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Chapter 4: Dinner with the Devil

Snape could have killed her; the thought of his notebook text haunted her mind. The pair stood outside, next to the grand Malfoy Manor door, silence filled the air. Katherine didn't want to be here, especially after reliving the incident of Malfoy and his letter, and the memory she kept from Albus and Snape. Katherine kept the two memories she experienced on her own a secret, if the men could keep things from her, she could do it too.

"You have been quiet for a while, I assumed you would complain about tonight." Snape said.

Katherine knew throwing a fit would not accomplish anything. Knowing when Snape gave her the information it was not up for discussion.

"I'm saving my breath and energy." Katherine intoned. Her posture straight as she kept the distance between herself and Snape.

She noticed Snape's lip twitched before his mouth opened to add a comment. The large metal door creaked.

The Malfoy's house elf, Dobby, his frail body shook as the large tennis ball eyes locked upon them. Snape nor Katherine continued the conversation.

"Mister and Mistress Snape. Master Malfoy will be ecstatic you two are here. Please, please come in." Dobby said. The elf's knobby knees trembled while he gave them a deep bow.

The home was grand, everything about the Malfoy manor shouted wealth and glamor. The organization and everything being perfectly neat was the opposite of Katherine's room. Her room was a mess from writing and rewriting a letter to Charity, wanting her friend to visit her at Leaky Cauldron pub to discuss the idea of stealing Harry. She had rewritten the letter, once giving to much information, second not enough.

Snape was led to the library to discuss thing privately with Lucius, a typical man tradition before the meal. Katherine sat with Narcissa in the sitting room. Narcissa's beauty was remarkable, she being a black by blood, she inherited the looks. Except for her hair, Narcissa was blonde like her husband. A power couple, Katherine could not deny it. Behind every sadistic man was a strong cunning woman, Katherine thought. Keeping her giggles to herself as she tried to figure out who out ranked the other one in the marriage. Narcissa sipped the tea, while gazing upon her pride and joy, Draco.

Draco played in-between the women. Making his toy dragon fly in the air.

"He's a growing boy." Katherine added with a smile. Picturing Malfoy as a caring father was hard but seeing Narcissa glowing as a mother made her want something. Katherine wanted her happy ending with her family.

"Oh yes, he actually will be in the same year with Harry Potter. I'm sure you." Narcissa stopped. Katherine watched as she picked her son up before she continued "Oh, I'm sorry I forget about the rumors they speak of with your memory. Well, they say that Harry is powerful, since he defeated the Dark Lord and survived the killing curse."

It was the first time she heard that rumor of her godchild. Narcissa tilted her head. Katherine didn't know what to say to the matter. She couldn't imagine people fanning over her godchild like he was some powerful being, because he survived death. She allowed Narcissa to explain the many theories and her hope that the boys would be friends. Katherine knew Malfoy's wanted to be in the 'in crowd', so if others viewed Harry as the most powerful, he would have the Malfoy's offering a hand in friendship. Draco climbed upon Katherine's lap, making her forget for a moment of all the stress and planning she was doing. She enjoyed his little pale hand holding her fingers. Her long dark hair brushed his skin making him giggle with amusement.

Draco was taken away by a servant, he would not be joining the adults for the Sunday Roast.

At the dinning table everything was immaculate. She understood why Draco was not allowed, the crystal innerwear glistened in the light casting a rainbow hue. Dobby served the starter meal, nearly spilling the pea soup on Lucius, causing the elf to receive a hard slap. Not wanting to watch the incident happen but she was unable to peal her attention from the event.

Snape and Lucius continued the conversation they carried over from the library. Narcissa and Katherine were mute.

"I'm sure you heard about Xenophilius Lovegood getting away with all his documentation, fake muggle papers that he created. Author Weasley, the muggle lover, has decided to allow him to get a slap on the wrist." Lucius said with distaste.

Katherine listened trying to figure out who Xenophilius was. The Weasley family were known muggle supporters. She had no hate toward muggles. Coexisting in the same universe but living in different worlds. Molly's family matched the Weasley's view on life. Making the pair the perfect couple in Katherine's opinion thinking of Molly she turned toward Narcissa.

"I have not seen Gideon and Fabian Prewett around the Leaky Cauldron." Katherine said. The twins were always around the pub, something they did all the time when her father and mother would take them shopping in Diagon Ally, she would see the twins. Trying to make small talk, instead of listening to Lucius and Snape gripe like a sour pair.

