Disclaimer: I am just a mere visitor in the sublime world constructed by the brilliant mind that is J.K Rowling. Anything that rings a bell is hers.

Chapter 81

Ky's POV

The biting air floated through my semi-exposed scalp, my dark mane a waterfall that fluttered behind me like a cape fluttering in the wind, yet the night was still and silent, as if the weather itself were mourning.

My hair cascaded down my back, just to be airborne once again, the only noise to be heard was the creaking of metal on metal, the unnatural wind stung at my wet cheeks, as dark green tree tops were swapped for sunken brown roots as my head tilted back and then forwards.

I stared skywards, the large grey moon smiling down at me with a twinkle, slowly shrunk in my mind, surrounded by bright whiteness, like a large glistening eye. The stars rearranged to display a stellar smile that slowly morphed into a toothy grin as the music played down from the heavens, each key of the piano absolute perfection, the eye got wider and then smaller and then wider and then smaller, I kicked with my knees, wanting it to be so wide…to be larger than life…to be able to reach it…I let go of the cold metal that I wrapped my wrists in and jumped off the single plank of timbre, just a hands reach away from the laughing eye that looked down at me…

'tis the right ratio Miss Thornton, why are you such a brat, 'tis the right ratio Miss Thornton, my transfiguration skills you can count on that."

His laughter echoed in my head as I slowly descended, falling to the ground without the swing to support me, flying further and further from the gleaming grey. The cold that encompassed me was exchanged for its contrast; I lay motionless in the warm net, still staring at the luminescent moon. The net moved deliberately, my eyes adjusting so as to always have the moon in sight, until it was completely blocked out by the wide shadow; I lifted my eyes as my hair cushioned my head against the lean arms, staring into the golden orbs above me.

I tore out the door trying to push the image of Nessie lying motionless to the back of my mind, trying to concentrate on the black manes that shouldn't be far away. I jumped the front steps and found myself in the poorly lit street, my head thrashing left and right, not knowing which way to go next. I ran aimlessly forward, doing so for minutes, knowing deep down it was a lost cause; any smart witch or wizard would have disapparated by now yet my feet kept pounding forward in search of them.

Just then I heard a feminine scream, what she screamed indefinable except that it was a single syllable and the night fell silent once more, but it was enough to be my compass in the dark and I bolted in the direction, seeing the colourful objects of the park that was a little way down the road from Grimmauld Place. My heart beat faster and faster as it fuelled my legs, I could just make out a blur of figures, two very small, one large and the other uncertain as it was sprawled out on the ground, the large figure hovering over it. My heart froze over as I saw the sneakers, the very familiar sneakers…the jeans…and it burst with pain when it saw the blood spattered shirt and I fell to my knees beside him, his dark hair contrasting with his pale skin, my hands shook as I reached forward and I didn't realise that I was sobbing, the tears falling down my face hard and fast, I snapped my head up as a hand pushed me back, kept me from touching my Harry and I stared up in shock at the golden orbs…

He set me down on my feet and I fell back onto the swing, looking down at the green grass that my feet hovered idly above.

"You could have gotten badly injured."

I rolled my eyes, the sarcasm it usually displayed dulled by the two large tear drops that escaped down my cheeks due to the action.

"I wouldn't have let myself get hurt, I'm a witch, remember?"

"A witch who will be expelled if you abuse anymore underage magic in a non-magical area."

"Fudge doesn't have time to bother with me; for once the buffoon has bigger fish to fry. Anyway, the Ministry understood the situation and waved all our charges for today considering it was a matter of life and death, some instances more than others."

He leaned against the pole of the swing, his face its usual prison of vacancy. The moonlight surrounded us like a spotlight yet somehow I didn't fear the dark that crept around the edges of the cocoon of light.

"Harry is fine by the way, thank you for asking."

"I needn't ask, I was the one that tended to his wounds." I sighed, remembering how his hands worked over Harry's body as all I could do was sob beside him. His voice radiated cool confidence which just pricked at me in annoyance.

"You were just ACTING as a Healer, you technically aren't one. Speaking of which, where is Aidrian Atticus?"

"In Austria. And no need to take the defending tone, he is an ally of Kat's. Initially he was a bit resistant to her ideals but everyone's minds are malleable, Kat is very good at finding the right point to place the pressure. And I was not ACTING as a healer, I am a Healer."

