Disclaimer: Anything that rings a bell belongs to J.K Rowling
Chapter Five: My Wildest Dreams
Harry's POV
26th August 2005
"I better check on my parents." Hermione muttered, taking one last look at Ky, whose back was already to us, her arms crossed, staring into the fire.
The door clicked shut. The faint sound of indistinguishable voices floated in from the open window. The flames painted Ky's face in an unusual glow, and I couldn't help taking her in. Her lips were the same, but her cheeks were different, more defined. Her eyes, avoidant as they were throughout most of the conversation, were awaiting a verdict, as the violet specked stormy greys were there, but I did not know if it sparkled the way it used to.
I tried to imagine what would be different about me, seven years later.
Suddenly, she turned, wand raised, and I didn't react except for raising my left brow – was she really going to try and fight her way out of here.
"Calidemo Aeremo."
She muttered the spell, stepping closer to me, and I felt warm air caress my skin, in all the activity of the night I had forgotten to dry my clothes. I watched as she pointed her wand at different parts of my body, still not making eye contact. She stopped when I was dry, finally glancing up at me and my heart soared when our eyes clicked into focus.
There she was.
"You should do your hair."
I didn't move. I was furious and hurt and betrayed, and I had so much to ask and so much to say. But…only in my wildest dreams would this be possible – Ky alive and in front of me.
Instead of speaking, I lowered my head. For all that had changed, she was still almost a foot shorter than me, and I had taken her wet boots off when I first set her down on the sofa. I just noticed her feet were still bare, and slightly muddy. Her toenails were painted a light pink colour…who was this woman?
I barely stifled a gasp when I felt her fingers in my hair, ruffling her hands through them so as to dry the strands faster as her wand pushed warmth through my scalp. My body felt like a volcano, and it had nothing to do with the charm. This had been a post quidditch practice ritual for us. I'd go to her, broom still in hand, dripping on everything. I'd always say it was because I missed her so much, that I couldn't be bothered to charm it dry, that I just wanted to see her as fast as possible. But the truth was that I loved that she did this for me. It felt intimate, and made me feel safe and cared for.
I glanced up, her eyes were on my hair and I took advantage of that, letting my own rove her body. I used to know every nook and cranny of her, but the white dress she wore threw me off. It was one of those dresses that worked overtime to enhance the beauty of the wearer, the cut highlighting the tiny waist, making her bust seem larger. The long black lines down the skirt made her legs look longer, something I learnt from Ginny. My Ky didn't need that, nor did she care for that.
I glanced away from her body, as I felt the wind spell stop, and straightened up, catching sight of black ink on her inner left wrist.
"What's that?" I seized her wrist to inspect what I now realised was a small tattoo, bringing it closer to my face so as to inspect it.
"It's nothing." She squirmed out of my grip and stepped back.
I should apologize…I was behaving in a much too familiar way…
She glanced at the door and my heart bled at her action.
"Why do you want to leave?"
How could she want to leave? There is nowhere on this earth I'd rather be than standing awkwardly in front of her right now.
She shook her head, stepping back, shrugging, folding her arms, "Why would I want to be here, Harry."
It was the first time she said my name since she got here, and it was like a cutting kiss, to be acknowledged by her, but also rejected.
I must have let the wound show on my face, as she stepped forward, face softening. She gestured at the closed door, "Nessie taught me how to make apple crumble in that kitchen. Sev…he taught me how to cook a chicken in there." She laughed hollowly at the memory, hugging herself tighter, "No…" She breathed, "No…". She took another deep breath, "Nonno, sat right there promising…them that he would keep me safe. That I was his number one priority."
She stared at the floor of the living room, lost in memories of her dead brothers and her dead grandfather and dead sister-in-law and her dead…Snape.
I'm a fucking idiot.
"Ky." I stepped forward, desperately wanting to hold her but not wanting to scare her again with my touch. Her breathing increased and her rasping breaths filled the room. She spun on her heel, crossing the room to the open window and I hesitated, feeling like one wrong move will have her dissipate into nothingness again.
"Sorry, that took a bit longer than I intended. Malfoy sent a bag." Ron and Hermione had entered the room, my best friend gesturing to a black leather overnight bag in his hand. Hermione glanced from me, to Ky, her face was splotchy with run make-up.
"The rehearsal – " I began, just remembering why we were here in the first place.
"Don't worry about it." Ron waved his hand, "We don't really need one anyway. I told everyone to carry on without us. With food I mean, not…well what were we going to do? Practice our vows?"
"No." Hermione shook her head, "I mean, I assume you haven't even done yours yet."
"Was I meant to write them in advance?"
"Ron!"
"Joking – I know I'm not meant to wing this. And I don't plan on doing that. Anymore." He muttered, under his breath. "Anyway, it isn't important."
