The Diary

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Chapter 32*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Retribution*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

~The Diary, Somewhere in Hogwarts~

Harry cautiously entered the dimly lit room. With a quick scan he could tell that this room was used as a place for storage and was rarely entered. The pain in his scar increased from a dull ache to a sharp sting.

"Expelliarmus!"Harry's wand flew out of his hand and landed somewhere in the shadows. "Hello, Potter," a voice from the shadows calmly greeted.

"Voldemort," Harry snarled.

"Now, now, is that any way to greet the greatest wizard alive?"

"Dumbledore is greater wizard than you'll ever be!"

"Foolish beliefs," the Dark Lord told him, "You are blinded by the naiveté of youth, but soon you will know the truth."

"You are the one who is blind," Harry retorted, "Blinded by hate and greed. I'm not afraid of you!"

The tall cloaked figure laughed a cruel laugh that sent shivers down Harry's spine. "You do not need to fear me Potter, at least not today."

"What are you talking about?"

He laughed again. "Today you will fear someone you hold dear." He gestured to his right and, from the shadows, stepped out a figure dressed in a torn sapphire blue dress robe.

"Kali," Harry breathed as he took in the sight, "What have you done to her?"

"What makes you think I've done anything, Potter? How do you know she didn't join me?" he asked casually.

Harry growled. "Cause she'd never join you. She despises you!" He turned to Kali, who still hadn't spoken. "Kali, talk to me."

Kali smirked, "Hello, Harry. Surprised? I always knew you were thick, but I didn't know you were actually as stupid as Longbottom." She laughed eerily like Voldemort. "What other reason would I date you? It was all a ploy, a charade. I am and always will be loyal to my Master."

"That's not true," Harry shouted at her, "He has you under a spell!"

"Truth hurts doesn't it, Potter," Voldemort taunted. "Punish him."

A twisted smile played on Kali's lips. "Thank you, my Lord." She pointed her wand at Harry. "Crucio!"

Harry's screams echoed in the room and out into the dungeon halls mingled with Voldemort's cold laughter. "Stop," he ordered. She obediently lifted the curse as Harry crumbled to the ground, breathing heavily. "Convinced?"

"No! You have her under the Imperius Curse. She'd never hurt me willingly."

"Master?"

"Yes, Miss Lupin?"

"We should kill Potter now. The more we toy with him the higher his chances are of escape," she explained.

"Very good point, but never talk to me as an equal again. I shall let it slide this time."

"Thank you, Master. I apologize, I never want to disrespect you, my Lord," Kali said as she dropped to one knee in a bow.

"Very well," he said tiredly.

Harry watched in shock. "Kali, what are you doing? Snap out of it!"

"His incessant belief in your goodness is rather annoying." Voldemort raised his hand and waved it wearily. "Kill him."

Harry's eyes grew to the size of saucers. "Kali, don't do it! Kali, please! It's me, Harry." Kali walked closer to him. "Remember the time we went on that picnic? Or that summer we worked on the gazebo? Or the time I taught you to fly?" Harry spurted out desperately.

Kali stopped a foot in front of him and lowered herself to his eye level. She leaned closer to him till her mouth was near his ear. "Remember the time you made me cry?" she whispered. She stood quickly and smiled as she looked at Harry's shocked and hurt face. She raised her wand and pointed it at him. "Avada..."

"I love you Kali, forever," he told her as he waited for her to finish the killing curse.

"Keda..." she stumbled over the last word.

"Kill him!" Voldemort bellowed.

"I don't hate you. I could never hate you," Harry said as he realized he might have hit a nerve.

"Avada Ked..." She lowered her wand and looked at him in confusion. "Harry? I..."

Voldemort roared in frustration. "You will regret breaking my hold on her," he spat. The Dark Lord raised his wand and, with a small flick, he pushed Kali aside. "Petrificus Totalus," he said.

Harry was frozen in his kneeling position. Kali crawled to him. "Are you all right? I'm so sorry," she told him.

