Post by Trevor Williams on May 19, 2012 20:50:44 GMT -8
Continued from A Breath of Peace.
Bob = Robert Lawson
Kit = Kathaleen Whisper
December 19, 2008
"Blue House, Red shutters, Gotcha." Lawson replied, wishing that he'd brought along his riding goggles! But within a few moments he brought the motorcycle down and pulled up outside of the house. It seemed that Hogsmeade was quiet for the moment, though during his overflight of Hogwarts it'd seemed as if the fighting had died down. But you could never be to sure. "Well, I guess this is your stop." he informed her as he shut the engine off and engaged the kickstand. "I'll see you in." He said as he swung one leg over and got off the bike. He sat Fred on the ground and pointed a very serious finger at him. "Do NOT pee ON the Motorbike? Got it?" The dog merely whimpered and growled before he started wandering around sniffing everywhere.
Kathaleen smiled at him and nodded, her eyes closing slowly. It was a good thing he'd given her that potion, she jumpped off the bike, then realized...that all the lights were off in the house. She frowned. "That's not right..." she said. Moving carefully wand out, into the house. The front door was already open, half off it's hindges. Kathaleen's eyes opened wide. She looked into the dark room, and saw the dark thick color of something staining the carpet. She frowned in the darkness trying ot make it out. "some light? Please" she asked, her stomach doing a strange flip flop. There was no one in the house. She could feel no danger. Shivering she stepped forword into the kitchen for a moment she didn't understand what she was seeing.
"Lumos." With a simple flick of the wrist his trusty wand became a torch of sorts, bathing the darkened house in light. Kathaleens unsettled nature was now starting to bother him, as he felt a gnawing feeling in his gut as he followed her inside to look around. Somehow he doubted the Death Eaters would've attacked here, but he knew he could also be wrong and for that he was remaining on guard. The setting didn't feel right to him either, what should've been a warm family home seemed cold and empty.. What had happened here? The answer would be around the next corner..
Blood. That was the first thing she noticed. It was all the blood covering, well everything. Then her eyes made since of what she was seeing in the rather normal looking kitchen, tile that once was wait was now stained crimson, a body lay on the floor. Kathaleen knelt in the blood and touched the hand, the body twitched, and she screamed. Then it fell still, a lock of blonde hair was beside it. For a moment her mind couldn’t figure out why this body was so wrong. And then it clicked. Everything was inside out, the spine was clearly visible, there were no eyes, just weird sockets and the skin was turned inside out. Kathaleen felt bile rise in her throat, she flung herself away and pressed against something lumpy. She didn’t dare turn around. Not until she knew who was laying on the floor inside out and all wrong. The body twitched again. “Oh sweet Merlin. I think it’s alive.” She heard herself say, and then, because knowing with out knowing that there was nothing they could do…no way to reverse what had happened she lifted her wand. “Ava-Kadava” She whispered, and green light shot out from the end of her wand hitting the moving thing. It stopped moving. Tears slid down Kathaleen’s pale cheeks. She knelt again and picked up a locket that had fallen off, ‘auntie’ was carved into the silver. Body A identified. She closed her eyes and felt the room swim for the millionth time this evening. Turning around she eyed the lumpy thing she’d pressed into earlier.
“DADDY!” She screamed, launching herself at the wall, trying to pull him down. He’d been pinned to the wall with kitchen knives, his knee’s cut off, a few of his fingers, and half his face was torn off. She looked into his eye, his left dead eye, and shook her head. “Mother…where….where is mother?” She asked herself, and looked around the kitchen once more. There was blood…foot prints actually, bloody foot prints, leading up into a stairwell.
With out waiting for her teacher, in fact, Lawson was completely forgotten from her mind right now, she raised up those stairs. Followed them into the first bedroom, for a moment she was relieved. Her mother appeared to be sleeping on the bed. She ran and knelt at the edge. After the scene in the living room she didn’t think it could get worse. She was wrong, oh so very wrong. There on the bed lay her mother’s beautiful face looking peaceful. And then she realized that it was just the head. Kathaleen put her hands to either side, getting blood on them and shook her head repeatedly. “No” Kathaleen whispered, looking down, the rest of the body was all there, just torn, limb from limb. Cuts all over it, as if they’d started to peel her skin back then got bored and just dismembered her. Kathaleen screamed and turned around trying to run…anywhere. She connected with a solid body. Curling her hands into fists she beat the persons chest. “Why?! What did they do?!” She cried, sobbed, lost it. The windows in the room burst. Her knees went weak. “My family…mama…popps, auntie….and…” She pulled away… “My little sister!” After searching the house she returned and swayed in front of Lawson. "I-I can't find her" she said dully, and then..."I think I'm going to faint now." Her brain shut down and for the second time this evening she passed out.
s they investigated deeper into the house one thing became apparent as it assaulted Lawsons sense of smell.. The stench of blood permeated through the room and his first instinct was to keep Kathaleen from going any further, but he wasn't quick enough as she caught a glimpse of the grizzly scene. "Kathaleen!" he chirped reaching to grab for her but she evaded his grasp. There was no concealing the horrific crime now, A quick survey of the room told Lawson all he needed to know about what happened here tonight. He'd seen more then one incident like this during his time as an Auror, whoever had done this had been one sadistic madman. But this time it was different, it was hitting much closer to home because of his student, his friend Kathaleen. Lowering his head, and closing his eyes he sighed softly.. 'Merlin, She didn't need to see this..' he thought to himself. The whole situation made his stomach churn, why in Merlins name did this poor girl deserve this?! Something so horrific? From the door way he wandered past Kathaleen, looking over the carnage as he felt his stomach churn with horror, anger and rage.. Would it ever end? Would these Monsters ever stop commiting such vile acts? And for what? Some notion of power? Bloody purity? It was all so idiotic!
