Year 7

[Kiara Johnson]

"If you want proof, I saw her to the place myself." Lucius stated.

"And just what makes you believe we will take your word for it, Lucius. You just stood here listening to the fact that you would receive a lighter punishment if you could tell us where she is." Fudge retorted. Now standing his ground again like the arrogant man he is.

"What other choice do we have Cornelius? He is the only one coming forward to state that he even saw her between the time she left and now. You can't afford to not to listen to him, if we don't find her, your position as Minister will most certainly be at stake. The people will go against you this time. They have had enough of Voldemort."

Cornelius cringed at the mention of his name.

"They want him put away or killed this time, we can't fail them." Dumbledore finished.

Cornelius stood, thinking, you could almost hear the veins popping in his head. A nerve at his temple had begun to twitch. He didn't look all to well at all. Dumbledore had stated a fact that he knew he couldn't ignore.

"All right, you win. Lucius, what is your price? Bear in mind that you may not get all that you want but I am sure, we can make a deal." Cornelius finally spoke.

His voice had less than the effect he had hoped, he may have even squeaked like the stuck pig he is.

Lucius didn't smile he didn't even look as though he were happy about his situation at all; he stood there and thought things over for a moment. When finally he did speak, his words were steady and precise.

"I can tell you where she is if you promise that I will not have to take one step into that Prison. The Dementors are siding with Voldemort, more and more every day and a traitor amongst their midst, well you can imagine." He looked between Dumbledore and Cornelius then continued. "Also, I want my old position back and my home released back to me. Or, you can give it over to Kiara, when and if, you retrieve her." He finished.

His last words stuck both Dumbledore and Cornelius off guard. They hadn't expected him to pull this card. They knew it would take a lot to get the support to reinstate his position. Then, Kiara, Dumbledore wondered, was their something more to Lucius now than had at first, come to his attention? Dumbledore had a hard time, at first, figuring out why Lucius had told them they could give his home to Kiara however, he now thought he knew the answer.

But why was he stalling? What possible reason could he have to ask for his position back other than to stall for time? Dumbledore thought to himself.

[.:isis:.]

BUMP!!! :D

[Kiara Johnson]

"Certainly we could keep you out if Azkaban, but to have you reinstated in to you old position? Outrageous! How do you expect me to accomplish this? Although it is a nice gesture of you to offer your home to Kiara, I think we could give it back to you. I don't fully understand your statement there but I am sure you have your reasons." Cornelius stated firmly.

He was now pacing across the floor with his hands behind his back. Clearly worried about what Lucius had asked.

"I will not give in to any other options. I must be reinstated or no deal." Lucius said firmly.

He knew his demand was outrageous however; he had to stall for time. If he sent the Ministry into their midst now, Kiara wouldn't have the time to kill Max and that, was the thing he wanted more than anything else. He knew the risk, he could spend some time in the prison so the Ministry could debate his offer but to Lucius, it was more than worth the risk.

Cornelius paced the floor of his office some more then turned to Lucius.

"Ok, I will see what I can do, but until then, you will be staying in the cell here at the Ministry." He nodded to the Aurors who took Lucius from the room and down the hall to a top security room in which he would be spending quite a lot of time.

Dumbledore stood, a grim expression on his aged face.

"You do know that every minute we waste in useless debate, brings Kiara that much closer to becoming that which we fear more than anything else." He said in a flat, emotionless tone.

Then, not waiting for an answer, he left the office and down the hall.

Cornelius Fudge stood in his office alone, thinking for a moment as to how this would all look to the public. That was what he cared about, not anything else. Finally, he sat down in his chair and wrote a memo and sent it flying out his door. He would have to summon a council meeting and figure out what to do with Lucius.

[Zack]

first things first, YOUR STORIES ROCK, next, B-NO! B-NO! AAAHH!!!!!!!INVASION OF THE BUMPS!!!!!!

bump bump bump bump bump bump bump bump bump bump bump bump bump bump bump bump bump bump bump bump bump bump bump bump bump bump bump bump bump bump

[Kiara Johnson]

(LOL, Thanks)

CHAPTER 5 TIME WE DO NOT HAVE





Kiara stood in her room looking out the window at the ocean. She noticed the shear drop from the height of the castle to the ocean below. Surely, any one who fell from this height would die, smashed below upon the rocks and carried out to sea by the tide. She was forming a plan, one that could free Ron and Harry and hopefully, keep her from turning into the monster; she worked so hard to keep from becoming. She sighed a heavy sigh.

