Disclaimer: I do not own any of the people or places that belong to the wonderful world of Harry Potter, as they belong to J.K. Rowling. The OC (Katherine) is entirely my own.


Chapter 51: The Final Mission Begins

Katherine steadied herself and continued walking towards the meeting site. She knew as long as Severus remained hidden in the Shrieking Shack, the final plan would work. It had to work.

No one could know that Severus lived. Harry had to believed that he had sacrificed himself for the Light and for Lily. So she knew that she had to play her next part well. Katherine brought false images forth of a bloodied Severus lying on the floor of the ancient building. Images of herself checking for a pulse, but finding none. His eyes lifeless.

She knew that those images would bring tears to her eyes, and before she knew it, they were streaming down her cheeks. Her eyes were still red and puffy from the first time she had cried tonight, but real dried tears would be even more convincing. Wiping her face with her sleeve, she knew it would convince the others that he was dead.

Before long, Katherine found herself wandering into the clearing that held the inner circle of Death Eaters and other followers of the Dark Lord alike.

Narcissa and Lucius were sitting on an old log together, to the Dark Lord's right. At the sight of Katherine, a worried looking Narcissa rose to greet her, but was stopped short at the sight of Katherine's tear stained face and reddened eyes.

"Katherine," Narcissa whispered. "What is it? Where's Severus?"

Katherine didn't answer her, and instead walked straight over to the fallen log and plopped down next to Lucius. He saw the unshed tears forming in the younger witch's eyes.

"Katherine? Where is he?" Lucius whispered as well. The blonde hung her head, not bothering to look at either of them.

"He's…he's dead," Katherine muttered from behind her fallen locks.

"Dead!" Narcissa's eyes widened as she sat down next to Katherine.

"Yes Cissy. Dead."

"But when and who?" Lucius murmured. Both Lucius and Narcissa waited for a response, but never received one, as they heard a small twig snapped near them.

The three looked up into the red, cold eyes of the Dark Lord. He stood, hovering over them with a cold sneer on his face. He glazed into Katherine's reddened, ice blue eyes.

"I'm glad to see you have returned Katherine," the Dark Lord hissed. "Because of Snape's untimely death, you will now take his place in the inner circle."

Katherine only nodded in response, her eyes never leaving the Dark Lord's. The Dark Lord smirked, he could see it in her eyes the anger that was held there. The anger for the loss of a companion, a friend.

"Forget him Katherine," the Dark Lord sneered. "There will be others that are worthy enough for you." He then took his leave, heading towards Bellatrix, who stood in the opposite corner of the clearing.

"What did he mean, others who are worthy?" Lucius asked.

"I was supposed to be given to Severus after the war. As his bride; to help create a future generation of servants." Katherine explained in hushed tones.

"Already started that, didn't you?" Lucius whispered, receiving deadly glares from both Narcissa and Katherine alike.

"Lucius!" Narcissa hissed. "No one is to know about the child?"

"I know, but what will happen when it is over. Hmm. What will the Dark Lord do to her then?" Lucius retaliated.

"Enough, both of you!" Katherine hissed at the elder witch and wizard. "No one will know about this until after the war." Katherine paused, before adding even quieter. "If I survive this war at all."

Narcissa's head shot around to look back at the younger witch, who, in some sense, had become a younger sister to her. The thought, that ran through her mind, of watching both Katherine and Severus' bodies being laid together in an open grave haunted her.

Tears began to form in her eyes as she thought more about it. And what made it worse, was the thought of the child that Katherine was carrying; a child that would never grow up, attend school or even see the light of day.

"Katherine, I…we will do whatever we can to protect you and the child." Narcissa stated. "We will help you raise the child, so it can grow up right."

"Thank you Cissy, but…" Katherine started, but a voice stopped her suddenly.

"I knew he was a traitor," Bellatrix spat loudly, causing the wizard and the two witches to jerk their heads up abruptly. "Where is he Dumbledore? Ran back to the little Hogwarts' Army? Snape is nothing but a coward…"

Bellatrix was cut off by Katherine's quick movements; her wand now pushing again Bella's throat, hard. Katherine gritted her teeth, growling at the sinister black haired witch.

"Don't you dare call him a coward." Katherine growled, pushing her wand harder into Bella's throat. "HE'S DEAD! He died for our cause; for the Dark Lord. So don't you dare insult him."

The circle of Death Eaters were now totally silent, observing the scene before them. The Dark Lord seemed pleased with the turn of events; it proved to him that Katherine was a force not to be reckoned with.

"If you ever…" Katherine stopped, her eyes widened; she was staring intently at a spot behind the Dark Lord. She slowly dropped her wand from Bellatrix's person. By this point the others began to follow her line of vision, to find a lone black haired boy, with green eyes.

Harry Potter.

Harry stepped out of the darken woods and into the clearing. He understood Snape's memories; he knew what he had to do in order to bring the downfall of Voldemort. The Dark Lord was now facing the boy; his followers still deathly silent. All glazes were upon the Boy-who-lived.

Katherine and Harry made eye contact for a split second before his eyes returned to the Dark Lord. Narcissa and Lucius risen along side of Katherine, glancing back and forth between their master and the boy, who was the same age as their own son.

"Harry Potter," the Dark Lord sneered. "The boy-who-lived. Come to die."

Katherine looked to the boy again, realizing that his wand was nowhere in sight. She knew that he understood his sacrifice. She watched as Harry closed his eyes, and waited for the inevitable.