Well I guess you pick up a few professions over the century. I stared ahead, at the brown bark of one of the many large trees that sat around the park's perimeter, all annoyance gone. "Thank you so much."

He sighed, a matching sound to my previous one, "Don't, it's unnecessary, he wasn't as near Death's welcoming hands as it would appear, the wounds were shallow, the deepest being the one at his side which was the only magical one by nature. The other two, considering it came from children no older than five or six, barely managed the force to display any depth. It just looked messy."

Messy? It looked horrific, I could barely close my eyes without seeing the image of him…lying there…all that blood. "What happened to the children?"

"I patched them up and obliviated them, they played on the see-saw a bit before who I think was their mother came down, screaming and dragging them by the ears into the house across the street."

We were silent for a few moments, it was an incredibly long night and it wasn't even over. Len and Linus apparated Harry, Nessie and myself to Hogwarts, after Linus managed to finally revive Nessie. That was about half an hour ago. Harry was barely in the hospital bed when he came to, kicking and screaming that he was fine and running straight to Nonno's office…it was Luna who told me about Sirius… Mi and Ron were both unconscious from the wounds they received at the Ministry. Neville tried explaining what had happened but I couldn't take anything in, the only thought resounding in my head was…Sirius…I closed my eyes. I can't think of that just yet, I need to deal with this, sort this out and then get to that, I folded my feelings neatly into a box and pushed it to the back, knowing if I unfolded it even a little it would encompass everything else…I need to concentrate on the matter at hand. I opened my eyes and let the two tears roll down my cheeks, that would be all I should allow for now.

I leaned my head against the long iron chain. I could see Len off in the distance, at the entryway of the park, leaning against the iron gate with his hazel eyes glowing in the dark, fixed on me, unblinking as if he were a guardian statue. I convinced him to wait there whilst I spoke to Saber, convincing Sev to grant me permission to leave Hogwarts for a few hours with the fact that Len would be with me. I had a strange feeling that Saber would find me here…

"Why did you come back?"

I felt him readjust his position, using his back as a cushion this time instead of his right shoulder, his face pointing to the heavens as if they would answer my question for him.

"Where you are, is where my duty lies."

"You have no duty, not any more. You broke your bond with Kat…you helped me escape, you're a free man."

He laughed, cynicism leaking out with each tremble. "You are right…I did break my bond with Kat, I don't answer to her but at the same time I don't answer to myself, it was naïve to even think it possible, I guess not even time can kill the contagious light of hope that burns away at your soul…there's always energy enough for its flame to rear its ugly head."

I thought about what he said, knowing the truth at the pit of my stomach…seeing the truth when I saw him here minutes ago helping Harry…feeling the truth as he saved me earlier on, yet still wanting to hear the truth, to hear it spoken from his mouth.

"How do you know for sure…"

"Aside from the fact that I answer every question you pose honestly, I adhered to what you said earlier on…when you left me."

"We need to run." My voice echoed in my memory.

"I told you to run, but that was only logical, maybe you were listening to your own instincts."

He scoffed, "All my instincts were screaming for me to stand and fight, yet I turned and ran and that's how I knew…"

"If you stayed you would have died! How many men were there!"

"I counted twelve, and yes, if I stayed I would have died."

There was distinct disappointment that crossed his voice, as if he was denied one of life's real pleasures and I closed my eyes at the painful thought of wanting death…of welcoming death. Actually, his whole tone and manner of speaking was somewhat different than before, where he once was sarcastic with a hint of arrogance, now he sounded...as monotonous as his expressionless face…the relationship had indeed changed between us two, from captive to master…I actually preferred the former.

"Why me?"

"I can't be sure. I have come to know you over the year, seeing life from your eyes at times and maybe I grew attached, attached enough to latch onto you as soon as my bond to Kat was severed. Or maybe you were just there whilst the final transition of the bond breaking took place and I would have latched onto any living thing …who knows? I could be serving a bird if it had flown in at the moment the bond had broken... Right now I could be out, looking for quality worms for it to eat."

There was no humour in his voice and I didn't find the analogy funny at all, actually it was quite tormenting to consider your life so out of reach, so out of your own control, so inferior that even an animal could rule you. I knew he was exaggerating but it got his point across and my nostrils flared at the word…serving…I felt so ashamed and guilty even if I had not asked for this, "I could…I could set you free."

"You could. But all I would be would be free from you."

