Fire and Water

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Chapter Twenty one



Krystal didn’t tell Remus until they got home that she hadn’t joined the Order of the Phoenix, telling him Albus had asked her to wait.

‘But why?’ he asked, frowning.

‘He thinks it’s best. He really wants me to concentrate on the DADA class curriculum; he said that’s more important at the moment.’

Remus obviously didn’t understand, but she couldn’t stand for him to know the truth: that Dumbledore didn’t trust her to join.



Remus buried himself in work that afternoon, not wanting to get behind while he recovered from his transformation this month. Krystal sat on their bed, trying to draw up an outline for Fifth Year DADA requirements, but found her mind wandering.



Albus didn’t know when Lord Voldemort may approach her, or how he would do so. But he felt certain that if she refused him, the people closest to her may be in danger. He had told her he would contact her parents and move them to a safe house known only to Order members. He had promised her he would keep them safe.



She frowned. Albus felt that Remus was in no immediate danger, the full moon was approaching and no one in their right mind would approach a werewolf; and the others were in the Order, and would be told to protect themselves if need be. Her parents were in the most danger for now.



She looked out into the dark; no stars out tonight. Her eyes closed, and she felt the panic she’d been suppressing begin to build. She shook her head and fought it, realising as she did that this was exactly why Albus refused her today. Her inability to submit to pain, her need to push it away rather than feel it, and find the strength to overcome.



Taking a deep breath, she recalled what Albus had told her previously: that she was capable of great things, and terrible things; to not allow herself to give in to the shadows. Today as she‘d learnt about what she was, she’d felt the darkness stirring again, and knew that Albus was right. She wasn’t ready; she couldn’t be trusted.



Sometime later she fell asleep, tossing and turning until Remus woke her.

‘Krys,’ he whispered, stroking her hair. ‘Honey, are you alright?’

She blinked, becoming aware again of her surroundings. She nodded, and he lay down facing her. His hand brushed the sweaty hair away from her neck.

‘Were you having a nightmare?’ he asked, taking in her pale face and damp hair and clothes.

‘Don’t remember,’ she said, not wanting to tell him she’d been seeing him die in her dreams; seeing her parents die.



He reached for her, and kissed her gently.

‘You know I adore you, don’t you?’ she said as they broke apart, needing him to know she loved him.

He smiled that beautiful smile that she’d fallen for on the train in Fourth Year.

‘Yes,’ he said, kissing her again. ‘Maybe almost as much as I adore you.’



Their kiss deepened and their clothes were soon scattered all over the floor. There was no frenzy or explosive passion in their lovemaking, but tenderness and softness, and as they came together, they whispered ‘I love you’.



****************



Krystal apparated to her parent’s house the next day and found them gone. She hadn’t had a chance to see them: Albus had acted quickly. She apparated to Lily and James’ house and spent an hour visiting with Lily, hugging her when she left, asking her to pass on her love to James and Sirius.



She and Remus spent the last few hours together before he had to leave just curled up on their bed reading, talking, kissing. On one hand, she wanted him to go, to be safe so she didn’t have to worry about him; on the other, she didn’t want to let him go, irrationally feeling like if she did, she wouldn’t see him again. When the time came, she kissed him desperately, trying to fight the feeling that it was for the last time. She shook herself.

‘I’m being ridiculous’, she thought and gave him a big smile.



‘Krys, are you alright?’ he asked, aware of the funk she seemed to have fallen into over the last day. She nodded.

‘Just full moon blues, I guess,’ she said, kissing him again, softly this time. ‘Be careful.’ He smiled at her and held her to him. ‘I’ll be fine, Krys. I love you.’

‘I love you too,’ she said, watching him walk down the stairs.



‘Remus!‘ she called suddenly. He turned and she smiled at him, tears in her eyes. ‘Ask me when you get back.‘

He looked puzzled for a moment, then a grin spread across his face as he realised what she meant. She wanted him to ask her to marry him again.

‘Really?’ he asked, swiftly moving back to her.