Narcissa stayed quiet, looking toward Snape. "They died" Narcissa stated. No explanation was given. Katherine could feel her husband's gaze upon her. Not pushing the subject more, she stared at the main entrée that was brought out.

The roast meat was perfectly made, with roasted potatoes and Yorkshire pudding perfectly placed to serve each witch and wizard. Lucius was still complaining about muggles mixing with their kind. Katherine couldn't help her mind wonder. The anxiety of 'what if I killed Molly's brothers', Katherine thought. Molly had avoided her the other week. Her mind raced with many possibilities. Reminding herself she did not have the Death Eater mark, but Voldemort did order Snape to erase her mind.

Feeling Snape's gaze still on her, she lifted her head turning to her right. His expression was filled with concern, something he didn't show often or at all. Katherine took a deep breath trying to relax her mind and push the thoughts away. Realizing it was Snape in her mind. She could feel his presence once the other thoughts of what ifs slowly vanished. Irritated by his action, Katherine immediately forced her mind to think of a certain memory. A memory of her watching James and Lily dance in the moonlight.

Snape's nose flared as he turned to look at Lucius. Katherine felt his presence leave her mind, realizing that legilimency was something Severus was good at, good enough to enter without her fully aware. She needed to be cautious with her own thoughts.

"Lupin, you remember him?" Lucius said. Katherine knew he had no idea that Snape wasn't fully invested in his rant.

"Unfortunately," Snape deadpan.

"Well, he is the first Wizard to try and work on the new cargo loading docks it was the topic at the office, a joke if you ask me. You think he could find a well-paying job in our own community without him having to mingle with those type."

Katherine knew something about Lupin that she believed no one at the table was aware of. She knew that Lupin was indeed a werewolf, it was hard for him to find a job. Risking to gain pay by working with muggles seemed a bit unusual, but desperate times calls for desperate measures. Becoming bored with Lucius complaining, she tilted her head.

"Lucius what is so wrong with muggles, please inform me?" Katherine stated. Lucius's blue eyes darkened. She knew it would be a dark game by questioning Lucius but being forced to mingle she refused to stay quiet.

"I'm surprised you don't see the problem with them, isn't your brother's son being raised by muggles…why don't you have the boy?" He smirked.

Katherine wasn't expecting him to bring up Harry and whom had the boy. Lucius was good at the game; Katherine felt foolish by trying to challenge him in his own home. Her cheeks became hot while she sipped her wine.

"I'm sure Severus and Katherine have their reason." Narcissa calmy stated.

"Is it because your now like a muggle, no wand for what, fifteen years." Lucius toyed with his wand.

"I'm not a muggle." Katherine kept her voice from rising. Leaning forward, allowing the table to push against her ribcage, she made no expression, not submitting to him calling her a muggle.

"No, a criminal." Lucius added. A sinister smirk crept on his face.

Katherine wanted to lean in closer and punch him. Her breathing quickened as she imagined hitting him nonstop. He was the criminal that was let off, Katherine reminded herself.

Narcissa interrupted "Alright, lets change the subject, do you two plan to have children of your own?" She asked.

"No!" Snape and Katherine quickly said simultaneously.

"Katherine, if you were not a criminal, and could pick any career what would it be?" Lucius asked while Dobby started to serve the pudding.

She didn't like the attention on her "I don't know." She never gave it much thought recently. The younger version of herself, had so much ambition and determination. In this moment, Katherine felt alone and confused. Like she didn't belong.

"Teaching, she would be great at that, if I remember correctly, it was History of magic that you were successful at." Snape said. She turned toward him.

He remembered.

Katherine's lip slightly turned upward, Snape took a sip of his wine, the agreement the pair made years ago. He would assist her with her knowledge of potions, while she helped him and Lily with History of Magic. History consumed her life, she loved learning the old ways of magic and comparing it with the new.

It sounded like a whisper in her mind, 1943.

Scrunching her face, she tried to think harder on what she knew of that year, nothing was coming to her mind, everything was blank.

The soft laugh coming from Narcissa filled the room.

"Ha, I think Professor Binns has been teaching that subject for years, it would be nice for a new face, a change. I didn't know you enjoyed history."

"I did, I do. . .but I don't think teaching is in my cards, not for a long time." Katherine admitted. With the charity work at the Leaky Cauldron, Albus and Snape reading her mind, she barley had time to even plan the kidnapping of Harry. Thinking of Professor Binns she remembered the ghost of a man, his wheezy, droning voice that was almost guaranteed to cause severe drowsiness within ten minutes, five in warm weather, except Katherine. His knowledge of the past kept her up, wanting to learn about the many rebellions and secrets of their world.

