Harry and Remus staid at Cat’s side, Harry kept shooting accusing glances at Remus. He had a right to know, he *needed* to know what was happening. He saw one of her episodes a few weeks ago, right before the school was attacked, but he never saw anything like this. She hadn’t been bleeding or this weak, granted she had been very cold, but that didn’t really seem to last like this was. Harry nearly jumped as he heard Cat moan painfully as she regained consciousness again. “Cat.... Cat” Harry said frantically “Cat.. don’t go away again. You’ve got to stay here, Please..... don’t leave me”

Cat opened her eyes a little wider this time, she was obviously in a great deal of pain, but she smiled at Harry as her tears began to fall. “Mo milis mac” she sighed as she saw Harry, squeezing his hand as strongly as she could.

“Thats right. Your son” Harry said as his own tears began again. It was one of the few phrases he had learned from her *my sweet son*, he would die if he would never be able to hear her say that to him again. Harry grimaced as he looked into her eyes, they were still full of blood, but at least her tears were normal now. “Cat, are your going to be alright? What happened to you?” Harry asked as he watched Cat blink her eyes several times, as if trying to focus them on something.

Cat shivered as she tried to speak, but she couldn’t get the words out. She felt terribly nauseated, and the room kept moving on her. She could make out Harry and Remus’s faces staring down at her, but she heard voices, so many voices.... they were still trying to tell her something...they HAD told her something. Opening her eyes again Cat now saw a small crowd gathered around her bed, Harry and Remus where still there, but so were Severus, James, Albus and her mother. Cat blinked her eyes a few times, ... something just didn’t seem right, something was out of place.

Her mind was too jumbled to make sense of anything, and the pain was nearly unbearable. The only thing keeping her focus was the sound of Harry’s voice. He sounded so frightened, so alone, why wasn’t James talking to him... and where was Lily, she would never let Harry suffer like this. Cat could feel herself becoming angry with James, why was he staring at her like that, didn’t he hear the fear in his son’s voice. It was then that it dawned on her, Harry was afraid to be left alone again, to be left without a family. Cat stared back at James, he was saying something to her.

Remus looked down at Cat he was becoming even more worried than before, something was going on. “Cat..... sweetheart... come on. Look at me, talk to me...” he said as he very gently turned her face towards his."Acushla?"

Cat blinked at him a few times before she actually saw him “Remus?” she was no longer sure what was real. She sighed with relief when she saw him smile and nod, Cat looked over his shoulder to see James, brother James, smiling widely at her, he knew she understood now. “Remus, tPann siad, Is bocht an scPal P” she said breathlessly.

Remus turned to look at Albus, he had heard her as well. They needed to get Harry and Severus out of here, Cat needed to tell them something, and it wasn’t good. Albus nodded to Remus as he turned to Severus.

Saying loudly enough to get his point across ‘I think it is time to let Miss MacLeod rest. Severus would you please take Harry to his tower? You both look like you could use some rest. I will see that Remus takes his wolfsbane tonight.” Albus insisted

Severus felt his jaw clench, they were trying to get he and Harry to leave, they wanted to talk to her alone. “I would prefer to stay with Cat. I...we.... have become rather...” Severus stammered as Albus gave him a pointed look.

“Yes Severus, I am very much aware of your closeness to Miss MacLeod, but she herself has asked that you and Harry leave. She needs to tell us something, and I doubt she is going to stay conscious much longer.” Albus held up his hands to ward off the inevitable arguments from Severus and Harry “Please, this is at her request, and I doubt she has the strength to argue. You may both return in a few minutes time”

As much as it hurt and angered him, Severus knew Dumbledore was right. Sighing deeply Severus hung his head as he glanced at Cat, she was still hovering between consciousness and not. Sev watched as Harry kept holding onto Cat’s hand, talking to her, trying to get her to snap out of it. Looking toward the window, Severus noticed it was getting dark, the moon would be rising soon. “Professor Lupin” Severus said loudly “it is getting late”.

“Then we must make haste” Albus said sternly “Severus perhaps a special potion for Miss MacLeod would be in order” Severus nodded as he took one more worried glance at Cat before he turned to walk towards his dungeon office, he would need special ingredients for this, the sustinere perpeti potion would not be enough, not this time. He paused as he looked at Harry who was still sitting there, holding Cat’s hand tightly.

Turning to Albus, Severus arched his eyebrow. Albus gazed at Harry and nodded his head “Severus , please take Harry outside for a few moments” raising his hand to stop Harry’s protests “This is a direct order Mr. Potter. She is very weak, she needs to tell us what happened, without distractions.”

