A Piece of the Past

Harry awoke the next morning to find Kate staring at him from her bed, a few feet away from his. He started when he noticed her, but she smiled.

"Are you feeling better, then?" he asked in a whisper; Professor McGonagall seemed to have fallen asleep, and Madam Pomfrey had obviously relieved her of the watch over Harry and Kate. Her chair sat at the end of Kate's bed, and she was slumped over, half asleep and snoring lightly.

Kate nodded, and it was true; in the soft morning light, nothing ever seemed as perilous. "And you?" she asked.

"Just fine," Harry replied with a smile. He sat up, and Madam Pomfrey jerked out of her stupor at the creaking of his bed.

"Excellent, both of you," she declared, after thoroughly examining them to be sure no invisible, mute attacker had come during the night. "Off to breakfast with you, then."

Kate giggled as they walked down the corridors hand-in-hand; everything seemed funny to her this morning. Peeves had trapped himself in a suit of armor; this brought tears of mirth to her eyes. Colin Creevey pounced upon them with his camera just outside the hospital wing--an occasion for laughter that doubled Kate over. Harry, on the other hand, was in a very solemn mood for a change.

"Kate," he said as she erupted into a fit of giggles over Snape's robes catching in a doorway. "I want to talk about...what happened last night. I mean, it wasn't something to brush off, and I was thinking that it might not be safe to--"

But Kate held up her hand, a trace of a smile still hanging around her lips. "I don't want to talk about it," she said firmly. When Harry opened his mouth in protest, she continued, "Harry, I've spent my whole life looking around corners, worrying, preparing for the worst, dreading what might come. Now, it seems that the worst is coming; everything feels inevitable. And I don't want to worry anymore. Not if these are...could be..." her voice faltered, and she drew a deep breath. "I don't want to spend what could be the last days of my life worrying about what's coming. I want to put it out of my mind and be happy. Whatever is going to happen will happen, and when it does--well, I suppose I'll worry about it then."

Harry was speechless for a moment. She spoke of some vague impending doom, an almost certain death that was quickly approaching, as if it were nothing more than a nasty Potions exam. He cupped her chin gently in his hand. "Listen to me, Kate," he said. "Whatever you think may be coming in the days ahead, you won't face it alone. I won't let anything hurt you, Kate, I promise." He heaved a sigh and opened his mouth to continue, but the pleading look on Kate's face stopped him. He offered her his arm instead, and anyone who passed them in the corridors saw the famous Harry Potter escorting a dreamy-eyed Kate O'Brien back to their common room, as any gentleman would.

Harry and Kate turned many heads as they entered the Great Hall for breakfast. Hermione had abandoned any suspicions she might have clung to about Kate and inquired, with open concern, how they were.

But it seemed Hermione had nothing to worry about. Weeks passed, and exams crept ever closer, without a single incident endangering any student, let alone Harry or Kate.

The ever-present knot in Kate's stomach was beginning to loosen. With the end of the term in sight and no threats, abductions, or intruders since the night Gryffindor Tower was broken into, it seemed to Kate that she and her family were safe for another two months at least.

Finally, three days before the start of exams, something happened that took everyone's mind off their worries: the House Quidditch final. As usual, the match was Gryffindor versus Slytherin, though the Gryffindors were now more confident in their prospects since the return of Ariana Silver as Chaser. Kate was relieved to be able to enjoy the match from the stands with Ron and Hermione.

Kate barely remembered what went on in the match; it was actually one of the least eventful Quidditch finals in history. Gryffindor scored several times, Slytherin scored once or twice, and within half an hour, Harry was holding the Snitch in his hand, and Gryffindor was storming the field.

Kate was trying to force her way out of the stands when Harry appeared at her side on his Firebolt. Grinning, he pulled her onto the back of his broom and took her for a victory lap around the field, a sea of scarlet and gold cheering deafeningly beneath them.

The victory party lasted until daybreak. Kate awoke to find herself curled up against Harry, both of them situated uncomfortably in one of the large armchairs. Other Gryffindors were sprawled over the furniture and floor, arms and legs peeking out from under tables and behind sofas. Kate smiled and gently shook Harry awake. He glanced at her and yawned, then turned over and drifted back to sleep.