I shook my head, "No, I know of an elf…" I swallowed, hating myself for using the term in context with a person, "I know a…I know someone named Dobby-"

"An elf who belonged to the Malfoy family, who was set free and now, works in the Hogwarts kitchens."

"You know Dobby?"

"Not personally, I have researched this idea for a long time and came across him. He is not a free elf, he is delusional, living in ignorance, he still answers to both the headmaster and to Harry Potter. The bonds tying one to servitude cannot be broken, just transferred. There's not much information about elf magic, considering not many of them break the bond, I didn't even think it was possible considering I had been trying for a hundred years."

"Why did you bond with Kat…how?"

"The same way that any other house elf finds their next master, lineage."

"She's…she's an ancestor of Séraphin?"

"His daughter. And also one of his test subjects."

"She's a Palbei?"

"No. She was one of his many trial runs, the transmutation didn't work on her completely, she doesn't have genuine eternal youth, not to the extent that I do, hence her interest in alchemy. To make up the elixir that keeps her young and alive she procured a range of herbs and plants in many remote areas, that's how she found the Vikadel. The elixir wouldn't work on a normal person though, it's tailor made to suit her only, as she ages at a much slower rate than normal, yet she ages nonetheless. Also she changes during the full moon, so that was cumbersome."

I shook my head, the man even made his own daughter into a Palbei... or something like that. "If you knew the bonds would just be transferred, why even try and break it in the first place?"

"Kat's been making me abide by a rule that I loathe to adhere."

"What is that?"

"To stay alive at all costs. She knew…always knew what I always wanted so that was the first command she made, denying my one ambition."

"To…to die? I won't…I won't tell you to jump off a cliff."

"No, I knew that. But I also knew that today would be an extremely dangerous day for you, Kat would rather have me dead than see me serve someone else."

"You were planning on letting them kill you."

"Not letting them, I couldn't let them because if I let them then they would get to you and my duty is to protect you. But considering the number of enemies, I could have easily died protecting you…I never expected you to tell me to run."

There was a slight angry tone to his monotonous voice, I bit my lip. How can someone live so…he wasn't even living…he was just waiting to die…he couldn't live with what he did, killing the princess and witnessing his child being murdered…yet he had to for over a hundred years. I wanted to ask about it, but hated that he would be forced to answer. You shouldn't have to be forced to voice your emotions.

"How did you know to come to Grimauld Place?"

"I knew that Blishwick had a plan to infiltrate the place, I knew that he and Alya Bellamy were trying to capture you as well. The death eaters are quite simply, a class full of suck ups, each one aiming for teachers pet. Kat and Bellatrix take the competition very seriously."

"They don't like each other?"

"They loathe each other, try to ensure the other doesn't know what their planning so naturally they know everything about each other's plans. That's why Kat chose to retrieve you earlier today, hence the appointment for you to see Aidrian Atticus once your last exam finished, it was just a twist of fate that you were sent to Mungo's a day earlier. She knew that Bellatrix's plan would only work after Sirius Black was murdered and that was-"

My heart started racing and I fisted my hands around the chain, "Are…are you saying that Sirius was murdered because of me?"

He stopped talking and finally glanced down, taking in my expression which must have been something because slight rays of concern shorn on his face, "No. Bellatrix is an opportunist. She knew it was Lucius' job to lead Harry to the ministry, in order to do so she needed Sirius Black and Agnes McQueen distracted when the floo call from Harry came, so she left that job to the Black house elf. She also knew that Sirius would leave when he found out that his godson was in danger and that's when she would be able to kill him."

"Why did she want to kill him!" The words hurt on its way out and the box at the back bumped and thumped as the neat folds of emotions slowly started falling away.

"They all knew Black Manor was being used as Head Quarters for the Order of the Phoenix, it's impossible to infiltrate the place under natural circumstances, though the death of the Master of The Manor is an exceptional and unnatural circumstance and this is what she wanted to exploit. The Blacks are an extremely old pureblood family, and that town house was the main family's Manor for centuries, there is a reason why they call it The Most Ancient and Noble house of the Blacks. In the old days, there were no such things as Wills' and such, blood ruled supreme. The Old Magic that governs the house would ensure that the next Master would be the most deserving."

I reeled in the emotions that were threatening to break forth and willed myself to concentrate on each of his words.