‘Really,’ she said with a smile. ‘I love you, Remus. I‘m ready to say yes.’



Somehow, his grin got even broader, and he flung his arms around her, lifting her and spinning her around.

‘I love you, Krys,’ he yelled, then he kissed her hard, holding her face in his hands. He pulled away and looked at her, his eyes finding hers.

‘I love you,’ he said quietly this time, then kissed her again softly.

‘You’d better go,’ she whispered against his lips.

He nodded and walked down the stairs again, grinning back at her and waving as he apparated away.



**********************



Darkness fell and she sat on the old couch on the verandah, looking resentfully at the full moon, when she heard the pop of someone apparating. Until she heard the noise, she hadn’t been aware that she was waiting for it. Looking over, she saw Severus walking up the stairs. He hadn’t seen her sitting in the dark. He looked pale, his hair long still and greasier that she remembered. They hadn’t seen each other for six months, but Krystal knew what he had become.



‘So, it’s you, is it?’ she said quietly, startling him.

He spun around holding up his lit wand. She raised her hand and knocked him over with a spell, calling his wand at the same time so he was defenceless. She flipped his wand through her fingers, watching him get up, unable to stop the flood of cold that began to swamp her. It had begun.



Feeling strangely detached, she leant against the headrest of her chair as he approached.

‘I’m not going to hurt you, Krystal,’ he said, having enough decency left in him to look ashamed of what he’d become. ‘I’m here to try and help you. I asked for this.’

She sighed, and handed him his wand. He looked startled, and hesitated before taking it back. ‘He sent you? Voldemort?’ she asked, knowing the answer.

Severus nodded, sitting next to her on the couch. ‘He knows the family you come from. He knows that you may be the most powerful witch in generations, descended from one of the most powerful families in wizarding history. He knows about your powers; he believes you will be invaluable to him if he can convince you to cross over.’



She looked at her old friend. ‘How did you become this, Sev?’ she murmured, looking at his dark eyes and seeing the sadness there. ‘Did you really feel so powerless that you would turn to him?’

His jaw clenched and he stood up. ‘I made a promise to you, Krystal. I’m trying to honour my word.’ He turned away, biting his lip.

Krystal watched him, interrupting him as he began to speak. ‘It was you who told Albus about this, wasn’t it?’

He looked at her with a pained expression. ‘I…I don’t know what you are talking about,’ he said, looking a little fearful.

He quickly cleared his throat and continued what he had been going to say.



‘I’m here to ask you to come over to his side; to fight alongside him. If you do not agree to join him, he will go after those who mean the most to you. Krystal, it’s not just that he wants your power on his side. He’s been studying you. He knows you are close to Dumbledore, and he doesn’t want to see your powers combine. He fears Dumbledore, but I think in a way, he fears you even more. He spent years watching Dumbledore, he knows his flaws, his strengths; his weakness. You are unpredictable; an unknown quantity.’

‘I won’t come over, Sev,’ she said quietly.

He looked at her, pain in his face. ‘Then he will hunt you and those who you love until you do….or until you are dead,’ he said.



‘Let him try,’ she yelled suddenly, standing abruptly as anger broke through her lethargy. ‘Let him try. I will kill to protect the people I love. You tell him that. You go back to your master and tell him to leave my family alone. You tell him that if he wants me, he can come and get me.’

She drew back her hand and bought it sharply down, sending him flying off the veranda, hitting the ground hard.



He stood quickly and disappeared and she felt a twinge of panic. She ran out into the dark and spun as he had, appearing again in front of the gates of Hogwarts. Running now, she heard the chatter of children and pushed open the doors of the Dining Hall, marching up the aisle to the astonishment of the students. Some called greetings out to her, but she only had eyes for Albus.



‘Where are they?’ she asked as she reached the staff table. He stood, and the room fell silent.

‘Krystal, they are safe,’ he said, his eyes searching hers.

’I need to see them. I need to know they are alright,’ she insisted.

