Chapter 19
Chapter 19
Important Discoveries

Disclaimer: I think that when you write a fan fiction that is as long as this one is, it’s pretty stupid to have a disclaimer on every freaking chapter. But I think I’ll sprinkle one in every now and then just for good measure. Oh, #$%^! I can’t think of any witty or funny ones.
(graps Katrina Figg by the neck and drags her over here.

Katrina Figg (clears her throat): Hey, people, this story was written by Amanda, not JK Rowlings. Amanda makes a lousy six bucks an hour selling Chalupas to crabby old people at Taco Bell, and JK Rowlings gets paid to write novels all day and makes millions. Jk Rowlings is a good writer and Amanda is just a mediocre wanna-be. JK Rowlings has great hygiene while Amanda.....

Amanda the Author: Okay..okay. I think they get the point. You know it’s not very nice to insult the author.

Katrina: (laughs) Well, it may not be nice, but it’s kind of funny.

Amanda the Author: (shakes fist threateningly) You better behave yourself, Miss Katrina Figg or I’ll get even with you.

Katrina: (snickers) Oh, yeah, what are you gonna do to me? You’ve already made me fall in helplessly in love with both Percy Weasley and Harry Potter. You know, that sure wasn’t very nice...

Amanda the Author: Hey, love triangles make things interesting, and they are fun to write too!!!!! Besides, I could do a lot worse to you.

Katrina: Like what?

Amanda the Author: I could make you fall in love with Neville too.

Katrina: Don’t diss Neville! He’s my buddy! Besides, he’s dating Ginny, and they really like each other.

Amanda the Author: They are?

Katrina: Duh!!!!!! You should know, your the person who is writing this stupid story!

Amanda the Author: Okay, I forgot about them.

Katrina: I smell a plot hole!!!!!!

Amanda: Shut up or I’ll force you to make out with Snape!

Katrina: EEK! Okay, I’ll be good. I swear.

Amanda the Author: Oh, and I don’t own Harry Potter, or anything else. I own Katrina Figg, Arizona Brown, and the plot of this story, and any new characters, but nobody wants them.

Katrina: That’s not true! Everybody loves me!

Amanda: No, they don’t!!!!!!!! Check out the poll section and see for yourself.

Katrina: (cries) Oh my god! I never knew so many people thought I was a Mary Sue! Well, I kind am, but I try to be an interesting one! And they thought I was “too perfect”! (stops crying and grins) Well, I guess that is true. I am pretty perfect.

Amanda the Author: No, you are not perfect! You have discolored toenails and have to take that special anti- toe nail fungus medication they are always advertising on TV when I am watching music videos on CMT.

Katrina: (starts crying louder again) Hey! You promised not to tell anyone about that! Great! Now what’s Harry gonna think of me! Oh man! Now I’m gonna be stuck dating Percy forever! Harry will never want me now!

Amanda the Author: Well, okay, I think it’s time to start this chapter now. I’ve got my point across and I made Katrina cry. All in all, it’s a good day for me! Now, I’m going to begin this story, and stop stalling. In case you are wondering, I had writer’s block!!!!!!
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The next morning, Harry woke up early, and woke up Ron and Hermione. Neither one of them were too happy about being awoken, but when Harry showed them the book, they were both eager to read it.
Hermione was nervous about reading the book in the common room, so they went to the one place that they knew they would have privacy, Moaning Myrtle’s bathroom!
“Hello Myrtle.” said Hermione ,trying to be cheerful.
Myrtle just frowned and ignored her. “Hello Harry.” she said in a flirting voice. “Come to visit me?”
“Of course.” lied Harry. “I wanted to spend some time alone with you, but before I can do that, I’ve got to read a book with Hermione and Ron.”
“Oh, is it for school?” asked Myrtle.
“Yes, it’s a very hard book to read, so we came here for peace and quiet.” said Harry.
“Well, I don’t want to keep you from your work.” said Myrtle. “I’ll be back in an a half hour, send you friends away, and we will have a nice long talk.”
With that, Myrtle floated down a toilet and was gone.
“Whew!” sighed Harry. “I’m glad to have gotten rid of her!”

Hermione flipped open the book. “Whoa!” she said. “There’s a whole chapter her about Esmerellda Figg.”
She skimmed the chapter. “But it’s all stuff that we already know.”
“Why would Esmerellda Figg be in that book?” asked Ron.
“Because she was kidnapped by Death Eaters.” answered Hermione.

