Harry quickly looked up and straight into Severus’s eyes, "May I be excused from class to look for her, I’m worried, she didn’t look right this morning."

Severus was taken aback when Harry looked at him like that, he did have Catri’s eyes, and Lily’s. It was almost impossible for Severus to slip back into character, but the students needed discipline, and Harry needed to be protected. Mustering an icy cold glare Severus replied "Certainly not. I am quite certain Miss MacLeod can take care of herself, Mr. Potter. And since you mentioned classes, I do believe you still owe me a detention." It seemed cruel, but it was better than letting the boy see what Catri would have to suffer through, and judging by her behaviour it would happen tonight. "Or is Miss MacLeod going to intercede on your behalf yet again." he sneered.

Harry’s eyes flashed with anger, he thought Snape cared about Cat, so why was he here insisting on detention instead of letting him look for her. "Fine Professor..." Harry fumed "In the dungeon I assume...."

Cat was walking through the halls, she was beginning to think Severus was right about her needing more rest. It just wasn’t like her to feel so woozy all the time. Cat had decided to find either Tris or Mohrg, one of them was sure to have something to help stave off the weakness that she was feeling. As she made her way unsteadily through the halls she heard the voices calling to her again, they were trying to warn her about something. Cat placed her hand against the cold stone wall for support as she tried to steady herself, she was too weak to concentrate on what the voices were trying to say. All she felt was the pain, it felt as though someone had just stabbed her through her heart, it took her breathe away. She clawed at the wall, trying to find something to hold onto as the pain moved from her chest to her head. The pain was too excruciating, she couldn’t even see anymore, everything seemed to have a red haze over it. Finally overcome by the pain, Cat screamed as she felt the blade like pain searing through her heart once again.........

Harry was trying desperately to tune out Snape and try to figure out where Cat could be, she wasn’t in her classroom, office or bedroom. He needed to find Remus and Dumbledore, maybe one of them had seen her. Maybe send Ron to check in the hospital wing, just in case Cat had finally decided to stop being so stubborn and let Pomfrey look at her. Suddenly, as if on cue, Cat appeared in the hall. Harry sighed both with relief and happiness, he had been so worried about her. Harry rolled his eyes as Snape droned on about what exactly his detention would be. That is when he noticed how pale Cat had become, and she seemed to be walking strangely, as if she couldn’t feel her legs. "Professor Snape?" Harry interrupted as he tried to draw the potion master’s attention to Cat. Harry had begun to smile, until he looked at Cat again, his eyes grew wide with terror as he saw the blood streaming down Cat’s pale face.

"Mr. Potter, are you even paying attention to me" Professor Snape asked as he saw the wide eyed look on Harry’s face

"Snape" Harry whispered as he grabbed for the potion masters arm like a blind man. "It’s Cat" he pointed behind the Professor, who quickly turned on his heels. He wanted to see what could be causing this sudden change in Potter’s demeanour.

Snape turned just it time to see Cat waver on her feet and cry out as she collapsed. Sprinting to her side, Severus managed to catch Cat before her head could hit the stone floor. He gently laid her head on the floor as he tried to rouse her. At first Severus had tried to illicit a response by stroking her cheeks and saying her name, but soon resorted to yelling her name loudly and shaking her. ........

The students gathered around, waiting to see what had happened, Harry had to push his way through them just to get to Cat’s side. He went numb when he saw her, she was deathly pale, and there was blood coming from her eyes and ears, it was dripping onto the floor creating small shining puddles of red around her face. The thing that frightened him most however, was Snape. Professor Snape was always calm, to the point of being icy, but Harry could plainly see the panic creeping onto the potion teachers face. Harry placed his hand on Snape’s shoulder and looked at him with imploring eyes ........

Severus could not bring Cat back to consciousness, no matter how hard he tried. If she couldn’t drink, the potion in his robes was less than worthless. Cradling her gently as lifted her into his arms, Severus instructed Harry "Mr. Potter, get Professor Dumbledore NOW. Tell him I am taking her to the hospital wing." she was unconscious, and her breathing did not sound right, not to mention the blood that was streaming from her eyes and ears. Severus turned back towards Harry and yelled as he carried her limp body "tell him she has had another episode."

