Disclaimer: Like the others, I don't own the characters I merely play around with them.
Sorry for such a short chapter but...
Chapter 3 – Reaching Out
Three months later
Severus Snape was sitting at the Head Table eating his breakfast when a small brown and black peppered owl flew straight at his head and landed with a tiny bow in front of him holding a small package. With a brisk tweet and a gentle snip to his fingers, the owl turned and took off once more, not waiting for a treat or acknowledgement. He could feel the other professors look at him with curiosity but none dared to ask what the package was. He knew that he had slipped back into his previous acidic personality after the disappearance of Katerina but he could not be bothered to care what they thought of him anymore.
Looking at the parchment attached to small wrapping he felt his heart skip when he recognized the handwriting on the slip. It belonged to Katerina. No one had heard a single word from her in three months. Everyone had tried to find her, Aurors, Harry and his friends, even Albus had looked. It had been Minerva, the young girl's grandmother, who had called off the search saying that Kat obviously did not wish to be found and they should give her the space that she needed. Harry and company had not been happy with that decision but he trusted Albus and Minerva so he would allow them to have the final say in what happened with the case they had opened on Kat.
Severus quickly excused himself from the table and rushed to his rooms. Opening the letter with shaking hands he read:
My dearest friend,
Please forgive me for how long it has taken to write to you. Please understand why I could not bring myself to say anything. For months all I felt was the ache and pain of losing my family as I had. I can't say anything else to excuse my leaving in such a way. I do hope that you will forgive me. I've decided to continue traveling around studying new techniques and creatures. I am sorry that I cannot return home yet. In this package you will find a journal that I made just for you. Traveling with me is its twin; whatever I draw, write, or say into the journal will be sent to yours once I close the book. Yours will do the same, sending what you want, if you want to mine. The book will glow green when something new has been received (I wanted a color that would make you smile). Whenever you are ready, if you ever are, please write me.
Your friend,
Katerina
Severus closed his eyes and let out a breath he hadn't realized he was holding. She was alive. She was well and living. Thank Merlin she was ok still. Just as quickly as the relief took over him from finding out Katerina was alive a harsh fury took over him and he grabbed the book and wrote.
KATERINA DUMBLEDORE! WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN? DO YOU KNOW HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE BEEN WORRIED ABOUT YOU? WHAT ARE YOU THINKING? WHY DO YOU THINK THAT I WOULD WANT TO TALK TO YOU AFTER YOU LEFT US ALL?
Slamming the book shut Severus stood and went to grab a glass of whiskey. Tossing his head back, he slammed the drink in one swallow, tossed the glass down and started pacing back and forth in front of the desk, daring the book to glow green. Minutes after he had written in the book, a deep green glow was emitted from the book in front of him. He stood still for a moment before gathering the courage to open the cover and read what was inside.
Severus I understand your anger at me and I am sorry for it. I never meant to hurt anyone, I promise I didn't. But you also must understand the amount of grief and pain I was under. Everyone kept looking at me as if I was an empty shell which I guess I am. People would talk about me without even noticing that I was in the room with them. Every hall that I walked through I saw Fred dying. Every time I change my clothes and see my shrinking stomach I ache for my son. I never got to hold him, did you know that? He was ripped from my body and I don't have any proof that he even ever existed.
I couldn't possibly stay there. I had to escape. As to where I've been, honestly I don't know. I know that I am currently in a small village in South Africa. I spent the majority of the past three months as a Shedu, only transforming back two weeks ago. I spent those weeks developing this journal so that I could possibly have you back in my life. I miss you all greatly, but I miss our talking most of all. Please tell me if you cannot accept this friendship again. I promise not to be mad at you.
-Katerina
Severus did not know what he wanted to write back and so he didn't. He kept the book in his robes for the next few days, not telling anyone that he had been contacted by Kat. Finally his anger subsided and he opened the book back up trying to figure out what he wanted from this new correspondence.
Miss Dumbledore,
Am I allowed to reveal to your worried grandparents your current life status or would you rather they still wonder if you have a heartbeat or not?
Severus Snape
Come now Severus, I had thought we were past the formalities. You know my given name. Of course you can tell my grandparents that I am writing to you, but I do ask that you refrain from telling them my location. I do not wish to found, at least not yet. As to if they know I am living, I sent them a letter the same day that I sent you your journal. I figured it would be cruel to not let them know that I am ok. Please be willing to write with me.
Kat
Miss Dumbledore,
You may write what you will but I will not always guarantee that I will respond.
Severus Snape
And so began a series of letters back and forth. Slowly their friendship began to heal and soon they were back to having lively debates and conversations over the new things that Kat was discovering. Katerina would send drawings and stories of the places she was visiting, sometimes sending hard to find potion ingredients to Severus by owl. Severus would tell her about what was happening at Hogwarts and concerning her friends. His colleagues would get big grins on their faces when they noticed that the book had turned green again waiting patiently for the next tale of what Katerina was doing.