Harry still did not move from Cat’s side, Severus sighed as he took Harry by the hand, gently guiding the numb young man outside the hospital doors. After the past five years of dealing with Harry’s stunts and penchant for finding trouble, Severus found himself wishing to see the mischievous glint in Harry’s eyes again, instead of the dull, painful look he had right now. “Harry, she will be alright. She is amazingly strong, she has been through this before” Severus said, not sure wether he was trying to convince Harry or himself.

Harry was barely listening to Snape, all he could think about was Cat. He had never seen anyone look so terrible, even Cedric hadn’t looked this bad. Harry closed his eyes and winced as the image of Cedric’s body flashed in front of him once again, only this time Cat was lying next to him. He was terrified he was going to lose her, he finally had a mother and and a family. Harry felt the tears stinging his face as he thought about all their conversations, the way she smiled at him, how he could ask her anything, no matter what. She never got angry with him, a little stern maybe, but he usually deserved it. Harry slumped against the wall next to the hospital door as he pictured life without her, it would be just he and Sirius again, that was if the news didn’t kill Sirius. Harry shuddered as he remembered all to well Sirius’s reaction to the news about Cat’s mother. “What am I going to do if she doesn’t survive?” Harry didn’t want to sound selfish, he loved her, she was his mother, the only one he had ever really known. His own died when he was so young, and Petunia never acted like a mother to him. Cat was the only one he knew, the only one he wanted.

Severus turned from the window where he was standing “We have to believe she will Mr. Potter. We have no other options” he told Harry softly as he fought off his own tears and fears.

“Can’t you make a potion, Dumbledore said something about a special potion.” Harry asked hopefully. As nasty as Snape had always been, he was nothing short of a genius when it came to potions, even Remus and Sirius had to agree on that point.

Severus shook his head slowly “It *may* help, but there is no cure for this” he sighed as he looked out of the window again......

“Kitty dear, Remus and I are here. Please, if you can, tell us what happened.” Albus asked gently as he smiled at Remus fussing over Cat, he was once again doing his best to clean the blood off of her without causing her anymore pain.

Cat smiled weakly at Albus as her hand moved to Remus’s “you look like hell sweetie” she remarked as Remus grimaced. He always looked bad during the full moon, and she always tried to cheer him up by teasing him, even now.

“You should talk” he said gently as he continued cleaning her face “did you get the licence plate of the truck?” he asked as he wiped away the blood. He sighed as he saw her surrender to his care, she was to weak to even complain about him fussing over her. But at least she was thinking clearly enough to speak in English. She knew all to well the limits of his knowledge of her language.

“Touche” Cat said softly as she winced, the pain was still horrible. “Albus?” she asked as she reached for his hand “Mo mac,.... Harry is alright? Is he safe?”

“He is understandably upset. And yes, he is safe, Severus is with him, they are waiting in the hall.” Albus replied “Now about you young lady. You have given us quite a scare tonight, am I to understand what Poppy has told me. Your heart had stopped, she and Severus had to revive you several times it seems.”

Cat nodded yes, she vaguely remembered it happening, and the burns on her chest were more than enough of a reminder. “This one has been particularly bad” she said weakly “things are happening so quickly.... James was here, he is worried about Harry and his friends. He wanted to make sure I understood what they were telling me. And that I listened to them about the Prophecy.”

Remus froze. “James??? Kitty, James died many years ago. I think it was one of your dreams, I know how real they are to you, but it can’t be real.” Remus knew all to well how real Cat and Lily’s dreams could be, they would wake up with bruises and marks on their bodies after some of the more *intense* visions they would receive.

Albus motioned Remus to be quite “Kitten... What prophecy, I need you to explain”

Cat closed her eyes as another wave of pain and nausea passed over her “Voldemort is trying to find the bloodlines, he knows the Hogwarts heirs, but it is not enough. He needs to find all of the prophecy, all of the bloodlines, including mine.” Cat looked at Albus with pain filled eyes “he’s beyond a monster Albus, he is Naga now. He lives only to gain more power, he doesn’t even have a purpose to his life, except maybe to kill others.” she felt her tears rolling across her face, as dear Remus wiped them away. She sighed gratefully, she was lucky to have so many people who cared about her as they did.

“How many bloodlines are there? And do you know what they are?” Albus asked softly as his mind began to search through his memory, trying to recall what he knew of any prophecies.

