Chapter Eight: The Switch
The Polyjuice potion was brewing in front of her. The ladle was cold against her hand as she poured the small amount into a cup.
This was it.
Katherine dropped Snape's hair into the cup hoping for the best. Hope was all she had. Potions was not an easy subject for the young witch. Slowly lifting the glass to her lips, she swallowed.
The taste turned her stomach, while her tastebuds forced her gag reflex into play. She dropped the glass on her closet floor. Dashing out, she ran across the hall. Entering the bathroom. She expected everything to come up.
Splashing cold water on her face, Katherine's head slowly rose. The water dripped from her skin. Her lashes held a few drops. Causing her vision to become blurry.
Staring at her own reflection, she looked terrible.
Katherine's face was no longer the youthful girl she once recognized. Instead, she looked like a ghost of her past self. The only thing behind her eyes were fire of determination.
She was determined to succeed in getting the boy.
Katherine's skin started to feel warm as it bubbled before her eyes. Her small nose grew longer in size. Her long dark hair became short and black. The scar on her right forearm vanished.
Her blue eyes were no longer bright reminding her of the ocean, instead they were dark. Dark like his. They were his eyes. Eyes of a man who would destroy a family.
Something only a wicked man could do.
Katherine stared at her new reflection. The reflection of a man she despised. To look in his face, to still feel the rage she held.
He didn't have to tell her the confession. But he did. He told her and now she felt once again he hurt her. The first time he broke her heart, by playing with her emotions.
This time, it felt worst. He put her family on the map to be destroyed. You Know Who went after them because of the prophecy. Even if he would have picked the Longbottom family, it was still because of Snape a family would die.
What was special about the Potter blood?
She watched her eyes, his eyes, fill with tears. Slowly her tears slid down Snape's cheek. Wiping it away, she needed to collect herself.
Even now, he didn't deserve the tears she wanted cry. All the hours she cried in her room because her family was gone.
How could he listen to her crying and not care?
He caused all of this pain, but he showed no emotion before today. Not once did he ever look at her with guilt. Not until today. What was so different today?
Nothing was different, Katherine refused to listen to herself question everything.
She needed to be stronger, she needed strength that she felt she no longer had. Needing to distance herself. Everything seemed impossible.
Katherine gripped the sink. Her heart thumped louder in her chest. The tears kept falling, she no longer reached up to wipe them. Allowing the to fall down his long nose into the sink. Her breath was broken, trying to grasp for air to feel her lungs.
"James, help me" She wailed.
The sound of Snape's deep voice and his cry filled her ears. To hear the sound of his voice, coming from her mouth. She cried harder. It was his sound, but everything was coming from her heart.
Time was important, as much as she wanted to cry out to her brother.
She had to pull herself together.
Looking like the man did not mean she was Snape, the way her body moved wasn't the way Snape would walk. Mastering someone's walk wasn't easy. Her voice sounded like his, but the use of words was not. Ironically the man she thought she knew, was now a mystery.
Katherine had made her way successfully to Diagon Ally, with Snape's wand. She was able to tap the bricks with ease. It being a minor magic spell, she didn't have to worry about the wand not listening to her wants.
Within Diagon Ally, Katherine realized the many gazes she once would receive from others, were gone. No one looked in her direction as Severus.
Luckily for her that no one was looking, she was trying to keep herself from tripping over Snape's cloak. Her cloaks were light weight and she knew how to make them whip in the background trailing like a bride's veil. Snape's attire was made of a different fabric, she didn't understand how he made it whip in the wind. Feeling like an oversized bat in the streets. She quickly made her way toward the back of the street toward the bank.
Gringotts was the only Wizarding bank in Britain. Katherine as young girl was fascinated that it was ran by goblins. As an adult, she was worried. It was one of the safest places to keep items, but also the dangerous to try and break into. The bank's motto: Fortius Que Fidelius. Loyalty was important.
Standing in front of the grand building, in Snape's skin, Katherine was not being loyal. One of the goblin's peeve. Goblins were not the kind of creatures to disappoint or cross. Technically, they didn't need wizards to survive. They had magic of their own kind, powerful creatures.
Katherine took a step forward; she was ready to enter the building.
Charity was planning to meet her after. The plan was Charity would handle the wizarding money. Change some of it into pounds sterling, a name the muggles used.
She needed to pay a few muggles to avoid complications with the plan. Charity was also bringing her a pair clothes to change into. Time of using the Polyjuice potion would not last long enough for her to return to Hogwarts still as Snape.
