Fire and Water

Chapter Fifty one



Krystal squeezed her eyes closed and lay still, feeling the cold from the stone floor seeping into her bones. Her whole body trembled and she felt as though her insides had frozen. A wail of grief and loss rose in her throat, and she felt the sting of tears behind her eyelids. For a moment, she considered giving in to her anguish; to just lay there and cry; to walk out onto the battlefield and let them take her. For the first time in a long time, she felt the shadows stirring inside her and the temptation to allow them to take her was strong.



But Harry was still alive; he was still fighting. Forcing her emotions down, she opened her eyes and looked at Bill, who was staring at her, grief etched in his face.

“Where’s Harry?” She sat up. “I have to find him.”

If she concentrated on Harry; on helping him, then she wouldn’t have to feel the pain - not yet.



Bill put a steadying hand on her elbow as she stood up, swaying a little.

“Do you want to see him? Remus,’ he said softly at her look of confusion.

She shook her head, knowing that if she saw him, she would never be able to leave him.

“Krys, you need…” he began, grasping her arms, but she shrugged him off.

“I need Harry,’ she said, her voice rising.



People turned to stare at her. She frowned as she looked around: there seemed to be too many people here.

“What’s happened?’ she asked. Bill looked around, his face grave.

“You Know Who called off the Death Eaters for now. He’s giving Harry a chance to turn himself over.”



Krystal looked at Bill, running her hands through her hair, feeling the tangle the blood had made.

“Here,’ Bill said, pointing his wand at her face. She felt a hot sensation as the long, deep wound closed.

Bill stepped aside, and Krystal saw the bodies lying on the stone floor, and the grieving friends and family that crouched sobbing over them. She looked away, not able to stand the thought of Remus lying there, with no one to hold him.



As she turned, out of the corner of her eye, she saw the red headed Weasley‘s, kneeling at the side of one of the dead. Krystal looked back at the family, then turned questioning eyes back to Bill, who was watching her.

“Fred,’ he confirmed in a low voice. “Tonks too.” His hand shook as he ran it across his face, and he looked so much older than his years.

“I’m sorry, Bill,’ Krystal whispered, turning away from him as she blinked back tears. “You should be with them.”

Walking away, she heard him call her, but she didn’t turn back. As she neared the front doors, she saw a filthy Ron and Hermione enter the hall.



“Harry?’ she began to ask them, but was startled when he appeared from under his Invisibility Cloak.

“Well?’ she asked, but Harry looked past her to where Fred lay. She turned automatically. She could also see Tonks from where they stood, and next to her, Remus.



Krystal quickly turned her head, shutting her eyes tight to try and erase the image of his still body from her mind. Before she’d looked away, she’d seen Fleur hovering over Remus. She was glad someone was with him. She could feel pain grip her heart and she knew that she needed to get out of there - now - before her grief floored her.



Harry was looking at her with shocked eyes. “Krys…’ he began, his voice cracking.

“Don’t!’ she snapped, holding up her hand. “Don’t,” she repeated, her voice softer and they both could hear the despair it held.

“Did you do it? Find the diadem, kill the snake?”

Harry shook his head, turning away from the horrific scene to walk up the stairs.



As they walked through the castle, Harry told her how he’d destroyed the diadem, and how he, Ron and Hermione had gone to the Shrieking Shack to try and kill the snake.

“It was protected. I couldn’t get near it.” He hesitated, looking at Krystal with a wary expression.

“Voldemort killed Snape, Krys. I‘m sorry.” Despite the gentleness of his words, Krystal felt them like a physical blow.



She leant against the wall, closing her eyes against the fresh rush of sorrow that came from the death of her friend. Taking a deep, shaking breath, she pushed herself off the wall as panic took hold.

“Harry, did you talk to Severus? Before he died? Did he say anything?” Harry took a step back in the face of her urgent questioning.



“He gave me these,’ he said, holding up a small vial of swirling mist.

“His memories?’ Krystal asked. Harry nodded.

“I know where I can look at them,’ he said, leading the way to the Headmaster’s office. He poured the mixture into a Pensieve and looked at Krystal expectantly. She shook her head.

“No, Harry,’ she said softly. “You need to do this alone. I’ll wait outside.” As she left the room, she saw Harry put his face into the bowl and disappear.



Krystal leant against the wall outside the office, sliding down to sit on the floor. Looking down, she placed her hands across her belly.

“Your father was a wonderful man,’ she whispered, rubbing her stomach. “He died to protect us. I just wish you’d had a chance to get to know him.”



Krystal couldn’t fight the sudden overwhelming rush of pain - the tears came, as did the howl of anguish as she curled up on the hard floor, holding her belly, trying to protect her child from feeling her hurt. Her body shook uncontrollably as, for a time, she allowed grief to take her. Her sobs echoed off the stone walls as she cried for the man she’d loved all her life, and the father her child would never know.



As she lay on the cold floor, she felt a strange sensation under her hands. She struggled for control, as she felt it again, a rippling in her abdomen. Immediately, she thought the worst, but realising there was no pain, she suddenly understood. The baby was moving.