It made him think of his conversation with Geoffrey Lefcourt a few weeks ago, The bastard.. The misguided bastard! Lawson gritted his teeth as the scene only grew worse and only fed his rage. That old familiar feeling he'd known so many years ago was starting to come back to him, the thirst for vengeance.. the need to right these wrongs and put a end to this maddness once and for all! Oh yes.. Lawson had taken the first two steps back down that path tonight by killing two Death Eaters, one of which was Hector Lefcourt.. But there were others, many others.. The person or persons who'd commited this horrible crime here. He could feel it burning through his veins, the rage and impulse to kill these monsters, all of them.. As much as he wanted to lash out right now, he knew he couldn't, not with Kathaleen here.. Someone had to be strong for her. Taking the best calming breath he could, Lawson slowly turned to face the girl as she burst into tears. "Kathaleen I'm so so sorry, very sorry." he knew his words would do nothing to comfort her, he knew what it was like to lose a loved one in this manner.. and there was nothing he could do really but.. catch her as she fainted. "You poor girl.." he whispered sorrowfully. A part of him was tempted to erase this scene from her mind with a memory charm, to show some sort of mercy but at heart? He knew that was the wrong thing to do. Right now they just had to get to safety, what if these people were after all of the Whispers?
Lawson carried her outside and set her down against the wall so that he could check his antique pocket watch. "Just enough time.." he murmured to himself. Looking up and down the street that they were on showed it was quite deserted, but he was afraid of being seen none the less.. But there options were few. Picking her up again he carefully laid her out over the motorcycle and disengaged the kickstand before rolling the motorcycle down the road with Fred in tow. It wasn't long before he rolled the motorcycle past the Hogs Head Tavern, he could hear quite a bit of drunken activity inside the establishment so he pulled the motorcycle and Kathaleen around to the side of the tavern where he left her for the moment with Fred. Lawson came around to the back door, where he knocked and prayed that his friend would answer. After a few moments, and a few more knocks the door finally creaked open "Who the hell comes to the back door.. door.. Robert?" The woman blinked, the color in her face rapidly draining as she knew something was wrong. "Kate, I need your help." he told her while almost sounding like he was pleading. "What's wrong?" She asked, as he gestured for her to follow him outside which she did.
As they rounded the corner she caught a glimpse of the young girl on the bike, and quite frankly? She had no idea what to think! "Great Merlin, What happened?" Lawson cocked a brow at her a little surprised, "You haven't heard? Death Eaters attacked Hogwarts, and by the scene we just came from they've been here as well." Kates jaw literally dropped in disbelief. "Oh My.. How? Why? I.. I've been in the tavern all night, we havent heard anything.. Everyones been drunk!" Robert shrugged a bit. "I think Harold Masters is alive too, and I have reason to suspect the authorities are going to try and blame a lot of tonights events on me." Kate swallowed back a lump in her throat, as she asked the more obvious question. "But Rob.. WHo's the girl?"
Looking from Kathaleen to Kate he then explained. "She's a student of mine, Harolds Daughter attacked her and I took her out of Hogwarts, figuring she'd be safer with her family here in Hogsmeade.. but I just came from her aunts house and we found the enter family dismembered.." Clearing his throat he gazed into the eyes of his old friend. "I always promised I'd never impose on you Kate, but.. The situation is too mirky and dangerous right now, I need your help and a place to spend the night while I figure out what the hades we're going to do alright? And.. I promise I won't endanger you, your children or your husband.. Just.. give me some ideas.." There was a long pause from his friend, she nervously clenched her hands together, playing with her hands as she tried to think of something. "I'll talk to my boss.. You can probably stay in the basement tonight, he's a sweet old man.. Just.. give me a few minutes." she said before rushing past him..
A short time later, Robert, Kathaleen and Fred had relocated to the warmth of the Hogs head basement. It was dark, dusty and not all that comfortable but it'd be alright for now. Kate had left them some food and water while returning to work. Lawson had laid his coat out for Kathaleen to rest on while he sat in the corner of the room, in his tattered, blood stained clothes thinking about what this evening had brought upon them all..
“Come ‘ere! Give it to me!” Kathaleen screeched as she tore after Lilian. It only took a moment but soon the girls longer legs caught up with her little sister, she picked her up and swung her around. Lilian let out that delightful squeal of laughter. “Put me down!!!” She cried laughing. Kathaleen slowly brought her back down and put her feet on the ground. She leaned against the wall. “I’m so sorry…I should have been there to protect you Lil…”Kathaleen whispered brushing a lock of hair out of her sister’s eyes. Her sister smile and tilted her head. And then the dream changed, darkness descended on them around them, Kathaleen grabbed the smaller hand and tried to run but the blackness pulled them apart. “SISSY!” Lilian screamed as she was pulled away. Kathaleen fell to her knees arms stretched out. “Help me! Help me!” And then she was gone, however her voice was faint but carried. “Find me please” a simple whisper.~
Kathaleen sat up, pulling herself to almost completely aware and wakeful. She way laying on something that smelled familiar, the floor was hard but something…soft kept her warm. She must have fallen out of bed. Then she looked around. It was dusty and musty smelling. She could see old barrels and the smell of stale smoke and alcohol. She looked around and after a moment she found her teacher. What was he doing here in her bed room. She blinked. Her mind didn’t want to work. For just a moment she thought it had all been just a terrible dream. But no, she recalled the house, her parents. Her family. But no Lilian….Lilian.
“My sister is alive.” She stated, sure and confidant. In that moment, a sound that wasn’t heard, a feeling that couldn’t be felt, something shifted and snapped into place. Kathaleen looked at her teacher. “I’m going to find her.” she whispered not really talking to him. She started to stand but the potions he’d given her earlier had worn off, she fell back to her knees. Breathing deeply she aloud herself to stay seated, fingers curling in the old worn coat under her. She found that her eyes were dry, and so was the blood that stained her dress. She touched her shoulder and gave a short hiss, the wound had broken and bled through the conjured bandages. Turning her head she looked at her teacher.
“Professor…where are we? And Do you have a knife?” She asked , touching her matted and tangled hair idly. She’d read some where, that in older cultures, when morning women would cut their hair. She planned on doing the same. She was afraid that Kathaleen the girl she’d been this morning was dead. So she’d mourn for her family, her mother, father, aunt and herself. She looked at him seeing how exhausted he was for the first time.
Her sudden movements stirred Lawson from his thoughts, siting up sharply to get a better look at his friend."Kathaleen??" He asked with an obvious edge of concern in his voice, before getting up and moving over to her. "Easy, you're safe now." he assured her while kneeling down beside her. "I know, your sister could be alive if she wasn't there." he told her, unsure of how she could be so sure.. But taking a hostage as a bargining chip wasn't out of the realm of possiblity. "We're in the basement of the Hogs-head Tavern," he explained to her, "A friend of mine works here and she was ablt to put us up for the night.. And check the right pocket, there should be a knife in there."
