“She understood this was something that needed to be taken care of, preferably without the children knowing. Although I’m a bit more interested in how exactly you apparated ‘both’ of us ‘inside’ Hogwarts. You do realize there are protection spells all around the school to prevent exactly what you just did.”

“Well they obviously need to be reinforced then” Cat replied, “I didn’t feel a thing, usually I’d feel like thousands of needles were stabbing me if I try to get though one of those things.” she explained as she shuddered, she remembered all to well the many times she had tried to break through the spells her clan and the MoM had placed to prevent her from entering the wizarding world after her banishment. “Here Albus’s office… shall we?”

Arthur nodded, still wondering what the limits of Cat MacLeod’s powers were and whether or not she posed a true threat to the wizarding world in general, or his family specifically. However any doubts he had were quickly erased when he saw the way she was greeted by Hagrid and Albus. The half-giant groundskeeper had seen her first and all but crushed her in a bear hug, swinging her around like a child as he laughed happily. It wasn’t until Albus insisted he set her down and allow her to breathe that Hagrid released Cat, although she seemed very happy to see him just the same.

“Hagrid, perhaps you should hurry on and help Cash with that errand we discussed.” Albus hinted. “Well Kitty, I see you are looking much healthier than last I saw you.” Albus smiled, holding his arms open to her. She immediately ran to him and hugged him tightly, making the old wizard smile broadly, looking every bit like a grandfather greeting his favorite grandchild. “And I see you have brought company with you. Hello Arthur, how were your holidays?”

“Fine, fine Albus, and yours?” Arthur beamed, feeling remarkably at ease as he took a seat in the headmaster’s office.

“Amazingly quite, considering.” Albus replied, keeping a cautious eye on Cat. “Have you had the chance to explain anything to Kitty?”

“Not in any detail, just that some of the death eaters were Ministry members” Cat spoke up, “I assume that’s what this meeting is about, to explain to me exactly how they got in here and who they were.”

“I am afraid it is much more involved than that my dear.” Albus sighed as he motioned for them to take a seat. “One of the men involved in the attack was the head Minister, Cornelius Fudge, along with the majority of his cabinet it would seem.”

“What?” Cat whispered softly, “Voldemort’s followers have the Ministry under their control?” she shook her head in disbelief “It cant be, it just can’t….I knew Malfoy and his cronies were, but …oh Albus.” her eyes were wide with dread and horror as she realized the extent of the danger to her son, no where in the wizarding world was safe, not even Hogwarts it would seem.

“Well if its any consolation, I don’t think there is enough of the MoM left to be under anyone’s control anymore.” Arthur commented, “And that is why we are here. Tell me Cat, do you have any idea at all who or how many people were killed?”

“No, I wasn’t exactly paying attention to that, they were hurting the people I love and I had to stop them.” Cat explained simply. “In all honesty, I doubt I would be able to even give a very clear account of what happened. They stood in my way, they threatened my clan…” she shrugged her shoulders. “I think Raul and Hamish were there, they would probably be the best ones to ask.”

Seeing the looks on Albus and Arthur’s faces, she sighed deeply, “Who were they, besides Fudge I mean, I know Malfoy got away, sneaky gob that he is.”

Now it was Arthur’s turn to sigh deeply, rising to his feet, he picked up a list from Albus’s desk. “As near as we can tell, Fudge, the heads of Mysteries, Magical Catastrophes, Reversal, Control of Magical Creatures, Magical Law Enforcement …..need I continue?”

“Okay, lets try it another way” Cat said slowly as her knuckles turned white from clutching the arm of the chair. Her voice trembled as she rephrased the question, “Who wasn’t involved?”……

Fang stared blankly at the approaching caravan, so they had finally arrived, the Roma that Dimitri and Sirius had gone to meet. He wiped away a tear as he remembered how excited Olia had been when she heard Cash talking about them, she simply could not wait to meet them. And now they were here, but his Olia was gone for good, lost to him for eternity. “Was it worth it Olia? Was it worth your life, was it worth my heart?” he sniffled as he turned his back on the approaching caravans, choosing instead to patrol the Forbidden Forest once more. But he knew he wouldn’t go very far, he would end up were he always did, at the place were Gaz had lost her treacherous soul, and his beloved Olia drew her last breathe.

As he walked along, he thought over his short life, he was barely even a man by his clan’s standards. Yet he had been through more than most elders had. He had traveled across the wild and the cities of men, joined forces and earned the respect of some of the most powerful creatures on Earth, found and lost the love of his life, and now he had become an Alpha. He chuckled almost insanely as he pulled at his thick, full mane of platinum, Olia would have adored it, then again, knowing her, she probably would have insisted on braiding it or something equally as silly.