She lay still, tears drying now, holding her belly, hoping to again feel the life stir inside her. As if her unborn child knew what its mother needed, it fluttered again. The movement gave Krystal new hope and strength. There was still something for her to fight for; Remus would never forgive her if she gave up on their child‘s future.



When Harry emerged looking grey faced, but determined from inside the office, Krystal was standing, waiting for him.

“So now you know,’ she said quietly. He nodded.

“I have to do this alone,’ he whispered, looking at her pale face.

“I know, but I have a job to finish as well,’ she said. “I won’t come all the way, Harry. But I need to make sure you get there alive.”



Krystal let out a ironic laugh at her words, Harry joining in.

‘I know why he helped you now,’ Harry said when their laughter faded. ‘You saved him.’

Krystal closed her eyes, remembering her friend. ‘He saved me too,’ she said softly.

‘You were right, Krys,’ Harry said, looking at her. ‘I can see why you trusted him; why Dumbledore trusted him. I understand now.’



“Come on,’ she said, needing to do something; to distract herself from her grief. “We should go and say goodbye.” But Harry shook his head and slung his Cloak over his shoulders.

“I might chicken out if I see them,’ he said, his voice firm. He looked at her red eyes. “You should be with Remus.” It was her turn to shake her head.

“I can’t,’ she said softly, her voice cracking a little. “I’m not ready to say goodbye either.”



Harry clasped her hand for a second and then they moved, down the stairs. As Harry stopped to speak with Neville, Krystal chanced a glance over to where Remus had lay. Someone had moved his body, the space next to Tonks now empty. Krystal walked through the front doors, hoping Harry was in front of her. She held one of the Death Eater’s wand she’d taken in front of her. There would be no more wandless magic today: she had nothing left to give.



She moved through the woods, listening carefully for the sounds of Harry’s breathing and footsteps. Thoughts of Remus kept intruding on her concentration. She tried to shake them off, but they nagged at her.

’Stop it,’ she told herself. Maybe putting off seeing Remus’ body had been the wrong decision; she just couldn’t shake the feeling that she should be with him.

‘You can’t help him now, she thought, her heart aching. ’But you can support Harry.’



She was startled as she heard Harry’s voice right next to her.

“Krystal, wait.” Krystal stopped as Harry removed the Cloak. He pulled a snitch from out of a pouch around his neck. Krystal frowned at him, not understanding as he raised it to his lips and whispered something to it. The snitch opened and Harry pulled out a ring with a black stone setting. As Krystal watched, he held it in his hand and turned it over three times.



Krystal knew something had happened as Harry looked around, a small smile on his face.

“Harry…?” Krystal began.

“They’re here, everyone I love. They’re here with me,’ he said. She looked around but saw nothing.

“You can’t see them,’ Harry said. “No one else can see them.”



Krystal stepped back, not quite understanding, but knowing instinctively that, however it had happened, this is what Harry needed - his family with him at the end.



After a few minutes of what looked like a one sided conversation, Harry turned to Krystal. “I have to go on with them now,’ he said quietly. She nodded, knowing that her task was over. She had done her job. But she couldn’t help asking….

”Harry, can you tell them…” She stopped, her voice breaking. “Can you tell them I’m sorry? And that I love them?”

Her eyes filled with tears as she said the words she’d been longing to say for eighteen years.

“They know - they forgive you.’ He frowned, then smiled, shaking his head. ‘Mum and dad say thank you for looking after me, and Sirius said to tell you… you‘re still pretty hot.’

Krystal laughed even as a sob shook her as finally, she had closure.



She hugged Harry, whispering “I couldn’t love you more if you were my own, Harry.”

He squeezed her, saying “I know - I love you too. Thank you - for everything. Could you…say goodbye to all of them for me?”



She nodded and pulled away, wiping at her eyes. As she backed away, she said shakily, “Can they hear me?‘ Harry nodded.

‘I want to……,’ she faltered, unable for a moment to say the words - because that would make it real.

’Tell Remus I love him? Please?” she added as he looked at her with a frown. He turned to look at where he saw his parents and godfather standing, then smiled.



“Remus isn’t here,’ he said, smile broadening. “Krys, he’s not here because he’s not dead.”

Krystal looked at him with disbelieving eyes, her breath coming quickly as she whispered, “He’s alive?”

As she said the words, she suddenly knew they were true.

Harry shook his head. “Go.”

He watched as she turned and ran back towards the castle. Then he put his Cloak back over his head, and walked into the depths of the forest.



Krystal burst back through the doors of Hogwarts, making the students in the entrance jump in fright. She spotted Fleur and Bill talking urgently and ran towards them. As she approached, Fleur looked over and seeing her, stretched out her arms to grasp Krystal’s‘.

“Thank God,’ she exclaimed, her expression relieved. “We’ve been looking everywhere for you.”

