I appreciate the review(s), I agree with you 100%, Katherine has plenty of time to grow and learn.
Chapter Three: Slytherins
The fireplace in the headmaster's office, at Hogwarts, had a white marble molding that stuck out more than an average fireplace. Katherine had stubbed her toe getting out of it, blaming the incident on Severus, he was rushing her to exit. Causing her to miss judge the step. Limping around, she waited for the two men to finish discussing the matter, as if she was not present. She scanned the office; portraits of past headmistresses and headmasters filled the walls. Tracing her fingers along the spine of each book within her reach. The golden script on a worn-down leather book caught her attention. Owle Bullock. The name seemed familiar and unknown all at the same time. Reaching for the book, Katherine was startled when a parchment swatted her hand. Snape scolded her. Reminding her of a professor fussing a pupil.
Dumbledore gave a small wink, offering a sweet to Snape and Katherine, Katherine popped the lemon drop in her mouth, Snape declined. She watched her husband fidget in the background with his sleeves. Around Dumbledore he was not in charge, Katherine enjoyed watching the power dynamic shift.
After Albus was done eating his lemon drop, he explained "We will go thru your thoughts. If a memory stands out, we will reveal and investigate it. Its best to start in the beginning and not jump around a lot, we never know if the smallest thing. A memory of taste, smell, sight, hearing can trigger the memories the potion has been linked to. Have you experienced any of this?"
Admitting the truth, she would have to admit other things also. "No" Katherine lied. Both men stared at her, she felt like they were reading her mind already, or she had liar written on her head in big red letters. She didn't understand why they were worried about her time traveling, Dumbledore and Snape refused to explain much to her.
Without warning, Dumbledore whispered the spell, flicking his wand quickly. Katherine took a deep breath, she could feel a presence within her mind, lowering her body onto the red chair across from Albus.
The headmaster was not alone, she could feel someone else inside her mind, but Albus took control. Feeling dizzy as he searched thru her mind, she knew not to fight it, not having the occlumency skill, that was an antient magic practice, it wasn't a struggle for them to see her most private thoughts. She witnessed and felt every past emotion from each memory he pulled. Memories that caught his attention.
The excitement from receiving her school letter, shopping for school supplies with her mother, telling her parents goodbye to board the train. Sorting celebration, being placed in Slytherin, unlike her father and brother who were both in Gryffindor. Feeling exhausted as Albus kept sorting and reviewing thoughts, he announced that this one would be the last one of the night.
Professor Slughorn, Dumbledore and Professor McGonagall stood next to Albus's desk, all wearing the same expression. Disappointment.
Katherine lowered her head, clinching the envelope in her pocket.
"Do you have Lucius's letter?" Albus asked calmly. Katherine nodded. Slowly she pulled out the envelope addressed to Malfoy. It was a dare from her brother, that she wouldn't steal the letter that was next to the boy's porridge. Katherine was quick, one trick about her she knew how to grab things without getting caught. Usually, she only had to worry about her parents, she was caught when she ran to Gryffindor table showing off her skills, Professor McGonagall was furious. The running was what gave her away. She placed it back into her pocket, knowing she had to return the letter.
"Stealing is frowned upon at Hogwarts, honestly it is frowned upon anywhere" Albus's tone stayed calm, never rising. Something the girl was not use to. Her father was a screamer. After many apologies and promising to never do such a thing, Katherine was dismissed with a warning. Points from Slytherin would be deducted, dreading to see her fellow housemates after losing thirty points. She left the room, but Albus walked with her down to the dungeons.
"How are you adjusting to Hogwarts" he asked.
Katherine was surprised that the headmaster was walking with her, Professor Slughorn was a few steps behind, she assumed he was heading to his office, down in the dungeons.
"I'm adjusting" she felt her hands become sweaty, quickly shoving them into her school cloak. Katherine listened to Albus explain all the classes, the knowledge she would gain. Katherine enjoyed learning new things, but she was just trying to get pass her first year and not think of future O.W.L.S and N.E.W.T.S
Albus continued speaking "Your mother was a Ravenclaw if I remember correctly, she succeeded in all her lessons. I'm sure you will follow in her footsteps, if not surpassing her."