Then Hermione gasped! “What’s the name of Katrina’s best friend? The one that is missing!”
“Lu Willow.” said Harry.
“There’s a chapter about his parents.” she said.
“Read it!” Harry exclaimed.

“After the defeat of the Dark Lord by the young Harry Potter, most of the Death Eaters left the group, fearing punishment. Mordrid Willow, was You-Know-Who’s top Death Eater, and since He-That-Shall-Not-Be-Named does not have any children, he long ago made plans that if something should happen to him, Mordrid Willow, would be is heir, and rule in his place. Mordrid Willow was a very young man during this time, in his mid to late twenties. He had a wife named Sheeva who was also a Death Eater, and one son, a toddler named Luther Nero Willow. Mordrid Willow was quickly captured by a group of British Aurors after the Dark Lord’s defeat, and were killed. However, their son, called Lu, was allowed to live. The Aurors said it would be cruel to kill the child, he was just a toddler, and had no knowledge of what his parents did. The Willows had no living relatives, and the story of young Lu Willow’s parents was famous in Europe, so Lu was sent to live in a wizzarding foster home in the USA. Most wizards and witches who are knowledgeable about Death Eaters, and the Dark Arts, and are well educated agree that Lu Willow is just a harmless boy whose was born into the wrong family. At the time this book was published, Lu is 13.. But their is a belief that wizards do not come to their true strength and utmost ability until after their sixteenth birthday.

“This book is a couple years outdated! How old is Lu now!” asked Ron.
“Well, he’s the same age as Katrina, so I guess that would make him 16 or maybe 17 at the most.” replied Harry.
“Shh!” said Hermione, as she continued reading.

This belief about wizards coming to their full capabilities at age 16 is an ancient one. Well educated Magical Scientists and Medi-wizzards have mixed views about this ancient belief. Some say that a wizard or witch will have their full magical power at birth, but must be trained and educated to be able to fully use their powers. Others believe that a wizards powers come to full strength around age 12, which is when magical schools such as Hogwarts, Durmstrang, or John Proctor School, admit first year students.  Still others believe that wizards who have the potential to do powerful things in the Dark Arts are the only ones whose powers change or fully develop after their 16th birthday. In my research, I have spoken to many top scholars who are well educated in the subject of the Dark Arts, the defense of such, and the culture of those who participate in such murderous deeds as the Dark Arts.

“Wonder if this author spoke to the Malfoy family.”  Ron joked.

The 16th birthday of a young wizard is a very important event in the life of a Dark wizard. These Dark wizards call this milestone birthday the “awakening” because this is when their powers come to full force, and often new powers and strength “awake” inside of them.  After the downfall of You-Know-Who and Mordrid and Sheeva Willow, many top Death Eaters that were captured alive by Aurors supposedly  said that young Lu Willow had inherited the top spot in their master’s demoniacal organization. Whether or not this rumor is true  has not been confirmed or denied. Either way, it is quite disturbing that someone the Dark Lord and the Death Eaters would wish to be the heir of their organization may come to full power in a few years. This author finds comfort in the fact that young Lu Willow is living in the USA and not here in Europe. It does not seem to this author that attending the John Proctor North American School of Magic has helped the young wizard any. There have been reports that Lu has gotten into several fights at school, and as even cast violent spells on people. This author visited John Proctor School in hopes to interview young Lu Willow for the education of my readers, but was unable to get that interview. However, I did get a glimpse of the young man while on campus. Unfortunately, the photo is a bit blurry, but it shows Lu sitting on the outside campus steps preparing some school work.