’Only the Order…..’ he began, but she flicked her hand, sending the plates and food flying off the staff table, some of the students now gasping in fear, the staff standing. She disarmed him and the staff along the table, sending their wands clattering to the ground in front of her. Except for Albus’, which she caught in her hand.



‘Where are they?’ she yelled, pointing his own wand at him now. He saw the panic in her face, the flash of silver in her eyes and suddenly understood.

‘Becoming this won’t stop him,’ Albus said urgently. ‘You can’t save them like this, but you can still save yourself. This isn‘t who you are.’

‘Where are they?,’ she said, her voice hard and cold now.

He hesitated, and she lowered her arm, flipping both of her hands out to the side, hearing the crash as the staff tables flew up into the air and hit the walls.



‘I’m only going to ask one more time,’ she warned him, pointing the wand at him again. ‘You may not have wanted me to know, but now I do. I know exactly what I’m capable of, and I won’t hesitate to do what I have to in order to get what I want.’

She sensed rather than saw a couple of older students raise their wands and shoot Stunning spells at her, and before she even thought about it, her mind cast a shield to protect her. Albus frowned, realising that the anger and shock had opened her mind, and she was unconsciously using the power she’d always had.



He flipped his hand and his wand began to move of it‘s own violation, writing in fire in the air. It was an address. Krystal memorised it, than let his wand drop to the ground.

As she turned, she heard him say, ‘Ask for help, Krystal, and it will come.’

She shook her head and ran from the room, hearing the crying and whispering of the terrified students.



Once outside the grounds, she thought of the address he’d given her and apparated, appearing in front of a house covered in snow. She looked around. It was quiet. She knew the house was protected by enchantments, but she needed to check. She cast a spell to reveal human presence; there was no one around. Krystal quickly moved to the front door and knocked. There was no answer and she tried to turn the knob, feeling panic when it spun easily. Cautiously, she pushed open the door and looked around, her heart freezing as she saw the destruction within. They had found them. There was a traitor in the Order. She was too late.



**********************



Not even sure how she did it, she apparated back to her house, collapsing on the veranda. She didn’t know what to do, or who to trust. Someone had betrayed her parents. Someone she should have been able to trust. Laying numb for what felt like days, but what was really only just over an hour, she didn’t hear him arrive, but didn’t jump when Severus appeared again, his face set.

‘Come with me now, Krystal,’ he said, his voice low. She stared at him with blank eyes, not able to understand his words.

‘Now!’ he yelled. He strode forward and grabbed her arms, pulling her to her feet and spinning on the spot, appearing in front of her parents house.



It looked just as quiet as the safe house had, but the lights were blazing in what should have been an empty house, and the front door stood wide open. Her skin prickling now, the numbness fading, Krystal stumbled, as Severus’ hands on her shoulders forced her forward. As they entered the living room, she lost all feeling in her legs and she fell to the ground, not hearing Sev whisper, ‘I’m sorry, Krystal.’



Later, she thought she might have screamed but she couldn’t be sure. She could only remember the blood; bright red blood, more than a body could surely hold. As she gazed down at the bodies that were almost unrecognisable as human, let alone as the two people she loved the most, Krystal felt her mind freeze, refusing to allow the images to remain, knowing it would send her insane.



The shadows that had been stirring for the last day were taking over, and she felt protected, stronger. Beating away that last doubt, that last voice that begged her to see reason; she allowed the murky, cold abyss within to take her, losing herself in the dark. Krystal felt the cold sweep through her and got to her feet, wiping her parent’s blood off her hands and onto her jeans. Turning, she looked at Severus, who saw nothing of the girl he knew in her face. This was a stranger. A cold, hard stranger who was capable of anything.



He spoke. ‘He won’t stop, Krystal. He wants you; and he doesn’t care how he does it.’ She heard his hard swallow. ‘They know where Lupin is.’ His words broke through the darkness and she looked at him, her eyes flickering a little.

‘What?’ she said, her voice unrecognisable as hers.