Reaching the common room entrance Katherine had so much to process she nearly forgot that she had stolen the letter from Malfoy. To hear that her mother flourished with her studies wasn't anything new. Her father wanted James to take after him with flying and take the auror route. While Katherine was pushed to follow her mother's path, to study and gain knowledge. Leaving the two professors, Katherine couldn't help but feel uncomfortable about the conversation, brushing it off she walked inside the dark damp room.
Lucius sat in the black arm chair near the small inn table, Bellatrix Black, Rodolphus and Rabastan Lestrange stood behind the boy.
"So do you like to steal other people's things, the letter was private, I hope for your sake you did not read it." Malfoy said softly. His lip tightened, while his fingers slid across his wand.
Katherine was hesitant to fully enter the common room. It was empty beside the four older housemates.
"I did not read it; it was a dare. Just a silly dare I made with my brother to see if I could take something without getting caught." Katherine truthfully said. She wasn't trying to make enemies within her own house, but she also wanted to show James she could do things better than him. He was fast as a seeker, but she was sneaky and just as quick.
"James Potter. He's the new Seeker for Gryffindor." Bellatrix said. Even in the shadows her beauty she inherited from the Blacks was remarkable.
Lucius never acknowledged her but motioned his hand smoothly for Katherine to enter. Never taking her eyes off him with each step forward. He kept his deadly gaze on her.
"Well, you like games, lets play a game, Katherine, sit" Lucius said. "Come on don't be shy, it's a simple game of chess, you play?"
Katherine didn't want to play a game, though the threatening looks from the Lestrange brothers told her she needed to listen.
"You can be white, white makes the first move." Lucius explained.
Katherine looked at the small board and pieces. She watched her mother play with her father, it was something she never found interesting. Feeling the stares upon her, the heat in her body started to rise, her hands becoming sweatier. She made the first move, calling out her position. The piece moved, normally the items would try to negotiate, but these were silent. Assuming they were just as frightened as she was in this moment.
All her pieces were destroyed, looking up at Lucius. Half his face was covered with a green hue from the light, while darkness covered the other side.
"You won." She said carefully. Her gut was telling her to get up and run, but her body could not move. Exhaling her breath, she had held while waiting for him to say something. Bellatrix rested her hands on the back of the black chair. She didn't know where the Lestrange brothers were, but didn't dare to turn around to seek them out.
Lucius said with an icy drip. "Yes, do you want to know something funny, white normally wins, unless they make a wrong first move or the opponent is a better player." Dropping his gaze from her to the board on the table that separated them. She watched as his hand quickly shoved the game off the table. Her head fell forward and smashed into the wood, a small cry escaped her mouth. The brothers had pinned her stomach down upon the table, one forcing her head to turn to the side. In the corner of her eye, she could see Malfoy now towering over her body. Her head pounded from the pain.
"You see Katherine, you made your move by stealing something that was very private. Putting yourself on my radar. Now this is my move." Malfoy sneered.
"I'm sorry, I promise I will not touch any of your things again. I swear." Katherine cried .
Katherine felt Bellatrix's finger trace over her wet cheek. Tears streamed down, dripping off the bridge of her nose, landing upon the table. She was released.
"You are lucky that you are a Slytherin, learn the game before you try to play it, or stay out of my way, do you understand?"
Katherine stayed down, to scared to move. She assured him that she would stay out of his way. Feeling a hand dig inside her cloak, she knew someone had grabbed the letter. Leaving her.
Katherine sat on the common room floor, pulling her legs toward her chest, she was stupid for grabbing the item. Wiping her tears, a voice was next to her.
"You shouldn't listen to your brother, he's immature and will get you in sticky situations." Severus Snape said.