“Oh my God!” said Ron.
Harry was speechless.
“It does not say anything important after that.” Hermione said. “It just talks about how hopefully living away from Death Eaters in the USA and with foster parents would teach morals to him, and how the author hopes those rumors are untrue and he really is not the one to inherit You-Know-Who’s  league of supporters after all.”
“Show me the photo.” said Ron.
“It’s very blurry.” said Hermione. “But okay. If you really want to see what he looks like, all you’d have to do is ask Katrina. She has tons of photo albums full of her and her American friends.”
The three of them looked at the photo. It showed Lu sitting at the base of some marble steps outside his school. Walking down the steps was a girl, but her head was cut off. The photo was blurry and black and white. It looked like it had been taken from very far away and then enlarged. But you could see that the girl walking down the steps was wearing a very bold leopard print t-shirt.
“That looks like some of the obnoxious things that Katrina wears” Hermione joked. “That girl sure does have some weird taste.”
Harry looked at the photo closer. Only the girl’s chin was showing,  but you could barley make out the outline of a necklace, if you looked really hard and squinted a bit.
“That’s Katrina in the picture!” he exclaimed. “I can see her necklace!”
“So?” asked Hermione. “You knew they are friends, who would it surprise you that she would be in the picture?” 
“Because he’s jealous.” teased Ron, playfully punching him in  the shoulder. “Jealous that she’s going out with my brother and not him, and jealous that she’s in a photo with another guy.”
Harry rolled his eyes. “I think Katrina really did see Lu that day at Hagrid’s house that she was attacked! I think he’s the one that attacked her in the middle of the night, and stole her necklace.”
“I think you are right, Harry.” said Hermione. “I was thinking the exact same thing. I mean, just look at the facts, if Dark Arts wizards get their full powers at age 16, and he’s the same age as Katrina, that means he just got his full powers. And he’s suddenly disappeared. He’s got to be the one that has been doing all the attacking. and this book says that his father was a top Death Eater, and the man behind You-Know-Who, so his son would inherit his proper place in the Death Eater’s society. And You-Know-Who came back last year! Oh, it’s gotta be him!”

“But why would he attack Katrina? I thought they were friends.” asked Ron. “Call me old fashion, but I just don’t think it’s too bloody friendly to try to kill your friends.”

“Isn’t it obvious!” exclaimed Hermione. “Katrina is Dumbledore’s niece, and Dumbledore is a famous wizard, not just here either, all throughout the world, so they must have known in that American school about him, and everybody probably knew that she was his niece, just like everybody knows here. After all, I heard that Dumbledore knows the, oh, what do they call it in America, oh yeah, the Principal of that school really well, and has visited Katrina there many times. He’s one of the very few foreigners that know the exact location of the school. At least, that is what Katrina told me once. But if Lu Willow is such a big Dark Wizard, he’d want revenge on the Aurors that were responsible for killing his parents.”

“I don’t get it.” said Ron. “How would attacking Katrina get revenge on the Aurors. Yeah, she is Dumbledore’s niece, but Dumbledore is no Auror.”
“No, but Katrina’s grandparents were. Katrina’s grandma is Dumbledore’s brother. And Dumbledore fought against the Death Eaters, and works with the Ministry so he’d have a lot to do with Aurors and their activities” Harry said with his brain running a mile a minute. “And Voldermort and the Death Eaters always hated and were afraid of Dumbledore, so attacking a member of his family would be something they would want to do to seek revenge. Lu knew that who Katrina’s uncle was, and probably made friends with her just so he could get close to her and attack her once his powers fully develop. Dumbledore probably suspected this, so, he moved her here away from Lu now that Lu is 16 so that Dumbledore could protect her, but now Lu has convently disappeared!”

“Well, that makes sense to me now, but please don’t say You-Know-Who’s name again.” Ron said looking very tense.

Harry didn’t pay attention to Ron. His thoughts were somewhere else. His face turned very pale.
“Are you okay?” asked Hermione. “You look like you are going to be sick.”
“He’s coming and he’s going to attack her again. He’ll probably lure her into a trap because he knows she knows he is missing and is really worried about her.  Maybe Lu has gotten into contact with Voldemort! Maybe he wants Lu to kidnap her and bring him to her. Voldemort would use her as ransom, and blackmail Dumbledore into giving her back. Maybe he would use her in some spell to make himself stronger like he did to me last year when he came back. Voldemort would do it. And Lu’s power must be strong if his father was Voldermort’s top Death Eater, and the chosen heir if something would happen to Voldemort. No, Voldemort wouldn’t choose anyone who didn’t have great powers. Katrina will be attacked or kidnapped. She’s always getting into trouble. She won’t see through it. Oh, I’ve got to warn her! I swear, I’d die myself before I’d let Voldemort take her!”

“Are you sure telling Katrina about this would be the best thing to do?” asked Hermione.

