Kate Mavis paced around her classroom nervously. She couldn't help it...this always happened upon her meetings with Remus.

The weathered woman was waiting for her old friend to come and re-teach her magic. After being confined in the muggle world for almost fifteen years and somewhat obilivated, it was no surprise that her skills had deteriorated.

With a war coming, that wasn't acceptable.

So Remus offered to help her. It was the least he could do after his lack of effort in saving her, the love of his life's best friend.

The woman was startled by a knock on the door, soft yet assertive. She took a deep breath and walked to the oak dividing them and slowly opened it. Their gazes instantly brightened upon seeing each other. 

For some reason Kate had the urge to embrace him, but settled for a soft greeting before leading him into the room, shutting the door behind them.

"Hello Kate, how have you been?" asked Remus kindly.

"Just living."

He nodded, understanding the depressing pain of such a simple statement. They were the only two from their time left. The world was cold and lonely. Sirius' death flashed in front of him quickly, and he took a deep breath. "We'll be practising patronuses today."

"Okay...that's against dementors, right?" A nod. "I somewhat remember."

"To cast the patronus charm, you must concentrate with all of your might on a happy memory. The happier your memory, the better and more powerful the charm will be...take a few seconds to think of one."

Kate closed her hazel eyes, trying so hard to remember...and being put on the spot was even worse. She remembered the hope when Remus rescued her from the Death Eaters...but it was lost instantly at the vision of his face upon receiving news of all the deaths, especially Leah's. She remembered meeting the man she believed she would marry, being engaged, but he was a dark traitor. School memories mushed into one insperable glob.

But the memory that stood out was her being sorted into Gryffindor. 

Yes, she remembered that joy so vivdly. After meeting bubbly and smart Leah on the train, she knew she wanted to be sorted with her. They made a pact during the journey that they would stick together. She knew Leah was good...but her own destiny was uncertain.

One descrepancy on her father's side was what kept her from being in the Sacred Twenty Eight on both sides of the family. She was so scared she would be sorted into Slytherin. Ravenclaw was likely to be a close second.

No, Gryffindor  was her home...and when she sat upon the stool and her fate was decided, she couldn't care less about the negatives of going home and being alienated and scolded and beaten, or that she would be in distasteful kahoots with a muggle-born...she was brave at heart. She was good. 

Kate Mavis broke the cycle.

"I have a good one, I remember when-"

"It's okay, you don't have to share," reassured Remus, smiling upon her excitement.

But she felt deflated...she knew he was proud of his sorting as well. She wanted so badly to connect with him.

He continued, "To cast it, you will do a circular incantation and say 'expecto patronum'. You may not get it the first time, but remember to keep that memory strong...ready?"

"I think so," she said sheepishly. She stood up straight, drew her wand, and followed his instructions. "Expecto Patronum."

White light came from the tip of her wand and she grinned. Remus clapped. "Good job! Now let's try to make it corpreal."

"What does that mean and how do you do it?"

"It means your light takes the form of an animal, a protective guardian."

"Can you demonstrate?"

Remus pursed his lips and shook his head. He hadn't in so long and the sight always pained him. A sigh escaped his lips. "How about you do it with me? Just copy what I do." She nodded. "1...2...3...Expecto Patronum!"

Again, white light burst from the tips of their wands but this time it took a different form. From Remus' wand came the siamese cat he expected that was scarily similar to Leah's animagus.

But from Kate's...a wolf.

A gasp escaped her lips as she watched in shock and horror and awe as the cat started to playfully chase the wolf. 

Kate's prior patronus was an unforgettable phoenix. She was a strong, wise, and loyal person, it was no suprise that she had such a powerful spirit animal. She was even voted most-likely to become Mistress of Magic.

But this change was...intersting. 

It dawned on her, as if the ceiling and the rest of the world were crashing down all at once.