"So when the death of the Master of a Manor occurs, there is a ten minute grace period where carnage ensues. In these ten minutes all the wards are down to those who have Black blood in them. And I guess the secret keepers as well has the Manor was under the Fidelius Charm this time, hence your entry and Agnes Thornton's presence. Of course, if there is a son or daughter of the deceased, the Elders in the family would ensure it goes to the eldest child and they wouldn't have to battle for the Manor."

This slowly resembled a History of Magic lesson, the stark difference being that I wouldn't dare let my senses dull or eyes shut as he droned on…

"But if it's left to a widow not of the same blood, as it wasn't unnatural for cousins or siblings to marry at that time, or an outsider like Harry Potter would be considered, all legible and willing Black's would duel for ownership. If a victor emerges and they succeed in changing the requests of the deceased in the Cor Domus, which is where all alterations in wards are made in Old Manors usually found in the library or Master Study, and these changes are made in the grace period then they will be regarded as the new Master. If, however they fail, they would be treated as enemies of the house and the old magic will punish them justly. Usually it's an array of charms that could lead to death if you don't leave the house in time, and to prevent any infiltrator from leaving with ease, there is an anti-disapparation jinx placed on them for a period of time. I assume that Bastian and Alya failed, considering Harry was brought to the house."

"How was Harry brought to the house?"

"The ten minute grace period was over, Sirius Black's wishes were adhered and Harry Potter was instated as the Master of Black Manor. As Master of the Manor, when a threat was detected he would be transported to the house immediately."

"What were they hoping to achieve by becoming Master of the Manor?"

He raised his left eyebrow, "They would have let in any and all death eaters they could. With the action going on at the Ministry, most of the Order would report back to base once it's over and with the element of surprise on their side they could very well have destroyed more than half the Order, maybe more. Of course, Dumbledore could have warned the Order members against going to Black Manor if Sirius Black died, but Bellatrix isn't stupid. That's why she ensured you would be there, using Alya to control Agnes McQueen to bait you, knowing most Order members would come even if they were aware it might be a trap."

Anger churned in the pit of my stomach at the girl's name, Alya…that deceitful bitch. She had been lying…lying to everyone this whole time, but most importantly, lying to Neville…Neville who I couldn't look in the eye when I saw, afraid to tell him the truth without some sort of explanation, anything that would make the blow blunter for him.

"She absolutely despises you."

I glanced up at Saber, his vacant straightforward stare was interrupted as he returned my glance, his amber eyes golden in the dark night. "I doubt Bellatrix Lestrange knows any other form of emotion."

"I was not speaking of Bellatrix Lestrange. Alya Bellamy despises you. Most of her initial actions were just of a spoiled jealous little girl, it was very juvenile, there was no plan except to hurt you."

"Why? I don't even know her?"

"It does not matter, for she knows you. The granddaughter of Albus Dumbledore, inheriting all his worst qualities in her opinion, the greatest being muggle lover…and well…that matter with Blishwick last year."

"Where he tried to rape me?"

He looked down at me, slight disgust showing in his eyes, I forget how old he really is and tend to speak to him as if he were Linus' age rather than Nonno's. Also, I didn't flinch at the word anymore, it was ugly, but I survived, and if it happened again, just like now, I won't be the captive. If Alya wasn't here today…I was winning, I would have ended him.

"Yes."

"She's jealous because her 'brother' tried to take advantage of me?"

"I think her jealousy lies in the fact that her brother took any sort of interest in you, and continues to do so. I know it's hard to process considering the generation you live in, but there once was a stage where it was completely normal for siblings to marry, especially when pureblood. At sometimes the only reason to have more than one child was for the purpose. Later it became frowned upon and the degree of relationship that society deemed acceptable was first cousin…which in years became second and now I think it's third. All purebloods are related and notions such as family are easily ignored when trying to keep a family motto like the Blacks alive."

Toujours Pur…How he hated that name…I pushed the memory of the grey eyed face of disgust looking down at the crest emblazoned goblet away with a blink of my eye. "But they're brother and sister!" My voice rang with disgust…what the fuck?

"Half siblings. They share a parent, not both. But you misunderstand me; I am not implying that anything incestuous occurred between the two. Alya Bellamy and Bastian Blishwick had grown up together, raised from the cradle in the ways of their absent mother. Their sole companions, except for their home tutors, were each other for the first few years of their life. The kind of love that developed in the conditions they lived in cannot be considered…selfless. She hates you for taking away his attention; she is merely a jealous little sister."

"I don't think that trying to off the person who your brother shows the slightest bit of interest in is considered jealousy, insanity yes, certifiably so."