“Lilian is alive sir. I know it.” And she did know it. Not in the ‘hopeful’ type of knowing but in the deep down in her bones knowing. She nodded and she dug in the pocket he’d told her to and pulled out the pocket knife. She flipped it open, testing the blade against her finger. For the moment she just placed it in her lap. “I feel numb.” She said, then shook her head again. “Thank you Professor. For everything you’ve done tonight. I’m sure your ready to be on your way.” She whispered trying to ignore the almost constant heart ache in her chest. Touching her face she flinched slightly, she had a busted lip and a swollen eye not to mention a barge of other wounds. Lifting the knife again she held it out for him. “One last request…please.” Taking a deep breath she turned her back to him. “Cut it, as much as you can. Please…” she sat perfectly still trying to think about what she’d do when her teacher left her. Something the Master’s boy had said leaked into her thoughts. ‘You could join us’…he’d said. She pushed the thought away for now, looking at the pale expanse of skin on her arm. “What will you do?”
"How can you be so sure?" Lawson asked as he sat down beside her. He wasn't sure what to make of her belief about her sister, but at that very moment there was little they could do about it anyway. Kathaleens tremendous loss stirred feelings within Lawson that'd been buried for some years, the loved ones she'd lost, the one he lost so many years ago. He clapsed his fingers together in his lap as he spoke softly. "I know that feeling too." He admited with a heavy sigh. "And.. Don't call me Professor anymore." Looking at her, he knew that as soon as he left Hogwarts he'd forfeited his position there.. "IF Hogwarts reopens they'll replace me, and.. well.." he shrugged his shoulders lightly. "I'm an outlaw on the run now, no more no less." Shifting abit he felt another pang of loss, despite the fact that Transfiguration hadn't been his first choice he had grown quite proud of his position at the school and the work that he'd done which was now.. All gone now. "Cut it?" He was a little surprised by her request, but who was he to refuse?"[/b] Reluctantly he took the knife from her.
Silently he began cutting away her hair, taking special care to avoid hurting her as much as possible. "There.." he folded the knife and set it aside once he was finished. It was kind of funny.. As a Professor it was his job to have all the answers, and usually he did. But tonight he didn't really have any answers for anything. "I don't know." he admited honestly. "Go back to the old ways, go to war and try to find out whats going on, stop those responsible for these horrific acts.. things like that I guess." Truth was he really had no where to go either, he was going to stay as far away from his parents home as possible, knowing that anyone who'd want to take him would look there first. There was the Order of the Phoenix which was possibly his only real hope. But that didn't matter, what did matter was Kathaleen. "What about you? Is there any other family members I can trust to watch over and protect you?"
“I just do. Its….I” sighing she looked at her hands. “It was really just a feeling. I had a dream. It’s something that I just know. I can’t explain it Professor.” She watched him as he spoke. He’d been where she was now. That made her feel marginally better, to know that she wasn’t alone in this. For a split moment Kathaleen wanted to reach out and touch his hand. “For what it’s worth, I’m sorry you lost your position.” She murmured keeping her hands to herself.
Silence fall on them while he chopped her hair, Kathaleen felt the weight being lifted, last time she had cut her hair she’d been seven and it’d been three inches off. Shaking her head she noticed that her hair now fell to just above the ears. He’d done a good job, it wasn’t straight but it wasn’t terrible. It felt odd to go from waist length hair to something so short. She shook her head again slightly amazed at how light it was. “Thank you.” She said quietly.
stop those responsible for these horrific acts he’d said. Well she agreed with him. She could feel her first taste of the desire for revenge rumbling just beneath the surface of her skin. Rage, Anger, they were all their just waiting to be let out. Closing her eyes she swallowed the feeling of grief that came over her. Pushing it back and deeper until it didn’t matter any more. Tilting her head she looked at him. “If I’m not to call you Professor what should I call you then? Sir?” her voice tilted a little on the last word. Shrugging she answered his question. “No. None that…are living. There was only me and m…there was only us. I’d just found out about my Great-Grandmother the other day, but she died to.” Her brow creased into a frown. “She left me something. I don’t know if it will be of use to you but…I have…Whisper Manor.” She said, breathing deeply. “If you need it.”
"Gut instinct maybe?" There was something to be said for gut instinct he believed, it'd served him well at times but he wasn't sure about much at the moment. Her 'apology' for his position was kind yet unnecessary but he smiled weakly at her. "That's not necessary, It was just a job, nothing more nothing less.. Easy come, easy go right?" He forced a faint chuckle, but it came off sounding quite flat. Scooting back he finally leaned back against one of the kegs behind him and tried to relax a little more comfortably. "Erm... Call me? Uhm.. I don't know.. Call me whatever you want.. " No, he wasn't sure what to tell her.. She'd only known him as The Professor so.. That didn't matter given her revelation about her family, which made things quite difficult for him now. "None?" He lowered his head some as he sighed. There was no way he could look after her and himself was there? However Whisper Manor perked his interest. "A manor? really? Does it have.. A cave? Or a big basement?"
“Yes, something like gut instinct I suppose.” Was her answer. She too leaned back against the wall closing her eyes lightly. “Anything I want? Well then I’ll call you Professor or Mr. Lawson.” She stated keeping her eyes firmly closed, in fact she wasn't even sure she knew his first name. “No…no one. Don’t worry Professor, I won’t bother you to come along. In fact once you leave I’ll make my way back to the school. I’m sure the Headmaster will welcome me back. No one knows what I’ve done.” Well….except the Master’s boy, but he mostlikely wasn’t even going to be at the school anymore. Actually she wasn’t planning to go back to the school. She was planning to find out who did this to her family, find her sister, and do all that by any means necessary. She guessed that the good Professor wouldn’t be to inclined to learn that. He may have been where she was now once, but that didn’t mean he would want her to go out for vengeance any more then he’d want her wearing a death eater mark. She opened her eyes again. The mark. No doubt this was death eater work. She looked down again afraid he might see the thoughts that ran through her head. “Uh, well I don’t know I’ve never actually been there. I’m sure it has a basement or something like it. It’s old….and there might be a cave. I don’t know. Like I said, I’ve never been there myself.”