Kate watched him sleep peacefully for a moment before softly kissing his cheek and heading off to shower and change clothes. She let the water run over her for ages, almost falling asleep on her feet, before she opened her eyes and remembered that she needed to study for exams. She jumped out, dried off and dressed and headed up to the dormitory to collect her books.

Kate had packed her books and notes into a bag before she noticed the roll of parchment sitting on her bed. She picked it up and unrolled it. She immediately recognized Harry's messy scrawl. The note was short and hurried, reading:

Kate,

There's something important I have to tell you. Meet me at the Quidditch field as soon as you read this. Don't tell anyone where we are; this is a secret.

Harry

Kate's heart began to pound, as unromantic as the note was. What could he possibly have to say to her that was important enough to make her run all the way out to the Quidditch field in secrecy?

She didn't know, but she wanted to, so she immediately dropped her bag, pocketed the parchment and flew down the stairs and out of the portrait hole.

Kate dashed across the grounds, looking around to make sure no one saw her; but it was still early, most of the students were still asleep.

Kate walked through the gates and saw Harry standing in the middle of the field. He began to jog over as she entered, and they met halfway.

"Kate," Harry breathed. "What's going on? Why did we have to come all the way out here?"

"What?" Kate replied, bewildered. "I was hoping you could answer that. You said you had to tell me something, so I came out here, like your note said."

"Note?" Harry asked, equally confused. "I didn't write you a note! I woke up and went up to our dormitory and found a note from you!" He reached into his robes and pulled out a piece of parchment and handed it to Kate. Sure enough, Kate recognized her own handwriting on the page...but she had never written the words instructing Harry to meet her at the Quidditch field.

Kate looked up at Harry, her stomach tied in knots, her blue eyes wide with fear. "What's going on?" she echoed Harry.

A voice from behind them answered her. "Dear me, I hoped you would gain knowledge from my readings, Miss O'Brien."

Kate and Harry whirled around and saw...Professor Fairclough. He advanced on them slowly, hands clasped behind his back, an odd smile that they had never seen playing upon his face.

"Professor," Harry said, utterly confused. "Why are you out here?"

Fairclough continued his advance, and Harry began to slowly back away from him, his arm stretched out protectively in front of Kate.

"I see you're not as bright as I've heard, Potter," Professor Fairclough sighed. "A pity. Both of you would have had such fine careers, if only you had been born into different families."

Kate's voice trembled as she asked, "What do you mean?"

"What I mean does not matter, Miss O'Brien," Professor Fairclough said, and suddenly a wicked grin flashed across his face. "But you shall see soon enough, daft as you are." He pulled out his wand and pointed it straight at the two of them. "Now, do stay still or I might be forced into action before the others arrive."

Harry whipped his wand from inside his robes, but no sooner had he pointed it at Professor Fairclough than he found it flying from his hand. He was thrown forward, away from Kate, and landed with a thud on the ground.

Harry clambered to his feet and moved quickly towards Kate, but just as he was only inches from her, he slammed into something very solid. He stretched out his hands and felt something like glass, but he could not see his invisible barrier. Kate, close enough to touch, was trapped in a similar prison.

Fairclough was pacing in front of Harry and Kate. "You are going to make it difficult, aren't you," he said. "It's only too bad that my Master cannot be here." He shot a look at Kate. "But he has more important business to attend to."

Harry glared furiously at Fairclough but said nothing, turning instead to Kate, who was trying not to cry.

Fairclough was walking away from them now, to the other end of the field, nearer the Forbidden Forest. Kate pressed her hands to her barrier, and Harry did the same on the other side.

"Harry," Kate whispered desperately. "I don't know if I can do this...I won't be able to keep my parents' secret. I'm not strong enough for this." Her eyes were wild with panic as she searched Harry's face for some sign of comfort.

"You are strong, Kate," Harry replied firmly. "But you must listen to me: whatever they do, you cannot tell them. If they do...anything...to me, you can't tell, Kate. Just close your eyes and think of your parents."

Kate nodded, but tears were trickling down her cheeks now. Harry made a motion to wipe them away and remembered too late that he could not touch her. Fighting the burning sensation behind his eyes and swallowing the lump in his throat, Harry whispered fervently, "I love you, Kate. I can't even say how much." He laughed bitterly to himself. "More than I've ever loved anything or anyone else, you can bet on that. I just...wanted you to know."

