Fury

Fury

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Almost, Love

The walls of her tiny cell were bare of any ornamentation, and in fact, the tiny square room was empty of furniture, too. There was a heavy steel door with a small window opening where food could be passed through. A large mirrored window took up most of the rest of the wall; she could make out very faint movement, but only rarely, and she couldn't be sure that her eyes weren't playing tricks on her.

She couldn't tell how long she'd been in here, but it had to have been longer than three hours. A boring three hours. They'd taken her dress robes, and shoes, and now she was barefoot, wearing dull gray robes that hung loosely on her frame. Her hair had come out of its knot, and hung around her face in tangles, getting in her way. She brushed them away impatiently with both hands; they were bound together, so everything involved both hands.

She had to pee. She had to know if George was alright as well, but that first urge was overriding the second. And the spider hadn't stopped moving since she'd watched Harry hit the ground.

She deserved the pain. She'd killed Harry Potter.

There were voices outside her door. She winced at a crashing sound, metal on metal, and then the little window into her cell slid open. One blue eye, red with tears, stared in at her, and then the door opened. She backed into the farthest corner; she didn't want to be trouble, even though she deserved everything she got.

Ron stumbled into the room, face red and eyes remarkably the same color. He clutched his wand in a bloodless fist, and his black robes hid the blood very well, though she could smell it. Another Auror, this one in their maroon robes, entered behind him, and the doors closed. This one held his wand loosely, though she sensed that he knew how to use it.

Ron glared at her, his wand shaking. "You will explain yourself to me. Now."

Cate blinked. "Is George alright?"

"George?" Ron snarled, taking a step closer. She shrank into the wall. "We haven't found him, yet, you stupid..." He reigned in his temper. "Did he know about this? Did he try to stop you? Is that why no one's seen him?"

The spider rolled, and latched into her stomach from eight different directions. She grunted, knowing that she still wouldn't be allowed to say anything. She said nothing. She didn't even attempt to say anything.

Ron took another step towards her, and the other Auror mumbled his name warningly. Ron fought to keep his emotions under control; it was fascinating to watch his face shift through them. She focused on that. Not on the blood on her hands. Not the smell of the blood on his robes. Harry's blood. She'd killed him.

"You killed Harry Potter in cold blood in a room full of witnesses. Do you have anything to say for yourself?" This from the Auror in the corner, his voice under tight control, as Ron's wasn't. She wished she knew his name.

She shook her head, wincing slightly. "No. Nothing. But I have to pee."

Ron snapped. He lunged at her, succeeding in getting a good shot at her face with the hand that held the wand as the other dug into her ribs. She wheezed as the other Auror pulled him off and escorted him out of the room. She could hear him shouting, and the sound of a fist hitting the wall outside of her door, before the other Auror reentered. Alone.

"My name is Auror Alvarez. Are you prepared to answer questions?"

Cate shook herself. "I really have to pee."

The Auror conjured a toilet and a screen. "Hurry, please."

Cate did what she needed to, and the Auror Vanished everything. She went back to her corner and huddled near the ground, holding her ribs. Alvarez looked concerned. "Do you need medical assistance?"

The spider bit deeply. "No," she gasped. "I'm fine. It just...I'm fine. It's nothing."

The Auror glanced at the wall, where muffled curses could still be heard. "Are you ready to talk?"

Cate shook her head. "There's nothing to tell."

Alvarez raised an eyebrow. "You stabbed Head Auror Harry Potter in front of a crowd of family and friends, at your grandmother's funeral, and there's nothing to tell?"

Cate shivered slightly. "Nothing. I did it. It's my fault."

Alvarez glanced back at the wall. "Very well."

He left, and she was alone again. At least she didn't have to pee anymore.

~*~

The spider was latched near her liver now, biting sharply. She grunted as it stabbed particularly deep, and curled around herself. Her skin was crawling...

She jerked her head up, hearing something at the door. A low growl started in her throat, and she caught herself crouching, preparing to spring. Her hair dangled in her eyes, shaggier and coarser than it had been only five minutes before. Her skin was crawling down her spine. A glance at her arms showed that the skin there, too, was creeping. She shuddered.

Auror Alvarez walked backwards into the room, arguing with someone on the other side of the door. He closed it behind himself, sighed in annoyance, and turned. And froze.

Cate felt the growl deep in her throat as the crawling sensation skittered up her arms and into her neck and shoulders. She sat crouched in the corner, fingers pressed against the ground and legs locked. Her eyes never left his face.

He took an unconscious step back. "Miss Moon?" he stuttered, and cleared his throat. "I mean, Mrs. Weasley, is there something wrong?"

She jerked backwards, hitting her back on the wall. "Get out," she growled, and her voice was low and gravelly.

Alvarez straightened and shuffled a step closer. "Is there something wrong?"

She snarled, trying desperately not to lunge at his throat. Her mouth didn't feel right. "Werewolf," she grunted, feeling sharp pain ripping at her fingernails. Soon, she'd have claws. "Get out. I haven't had potion." Her mouth kept moving, but she could no longer force any words out.