Lawson chuckled at her persistence but gave his approval with a nod. "Professor it is then.." He folded his arms over his chest while litening to her grand plan not to bother him and return to Hogwarts. "You do realize there is a chance that Hogwarts might not reopen for the rest of the year?" Given the damage that could've been done, There would likely be a inquery by the Ministry into the safety of the School and heaven forbid if any of the students had died there would be an understandable outcry from the parents. "Don't make any plans until you know what's going on.. I forgot to teach you had.." he admited absently. "Knowledge of events and surroundings is power.. Take everything into accoutn before making a decision." And really? That's what Lawson was doing now, waiting until he had a clear picture of the current situation before he made any firm decisions. "A cave would be nice or a basement.. I could be.. Batman." he mused with a silly smile. "It might be quite safe though given the circumstances unfortunately.. I'd take you home to my Parents home and Island, but.. I figure that'd be a good place to start looking for this former Professor."
Kathaleen looked up. “No…I hadn’t thought of that.” She said honestly, it seemed so strange that they’d shut down Hogwarts. So surreal…well everything about this night was surreal. “Well you just taught me. I won’t make the same mistake twice.” She said in a serious tone. “…Batman huh? I always thought he was…a little more…” she shook her head. “Ya know. Broad.” She held her hands out to show a shoulders width, “And muscular.” Though she meant for it to be teasing back she couldn’t force any lightness into her tone. Nor could she return the silly smile that Lawson sent her way. Her eyes trailed down her dress again. “Yes, I imagine that it isn’t safe at your parents house now. Are they still alive?” She asked and then remember that her own parents were no longer among the living. A shiver ran through her and she pressed the feeling down ignoring it. “Or is it just you, Professor?”
Her fingers plucked at her dress, which was stiff with blood and dirt, “Well, as soon as some decision is made I’d love to find a pair of pants and get out of this ridiculous dress.” The dress her mother had bought her, she closed her eyes again. Turning her head to look at her Teacher, she spoke slowly. “I can’t apprate but I could give you the address to Whisper Manor and you coul….” She trailed off “right, you have a flying motorbike, never mind.” Licking her lips, she turned her eyes on him again. “If you get me to the Manor, I’m sure I’ll be safe there, you can hide out for a bit get a plan and then leave.” Kathaleen wondered if it was only her imagination but she didn’t want to be a liability to him, nor did she want him to feel like he had to take care of her. She would learn and do that on her own. He still saw a child while Kathaleen felt like a…if not a woman, then she was no longer a child. Her innocents was lying in the blood in that house, it was forever falling with Helena, it was in the first casting of the most unforgivable spell, no her innocents was not coming back.
Lawson grinned. "One word.. Padding under the suit." he nodded, being as serious as possible before cracking a chuckle. "You can make anything look bigger with the right padding." he quipped, getting a bit lost in his own thoughts for a moment. "Oh.. Yes.." he smiled faintly. "They're alive, My dad still travels alot.. Ironiclly with the one.." he thought about Rika for a moment, knowing she was different from the others. "The one good Lefcourt.. Richard, quite a charming guy actually." Shifting a bit his back popped quite loudly and he groaned. "Gah.. But I'll get you there, I promise." He further tried to assure her with a genuine smile. "I'm not going to let anything happen to you, not after this." The clothing issue weighed on his mind as well, given his tux had been shredded and though he'd grabbed some clothes, nothing would fit Kathaleen. "I dont think my pants would fit you.. but I'll get you something tomorrow."
Watching her teacher with bemused interest she managed a small smile at his joke. “I’m sure you can.” She felt a small laugh rise up in her throat, she turned it into a cough. It didn’t feel right to smile and laugh while her sister was out there, scared and probably in pain. Her thoughts turned serious again the smile fell from her lips and the almost laugh disappeared completely. “Lefcourt…I wonder what happened to Rika…I hope she’s aright.” Kathaleen had only really met with the foreign girl once, in the forbidden forest but that didn’t change the fact that she liked the girl. “You don’t have to promise me anything Professor. I appreciate any help you can give me but there may come a time when you can’t do what you promised. Don’t make promises you can’t keep sir.” She cleared her throat which had suddenly become dry and tight. “Got anything to drink?” Her voice broke a little. “Thank you Professor but I think your right, I don’t think I could get in your pants properly.” …”Oh my god. I didn’t mean.” Kathaleen blushed bright red and put her face in her hands. “Not what it sounded like” her shoulders shook, giving her the appearance of crying and then a small laugh escaped, albit edged with hysteria it was a real laugh. Brushing the tears out of her eyes she smiled embarrassedly at her teacher. “Stress, and need of sleep that’s what I’m blaming that on.”
Watching her teacher with bemused interest she managed a small smile at his joke. “I’m sure you can.” She felt a small laugh rise up in her throat, she turned it into a cough. It didn’t feel right to smile and laugh while her sister was out there, scared and probably in pain. Her thoughts turned serious again the smile fell from her lips and the almost laugh disappeared completely. “Lefcourt…I wonder what happened to Rika…I hope she’s aright.” Kathaleen had only really met with the foreign girl once, in the forbidden forest but that didn’t change the fact that she liked the girl. “You don’t have to promise me anything Professor. I appreciate any help you can give me but there may come a time when you can’t do what you promised. Don’t make promises you can’t keep sir.” She cleared her throat which had suddenly become dry and tight. “Got anything to drink?” Her voice broke a little. “Thank you Professor but I think your right, I don’t think I could get in your pants properly.” …”Oh my god. I didn’t mean.” Kathaleen blushed bright red and put her face in her hands. “Not what it sounded like” her shoulders shook, giving her the appearance of crying and then a small laugh escaped, albit edged with hysteria it was a real laugh. Brushing the tears out of her eyes she smiled embarrassedly at her teacher. “Stress, and need of sleep that’s what I’m blaming that on.”
"I don't know.." He remarked thoughtfully about Rika. "She said she was leaving Hogwarts the day after the ball." That much he did remember about the strange girl, and despite their differences he shared her sentiment even though he didn't outwardly admit it. "Drink?" he perked a brow, an amusing thought crossing his mind as he spoke on it. "Well you're old enough to drink," he said gesturing to the kegs around them. "Or my flask.. OR no! wait.. better yet.. don't drink.. Kate left us a pitcher of water and some rolls." he gestured to the items on a crate.
