The characters of Harry Potter belong to JK Rowlings.

This story is about Hogwarts during Book 7. It follows Catherine Snape, the OFC I created for Hell and Blood Red Lipstick, and Neville Longbottom as they battle their circumstances in the 7th year.

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It was half past midnight when Catherine awoke to the sounds of someone banging on her dormitory door. She sat up to see Lavender open the door.

Alecto, at least, she thought it was Alecto looked about the room. "Headmaster Snape wants to see you," she said, crossing to Catherine's bed.

Catherine sighed and leaned back against her pillows. What could her father possible want with her at this time of night? Unless it was another one of the Deatheaters' sick parties, which she was expected to attend, what with her being Severus' daughter and Draco's intended. That last bit had come about during the last summer. Lord Voldemort had decided that their union would unite the families of his most loyal followers.

At first, Catherine hadn't been too upset, she'd always figured they end up together one day anyway, but since he'd become more active in the Deatheaters, trying to win back Voldemort's favor, the things he'd done, turned her stomach. She was getting to the point she could barely stand to look at him. The things she saw in his eyes…, felt in his touch…, she didn't know how she'd stand it. Unfortunately, she had to. Voldemort had to believe her father, and her, were loyal to him, or everything the Order had worked for would be destroyed.

"Get up, you lazy bitch!" Alecto growled, grabbing for Cat, who had slipped off the opposite of the bed, just in time. She hated the little whelp of that blood traitor Severus had taken up with after Evans married Potter. Of course, in his defense, Maggie hadn't been a blood traitor when he was bedding her. She didn't show her true colors until the end, refusing to help the Dark Lord the way she did. Not that it matter, they had Cat now.

Years ago, before she was so thick and dark and her hair wasn't touched by grey, Alecto had hoped Severus would want her. She'd laid awake at night, thinking of him, his dark eyes, brooding manner, not mention his place in the Deatheaters, but he never even glanced her way.

"Don't touch me." Cat warned, then seeing the fire jumping in Alecto's eyes, added, "You'd do well to remember who I am."

She glared at Alecto, as she threw her shoulders back proudly and walked out the door, Alecto close on her heels.

"Bloomslang Skin," she said to the gargoyle guarding the staircase to the Headmaster's office. If he had sent for her, he was probably still there. The gargoyle leapt aside for her to enter, with Alecto edging in behind her.

"Come in," Snape said, as soon as she reached his door. "That'll be all, Alecto."

"But, Headmaster…" she protested. She just knew this had to be about her Lord and she didn't want to miss it.

"That will be all," he repeated more firmly.

"Yes, Headmaster," She left out, mumbling under her breath.

"What?" Catherine asked.

"Come here, darling," he replied.

She took a few steps forward. "What is it?"

"Come here, my daughter, let me look at you." He replied, holding out his hand to her.

"Well, this is odd," she thought, but she went to him.

Once she was in reach, he caught her arms and pulled her into his lap, very close to him. For a second she wondered had if he had become as sick and sex driven as some of the other Deatheaters. She waited for his next move, wondering what to do, if he did get weirder.

Instead, he whispered in her ear.

"Catherine, you know I'm not going to…, do anything to you. We just can't take the risk that she may be watching or listening to gain something to report back to the others. I need you to do something that the Carrows can't know about. Do you understand?"

She nodded.

Alecto stopped just down from the door, and crept back a few steps, to peek through the crack in the door, hoping to overhear some piece of information. She saw Catherine in Snape's lap and smiled. Even if she didn't get any useful information, maybe she'd get to see him punish the girl good and proper for her wicked tongue. She really should get Amycus to witness this too.

Cat laughed at her thoughts, though they weren't very far off from what happens at some of those parties. She had been spared so far, because she was Severus' daughter and he was highly favored by Voldemort. He had shielded her from the worse acts going on, and had admitted that some of their acts, in fact most, made him sick.

"I have just stopped the Carrows from torturing Longbottom. Apparently they'd been taking turns at him since lunch. I made them stop before they killed him. Besides they couldn't give me a straight answer about what he did to deserve that."

"He asked Alecto how much muggle blood she had."

Snape shook his head. He had to admire the boy's courage, but that was plain stupid. Anybody could see those two had more muscles than brains.

"Well, he's in a bad way. They've used some pretty dark spells on him. Madame Pomphrey can't do much for him, but you can."

"I've never done…" she tried to protest, panic rising in her chest, she didn't want to make things worse for him.

"You can do this, Cat. You know the potions, you've read the books, and you know the doses and techniques." He sighed. "You're his only chance."

"Ok," she said, quietly. "I'll try."

"That's a good girl. I think he went to the come and go room. I told him to get somewhere they couldn't find him for a day or two."

"The what room?"

"The come and go room. You all used it for your DA meetings. I've heard about it since I was a student here. Guess I've never really needed it, because I've never found it."

"I know where it is, we called it the Room of Requirement. I don't know if I can do this, Papa, what if I make it worse?" She asked.

"You can," he said, confidently. "I have some potions and the books in my chambers. I have a feeling both Carrows are probably listening at the door. Think you can leave out of here, like I've beaten you half to death? I want them to think this was about you smart-mouthing Amycus at dinner."

"I don't think spanking me is what she was hoping you'd do," Cat replied, looking towards the door.

"Yes, well, you never know," he replied.

She got off his lap, as he stood up and took her arm. He started talking loudly, pretending to drag her to the door. "You are my daughter, the child of a respected deatheater and soon to be the wife of another, you won't go around this school behaving like a common blood traitor. You will speak to the other Deatheaters with respect, do you understand?" He had to force the words through his mouth. He had to make this seem real.

"Yes sir," she replied meekly.

"I trust we won't be having anymore of these talks?"

"No, sir, we won't."

"Good, because next time I have to call you here, you'll really be sorry." He shoved her out the door. True to his suspicions, the Carrows were hurrying down the steps. Alecto turn around as though she had been waiting on them.

"I'll see her back to Gryffindor Tower, Headmaster."

"That won't be necessary, Alecto, she'll be staying in my quarters until she can behave in a fitting manner. Gryffindor Tower, just might be some of her troubles." He turned to Catherine, "Go now, and do as I tell you."

"Yes, sir." She ducked her head and hurried down the stairs. Stopping to retrieve the supplies from her Father's rooms, she hurried to the corridor containing the Room of Requirement.

"I need to find Neville," She thought, pacing in front of where she knew the door to be. Suddenly a plain wooden door appeared in front of her. She opened it and stepped in.

"Oh, Neville!" She exclaimed.