Once inside the building, Katherine looked around.
Everything inside was made by goblins, it was magnificent. Reminding herself that she did have her key. Dipping her hand into the pocket of the cloak, she gripped the small item. It was given to her after her trial. That's when she was informed, she had no access to her account on her own. She needed Snape's wand to enter.
It was a way to keep her from escaping. Umbridge had made a huge scene that she would run away the first chance she got. Money could convince people to look the other way.
The toad like woman was not wrong. Katherine was planning to do exactly that. She was lost in her thoughts; she watched the Goblins tend to the many witches and wizards before her.
A loud woman voice called out "Professor Snape."
It wasn't Charity's voice.
Katherine waited.
Turning her head to gaze upon the figure that spoke. Instantly she knew whom the woman was.
Ms. Zabni, she was a dark skin beauty. Katherine never met her personally, but saw her photos in the Daily Prophet. Wedding photos and the funeral post of her past husbands. Katherine wasn't sure if Snape knew her or not.
Staying silent.
"It's a surprise to see you here, but at the same time a blessing in disguise. I have a bone to pick with you."
"Which is?" Katherine deadpan.
She kept her posture straight, trying to play the part of her husband.
Zabni matched Katherine's stance, her words escaping, "I'm sure you have heard that Narcissa has been bragging about how Draco's name appeared on the list for Hogwarts, the quill added his name."
Katherine wasn't sure what to say. She knew about the quill, but didn't care about the item. She had bigger things to do. The quill wrote down children's names either by birth or once they showed a sense of magic, allowing them to attend Hogwarts.
It was irrelevant to her. Katherine stared at the woman not responding.
Zabni's brown eyes narrowed as her perfect nose flared with each word escaping her jealous mouth, "My son, Blaise, his name isn't on the list yet, even the Weasley boy that the blood Trait-"she stopped herself from saying a slur, "I mean Author and his wife gave birth too. All I'm trying to say is, when will the school place my son on the list!"
The woman before Katherine was use to getting what she wanted. Zabni wanted wealth, and she gained it. It radiated from Zabni's confidence. Katherine wasn't sure how people were finding out the names were even being written down, she didn't work at the school. It was just a silly quill, but it was causing drama with this woman.
"I assure you, that Blaise's name will be on that list. I would not worry." Katherine lied thru her teeth.
Time was important, the conversation was not.
Giving the worried mother a small nod, Katherine allowed herself to walk toward the empty podium. Snape's cloak trailed behind her.
Looking at the Goblin before her. He tilted his head.
Could he read her mind?
Did he know that she was breaking the law?
The creature before her kept his beady eyes upon her. Unlike house elves, that were fragile and welcoming, the goblins were the complete opposite. The goblin before her sent chills down Katherine's spine with just a glance.
Her hand holding the key in her pocket, started to tremble.
The goblin cleared his throat, staring at her, his eyes never leaving her face.
"I need to get into vault 686" Katherine blurted; the words left her mouth before she could muster Snape's confidence.
His large head stayed tilted; his black eyes never blinked. The goblin's wicked mouth opened, showing his sharp small teeth. "Aye, do you have the key for Ms. Potter's vault and…your wand." The tone of his voice sounded like nails on a chalk board, Katherine's heart had skipped a beat.
He leaned forward. His long fingers reached for the wand that Katherine handed to him. She placed the key upon the counter.
The goblin ran his long nails over the wand glancing at the key, then upon Snape's face. Everything was in order. Katherine wanted to jump out of her skin and run, but standing still she waited.
Time was going to run out, she feared.
"Will you be going in your vault, Snape?"
Katherine didn't know what to say, the goblin waited. He had all the time.
Saying no, would cause suspension. Though entering another's vault was personal. She had no idea what Snape kept in his vault, and didn't wish to invade it.
Reminding herself that he did invade her mind, he invaded her emotions and thoughts. Snape had made her relive the day she left her family.
"Yes," Katherine deadpan.
"Very well."
Katherine had taken everything back, placing them into Snape's cloak.
Another goblin lead the way toward the cart.
The first stop was her vault.
The goblin used her key to open the vault. The large black steel doors swung open. It was bright, mounds and mounds of gold. The Potter family had much wealth, enough to split between James and herself. She almost forgot what the inside looked like; it had been years since she entered. The gold glistened before her.
Success was within her grasp.
