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 53: A Final Glance
Cheers of joy echoed across the Great Hall, and the Dark Lord's body was removed to the corridor, along with Bellatrix's. Aurors had come and were now taking those Death Eaters, who were left, back to Azkaban.
As Katherine opened her eyes, she became aware that Draco was kneeling on the floor next to her. He was clutching his left arm as well; his head buried in Narcissa's shoulder, as the elder witch gently stroking his hair.
Feeling Katherine's gaze upon her, Narcissa turned towards the younger, with tears welding up in her eyes. Smiling, Narcissa slid the slit of her skirt up high enough to reveal the skin of her left thigh, that was now sisterhood mark free.
"Thank you Katherine," Narcissa said, as tears began running down from her blue eyes, staining her pale cheeks. "Thank you for keeping us safe."
"You're welcome Cissy," Katherine said, as she shifted slightly to gather the witch and her godson in her arms. "Do you forgive me?"
"Whatever for?" Narcissa asked, pulling away a bit to look Katherine in the eye.
"For lying to you, after all this time."
"How could I be?" Narcissa smiled softly. "You were my friend before you took that vow, and that's what's important. Your family, Katherine, and we will be there for you and for the baby."
"Thank you Cissy," Katherine smiled sadly at her. A part of her wanted to tell Narcissa that Severus was alive and well, waiting in the Shrieking Shack; but she couldn't. Severus still didn't know her true loyalties, and Katherine and Albus had devised a plan that would allow them to slip silently away.
Severus had only stayed at Hogwarts because of his oath to Albus, but the elder wizard had known that the younger wanted to start a new life after the Dark Lord was gone. That was one of the reasons why Albus had summoned Katherine back; to watch over Severus and protect him, so that he could begin anew. The main reason she had returned, was to help bring Voldemort down in the end, from the inside.
So she kept quiet. She knew it sounded selfish, but she also knew that he deserved the peace and quiet of a normal life.
"Cissy," Katherine said, rising from the stone floor and brushing herself off. "I'm going to go get Severus..."
"I'll come with you," Narcissa said. "You shouldn't be alone right now and..."
"Please Cissy," Katherine pleaded. "I want some time alone with him. Just me. No one else. Please." Narcissa nodded slightly, before turning her attention back to her son, who was still in her arms.
Katherine glanced over at Lucius, who was standing stiff against the side wall. The button on his left sleeve was undone and Katherine could still see the Dark Mark fresh on his pale skin. Hers had burned away because of her false loyalties; Narcissa's because of her betrayal; and Draco's because it was forced upon him. Lucius' mark remained due to the fact that he did not fully betray the Dark Lord like his wife had, and his mark would remain long after his dying days.
The sun was now rising steadily over Hogwarts, and as Katherine moved to the doors of the Great Hall, she paused to look out over the crowd. The house tables had been replaced, but the students and others sat jumbled together. She smiled at the sight of Neville Longbottom sitting with the sword of Gryffindor lying beside his plate as he ate; the Weasley family and Hermione Granger sat together, mourning the loss of their son, yet celebrating the end of a long year; her father was chatting with Kingsley and Seamus Finnigan on the opposite end of the room.
They hadn't talked in twenty-seven years, but as Aberforth caught her gaze, she could see sorrow and yet pride in his blue eyes. Eyes that she had inherited from him. Slowly, Katherine slipped silently into the corridor and headed to the entrance doors. But a voice stopped her short.
"Katherine," the stern, yet soft voice of Minerva McGonagall came from behind her. Katherine turned to face the elder witch, and noticed the sternness of Minerva's face was no longer there. "Where are you off to?"
"I'm going to retrieve my husband," Katherine said, watching the witch cautiously; she wasn't sure what Minerva wanted.
"Katherine, let me send someone with.."
"No," Katherine interrupted her. "I need a moment alone with him...I just...need some time alone."
"But you're not alone in this," Minerva sighed. "I'm so sorry for the way I have treated you since your return. If we only would have known..."
"If you knew what I really was, Albus' plans wouldn't have worked," Katherine cut her off again.
"You're right, I'm sorry," Minerva said, raising her hand in defeat. "But like I said before, you are not alone. You have a family here; one that will be there whenever you need us."
"Thank you Minerva," Katherine muttered.
"No," Minerva said, stepping towards the young witch and placing a hand on her arm. "We should be thanking you...Remember we'll be awaiting your return. You will always have a home here at Hogwarts."
"Thank you," Katherine whispered. Minerva gave her arm a gentle squeeze and quietly walked back into the Great Hall. Katherine stood still watched the corridor around her. "Potter, I know you're out here."
Suddenly, Harry Potter appeared before her, pulling off his Invisibility Cloak. He came forward before stopping about a foot or so away from her.
"Thank you Mr. Potter," Katherine smirked at the boy. "Thank you for freeing me."
"I think you did that on your own Professor," Potter said, smirking back slightly. "I saw him, you know, your uncle. He said he was proud of you. He said that he knew you would figure out how to tell me without breaking the vow."
"It took me a while. I examined that memory over and over again." Katherine smiled slightly. "He said 'speak,' not 'show.' And upon me showing you the memories, he, in sense, told you about the vow himself. And a dead man cannot died again."
"I understood your other memories too, Professor," Harry stated to the elder witch. "You and Professor Snape hand-fasted, but you bonded not only your lives, but your souls as well, did you not?"
"Yes Harry." Katherine's eyes held unshed tears and she focused on the boy that lived 'twice.' "We both knew that neither one wanted to live in this world without the other."
"You are going to died, aren't you?" Harry looked at her sadly.
"Yes, I will leave this world to be with him again very soon," she lied. "Could you do me a favor?"