Katherine raised her glass to her lips, taking a small sip, allowing the dry wine to clinch her thirst.

Snape had many glasses of the wine, Katherine normally would have enjoyed the alcohol indulging moment, but being around Lucius she wanted a clear mind.

The pair disappeared from the manor, arriving on the step of Snape's home. The comment Lucius made about them not having Harry, she wondered, would her brothers enemy help raise the boy. The thought of asking him never crossed her mind until now. It would be a lot easier than trying to find a plan to leave without getting caught not just by the muggle law but also the Ministry of Magic.

"Would you ever consider taking in Harry?" Katherine asked. Snape turned the knob of his worn-down home.

Neither walked in.

"I do not want to raise your brother's child, I'll have to see him every day during school months for seven years, I do not wish to add myself a longer sentence than that." Snape whispered.

She watched as he swayed a bit trying to keep his balance. His eyes fell below her neck. Katherine entered the home, feeling Snape's hand upon her lower back. She quickly turned to face Severus.

"You are intoxicated, don't touch me." Katherine snapped. Crossing her arms across her chest, standing her ground. Snape lifted both hands up, spreading his fingers apart, the swaying wizard stepped backwards.

She left him alone, returning to her messy room of crumpled up letters.

Morning came, Katherine didn't get much sleep, today was the day that she planned to speak with Charity. To address to her in person about the possible idea of working together. Katherine went downstairs, it was early enough for breakfast according to Snape's rules. Normally she missed the meal; skipping it all together.

Snape was sitting at the table reading the paper, his tea next to the slice of toast. Katherine went to pour herself a cup, but Snape had cleared everything away. Not knowing how to work the kettle or stove, Katherine groaned as she tried to mess with the kitchen appliances the muggle way. Usually, Snape was kind enough to leave a hot tea out for Katherine.

"Are you that upset that I turned you down." Katherine probed. The heat from the stove was warm against her skin. Not knowing what offended him, she assumed the event last night was well-mannered between them. Turning him down was the only possible cause, she believed.

"No, I'm more upset you assumed I'd allow you to bring that boy into my home." Snape peered over the newspaper. "We both know I've had you, already." His deadpan tone made Katherine feel like a child.

"You never had me in that way Severus, don't be foolish. I have standards. I always did."

"Don't be coy, we both know what we have done in the past. You never recoiled from my touch then."

"If I remember correctly, it was a dare you had from that foolish friend of yours, Avery, right a dare to make me look like fool." Katherine snapped. She felt flustered by the conversation she gave up on making tea. The thought of what happened that night five years ago made her blood boil. Placing both hands upon her hips she ignored the growl her stomach called out.

"Katherine, you are not that innocent yourself. A cunning girl at its finest. Just because you don't remember the last three years and a few missing parts, it doesn't change what we both remember. How you can manipulate."

Not once did she see herself as a victim, Katherine knew what she done to him. Yet she felt what he did was worst. She wanted him to see her back then for her, not as a friend of Lily. The lie she told him to get him to attend the Hogwarts Gala wasn't itinually cruel. She wanted to be with him, but Snape was a boy that held a grudge.

"So, are you this angry because of our past?" Katherine asked. He had no reason to be angry, she felt his vengeance from her mistake was worst. Snape would deny it.

Snape placed the paper down. A menacing smirk planted on his pale lips. "Are you still hurt from it?"

"I will admit, I am curious." He stood, slowly walking toward her. Katherine felt his presence behind her, his tone, making the hair on her neck rise. "Curious on what happened to you when you were gone, when you returned back. You were not the same, you were a scared little girl."

She stayed still; he made his way to the front of her, Katherine listened.

"Similar to how you are now." He sneered.

His words felt like a slap to her face, she kept her hands firmly pressed against her hips. The young man before her knew how to use his words in a way that her emotions felt out of control.

"Well, we both would know the truth if you didn't use me as a potions experiment, I read that journal." Katherine spat. Taking a step forward to Snape. She lifted her head to look into his dark beady eyes. His fingers rubbed his chin. Admitting she went thru his things his face never flinched while his eyes danced with an idea. As a young twenty-one-year-old Wizard, Snape had more control over his emotions than people from the older generation.

"Well, let's enjoy your mind over breakfast" He murmured.

Not having his wand out did not mean he couldn't enter her thoughts. Instant regret, Katherine wished she never told him that she went thru his journal.

