checking the bruise on the side of her chest. It was a sickly blue—a vein had contused. She contemplated drinking one of her emergency potions, and then shook her head. She'd save it for something a little more severe than a bruised rib.
The walls shook as the Madame stormed through the house, throwing open the door and then rushing to the closet, unlocking the chains and locks bolted to the door.
She threw open the door, and instead of reaching for Kathryn, allowed her to stand and walk out of the closet. She blinked as she stepped into the sun, and sighed out of relief. The sun's rays felt amazing on her skin, and she caught Austin's eye and slightly nodded, trying not to smile.
She turned around, and saw the somewhat shocked expression on Madame Maddess' face, and held back a smirk. Surely, she must have expected her to be unable to walk, or possibly even be dead.
The Madame shut the closet door and stepped out into the hallway, returning a few moments later with a change of clean clothes. She led Kathryn to the showers once more, and stood outside the door, a frown on her face. Kathryn turned her back to the woman, and smirked.
I've outsmarted you again, woman. She thought vindictively as she showered quickly, cleaning her hair once more. She dried herself and donned the clothes set on a stool for her: a grey t-shirt, a pink hoodie, and jeans. The t-shirt was baggy, as was the hoodie, and the jeans were a size too big. She slipped on the pair of socks and the white tennis shoes.
"Your friend Severus is here. Severus… Zabini-Malfoy." The Madame said. Kathryn held her head high.
"I see." Kathryn said, walking down the hallway to the lobby. The Madame followed shortly behind, scowling. Kathryn could tell that she was trying to figure out how Kathryn was able to walk at this moment.
"You didn't reveal to me that he was the Professor's son." The Madame growled. In that, Kathryn knew that she'd probably be "punished" for this offense, too.
As she stepped into the lobby, she paused, and looked back at the Madame.
"I didn't think it necessary, ma'am. What does it matter? I am but an outcast." She growled. The Madame didn't catch the look of utter hatred Kathryn sent her.
Severus stood happily, and greeted her. She sent him a warning look, mouthing: Don't hug me. He stopped, and tried to keep the smile on his face.
"Good to see you, Zabini-Malfoy." She said, nodding her head politely. She turned back to the Madame.
"What time do you want me back, ma'am?" She asked. The Madame checked her watch. It was noon.
"Six o'clock sharp. I need you to help prepare dinner. Do not be late." She growled, crossing her arms, sending her a glare. Severus cringed, slightly intimidated. Kathryn stared back at her, a deeper understanding from that icy glare. Or else was silently, yet obviously, implied.
"Yes, ma'am." She acknowledged, turning on her heel and walking out of the door.
"Kathryn, where are you going? Nayeli isn't this way!" Severus questioned. She continued walking.
"Shh. Not yet. She might be listening. Might be watching." She growled, turning the corner. As soon as they'd passed a few houses, she slowed, panting slightly. Her knees felt wobbly, and she fought to stand. She tried to sit down on a bench gracefully, but her knees gave way and she plopped down onto it.
Severus was confused, as well as worried.
"Are you ok? No offense, but you look like hell! Are they treating you right?" He questioned.
"I'm just happy to be out of there, is all. Where's Nayeli?" She asked, looking around, eager to see her other best friend.
Nayeli, we'll be there in a bit. He thought to his sister.
"Do you want me to carry you?" He offered, smiling slightly. She looked up at him, and blushed, shaking her head. She was eager to stretch her legs after having been locked in the closet for a week. He held out his hand for her, and she took it gladly.
She leaned against him somewhat as they walked around the block behind the orphanage. Severus led her to the entrance to the Leaky Cauldron, a sight for sore eyes. Upon seeing Nayeli, she grinned. They hugged each other tightly, and she fought to keep a straight face as her rib hurt where Nayeli squeezed it.
"I'm so happy to see you!" She squealed. She then looked up and looked around, scanning the place for Draco and Blaise. To her dismay, they were there, sitting at the bar and having a drink.