Severus quickly rushed through the halls toward the hospital wing, he had never seen anything like this. Even her worst episode had not involved blood like this, a few drops here and there perhaps, but not this deluge. Severus felt his stomach churn as he looked at her, she seemed so frail, and she was losing far too much blood. "Cat.... Catri.... Can you hear me?" Sev asked as he tried to get any response out of her at all. He was beginning to feel the panic settling on his chest, she was barely breathing, and her heart was not beating right, he could feel it as it thundered against him. Suddenly her body tensed painfully for a few seconds and then went completely limp.

"Catri... CATRI!!!" Severus yelled as he placed her on the floor, he couldn’t feel a pulse. Slapping her face, Severus screamed out her name again, all to no avail. Tearing open her robe he placed his ear on her chest,...... nothing..... absolutely nothing.......

"No.... NO,...... CATRI......" he felt the tears spilling from his eyes, but he didn’t have time to care. Pulling out his wand, he aimed it directly at her heart and said forcefully. CARDIORESPIRATUS EXPAVESCERE INCIPERE .... he watched as her body tensed and shook painfully as the bright rose colour light enveloped her. It practically lifted her off the floor with its force, Severus held his breath as he waited to see if it had worked. As the light faded away, Sev placed his ear against her chest again, and shook with relief as he heard her shallow breathing and weakly beating heart. .........

The body of students parted as Professor Snape carried Miss MacLeod to the hospital wing. Harry could hear the buzzing of the students as they wondered what had happened to Cat. But all Harry could think about was the blood, he felt nauseated as he ran as fast as his numb legs would go. Luckily he didn’t need to go as far as he thought, as he hit a soft object and promptly fell back on his bottom.

"Harry, what are you doing?" Remus asked as he extended his hand to help Harry up. Albus stared at Harry with concern as he noticed the tears streaming down his face.

"Professor Dumbledore" Harry cried "It’s Cat..... something happened to her. Snape had to carry her to the hospital wing, and there was so much blood, and she just collapsed." Harry only stopped when Albus placed his hand on his shoulder.

"Calmly Harry, Calmly" Albus said gently "Now tell me again as we walk to the hospital wing and see what Madame Pomfrey makes of this shall we?".........

Sirius was dashing madly through the forest and across the pitch towards the school, he felt a terrible twisting in his stomach.. He *knew* something had happened, and he was just as sure it involved Harry or Cat. Sirius didn’t even pay any attention to the students who were screaming about the Grim as he ran past them. He sniffed the air looking for Harry’s scent, he had to find them, and he was certain wherever Harry was, Cat would not be far away.

Harry’s scent came strongly to him as he ran along the corridor in the West wing of the school. Sirius paused as he tried to figure out exactly where his godson was. ..... He was near the hospital wing... and Remus was with him... but there was something else, a strange scent he vaguely remembered coming across before. Not taking time to analyse the smell, Sirius took off like a cat on a hot tin roof, dashing at breakneck speed towards Harry.

Several minutes and a few frightened students later, Sirius found Harry. Sirius sighed with relief when he saw Dumbledore and Remus with him. Harry seemed healthy enough, but as Sirius grew closer he could see Harry’s tears, and that strange smell was stronger here. Sirius tried to get Harry’s attention, but having no luck, he silently followed the trio into the hospital wing and hid in the shadows until he knew it was safe to transform....