'Oh great Merlin..' Lawson quickly glanced down and stiffled a chuckle as he too blushed by her poorly executed remark. "I was.. more so.. thinking of having Kate go out and buy you a pair of pants, no need to share everything right?" he said, clearing his throat with a loud and uncomfortable cough.
“I know. I hope she made it through the battle. Maybe we’ll see her again some day.” Kathaleen agreed letting the topic fall. “…I had a rough day what if I wanted something stronger?” But she let the argument go and pored herself a glass of water and drank it in one go, she pored another glass and sat back down sipping on this one. She was still blushing bright red, “Yes, that’d be good…buying new pants.” Then he laughed a loud awkward laugh and Kathaleen blushed harder. They sat in that weird stillness before she spoke again. “SO…When should we leave for the Manor?” she said, maybe a little to loudly. Shifting again, the dress rustling as she did so, she ended up on her knees. Picking up Lawson’s coat she offered it back to him. With one hand she ran it through her now completely shorn hair thinking. It shouldn’t be too hard, once Lawson left, to find a death eater and talk them into letting her join. She just hopped the Masters boy, Alexander wouldn’t be there. Could she really do it? It would take a lot of thought but Kathaleen already knew that she’d do what ever it took to get her sister back.
"Oh what the hell.. It has been a rough day." He said in agreement before taking his flask out of his pocket. "Catch!" And throwing it to her. "You better not have some weird student cooties.. I'll never forgive you." he said teasingly, having already had a 'few' drinks before she'd woken up. Coughing slightly he sunk down against the floor and keg. "Oh thanks.." he said taking his leather coat back and laying it over his lap. "Eh.. Maybe tomorrow evening, I want to wait around long enough to find out what happened exactly last night."
Catching the flask that was thrown at her with ease, she smiled. "What are you in primary school again? she asked, but there was a hint of teasing in her voice"I promise to do my best not to give you...cooties."she snorted and took a sip. It burned going down, she choked and coughed a little. After a minute she took a deep breath and had another sip. "S'good what is it?" One last sip, and then she tossed it back at her teacher. "M'kay tomorrow then." She agreed and curled up on the cold floor, her bare arms goose pippling up. She shivered, even with the burning alcohol in her, and closed her eyes trying to sleep.
"Can't be to careful with you young kids today" He said teasing her a little. Though her reaction to her first sip of alcohol was actually rather amusing, and was cause for a quaint chuckle. "Just a bit of whiskey, thats all." he grinned, "Magical Flask, My Flask o'plenty.. Never runs dry. Kept me warm a many nights.." catching the flask he tucked it back in his pocket and gave her a nod. "Good night Miss Whisper."
“G’nite Professor.” Kathaleen whispered back promptly falling into a restless sleep. For the most part she slept with out dreaming. The few dreams she did have were shaded the color of blood and filled with the screams of Helena, of her own screams and the remembered pains from the unforgivable. She awoke a scream half-way up her throat. Rolling onto her side she vomited, the little water she’d drank the night before coming back up. Crawling to the water she sipped tenitivly and rinsed her mouth out. She sat for a moment then crawled to another wall, away from where she’d emptied her stomach moments ago. Closing her eyes again, she fell back into those dreams. She didn’t even bother to see if Lawson was wake, to see if he saw her puke, and whimper and curl up in a ball. Tears leaked out of her eyes as she dreamed again, her family this time. Only she was the one who killed them, laughing at their pain. She awoke again gasping. Rubbing her eyes she realized it must be close to dawn. She sat very still, waiting for her Teacher to m ove or speak.
"What?!" Lawson shot up at the first sound of trouble, a byproduct of years of having to sleep lightly in the event someone burst in on him. He'd managed to fall into a light slumber shortly after Kathaleen but now he was wide awake and scrambling over to her, unsure of what'd happened through the sleepy haze. "Kathaleen you alright?" He asked worried, blinking a few times as his eyes adjsuted again.
Kathaleen flushed bright red, trying to wipe the tears out of her eyes, her breath hitched. "Fi-fine s..sir" She whispered in a broken voice. She tried to turn away from him to hide her tears and pain. " I didn't mean to wake you" Her voice was steadier this time. She closed her eyes and swallowed thickly. "It was just a stupid nightmear...." Even mentioning it brought fresh tears to her eyes. She blinked them back quickly and tried to hide in her hair, only to realize that it was too short to hide in now. For all that she felt grown up, she was still just a sixteen year old who'd lost her family. The guilt and tears and greif would come and go as they pleased.
"Shh." He whispered, gently patting her shoulder as he tried to comfort her. "It's alright, Just calm down.. Can I get you something?" By now he was kneeling beside her and as always he was unsure of how to handle a situation this delicate, it'd always been a problem of his. "Dear, It's going to be alright.. Merlin knows how diifficult things are right now, but I promise.. With every fiber of my being that I'll see you through this and protect you, we're in the same boat and we take care of our own, alright?" Again he tried comforting her, gazing down on her with deep sorrow and worry. "And if you have to, Just.. let it all out, I think you've earned that right.." He'd let it all out with Natalie when she'd been killed, there was no shame in that at all in his mind.
Giving her Professor a slightly watered down smile, she almost laughed as she awkwardly patted his shoulder. Shifting in her seat she closed her eyes and took a few deep breaths. “No, I’m alright thank you” She said. “Alright, we’ll take care of our own…” but she didn’t look him in the eyes as she said this. She was thinking of her sister and how that was the most important thing to her in the world. She didn’t doubt Mr. Lawson meant what he said, in fact his honesty and kindness almost made her regret that they would part ways later. But it would happen, he’d go off on his own once she was safely at her grandmothers and she? She would end up trying to find her sisters, by any means necessary. “No…really Professor, I’m alright, I…I’m okay. I don’t need to let anything out.” She assured him, pulling away from his gaze and hand on her shoulder. She stood up, every muscle in her body screaming in protest. “Oh Merlin…is it always this bad after the Cruciatus Curse?” She asked leaning against the wall breathing heavy. Rubbing her eyes with her right hand, she stretched her left arm. The skin pulled but didn’t tear. It’d scar for sure but it seemed to be healing better already. “Maybe your friend could get me some clothes know?” Kathaleen asked fingers brushing the top of her dress.