"No, I am not in the mood." Katherine said. She stepped away from him, turning to exit the kitchen.

"I do not need your consent, my wife."

Katherine didn't hear him whisper the spell. Feeling him in her mind, he was not as subtle and gentle. Instead of starting at the year Albus had left off, she realized he was pulling memories after she had graduated from Hogwarts. The gaps that were missing he tried to penetrate and learn more. Katherine's body shook violently, she felt a hard impact from the cold kitchen floor.

"Stop!" Katherine whimpered. Snape stood over her with interest ignoring her statement. Katherine closed her eyes trying to ignore the spinning.

"Katherine, when I'm speaking to you, you look at me girl!" Katherine's father stated. She looked into his dark eyes hidden behind the round glasses, his face resembled her brothers.

Lifting her chin up, Katherine added "Yes father, but when I'm speaking it would be nice for you to listen and understand where I'm coming from." She was tired of it, all of it, how he never truly listened to her explain how she felt. Being pushed aside, blaming it on her hormones as a young girl. Her father seemed to forget that she was more than a woman, that it was ok that she was emotional.

"I do not show favoritism, James and you are my world. But that attitude of yours needs to leave!"

Always having an attitude in his view point. Katherine didn't understand why it was required for her to always smile and seem pleasant that if her face ever relaxed and her tone did not match what was expected, she was accused of being rude. While James could be a prankster, he could be himself and it was encouraged.

"But when he got in trouble for his actions at Hogwarts, nothing, nothing happened to him. Yet you get a letter, that I've missed a few classes." Katherine felt herself losing her breath after she spoke, shaking her head in disbelief.

"You need potions you silly girl, but it's not the fact you missed the classes it's the fact you will not even say why you missed them. The damn school searched Hogsmeade for you, nothing. WHERE WERE YOU!" he yelled.

"Somewhere that I feel like I belong, somewhere away from this place."

"With that boy Severus Snape, I bet!"

"No, I was not with him." Katherine lowered her tone. To hear her father, mention his name, the pain was still fresh in her heart. Not wanting to look at him. Her eyes were still puffy underneath with dark circles from the nights she stayed up staining her satin pillowcase with her mascara. Because of him, a boy, the thought of the situation made her want to vomit, she hated herself for feeling this way.

"Do not walk away from me when we are not done discussing this matter, your mother would be disappointed in you."

Her mother was dead. dragon pox had taken her young life from her family. Her mum was the solid foundation without her everything crumbled.

"Tell me father, am I a disappointment to you?" Katherine questioned. She knew the answer.

"Yes."

"Good, because I'd rather be a disappointment to you then the person you want me to become."

He wanted her to be a follower in James's footsteps, an Auror fighting with the Order. The expectation changed because of the war. Katherine wanted more; this time period couldn't provide her with it. She didn't want to be part of the war, she wanted more. A life where she could continue to learn antient magic.

"You will never accomplish anything in your life if you walk out that door."

"Watch me." Katherine whispered. Stepping out, she was leaving her past behind.

The sun kissed her skin, Katherine clung to the time turner in her pocket. Finding a spot to leave this place forever.

James's voice was in the distant "He loves you Katherine, he just doesn't know how to say it."

Her brother, the golden boy, everyone's favorite. She watched the new Auror and his best friend Black make their way to her. Sirius stayed silent looking at her. He was like another child in her family, but no expectation was placed upon his shoulder.

"Sticking up for him, typical James, always trying to see the good in things." Katherine stated rolling her eyes. James was the last person she wanted to see. Sirius stayed near by ready to step in-between. Katherine and James were no strangers to fighting muggle or magic way.

"Your hurt by something, something I've done." James said.

Katherine was, even though her brother was mischievous in his school years she did notice how mature he was becoming. Because of her.

"Not just you, I mean in the end you are my brother, we were born to be rivals." Katherine chuckled. Parents compared siblings making them each other's enemies, James and Katherine tried to fight against the typical competition. "But always being second best hurts." Katherine's vision became blurry, holding her blinks to keep the tears from falling.

"You are not second best, to anyone."

Katherine laughed. The tears streamed down as her laughter exit. Was he joking, of all people, the person she assumed would put her first, didn't?

"Why didn't you come? I needed you, I even called on you, nothing, you picked her. I can't blame you. She's everyone's first choice." Shaking her head. James stepped forward to reach for her hand. She shoved him away. Sirius's hand gently rubbed her back, Katherine shook her head. Stepping away from the men before her. "I try so hard, but here I'm never someone's first choice." In this time, she was going to always be pushed aside. The place she felt wanted, the person that wanted to teach her and picked her first was not here.