She gave them a stern look and slightly nodded her head in greeting. Draco only nodded back and turned to his drink, taking another sip.
"She looks worse." He muttered to Blaise.
"That she does, mate… I wonder if the woman got the letter that you sent?" He asked. Draco shrugged.
"I intend to ask her." He hissed back. Blaise quirked an eyebrow.
Nayeli and Severus sat down at a table, Kathryn between them. Kathryn smiled, trying not to think of her circumstances the last week.
"How are things at school?" She asked. Nayeli and Severus exchanged glances.
"Nothing… new." Severus muttered. Nayeli sighed.
"The library's still cut off and mom's not back yet." She explained. Kathryn nodded. She figured that Sheeva's errand would take more than a few days. She folded her hands and set them in her lap.
"I have detention with Professor Malfoy when I get back." She announced, figuring she'd tell them now, rather than them finding out.
"What?" Severus and Nayeli said in unison, looking at her. Draco and Blaise looked up from their lunchtime drinks, and over at the table that their children and Kathryn were sitting at. Severus and Nayeli looked at Draco, and then back at her, and began to laugh.
"What the hell did you do, Kathryn?" Nayeli asked. Kathryn smirked.
"I flipped him the bird, and left when he tried to tell me to stay for the holiday." She admitted. Severus smirked, and glanced back at his father. The smirk wiped off his face as their fathers stood and strode over to them, their arms crossed.
"I assume you told them about your detention?" Draco asked. Kathryn looked up at him and nodded.
"Yes, sir. They'd figure it out eventually." She explained. Draco nodded, and pulled up a chair.
"Are you guys hungry? I'm starving. What took you so long?" He asked. Kathryn gripped the hem of her shirt.
"It just felt good to walk around. Been cooped up in the orphanage." She said passively. They all gave her a look, and she looked back at them, trying to remain casual. Severus shook his head. From the way she'd collapsed, there was definitely something wrong. He'd ask her about it when they had time alone… If they had time alone.
Severus scooted closer to Kathryn to allow his fathers to move in closer to the table as the bartender asked them for their orders. Kathryn looked at Nayeli and Severus, nervous. She'd never been here before, and she didn't know what to get.
"Um…. A turkey sandwich? Please?" She asked. The little voice in her head rang up, chiding her. She didn't notice that Draco had asked the waiter for something under his breath, slipping him a potion by sleight of hand.
Kathryn was so focused on her thoughts, as she felt that she didn't deserve it. She didn't deserve any of this…
She shook her head at the thoughts, and looked back at them.
"When do we go back?" She found herself asking, eager to return.
"January 10. Well, you'll be going back on the third." Draco stated. At this, Severus and Nayeli smiled. It was a two-win, for all of them. They could see her, and get her the hell out of the orphanage. Kathryn nodded.
"I'm sorry, about that, Professor. I was… mad." She whispered in a slight daze. Draco nodded slightly.
"Still doesn't change the fact that you did it." He muttered, taking a sip of his drink. When the waiter brought them some water, Nayeli, and Severus downed their glasses immediately, parched. Kathryn only stared at her glass, remembering the events from last night.
She shook her head to clear it. Silly of her, of course it wouldn't be poisoned. It was water, from a restaurant. Not an evil woman. She reached out and took a drink. Finding that she was thirstier than she thought, she downed it.
Draco inwardly sighed, as he'd noticed her hesitation. Now, all they had to do was wait an hour.
Kathryn licked her lips, relieved at the feeling of cool, crisp, refreshing water.
"What are you doing tomorrow?" Nayeli asked. Kathryn put a finger to her lips, deep in thought.
"I'll probably be helping around the orphanage, as always." She answered. Nayeli laughed.
"Really? Even on Christmas Eve, you have to work?" She asked. Kathryn snapped her head up and looked at her, wide-eyed.
"Tomorrow's Christmas Eve?" She asked, shocked, then cringed. If they weren't suspicious before, they'd really be suspicious now. Severus chuckled at her reaction.