She needed enough coins to convert. Sweeping a large amount into a bag, Katherine turned her head to face the Goblin.
He was watching her with judging eyes. To him, she was a man taking money from his wife. In reality, she was the wife using her money to break the law. Dismissing the feeling of guilt, she reminded herself that Harry Potter needed her.
The next stop, was Snape's vault. His passage was not lower than the Potters. Snape's family was not older blood, instead his vault was few levels above the Potters. His vault did not have a key, instead the Goblin placed Snape's wand into a slot.
The wand opened the door.
Inside was different, he had gold just not the multiple mounds like she did. Katherine didn't need any of his money, but she wanted to look like there was something that brought her here. Walking around Snape's vault she realized there was something unusual.
A letter.
Why would he keep a letter in his vault?
She had no plans to snoop around his things. Something about the letter made her curious.
Could it be a little note from Lily?
Katherine picked up the small parchment, opening it, she began to read.
Dear Severus,
I am sorry. It hurts to write this letter but know how much I love and will always love you. I can not follow your request for me to leave. I was a coward in your childhood, not facing my own demons, I refuse to do the same now. I allowed you to witness so much hurt from your father, I am sorry. I'm sorry that you saw me as a broken mum. I hope one day your heart can forgive me. The house is yours; the ownership is now in your name. I did what I did and will own my consequences.
I ask only this from you, promise me not to become like your father.
Forever your mother.
Katherine had read the letter, the ownership of the house, and the documents of Tobias Snape burial. It was the newspaper clipping of Eileen in a muggle paper explaining what demon she was speaking of.
Eileen was charged with murder.
Katherine assumed that Snape was probably trying to convince him mum to hide away, with her letter stating she would not leave. Not knowing if Snape still had his mother or not. She knew that he had a tough childhood. It was a subject Snape never would go into great detail with her.
Do not feel sorry for him, Katherine reminded herself.
The prophecy, the betrayal, forcing her to lose her memory then forcing himself in her mind. She kept repeating everything over and over.
Sympathy was not deserved.
All he did was prove her point, on whom he was. Someone not worth the negative energy. Not worth her time.
Katherine felt pity for Eileen, her son was like his father or worst in her opinion.
Making her way out the grand white double doors, the sun was blazing above. The warmth pressed against the illusion of Snape's face. Looking around she saw the one person that deserved a lot.
Charity. The one person who was by her-side thru it all.
Standing in front of her childhood friend, her lips turned upward. Charity's arm stretched forward, handing the bag of clothes to Katherine.
Returning the gesture by handing the coins that Charity would convert. She was the expert on how much muggle money they would need.
Charity shifted her weight, looking at the bag of coins in her hand. "I was worried you would run out of time."
Katherine gave a weak smile, the turning in her stomach didn't feel normal. The heat from her skin wasn't from the sun.
"Thank you for everything," Katherine muttered. She felt her esophagus becoming warm.
Charity's eyes became wide, she glanced toward the small ally between two buildings. Giving Katherine the hint to run in that direction.
Time ran out.
Dashing toward the shadows, Katherine hid in the darkness.
Her stomach burned. While the cramping caused her to lean forward. Her height began to shrink, the sweat from her head trailed down her soft cheek. Katherine inhaled thru her now smaller nose. Her hair grew longer, hiding her face as she still leaned forward from the cramps in her abdomen.
The black attire she wore no longer fit her form.
She was back into her true self. Charity had thought of everything by grabbing her extra clothes. If Katherine tried to exit wearing Snape's attire it would ruin the ruse she had tried to succeed at.
Stripping out of his garments, Katherine prayed no one would see. Her hands trembled as she stepped into the baby blue dress, that fitted her body like a glove. It was long enough hiding her shoes from sight. Reaching to grab the zipper, she struggled to grasp the small zipper. Not having her wand, it became a daily hassle.
A hand placed itself on her waist.
Katherine froze.
The hand was no bigger than hers. Slowly the zipper she was trying to reach, started to glide upward toward the back of her neck. Katherine was zipped in her dress. Her chest rose and slowly lowered down.
"I'm not surprised now," Narcissa Malfoy's velvet smooth voice filled the void of silence. "Why my husband has been obsessed with you," she continued. The woman had made her way to stand in front of Katherine.
The stunning blonde stared at her, not in the friendly way Katherine was becoming accustomed to. Instead, the glare, was harsh.
NOTES: THANK YOU FOR READING.