Adult-FanFiction.org : Harry Potter

Leech	By : ccino49 Category: Harry Potter > Het - Male/Female Views: 2919 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, nor any of the characters from the books or movies. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 23
- 24
- 25
I own nothing but this sordid little tale. All characters belong to J.K. Rowling. I am not making any money by writing it. I must be insane.

LEECH

Chapter 24

Even though Kingsley seemed to put her at ease somewhat, she was still mistrustful of everyone and refused to enter the room fully. Kingsley passed her a piece of parchment as a flash of fiery red entered the room.
Kathy snatched the parchment and jumped back as the most unusual bird she�d ever seen landed on the back of the chair that held the three witches.

It was looking directly at her and she stared back uneasily, ready to slam the door closed if it tried to attack her.

When Fawkes began singing she was surprised. She listened, her head tilted to one side as it�s crooning song calmed her, making her feel completely at ease. By the time it stopped and glided to land on her shoulder, Kathy was more relaxed than she�d ever been, though slightly bemused at what was going on.

She thought that the bird really shouldn�t be touching her, it wasn�t safe for the bird, and she still didn�t know if it was safe for her. Right now though nothing mattered, she felt calm and content and safe.

When the bird disappeared in a flash of red light she was disappointed.
�Mrs Ripley? Mrs Ripley can you hear me?�
Kathy blinked. Someone was calling her name. �Hmm?�
�I think Fawkes lingered a little too long, are you alright, still with us I hope.�
She looked up at Kingsley, needing a moment to figure out where she was, who she was, who he was. �Um, yeah. What was that?� She asked, an oddly vacant expression on her face.
�That was Fawkes, a Phoenix. His job is to vet any wishing to join our cause, I believe you have just been approved quite strongly. Are you ready to take the Oath?�
�The what?�
Kinsley pointed at the parchment in her hand, half smiling at her still dazed appearance.
Molly brought a chair over for her and she sat down gratefully. After shaking her head and rubbing her eyes to try and clear her vision, she studied the words on the parchment. Kingsley asked her to read it aloud, but she took her time reading it to herself first. She did not intend to bind herself blindly into something she knew nothing about.
Kathy ignored the discrete coughs, shuffles and scraping chairs as she read it through several times. �If I read this out loud, I become one of you right?�
�That is correct.� Kingsley told her.
�The thing is, I don�t know what all of you are. You might all be bad for all I know.�
Flummoxed, Kingsley turned to Albus.
�Is she for real?� Sirius asked. Remus elbowed him, hoping he would shut up. �Ow. How can she be expected to join up if no ones told her what we do? No wonder she looks confused.�
�Then maybe you could explain.� Kathy shot back at him. �Someone better or I�m not doing this.�
Sirius grinned and got to his feet. �It would be a pleasure.� He said, bowing to her. �Perhaps through there, where the delicious smells are coming from.� He suggested, walking towards her and gesturing past her into her rooms.
�No. You stay right there mister. You can explain to me right here.�
Severus smirked. He was livid at Black�s blatant suggestion to enter Kathy�s rooms, and would have hexed him had not Kathy stopped the wizard in his tracks.
Sirius stared at her in surprise. His charm had never failed to entice a lady into his clutches before. He reddened when several of the others snickered at him and stalked back to his chair, only to find Remus had taken the comfortable seat so he was forced to perch on the armrest, scowling.
�Instead Kingsley explained to her that they were a secret organisation, brought together by Albus Dumbledore and working together to defeat the reign of He-who-must-not-be-named.
�Who-he-what?�
�Voldemort.� Albus said, stepping from the shadows and into her line of sight.
Kathy flinched slightly when he came forward, but did not retreat. She noticed a few gasps and sideways glances when Albus spoke and she wondered why.
�The Dark Lord you told me about?�

�The very one.�
�And this Voldemort, what�s he got to do with me?�

Again there were gasps at his name.
�Kathy,� Albus said sadly. �Voldemort is the one who controls those we know as Death Eaters, he is the one responsible for the demise of your husband, your children, your imprisonment. It is my hope that you will join us in our quest to defeat him once and for all.�
Kathy stared at him for a while, then looked around the room, each face turned towards her, waiting for her reply, her response.