Well, there are always the rocks, if I can't overcome this obstacle. She thought to herself.

She had been at the castle now for several days. Every day was the same thing.

Wait, not yet. That is what the Fate kept telling her.

I am running out of time! She thought angrily. Why must I wait here with my impending marriage so close at hand? It is the last thing I want and the only thing, to save Ron.

She sat down on the couch, next to the fire and watched as it rose to her anger. She smiled a bit. At least, I haven't lost you old friend. She said quietly to the fire in the hearth.

"Talking to ones self isn't a good sign you know." Max said as he walked into the room.


"How long have you been there?" Kiara asked, more than a little annoyed at his presence.


"I only just arrived, my dear. We are to wed in two days time. I do hope you have found your wedding gown, to you liking. As you would not choose one, I was forced to choose for you." Max continued, now sitting himself across from her.

"Ya, sure, black is the perfect color to wear to ones funeral." Kiara replied sarcastically.


Max raised a brow in amusement.

"Is marrying me really that repulsive to you? I would have thought that after Draco, a real man would be a relief to you." He said in a flat, unemotional tone, staring into her eyes and smiling as they came to life once again in a flash.


"That's right, keep it up Max, you'll soon get yours. I only have to wait until this ridiculous wedding of yours is over then, I can do as I please with you. Trust me, dearest--" She turned on him, her eyes blazing and her aura in a great turmoil "--I won't forget your words, any of them and when I do become the monster that you and my father are so anxious to create, you will be my first casualty." She said between clenched teeth.

Max sat there in thought for a moment, clearly he hadn't thought about this too adeptly.

Kiara saw a moment of panic cross his otherwise confident manner. Then it was replaced with a smirk.


"Clearly, we will have to be certain that you don't, remember these conversations of ours. I can arrange for that."

Then with that said, he stood, walked over to her, kissed her on the lips and then walked out of the room.

Kiara sent several books flying after him as he went, each one deflected by Max as he disappeared around the corner.

She walked over to the window once again and started staring out it, the same thoughts once again filling her head, the thoughts of her bashing herself upon the rocks if she couldn't accomplish this task.

[.:isis:.]

BUMP!!!

[Kiara Johnson]

Harry had been brought to another room and was waiting to see his sister. Max had told him he could talk with her momentarily. Kiara arrived in the room; Harry went straight over and hugged her. Kiara hugged him back happily.

"Where's Ron?" She turned to Max and asked; knowing of course that to get Ron in here with her would be impossible.

"Good try Kiara. I only allow you to see Harry so I can prove to you that they are fine and that no harm has befallen them, yet. Besides, no one but you can kill Harry on the other hand ---" He left it hanging. Knowing he had made his point perfectly clear.

"Ya, what ever." Kiara replied then turned to Harry.

"Is Ron ok? Physically, I mean. No one has hurt him have they?" Kiara asked.

Harry smiled at her.

"Yes Kiara, he is fine. I only hope---" Harry trailed off and looked over to Max, not wanting to discuss any plans in front of him.

Kiara sighed. If only she could tell him she had found a way to escape. It would be so much easier if she could but alas, she would have to trust in Harry's quick wit for her plan to work. They only had a few minutes to talk then Harry was taken away again.

"Tomorrow is the wedding Harry. What can we do?" Ron asked, clearly going into a panicked state.

"She has a plan, I could feel it in her, just follow my lead tomorrow, I don't know how she has figured this out but, it might get ugly." Harry replied.

"Max made his last mistake, she is going to kill him this time. I could also feel that. What ever she has planned, she plans on getting us the hell out of here first." He continued.

Ron smiled then frowned.

"What if she can't do it, what if the fate decides that we can't leave? And don't say we'll have to let fate decide Harry, it's not what I really want to hear just now." Ron replied a little peevishly.

"All right, I won't but you know that's what it has to be." Harry stated quite frankly.

"Thanks." Ron replied sarcastically.

[.:isis:.]

BUMP!!!

[Kiara Johnson]

"I do hope you don't expect things to go your way tomorrow Max." Voldem0rt said in an amused tone.

Max was pacing the floor to the throne room, obviously nervous about the wedding and what was to come after.