Kate let tears flow freely now, but before she could respond, Harry had glanced away. Professor Fairclough was returning, and he was holding something in his hands. He stopped before Harry and Kate and dropped something to the ground. It was a rat.

A moment later, that rat had changed into Wormtail, one of Voldemort's most faithful supporters. Harry wished he could shoot daggers with his eyes, for then Wormtail would be a dead man.

"Nigel," said Wormtail. "Excellent work, simply superb. Master has sent me in his place. He awaits our information in a safe place, where he can rest and save his strength for the joyful task at hand."

Wormtail's watery eyes flickered towards Harry for a second, but he quickly looked away and turned his attention to Kate.

"Shall we proceed then?" prompted Nigel Fairclough. He rolled up the sleeves of his robes and pulled out his wand, training it on Kate, who stood rigid and resolute. Her soft eyes were steely as they met his, her chin tilted upwards.

"I will give you three chances," he said icily. "Tell me where your parents are, Miss O'Brien."

Kate stared directly at him. "No," she said softly.

Fairclough grinned. "A little sport is always fun," he replied. "You have two chances left. Where are they?"

Kate did not even blink as she said, "I will never tell you."

Their professor put on a grim face. "Fine then. You've one chance left. Tell me, Kate O'Brien, where your parents are or suffer the consequences."

"I would rather die a thousand deaths than let you anywhere near my family," Kate spat.

Professor Fairclough laughed then, a high cruel laugh, and his voice became altogether too familiar as he said, "You see, Miss O'Brien, the problem with killing you. If you die, how will we ever discover your secret? No," he continued maliciously. "I will not kill you...yet...but perhaps there might be other methods of persuading you to reveal your secret."

His gaze now fell on Harry, and though she did not move or shift her gaze, Harry knew Kate saw him as well.

Fairclough nodded to Wormtail, who stretched out his shining, silver hand and pulled Harry to him through the invisible barrier. Harry shot a glance at Kate, whose hands were trembling, and quickly shook his head. She gave a minute nod in response.

Harry faced his teacher, now looking at him as though he were an interesting foreign object. Fairclough distracted himself with showy preparations for whatever he was planning to do. As he gazed intently at a scuffmark on his wand, Harry saw, out of the corner of his eye, Wormtail bend and retrieve something from the ground. A moment later, Wormtail had shoved Harry forward, thrusting something into Harry's hands behind his back. Harry's hands closed on a slim wooden object--his wand.

Professor Fairclough moved slowly forward, having noticed nothing and obviously wishing to proceed, a diabolical grin plastered across his face. Harry set his face, silently thanking Wormtail--something he never thought he would do.

"Well, well, well," Fairclough hissed. "It seems I will have the honor of ridding my master of your most irksome existence, Potter. But not before you have served your purpose, of course." He raised his wand and pointed it straight at Harry.

Harry, his instincts sharp from years on the Quidditch field, fell to the ground as Professor Fairclough cried, "Crucio!" Harry flung out the arm holding his wand and pointed it at Kate. He had barely said, "Finite Incatatem!" before Wormtail jerked him to his feet.

Harry faced Professor Fairclough, who had wiped his face clean of his former smirk. "You want to play like that, do you, Potter?" he spat. "Fine then. But do try to be a bit more entertaining."

Fairclough raised his wand again. Harry's eyes darted around. He had nowhere to hide. He whipped his wand out and trained it on Professor Fairclough, but before he could think of a spell to use, Kate had charged forward, no longer contained in the invisible box, and tackled Professor Fairclough.

Harry recovered from this shock after a moment and ran to assist Kate. She was sitting atop a man three times as large as she and beating him with both fists, but Fairclough was rapidly recovering from the attack. He sent several blows her way, but Kate ducked nimbly.

"Get off, Kate!" Harry cried, approaching with his wand. Professor Fairclough lashed out and sent Kate sprawling across the grass. He had barely touched his wand when Harry called, "Stupefy!" A burst of light and Fairclough lay rigid on the grass.

Kate stood, breathing heavily, and her eyes widened as she glanced behind Harry. Harry whirled around and saw that Wormtail had transformed into a rat and was running rapidly into the Forbidden Forest.

"Aren't you going to catch him?" Kate inquired.