“I miss your laugh Olia. I miss the way your fingers would search out mine. I wish it had been me and not you.”……..

Taking advantage of Albus and Arthur’s deep conversation regarding the running of the Ministry, Cat decided to pop out and check up on her Gangrels and on Sev. She felt a pang of guilt every time she pictured Sev’s dark eyes, looking at her with undisguised adoration and trust as he made love to her, she had to make this right, she had to bring him back to Fernglennis with her, give him a fair chance to meet her clan, just as Sirius did. “I just hope you aren’t angry with me for not taking you with me in the first place.” she sighed as she tapped on his office door.

Hearing no answer, she quietly opened the door and peered inside, “Hmm, doesn’t even look like he’s been here. That seems a bit odd.” she commented as she entered his office, smiling as she picked up one of his many awards for his contributions to the art and science of potion making. Let the others say what they might, but Severus was a brilliant and talented man, no one could truly argue that point, at least not against her. “Where are you Sev, I can’t believe you didn’t return to the school when I left like that. I know you far too well to think you wouldn’t check up on Harry and I.”

Leaving his office, Cat quickly went to the potion classrooms, becoming more and more concerned as she realized that, by the smell of things, he hadn’t been there in several days. There was only one place left to check, his bedroom, whether he was there or not at the moment, one sniff would tell her how long it had been since he slept in his own bed. Looking at her watch, she grimace as she realized how late it was getting, she had to find Sev, call out for Cash and get herself and Arthur back before Harry realized where she had gone.

Dashing through the halls, she made her way towards the Slytherin dorms, but turned off a few feet away from the entrance and darted down a hidden passageway stopping in front of several bookshelves full of large, dusty books. “honorare et spiritus” she whispered softly as the shelves rotated open, revealing the short corridor that led to Severus’s rooms. Calling out his name softly, Cat walked into his sitting room, she couldn’t even feel his presence in the room. Sighing deeply, she walked toward his bedroom door, knocking as she entered but knowing in her heart he wasn’t there. “Well it looks like you may have made up my mind for me.” she sighed as she sat on his bed, wondering if he ‘had’ actually staid behind at his home.

“Oh Severus, you’re angry with me aren’t you?” she whispered as she saw a photo of herself sitting on his nightstand. She smiled as she picked it up, remembering the night it had been taken, it was shortly after she had arrived at Hogwarts, Severus had shown her around the school and they had run into one of the Slytherin students, who was taking pictures for a report on Magical Beings. When he realized that she was a Sidhe, he had insisted on taking her picture for his report, she had felt very silly, but with a little encouragement from Sev, she had indeed posed for him. It warmed her heart to think that he had kept a copy of that picture right next to his bed, even after all these years. She shook her head as she wondered what else he had done in that bed as her picture stared out at him, but quickly reminded herself that thoughts like that would only get her into more trouble.

Placing the picture back on the nightstand, she looked around the room, hoping to find some sign that he had been there since the Yule Ball. “The house elves do much too good a job,” she complained “they must dust everyday. Oh Sev, what am I going to do, I can’t bear the thought of hurting you, but if you’ve already made up your mind, I see no point in delaying things with Sirius.”

Deciding the only thing left to do was to write him a letter, she took a piece of parchment from Sev’s writing desk, quickly scrawled a message for him and placing it on the pillows of his bed. “I hope you are well Severus, I do miss you. Although I have the terrible feeling I’ll never see you in the same way again.” As she left his rooms, she silently called out for her Gangrels, anxious to see how they were faring, and what they had done with the results of her little ‘outburst’ of last week……

“’Ello ‘mitri” Hagrid grinned as he saw Cash’s friend amongst the strangers. “Cash told us t’be expectin ya any day. Did ya ave a good trip?”

Dimitri smiled widely at the half-giant “It was interesting to say the least.” He grinned as Hagrid gave him a welcoming hug. The moment the children realized the large man was a friend of Dimitri’s they quickly rushed over to meet him and his hound. All of which seemed to tickle Hagrid to no end.

“Do ye mind if me n’Fang here play with em a bit?” Hagrid asked, chuckling as some of Elora’s children helped a little girl onto Fang’s back. “I don wanta frighten the little things, I’ve heard you’ve met some ….ehm…not so friendlies on the way here.”

“We met a lot of things on the way here, not the least of which were several of Angel’s family members, including a few large, well armed fellows with amazingly good timing.”