"If you say so. Lawson said with a measure of doubt in his voice. He knew that Kathaleen would attempt to play the strong young woman and shrug all of this off.. He'd done it as well. But for now he let it slide as he sat down beside her. As they both feel into a somewhat awkward silence he withdrew his pocket watch and checked the time. "Mid-morning." he said quietly, looking at her again just as she asked him something that totally caught him off guard. "The Cruciatus Curse?" He stammered, he knew the effects of the curse as he'd endured it on more then one occasion, though he'd also used it as well and knew how effective it could be. "Kathaleen, who used it against you? The Masters children?" though if that was the case it'd be rather surprising as he doubted they knew such advanced dark magic. "And yeah, I'll go up in a minute.. but tell me.. what happened with them?"
Her dark brown eyes widened slightly and she slapped her hand over her mouth, wincing slightly as it hurt her split lip. She shook her head and gave a nervous laugh. “No…did I say that?” But Lawson was unrelenting. Kathaleen signed and hunched her shoulders slightly. “Helena. Right before….Right before….I pushed her.” A shiver so violent that she actually staggered and then she righted herself. “I ran into them and tried to reason with them. They weren’t having it.” She explained the battle of her own in grave detail leaving nothing out, not until the very end. “And I couldn’t think, and I just…I just lunged for her, and she went over the edge of the balcony.” Pausing here she rubbed her eyes. “Last night…with all that had happened, I’d convinced myself that I’d just hurt her…badly but she was still alive. Today…it was a sharp drop. There’s no way she could have survived. Not to mention the fact that I heard her….land. I heard her scream all the way down and then it stopped with a thud and” Taking a few more deep breaths Kathaleen trailed off. “So, I’m a killer twice over now. Helena and my aunt…or what used to be my aunt.” Crossing her arms she held herself tightly, it hurt her shoulder but not enough that she stopped clinging to herself. “…Then Alexander caught me, he was about to Ava me but Jack stepped in and stunned him. He and I hid in a closet and then went looking for you.” Kathaleen finally aloud herself to look up into Lawson’s eyes, to see what he thought, to see the disgust she was sure would be there.
"Oh.. Yes.. Yes you did." He replied sharply, with a overtone of disapproval. Why hadn't she told him in the first place? "Why didn't you say something?!" Somehow he slipped into his 'teacher voice' raising it and almost sounding like he was scolding her. It didn't sit well with him at all, and he made no secret about that as he listened to her. Whatever she did to Helena sounded justifiable in his mind "You did what you had to with her, If you hadn't? She would've either killed you or maimed you in the very least." Despite the fact he felt she was justified he knew that the dilemma she was struggling with, the moral responsibility that she took a life. He could still remember the faces of the first men he killed, and how he felt afterwards.. It was a strange feeling one had to come to terms with, and he knew that she'd have to figure it out on her own. Maybe he was just in a bad mood without his morning tea, but every time Kathaleen seemed to open her mouth now it just rubbed him the wrong way. "Twice over?? What the hades are you talking about?' he hissed, iritated that she could even count her self responsible for her aunt! "You're not responsible for the death of your own or anyone else in your family.. You were justified with Helena, thats not a easy thign to deal with, I know.. but your aunt? No.. No.." he grumbled, the edge of disapproval obvious in his voice but not for the reasons she expected.. and Jack?? Broom closest?? Oh that sounded so so wrong..
Lawson’s irritation at the situation came out quiet clearly to Kathaleen. She awarded herself two house points for not flinching when he raised his voice and scolded her. Lifting her chin up a little bit she nodded. “I didn’t say anything because it wasn’t important, I hadn’t gone mad and I could still mostly walk.” Kathaleen answered back, voice calm. “Yes sir.” Kathaleen said, in answer to his defence of herself. And then again when he said she wasn’t responsible for her aunts death. No, there was a different feeling to that death, she’d agree to that, but she’d still taken the life of a person she loved. Even if it was for the better. The disapproval in his voice heckled her and hurt her at the same time. She crossed her arms and looked away from him back to the wall. “I believe you said something about clothing?” Her voice was bland with no hint of emotion in it. Kathaleen wanted to pick something snide and throw it in his face, but it wouldn’t be fair, and she’d had enough of shooting her mouth off. It seemed to have the same outcome, pain, for her. So she held her tongue and looked away. Trying not to show that, the dissaporval in his voice had hurt more deeply then she cared to admit. She looked up to Lawson, admired him, but…she held herself a touch more tightly.
Sighing softly he shook his head and let it go. "The pain will subside in a day or two, I should know." he remarked before getting up to his feet. "I'll go up stairs and see what I can get for us... See if I can get us something to eat as well" Maybe he was a little harsh, but thats just how it was right now. "I'll be back." His tone sounding rather flat as he disappeared up the staircase.
Kathaleen watched him go. When he was out of sight she let out a low growl and punched the wall as hard as she could. It hurt, like everything else right now she thought wearily and slid down the wall pressing her head into her knees. Closing her eyes she tried to think. She'd have to learn to grow up pretty quickly. She'd have to keep her mouth closed. She'd have to find a way to meet and greet with some death eaters. If that's who had her sister. But there was something fimilar about it, like there was almost a scent in the air of some one fimilar. But her entire family, save for her sister, was dead. She would find who and kill them. The finding who would prove harder the more she gave it serious thought. Kathaleen signed into her arms, she couldn't very well ask Lawson for help. He'd stomp out that idea and any idea's she had because she was a kid. But then....maybe she was undermestimating her teacher. She looked up to the stairs again and wondered, how far she could really trust this man she knew almost nothing about.
Leaving the basement behind Lawson went up stairs to finally poke his head above ground after the long night they'd both went through. The Tavern was closed of course but Kate was just arriving early, knowing that her friend would need help today. They decided to take care of certain things before Kate filled him in on the rumor mill, she allowed him access to the kitchen while she went out to get some clothes for the young girl and though she didn't know her exact size, she had been young once and guesstimated to the best of her ability some different clothes, which she bought with Lawsons money of course. By the time she returned to the tavern, Lawson had fixed some breakfast for himself, Fred and Kathaleen, a whole 30 minuts had probably passed from the time he'd left to the time he came back down the stairs. "Kathaleen, I hope your hungry.." he called down the stairs, carefully making his way down each step before appearing again. "And You dont have to run around naked now." he said teasing.