Katherine had never forgot the memory that they all witnessed. She remembered that as the night she actually spoke to Snape. Not knowing if he had hidden in the shadows, witnessing it all, but he was there for her afterwards. It was the beginning of their friendship; he even was the one that introduced her to Lily Evans. Causing her friend Charity to become jealous. Dumbledore waited to see if any other memory would have been triggered by the invasion of her mind, nothing.
Snape wouldn't look at Katherine. He softly spoke "Go to my study and I'll come in a bit." Knowing the men would discuss matters behind her back, she was not included in the full concept. Leaving, Katherine headed down the familiar path, to the dungeons.
It was the first time she was in Snape's study. The room that once belonged to Slughorn was different. Slughorn held pictures of the SlugClub pupils, Snape had nothing sentimental of his students. Katherine walked around the room that had shelves of many ingredients for his lessons. It was a brown leather notebook, tied with a string, she couldn't resist the urge to open it. Everything was in his handwriting, she remembered how he use to take notes in the potion book the school had given him. Unlike James and herself, Snape did not have the funds or parents that would buy the supplies. Normally Hogwarts would never buy for their pupils, being a free school to attend, but someone had funded Snape's books for the school to purchase. Flipping thru the pages, she realized they were potions, potions he made up or enhanced. The title, MemoPerdita stood out.
Scanning the ingredients:
thyme,
white sage,
wings of a firefly
connection to the memory or memories to erase.
Observation: The subject screamed in pain, burning sensation caused subject to jolt and scratch at throat. Sumac Leaf was a relief, keeping subject quiet and calm. Subject did not die, was a success.
No way to reverse. Trying legilimency to reverse.
He could have killed her, Katherine thought. Using her like a lab rat to test something he had just invented. Katherine shook her head in disgust. He was almost terrible like Malfoy.
The image of Lucius caused her head to pound, pressing her fingers upon her eyes, hoping the pressure would relieve the pain. The memory consumed her mind.
"She's a stupid, Bi-" Rabastan spat as he nursed his lip that Katherine sunk her teeth into. He had come close to her face, memorized by her in the wedding dress, something Katherine couldn't deny that she didn't lure him into doing.
"Now, now Rabastan. Let's not make a scene." Malfoy flicked his hand; Katherine's face was still pounding from where his hand smacked her after she bit Rabastan. Lucius wore the black cloak and hood hiding his face, she knew it was Lucius from his voice, something death eaters did not do, was speak in front of people in their attire. They kept themselves hidden, never revealing their true identity. The shops owners were killed by Bellatrix Lestrange, there was no need for them to stay silent.
Rabastan and his brother Rodolphus had lowered their hood. Bellatrix had thrown the whole outfit away; she was a known and proud death eater. She enjoyed the fear that her presence took upon others.
In the corner of Katherine's view, she noticed Bellatrix swaying her body, moving closer to her, like a feline walking. "I'm starting to like you, darling, I almost can see why the Dark Lord wants to bind you to one of us." Bellatrix seductive tone was smooth like velvet.
Katherine kept her hands pressed against the silk white wedding gown she was trying on. Gripping her wand, she stole from Rabastan's pocket, he was still tending to his bleeding bottom lip. Lucius grabbed a napkin and wiped the corner of her mouth, she could still taste the man's blood on her tongue. Malfoy's gaze went down to the floor, Katherine looked in the mirror. It was a beautiful gown; it was made for a fairytale wedding. The serpent necklace on her neck was the only jewelry she wore. the gold snake glistened in the sunlight beaming thru the windows, its bright red eye inlay perfectly, the red was a liquid substance in the crystal. Katherine stayed still while Bellatrix played with her hair trying to find the perfect style. The Death Eaters chatted amongst each other, the disagreement and agreement of her being married to one of their kind. The men did not yet know who was the lucky, or unlucky in Malfoy's opinion, fellow. Bellatrix knew but she was faithful to the Dark Lord that Katherine knew she never spoke a word to her own husband, Rodolphus Lestrange.
The dressed was done, Bellatrix had finished casting her measurement spell, making the item fit like a glove. With no sleeves, Katherine was able to see the white thin scar on her right forearm, it was present but the scar did not rise on the skin. She was sent to take the dress off, the opportunity was present. It was now or never.