“So I heard” a voice spoke from out of the shadows. “One of the border towns wasn’t it?” Cash asked as he stepped out of the forest.

“You circled around us?” Dimitri gasped, amazed that he hadn’t even an inkling of the Methuselah’s presence.

“Of course I did.” Cash smirked “How else was I to know that you were in good company? For all I knew Magda could have done something to any of you. That’s why I asked Hagrid to take his time coming to meet you, I figured they’d all be to excited to get a look at him to even notice me.” he added, then flung his arms wide to Dimitri. “Come here childer.”

Dimitri grinned widely, flinging himself into Cash’s arms, as the Gangrel Methuselah greeted him warmly. “I’ve missed you and your council my friend.” Dimitri admitted as he felt Cash clap him fondly on his back.

“And I’ve missed you, Dimitri. Although I must admit, I’ve been very busy since you’ve left.” Cash explained as he draped his arm over Dimitri’s shoulder. “We have a great deal of company, several major attacks and one extremely violent temper tantrum courtesy of my dear Angel.”

“When you say violent…” Dimitri whispered, casting a glance towards the children who were busy playing with Hagrid and his overly large dog.

“I gave up counting when we hit twenty, they nearly killed her son, husband and myself. She didn’t take very kindly to it.” Cash murmured, not wanting to worry the others. Giving Dimitri a look that informed him to drop the subject for the time being, Cash added loudly “So you scoundrel, who have you brought with you?”

Dimitri laughed at the scoundrel comment, pulling Cash along as they joined Hagrid and the Roma. After introducing the majority of the Roma, Dimitri wrapped his arms around Fallon and Elora. “And these two lovelies hold a high place in the hearts of the MacLeod’s it seems.” he teased as Fallon rolled her eyes and Elora blushed. “This lady on my left is Elora….”

“Elora huh” Cash grinned, “ah yes, I’ve heard a great deal about you from Paddy. How are your little ones?” Cash asked as he took Elora in his arms and kissed her cheeks, if Paddy’s enthusiasm was any indication, she may well be part of the clan before too long. Hearing the sound of gentle laughter, Cash turned to see the woman on Dimitri’s other arm. He paused momentarily as his eyes took in every aspect of her, bowing deeply, he kissed her hand “You must be Fallon, many greetings to you.” Cash smiled softly, watching Fallon blush a deep rose as he stared into her eyes.

“Planning on introducing me?” A woman’s voice spoke up from behind Cash.

“Hello Desiree, I was wondering how long you would stay behind.” Cash smirked, his eyes still locked with Fallon’s. “I thought you and Raul were going to have a heart to heart.”

“His heart didn’t seem to be in it” Desiree deadpanned as she walked to Cash’s side, ”he told me he was needed elsewhere.” Slipping her arm into his while studying the Roma and their guardian carefully she asked. “Is this the childer you told me about, the Ventrue sired Dimitri?”

Seeing the concerned look in Dimitri’s eyes, Cash released Fallon’s hand and placed it on Dimitri’s shoulder. “Yes, this is the childer Julian sent to us. Although to listen to me brag, one would easily mistake him for my own.” Cash was rewarded by the happiest smile he had ever seen cross the young Ventrue’s face. “He has made us all very proud,” he continued, beaming back at Dimitri. “he has overcome many difficulties, proven trustworthy and has shown a great deal of initiative in completing his duties.”

Looking up and down Dimitri’s form, Desiree simply smiled and replied “Impressive.” She watched with amusement as the childer’s face became pink with an all too mortal blush. He was definitely going to be fun, hopefully in many, many ways, as they walked back towards the castle, she kept her eyes on him, wondering if she had found a new convert to her clan………

Raul sighed as he walked through the halls, he really shouldn’t have been so short with the Caitiff Primogen, but once again, the MacLeod presence and loyalty was rearing its head. Its not that he minded such an unwavering loyalty, in fact he respected it, he just wished it was second to Kindred loyalty. After all, their kind had survived since the dawn of time by following the laws and customs, and it seemed blasphemous to ignore them the way they did.

He found his thoughts wandering back to Angel, more specifically to the extremes of her personality. Up until a few days ago, she had been the one mortal he would trust with his immortal life, maybe even his soul. She was always gentle, always kind, ready to laugh or sing, or best of all, simply listen. He smiled as he recalled the way they would talk for hours about anything or nothing. Music, politics, art, religion, cultures, food, family, it didn’t matter, she was a calming presence for him, a safe and comforting place to rest his weary soul. But now, after seeing what she was truly capable of, he had more doubts than he could ever express. He had always assumed that she needed them, needed ‘him’, there to protect the school, its students, and herself. However that could hardly be the case if she could so effortlessly destroy the men who nearly killed them.