Bill moved to stand next to her, saying “I’m sorry, Krys, We thought he was gone…”



Krystal pulled out of Fleur’s grasp, demanding, “Where is he?”

Bill stood aside and gestured to the Dining Hall. Krystal ran into the room, which was full of groaning, bleeding students and adults, injured fighting for the Light. Bill and Fleur were close behind her, and Bill touched her arm lightly, pointing off to the side to where Hermione sat, bending over a figure laid out on the floor.



She let out the breath that she’d been holding and walked hesitantly towards Hermione and the prone figure, reluctant to believe Remus was alive until she saw him herself. Hermione looked up and saw her coming, and it was her smile that made Krystal run the last few metres, dropping to her knees next to the young woman.

“Remus?’ she said, her voice shaking so much, it was almost unrecognisable as hers. She leaned over and finally saw his face, grey with his scars standing out sharply against his pallor, but undeniably him. Hermione stood to allow Krystal to move closer.



As she touched Remus’ face, her hands trembled. She ran her hand gently over his forehead, smoothing his hair off his face. He stirred, eye’s flickering but not opening. Bill crouched next to her.

“His breathing was so shallow and his pulse was almost non existent, Krys. We missed it. Fleur saw his chest rise a little: that’s how we knew he was hanging on.”



Krystal nodded, not really taking in what Bill was saying, as the man continued. “We’ve done all we can. He’s a little stronger. He needs to get to St Mungo’s for treatment, but we can’t get him out of here yet to Apparate.”

As Bill spoke, Krystal ran her hand over Remus’ chest, stopping just above his heart so she could feel it beating. Reassured by the weak, but regular thump, she took Remus’ hand and moved it to her belly.

“We’re here, Remus,’ she whispered, pressing his hand to her. “We’re both here.”



Screams rang out outside the hall as the high, cold voice was heard again.

“Harry Potter is dead,’ it exclaimed triumphantly. A wave of shock ran through the room as everything seemed to freeze. Krystal paid little attention as the voice continued and the room began to empty, the uninjured running into the grounds, unable to believe that The Boy who Lived was dead. Concentrating on Remus now, she lay on the ground next to him, her head on his chest, her arm across him.



She spoke quietly; telling him about feeling the baby moving, about Harry seeing the ghosts of his parents and Sirius, and how they had forgiven her for what she had done to them; telling him how brave Harry had been in the face of his impending death. Krystal kept talking; anchoring him to her voice so he couldn‘t drift away, even as she heard the sound of renewed battle outside. She had completed her task. She was now where she needed to be.



Soon, though, the sounds of fighting drew closer, and Krystal raised her head as she heard screams from outside the dining room doors. She frowned and stood, casting a protective spell over Remus, using the same wand she’d held earlier. As she moved towards the doors, she was shocked to see the pale, snake-like face that had haunted her dreams.



It was Voldemort, duelling with Kingsley, Charlie and an enormous man she recognised as Professor Slughorn, her old potions master. As he spun around, his red, slitted eyes found her, widening slightly in recognition. She was frozen to the spot as she saw his face contort in anger.

‘You I will kill myself!’ he screamed as he sent Slughorn to the ground.



A red jet of light shot over her head and she turned to see a masked Death Eater charging at her. She couldn’t get out of the way quickly enough, and with a scream, was knocked flying, her head and shoulder hitting the stone wall, hard. She bounced off and landed on the ground, her vision blurring as her head throbbed in pain. Struggling to sit up, she raised the wand when she saw a hazy figure with a silver face approach her.

“Avada Kedavra!” she yelled, but she was slowly losing consciousness, the spell didn’t work. She heard a loud laugh and a shouted curse, then excruciating pain tore at her, wrenching a scream from her lungs as her body bucked and convulsed.



She heard a yell, a red flash and suddenly the pain was gone. She looked groggily up at the disembodied face in front of her.

“It’s me, Krys,’ she heard a male voice whisper. “Stay down.”

The head disappeared, just as fire suddenly burned in her abdomen, causing her to cry out and clutch at her stomach. Panic set in as she drew her knees up, moaning as another spasm of pain cut through her. Tears streamed down her face as she tried to communicate with the tiny life inside of her, asking it to please, just hang on. Pleading with it to be as brave as it’s father had been.



She heard the noise around her fade, and heard two raised voices, taunting and daring each other. A crack rang out, and then cheering. The ground shook as feet stomped all around her. The burning in her belly seared, causing her to moan again. She felt a hot, wet sensation spreading down her legs and onto the floor.



Shakily, she lifted a hand that was suddenly wet and saw bright red blood. Her hand dropped to the stone floor as she felt her strength draining from her body. The haze that had impaired her vision, was replaced by a red sheen, then dark spots as she felt someone stop and kneel over her.



“Krystal?” said the same male voice she‘d heard earlier, the tone now panicked. She opened her mouth to try and tell them about the baby but another, stronger jolt of pain surged through her before the black spots spread and finally overcame her. Krystal’s last cognisant thought was how much her saviour had sounded like Harry.