"Of course I don't!" He snapped. "This has to happen the way I planned otherwise, everything goes out of our court! Time is a luxury we no longer enjoy, it must happen tomorrow and she has to be turned. There is no other choice." Max continued.

He was still pacing the floor, but stopped as he heard Voldemort begin to laugh.

"What is it?" Max asked now becoming annoyed with him.

"You have finally realized that Kiara has just as good a chance at winning this as you do, that's what is so amusing. You could very well die tomorrow, how does that make you feel?' Voldemort answered with amusement.

Max had become more and more arrogant from the time he found out he was the Fates choice and Voldemort was now quite enjoying his sudden realization that he, Max, wasn't all powerful.

"You could die tomorrow too, you know!" Max retorted, not having any better argument than that.

"No, Max, Voldemort doesn't die. I will continue to reap havoc on this world until the end of time. Even if I loose my mortal body, life will not go on with out me."

He now laughed a bone chilling dark laugh that even cut through Max. Max turned and found himself facing, for the first time in a year, the all-powerful figure he had always cringed before, Max backed down, confusion riddling his mind. He had let himself grow weak in the moment and now, he would pay for that weakness, he knew. So, instead of staying in the same room of this mad man, he decided to go seek out Kiara.

Perhaps a little tormenting her will do me good. He thought as he left the throne room.

Kiara was walking around the only place that gave her piece of mind, the garden. She finally settled on a bench, underneath a willow tree and closed her eyes, trying, within this turmoil, to remember the times she and Draco had spent in the garden under her room.

"I hope that smile is for the thoughts of our honeymoon." Max said as he walked over and sat beside Kiara.

Kiara's eye's popped open and her smile faded as reality reared its ugly head, once again.

"No, I was just thinking of the many different ways I might torture and kill you after our marriage." She retorted, now wearing an evil grin of her own. "Yes, I think that your slowly burning body shall hang over the cliffs until it turns to ashes and the wind spreads them over the ocean to be disintegrated. And I shall delight in listening to your anguished screams of pain whilst sipping on our wedding champagne." She finished with a chilling undertone to her voice.

Max shuddered. "And here, I thought you loved me." He said sarcastically. Pretending not to let her words bother him in the least.

"Well I have other plans that consist of you, me and a bed. Simple but really much more pleasant, don't you agree?" He said in a taunting manner.

Kiara winced.

"Don't say such things after I have eaten, I am liable to loose my dinner." She said in a matter of fact tone. Now holding eye contact with him.

"You hurt my feelings Kiara. I do nothing but well for you and you repay me with no more than insults. I know, my wedding present to you will be Ron's head on a platter, would you like that? If not, I would be a little bit more polite to me, if I were you. There may come a time in the near future that your cooperation will be, shall we say, worth the lives of not only your dearest Ron but your godfather, as well." Max grinned as he looked upon her confusion.

"What ever do you speak of Max? You don't have Dumbledore caged up in this forsaken place, what makes you think you could ever even..." Kiara trailed off as she came to the same realization as Harry did a few days earlier. "No! I swear, if you do anything to him." Kiara was more panicked now than ever before.

"Yes my dear, I can and I will. I touched ever so many lives when I was at that school of yours last year. Just think of the possibilities. For their sake, I hope you plan on going through with this and beyond." He said with mock concern, as he reached out and brought her to face him once again.

He held her trembling chin in his hand and smiled wickedly into her hurt and lost eyes. He now had her trapped and he knew it. Even if she did manage to get Ron to freedom, somehow, she'd still have to obey his wishes, if, she wanted Dumbledore left unharmed.

For Kiara, there was only one answer to the problem and that, was the last thing she wanted but she was more than willing to loose her own life to save the others, or would it save them? Now she wasn't even sure of that. What if he killed them anyway, just for spite? She continued to tremble uncontrollably.

Max wouldn't let her go he held her facing him, seemingly delighting over her sorrow. Her hatred rose again, and she tired of the game, she wanted out.

{Sorry Kiara, it's not over yet. You still have a choice to make and tomorrow will be the time} the fate spoke to her just now.

A calm swept over her and she reached up, grasping Max's hand and tore it away from her chin. She then stood, turned to him and smiled.

"Tomorrow then." She said peacefully.

Kiara turned and walked away, nothing more to say and not wanting to remain in his company a moment longer. A sudden thought crossed her mind and she stopped and turned one last time to Max.