“What?” asked shocked Ron. “Of course that’s the best thing to do! She’s gotta be warned! If she knows what is going on, maybe she’ll be more aware and more careful.”

Hermione shook her head. “No, I don’t think that is the best thing to do. It will only worry her and freak her out. I mean, how would you feel if someone told you that one of your best friends is really You-Know-Who’s heir, and is going to attack her or try to kidnap her and take her to him. You’d be either terrified and not be able to live your daily life, or you wouldn’t believe a word of it. And if she’d did not believe you, she’d have more blind trust in Lu because she’d be determined to prove Harry wrong. Which would make her even more vulnerable.”

Ron scratched his head. “But if You-Know-Who wants to be immortal, and that is his ultimate goal, then why would he choose anyone to be his heir, after all, a heir is someone that gets everything or takes over when you die. And if you are immortal, you don’t die, so you don’t need a heir. That’s like an immortal person writing a will.”

“You-Know-Who probably choose a heir in case he was unable to go on. He wasn’t immortal yet, so he could still be killed, or have something really bad happen to him, so he needed somebody to be the one to take charge in case that happened before he succeeded in his goal and become immortal.” said Hermione.

Harry sighed. “I think she could not possibly get any more vulnerable. She’s always needing me to rescue her, whether it is falling of a broom stick because there was a spider, or running out of Divination class on her first day, or running off through the school grounds that time right before she got attacked outside of Hagrids. She’s always doing stupid stuff.”

Then Harry thought of something that really upset him. “Or when she snuck out in the middle of the night with Percy out on that stupid balcony in the Astronomy Tower!”

“Whoa!” gasped  Ron. “ How come I was not told about this? This is too good to be true! That is defintly against the rules! Oh man, why didn’t you tell me about this!  Percy is not supposed to be here in the middle of the night wandering around like that with a student! And Katrina was defintly not supposed to be out of bed, and out with her boyfriend in the Astronomy Tower of all places! Oh my God! I can’t believe it! My brother encouraging his girlfriend to break rules! And breaking them  with her! Oh my God! Man, that girl has got a hold on Percy if he’s willing to break rules to spend some time alone with her. Ewww, I can only imagine what you saw them doing, Harry. I sure would not want to see that! It’d scar me for life! Diiiiiiiisguuuuuuuuuuuustinnnngggggg!”
  But Katrina and he relationship with Percy was the last thing on Harry’s mind.

  “She could have gotten killed! She’s such a klutz, she could have fallen right off it, or if Lu is really after her, that would have been the perfect time to bump her off. Nobody there except Percy, and no offense, Ron. But your brother would not be much protection. Lu could have easily attacked her, kidnapped her, or just plain pushed her off the roof, and nobody would have a clue what happened, because nobody would have noticed she was gone until she didn’t show up for breakfast. Maybe not even then!” Harry said. “I’ve got to talk to her about this. Maybe if she knows, she won’t do such stupid things! And I’m going to have to stay near her! I’ve faced Voldemort so many times, I may not be much of a match, but I’ve made it out okay. I’m not completely hopeless. Maybe I can keep her safe, maybe I can’t, but I have no choice but to try!”

Hermione sighed. “You love her, don’t you?” she asked him.
Harry did not respond. He left Moaning Myrtle’s bathroom, and headed back to the Gryfindor Tower.

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When Harry got back upstairs, he found lots of kids sitting around laughing, talking ,and working on last minute homework before classes would start. Classes were going to begin in about half an hour.  Katrina was sitting on the floor in the corner by herself, strumming her guitar, and  a slender black cat wearing a handsome collar and name tag sitting next to her. 
“Hi Harry.” she greeted him. “Come to meet Ptolemy?”
“That’s not that cat Arizona sent you? I thought he was gray.”
She shrugged. “I guess the photo was off color or something. Either way, he sure is a sweet little guy. Isn’t he handsome!”
“Yeah, I guess so.” said Harry. “Anyway, there is something I wanted to talk to you about.”
“Me too. I really wanted to talk to you about something also.” she said.
“Okay, you first.” replied Harry. He thought talking to Katrina about this might be a bit tough but he realized that telling the young woman that he loved that her friend was Voldermort’s heir, and going to attack her, was going to be the hardest thing he’s ever have to tell anyone. How was he ever going to make this sound right?