"I can only make assumptions on her psyche, but knowing what I do about her childhood it is not too far an assumption to regard her veering on the side of the unsettled mind. Where one would regard someone with dislike, she would hate, and she hated you. From the very beginning. I do not know her initial reasons for attacking Agnes McQueen that first day of school, whether it was to inadvertently hurt you or mere muggle sport, but I do know her intention was to kill her which makes me lean more towards my former assumption. She continued the attempt to hurt you by being an informant and ally of Dolores Jane Umbridge, who she quickly saw detested you nearly as much as she did. She had informed her of your previous relationship with Cedric Diggory."

It was her! How did that bitch even find out!

"When that backfired and you had written the article ousting the Dark Lord's part in the boy's death, she had turned informant, writing a letter to Nott Sr and letting him know just what his son was up to. I do not have to remind you of the events that followed. But that was the last time she acted out of her own spiteful ways, she had received clear instructions on what to do next, there would be no more baiting you unnecessarily, quite contrarily she was to play the opposing character, one of your close confidantes. This was not hard considering her relationship with Neville Longbottom had already commenced at the time of her instructions…that simple fact speaking volumes of her true nature." He paused for a moment, lost in his thoughts as I sat lost at his confusing words. Why would her dating Neville speak volumes of her true nature? Yes, she turned out to be a Dark Bitch, but what could she have hoped to gain by dating Neville?

"She was instructed to befriend you. This was as she needed access to Agnes McQueen and the only way to get to the well guarded woman was through you. She had tipped off Dolores Umbridge about the meeting she attended under your instruction, Kat never found out what the meeting was about but she did find out that it turned into the Cheerleading Squad endeavour. Her initial hope was for you to be expelled, your brothers would be called in and Agnes McQueen would attend as well. But somehow you managed to dodge expulsion but her plans were not dashed as McQueen ended up instructing those Cheerleading practices, it seems your luck can only be rivalled by her own."

"I don't understand? What is this obsession of hers with making contact with Nessie."

"Alya had placed the Imperius Curse on her; she wields the curse in a diabolical manner. She places it upon her victim with such ease, control and speed, yet her one shortcoming was distance. She can hold the curse for long periods of time, but distance always plays a factor in the curse strength. So in order to maintain the curse she needed to reinforce it over the year, and to do that she needed to make contact with McQueen. Agnes McQueen had her mind well guarded against extraction; your brother would know if anyone had tried extracting information from her, he had invented and placed an Extraction Alerting charm on her that would notify him of it. Alya was instructed of this possibility so she never tried getting information out of McQueen, merely using her as a pawn like she was instructed to do. She knew that you and Agnes McQueen had some sort of connection that had brought you to her rescue on the first day of school, she doesn't know of your clairvoyant ability but she does know that if McQueen was in danger you would not be far. Therefore they kept her in their arsenal to be used to ensure you get pulled to Grimmauld Place when the time is right. Once you were there they would just let the information that you were in danger slip to your brothers by some lackey Death Eater of theirs during the ministry battle and predictably enough the boys came running to your rescue."

"Why would they want us all in Black Manor?"

"You're the kin of Albus Dumbledore, serving your heads on a platter would grant an array of favour in the Dark Lord's eyes, and Bellatrix wants her family to have the highest praise and therefore place within the Dark Lords inner circle."

"Her family?"

"Alya and Blishwick are her children, fathered from different fathers, neither being her husband. They've been in hiding in France until last year, Bellatrix's secret weapons, trained from the cradle to do the dark lord's bidding, in some ways they're more dangerous than the Palbei."

This was not hard considering her relationship with Neville Longbottom had already commenced at the time of her instructions…that simple fact speaking volumes of her true nature…

She was Bellatrix's daughter…the woman who tortured Neville's parents into the state they were now in…the chain of the swing trembled under my tight fisted hand as anger churned in my veins…their relationship had already commenced when she had received her instruction to befriend me…so she dated Neville…made Neville fall for her…knowing that her own mother was the reason why his lay in a hospital…a shadow of her former self…why he suffered and longed for both his parents…she knew…she did this knowingly…my mind was blank with rage at her unnecessary evil and I had to breathe several times to calm myself down.

"Do you know who their fathers are?" I barked out the question, hoping to be distracted by more information.