Alvarez paled. "These walls are strong enough to keep you in. I'll send someone by in the morning to check on you."

Her eyes pleaded with him to leave even as she locked her knees and fell to the ground, wishing she could scream in agony. She barely noticed as Alvarez darted out of the room and slammed the door, though she could hear shouted curses and spells. The door glowed blue for a moment, and then sharp orange, and suddenly there was silence. As the pain of the change rampaged through her body, it was joined by a sharp gnawing from the spider. She dropped to the ground, her legs unable to hold her. Flames tore through every muscle and bone, and her body contorted as it changed.

She stared at the mirrored window as her body went through the horrific process, and the last thing she saw, before the wolf took over, were her blue eyes turning fiery gold, and a snarling beast staring back at her.

~*~

She woke curled in the corner of her cell, and was surprised to have awoken at all. The mattress had been shredded, and she lay in a pile of fabric and stuffing. It clung to her hair and face, which was matted with sweat. She shuddered convulsively, and felt the spider bite harder.

The door to her cell opened suddenly, banging against the wall. She cringed away as three female Aurors, dressed smartly in maroon robes, entered the room, closing the door behind them. They, very impersonally, shot jets of warm water off of her, slicking away most of the sweat and debris. Then, the tallest of the three handed her a gray robe and helped her dress while one stood guard, wand pointed at Cate, and the other brushed out her hair. When she was mostly presentable, they opened the door, and, without a word, escorted her down a narrow hallway towards another room. One of the woman opened the door with a tap of her wand, and the other two shoved her through, closing the door behind her.

She stood shivering, barefoot, in front of five people, only one of whom she recognized. Gawain Robards hadn't really changed since she'd seen him last, but his face was marked with anger. He stood against the back wall, arms crossed, talking to another Auror, this one older with white wings at his temple and a stern expression. The other three, two women and a man, sat in chairs facing the door. One of the women, a middle-aged blond with a square face, tsked at her appearance, but the others affected not to notice her.

She backed against the door, pressing into the cold steel and trying not to shake. The blond woman opened a file in front of her and cleared her throat. "Let's begin."

Robards pushed away from the wall and took a seat in the only other empty chair; the Auror hadn't moved, except to draw his wand.

The woman tapped her own wand against a sheet of paper, and words began to appear. "This is an inquiry into the death of Head Auror Harry Potter, stabbed to death by Catherine Elizabeth Moon, werewolf. Madame Yolanda Yarrow, representing the Ministry of Magic, Madame Octavia Cole, representing the Werewolf Services Office on behalf of Miss Moon, and Sir Hector Albion, representing the Head of Criminal Inquiries. Gawain Robards is in attendance as acting Head of the Auror Department, and Damien Kittredge, representing the Auror Investigative Team." She sighed, then turned to the woman next to her. "Is there anything you'd like to add, Octavia?"

The other woman shook her head, not looking at Cate. "I honestly don't know why I was brought into this, Yolanda. I have little interest in protecting a werewolf with such clear criminal evidence against her, especially considering that no laws were broken in her capture or containment."

The man, Hector Albion, grunted. "We'd like no reports of injustice to reach the papers, Madame Cole. The Ministry knows exactly how werewolf rights groups would spin this if no representative from your office were present."

Cate raised her hand tentatively. "May I speak?"

Madame Yarrow raised a brow. "No." She shuffled the papers in front of her. "I don't even know why we're having this preliminary trial. The evidence is cut and dry."

Robards nodded. "I agree. In fact, let's get her back to her cell. It's clear what needs to be done."

The other Auror's expression didn't change, but his voice was grim. "I could escort her if you'd like, sir."

Madame Yarrow sighed again. "That won't be necessary."

There was a tapping at the door. Madame Cole looked irritated. "Enter."

Auror Alvarez stuck his head around the edge of the heavy steel frame. "Miss Moon's lawyer, sirs, madams. She'd like to speak to her client."

Robards stood quickly, and his chair fell to the ground. "I don't need to be here for this. Let me know when you've set a trial date." He swept from the room, brushing past Cate without looking at her. Auror Kittredge didn't move, except to straighten slightly.

Madame Yarrow closed the file. "Well, then. Escort her to the visitation room. The rules here are very clear, are they not, Octavia?"

Madame Cole stood. "Indeed, though I've no idea who would care to represent her. I'll make my recommendation to the Wizengamot, shall I? I vote for trial."

Sir Albion stood as well. "So do I. I see no proof that she did not commit this crime."

Madame Yarrow tapped the file with her wand, and large red letters appeared on the cover. "I concur. Very well. Take her away, Kittredge."