Sirius felt the hair on his back rise in anger as he saw Snape near one of the beds. <Probably berating another student who got sent to the hospital because of a botched potion> he thought. He watched as Harry walked unsteadily towards the bed that Snape was hovering over. <oh no, I hope it’s not Ron or Hermione, that would just kill Harry if one of them were hurt> Suddenly he caught another wiff of the strangely familiar scent, if only he could place it. Sirius sniffed the air deeply, whatever it was, it seemed to be coming from the bed. He tried to sneak closer to the group, but stopped when he saw the look of horror etched on Remus’s face. He had seen that exact same look 17 years ago.... Sirius felt his heart sink as the terrible realization hit him. It wasn’t a student in the bed, it was Cat. And the scent, now he remembered it ..... her blood, whatever had happened to her, he was too late to protect her. Sirius felt himself go numb as his nightmare replayed itself in his head, only this time it wasn’t just Harry crying......

Harry approached the bed with a terrible dread in his heart. He looked over to Snape, it was obvious the potion master had been crying, Snape couldn’t even look him in the eye. Harry was sure they were going to tell him she was either dead or dying. He would lose his mother all over again, he would be alone with no family to love him or care about him. Harry felt a cold emptiness creep into his soul as he stood next to Cat’s bed. He had never scene anything so heart-wrenching in life, his mother, Catri MacLeod, only yesterday morning she had been joking with him about how much fun they were going to have. They were going back home, home to Caledonia, home to family..... Harry felt the tears sting his eyes as they fell. Why did everyone he loved die? Why couldn’t it just be him?

Harry jumped as Remus placed his hands on his shoulders. "Harry..... are you going to be alright? Maybe we should take you back to the common room..." Remus suggested "it won’t do any good to have you see this." he said softly.

"She’s going to die, isn’t she" Harry whispered as his tears began again. "She going to die and there is nothing we can do...."

Albus walked over to Harry and smiled softly "I would not go so far as to say nothing Mr. Potter" he said gently "Miss MacLeod is very powerful, and very determined. .... I doubt very much that she will leave you without a fight." Albus place a fatherly hand on Harry’s shoulder "But you must have faith Harry, faith in her and in yourself. I believe she has been teaching you some Sidhe magic, has she not?" He smiled as Harry nodded yes "I thought as much. And do you remember the most basic part of their magic, the root of their power?"

Harry tried to concentrate on everything Cat had told him. He kept replaying their conversations over and over in his head, laughing at Fred and George’s pranks, Hermione’s grades, his mother’s school days, the trouble they had all gotten into as students, and of course family. Harry sat down on Cat’s hospital bed and held her hand "Family, .. Clan is important" he whispered as the teacher’s exchanged worried glances "Clan means having faith and loving each other, not caring what the outside world thinks. Its all perspective, if you believe strongly enough, it doesn’t matter what anyone else thinks. Your will must be stronger than theirs, but not to the point of being closed to the world. Everything is related, its all connected......" Harry closed his eyes as he squeezed Cat’s hand. "If you have faith in yourself and in your Clan, you.. . you..." he sobbed again as he threw himself on Cat, hugging her as he wailed "you can do anything you set your mind to, all you need is faith."

Snape and Remus looked at each other and then to Harry, neither of them knowing what to say. Remus winced as he watched Harry sobbing, he felt so helpless, there was nothing he could do to help either of them. Remus wished Sirius were here, he couldn’t do anything for Cat either, but at least he could be there for Harry. Sighing deeply, Remus walked over to the bed, he decided it was best to get Harry out of there, before Cat got any worse. As Remus placed his hands gently on Harry’s shoulder he looked at Cat’s blood stained face, he felt himself crying. Poor Kitty, she never asked for this, she never wanted to be a seer, she was a healer. Remus felt a pang in his heart as he realized if it had been anyone else laying in that bed, Cat would be here healing them. Remus closed his eyes as an overwhelming wave of grief and helplessness washed over him. "Harry.... lets go...." Remus whispered as he tried blinking his tears away.

Harry refused to let go of her, he clung to her as if he were a small child. "I’m not leaving her.... I’m her son, she’s my mother..."

"That’s right sweetie" a weak voice spoke, as every pair of eyes turned to see if it were actually possible.

Harry looked up, hardly believing what he had heard. "Cat?!" he asked breathlessly. Harry smiled brightly as he watched her eyes open slightly as she tried to smile at him. Harry hugged her fiercely as he felt her hand rest on his unruly hair. "Your alive!"