"Yeah, didn't you know?" He asked, taking her hand. She giggled nervously, and facepalmed.
"Sorry, I guess it just snuck up on me!" She dismissed.
"I wanted to take you shopping. Get you something for Christmas, other than your… bracelet. Where is it?" She asked, reaching for her arm to pull up her sleeve. Kathryn jerked her hand away somewhat violently, again raising suspicion.
"I hid it in my bag. Someone might steal it." She explained. Her inner voice ate away at her again. In truth, the Madame would probably take it from her and demolish it in front of her eyes.
Draco checked the time by casting a tempus charm underneath the table. The potion still had 45 minutes to go, and he hoped it'd kick in before she panicked and ran.
Blaise had seen the time. He grabbed the handle of his wand from beneath his sleeve, and held on to it, ready to use it if she tried to run. Not that she'd get far.
"What time is it?" She asked, curious and nervous, trying to figure out how long it'd take her to get back to the orphanage and be on time.
"It's about 230." Draco answered. She gave him a look, a feeling in her stomach that he was up to something. She studied his face, and saw his eyes smirking at her slightly, and then looked fearfully at the glass of water.
Her eyes snapped back to his icy grey stare, and she glared at him.
"What did you do, Professor?" She hissed.
"Give it about 45 more minutes, you'll figure it out. We should probably move, somewhere a little more private." He announced. Nayeli and Severus nodded, and stood. Severus held out her hand for him to take, and she refused, still glaring at the potions professor.
"What the hell did you do to me, Professor? I hope to God you have a bezoar stone with you! I already had to use mine!" She hissed. He blinked, and stared at her, quirking an eyebrow. He was also slightly amused. She scowled, and shut her mouth.
"So you're the one who took the bezoar stone? What do you mean, used it?" He asked, wondering if her admittance was of her own will or due to the potion.
"Yeah, I took it. I knew I'd need it. Had to use the damn thing last night!" She spat, and then clapped her hands to her mouth.
"Veritaserum? This… this is illegal!" She hissed, standing up to leave. As she took a step, Blaise swiftly cast a leg-binding jinx on her and she fell forward as her legs locked up. Severus and Nayeli caught her, and she fought them, frustrated.
They pulled her into a room and sat her down in a chair at a table, filing into the room, locking and muting the room after they were all inside.
"What did she do?" Draco asked. Kathryn clenched her jaw shut, growling, trying to endure the agonizing pain it brought her. Giving in to the pain and against her will, Kathryn spilled the truth, her face turning red with anger and embarrassment.
"Poisoned my water. I might have been either paralyzed or dead if Austin hadn't gotten me the bezoar I stole. Goddamn you, Professor!" She blurted, looking down in shame.
"She took you out of the closet?! How long were you in it?" Severus barked, his eyes wide and red with rage. She slowly nodded.
"I've been in it for the last week." She whispered.
"Why?" Nayeli asked, her eyes filling with tears.
"Because- She gritted her teeth, and then let out a feral yell as she couldn't resist any longer. -I took the beating of another girl! Oh, I hate you!" She spat at the professor, lunging for him. He waved his wand and tied her arms to the chair, restraining her. She seethed in anger at him. He stared calmly back.
"I hope to god this shit wears off before I go back. I'll spill everything, and she'll fucking kill me. You've sent me to my death! Done in by a bloody fucking truth potion!" She hissed angrily. The inhabitants in the room were happy that the youngest wasn't among them, otherwise he'd probably hear every curse word in the book. They knew it was the effects of the potion and her rage that had caused her to swear like a sailor, but it still scared them.
"What else has she done? What else will she do?" Blaise asked, standing behind Nayeli, arms crossed. She lolled her head to him, glaring at him too.
"She kicked me, hard. I've had broken bones. Pulled my hair, starved me. My ribs are bruised. Denied me permission to use to bathroom. Nothing I'm not already used to." She hissed, tears streaming down her face. Severus put his hands on her shoulders and she flinched so violently that he immediately raised his hands off of her.
