Relinquished

Relinquished, Chapter Ten
By ArrA.

The moment she stepped out of contraption, that had been a moment before the telephone booth, she was surrounded by concerned looking witches and wizards. Hands stroked her hair and wrapped around her comfortingly, leading her away from the entrance. She knew someone was talking to her, she could hear their voice but she didn't understand what was being said, everything was just a constant slur of words.

She didn't find the arms around her very comforting either. All she could think of Marcus and the way his strong arms felt around her or how she longed to cling to his waist, riding on the back of his broom. But all of that was gone but unfortunately it had also opened her eyes to what she had had and now what she had lost.

The hands quickly bustled Katie down the hall, and they kept walking for what seemed like minutes till she was lead into a small room that contained two plush sofas with a table between them and another door off the side. Beyond the other door, Katie could see a bathroom, with a shower and a bath. It was then Katie realized how dirty she felt and the fact that she didn't remember the last time she bathed.

Coming back to reality for the first time she realized that a petite, blonde witch was talking to her.

"Pardon?" Katie asked, realizing the witch had been talking to her.

The witch smiled a reassuring smile and answered, "I was saying that here are some clean robes, clothes, and all that sort of thing. You can go in there," she gestured to the bathroom, "and have a shower and get dressed. We've already contacted your parents and they should be here by the time you get out. Unfortunately though, you will have to be interviewed first, but they will be with you for moral support."

Katie tried to smile but she was sure that her lips didn't curl up and assume the pleasant position. "Thank you," Katie said, truly grateful for new clothing and a shower. The witch handed Katie her clothing and Katie headed towards the bathroom. She heard the witch shut the door and then Katie walked into the bathroom and settled for her shower.

Thirty minutes later, Katie was dressed in a new, clean pair of robes, feeling refreshed as she ran a brush, that she had found in the cupboard below the sink, through her hair. Looking herself over critically, she saw tired bags under her eyes and a few scratches here and there from fights with Marcus.

She sighed, trying not to think about him and pushed open the door of the bathroom and walked into the other room.

"Katie!!" a voice interrupted her thoughts and there was the pound of frantic feet on the ground and her mother's arms were thrown around her. At first she was too shocked to move but it soon wore and Katie's arms went around her mother and she sagged against her, thankful for her mother's support.

"Mum," Katie found herself sniffing and clutching tightly to the woman.

"Katie, I'm so happy to see you," Carrie Bell whispered in her ear, not letting her daughter go.

Suddenly another pair of arms enveloped the two women and Katie turned around towards her father, throwing herself into his arms. "Daddy," she murmured, burying her head against his chest, "I'm so happy to see you."

"Me to, Kati-bear, me too," he replied, softly, not breaking the mood. "Don't worry; everything's going to be fine. They caught the deatheater who kidnapped you right after you entered the Ministry. Apparently they had been following you for the last few days."

Katie pulled back in shock and looked up into her father's brown eyes, "They caught Marcus?" she asked, scared.

"Why aren't you happy about this, Katie?" her mother asked from behind her and Katie found herself spinning around a looking at her mother. Of course the older woman understood as her only daughter started to cry and took the step towards her to comfort the crying girl. "I understand," she whispered to her daughter.

Katie cried on, feeling horrible that now, because of her, Marcus had been captured by the Ministry. He had gone to such trouble for her, taking her out of the castle and protecting her from all the deatheaters. He had even lied for her!

Suddenly there was a knock on the door, ending the family reunion. The blonde witch re-entered the room, the slight smile still on her face. "Miss Bell," she said, looking at Katie, who was now clutching to one parent with each hand, "I'd like you to follow me," she said and then added at Katie's panicked look, "Don't worry, your parents may accompany you."

"Thank you," Katie told the witch and the Bellfamily followed her out of the room.

The halls of the Ministry went on and on. At doors and where one hallway crossed with another, there were guards, standing stone still with a wand clutched in a hand. Katie walked on, looking at her feet the whole way. She didn't want to see any aurors now, not after they had taken Marcus. He should have been safe, she thought sadly.

"Ah, here we are," the blonde witch said, breaking the silence that had followed them down the hallway. "They're waiting for you Miss Bell."

Katie nodded and tentively stepped into the room, followed by Carrie and Andrew Bell.

The three Ministry wizards that were inside raised to their feet as Katie entered the room and extended hands to Katie and then her parents.

"Sit down, sit down," one old wizard with a greying beard said, gesturing to the three seats that stood across the table from the other three in which the Ministry wizards were seated. Then he gestured to the wizard on his left, "This is Dadga Ronalds," he said. Dadga, who was the only witch in the room, was also the youngest of three. While the two men both had full heads of grey hair, she didn't even have one strand in her golden locks. "And this," the wizard said, gesturing to his right, "Is Miska Sindri." Miska smiled slightly at them and bowed his head. He was past middle age but unlike the other wizard he did not possess a beard. "And I am George Theodoric," the wizard said smiling.