"Our wedding isn't important?"
"No, Mione, of course our wedding is important. I just mean. In the realm of best friend back from the dead, rehearsal dinner for wedding…" Ron caught the look on his fiancée's face and changed course, "Is definitely, definitely more important."
"Don't be ridiculous Ronald." Hermione unhooked her arm from Ron's and walked forward. "Here."
She had flicked her wand and the little table filled with hot drinks. Coffee the way I liked it, and Ron and Hermione's cups of tea…and mug of hot cocoa.
Ky turned, looking more composed, and walked to the table. She took the armchair Mr Weasley usually sat in, and the three of us filed into our usual spot.
"Mum's got food. I told her it can wait."
"Never thought I'd hear those words out of your mouth."
Ky gave Ron a small smile and he grinned in return at her comment, and I felt a pang of jealousy. It was so easy for him. He didn't feel betrayed by Ky because he didn't love her the way Hermione and I did.
Ron's grin faltered, and tears filled his eyes. They gathered into large clear pools, but never dropped. I immediately felt guilty for my previous thought, of course he cared about Ky too. Hermione put a hand on his knee, and he moved closer to her for comfort.
"Ky. Before…any of… details." He cleared his throat, "I just want to say thank you. For Selina."
She swallowed, tracing her fingers across the birthmark on her knee, talking about Selina was making her nervous. Or perhaps she too was reliving the night Ron was talking about.
27th July 1997
Hermione's hand gripped my arm painfully, urging me to listen to her. I would stop accessing his mind if I could, I didn't want to see Voldemort torture Ollivander!
Ron, Hermione and I all snapped around at the sound of apparition and my wand was already raised.
It sounded close, which was highly disconcerting as we were stood in the back garden of the Burrow. It could be Bill and Lupin, who had left to look for Moody's body, but that was surprisingly quick if it had been them.
Mr Weasley had run out of the house, perhaps magically being notified of the security breach, "GET INSIDE!"
I ignored Mr Weasley, narrowing my eyes as I took in a familiar form in the distance.
"KY!" I shouted, filled with absolute elation. It had been weeks of torturous waiting, giving her the space that she had requested via her guardian, Silvestre Sabre, who had made a quick visit to me in Privet Drive urging me not to come looking for her, that she was safe, and she will come find me when she was ready. This had hurt of course, I wanted to be there for her, the way she was there for me in my time of grief, but I had made a promise to Dumbledore that I would stay at Privet Drive one last time, and I couldn't break that last promise to him.
I didn't realise that I had been running towards her, as she had been to me. And all anger, all frustration, all fear, evaporated upon contact. I had lifted her off the floor, I didn't let her go, holding her to me as if I could keep her safe by serving as a physical barrier.
"I've put the wards back up, sorry about that." Silvestre Sabre, looked apologetically at Mr Weasley.
"What did Agnes Dumbledore gift you on your last visit?" Mr Weasley asked, not lowering his wand.
Silvestre glanced at Ky at the mention of Agnes in his security question, who was still quiet and steady in my arms, "She baked me an apple crumble. With apples she and Molly had picked from the orchard."
Mr Weasley lowered his wand, as I rubbed my girlfriend's back. Silvestre had not changed in the past month, but this was not surprising. He was a magically engineered hybrid of a werewolf, vampire, wizard and House Elf, a Palbei, the only one of his kind. He had been created a century ago by a Dark Lord named Seraphin. The only downside to the powerful creature was that they had no agency, much like a house elf, they needed a master, and through a strange twist of fate, Silvestre had sworn his allegiance to Ky.
Before anybody could get another question out, there was a yelp of pain and Ky pulled out of our embrace, her eyes wide with shock.
She spun around, running back towards where they had apparated, and I had just realised that there was someone else there, but in the dark we had not noticed. A figure was on their knees, all I could make out was a head of rich blonde hair.
Hermione gasped.
This was impossible.
That was Selina Sabre, Fred's girlfriend and an auror who had been tortured to death months ago by death eaters.
Silvestre reached her first, and lifted Selina into his arms as if she were as light as cotton candy, running with speed towards the house.
We all followed without thought.
"Selina!" George had shouted, jumping off the sofa despite his wounded state, whilst his twin sunk down to the floor, for once, speechless.
Silvestre lay Selina down on the sofa that George just vacated, and then I saw it.
Her belly.
Selina was clearly pregnant.
"Molly!" Silvestre commanded, "I apologize, but we do not have time. I think the stress of the night has sent her into an early labour. I need towels, hot water, rue if you have it."
"No! NO!" Selina shouted, but Ky grabbed her hand.