"Anything Professor," Harry said. Katherine reached into her robes and pulled on two envelopes; one that had been Avery's, the other was hers.
"Take these, and make sure Kingsley gets them, they're very important," Katherine said, handing him the letters. "Live your life to the fullest Harry, because before you know it, it will be gone."
"I will Professor," Harry said. "Thank you for all that you have done." Harry smiled at the witch one last time, before slipping in alongside Ron and Hermione and began climbing the stairs towards Headmaster's office.
Katherine turned and made her way out into the courtyard. The bright sunlight blinded her temporarily, but as her vision came into focus; she saw the destruction before her. The walls were crumbling, the stone flooring cracked and fractured. Bodies of the Death Eaters and the Dark Lord's followers laid amongst the rumble; some unrecognizable.
She slowly made her way out onto the grounds and towards the Whomping Willow, but she stopped short. A body had caught her eye, a body that laid still in the long grass. Avery.
Katherine made her way over to the body, and knelt down beside him. There was a large gash across his chest and another across his neck. His lifeless brown eyes stared up at her; his mouth agape. Gently, Katherine reached out and closed his eyes.
"Rest in peace my friend," Katherine whispered, before rising from the ground and heading back to the tunnel. She stopped once again at the tunnel's opening, and turned to glance back at the castle one final time.
"Goodbye Hogwarts," she whispered softly. She knew that she would probably never see this place again, and yet she was alright with that.
As she entered the small dark passageway, she smirked slightly at the sight before her. Just like Albus had promised her, someone had left the bodies of two unidentified dead Snatchers were laying on the dirt floor, waiting for her. Katherine had never found out who Albus had made the agreement with over a year ago, but whoever it was, they had kept their end of the bargin.
Katherine knew what she had to do, before she could return to the man at the other end of the tunnel.
Severus was still sitting against the wall, the same place where Katherine had left him. The vials of potions that she had left, were now empty, and sitting on the floor next to him. It had to have been an hour since he had felt it burn; the Dark Mark. It had burned with such intensity that Severus was sure that the plans had gone wrong. The pain was so bad that he was sure that the Dark Lord had won.
His thoughts had gone to Katherine and where she was. He wondered if the Dark Lord had found out about the child, but he knew that the evil wizard hadn't killed her. If he had, the locket would have opened, and Severus would have been gone from here.
'Gone from here,' Severus smirked at the thought. He had wanted to leave Hogwarts from some time now, but he had made an oath to Albus to stay and protect Lily's son. The smirk on his face faded; he knew he had failed Lily.
A sudden movement from the dirt tunnel, made Severus quickly take out his wand; directing it at the opening. And as soon as the person emerged, Severus sighed heavily in relief, but kept his wand trained on the witch before him. Katherine.
"What was the last thing I said to you before you left here to return to the Dark Lord?" Severus asked quickly, while holding the blonde witch's gaze.
"Stay safe," Katherine replied softly. "For both of your sakes...and also 'I love you.'" Katherine's wand was out as well, training directly on Severus' chest.
"How far am I along," Katherine asked, still watching the dark haired wizard closely.
"Six weeks," Severus whispered, barely loud enough for Katherine to hear. Both lowered their wand, but stood rooted in their spots for a moment. Severus could see unshed tears in Katherine's eyes. Her cloak spattered with dirt and blood. Her face pale and tear stained from the long night.
"Oh Sev..." Katherine finally breathed out, as she rushed to his side. The tears she had holding back, began to fall freely, as she collapsed beside him. Katherine wrapped her arms around Severus' torso, burying her face in the crook of his neck.
Severus took her gently in his arms and shifted her to sit on his lap. He held her as close as possible; burying his nose into her golden hair. Severus smiled lightly, for even after a long night of battle, he could still smell the scent of cherry blossoms in her hair.
"Katherine, how did you get away?" Severus asked after a long minute. He had waited for Katherine's crying to cease, but still held her close to his heart.
"What do you mean?" Katherine muttered from his neck.
"Katherine," Severus said, pulling her back slightly so he could look at her face. "I felt the mark burn just a little while ago. I know the Dark Lord has won."
"It didn't burn because he was victorious Sev," Katherine said, causing Severus to frown slightly at her words. "It was burning because of his death." Katherine slowly let go of Severus' body and pulled his left arm to her. Silently she undid the buttons on his robes and frock, from around his left wrist, then carefully slid the sleeve up his arm.
Severus' eyes widened at what he saw. For there on his left arm, was nothing. The mark was gone; leaving the skin unblemished. Katherine gently ran her fingers over the spot where the Dark Mark was once impaled upon his skin; and new tears began to form in her eyes.
"It's gone," Severus muttered, as he closed his eyes briefly. "He's gone then." A tear escaped his dark eyes, and Katherine gently reached out and brushed it away with the tips of her fingers.
"Yes Severus, he's gone," Katherine said, giving him a watery smile as she placed her forehead against his. "There's no more Dark Mark; no more Dark Lord; we're free Sev…we're free."
a/n: Sorry for the delay, but work has been crazy these last couple of days. If you are wondering why Katherine did not tell them that Severus was alive, all I have to say is, that it will be explained fully in the next three chapters. I promise.
Chapter 54 will be posted sometime Saturday or Sunday night. Only 3 more chapter plus the epilogue to go :( Thank you to all who have been following this story; and to those who have been adding it to their alerts and/or favs.
A big thank you to Anastasia Lionheart, Veronika Says, RequiemWolfenstein87, Savysnape7, SnapesPotionsMistress, ILuvOdie, LemonDropsWoolSocks, grumpirah, Furionknight, sandradee27, PresidentTheAwesome, Ausre and Luette94 for their wonderful reviews!
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