"Just one request, if I may, one wish for you to grant your bride. Might we move the ceremony outdoors? I was thinking along the cliffs. It is, beautiful out there and --" Kiara let it slide there.

Max thought a moment.

"Ok, I will grant you your wish. However, if we are to hold it outdoors, as you say, I must advise that there will be Death Eaters to watch over our special guests." Max replied.

"Very well, if it must be then I can deal with it. Thank you."

She then turned back around and walked away.

Max simply watched her walk away, no longer feeling the need to dominate her further. He sat on the bench, thinking of how he was to prevent Voldemort's rise again after Kiara came in to control.

Harry and Ron sat in there enclosure, talking.

"We have run out of time here, Ron. Everything is up to Kiara, if she so chooses to go along with Max and his wedding, you have to keep calm, she's doing it for a good reason. Don't go all nuts. It is keeping you alive and that's why she's playing their game." Harry said.

"I know Harry, but I would rather die than witness Kiara marry that Pratt! It may be what is keeping me alive for now but what about after? As I understand it, if she marries Max, she has given into the dark fate." Ron replied as he paced the floor.

"No, it's not just marrying him that will seal her fate, there's more to it than that. I think, she has one last task to do and I think it has to do with keeping you alive. I remember her saying something about the fate telling her she can't let you die." Harry shrugged. "Who really knows, but Max and Kiara? They are the main characters in this game for now."

He stopped and looked over to Ron who, was looking really upset, even more so than before.

"What is it?" Harry asked.

"If she marries him then, well, It seems to me that she can't be married to two people. Ok, perhaps I'm being ridiculous but, really Harry, what if she marries him, we escape and so does he? Then she will still be married and then ---" He let it hang in the sir.

Harry couldn't help it he started to laugh.

Ron looked a bit sheepish and started to laugh too.

"Ok, I am being ridiculous." Ron laughed.


Kiara wasn't paying attention as she entered her room, had she been she would have stopped the attack. She suddenly found herself tossed against the far wall and held there by some unseen force. As she was just ready to ask who was there, she heard his laugh.

"Your not paying attention girl. I just though we should have a little talk. A talk concerning your brother and that pathetic Muggle lover you are so fond of." Voldemort hissed.

His manor was aggressive and dangerous. Kiara recognized it immediately and she relaxed.

"Ok, father, what is it you want of me?" She asked instinctively.

[.:isis:.]

BUMP!!!

[Kiara Johnson]

Voldemort paced her room, then stopped and turned towards Kiara, his eyes burning into her very soul. She squirmed against his gaze and he smiled a wicked evil smile.

"So, you are still frightened of me. Good, I had hoped you were. That only proves that you are not as blind as I had thought."

He let her slide down from her position on the wall then turned his back on her again.

"You do realize there is no way out for you and every one you hold so dear to that outrageously kind heart of yours, don't you? After tomorrow, you will be mine and I just wanted to let you know up front that the first thing you can do is kill your annoying brother. I still hold that against you, you know, you deprived me of ever knowing the satisfaction that killing Harry Potter would have given me and I think to repay you for your kindness, I will personally kill Ron for you." He smiled.

"If you touch him, I won't be so easily cooperative. You will find that even though, yes, I do fear you, I am not afraid to kill you."

Kiara's eyes narrowed and were now just as red as her fathers, only hers, glowed with a certain intensity that spoke worlds of hatred.

"Threats, Kiara? They don't become you, you know. You can't touch me, I know this as do you and once your brother is dead, none can touch me, and unless you know something I do not, I have won." Voldemort answered calmly.

Kiara clenched her fists and turned away from her father. She had to hold out, she now knew that he too, was going to try and be sure that Ron died. However, unlike Max, she knew that Voldemort knew that Ron was the key to him winning.

"So, you are going to attend the wedding tomorrow then?" Kiara asked.

"No, I will not attend such an atrocity. Ironic, isn't it. Your father finds something as simple as a wedding to be repulsive enough not to witness it." He laughed again. By no means a happy laugh more like a dark, hating laugh.

"No, I find it to be unsurprising. Max has, after all, been the one person in your life that has at least, for the moment, over powered you. I think I find that personally amusing." Kiara answered, now wearing a mocking smile that she happily turned on her father.

"CRUCIO!" Voldemort yelled in vain.

Kiara easily blocked his spell, further adding to her mocking smile.