‘They found out where he transforms. They’re waiting for him right now. As soon as the sun comes up, they will take him, and they will kill him, Krystal. He’s a half breed; they’ll tear him apart.’



Severus’ words had forced themselves through her defences and she could only see helplessness ahead. Shudders shook her, and she felt as though she was no longer inhabiting her body. She couldn’t lose him, not again. For long moments, her despairing mind frantically searched for a way out of this, and, looking down at the bodies at their feet, found a solution.



‘Kill me, Sev,’ she whispered, looking at his stunned face. ‘If I’m dead, he’ll stop.’

Severus shook his head, his face pained and said, ’I can’t.’

‘Yes, you can,’ she said, her voice desperate, as she reached out to him, clutching his shirt.

‘You’ve done it before, haven’t you? Please. I can’t do it - my magic won‘t turn against itself, and….I‘m not strong enough to do it myself.’

‘I can’t, Krystal,’ he insisted. ‘Even if I wanted to, I owe you a life debt - you saved my life. I can’t take yours.’



She vaguely remembered reading something like this in one of her textbooks, and she could see he was telling her the truth. Krystal shook her head, moving her hands up to yank at her hair. She could feel her grasp on reality slipping, the shadows calling her again. This time, she didn’t try to fight it, slipping back inside their protection and felt her pain disappearing, leaving only the cold darkness, and a strange detached calm.



Looking down at the blood still staining her hands, it was suddenly clear what she had to do.

‘Tell me who did this,’ she demanded, looking up at him.

He was startled to see her silver eyes and took a step back. He didn’t answer her. Her eyes narrowed and he felt a cold, sharp sensation in his brain. Unable to stop himself, he cried out as he clutched his head.

‘Bellatrix - Sirius’ cousin?’ she asked, putting back up her mind block after getting the information she needed. ‘Antolli and Crank.’



Severus looked at her, realising she had invaded his mind, effortlessly broken through the defences that even Voldemort couldn’t crack. She took a step forward, her eyes glittered, and for the first time, he understood why the Dark Lord so badly wanted her on his side.

‘You will tell me exactly what they did to them, Severus. Now,’ she demanded quietly. He didn‘t hesitate this time, and saw her eyes grow colder as he spoke. He watched her as she stood still, looking at the blood sprayed up the walls for a long time.



Severus broke the silence, unable to stay quiet any longer.

‘Krystal, you‘ve got to disappear. It’s the only way to stop this. He’ll go after Lily next.’ His voice was strained.

‘Will he stop? If I disappear? Will he leave them alone?’ She knew the answer. She didn’t have to even look at his pained face.

‘There‘s no other choice, Krystal. I’ll help you, I’ll protect you; protect them.’

‘They won’t need your protection, Severus. And I don’t want it,’ she said, in a stony voice. ’But I will need your help. I need you to get me to those Death Eaters that did this.’ She stared at the blood staining the walls.



‘You’ll never get close to them - not unless……’

‘Unless I join him.’ she said, tonelessly, finishing his sentence. ‘I know.‘ She turned to look at him.

‘Contact him,‘ she said calmly. ‘Tell him if he calls the Death Eaters off, I’ll join them. I’ll join the Dark Lord.’



Severus stared at her. ‘Do you have any idea what he’ll make you do if you join him? He’ll make you kill, torture…’

Krystal bought her hand up, halting his words. ‘I intend only to be his servant long enough to kill those Death Eaters responsible for this, and to make sure he has no reason to hunt Remus anymore,’ she told him, her voice cold. ‘Your friends can kill me afterwards, I don’t care.’



Severus shook his head. ‘Krystal…’

‘Severus, I won‘t change my mind. I can‘t disappear, and I will not let him kill anyone else because of me. I know what I will have to do to prove myself - torture and kill some poor creature weaker than myself and pretend to be enjoying it - isn‘t that a Death Eaters‘ favourite pastime?’

She glared at him through chilly eyes. ‘I’ll do it, I’ll do anything. Just call them off Remus now.’