"No. Kat never managed to find out. She did find out that Lucius Malfoy was their guardian, he also maintained the Lestrange's properties while they were in Azkhaban. He left the two bastard children of his sister in law in one of the Old Lestrange Manors in France, leaving them to be raised by hired help that their mother had picked out. The hired help turned out to be the ex Dark Arts teacher from Durmstrang, Boris Kabinov, whose level of danger is relative to the fact that not even Kat could get much information about him. The man must have taught Blishwick and Bellamy Dark Magic from the time their little fingers could wield a wand, an easy feat considering much like Black Manor, the Lestrange Manor had wards that protected its inhabitants from the cumbersome underage magic act that the purebloods considered themselves above."

Raised by an ex Dark Arts teacher from Durmstrang… I gulped but never uttered a word, knowing there was more explanation yet to come.

"Like all good secret weapons, they were kept well hidden and in complete isolation, nobody except the Malfoys knowing their true identities. Lucius Malfoy had visited only twice, the first to retrieve Blishwick, placing him in the care of the Blishwick family, hence his name. His adoptive family does not even know his true identity and Kat never found out why Blishwick was transferred to the Blishwicks, but his knew adoptive family had sent him to Durmstrang where he continued his education, graduating a few years ago. Alya however remained in France, only to be retrieved by Malfoy in June last year where he chose to keep her under his own roof and admitting her into Hogwarts under a false name and family history. Their training under Kabinov was just as fruitful as their mother had hoped, each becoming masters in an unforgiveable, with Blishwick it was the Torture curse and with Alya the Imperius."

The whole story reeked, to know nothing but darkness from the cradle…it almost made me feel sorry for the two…almost…Harry's wounds shone fresh in my mind and I lost what pity I felt burning within me. "That's disgusting."

"That's Bellatrix Lestrange. Kat's no better, hence the rivalry."

"I don't get it, why is Kat following Voldemort if she's got so many of her own followers, what's her deal?"

"She is partly Palbei, with the elf blood in her, she needs to follow someone. She managed to make inconsequential bonds over the years, minor Dark Lords who'd let her do what she wants in exchange for her help now and again. She travelled the world, trying to finish her father's work and create more Palbei. She only succeeded a few months ago…well I don't know if you can call it succeeded."

"What does that mean?"

"It means that they are not like me. She didn't manage to get the formula right so there's no balance. Some come out more like werewolves, some more like vampires and then others like house elves. For example, the Palbei with a higher percentage of Vampire won't be able to walk in the light whilst one with higher wolf attributes actually transform during the moon, whereas the House Elf ones are exactly like house elves, completely subservient. I may not have free will but I can engage in a conversation with you without adhering to the strict rules of status, I even have my own opinions and can share them without your request but if they are against your own I won't physically assault myself. I cannot however deny your summoning or defy your command."

I took in what he said, "What about that mental connection we have?"

"I was following Kat around the world for the past hundred years, searching uninhabited Islands and remote African and Asian countries trying to find something that would help with her need to create Palbei, and in doing so carrying on her father's work. We only returned to Europe last year, and when I did I saw what happened when Fenrir Greyback attacked you. I have to admit, I was fascinated, I hadn't been able to use my Ability in over a hundred years, ever since I found out what I truly was."

He glanced at me and then away quickly.

"I found myself sneaking into your brain as often as I could, your mind is a fortress and if it wasn't for my power I could never get in, yet at certain times you are susceptible. I didn't tell Kat, I wasn't defying her as she never asked. But one day when I let slip something I shouldn't have known, she asked how I came to know that and I had to tell her about the re-emergence of my Ability, and it's particular affinity for your mind. That's when she came up with the plan for me to sneak into your head as a vision. Point you towards some dangerous scenario and push your grandfather's hand into forcing you into taking the Vikadel. We knew you wouldn't lose your magical power completely, Séraphin had done extensive research on magical ability and she knew from his work more or less the workings of magic. She couldn't have you lose the gift, while Bellatrix wanted to give your head as a present to the Dark Lord, Kat wanted to give him your mind, your power, your Ability. As a precautionary measure she ordered me to portray Aidrian Atticus, not trusting him enough to not let on anything he might know about magic and Vikadel. She needed you to be blind for the past few months so you don't have a vision of her plans, but she also needed you to get your magic back so it could benefit the Dark Lord. Especially considering your brothers were involved so closely."

"What do you mean?"