"I don't think so father, not this time. I have a wedding to prepare for, please leave me now." She turned and walked to the other room and waited until she heard her father exit the main part of her room then returned and sat silently on a chair next to the fire.

[.:isis:.]

BUMP!!![/color]

[Kiara Johnson]

Chapter 6 THE WEDDING AND THE CHOICE








The next morning dawned early for Kiara, Harry and Ron. Today was possibly the most important day in their young lives. Certainly it was the day that Ron would either live or die but it was much more than that.

Harry and Kiara had been born for a purpose. That purpose was to play out a game. Not just any game, but a game the whole world depended upon. If Kiara made a mistake, the world, as they all knew it, would be lost to them. The two fates, had decided they couldn't live together in harmony any longer, and instead of battling it out themselves, which would have destroyed the planet, they decided upon a game of sorts. Each made their own choices for playthings, and each, in the end, had agreed that who ever lost would simply disappear. Today was the destined day to end the game.

Sixteen years ago, this game could have ended had not the dark fate cheated and allowed its vessel to survive. Then again last year, the light fate had cheated by allowing Ron to live and letting Draco die. When this happened, the dark fate changed vessels. Now, the choice had to be made solely on Kiara and yes, Harry, although he didn't realize it yet, he too, had a decision to make. If he were to choose wrongly today, the game will continue even if Kiara chooses correctly. However, if Kiara chooses correctly, she will be released from service of the light fate and it would then turn solely to Harry and the game would continue.

Kiara awoke in her room to find that her wedding gown had been brought to her and that there were several servants, waiting for her when she got up. She walked to the dressing room and looked, with great distaste, upon her wedding gown.

All right, if I must. She thought to herself and began to dress.

The gown was solid black with a plunging neckline that went clear down to her midsection. The jewelry that had been brought to her consisted of a black-diamond necklace and of course, her engagement ring, which, she put on once again, despite the churning in her stomach.

The servants came in after a bit and led her to another room and began working on her hair. Kiara objected at first but decided she was fighting a loosing battle so relented to their attempts at making her up.

[.:isis:.]

BUMP!!!

[Kiara Johnson]

Harry and Ron were brought out to a room facing the back lawn. They were kept inside and guarded by several Death-Eaters. Ron paced nervously and Harry stared at the cliffs beyond.

"I hope this is over fast. I don't know how much longer I can stand to wait." Ron said.

Harry only nodded his agreement. His mind was on other things, such as how to keep the two of them alive, long enough for Kiara to do what ever it was she had planned.

********

Dumbledore sat in the courtroom awaiting the final decision of the Court. If they chose not to grant Lucius his demands, then all hope of retrieving Kiara, Harry and Ron, was lost. Or so he thought.

As the morning turned to afternoon, Kiara was brought, finally, to the courtyard along the cliffs. She looked around and noticed Ron and Harry, surrounded by several Death-Eaters. Then, taking a deep breath, she allowed herself to be escorted to stand next to Max.

The ceremony was under way. In the end, the Dark Priest said, "You may kiss the Bride."

Max leaned in and kissed Kiara who's, hands clenched into fists.

Max turned to the Death -Eaters behind them.

"Kill him." He commanded.

"No! You promised!" Kiara backed away towards the cliffs.

"I lied." Max returned with a sneer, then realized what Kiara was about to do and he held his hand up to halt his last order.

"What ever are you doing Kiara?" Max asked. "You'll only succeed in killing your self. What good would that do?" He finished.

"Kiara no, don't!" Ron tried to get to her but was held back by the Death Eaters.

"Don't worry Ron, I can fly." Kiara said as she let herself fall backwards over the cliff.

Suddenly everything was in turmoil, Harry seized the opportunity.

"Accio Wand!" Her yelled.

Rapidly he had a wand in his hand. He stunned a Death Eater and Ron grabbed the wand from the fallen wizard. He and Harry began to make their way back toward the castle.

Suddenly there was a loud roaring and the sound of giant wings, beating the air and, a Huge Horntail rose from beneath the cliffs, spraying the wedding guests with fire as it rose ever higher.

Harry and Ron froze, momentarily until Ron noticed a smile begin to spread across Harry's face.

"What?" asked Ron as Harry pushed him through the door.

"Kiara, she really can fly." Harry answered.

"You don't mean?" Ron said, his face paling a bit, as they continued fighting their way across the hall of the castle and toward the far door.