"Selina! Look at me -"
"No! I WON'T DO IT! I WON'T HAVE HIS BABIES ! I WON'T DO IT! I'D RATHER DIE!" And with agility none of us expected she leapt off the sofa, but immediately fell to the floor.
Fred was on her in seconds, finally out of his distress, "Selina, Selina. Calm down. Shhhh."
Her eyes fell on Fred and the madness in them simmered to stillness, "Fred."
Silvestre was quick, noticing her stillness for what it was, and he jumped to his feet, catching her as she fainted, almost bringing Fred down with her.
Mrs Weasley had bustled into the room, while Ky was a blur of movement at my side. She had forced Selina's mouth open, pouring a liquid down her throat. Selina sputtered awake, and then she yelled in pain again.
Ginny screamed as a pool of blood had dripped onto the carpet from between Selina's legs. I didn't know anything about childbirth but surely this was not a good sign.
"No. No." Selina was shaking her head back and forth. "No. No. NO!"
"Selina, you need to stop fighting it. You will all die, if you keep fighting this - "
The walls shook and we all glanced at each other, except for Ky, Mrs Weasley, Silvestre and Fred who did not take their eyes off the girl now on the sofa.
Ky was muttering into Selina's ear, but her screams were drowning out all sounds.
Fred was at Selina's other side, "Please. Please, please for me!" He had been sitting with his brother not ten minutes ago making ear-related jokes, but now he was utterly serious, clutching the hand of the girl he thought he'd never see again.
I couldn't understand why Selina was trying to fight having the baby, and then it hit me.
Selina had been captured, and based on our intel, tortured, and then murdered. Clearly the latter was not true, but the former was, and I realised with a sinking feeling why she had been fighting this.
Fred must know as well, that Selina was pregnant as a result of heinous acts performed against her will by one, or many death eaters. Yet he didn't care, he clearly wanted to do what was best for her, and if Silvestre was right, and he was a prodigious healer, Selina needed to have the baby or they both die.
"Harry." Hermione pulled my shirt, "We should. Harry we shouldn't see this. We should give them privacy."
But I did not budge. I let Hermione, and the others, go into the kitchen. I would not take my eye off Ky. I had just got her back. And Selina was like family to her, so whilst she supported her family, I'd support her.
Ky continued muttering into Selina's ear, but I realised it wasn't just muttering, she was casting spells, none of them recognisable to me.
Selina stopped fighting altogether, and I couldn't tell whether it was Fred's words or Ky's magic that calmed her down.
"Ky." Silvestre said, "Plan C."
Her dark head nodded, she flicked her wand decisively and a bag appeared. Silvestre dug into it quickly, he worked so fast, I could barely process what he was doing. Selina's shirt was removed and my heart burst with pain at the scars that littered her body. Fred's eyes widened, but he didn't say a thing, still whispering into Selina's right ear, kissing her hair.
I couldn't imagine what Fred was going through, if I had seen Ky this broken and bruised…what had they done to her?
I watched as Silvestre had his wand on Selina's belly, muttering spells. He had a viscous fluid on his hand, that he was painting patterns on her bump with. "Don't push until I say. Tu vas bien, ma fille. Très bien, Lina!"
Selina had burst into tears at his words, moved by his encouragement in her mother tongue, and Ky's chants got louder.
"Poussez!"
Selina clamped down, gritting her teeth and squeezing Fred's hand, pushing with all her might, like I assumed Silvestre had commanded she do in French.
"Molly!" Silvestre's hands were busy on Selina's belly, and Mrs Weasley seemed to need no further instruction, pushing Selina's skirt up and I can only assume helping deliver the baby. Selina yelled in pain, pushing again, and suddenly the sounds of her crying infant was the only noise in the room.
"Ky!"
Surprisingly, she too needed no further instruction from the blond healer, Ky had moved to Mrs Weasley, already holding a dropper at the baby's crying mouth, making the little thing swallow whatever she had brewed.
Selina yelled again - and Silvestre shouted, "Molly!"
Mrs Weasley passed the baby to Ky, who took it with wide eyes, holding it as if it were a bomb. She glanced up at me and I could almost laugh at the look on her face if the situation was not what it was. She had been so prepared to help deliver the baby, but it seemed she didn't think about actually holding it.
I walked towards her, holding out my hands, not any the more knowledgable on holding a newborn but desperate to help her in some way.
"I can do that." George muttered, and I didn't realise he had been next to me this whole time. He easily took the baby from Ky, clearly having some experience with this being an older sibling. "Hello, little one." He muttered to the baby, whose face seemed to be blending with a big patch of red hair, as it cried relentlessly.
"Oh my." Mr Weasley had entered the room, peering at the baby behind his son's shoulder, looking as if he never saw one before, as if he hadn't had seven of his own. "Oh."