Severus was shaking a little as he felt the power radiating from her. ‘Only he can call them off,’ he said.

Her eyes were hard, her voice dead when she looked at him and said, ‘Then take me to him.’

Severus nodded and held out his arm, apparating them away.



************************



They appeared in front of a dilapidated house, that looked as if one good gust of wind would knock it over. Severus moved forward, holding Krystal’s arm and raising his own. Krystal saw the image of the broken down old house fade, and a large stone building grew as if out of the ground. Severus walked quickly to the door and banged the knocker.



A dark haired woman opened the door, and her face broke into a hideous smile.

‘You gave in quicker than I thought you would,’ she said, glaring at Krystal. ‘You were sorted into the wrong house, Kryssie. You should have been a Slytherin. We know all about looking after our own best interests’

‘Let us in, Bellatrix,’ Severus demanded, moving forward, stunned as he saw Bella fly backwards and slam into the wall behind her.



Krystal moved forward and her eyes blazed. She held her arm out in front of her and pinned Bellatrix to the wall, slowly clenching her fist, seeing the woman’s hands began to scrabble at her throat. Krystal felt the corner of her mouth lifting in a smile as she watched Bellatrix slowly choking to death.

‘Stop,’ came a high, cold voice, and Krystal felt a pulse as a powerful spell rebounded off the shield her mind automatically cast. She was sickened to see the pale, grotesque face of the Dark Lord coming towards her, his face twisted in surprise.

‘So it is true,’ he said softly, staring at her, then turning to look at Bellatrix, who was still choking. ‘Let her down.‘

Krystal lowered her arm and the woman fell to the ground, holding her throat.

‘Am I to assume you’ve made your decision?’ The Dark Lord said.

Krystal nodded. ‘Why else would Severus bring me here?’ she said, her head held high.



Lord Voldemort grimaced, or maybe it was a smile. ‘You’ve made the right decision, Krystal O’Connor,’ he hissed.

‘Call off the Death Eater’s on Lupin,’ she ordered, not flinching under his red glare.

‘I thought you wanted to join us?’ screeched Bellatrix, her voice hoarse. ‘What do you care about the death of a half breed?’

‘I do wish to join you, but not because I despise half breeds, Bellatrix, or because I am happy to pick on easy prey - the weak and the infirm. I am not such a coward,’ she spat, looking at the woman in disgust.



Lord Voldemort waved them into a dank living room, and they faced each other in front of a fire place.

‘Why do you wish to join me?’ the Dark Lord asked. ‘if it isn’t for the purification of our world.’

‘Because I want to use my power,’ said Krystal, her voice intense, as her eyes glowed and her breath quickened. ‘Dumbledore held me back; he would never let me use my magic and now I know why. He was frightened of me. I have power he doesn’t, and he was scared.’



She moved to stand closer to the fire, staring into it. She knew he’d been watching her. He knew about her and Remus; he’d never believe she joined him out of a desire to kill half breeds, but he could understand the lust for power; the need to prove what she was capable of. And he would welcome anyone who he believed Dumbledore feared.



‘I never knew what I was capable of; what I could do.’ She spun around to look at him, moving closer until she was just inches away.

‘I’ve seen what you can do. I’ve seen the opportunities you can offer me to show what I can really do. To show that I am better than Dumbledore.’



Krystal could feel him probing her mind, and she smiled. ‘You can’t get in unless I allow it,’ she said smugly, seeing the slitted red eyes widen a little.

‘I won’t be treated as one of your minions,’ she warned. ‘And I won’t fight those who are weak - I won’t waste my time.’

She smiled at him and touched his face with her finger, seeing his nostrils flare at her daring. But she knew he wouldn‘t kill her; punish her. He wasn‘t sure yet if she was also stronger than him.

‘Lupin is weak. You are wasting your time. Let him go, and we can concentrate on the real enemy. I want to help you bring down the Order.‘

Her eyes glittered as she whispered, ‘I want to help you bring down Dumbledore.’

He smiled, an awful sight, and reached out to embrace her.