The Auror smirked. "Very well." He walked across the room and grabbed Cate. Tapping his wand against the door, he shoved her through, pushing her down the hall while keeping a tight grip on her upper arm. There were one or two other people in the hallway, but they all shot her glares, and one even spit at her. He led her towards the very end of the hallway, where there was a room with a large pane of clear glass. A woman waited on the other side, dress in somber robes with her dark hair pulled sharply back from her harsh face.

The second Cate saw that face, she tried to run in the other direction. "No," she sobbed, pulling away, but Auror Kittredge just pushed her forward. She opened her mouth to speak again, but the spider bit sharply, deeply, and she could only sag in pain.

The Auror opened the door and shoved her through. She hit her hip on the table and sank to the floor, crawling away from the woman. He raised an eyebrow. "You have twenty minutes."

The woman gave him a tight smile. "I only need five. Wait outside."

He left, slamming the door. Cate crawled to the wall, her eyes never leaving that face.

The woman leaned over her, smirking. "Did you think it would be that easy, Catherine?"

Cate grunted. "Where's George?" she whispered, feeling the spider crawl up her stomach. She gagged.

The woman rolled her eyes. "Safe, as I promised. But your punishment is not over quite yet." She ran a finger down Cate's face. "My little pet has another feature, don't you know. One little phrase and poof! We're gone."

Cate froze. "What do you mean?"

The woman tilted her head, dark eyes boring into Cate's. Her hand grabbed Cate's hair, her long fingers pulling hard. "Bad dog."

There was a jerk behind her navel, and she screamed in agony.

~*~

Cate landed hard on a stone surface, and the woman landed no less gracefully on top of her. If she hadn't been so stunned by the pain and the landing, she might have thought to struggle for the woman's wand, but before she could begin to think, she was bound and pressed tightly against a rock wall. She blinked in pain- the woman hadn't been gentle, and her head had hit the stone wall rather hard- before noticing the bound and struggling figure on the wall facing her.

Her heart sank.

It was George, looking no less angry than he had three days ago, when she'd gone off on her mission to save him. She gaped. "You promised!"

Madame Lawrence smirked. "I've done a great many things, Catherine. I wanted him to watch."

Cate struggled futilely. "Watch what?"

The woman grinned manically. "Your death, girl. And then, I'll set him free."

Cate frowned. "But, they'll know it was you..."

She turned, facing George. "I don't care. After you're dead, it won't matter anyway." She paused, staring at him, before clapping her hands together, sending sparks from her wand. "To begin..." She shuddered in pleasure, her eyes half-closed. "I'll need my pet back."

Cate stilled, eyes wide. "No," she whispered. The word echoed in the cave, and George began to struggle anew, shouting her name.

The woman ignored them both, shouting a spell. The brilliant streak of turquoise hit Cate in her middle, and she screamed as she felt the spider make it's way up her chest and throat, until she could scream no more.

~*~

Hours passed, hours where Cate screamed and the woman shouted curse after curse. Sometimes, she had to be revived, and once, the woman shot a spell that looked exactly like the Killing Curse at her, but it hit the wall beside her head and exploded. Shards of rock hit her in the face, and she could feel blood seeping into the collar of her filthy prison robes.

George was pleading for her, trying to free himself, anything, but his eyes never left her, even when she was unconscious. He railed at the woman, and soon there was blood on his hands and wrists from his struggles. The woman hissed and shot a Silencing Spell at him, returning to her work with Cate with a purr of pleasure, the silver spider perched, still bloody, on her shoulder.

Cate faded in and out. Sometimes, the pain was sharp and raw, and brought her immediately to her surroundings, but other times it was dull and distant, and she could feel herself floating above her body. At those times, George wept and the woman often shouted at her, pausing to heal some injury. Cate lost track of time, of the number of times she'd passed out, of the curses themselves. She felt only pain.

And then the woman laughed. "Finally!" she cried, seeing Cate sagging and broken against the rock wall. She turned to George, and said, "Say goodbye to your lover, the bitch."

George fought against the silencing spells, the binding spells, against everything, but he was bound tightly. The woman closed her eyes, laid back her head, and shot a final spell of purple flames. It hit Cate square in the chest, and she shouted in agony. The woman watched for a moment before releasing George.

She smirked at him as he struggled to get upright, and tossed him a scrap of cloth. "When she's dead, activate this Portkey. It'll get you home safe."

George stood on shaky feet, facing her, his face bloody and filthy. "Why?"

She glanced at the unmoving and silent Cate. "I had no issue with you."

George lunged towards her, but she Apparated away. He fell to the ground, stunning himself briefly. When he could move again, he crawled towards Cate, tears streaming down his face. He pulled her into his lap, his tears dripping onto her hair. He ran a hand down her cheek, but she didn't, wouldn't move. He leaned down and kissed her forehead, but still, she didn't stir.

He checked for a heartbeat, but she was burned so badly, and so broken, that he had little hope. He whispered her name, over and over, but there was nothing.

He jumped at a hand on his shoulder.

Looking up into the eyes of his littlest brother, he lost all control, and howled his pain at the world.

Cate was gone.