He looked down at Ky, his blue eyes brimming with unshed tears, and her face split into the most beautiful smile, and she nodded.
"Arthur." Mrs Weasley joined, another baby in her hands, "Arthur. Look."
Ky had turned away from the Weasleys, falling back down to Selina, who looked near passing out.
"You did good." She muttered, kissing Selina's hair, wiping her forehead.
"I don't want - "
"They're Fred's." Ky looked down at her, still smiling, "They're yours, and Fred's.Trust me. Two beautiful, healthy, baby girls."She nodded at Fred, who didn't seem to take in a word Ky had said, his head was in Selina's hair, weeping."You were already pregnant when they took you."
Selina cried harder, clearly overwhelmed. Her blinks were getting longer, and I wouldn't be surprised if she passed out soon.
"Silvain." Selina muttered her brother's name, fighting to keep her eyes open but failing.
"I know. I'm going to try my best to get him back. I promise."
"You don't have to." Ky muttered, "You already said thank you enough times that night. I did what anybody would do."
I glanced out the window at that, remembering the fight that followed the joyous occasion that was Vina and Gina's birth. What anybody would do. Ky had used my relocating from Privet Drive to the Burrow as a diversion and infiltrated Malfoy Manor to save Selina. Yes, it worked out well, and I was as happy as everyone else at the outcome, but it was incredibly dangerous and it was a wonder she had got out unscathed. Afterall, in retrospect, the vision I had of Voldemort torturing Ollivander happened in the Malfoy Manor cellar - she must have missed him by minutes. Old anger at her recklessness joined the new feelings that bubbled within me.
"We lost Fred." Ron sniffed, "I don't know if you know, during the final battle." He fell silent, the death of Fred Weasley always a hard topic to broach for any of the Weasleys, and his pained expression simmered my anger down, "I don't know what we would do if we didn't have Vina and Gina. And Selina of course. She's on her way from Paris as we speak. She's back and forth – "
"Between Whitehall and Bourbon." So Ky knew that Selina worked for both the British and French ministries. Selina had retired from being an auror, and worked for the department of International Magical Cooperation.
"Does she know you're alive?" Selina and I had grown close over the years, Ginny and I had babysat the girls many times, and if she had kept this from any of us, it would be hard to forgive.
"No. Nobody knows." She assured me, "I just. Sometimes, check the news. It's not that hard finding information about you all." She said this with a small smile, "Even all the way in…New York." She nodded, knowing that was the answer we were waiting on. "That's where I live. In Brooklyn."
Even though Ky had grown up in the States, it was difficult imagining her anywhere but the UK. I tried to imagine Brooklyn, but nothing was coming to mind. I had visited MACUSA, and spent some time in New York a few years ago, was Brooklyn part of New York? Could she have been mere streets away from me.
"Doing…" Hermione urged.
"Science." Ky shrugged, "I'm in grad school."
"What?" I gasped, winded. I don't know what I was expecting, but I was not expecting that.
"Yeah. Computer science. I have a degree and everything." She laughed at my expression and I was completely stunned at her statement and annoyed at her amusement.
"You've been in New York this whole time. Ky, Why? I…I – " I stuttered, finally finding my voice, "Are you with Nott? Did you run away together? Is that why –"
"Harry –" Ron leaned forward, but Ky raised her hand to stop him.
"It's fine. No. I'm not with Teddy." She glanced at Hermione, "I have seen him. He stops by every now and again. To check in." She glanced to the door, almost as if expecting Nott to burst in to check in right now.
"Earlier you said you didn't fake your death." Hermione whispered, "You said that to the Minister. How are you alive, if…"
Ky crossed her legs, her arms folded about her mid rift and it didn't take seven years auror experience to know that she was uncomfortable with all of this.
"Would it be easier if you showed us."
Yes, I was furious and hurt and betrayed but I loved this woman. And her discomfort was my discomfort.
She looked at me, surprised at the offer, perhaps also expecting nothing but venom from me.
"Do you have a pensieve?"
I nodded, reaching into my pocket and taking out the tiny contraption, "Portable one. So it won't take many memories." I tapped it to make it bigger and placed the metallic object on the coffee table.
She hesitated, then touched her wand to her head, bringing forth the long wispy silver threads. They circled about, almost dancing with each other.
"If you don't mind, I won't join." I didn't particularly want to leave her here, unattended, and she sensed my hesitation, "I'll wait here, Harry."
I nodded, I suppose there was a house filled with people to stop her trying to leave anyway. I assumed Hermione and Ron were in agreement as I looked at the dancing threads and mentally prepared myself. We had reached forward simultaneously and fell into her memories.
A/N: Thought that was a good place to stop since it was getting a bit long! I hope you enjoyed that update, feedback as always will be appreciated!
Kalina