Katrina smiled at him, as she took his hand. She held it behind her lager guitar case, so nobody could see her gently stroke his hand.
“Harry,” she said in a soft, gentle voice that was so slow, it sounded like she was caressing each syllable. “Harry, I am worried about you.”
“Er, okay.” said Harry. “Why would you be worried about me?”
“You love me, don’t you, Harry” she asked.
“Er, yes, I do. You know that.” said Harry.
“So, would you promise me something? If you really love me like you say you do, then you’d promise me this.”
“I’d promises you anything, but what does this have to do with you worrying about me?” asked Harry.
“Promise me you won’t play Quiditch anymore!” she said.
“What?” Harry, said, pulling away from her. “You don’t want me to play Quiditch anymore?!?!?! Why not?”
“I’m afraid you are in danger. I don’t think what happened with Cho was an accident. I think somebody did that on purpose. I don’t know why or how. But they did. And I think they did it to upset you. You know, her being someone you knew from the Quiditch field, and her dying in front of you, and everyone else like that.”
“I can’t believe this.” said Harry. “Quiditch is very important to me. How could you possibly ask me to give it up?”
“More important that your life?” asked Katrina. “Face it, Harry, you are very vulnerable out on the Quiditch field.”
Harry pulled his hand away from her. “I am not, nor have I ever been vulnerable!” he yelled.
Several people turned and starred at them.
“Look,” he whispered, noticing the stares, “I’ve been attacked by Voldemort several times and if I can survive that monster, I don’t think I’m exactly vulnerable!”
“Harry, I care about you, and I don’t want you to get hurt.” she said sincerely.
“If you care about me so much, then why are you with Percy? You must not care about me very much if you are dating another damn guy! Why don’t you make up your mind and choose me or him! If you care about me, you would not lead me on, and if you cared about Percy, you would not be interested in me. It doesn’t seem like you care about anybody.” he said angrily, and hostily. 
Katrina looked at him like he had just shot a dagger through her heart, and Harry knew right away that this was not the right thing to say.
“I’m sorry, Katrina. I really did not mean that.” he apologized. “I know you are worried about me, and you are right, Quiditch is very dangerous and I am a bit, well, I don’t know if vulnerable is the best word, but I could get hurt by a bad Bludger or get knocked off my broom or something, but I’m pretty safe from being attacked by a Dark Wizard while I’m out in front of the whole school like that. Too many witnesses. And besides, they say Cho Chang’s death was an accident.”

“Don’t be stupid, Harry. That was no accident.” she hissed. “Cho Chang was murdered, and you will be too if  you are not careful. I don’t want anything to happen to you, but I can sense danger is approaching. And I want to keep you safe. But maybe if you are too stupid to see that your fate is handing by a thread, the very threads of your Quiditch robes, then maybe your not worth being alive at all. Maybe your just a waste oxygen, valuable oxygen that those of us who are smart enough to see the truth could use!”

And with that, she stormed out the Portrait Hole, leaving her guitar, and her cat behind.
Ptolemy hissed at him and stormed off to the Fifth Year Girl’s Dormitory, remarkably similar to the way his owner had just left for the Portrait Hole a moment ago.

Hermione and Ron rushed up to Harry.
“Did you tell her?” they asked anxiously. “What happened? What did she say? Did she take it well? Is she upset?”
Harry shook his head. “I didn’t get the chance. She wanted to talk to me about something she was worried about.”
Harry explained to them about Quiditch.
“But you can’t quit Quiditch! Your the best Seeker Gryfindor has ever had! The team would never win again if it was not for you!” Ron cried.
“Wellllllll,” said Hermione. “She does sound sensible. After all, she does have a valid point. I thought Cho’s death sounded suspicious, but everyone said it was an accident, so I believed them. But I never really, truly believed that it was an accident. Maybe she is right, and you should listen to her, Harry.”

Harry groaned. “Not you too, Hermione.”
“Yeah, what do you girls got against Quiditch anyway?” asked Ron.
“Oh, shut up, Ron!” she yelled. “I don’t have anything against Quiditch at all! I just don’t think Harry’s life is less important that a Quiditch game!”
“My life is not in any danger at all!” said Harry.
“Well, it will be if we don’t get going!” said Hermione. “We’re going to be late to Potions and Snape we’ll kill us if we are late!”