“I’m not sure, they tried to show me, but the bloodlines have crossed and merged so many times” she sighed “ the four Hogwarts, the Sidhe, the Phoenix Gate, the Milesian, the Mage’s and Merlin’s. It seems every time the bloodlines mingle, they become stronger.”

“And what will getting all of these *bloodlines* get him? The Hogwarts heir’s alone would give him nearly unlimited power.” Remus asked as his stomach began to knot.

“What will it get him... Remus think about it, think about me.” Cat said painfully “You know how powerful I am, and among my people I’m still considered a child. And I rarely ever use all my strength, it frightens me too much” she could see the shock on Remus’s face, he had no idea she had been holding back. “I can do almost anything I set my mind to, but as Severus has said to me. I have a good temperament for my power, I don’t like to hurt things.”

It was Albus’s turn to explain now “And I have seen the Milesian’s their power is also immense, and the rumored power of the Phoenix Gate, ... well it is nothing short of frightening. I cannot even begin to imagine what would happen if Voldemort came to control this sort of power.”

“Its worse than that Albus.” Cat said “that’s why James was here. Each bloodline controls a different part of magic. Mine is the power of the mind; if I can imagine it, I can do it. Phoenix Gate controls time; past, present, future. Milesian controls the earth itself. And Merlin’s controls the heart, the emotions, the *humanity* of mankind.”

Albus stared at her, this was indeed horrifying news, the fact that Voldemort had discovered what hundreds of generations had hidden disturbed him greatly. “There is something else your not telling me....isn’t there? What does the Mage’s bloodline control? And how exactly do you know so much about all of this, surely James didn’t explain it all”

Cat hung her head “I don’t know what the Mage bloodline controls, but I have seen them, they are divided up into clans like we are.” Cat replied, she hesitated to explain the rest of Albus’s question, she wasn’t sure how much she was free to tell. Maharet had always been very protective of the knowledge, as far as she had known, Sirius was the only person outside her family to even have seen it. Besides what good would telling anyone do, the less anyone knew about the bloodlines the safer everyone would be. Cat was about to give Albus her reasons for not explaining when another pain shoot through her body, causing her to whimper as she winced in pain.

“Kitty?” Albus asked gently “Are you alright my dear” he asked as he turned a worried eye to Remus.

Cat remained silent as the spasm of pain coursed through her body, when she was finally able to breath again she spoke softy “I’ve been better..... where is Harry, I want to see him.”

Remus opened the doors to the hospital wing slowly, Harry and Snape sat silently in the hall, each lost in their own thoughts. Harry watched as Remus wiped at his tears with the sleeve of his robe, walking over to Snape who spoke with him softly.

Noticing his tears, Snape quickly asked “Lupin..... is she alright?” he said nervously, “Was she able to tell you what happened?”

Remus took a deep breath and replied “She’s holding her own, though I think the potion will make it easier for her” Remus paused for a moment, then embraced Severus “Thank you for saving her. I had no idea..... her heart...” Remus gasped, “I can’t believe we came so close to losing her”

Severus clapped Remus on his back, it felt so strange to share his anxiety, his fear with anyone, particularly someone like Remus. They had been enemies all through their school years, and were not exactly close now, but they both cared for her and for the students. “ I could do no less, ..... I know you find it hard to believe, but I do love her.” he whispered. Stepping away from Remus, Severus continued “It is getting late Lupin, you need to take your Wolfsbane potion. I personally cannot handle anymore ... problems tonight.”

Remus nodded “Just let me talk to Harry first. She wants to see him” he sighed “I need to prepare him, this is only going to get worse.”

Severus placed his hand on Remus’s arm “Worse.... Was it the vision? Is it Voldemort?”

“We can discuss that on the way to your labs Severus” Remus said “It will take some time, it is not good news.” he drooped his shoulders as he sighed, he was getting to old for this. Ever since James and Lily’s deaths his life had been like this, one tragedy after another, it was tearing him apart. And the thought of losing Cat... he couldn’t bear it, she had been the first woman to love him in spite of his curse, she was the one who proved to him how much difference one person could make. If only Sirius were here, at least he would have someone who understood, and Cat would have someone to comfort her.... if it had been another night.... one without a full moon he himself would have staid with her. He missed the closeness they used to share as students, before he almost killed her, before he sent her into the arms of his friend.

Harry’s eyes grew wide as he watched Remus hug Snape. It was apparent that Remus had been crying, Harry held his breath as the two professors walked over to him. He braced himself to hear the news, his mother was dead. Harry felt his tears well-up as they approached him.