"Did she get my letter?" Draco asked. Her rage found a new outlet.
"YES, SHE GOT YOU STUPID LETTER! I had to tell her that you hate kids, most of all mudbloods like me! You know what she said to that?" She barked, fighting her restraints again. She was yelling so much that her throat hurt. Draco stared at her, and slowly shook his head no.
She began to cry.
"She…" She hiccoughed. "A 'mudblood', huh? That's a new one to add to your board."
Blaise blinked, and his mouth dropped open. His stomach tightened.
"Board? What board?" Severus asked, looking at her sternly.
Kathryn looked at Draco, tears in her eyes. She didn't want to show Severus. She didn't think that she ever could, but now, she was being forced to.
"Release the blasted thing so I can show him!" She commanded. Draco shook his head no.
"That's not a good—
-really, Professor? Every question you throw at me, I have to answer. If you ask me to show you something, I have to do it! That's the way this stupid potion works! You know that, dammit! Now let me go, because my arms are on fire!" She yelled at him, her voice going hoarse. Nayeli poured her some water and lifted it to give her some. Kathryn turned her head away.
"I'm not drinking that. I don't fucking trust you anymore!" She hissed, her throat raw.
"I have to degrade myself to this woman in order to survive! I have to deny feelings towards my friends, towards people I love, because I'm a nothing! I don't deserve kindness, I don't deserve friends! I don't deserve any of this! I deserve to be kicked around, because it's all I'm ever good for!" Kathryn continued, breaking into tears as she began to calm down from her fury.
Nayeli slammed her hand down on the table.
"That's not true, Kathryn! You're so smart! You're so strong, look at you!" She yelled, trying to get her to see to reason. Kathryn didn't look at her.
"You don't understand. You've had family. You've had people that love you. That care for you. Me? I'm still trying to figure out what the hell you see in me, Nayeli. And Severus? I can only hope that you even like me. I'm not even worth it. I don't deserve it." She said, her voice coming out in a raspy whisper.
"Don't say that, Kathryn." He pleaded with her. She coughed, and swallowed the stuff in the back of her throat, tasting blood.
"I wouldn't have let you go if I knew. I didn't like the idea of you going in the first place, but I would have never let you leave if I knew." He said, taking her face in his hands and wiping her eyes with a napkin. She stared at him tiredly, and sighed. The clock struck 3, and she looked at it. It was 330.
"You've gotta let me go. Please! If I'm not back there by six…" She started, then trailed off, biting her tongue hard. She tasted blood and grimaced.
"You're not going back. Never again. We're grabbing your belongings, and we're taking you back to Hogwarts." Nayeli growled.
At this, Kathryn silenced, and stared at the table. Due to her empty stomach and high metabolism, the potion had run through her system faster than it should have. Kathryn's throat was dry, and her eyes were puffy from her cry. They drooped, exhausted from her resistance.
She sighed, and stared at her knees, avoiding the other people's gazes.
"Where is your stuff?" Severus asked, setting a hand on her shoulder again. She didn't answer. She was thinking heavily. Her stomach turned at the thought she had, and she closed her eyes. She took a deep breath, and looked up, turning her head in his direction.
"Take me with you when you go. I want to say goodbye to the others." She asked. To her dismay, Draco and Nayeli protested. She scowled back at them.
"I'll be safe with you there with me." She added. Severus smiled a little. She was beginning to see to reason. When they denied her again, she sighed, and stared at the waterglass on the table.
"Can I drink my water now?" She asked, trying to show them, as well as herself that she trusted them still. Draco nodded and dispelled the binding spell, and she sighed thankfully, rubbing her tender arm lightly, wincing as she pressed on the bruise a little too hard. She grabbed the glass and downed it, thankful for the cold water.
She cast a glance at Draco.
"You didn't put anything else in it, did you?" She asked, cracking a small joke. Draco chuckled and shook his head.