Harry shook his head. "Dumbledore told me that Wormtail was indebted to me. I saved his life; now he's saved mine. We're even." But Harry's eyes were glinting mischievously. "Not to say that I don't plan on killing him some day. But we can't think about him right now. Are you all right?"

Kate nodded. "You?"

"Just fine," Harry replied. He kicked at Professor Fairclough's prostrate form. "What do you reckon we should do with him?"

"Take him to Dumbledore, I suppose," Kate replied calmly. She had decided that if Harry wasn't going to break down, neither was she.

Harry nodded. He lifted Fairclough's body with a flick of his wand, and he and Kate set off calmly up to the castle. They stopped just outside the front door.

"Harry," Kate said. "We can't float him in there; someone will stop us before we ever get to Dumbledore. We have to leave him out here."

"Right," Harry agreed. He walked over to a bush at the side of the castle, flicked his wand again, and Professor Fairclough fell with a soft thud behind the shrubbery.

Harry and Kate ran hand-in-hand to the gargoyle that guarded the passage to Dumbledore's office.

"How do we get in?" Kate inquired.

"Password," Harry sighed. "I don't know what it is! If only--"

But at that moment, the gargoyle began to spin, revealing a spiral staircase. In a few seconds, Professor McGonagall was deposited into the hallway, undoubtedly shocked upon finding Harry and Kate at the entrance.

"Potter!" she cried. "Miss O'Brien! What on--"

But Harry and Kate both began to babble out their story at the same time. The only information McGonagall could glean was that they needed to see Dumbledore, and she escorted them up straight away.

Kate stepped into the circular office where her life at Hogwarts had begun; this was a cheerful place for her, as for Harry, it represented both reassurance and knowledge.

Professor Dumbledore greeted them with little surprise; he seemed to be expecting them. But when they relayed their tale, his face sank into a deep-seated confusion.

"Where have you left Professor Fairclough?" he asked gravely.

Harry and Kate directed him to the bush outside side. Dumbledore asked McGonagall to take Fairclough into an empty classroom and to fetch Professor Snape. He then turned to Harry and Kate.

"I suggest both of you go to the hospital wing and remain there until I come to fetch you," he said. When Harry started to protest, Dumbledore held up a hand. "I promise you, Harry, that I will tell you everything I know once this has been sorted out."

Harry and Kate obeyed and went to the hospital wing, where Madam Pomfrey fussed endlessly over them. Kate's stomach was churning, but not from their close encounter. Time seemed to slow, and it seemed an age before Madam Pomfrey finally left them alone.

Kate gazed at Harry, sitting up in the bed next to her. He smiled, and as her eyes were unwavering, he asked, puzzled, "What is it?"

Kate looked away and began to unravel the stitching of her blanket. "It's just...I was wondering...did you mean what you said...out there?" Kate had turned scarlet.

It was Harry's turn to stare. "Did I mean what?"

"Did you mean it...when--when you said you loved me," Kate muttered.

Very quietly, Harry climbed out of his bed and sat next to Kate. He took her hand and kissed it. Kate looked up and met his eyes; there was that roguish sparkle that she loved so much.

"Of course I meant it," Harry murmured. "I would have chosen a better time to say it, but it didn't look like I had much of a choice."

Kate's eyes were welling up again. She smiled through her tears as she whispered softly, "I didn't think I was going to get a chance to tell you."

"Tell me what?" Harry inquired.

Kate beamed, tears flowing down her face. "I love you, too," she sobbed.

Professors Dumbledore, McGonagall, and Snape found Harry and Kate curled up in Kate's bed, fast asleep, when they reached the hospital wing.

"Should we wake them?" McGonagall asked.

"I should think so," Dumbledore replied. "They will have plenty of time for sleeping later."

Professor McGonagall prodded the pair of them awake with her wand. Harry woke with a start and sprang away from Kate when he saw who had joined them. But no one reproached him; they simply waited for Kate to waken fully.

When both Harry and Kate were settled, Dumbledore began his tale. Fairclough, after heaving a powerful truth potion administered to him, had admitted to plotting with Voldemort against Harry and Kate for years. Fairclough, it seemed, had been an underground supporter of the Dark Lord since he first rose to power. He had killed the O'Briens' Secret Keeper and taken the post of Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher because he knew Dumbledore would insist upon keeping a close watch on Kate.