The wolf represented Remus. She had to have cared for him in a special way for that to happen...but he cared for Leah, hence why her animagus form was his patronus.

The two broken adults stood in heavy silence trying to find the words to say as the figures continued to play. Remus waved his wand and the figures disintegrated. "I'm going to get going...have a good evening."

"Yeah..." she said as he started towards the door. "Or we could talk about it."

He stopped in his tracks, his back to her as he squeezed his eyes shut and shook his head. "I think it's best if we just drop it. And besides, you seem to be doing fine with magic, you don't need much more help-"

"Oh, so it's just another excuse to leave? To isolate yourself even more?"

"Goodbye-"

"She's dead!" exclaimed Kate, her eyes welling with tears as she watched him stop short by the door. "She has been dead for over a decade, a-and you still are so hung up over her! You won't let yourself move on! And quite frankly...you've been a coward since, abandoning everyone and all. She would be ashamed! Disappointed-"

"Stop." The word came out in a low growl. "You don't understand-"

"She was my best friend! I loved her more than anyone else-"

"I did too! She cured me! She gave the gift of a normal human life to me!" He shook his head. "I...I thought we could try to reconcile but I was wrong. Goodbye, Kate."

And with that, the door slammed shut, leaving the two to wallow in isolation and self-pity.

~=~

"Alright, we'll be sure to get that information from Slughorn soon," said Harry with a kind smile, waving to the headmaster. "Anna, are you coming?"

"I, um...I'm gonna stay behind. I'll see you in the Common Room."

The raven-haired boy paused before nodding and walking through the doorway and to the staircase. Dumbledore and Anna were left in silence as she tried to find the words to explain her predicament.

"I must admit, I'm pleasantly surprised that you are willingly speaking to me," said the man with a chuckle. "What's troubling you?"

Anna chose her words carefully. "If I tell a potential situation with a student...will it get them in trouble or put them in danger?"

"Surely by now, you know how I feel about punishment."

"True...okay, so I'm really worried because, well...Draco is a Death Eater and apparently he was given the task to take a life to spare his own. Recently he tried to kill Caspar but I'm not sure if that's who he's really after," explained Anna in a rushed manner, her eyes only able to meet the floor as she ratted out her only family left.

"And who told you this?"

"Moaning Myrtle."

The man gave a smile. "Then how do you know-"

"I heard them talking and decided to find out more...she's not lying, but she's no use! Something has to happen. It's not that I want to spread that he's...one of them but...if he's going to kill someone he can't take that back!" exclaimed Anna as tears welled in her eyes. She quickly blinked them back, taking a deep breath.

A chuckle escaped the headmaster's lips. "And what makes you think he could succeed in such a task, Anna?"

"He...he has to...he's not strong enough to-"

"To kill someone? I agree-"

"No!" she cut him off, "You don't understand...the way he's been raised is to be selfish and he won't take a stand against Voldemort. He's too weak. Someone is going to end up dead if we don't do something!"

There was silence as Dumbledore's eyes twinkled with glee at the girl's oblivious nature, but they also held something sad. 

The words that were about to come felt like a sledgehammer coming down on the girl.

"I am going to die either way, but not by Draco's hand. The boy, believe it or not, has too much of a heart, too much innocence."

Anna's eyes widened and she couldn't hold back her gasp. She felt suffocated, like the evil of the war was attacking her at that very moment. Her hope was dwindling away quickly as the man before her, the man with all of the answers, just pronounced his own death.

"No," she stated simply.

"Anna-"

"You...you can't do that!" Burning hot anger was in her throat. "You don't get to escape! Not now! You always avoid the problems at hand and it's not fair!"

"Please, listen-"

"NO!" she yelled, her fists clenched so hard that her nails broke the skin of her palms, feeling the sticky maroon. Her irises engulfed in red as the dark magic in her veins caused her arms to throb. "YOU ALWAYS LEAVE US TO DEAL WITH THE MESS! WE'RE BLOODY CHILDREN!"