"I'm not that mean. Geeze." He replied. Kathryn nodded.
"Please let me go with you. I have to. It… could be the last time I see them. No… it will be." She muttered sadly, trying to suppress the dark intent she felt. If they could see the saddness in her eyes, they'd be able to see her subliminal intents as well.
"Fine. You go there, grab your stuff, and come back. Ten minutes." Blaise said sternly. She looked at him and nodded, smirking inwardly. She forced herself to stand, leaning on her arms heavily on the table. Her fit had drained her.
"Give yourself a break. Eat. Drink. It's only four. You have two hours." Nayeli begged. Kathryn nodded, and refilled her glass, drinking more water. Her knees wobbled, but she stood fast. The last thing that she wanted to do at this moment was sit.
She coughed again, and grimaced, the pain on the side of her rib hurting even more prominently. She couldn't ignore it. She sighed, and looked up at Draco.
"I also smuggled some healing potions in my bag too… Might as well tell you now." She admitted. Draco nodded at another realization. That's where his spare vials had gone.
"How'd you get placed in Gryffindor, again? You're way too sneaky." Nayeli asked, smirking. Kathryn chuckled, and shook her head.
"I still wonder why." She admitted solemnly. A knock sounded at the door, and the bartender stepped in, carrying their orders. Kathryn tried to resist scarfing down her food like an animal. Dismayed, she found that she was only able to finish half of the sandwich, and wrapped the rest of it in a napkin and held on to it for later.
Nayeli gave her a look, confused.
"You're not going to finish it?" She asked. Kathryn looked at her, and shook her head sadly.
"I may be hungry, but my stomach can't handle much more than this. When you only eat a little bit, you get used to eating only a little bit. You have to work your way up to bigger portions. If I were to force myself to eat this whole thing, my stomach would probably rupture, not used to being stretched for so long." She explained. Nayeli stared at her in shock.
"How often did you…" She trailed off, not wanting to say the last few words. Kathryn sighed.
"See that glass there? Imagine a bowl of watered down oatmeal, roughly the size of it. Every other day. Maybe two days between. If it weren't for the children, I'd have probably starved to death. They would sneak me food through a hole in the wall."
Draco looked at the clock. It was well after five. He was slightly shocked that she still seemed to be telling the truth with much less resistance.
"Are you still feeling the effects of the potion?" He asked. Kathryn shook her head.
"No. That was over for me almost an hour ago." Kathryn looked at the clock, and took a deep breath.
"We should go. I don't want her taking her rage out on another kid because I wasn't there on time." She stated, heading for the door. Draco stopped her, and grabbed Severus, apparating to the front door. She froze, staring at it, wondering if she could go through with this.
Blaise and Nayeli popped into existence next to them. Nayeli and Severus took her hands in theirs, and together, they walked to the front door.
Eliza looked up, and sighed, relieved. She then glared as the others entered the house, looking around. The lobby looked well kept for, but if Kathryn had mentioned a hole in the wall, they could olny imagine what the rest of the house looked like.
"At least you're early this time. Hurry up and get them out of here, before she shows up!" She hissed. Kathryn shook her head, and walked to the main bedroom, Severus and Nayeli walking close behind. She reached into Severus's pocket and took out his wand, confidently calling out "Alohamora".
"Kathryn, what are you doing? You can't use magic in front of muggles! The ministry will—
-let them see. Let them come. When they see this place, she'll never be allowed to hurt these kids, ever again. Or so help me…" She hissed darkly, striding over to Austin's bed, turning over the mattress, retrieving her wand, potions, and bezoar stone. She looked around, searching for the owner of the bed.
"Where's Austin?" She asked. One of the children, around eight or nine, took her hand.
"He's in the closet. She punished him and threw him in there after you left." The little girl answered. Kathryn walked up to the closet, and leaned her ear against it. She could hear shallow, labored breathing and small whimpers of pain.
"Austin, back away from the door. I'm letting you out of here." She ordered. Austin backed against the wall.