‘Welcome, Krystal O’Connor. You are the weapon I’ve been searching for.’



*****************



The Dark Lord called off his Death Eaters with only an hour to go until the sun came up. Krystal had been embraced by the Dark Lord, and was sitting at his side, being introduced to his some of his servants, including Lucius Malfoy, and Dolohov, who had attacked Krystal at school. Severus sat next to Krystal, watching her closely. He could hardly believe that the beautiful, energetic girl he’d known just months earlier was this same hard, cold woman.



‘If only it was this easy,’ Severus thought, nervously waiting for the Dark Lord to tell Krystal what she would have to do to prove herself. Krystal seemed unflappable though, calmly greeting even the men who killed her parents, not allowing any acknowledgement to flicker across her face.



Once all his servants were present, the Dark Lord stood.

‘We have welcomed Krystal to our fold tonight. She will be a powerful allay in our fight to retain the purity of our blood.’

A cheer went up and Krystal smiled. The Dark Lord was watching her carefully. So was Bellatrix.

‘May I speak, My Lord,’ she called. All heads swung around to look at her.

‘You may, Bella,’ Lord Voldemort said, his eyes glinting dangerously, warning her she had limited rope.

‘I wanted to make a suggestion, My Lord. As to how Krystal could….prove her loyalty to our cause,’ she said, glaring at Krystal.

Voldemort looked curiously at the woman. ‘Go ahead, Bella,’ he said softly, turning his eyes to watch Krystal’s face.



‘I suggest that she prove she has no allegiance to the Order. There are some members, new members, who need to be shown what lays ahead on the path they have chosen.’

Krystal knew what Bellatrix was going to suggest, but kept her mask up, not allowing herself to think about what she was going to be asked to do.

‘Krystal could show them all what she is capable of, what we are capable of, now that she has joined us.’

Bellatrix’s tone was ingratiating, but Krystal could see the unadulterated hatred flash in her eyes.



‘Spit it out, Bella,’ said Krystal, staring straight into the other woman’s eyes. ‘What exactly are you suggesting?’

Bellatrix’s eyes glittered and she smiled. ‘The new Order members are old school friends of yours - what were they called, Snape?’ she said, turning her eyes to a pale Snape, who didn’t flinch.

‘The Marauders,’ he answered.

‘That’s right,’ cooed Bellatrix. ‘Actually, I believe you were fucking one of them, weren’t you? The werewolf, wasn’t it?’

Her tone had changed and she was taunting Krystal now.



To Snape’s surprise, Krystal smiled. ‘We all have….physical needs, Bella,’ she answered coolly then corrected herself. ‘Well, those of us who don’t have ice running through our veins.’

A few Death Eaters laughed softly. Bellatrix wasn’t popular.

‘As I said before, I’m here for the opportunities I have been offered, not because I despise half breeds. Lupin, perhaps due to his affliction, was a voracious lover. He satisfied my baser needs for a while. Now,’ she said, her eyes turning to Lord Voldemort, who was watching her intently. ‘I want more.’

Bellatrix continued with her idea, staring daggers at Krystal.

‘Kill the Marauders. And Potter’s girlfriend, Lily Evans. They are members of the Order, all a possible threat. Torture them, kill them.’



All eyes were on Krystal, and she didn’t let her mask slip.

‘Alright,’ she agreed straight away, knowing any hesitation would be seized upon by the woman. She stood. ‘I thought you would set me a challenge, Bella. But if this…little token…is what it takes to prove my loyalty…’

‘Shall I go now?’ she asked the Dark Lord. ‘I would like to get a little sleep first, but if you think it should be done immediately…..’

‘No,’ replied the Dark Lord. ‘Do it tonight. I want you fully rested and at your best.’

He looked around at the Death Eaters. ‘Who would you like to go with you?’



She looked a little startled, and Lord Voldemort smiled. ‘You wish to take on all five of your former friends yourself?’ he asked. Krystal opened her mouth, but Severus stood.