In the entire thirty minutes that he was gone Kathaleen was busy trying to think of a way to find information about her sister. Nothing brilliant had come to mind. No Gryffindor bravery had leapt out of her and gave her an idea. Inhaling deeply the smell of food wafted down to her. Her stomach rolled and she gagged, the thought of food didn’t seem to be helping. As Lawson came down the steps she lifted her head enough to look at him. “No I’…” she paused as her stomach rolled again. “Yes thanks I think I am.” She wasn’t but food would be needed so she prepared herself to eat. She took the offered clothes, they weren’t the perfect fit, a little to large, but it was better then this damnedable dress. She almost said ‘I’m not running around naked’ and then realized he’d been making a joke. She flushed slightly and smiled up at him. “Thanks Sir.” Holding the clothes in her arms she looked around for a place to change. “Sir If I use my wand is it going to register as underage magic?” She tried to reach the zipper as she spoke but some time during the night and the fight it’d gotten stuck. She swore under her breath, and shifted around trying to get it. Putting her hands down she felt something in her holster, where her wand normally went. She pulled out the wand that was there. “Oh god…it’s Helena’s.” She turned back around to face Lawson holding it out. “What am I suppose to do with this?” She asked, still standing in her dress.
"A place to change?" he responded before withdrawing his wand from his pocket and conjuring a sheet and some tacks. "Instant canging room!" he said as he bent down to collect the items, as seh realized she still had Helena's wand. "erm.. Keep it?" he shrugged, he always kept the wands as a trophy of sort, if they were something special of course. "I'll have a look at it in a minute, but its probably a good idea you avoid casting any spells for the time being.."
“Thank you” Kathaleen said, in regards to the dressing room. “Alright. Do you think…that if I needed to, I could learn to cast with Helena’s wand? Or is there some way we can hide my magical signature?” She stepped inside, leaving her wand and Helena’s in his hands. After a few minutes she cursed, loudly and peeked the ‘door’ open flushing bright red. “Um” She sighed and cleared her throat. “Professor? The catch on my dress…it’s stuck, it feels like it’s jammed together, I traced as far down as I could with the zipper and that seems to be stuck too. Can you help me?” She stepped out of her dressing room and stood in front of him, then turned so he was facing her back and the latch and zipper on the dress. Her hands went up and tried to lift her hair from her shoulders, before she realized it wasn’t there. She let them fall to her sides.
"I dont see why not." Lawson responded, breaking up one of the biscuits he'd fixed and eating it. "And whens your birthday?" he had no idea, hell he couldn't remember his own birthday let alone one of his students. Her turning 17 would be the easiest way around it. When she came out wit hher dress still on, he was more then a little surprised. "OH.. Zipper.. Right." he said, with a mouthful of food. "Ho.. ld on.." Crossing over to her, he finally downed the rest of his food. "I hate when zippers get stuckl!" he ranted, carefully gripping the zipper and working it free. ":Right... there... good, your good to go, just dont get caught in your zipper.. Now that hurts." he assured her, seemingly unbothered by the duty.
Kathaleen kept her arms crossed as the zipper came free holding the top of the dress in place. “Thanks.” She murmured heading back into the dressing room. It took her a few minutes to get out of the dress and into the jeans. She pulled on the shirt which was a black t-shirt with a snitch on it that buzzed around and occasional said “Catch me if you can”. She shook her head, not something she’d normally pick but it was entertaining all the same. Picking up the dress she stepped back out to where Lawson was. “Your friend has good taste I think. Guess my zise almost perfectly.” She sighed, and placed the dress off in one corner, making sure it was well hid. “My birthday is June fourth. I’ll be 17.” She sighed, that was still months away. “And sir…I’m a woman, I don’t think we’d have the same problem of getting caught in our zippers.” She had to admit, she felt better getting out of that blood soak dress. Kneeling down she tore off a biscuit and started eating it, one hand rubbing her shoulder. “Think you could transfigure me new bandages?”
"Oh, there are always things that can get caught in a zipper Miss Whisper, Always just like.. err nevermind.." He had some suggestions as to what could get caught for a girl, but he thought better of it and kept his mouth shut. "OH sure thing," again he flicked his wand and uttered a few words to conjure bandages that appeared on the box next to their food. "Tada! thank you." he bowed, putting the wand back in his pocket. Footsteps coming down the staircase could be heard as Kate appeared, smiling at the pair and carrying lawsons bag from the night before. "Good morning Kathaleen." She sat the bag down for Lawson. "Here you are." They'd parked the Motorcycle under a shed last night, covering it with a tarp to keep it out of sight but now Lawson needed his clothes now. "Oh thank you!" he said, quickly digging into the bag for a change of clothes before moving to the makeshift changing room, unbuttoning and undoing his pants as he waddled. "So, what have you hear about last night anyway?" he asked of Kate as he started to change.
“Kathaleen. We’re not in school any more Sir,.” Kathaleen offered him a wary grin and a lifted eyebrow as he almost offered other ideas. “I’m sure I can fill in what ever you were thinking.” She polished off the rest of her breakfast by the time he’d conjured the bandages. Picking up one of the chrisp clean ones she looked up as the lady of the place came down the stairs. Pulling herself to her feet she smiled and wiped the crumbs on her jeans.. “Hello Ma’m” She said politely. “Thank you for the clothes.” She laughed out right then grabbed her sides as she watched her teacher almost waddle into the dressing room. “Are we in a hurry?” She asked, taking the moment he was gone to slip off her shirt and start tying the bandages around her shoulder and arm.
"And if the senile old man hasn't told you, I'm Kate.." The woman introduced herself, still offering her warm smile. "And it was his money that bought them." she teased the young girl, chuckling a little as Lawson spoke up. "Hurry? Good gracious Merlin, No.. not yet anyway.. Not until we hear from the rumor mill." That was Kate's cue of course."The Rumors are insane, It's hard to tell what even might be true." she said with a faint sigh, leaning against the door frame. "There were quite a few deaths last night on both sides from what I've heard, Most of the Aurors showed up after the fact and they've been asking questions ever since.." she shifted a glance to Kathaleen. "They've sealed off your families house, and begun the investigation.. But the most crazy thing I've been hearing.. Is that the Death Eaters weren't responsible, theirs apparent rumblings in the Ministry that it was some sort of Terrorists or some such nonsense... But they're trying to keep a tight lid on whatever happened in Hogwarts right now."