"No you're not. You're not getting into trouble for this! No way!" He spat back at her, speech slurred.
She ignored him, and pointed her wand at the locks, unlocking them with the alohomora spell. When the chain didn't budge, she growled, and shouted out 'bombarda'. The chain split into two, and rattled as it fell away from the door.
She bent down to pick him up, and draped his arm around her shoulders as she tried to get him to stand. Being almost twice her size, she couldn't.
"Here, Kathryn, let me." Severus offered, picking the boy up and carrying him to an unoccupied bed. Gently he set the boy down in it, and stared, wide eyed and terrified at his saw the kid's condition.
He'd been beaten to a pulp, bite marks on his arms and the start of a black eye. Dried blood caked his nose and lips, and his breathing was ragged and raspy. He groaned as he staggered his breathing, as it hurt to inhale and exhale. Kathryn unstoppered one of the potions, and held it to his lips.
"Drink this, it will help you. What happened?" She asked.
"I… tried to get help." He muttered weakly.
They jumped as the door burst open, and Nayeli, Severus, and Kathryn turned, pointing their wands at the figures emerging from the door. They relaxed as they saw that it was just Draco and Blaise.
"What are you doing? You can't use magic in front of a muggle!" They reprimanded them. Kathryn scowled at him.
"I don't care. He needs help." She hissed.
"What... who are you?" The Madame barked as she entered the room. The children in the room cowered and ran behind Kathryn, hiding behind her for safety. The Madame froze, and went to take a step forward, but Kathryn pointed her wand at her.
"Take one more step, and I'll kill you." She growled menacingly. Draco and Blaise began to protest.
"Kathryn, think about this. You do that, you're done for. Expelled."
She shook her head.
"There are laws defining the rightful use of magic in front of muggles. If one's life is threatened, by all means, they should have a right to use it. If not my life, then the lives of these children are at stake. Besides, I'd rather go to Azkaban knowing that these children are safe, then go back to Hogwarts knowing that they're being tortured." She hissed.
The Madame was frozen to her place as though her feet were rooted to the ground. Her thoughts were on pause, terrified at the fact that she was being held at what seemed to be gunpoint.
"I'm sorry—She began to say, but was silenced with a flick of Kathryn's wand as she hit her with a muting spell.
"No you're not! Don't even begin to feed me that bullshit!" She schreeched, advancing a few steps, holding her wand next to the woman's head. The woman screamed and whimpered in terror, and Kathryn began to laugh, energy and power pulsing through her veins. Finally, after years of fear, years of torture, she had the upper hand.
"Kathryn, wait!" Severus barked. She turned her head back to him, and sneered.
"No, Severus. I'm tired of this. Tired of living in fear. I'll rest when she's dead!" She spat, glaring at the woman who was now sobbing in her hands, trembling at her feet. Kathryn reared back her foot and kicked the woman, hard, in the side of her chest. The thickness of her skin and fat only cushioned the blow, and Kathryn scowled. It wasn't good enough. She smirked and grinned menacingly as she raised her wand.
She had the perfect spell. It'd only been used on her a few times, but she couldn't resist wanting to use it on the horrid tyrant beneath her.
"Crucio." She hissed. The woman screamed bloody murder, writhing in pain on the floor. Kathryn kept it going for a good few minutes, releasing it when she felt satisfied.
She was lost now, unaware of the situation around her. The children were cowering behind the strangers, and even they were trembling slightly.
"Do you like this, Madame? Imagine, this is what you put me through. Years of it. And now, I can punish you, with years of pain, and make it last seconds. Minutes. Hell, I could have you under this for hours, and it still wouldn't amount to the shit you did." She growled, kicking the Madame in the stomach, shaking with power and fury. The Madame looked up, her eyes wide terrified as Kathryn raised her hand, ready to strike again.
"Stupefy!" Nayeli shouted, shooting Kathryn in the back with a beam of red light. Kathryn dropped her wand, and slumped down to her knees, then fell over to the side, fully paralyzed and stunned. Nayeli recovered Kathryn's wand and tossed it to her brother, who picked it up and pocketed it.