"Don't say that, we are family. I will never leave you behind. But I love Lily, and I plan to Marry her." James confessed. Pinching the bridge of his nose, she knew he was torn. The day she needed him; he wasn't there. lily and her sister had gotten into an argument, Lily had tried to mend the fence between the Potter siblings. Not wanting them to argue. James didn't know what happened between her and Snape, she would never tell him.

"I know you love her." Katherine wiped the tears off her cheeks. James stepped forward, pulling his sister to him. She allowed him to hug her. Burying her face into his shirt she sobbed.

"The war is happening and it is not the time for family to separate and break away. We need to stick together against the evil and darkness." His voice rumbled in his chest.

Looking up she whispered. "War, rips everyone apart, but our battle isn't between good versus evil. Our battle is between our own family. Marry Lily, start your own. Because you have lost me forever. I do not belong here anymore. I don't want to be here!" She pushed herself away.

Putting her hand in her cloak she clung to the timer. James's voice behind her as she walked deeper into the forest.

"Are you leaving? Where are you going?" He tried to stop her. Katherine took her wand out, threating to strike if he came closer. "KATHERINE!" James screamed as she disappeared, clinching to the timer.

Arriving at Godric's Hallow, she turned the timer back.

The pain in her throat kept her from screaming, rolling over to her stomach, she felt the burning sensation. Forcing herself to cough she started to struggle to breath, her fingers scratched her neck wanting the pain to stop.

Snape's cold hands turned her over forcing an herb into her mouth and making her chew. He watched her with interest while her body slowly started to erase the pain. The pain, she remembered reading about it in his journal.

She didn't understand why it happened.

"I'm assuming the potion will keep us from forcing us to try and get pass the spell, by causing you pain." Snape explained almost to himself. Katherine sat. Moving herself away from the man that caused it.

"Is this something you want to do for your sick pleasure or the stupid potion study you have going on." Katherine spat while her fingers traced her throat. The pain was gone but the memory of it was not.

"Both."

"You are mad."

"I prefer creative." Snape smirked. He had summoned the journal and was writing things down. "If you dig into my things again, I promise I will make you regret it. I may not have the right ingredient to stop the pain on hand if it happens again, and I have no record on what will happen." His eyes narrowed as the promise left his lips.

She didn't want to be around him. Katherine left the man alone. Leaving his house. His threat didn't sit right with her, wanting to escape her current situation. Similar to how she wanted to escape in the memory. Katherine didn't forget about the incident with her father and James, but she didn't want to remember that moment.

The rain from the sky matched the tears that fell. That memory was the last time she spoke to her father, Albus was kind to give her information to read making sure she knew certain events that happened. One the of events was her father's death. He had caught Dragon Pox on a journey within a village that had a few cases, dying a month after Katherine had left. She didn't remember leaving, it was blank, knowing her father well she knew the only reason he would be in a village looking for something. Would be for her. The idea that he searched and died never knowing if she was safe and would return. Katherine hated how she acted in the memory, she hated herself for being self-centered. Nothing could change it. Leaving James, telling him to marry Lily because he lost her. It made her sick to her stomach. If she could go back in time, turn around and tell her father she was sorry, if she could tell James that she loved him. Maybe she would have her family. Losing them both and being alone, she realized her mistakes. Envy was not a flattering trait.

Katherine felt ridiculous, Lily was never her enemy but a friend. Wiping her tears, she shivered from the wind. Walking the same steps, she did the day while trying to search for Petunia Dursley. Katherine looked at the Britian post office, the dark alley gave more shelter from the rain then the shops. Taking a stroll down the alley, Katherine grazed her fingers on the bricks of the buildings. The first time she never realized the door, the glass door was unique.

Looking at the image painted on the glass, it was a gorgon. Knowing muggles only knew of one story of a gorgon, Medusa. The painting seemed realistic that she was almost scared to look at it yet captivated. No one saw the face of Medusa but the beauty and curse were shown in this art piece. The only uncompleted part were her eyes. The eyes were missing, if Katherine looked in the holes of the eyes; she could see inside the building, not risking it she stayed back.

The door slowly opened. A man wearing a red coat was fixing his cuffs, a soft smile upon his lips. He looked familiar but she couldn't place the mans face.

"Hello little dove." He spoke. Pulling the door making the entrance wider allowing Katherine to step inside.

Chapter 5: Little Dove (April 8th)