“Harry” Remus said softly as he bent down to were Harry was sitting on the floor “Cat wants to see you. She is very tired and very, very weak. I can’t stay with you.... the moon..” he grimaced as Harry nodded “Severus is going to go with me, but he will be back with a potion for her. It will make it easier for her to sleep, she needs to get as much rest as possible.”

“Will she be alright Remus? Is she going to live?” Harry asked as he got up from the floor “If she’s awake now, she’s got to be better...right?”

“We can only hope ..... Harry, we don’t know much about what happens to her when she goes through these *episodes* we do what we can and hope she’ll be alright.” Remus answered “She has always recovered in the past,... no reason to think that will change now.” he tried to force a smile, but he knew he wasn’t convincing anyone.

Severus shook his head, this was not going well, Harry knew they were only guessing, and he was beginning to look panicked, it was obvious the boy needed direction. “Mr. Potter, she wants to see you... please stay with her until I come back with the potion. I do not want her to be left alone under *any* circumstances” Severus said in as stern a voice as he could manage “Am I understood?”

“Yes Sir” Harry responded softly “but what if something happens... . who should I call, what should...”

Severus raised his hand for silence “Harry, use your head..... Madame Pomfrey is there, I am most certain she will be able to handle anything until I return.” he tried to sound angry, but he could tell by the look on Harry’s face it was not working anymore. “Please.... she needs you” he added motioning towards the hospital doors.

Harry practically ran to her bedside, only slowing down when he saw Dumbledore was still with her. Judging by Dumbledore’s face, they were talking about something important. Harry cleared his throat as he approached them, relief flooded through him as he saw Professor Dumbledore smile at him.

“Ahhh, here is the young man now Kitty. Perhaps you will stop worrying and get some rest, hmmm?” Albus said in a fatherly tone. “Mr. Potter, I trust you will be able to see that she behaves herself. No getting out of bed, no games, no talking to strangers.” he winked as Cat gave a weak smile.

“I don’t think I’ll be giving him much trouble Albus,... at least not tonight.” Cat replied softly as she looked at Harry.

Harry faltered when Cat looked at him, her eyes were practically on fire, they looked so intensely bright against her pale white skin, and her hair splashed brightly against her face, he was having a hard time deciding what was her hair and what was the remnants of her blood. He sat down on her bed and grabbed her hand “Cat..... are you alright? You look so pale”

Cat smiled as she squeezed his hand “Don’t worry about me Harry, I’ve been through this before.” she sighed “I’m what they call a tough cookie”

“Tough cookie... you come up with the strangest things” Harry laughed as he squeezed her hand “Are you alright now... it the danger over?” he asked, looking for re-assurance from her.

“For tonight.. Yes.” Cat said as she closed her eyes “the only thing left now is the pain. As long as I don’t get another vision, and I don’t exert myself too much..... everything will be fine” she gave Harry’s hand a firm squeeze “I promise”

Harry smiled brightly with relief, he needed to hear her say that, even if he knew she was making it up. He just wanted to know she wasn’t giving up. “What can I do? Do you need more covers, or water... anything?”

Cat smiled at him, he was such a sweet boy “Just stay with me Harry. I want to know you’re alright....” She found herself wishing it was already the holidays and they were at home, she was afraid she would never be able to take him there now “ I wish your godfather were here. I don’t want to leave you alone.”

“Your not going to leave me alone” Harry said firmly “you’re my mother, and you promised me I would never be alone again..... I’m keeping you to your word” he added softly “I won’t let you go.”

Cat sighed as she smiled back at Harry, her little boy, Lily would be so very proud of him. And soon, if she managed to survive the damage done to her heart, she would take him to Caledonia, back to family, and he would never be alone again, ever. If only Sirius would get back, she could trust him to watch over Harry, to protect him from MoM and Voldemort. He would be capable of taking Harry to her family if anything happened to her. “Talk to me Harry, tell me what you did today... I need to hear a friendly voice. Have the twins been behaving?”

Harry smiled happily, he knew she was going to be alright now. He started talking to her about all the nonsense Ron, Fred, George and himself had gotten into over the past few days. He felt his spirits lifting as she laughed softly when he told her about Ginny catching Ron going through her stuff, she had somehow managed to conjure him into one of her dresses...... He talked with her for nearly half an hour about anything he could think of, watching anxiously as he saw her wince every now and again as the pain would come back. As time passed Harry began to wonder were Snape was, the pain seemed to be getting worse, and it was coming more frequently as well.