She then dragged Kathryn away from the woman, who was still cowering against the wall. Eliza snatched Blaise's wand out of his hand, and pointed it at the Madame.
"In the closet!" She ordered. The woman stared at her in fear.
"You can't use that! You don't have the ability, stupid girl!" The woman barked. Eliza raised the wand, scowling, and the woman trembled, trying to run for the door. A group of preteens blocked her escape.
"Y-yes, I can! Auntie taught me!" Eliza lied, pointing it at her again. The lights flickered in a moment of weak power, and the children in the room screamed. Draco smirked. Perfect timing.
The woman screamed and rushed into the closet. The group pounced on the door and locked it quickly, cheering for themselves as well as for Eliza and "Auntie Kathryn".
Eliza walked up to Blaise, and handed him his wand, muttering an apology. She then looked at Kathryn, still unconscious.
"Will she be alright?" Eliza asked, concerned. Draco nodded.
"She's just knocked out, that's all."
They heard a cough behind them, and turned around. Austin had sat up, cradling a broken arm. Eliza walked over to him and took his hand.
"Are you ok, Austin?" She asked. He slowly nodded.
"It's not the worst… Will Kathryn go to jail? Will there be a trial? We'll testify. Eliza and I both! We… we all will! They can't take her away, she was trying to protect us! She was always trying to protect us!" He began, starting to cry in fear. Draco shook his head.
"We're going to testify too. I think we've gotten enough evidence to put this woman away, and maybe even clear the charges. The most she'll have is detention for her… delightful vocabulary." He chuckled. Eliza and Austin breathed a sigh of relief. Blaise pointed his wand at Austin's broken arm and muttered a healing spell.
Austin groaned as the bone shifted and mended itself.
"That should help." He stated. Austin rubbed his arm and wiggled his fingers, surprised that it didn't hurt anymore.
"Thank you, sir. Tell her… Tell her I'm sorry, for making fun of her. For being so mean when we were kids." He begged, looking at Severus. Severus nodded.
Draco and Blaise looked at the mess they'd be leaving behind. They heard a 'pop', and turned towards the door. Their stomachs lurched as the Minister of Magic appeared, as well as Auror Harry Potter.
They were stunned, looking around.
"What… happened?" Harry muttered, stumbled, looking to Draco for an answer.
"We received reports of an unforgivable curse." The minister explained. Severus' eyes went wide, and he glanced down at Kathryn, who was beginning to come around.
"Was it her?" He asked, pointing at Kathryn. They didn't answer. They couldn't turn her in.
"Who's the monster that used the Cruciatus Curse?" He demanded to know. Harry looked at the boy in the bed, and his eyes widened. He then began to look around, scowling and paling at the evidence before him.
"Um, sir, I think that there's more to this than—
-silence, Potter. Tell me, Malfoy. Who is the heartless monster that did this?" He demanded to know. Austin flared up, angry.
"The monster you're looking for is locked in the closet!" He barked, then began to cough again, crying out in pain. The minister turned to him, and finally, his eyes were opened. His mouth dropped open.
"Who did this to you, boy? The same person that used the unforgivable curse?" He questioned. Kathryn sat up weakly, and looked up, using the metal frame of the bed to stand herself up.
"I used the curse. But they're right. The real monster is in that closet." She explained. Her knees collapsed and Draco and Nayeli caught her, steadying her on her feet. She leaned against Severus, and he wrapped his arms around her in a hug.
"How old are you, woman?" The minister asked.
"Seventeen, sir." She answered. The minister cocked an eyebrow. Harry rolled his eyes, and went to examine the closet, unlocking it with a wave of his wand.
"Don't let her out!" One of the children cried out, running up to him and grabbing his arm. He stopped, and turned to the little boy. The door swung open, and the woman fell out, making a rush for the door. A group of kids blocked her escape again, scowling at her.