Placing his hand over his eyes, Raul rubbed them roughly, wondering why he was truly there, why was he even needed? He was a man without a purpose, and it was a position he truly hated to find himself in. Just as he was considering sending a message to the prince, informing him he would be vacating his position, he heard a familiar call. Although soft and unassuming, he knew immediately, Angel had returned and was looking for them.

Without pausing to think, Raul quickly dashed down the corridors, only slowing down when he saw her, it was a sight that all but took his breath away. She wasn’t wearing the teacher’s robes he had grown accustom to seeing her in. Instead she was wearing a long, blue velvet dress, one that softly draped over her curves, giving her a very feminine outline. He smiled wistfully when he realized her long hair had been left hanging loose, gently grazing her backside as she walked towards their haven.

Speeding to her side, he delighted as he whispered her name, making her jump with surprise. At first she scolded him for frightening her, but he could already see the smile appearing at the corner of her mouth. Taking two steps back, Raul smirked and held open his arms, praying that she was still the Angel he had developed such a fondness for over the past several months and not the creature who had left them a few short days ago. “My Angel, my dear little Angel.” he sighed as she quickly ran to him, hugging him tightly. Any concerns or doubts he had harbored about her quickly faded as he realized she was still soft and warm, still full of love and compassion for him and his fellow kindred. But his joy was tempered as he realized something wasn’t right with her, she seemed tired, almost weak.

“Angel? Is something wrong?” Raul asked as he touched her chin, tilting it upwards so he could get a good look at her face. “Has something happened to you or your son?” seeing her shake her head no, he added. “Is it Sirius, has something happened to him?”

“No Raul” Cat said softly, smiling at his concern, “I’m just a little tired, and more than slightly overwhelmed.” she confided. “Do you have time to walk with me? I should head back to Albus’s office, I’m sure he and Arthur will be wondering what’s happened to me by now.”

“Of course” Raul responded immediately as he placed her arm on his, “But only if you tell me why you are overwhelmed and who is Arthur.”

“Actually, you already know Arthur. At least he’s told me the two of you have spoken” Cat explained, “You went to see he and Molly, something about returning their children and …well… I obviously came up in conversation.” Cat sighed, her shoulders slumping as she hung her head.

Raul paused as he thought of how to continue the conversation, he did have questions he needed her to answer, but it was obvious she had already had quite a taxing day. “I take it you’ve been told who it was who attacked us” he said evenly, “and what has happened to them.”

“If by ‘what has happened to them’ you mean I slaughtered them? Then yes, I’ve heard.” she snipped, “Filthy rotters the lot of them. Its bad enough what they did to Sirius and Cash, but to try and kill my son, as well as the other children in this school.” Cat closed her eyes tightly. “Raul, I can’t even say I’m sorry I killed them, they deserved it, they were willing to murder every person here, every child within these walls.”

Hearing her become suddenly quiet, Raul looked down to see silent tears falling from her eyes. She obviously was still the same woman he had thought her to be, if she wasn’t, her heart wouldn’t be so full of horror and disgust over what had happened, she wouldn’t care that so many lives had been lost.

He felt his heart grow warm as he realized that as strong and capable as she was, she still needed him to be there. She needed him to help protect her and her students, to keep the others focused on the task at hand, or quite simply, to lend a shoulder for her to cry on. “Hush now my Angel.” he cooed as he wiped the tears from her cheeks, “they are hardly worth your precious tears. You did the only thing you could to save us. Your son and your husband would have died if you had not taken the action you did.” Raul knitted his brow when he heard her laugh softly. “Angel? What is it?”

“Oh Raul” she sighed as she leaned against him, thankful for his faith and support. “You’ve been listening to Cash for far too long. You know full well Sirius isn’t my husband. Hell, I’ve only just realized he wasn’t married, has no children and was wrongfully imprisoned……..you didn‘t know about any of this, did you? Because if I find out one more person was withholding the truth from me in an effort to ‘protect‘ me, I may just scream.”

Raul laughed as he saw the sparkle return to her eyes. “No Angel, I kept nothing like that from you. Although I must confess, I have kept and must continue to keep many secrets from you. But I would like to share what I do know about Sirius Black with you, if you don’t mind.”

“Please do, I believe you are the first person to even offer to share anything with me.” she sighed. “And I have the feeling I will need to make some decisions very, very soon,” she admitted as her hand went to her abdomen, “so please, tell me everything you can.”