"Severus is going to kill me," said Dumbledore with a sad smile, examining his burnt hand. "I'm sure you understand...it's an act of mercy-"

"STOP!" she cried, shaking her head. "Y-you're not allowed-"

"Anna, you need to listen to me," he said softly, putting a hand on her shoulder. Charcoal grey and sky blue eyes locked, both full of sorrow and pain. They felt connected, and although Anna was angry, she was already mourning for the man that gave her just a string of hope...the one person she hoped had all the answers.

She realized he didn't.

And he never would.

It was the two teenagers that did, the ones that had the weight of the world on their shoulders. A burden they never asked for. 

"I am currently dying, I will die either by a curse or the Dark Army. Draco could never kill...I trust Severus with my life, I trust him with my death...and I trust you with this knowledge-"

"Who else has to die?" she asked bitterly, her lip quivering as she wrapped her arms around herself. 

"I can't tell-"

"Yes you can."

"Anna, please-"

"I will tell everyone your plan," she said coldly. As he began to retract his wand, she held her hand out and soundlessly disarmed him, kicking the wand away once it clattered to the floor. "I know that you know the outcome of this war...tell me!"

Dumbledore gave a sigh, turning his back to the girl. "You always knew you wouldn't survive this war."

Her stomach churned, but not for her inevitable end. She didn't care about herself. "Please...not Harry..."

Silence.

"Please."

She let out a sob, putting her hands to her face, trying to block out the world. No words were spoken as Dumbledore put a gentle arm around her. He instantly regretted telling her...but it was only a matter of time before she figured it out. 

He was surprised she wasn't a seer.

"Anna...I trust that you will tell no one-"

"Why us? We didn't do anything-"

"I need Slughorn's memory for reasons like this..." he trailed off, cautious of his words. "I have a theory-"

"Horcruxes...is the ring one? Is that why your hand is...?"

He nodded, putting his hand in his robe pocket. "I don't know how many or what they are...but I believe the night at Godric's Hollow, Voldemort's soul was so desperate to live. The last piece of it split and latched onto you two-"

"So we must be destroyed?" A nod. "Does he know?"

"I don't believe so...Anna, you must promise me you will tell no one, I shouldn't have said anything to you. Harry especially cannot know. I need to have your word."

Anna wiped the last tears from her eyes and stared at the man that was supposed to protect her. She felt conflicted. She knew his intentions were good and she finally understood. But, at the same time, he had caused so much hell for the two teens, he allowed multiple people to die with more unknowingly in line.

Her heart hurt for Harry, but even more so for Severus and Dumbledore.

"You have my word."

~=~

Dear Padfoot,

I'm so scared, Dad. I just found out my life is going to end and I'm not even an adult. I don't know how to feel...I knew it was coming but now I know why and how. Even worse, Harry has to die as well. I wish I could tell him. I wish I could let him know how much I love him, that we can face this together.

But I can't. I am completely and utterly alone.

I need you...please. If you're out there (and I believe you are), you need to come to me, somehow. I need your guidance and reassurance. I need you to tell me everything will be alright and for you to tell me some stupid joke or story afterwards to make me feel better. 

More than anything, I just need a freaking hug from you, Dad. I didn't get enough when you were here. 

I'll tell you everything once you come back. Maybe we can somehow get a butterbeer and sort this out...and yes, you're paying the tab. You owe it to me.

I love you so much, Dad. Please, just be there for me, even if it's only for five minutes. Prove me right and everyone else wrong. I know you're too strong to die by some stupid curtain.

With love bigger than the universe,

A

~=~

Y'all...I loved writing this chapter! I hope you loved reading it :)

Not gonna lie, the letter made me tear up a bit. Poor bby.

Happy belated Holidays to you all! I hope all is well!

Question of the chapter...

Do you think Anna will tell Harry what's going on? What will she do with this information?

Love to all,

~Lumos