She looked at the parchment in her hand again, then over at Remus, letting her eyes linger on the man who so resembled her dead husband, his steady amber eyes staring back at her openly. Then she tore her gaze away and read the parchment out loud. As soon as she finished there was a brief swish of white light that surrounded her then disappeared.
�Congratulations Mrs Ripley, and welcome to the Order of the Phoenix.� Kingsley held out a slightly trembling hand to her and she passed him the parchment. He took it with his other hand, the right still outstretched, waiting for her to take it.
She felt at the cuff of her glove, making sure it was still there, and took his hand. Her own quivered more than his and it would be a very wobbly handshake, other than Albus and Severus, David and her children, she�d not touched another living soul in many years. At least not through choice.

When Kingsley gripped her hand firmly and shook it, she looked at the joining in awe.
Once he released his grip, several others approached her slowly, one at a time, all taking her hand, and she wiped angrily at a tear that rolled down her cheek.

These people knew what she was, yet they were willing to have contact with her. Kathy was overcome and just stood dumbly while her hand was taken and shook repeatedly.

Not everyone was brave enough to come forward, even Minerva found something to do, even though she gave the woman a tight smile.
Before Severus and Albus came near her, Molly and Tonks led her back to her rooms and closed the door. They explained Severus� role in the Order, how he worked for them as a spy, and frequently suffered when he was lax in his duties to the Dark Lord by not fully participating in acts of unspeakable cruelty. He did things that no man should ever do yes, but not through choice. Severus was their only way of gleaning information as to Voldemort�s plans, and because of this, he suffered regularly.
�So he�s not� one of them, not really? Because he looked like one, he had the mask, that repulsive, hideous mask.�
�No dear he isn�t. Severus does this because he wants our world to be free of death and fear. He wants us to live in a place where our children can safely walk down the street, where honest folk can sleep in their beds and know that there will be a tomorrow. It�s what we are all fighting for.�
�So� so last night, when he had that mask, he wasn�t� didn�t� �

�None of us know truly what he is forced to do, but we know he does not take pleasure in it, that he is tormented by his actions.�
�Like I said before, he�s a git, but a good git.�
Kathy looked at Tonks again. She would have laughed at what she�d said if it weren�t for the guilt that now ran through her veins. �I thought he was one of them, a Death Eater. I said some terrible things to him, and to Albus. Oh God I threw my cup of tea at Albus. And it was hot.� She wailed.
Tonks clapped a hand to her mouth, but she still giggled. �You chucked hot tea at the Headmaster? What did he do?�
�Left the room.�
�Yes, well I�m sure he knows you didn�t mean to and has forgiven you.� Molly said sternly. Throwing hot tea at Albus Dumbledore, it simply wasn�t done.
�But I did mean it, then. Now I feel awful. It must have really hurt. What am I going to do?�
�You don�t have to do anything, Dumbledore doesn�t hold grudges like the rest of us. In fact he probably had a good laugh about it later.�

Kathy doubted Tonks, but there was nothing she could do about it now, except apologise.
�Besides, how were you to know that Snapey wasn�t what you thought, or that Dumbledore was in it with him? Don�t� let it bother you, it�s their fault really.�
�It�s no ones fault Nym� Tonks, now lets just go back in there and Kathy, Severus and Albus can sort things out later between themselves. Erm Kathy, I can�t help but smell you�ve been baking. It�s just that those lot are usually like Nifflers starved of gold after a meeting and I, well obviously I haven�t been able to prepare anything. I don�t suppose� �
Kathy wiped her eyes and looked at the older witch, then laughed. �Yeah, I went overboard this morning with nerves, they may as well come and tuck in.�
�Marvellous, thank you dear.�
�My names Kathy, you�re allowed to use it you know.� She smiled at Molly, who in turned smiled back.
�Is all the mushy stuff over with now, I�m starving?�

�See what I mean.� Molly said when Tonks looked pleadingly at them both as she hovered near the kitchen door.
�I better put the kettle on.�
Molly went to invite the rest onto Kathy�s rooms, while Tonks grabbed a plateful of food and Kathy began pulling an endless supply of cups from the cupboard.

TBC
- 23
- 24
- 25
You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.
Report Story

Leech