"Only just" she whispered softly to weak to hug Harry back. "Where is James? Tell him to stop being so cross with me,.....I’m doing my best...."

Remus looked at Albus "She’s delirious,..... or else she actually did ...." Remus became quiet when Severus placed his hand on his arm, giving him a meaningful look. Remus understood immediately, it would explain the tear stains on Severus’s face. Something must have happened on their way to the hospital, something that caused her to cross over momentarily. Remus felt himself become faint, he never realized they had come that close to losing her.

"Kitty?..." Remus said softly as he sat down next to Harry "Kitty its Remus..... are you back with us?" He waited anxiously for her to respond, holding his breath as he held both Harry and Cat’s hands.

"Mo shlaghdBn" she said softly "BBs, tB sP anseo." She shivered visibly as she spoke. Harry turned to Remus, hoping he understood what she had said.

Remus immediately summoned more blankets to her bed "I know your cold acushla, and don’t worry about BBs, I won’t let him take you." he said as he placed the blankets on her bed. Remus motioned for Harry to help him, together they placed several warm blankets over the still shivering Cat as Severus and Albus looked on, concern clearly showing on their faces.

Harry looked at Remus with worry-filled eyes "What did she say.... why is she shaking so much?" Harry felt numb as he watched her wince with pain, she still hadn’t opened her eyes more than a crack. Right now Harry wasn’t sure if that was good or not judging from all the blood that had been coming out of them only a few minutes ago. Harry sat back down on her bed and took her hand once more.

Remus sighed as he sat down on the other side of her bed, he took the bowl of warm water and a cloth that Poppy had brought and began to gently wipe Cat’s face. "She said she was cold" Remus forced a smile as he turned to Harry "And she hates to be dirty, especially sticky-dirty. It *creeps her out* as she says." Remus felt like an idiot, but at the moment is was the only thing he could do for her, simply keep her as comfortable as possible and hope for the best.

Harry looked intently at Remus "She said something else... why aren’t you telling me?" he was between screaming and tears "why do you always hide things from me? She’s my mother, I have a right to know."

"Ssshhhh.....tB dbthain ama againn" Cat said softly as she squeezed Harry’s hand.

Harry stared at her and then to Albus and Snape "Is anyone going to tell me what she said?"

Albus smiled gently "She is telling you to calm down Mr. Potter. She says *we have enough time*. I assume that means she won’t be going anywhere for a while."

"Is that what she said earlier?" Harry asked as he returned the squeeze "it didn’t sound the same." Harry watched as Remus and Albus exchanged glances. "Professor Snape.... will you tell me?" Harry asked as the potion master gave him a startled look.

Snape took a deep breath as he thought how best to explain to Harry he was as confused as he was. "I am sorry Mr. Potter, but regretfully I do not speak her language. The Ministry forbid any exchange with her culture hundreds of years ago." Severus winced as he saw the look of shock on Harry’s face, "they felt her people were a danger as was their magic. To the best of my knowledge only Professors Dumbledore and McGonagall have a true working knowledge of her language. Although I believe Professor Lupin and Sirius Black have managed to muddle their way through it as well." he said as he pointedly stared at Lupin.

Harry watched as Snape and Remus stared at each other, it was obvious Snape wanted to know what Cat had said. Snape was just as lost as he was, Harry had always thought it would be a wonderful day when Snape was shown to be as fallible as the rest of the world. "Is Sirius back yet???? Cat said he and Dimitri had to go somewhere... are they back." Harry asked anxiously, surely Sirius would tell him the truth. Suddenly another idea struck him "What about Cash or Triss, they’re family... they...."

"That’s enough Harry" Remus said firmly, "She’s not going to be doing anymore talking for a while." Remus sighed deeply, how could he tell Harry what she had said, *BaBs, taB saP anseo* Death, he is here. Harry was nearly at the end of his tether as it was, and Severus wasn’t far behind. Remus could only imagine what news like that would do to either of them........