Walking toward the back she knew it would take seconds to blow the wall down and them running toward her. With a great swivel of her unicorn core wand, she blew the shops brick wall, sending bricks and wood everywhere. She heard cursing and the anger in the distant, they were coming. The dust stung her throat causing her to cough, not letting it stop her, Katherine ran. She ran since her life did depend on it, the dress whipped in the wind, hiking the dress up making sure not to step on the fabric as her high heels splashed the puddles on Knockturn Alley pavement. Taking a quick turn she hid behind a cart, catching her breath.
The sound of their footsteps was near, they were looking for her, Katherine held her breath, allowing the shadow to consume her body. To make herself disappear would be stupid, after she had left James's house months ago, they were able to catch her. Like a trace or something was on her. It was quiet, slowly she stood up to see if making her way toward the main street in Diagon Alley was possible.
Her feet were lifted off the ground, slamming into the stone pavement, Katherine gasped to catch her breath. Turning to her side, she noticed Rabastan. A sinister grin plastered on his face.
"STUPEFY!" Katherine yelled. Rising from the ground she watched the blue spark escape Rabastan's wand, shielding him. She dodged his second attempt to send her flying backwards, ripping the dress in the process.
Katherine crouched down behind the cart, catching her breath as his sparks of the Crucio curse shot pass her.
Throwing herself onto the ground she shouted "Locomotor Mortis" the same time he sent the crucio spell her way. Katherine's skin felt like it was fire, burning. Her spell hit Rabastan, binding his legs together, making him lose concentration on his crucio hold, the thumping noise filled the silence. Katherine knew he fell, even with the spell not having contact she felt the aftershocks. Not wanting to get up. Groaning as she struggled to her hands and knees, trying to find her balance.
Lucius, Rodolphus and Bella stood next to the Rabastan's body that was still hexed. Lifting her head, Katherine looked at the only cloaked Death Eater.
"Foolish girl." Lucius growled, his wand out.
Katherine turned and ran, the ripped material tripped her causing her balance to sway, the laughter from Bellatrix made the hair on her neck rise. Fear ran thru her veins. Taking a short turn, she realized it was a dead-end. The black brick wall was blocking her from entering the other side, the side where Diagon Ally was. There was no time to blow it up, it was the end.
Turning to look at the three Death Eaters, hoping they would show mercy, mercy that none of them had. Katherine gripped her wand, ready to fight, and lose.
A puff of smoke appeared, James stood on her right, Sirius on James Left, Lupin and Peter on Katherine's left. She was no longer alone. All five stood in the perfect semi-circle. She didn't expect anyone to show up, Peter held his wand ready to defend but she felt his trembling right hand. Katherine reached for his hand, while holding her own wand. The cloaked Death Eater vanished, not speaking a word. Bellatrix and Rodolphus slowly walked backwards. The two Death Eaters were outnumbered.
"You will regret this Potter" Bellatrix hissed while she and her husband vanished into the darkness.
Katherine turned to her brother; she couldn't hide the small smile on her lips.
"I said not to be my hero." Katherine whispered as her brother pulled her into an embrace.
"Family never leaves family behind." James muttered onto the top of her head.
Katherine used Snape's desk to catch herself from falling. James had come for her; the whole lot came to rescue her. What she didn't understand was if they rescued her, how did she even marry Snape? What would make her go back if her brother was her hero.
Pushing the past in the past, Katherine needed to focus on the present. James was gone, Harry was not. Knowing that it would not be easy to take her Godchild, Katherine needed to ask for help. If she wanted this to go right and not spend the rest of her days in Azkaban, seeking out the one person who knew a lot about muggles and blending in, asking Charity would be the smartest idea. Katherine needed to figure out how to pitch the idea to her friend.
Chapter 4: Dinner with the Devil
COMING: (March 30th)
Author Notes: Thank you for reading, I hope you are enjoying this story. Feedback is welcomed and appreciated.