Kate's secret abduction in Hogsmeade had been an agent of Fairclough's, because Fairclough knew he must make an appearance in Hogsmeade with the others teachers to keep up pretenses. He had become an excellent con artist over the years. When Harry and Kate had jumped into what they thought was an abandoned classroom, they had heard Fairclough communicating with Voldemort through the fireplace. The attack by the giant squid had been caused by Fairclough, who had used the Imperius Curse on the animal from behind a bush at the other side of the lake. And, of course, it had been Fairclough who had broken into the girls' dormitory and tried for himself to abduct Kate; a last, desperate attempt before his brilliant plan. He had forged the notes to Harry and Kate, having samples of both their handwriting from class, and simply waited for them to arrive at the Quidditch field.

Dumbledore sighed heavily and paused a moment after the telling. "Lies," he said finally. "A lie is one of the most brilliant devices of the human mind. Lies have kept the O'Briens safe since Voldemort's fall. Lies also kept Nigel Fairclough at large, able to plot murder for two innocent heirs to two of our most revered families. You see, Harry, and you as well Kate: a lie is so simple and yet so complex. A person knows only what you tell him, and yet, when you tell him one thing, you must continue to tell him more. I believe you have experience in this area, Miss O'Brien?" He smiled at her, and Kate let herself laugh a little.

"Professor," Harry began. "What will become of Professor Fairclough?"

"He will be dealt with by the Ministry," Dumbledore replied. "But I suspect he will be handed over to the Dementors without hesitation."

Harry nodded, and Kate squeezed his hand.

"Now," Dumbledore said, rising. "I have business to attend to. You may return to your common room tomorrow morning, after I have addressed the school." His eyes twinkled as he looked at Kate and Harry. "I dare say, Gryffindor will be exceptionally pleased with the two of you, for I believe you have secured the House Cup again."

With that, the three teachers left Harry and Kate to their thoughts--and to each other.

Three days later, Harry and Kate strolled along the lakeshore--though Kate insisted on staying far away from the squid, who was gliding lazily near the edge of the lake.

Their exams taken, their trunks packed, the feast that night: Harry and Kate had nothing to worry about except spending a summer without each other.

They had been chatting lightheartedly about their plans for the summer when they fell silent, listening to the sound of the wind over the lake.

Harry turned to Kate as they meandered slowly about. "I'm going to marry you some day," he said, as though he were simply telling her about an every day occurrence.

Kate laughed and grinned at him. "What makes you so sure?" she replied.

Harry shrugged. "I just know."

"Well, then how do you know I'll say yes?" she joked.

"You will," Harry replied. "We'll both graduate and go off into our careers, and then one day I'll just ask--and you'll say yes."

"How romantic," Kate laughed.

"And we'll live in a small house," Harry continued. "With a lot of land. And we'll have two kids, a boy and girl."

"Named Lily Bridget," Kate chimed in.

"And Connor James," Harry added.

"And a dog," Kate went on.

"Named Hagrid," Harry laughed.

"And a thousand grandchildren," Kate said, smiling.

"With a thousand dogs," Harry added playfully.

They stopped in their wandering, and Kate looked seriously up at Harry. "How do you know that it's all going to happen?" she asked softly. "How do you know we're not going to die tomorrow?"

Harry took both her hands and kissed her. "I don't know," he replied. "I can just feel it."

"What else do you feel?" Kate asked wistfully.

He grinned. "I feel...like swimming!" He whirled around and threw her in the lake. Kate came up sputtering, but she was smiling. Harry dived in after her, and they swam around the lake, letting themselves be propelled by the now pacified squid.

As Harry and Kate boarded the Hogwarts Express the next day, Kate lingered a moment on the steps into their car. She gazed hungrily at the castle she had come to call home and dreaded two months away from this place.

But before Harry pulled her into the train, Kate had one fleeting moment of sheer joy. She was done with the past; it had haunted her all her life. And she was going to put off thinking about the future--no one could tell what was going to happen, and it did not do to dwell on these thoughts. No, Kate's joy came from the present and the uplifting feeling of living for the moment. She swore to herself before she ducked out of sight of the castle: She would never again be just a piece of the past.

The End