‘I would like to assist, if that would suit you, My Lord,’ he said, looking straight at the mangled man. ‘It would be my pleasure to help with this particular task.’



Lord Voldemort gazed at him thoughtfully, his long, thin finger moving over his mouth. ‘Yes. This would be a treat for you, wouldn’t it, Severus?’ he said, before looking away. ‘Krystal, Severus. Walk with me.’

He waved at them and she followed him out to the hall. ‘Your parents? You have seen them,’ he asked, his red eyes boring into her silver ones.

Krystal nodded, and took a breath. ‘A necessary loss, I understand. To show me what you are capable of, what you can offer me. Although,’ she said, allowing just a little emotion through her walls. ‘they were good parents. I am sorry it came to that.’



Lord Voldemort nodded, seemingly satisfied with her response. ‘Severus will take you to his house for the day. Rest. You have a big night ahead of you. Severus,’ he called, beckoning the lurking man forward. ’I will want the memories. Just a precaution.’ Severus nodded, and the Dark Lord leaned forward, taking Krystal’s face in his hands, sending a chill through her.

‘Prove yourself, Krystal O’Connor,’ he whispered, looking into her eyes. ‘I would regret having to kill you.’



**********************



‘I can’t do it, Sev! I can’t! God, I should have run when I had the chance,’ Krystal cried a few minutes later, holding her head in her shaking hands.

Severus quickly cast a Calming Spell on her and she raised her head. They were at his house, having disapparated from the stone house.

‘You don’t have a choice now,’ he said, sitting next to her on his couch. ‘If you don’t do this, he will kill them, me and you. And he’ll make it worse than your parents suffered, Krystal, because you tried to fool him.’ He shook his head. ‘You don’t have a choice.’



She looked at him. ‘I can’t Sev. You’re asking me to torture…. to kill the people I love….’

Severus interrupted. ‘We won’t be killing anyone. Listen to me, Krystal. We have to think about this. We have to have a plan.’

They spent the day making plans, trying to figure out a way to get through this.



That evening, they met again at the stone house. Krystal was in control again, after liberal shots of Firewhiskey to help her block out what she was about to do to her friends. When she walked into the house, she saw the three of them, the ones who’d murdered her parents, and it took everything she had to not kill them where they stood.



‘Krystal, Severus,’ came the hiss of the Dark Lord. ‘You are ready?’

They nodded, Severus saying,’ My Lord, we have a slight problem. They have all been moved to an Order safe house. We don’t have….’

Before he finished, Voldemort handed him a handwritten note. ‘Never doubt my resourcefulness, Severus,’ he said, coldly. ‘This is the address of the safe house they are staying in.’

Krystal felt a little anger crack through her walls. Who was the spy in the Order?



Krystal and Severus were preparing to leave, when Bellatrix approached them. ‘Do you really think you can do this?’ she taunted in a low voice. ‘Hurt your friends, torture your lover? Watch them die at your hand?’

She moved closer and spoke into Krystal’s face. ‘I look forward to your failure, Kryssie,’ she spat. ‘I can’t wait to peel the skin from your bones. Oh, and of course, destroying your werewolf boyfriend right in front of you.’



Krystal’s eyes clouded over, fury making her world darker. ‘And I look forward to sharing your disloyalty and doubt with the Dark Lord when I am finished. Who do you think he’ll side with Bella? His best chance to bring down Dumbledore, or a semi talented has been with bad personal hygiene?’



Bellatrix’s nostrils flared and she raised her hand to strike Krystal, but the younger woman was quicker, throwing Bella up against the wall.

‘He won’t let you kill me,’ she choked out, as Krystal approached.

‘Oh, I’m not going to kill you, Bella,’ she said, her voice soft but dangerous.

She drew back her fist and punched her in the face. The woman’s nose exploded, and blood flew everywhere before the Death Eater fell to the ground with a scream.

‘Much more satisfying than magic,’ Krystal said, glaring down at her with a nasty smile on her blood splattered face, before spinning on her heel and walking out of the house.