"Linus and Lenzo's secret mission was to track the Palbei. They were lots of failed attempts even before these present 'Palbei' she has, and failed transmutations are lethal. Your brothers didn't know what they were exactly, but they noticed mass murders in certain areas around Europe, especially around vacant factories where Kat did most of her work. They convinced your grandfather to let them investigate this, especially when Len fought a Palbei and realised the speed and agility as unnatural."

That's what the boys were doing…fighting this destructive amalgamation of magical creatures…

"Nobody but the three knew of the mission for months, they went to the extent of Order members portraying them at Headquarters so nobody knew that they were gone for such prolonged periods, the only people being aware of the fake being Agnes McQueen and Sirius Black. Kat only realised that Linus must have been tracking her when she got a letter from Harry enquiring about his location, when 'Linus' was sitting right across her not hours ago during dinner. She then drew the conjecture between the need for a fake Linus and Lenzo as a cover up for their prolonged absent. They were also a lot of unanswered mishaps occurring at her hideouts, alarms going off without any sign of the perpetrator, and sabotages to her experiments themselves, setting her back weeks at a time. She then realised that they must have infiltrated one or more of the Palbei breeding and training grounds across Europe and instructed a man hunt for them, they were very close to finding out who was the mastermind behind the Palbei when they were found, they were very lucky in their escape."

I sighed, how much of lies did we go through this year. But if Kat was a death eater…Sev should have known.

"How many people knew that Kat was a death eater? Are you a death eater?"

"Only the Dark Lord, and Bellatrix found out but she never told anyone, information is as lethal weapon as any. No, I'm not, they don't even know about me. Kat wanted to gift the Palbei to the Dark Lord only when they were perfected…I've never seen her like that with anyone…she's never been so subservient…she'd do anything for him."

I jumped off the swing, needing to walk off some of this information overload, "I don't get it, he treats them all like pawns yet they still run off to him."

"All sacrificial pieces need a cause to sacrifice themselves for, they rally around him not because they have the same beliefs that he does, granted some do, but most of them can't think. They're weak and need a king to lead them, to guide them. Kat and Bellatrix are fighting over the position of Queen, not seeing that the position doesn't exist. To him there are but two beads, the King and the pawn."

"May I ask a question?"

He scoffed, "What have you been doing for the last thirty minutes."

I ignored the comment, too preoccupied with finding the right words. "How come…Kat didn't just…you know…get Palbei the natural way."

"Yet another glitch in her current Palbei's system, they cannot breed. She tried it with me initially, we tried for the first ten years but it didn't work. The early 1900s was a very tiring time for me…but there was no result."

"But…you had a child before."

He nodded, staring at the ground, "I did…when I realised what I truly was…it affected me on a deeper level, I don't see myself as a human, as a wizard. That's when I lost my Ability. Urbaine Saber was right in trying to kill me, I did deserve it, I am an abomination…"

"You're wrong; if it were not for you I would be dead. If it were not for you Harry would be dead. You may not have asked for this…" I stopped, biting my bottom lip, the tears flowing down my cheeks, already emotional after finding out about Sirius. "Who are you to say you're not human, are you not human because you have mixed blood, but Voldemort who murders so many people is human because he is a wizard? Is Bellatrix human? Is Kat? If any of them are human, I don't want to be human, I'd happily be an abomination."

I sniffed, turning my back to him as I wiped my face, only for the flood to start again. Sirius was all he had left, all he had left…why! Why!

"You weep for him. You weep because his hurt is yours, his pain is yours. A hundred and twenty years ago, I walked into my bedroom that I shared with my wife. She was sitting at the window, like she did every day, facing the gate, waiting for me to come home." He stopped, but I did not dare turn around. "The spell hit her so harshly she had fallen right through the window…she was broken…mediwizards had to come just to restore her corpse to some semblance of order…I did that. I did that. And I have to lived a hundred and twenty years with the sight of her body…her…at the forethought of my mind…every moment…I wish I could weep…but the agony is so great that it can't be formed into anything…not sadness, or tears or frowns…"

"What do you want me to do?"

"I want you to give me the order…I beg of you to take pity on me, I do not deserve it but please, let me end my misery."

I turned, his gold eyes shining brightly at me, his whole face pleading. For the first time his face and his voice bled with emotion, it cried with begging from his desperate voice to his pained expression. "Please Ky…I have told you all I know…please… just let me die."

A/N: I hope that makes sense, it's like a fact overload…

Please review

Have a great day

Kalina