"It's very nice to meet you," the Bells said, sitting down and the wizards followed their lead.

* * *

The meeting had lasted for what seemed like forever and hours before the end, Katie wished to be put out of her misery. They had not only questioned her on why she had been outside that night, "I was practicing quidditch," she told them truthfully, but had also asked them things about the insides of the for trice she had stayed in and if she knew anything about other Deatheaters. For some reason she found herself not wanting to give away Jaymes and Osbourne, so she had stayed quiet on the subject and restold the story of being imprisoned by deatheaters, time after time again. Finally, they were let go and the blonde witch returned and Katie and her family followed her out of the room and down through the series of hallways and corridors. This time they didn't return to the same room but instead entered a rather large conference room.

Katie's entrance had been welcome by squeals of delight as Angelina Johnson and Alicia Spinnet rushed up to hug her, both rambling on at the same time, asking her what had happened.

"Calm down," she told them, pushing them away softly.

"Sorry," the two chasers said in unison and took her by each elbow and lead her over to where there was a large table. For the first time Katie saw those who were seated there. Not only were Alicia and Angelina waiting for her, but so were Fred and George, Harry and his friends Ron and Hermione, Ginny Weasley, and Oliver Wood. They all looked at her expectantly but Fred and George were the first to move.

"Katie!!" Fred cried with happiness, jumping to his feet, his brother right behind him. "We're so glad you're alright. We were frantic when we were attacked and we couldn't find you anywhere! We didn't know what to think."

"But of course," George continued, "we had faith in you. We knew you would fight those bloody deatheaters if and when you could."

Katie smiled at their faith in her, if only it wasn't the truth.

"We were there when they caught the git," Angelina added. "They caught him just as he was entering the Leaky Cauldron. He swore he had let you go afterwards, but of course we didn't believe him. All Slytherins are such filthy liars," she added.

Katie felt herself gulping, no longer able to smile at her friends.

"Give her room," a commanding voice interrupted and Katie turned to look at Oliver Wood. Her thoughts rushed back to the night when it had all started and his brutal words. It took all her control just so that a glare didn't break out on her face.

"Thanks, Wood," she muttered and walked down to the end of the table. They all watched her carefully, wondering what was wrong.

Her mother saved the day. "Katie, you look tired. I think she's going to have to catch up with everyone later," she said kindly to Katie's friends. Katie nodded, suddenly feeling the weight of lack of sleep drift over her.

They all came up to her, even Ginny, Hermione and Ron who she hardly knew, and hugged her before she left. The girls smiled and said they hoped she would better soon and Katie just nodded. The boys said nothing, content to give her a parting hug.

The blonde, who had been standing by the door way the whole time, escorted her down the corridors.

"Excuse me," Katie asked, "is there any chance that I could visit Marcus Flint?"

The witch stopped and looked back at her, a strange expression crossing her face. "I don't see why you would want too."

"He could have treated me worse, he saved my life," Katie told the witch.

After a moment, in which the witch seemed to think deeply, she replied, "We'll see."

Katie thanked her quietly and followed her down the hall.

* * *

"He's not coming back," Jaymes announced, steal lacing her voice. "We should leave."

"Ten more minutes," Osbourne replied, glaring at the girl.

Jaymes sighed before turning around to look at him. "Osbourne, he was supposed to be back an hour ago! We need to leave."

"He does know the way," was Osbourne's stubborn reply.

"... Which is a good thing. Otherwise aurors or deatheaters could find us. Get this through your head Osbourne. We're no longer allied with Deatheaters, but," she said, gesturing to her sleeve, "we're marked, so the Ministry will never trust us."

Osbourne looked worried and looked around them. They were sitting on a small terrace in front of a coffee shop. "Well, I don't think that going to the lodge is the best idea. We need allies."

Jaymes laughed. "Who would take us? We're two ex-deatheaters with questionable motives."

"Albus Dumbledore."

Jaymes laughed spitefully at him. "Sure he would," she said, rolling his eyes. "We're in a mess and he won't, and can't help us."

"He will and he can. Dumbledore is a good man; even Voldemort is too scared to take him on face to face. Believe me, I went to Hogwarts, I've meet him personally, unlike you."

Jaymes sighed, realizing there was nothing else to do.

Author's Notes

Ta-da! That is chapter ten! And to think, I wasn't sure if I knew where I was going! Well I know what's happening now, even if it's a little clichéd. Oh well, hopefully it'll all work out.

Pleeeeeeeeeease review! I'll be ever so happy! ;)

*Sara