"How sweet, a touching apology before your death." Kali turned to face him with eyes wide. "Yes, your death. What better way to hurt the famous Harry Potter than to kill the love of his life while he watches helplessly. Don't worry,I'll give you a sporting chance. Now get up and face me!"

Kali gripped her wand tighter and stood, shaking, to face the evil in front of her. She swallowed nervously and raised her wand. She closed her eyes and tried remembering the wand work, left, up, right and heart. "Familia Munimentum!"

When nothing happened, Voldemort laughed. "Head Girl and you cannot even cast a proper spell." He cast the Blasting curse at her. She pushed down her overwhelming fear and kept her eyes open. Just as the jet of orange light reached her, the air shimmered and the curse disappeared in front of her. "Stupefy!" The same thing happened. "Expelliarmus!What is this magic?"

"It's magic from another world," Kali told him. "A world where my mother didn't die and I didn't have to grow up in a Muggle orphanage because the Ministry said my father was unfit to raise me because he is a werewolf." Her eyes flared violet as she continued. "A world where I had a brother who loved me. A world where my mother invented a spell to protect oneself against their own blood relatives. I never got to have a mother in this world, because you killed her. You had my mother killed because you viewed her as a threat. You killed your own daughter and damned your granddaughter to a childhood as an unwanted orphan." Her eyes were now blood red, matching the shade of the creature that was once her grandfather. "I want retribution. I want retribution for all the pain I suffered and all the memories I will never have. You owe me this as a member of the Slytherin Clan," she yelled.

He was silent for a moment, adsorbing the speech, wondering if it was true. "What is it that you want?"

"I want Wormtail. I want him alive and unable to escape," she said.

"I will consider this." Then he was gone.

Kali wavered slightly then fell to the ground unconscious.

~End Diary~

~Potter Residence, Godric's Hollow~

Harry Potter

Potter House

Godric's Hollow

Mister Potter-

I no longer wish to continue our conversations. Your outburst last night has made me see that you are not in the proper mind frame to produce rational thought. Before you do anything stupid, excuse me for being blunt, finish reading this letter.

I did turn in Timothy and I have thought about it ever since. I captured several more Death Eaters then turned myself in along with them. I didn't remember what I had done, but I assumed I must have some act against humanity and deserved to be imprisoned like the Death Eater I was. I was interrogated by Auror Draco Malfoy under Veritaserum. When he discovered the circumstance that surrounded my amnesia, he marked me as a possible suspect in Kali Potter's murder. At my trial I was sentenced to five years in Azkaban. I was given leniency for turning in Death Eaters, saving those I could and never performing any illegal curses. They could not prosecute me of any crimes before November 2005 because I had no memory of the events and there were no real witnesses that could place me at the scene of any attacks.

After I was released in the spring of 2011, I retreated from the Wizarding world in a sort of personal exile. I lived as a muggle, but was constantly hounded by overzealous Aurors. They thought I was a threat to the Muggle population. Last June I received an owl from Headmaster Dumbledore. He asked if I would take the position of Defense against the Dark Arts professor for the 2015-2016 school term. I was so honored. To be trusted by the great Albus Dumbledore, so trusted as to be offered a teaching. I was elated. I quickly scrawled a reply of acceptance and sent it with the school owl. It was only afterwards I began to question the sudden offer. I was a former Death Eater who served five years in Wizard prison and has lived as a muggle for the last four years. Was I even qualified to teach such fragile minds? I dug out my wand the next morning and flooed to the Three Broomsticks and walked to Hogwarts. After four years, I was not going to even try to Apparate. Dumbledore assured me that I was going to be a good teacher and he believed in me. I moved into Hogwarts the next week and studied night and day in the library to get up to scratch.

And that is my story, what I can remember of it. I never held any ulterior motives, I don't know where your wife is and I don't want to see you or your family hurt in anyway. I am just trying to redeem myself. I may never accomplish it but I will die trying. If you ever need my help you may ask, but if you ever disrespect or insult Timothy or me again, you shall lose a friend.

Sincerely,

Kay Raidah Covington

Harry folded the parchment and laid back down. He hadn't been able to sleep a wink all night. Then, he received Kay's owl at the crack of dawn. He sighed as he crumpled the letter in his hand. It was going to be a long day.