"Avada Kedavra!" Voldemort screamed. The elder wand emitted the bright green light, which hit Harry square in the chest. The boy fell to the forest floor on impact, but what shocked the Death Eaters more was the fall that their master took when the spell hit Harry.

Bella was the first to her master's side.

"My Lord?" Bella whispered. "My Lord?" After a few minutes Katherine, Lucius and Narcissa made their way towards Voldemort's fallen form.

"My Lord?" Katherine muttered. The Dark Lord awoke and began to rise slowly from the ground; he brushed off Bellatrix's attempts to help him up with a wave of his hand.

"Narcissa. Katherine. Check the boy," the Dark Lord demanded. The two witches nodded and slowly made their way towards Potter's still body.

Narcissa was the first to bend down and check for signs of life. She was checking for a pulse on his neck when Katherine joined her. The elder witch's hand froze suddenly at his throat; her eyes widened as she turned towards Katherine.

"He lives," Narcissa murmured.

Katherine was wide-eyed as well, but inside she was rejoicing. He lived. Her uncle's plan had worked; Voldemort's soul was now one step closer to destruction. Narcissa put her head down towards the boy's lips, tilting it to make it appear that she was checking him further.

"Is Draco in the castle? Is he alive?" Katherine heard Narcissa quietly question the boy.

"Yes," the words barely escaped his lips. Narcissa shot up fast and turned to the Dark Lord, while leaving Katherine still kneeling besides Harry.

"He is dead. The boy is dead," Narcissa told him.

Katherine quickly lowered her head to check for Harry's breathe. She could feel the soft puffs of air rise from his mouth. The Death Eaters and followers began to cheer; the loud eruption was enough for Katherine to speak quickly to the boy.

"Only one more now," Katherine whispered. Harry twitched his nose lightly, as a sign that he had heard her.

"KATHERINE!" the Dark Lord's voice bellowed over the cheering crowd. The Death Eaters fell silent once more. "Can you confirm this?"

Katherine rose from the kneeling position and turned to face the Dark Lord. She raised her chin arrogantly and allowed a twisted smile to cross her face.

"It is true my Lord," Katherine stated. "The boy no longer lives."

The Death Eaters went into an uproar again, shooting off sparks of red and silver into the air. Katherine allowed the sneer to stay on her face, but in her mind she was planning her next moves. She knew she had to remain several steps ahead of Voldemort in order to survive this war. She had to survive. Not only for Severus, but for their child as well.

"Harry Potter is dead by my hand, and no man alive can threaten me now! Watch! Crucio!" Voldemort screeched as he aimed his wand at the boy's body.

Harry's form was thrown three times into the air. Then it fell to the ground with a sickening thud. Katherine slowly slipped back to Narcissa's side.

"Katherine? You -" Narcissa started, but Katherine place a hand on her arm to stop her.

"As did you," Katherine said. "Listen, when we get to the castle, find Draco and get yourselves out."

"What?" Narcissa gasped, but the cheering around them was so loud that no one else could have heard her.

"Just do as I say, and your family will survive," Katherine hissed. Narcissa could only nod deafly in response. Shrieks of laughter echoed throughout the camp; Bellatrix cackled gleefully as the Dark Lord continued his display upon the seventeen year old boy.

"NOW!" Voldemort shouted to his followers. "We go to the castle and show them what has become of their hero!" The crowd cheered again; aiming their wands into the sky, shooting red and silver sparks into the air once more.

"You carry him," the Dark Lord shouted. "He will be nice and visible in your arms. Pick up your little friend, Hagrid." Yaxley and Mulciber who had been holding onto Hagrid's ropes, forced the half giant up and pulled him to Harry's limp body.

Katherine, Narcissa and Lucius watched as Hagrid's arms trembled violently as he picked the boy up from the ground and cradled him in his large hands. How Harry had been able not to give himself away during his torture had Katherine amazed. She had to admit, he was most definitely brave.

"MOVE ," Voldemort sneered. Hagrid stumbled, as Yaxley and Mulciber pulled on his robes once more, forcing Hagrid through the close-grown trees. The half giant sobbed continually, as the Dark Lord now led them towards the castle.

Bellatrix danced merrily to the right of Voldemort and Katherine, Lucius and Narcissa walked along to his left. Soon they left the trees and the group marched across the vacant Hogwarts' grounds.

"STOP!" the Dark Lord shouted. The two Death Eaters forced Hagrid to stop and the troop stilled just outside the castle walls. Katherine took a moment to glance around, noting that the students and staff had removed those who have been killed and injured on their side; all that remained now was the bodies of the dead members of the Dark Lord's forces.

"HARRY POTTER IS DEAD!" Voldemort shouted. He had magically magnified his voice, so that it roared out over the grounds. "He was killed as he ran away, trying to save himself! We bring you his body as proof that your hero is gone!" The Death Eaters roared with laughter again, as Yaxley and Mulciber pulled Hagrid out in front of the group.

"The battle is won!" the Dark Lord continued. "The Boy Who Lived is finished!"


a/n: This chapter came fast, and Chapter 52 will follow on Wednesday or sooner! Thanks to everyone who has been following this story; also to those who have been added it to their alerts and/or favs!

A big thank you to WWEStarBaby, Dreamer Naos, Anastasia Lionheart, RequiemWolfenstein87, tigerlili48, Savysnape7, grumpirah, brandon279, esmeralda023 and sandradee27 for their wonderful reviews!

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