Raul nodded, “I have had several long talks with Sirius, he seems to be a good man, although I have serious doubts regarding his ability to stand by your side if things become too hard. I caught him the day you nearly died Angel, he was on his way to leave for good.” he paused, hugging her against himself and kissing her head as she gasped. “Let me finish….he was leaving because he was sure you were in love with another man, he had seen the two of you kissing in the greenhouse, it tore and his heart and his soul. But instead of staying and fighting for you, he chose the coward’s path and decided to run away, this diminishes my opinion of him. Although I give him credit for running back to your side the moment I told him you were dying. I saw a look of madness and horror in his eyes when he realized he may lose you forever, I heard the pain and desperation in his voice when he argued with me, told me you were healthy enough to strike him and run away…..”

“I struck….oh, yeah, I forgot about that” Cat replied sheepishly, seeing the questioning look in Raul’s eyes, she answered. “He had said some unkind things to me, I was hurt and angry with him.”

“It seems a deep passion runs between you both, although I’m not entirely sure that it is a good thing.” he chuckled. “I also know that you love him more than you have ever loved any other man, Angel.” he added solemnly.

“Now Raul, exactly ‘how’ would you know that?” Cat teased, “its not like you could read my diary or anything.”

Raul stopped mid stride and turned Angel to face him, cupping her warm face in his cool hands, he looked deeply into her eyes. “I’ve seen inside your heart Angel, remember? You allowed me this once, not very long ago. I saw him, before I even ‘knew’ who he was, I knew you loved him within the very depths of your heart. It is that reason alone I sought him out and befriended him. I needed to know that he loved you as fiercely and as deeply.”

“And does he?” Cat asked, her eyes shimmering with years of pain and uncertainty. “Every bit as much, and more.” Raul whispered as he hugged her, burying his head into her soft, fragrant hair as he felt the tension melt from her body……

“Is she back yet?” Albus asked as Arthur returned to the office.

“No, I wonder where she could have slipped off to, I didn’t even see her leave.” Arthur remarked, wondering if he should be worried or not.

“I would say ‘not’. “ Albus smiled, his blue eyes twinkling mischievously. “She has a great many friends and family here, I’m quite sure she has simply gone to check on them.”

“One of them wouldn’t be Professor Snape, would it? Harry will be very disappointed if he knew she was here, I can’t imagine what he would say if Snape came back with us. Although I have little doubt as to what my Molly would say.”

“You may find Severus to be a changed man, Arthur.” Albus replied, “I myself am amazed at the strides he has taken over the past several weeks. It seems our Kitty has opened his heart to many things.”

“Really? I find it hard to picture him as anything other than strict and harsh. I seem to recall the way he treated my sons over the years.” Arthur sighed, “Not that some of it wasn’t well deserved mind you.”

Smiling widely, Albus nodded, “The twins keep things very interesting for several of their teachers, although to be honest, I believe the staff enjoys the challenge. I know for a fact that Remus and Kitty do.”…….

“So why isn’t Cash here?” Cat asked as she and Raul approached the gargoyle statue that hid the stairs to Albus’s office. “It’s not like him not to respond when I call.”

“To be honest Angel, I barely heard you. I think you are much weaker than you care to admit, but that aside, he went to greet the Roma, they have only just arrived.” Raul explained. “And just so you are not surprised, the hunters have arrived.” he added flatly.

“The Hunters? You mean Brutus?” She smiled brightly “Daithi was able to find him? That’s wonderful, he told me he wasn’t sure how quickly Brutus could be summoned ” Cat cried gleefully, “You have no idea how worried I’ve been that Gustavas would find a way around those spells I threw up before I left.”

Raul raised an eyebrow. “Then you DID request his presence? Cash wasn’t just saying that?”

Cat looked confused, “Of course I did, we all know only Brutus can truly kill his brother and rid the world of that wretched Tremere. Why, should I have done something differently?” she asked, then suddenly gasped. “Oh no, I wasn’t supposed to go through you was I? I’m sorry, I’m afraid I’m not always the best at remembering Kindred protocol.” she apologized.

Raul kissed her and smiled happily as he twirled her around on the stairs. “Angel, you have made me a very happy man. You have no idea how relieved I am to know it was you who asked Prince Daithi to send them.” he hugged her tightly, lifting her off the floor in his exuberance.

“Happiness like this I like” she grinned back, “after all, I’m not one to argue when a handsome man has his arms around me.” she teased, causing Raul to roll his eyes and smirk, but blushing all the same. …