~Professor Kay Covington's Quarters~

Kay sat brushing her hair, getting ready for another day of teaching. As much as she loved her job, she didn't feel like doing anything today. Her talk with Harry last night had ended quite badly and had drudged up memories of her beloved Tim. Even when dating Harry, she couldn't help but compare him to Timothy Nott, especially in the beginning. Tim was so natural, so self assured. Harry seemed to be reluctant and unsure of himself. He always seemed to be a bit nervous with her. Tim was always so gentle, comforting and loving, like she was the only one who mattered. She knew she loved him and that she didn't love Harry, maybe she could grow to love him given more time. She stopped brushing her hair and stared at herself in the mirror.

It had been a good couple of years since she had visited Timothy. *Perhaps,* she thought to herself, *it is time for me to see him again. I hope he is alright and those blasted Aurors are treating him decently or else they'll have hell to pay.*

~Diary, Hospital Wing~

"What if doesn't wake up?"

"I assure, Mister Lupin, she will wake up."

"But what if she doesn't?"

"Remus, perhaps you should go get something to eat. It will ease your mind a little."

Kali slowly opened her eyes, which seemed far too hard to do. The first thing she saw was a stone ceiling. Scanning with her eyes she noticed an abundance of white. *Must be in the Hospital Wing,* she thought.

"No, I am not going leave her. What if she wakes up and I am not here? What kind of father would I be?"

*Dad?*

"Moony, she won't think any less of you."

"Dad," Kali said, but it came out as a whisper. "Dad?" she croaked louder.

There was a rustling of curtain partitions and soon her father stood over her. "Kali?"

She sat up with some difficulty. "Hi Dad," she smiled weakly. He hugged her close without saying a word. "I'm ok, Dad. I'm ok."

He pulled back and began running his hand over her hair. "You had me so worried. I don't know what I'd do if anything ever... ever."

His eyes began to water and Kali grabbed his hand and held it tightly. "I'm fine, Dad. Madam Pomfrey is an excellent nurse." She paused. "How long have I been unconscious?"

"Almost two weeks."

"Two weeks!"

"The Imperious curse and the strain of that protection spell must have really drained you."

"You know about all that?" she asked.

He smiled, "Yes, Harry informed the Order of the event. I've never been more proud of you, Kali."

"How is Harry?"

"He's fine. Probably pacing outside in the corridor waiting for you to wake up, he is very taken with you."

"As I am with him," she told her father.

He kissed her on the top of her head. "I'll go get him," he told her.

"Alright. Dad?"

"Yes, Kali?"

"I love you," she said.

"I love you too," he replied back. He drew the partition closed again and she waited. Moments later the sound of running footsteps could be heard. The curtain was nearly ripped down but, more importantly, Harry Potter stood there with tears in his eyes.

"'Lo Harry," she greeted happily as if nothing had happened. He continued to just stand there staring as if in awe. Kali shifted uncomfortably under his gaze. "You know, if this was a Muggle movie you would be sweeping me in to a grand embrace and kissing me passionately till I could no longer think straight," she jested half-heartedly.

"The thought has crossed my mind," he told her quietly.

"Why haven't you?"

"Because, I can't get over how beautiful you look right now."

Kali blushed at the compliment. "That's all well and good, Harry, but I'd much rather have you hugging me than a compliment, even if it was a very good one."

Harry closed the distance between them and hugged her, never wanting to let her go. "When I saw you fall, I... I thought you had died and I couldn't save you. I couldn't do anything."

Kali rubbed his back reassuringly. "It's alright, Harry. Everything is ok. I am perfectly fine now. I'll be out of here before you know it."

Harry raised his head and looked at her adoringly. "I love you, Kali."

"I love you, Harry."

He kissed her soundly on the lips.

The next morning Kali awoke to persistent hooting from an owl she had never seen before. It was carrying a medium sized box and a letter, both addressed to her. She tore open the wrapping from the box and screamed.

Pomfrey rushed to her side. "What's wrong dear?"