"Terrorists?!" Lawson bellowed "Bollocks! What are they smoking up there? Its obvious that the Death Eaters did it, dont they know anything?! Good gracious Merlin!" he ranted and raved. "I think the only ones who know what really happened are the ones inside Hogwarts." There was a long pause, "Then we'll just have to go back to Hogwarts!"
“Yes he had forgotten. It’s nice to meet you Kate” she smiled again and stepped closer to the woman. As the woman talked about the rumors going on Kathaleen nodded along. “Is…do you know if my family’s house is an isolated incident?” she asked voice a touch sharp. “Um, I hate to mention this…but when you bought clothes…you didn’t happen to get a bra and some pants did you?” Kathaleen asked with a sheepish look on her face. “Or some shoes for that matter.” Her voice low and discreet. Then her professor said to go back to the school. “Sir, forgive me but…isn’t that insane? I mean…you took off last night. You’ve killed two people, myself I’ve killed another student, which if that gets found out they could link me to death eaters as well. And, are you sure they’re your friends? I mean…aren’t most of the teachers good law abiding witches and wizards? I’m sorry it just seems….barmy.” She stated hands on her hips. “That’s not to say, mind you, that I don’t want to go back. But is it smart? Or will we be setting foot into a Azkaban cell?”
"I bought you some shoes.." Kate said as she pulled a pair of shoes from the nearby bag and gave them to her. "But I know how it is to get a good fitting bra, so.. I didn't want to torture you like that." She admited in what she hoped was a low and discreet tone but Lawsons hearing was insane. "Oh Please, just hang lose like Kate does." he grumbled, listening to Kathaleens protests. "You're right," He admited before pulling the curtain back. "Who'd expect us to do something as stupid as come back to the scene of the crime?" Though he was half joking, he already had a plan in his head. "Thats why we don't go as ourselves my friend.." he pointed out despite the glare he caught from Kate about the 'hanging lose' remark. "Oh please, half of the teaching staff are bloody Death Eaters! There are going to be a lot of suspects in that place.. I know all the in's and outs of Hogwarts, getting in isn't that problematic.. Plus? You can be happy and retrieve your knickers!"
“Shoes! I love you thank you Kate.” Kathaleen nodded again, and put them on. She looked up when Lawson made a comment about hanging loose. “You know Professor, when girls are talking in hushed tones it means your suppose to pretend you can’t hear them.” She teasingly scolded shaking her head. As he explained the stupid ness of brilliance Kathaleen nodded. “Alright, I’m in. And I will be happy to grab a couple pairs of knickers. And a few other things as well.” She said crossing her arms over her chest. “But if we’re not going in as us….who will we be going in as?” She asked already on line with this bandwagon.
"And he wonders why he's single." Kate mused in response to Kate. "Well, you have a point." he said as he walked over to his bag, straightening his shirt and buttoning the last two buttons before reaching into the bag. "Let's see what I have..." he murmured as he rummaged through the bag. "I kept a selection of Polyjuice Potion mixed up, based on certain staff at Hogwarts.. in the event I ever needed.. to you knwo.. sneak around?"
"Sir, your a teacher...why would you need to sneak around? Never mind." Kathaleen help up her hand to forstall any forthcomming information. She turned her back on them for a moment and made sure her mothers dress was hiden. "Kate I've hidden my dress down here, someday I hope to come back for it, but...if I don't think that'll be for awhile so maybe you should just get rid of it or...something." She said, placing the weight of getting ride of the last thing her mother bought me on Kate. She turned to Lawson again and made sure her wand was tucked firmly in her hollster. "Doesn't that stuff only have a shelf life of a month Professor?" she asked eyeing it distastefully.
"It does typically." The statement was honest, but during his years at Hogwarts and roamings elsewhere he'd long tinkered with potions, trying to improve on various things and he had made a few improvements here and there, though he'd also copied Harold Masters notes on Polyjuice Potion shortly before he left the school. "Mine has a shelf life of about three months, so I renew the stock now and then and pick people randomly.." Yes, he was sneaky indeed but like he'd taught Kathaleen, always have a exit plan. "And why do I need to sneak around as a teacher? Well, midnight snack raids?"
Kate smiled at her. "Don't worry, I'll take it home with me and it'll be safe alright?"
Giving a kurt nodd at Kate she pushed the dress and thoughts from her mind. Turning back to Lawson and speaking slowly. “Sir…you’re a teacher, you don’t have to sneak down to the kitches for a midnight snack raid.” And then, she blinked. “Ah. Well. Never mind, I told you I didn’t need an answer.” She turned around and looked over the place they’d slept in last night. “Alright so when do we leave? I’m ready to get this done and over with.” Licking her lips she thought about her sister. Keeping that thought firmly in the back of her mind made her want to spur into action. “And thank you again Kate for everything.” She shook the woman’s hand and looked at her Professor. “…Hrm. I just realized a problem, I can’t call you Professor in public or at school.” Then she waved the statement away. “Never mind, I’ll call you what ever pops into my head I guess.” She might have been teasing him, just a little.e But it helped calm her nerves which were for some reason dancing.
Lawson plucked two bottles from the bag and set them on the table before retrieving his long coat. "We can use the One-Eyed Witch Passage, that'll get us inside Hogwarts atleast." He explained, ignoring Kathaleens question for the moment. "Then we can find some clothes, drink up and tada! We'll be.. oh great.. Janitors." Lawson mumbled, realizing that the potions were for two Hogwarts Janitors. "You're quite welcome dear," She assure the girl as she returned the handshake. "And I could give you a few names for him." she said smirking.
Kathaleen desided she quiet liked this older woman. "Really? I'll have to sit down and have a chat with you one day, I'm sure you have the most entertaining stories." Kathaleen smirked and then turned to look at Professor Lawson and his bottles. "Alright" She said, not really knowing where the 'one eye'd witch' passage was. But she figured her teacher wasn't that crazy so she'd follow him. "Janitors. Great." Sarcasm clung thick to her words. "I suppose it's better than something else we could be. I'm ready when you are."
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