"Where do you think you're going?" They asked. The woman scowled, and cowered down, sitting on the floor. As Harry looked at her, he shuddered. She resembled a female version of his Uncle Dursley.
"You do know the repercussions of using magic in front of muggles, and an unforgivable curse, don't you?" The minister asked Kathryn. She nodded her head.
"It was self-defense. Look at these children around you. They are like this because of that woman over there in the corner. So, send me to Azkaban if you want. Fucking sue me, I don't give a damn. But send her away. Keep her far away from these children." She spat angrily, looking at him weakly from against Severus' chest.
The minister looked at her, and sighed.
"Come with us." He ordered. She forced herself to stand without Severus' help. Nayeli stood in front of her, looking at her.
"Hell no! The last time I left you leave anywhere, you got sent here and tortured! No way am I going to let you go like that again!" She barked. The minister looked up at her.
"Tortured?" He asked. Kathryn looked back at him and nodded, almost wanting to ask him if he was an idiot. She sighed, and pushed Nayeli out of the way, and lifted her shirt. Her scars showed, as she hadn't had time to cast the blemish spell on herself. He stared, horrified at the scars that littered her stomach, also noticing the bruise on her ribs.
"Jesus!" Harry blurted, looking away out of sickness. The other children stood too, revealing their injuries. The minister and Harry almost began to cry.
"With all due respect, I'd like to return to Hogwarts. I have detention to serve, and I've done nothing wrong, I believe. I'll attend a trial if you really insist, but until then, take her away. Send her to Azkaban for all I care. God knows she deserves it." She requested, sending an evil smirk at the Madame's direction. The woman cowered, shivering.
The minister, to their relief, slowly nodded.
"I'll send an owl when we decide on a trial date." He muttered, releasing her. Harry reached down and grabbed the back of the female Uncle Dursley's shirt and pulled her to her feet, jerking her around.
"Move." He growled, apparating her away from the premises. Kathryn sighed of relief, and then looked at all the children, wondering what she was going to do with them. She wasn't planning on driving away The Madame until she'd finished school, and could focus on running the orphanage herself.
The minister looked at all of them as well.
"What now?" She asked.
Eliza pushed through the crowd and gave her a hug.
"Austin and I can handle this for now, I think. We're not completely incapable." She muttered, trying to get Kathryn away so that she could rest. Kathryn frowned.
"Yeah, but—
-I have an idea. We can send someone to help. My mother might do it." Draco offered. Severus laughed at the thought of his grandmother trying to take care of 30+ muggle children.
"Don't underestimate your grandmother, Severus." He snapped. Severus shut up immediately.
"Yes, father. Sorry…" He muttered. Kathryn looked at Draco in admiration at his offer to help. However, she'd never met his mother, and didn't know if she could trust him. She could hardly trust anyone at this moment.
"Who?" She asked. Nayeli smiled at her.
"Our grandmother, Narcissa Malfoy." She smiled.
Kathryn averted her gaze to the floor.
I dunno… She thought.
"Let me meet her, first. I don't want to risk anything. Not when they've already been through enough."
Draco nodded. Her reasoning wasn't wrong.
The minister cleared his throat.
"We'll need to obliviate them, you know." He announced. Kathryn shook her head.
"Austin and Eliza want to testify on my behalf. They won't be able to do that if they're obliviated." She argued. He shook his head.
"Being a first-hand witness, I think that this is enough. Besides, it's for the better of them." He countered. She squinted her eyes.
"Is it?" She questioned, more to herself. She slowly nodded. Of course it was. They were innocent. They didn't need these memories. But who was she to decide? She shook her head. They wouldn't remember anything. They probably wouldn't remember her. If it meant that the memories of the abuse were gone, she could accept that.
She turned and buried her face in Severus's chest, clinging to his shirt, hiding her tears. He hugged her back gently, rubbing it in small circles as she cried silently.
Don't worry, next chapter will be an update on Sheeva. Back to the action! :)