"Get Dumbledore and Harry."

Minutes later both men were by her bedside. She pointed to the half opened package at the end of her bed. Harry gasped, "Wormtail!"

Past the wrapping was a cage with a shivering rat with a single silver paw. "How?"Dumbledore asked. Kali handed him the letter, which he read aloud.

Kali-

I give you Pettigrew, as discussed previously. I also swear that neither I nor my followers will harm you in anyway.

Lord Voldemort

"He knows then," Dumbledore said. Kali and Harry nodded, never asking how the old wizard knew. "I was hoping that Tom would never find out that he fathered a child."

"Why sir?"Kali asked.

"Because now he thinks he has a legitimate heir." Dumbledore left shortly afterwards with the cage.

After Madam Pomfrey let Kali out of the Hospital Wing, she and Harry were nearly inseparable. They were only apart during classes and some meals. They were even caught sneaking out of each other's rooms in the wee hours of the morning. No one ever stopped them though, or even told the teachers. They just let them be.

~Hogwarts, Great Hall~

Time flew by quickly as NEWTs came and went. Today was graduation day for the class that had first entered this hall on clear September night in 1991. Parents and friends were no sitting behind the graduating class. Kali Lupin and Harry Potter sat with the staff at the head of the large room.

Kali watched as Headmaster Albus Dumbledore stood up and delivered a speech to all that had gathered for the event He first asked everyone to join in a moment of silence for those who had perished in the attack. He paused for a moment, and then talked of the students' courage, intelligence, drive and sacrifice. He praised the class then warned them of the hardships and choices they would have to face in life. He told them to be brave, to persevere against evil and all injustice no matter how insignificant it seemed. He paused again. He looked back at Harry and Kali then looked at the crowd again.

"And now, it is my pleasure to introduce the Head Girl, Kali Lupin, who will speak on behave of the students," he said before he sat down on the other side of Harry.

Kali walked up to the podium and unfolded the parchment she had been holding. She smoothed it out then cleared her throat. "Good afternoon everyone," she greeted nervously. "I stand here today as a full fledged witch in front of my classmates, my professors, my friends and, most importantly, my family," her voice gained strength. "I leave Hogwarts with memories of the past seven years. Memories that have shaped and changed me into the person I am today. The day I got my letter of acceptance was the day that my life headed onto a path that I could never have imagined, a path that has lead me to a world of magic, a world where I have found my father, friends and, most importantly, myself." She paused as if in thought. "In seven years, I have experienced many things, the wonders of magic, the bigotry of society, the nature of evil and hatred and the joys of living." She paused again." We are on the threshold of the future. It is here and now that we decide our path. No one will be there to save us from the choices we make now, not even Harry Potter or Headmaster Dumbledore. If we fall, we fall. If we win, we win. So I plead with all of you. Please choose your path wisely for it will either bless you or condemn you. Thank you."

She sat down and smiled at Harry, who mouthed, "Good job." The rest of the ceremony flew by and soon she had accepted her certificate from Dumbledore and Harry had made his farewell speech.

She was now sitting by the lake as the sun dipped below the horizon. "Can you believe this is our last night at Hogwarts?"

Kali smiled as Harry took the seat next to her. "Not really. I can't believe we are not coming back in the fall."

"We're adults now, contributing members of society. Kali, I am going to the Auror Academy next fall."

"I know," she replied simply, never taking her eyes off the sunset.

"I was wondering if you'd maybe want to get a flat together?" Harry asked nervously.

"Maybe," she answered.

"You know, I still don't know what you were doing."

"Because I never told you."

"Will you tell me?"

"Maybe." They watched, in silence, as the last rays of sunlight disappeared. "Let's go back inside. It's been a long day."

They both returned to Harry's room. Kali woke up in the middle of the night. After being positive that Harry was asleep, she got out of bed and placed a letter on the bed. She picked up her things and walked back to the Slytherin common rooms. Once she was in her room she shrunk her trunk and pocketed it. After one final glance about the room, being sure she had everything, she walked out of the common room and Hogwarts. She walked towards Hogsmeade and apparated as soon as she could.