Chapter Nine: Accusations
Obsession, she replayed the word over and over in her mind. Katherine didn't understand why Narcissa was looking at her with much distaste. Taking a step away from the witch before her.
On the ground near Katherine's feet was Snape's wand. She was quick, grabbing it would not be an issue if the woman before her decided to duel. The issue was the wand itself. Would it listen to her spells?
Narcissa watched her. Her body glided forward toward Katherine.
She was closer than what Katherine felt comfortable with. Narcissa was not a woman she ever considered as an enemy, but something clearly changed.
Katherine lowered her head slightly, flashing her eyes toward the bag and Narcissa. Debating if she should grab the item or not.
To risk it all, grabbing a wand when she was under strict orders not to have a wand. It would send her straight to prison.
Narcissa's velvet voice broke the silence. "Let's be brief, from the looks of it, you are in a rush." Her gaze went to the bag then landed on Katherine's face. "Tell me Mrs. Snape, are you sleeping with my husband?" distaste dripped from each word.
The thought of laying in the same bed with Lucius made Katherine's stomach turn. It was not something she would ever consider.
To have an affair was one thing, but having it with Lucius.
Katherine scrunched her nose, "I'd rather die, no offense. Lucius isn't my type." She placed both her hands upon her waist.
This seemed like a crazy joke.
"Then why was he with you the other day, don't be coy Katherine. I'm not an idiot. I smelled you on his clothes." Narcissa snapped.
"Smelled me, please inform me on how I smell. I hope it's lovely," Katherine taunted her voice rose above her normal tone.
She didn't have time for this, Snape would wake up soon and she still had his wand. To be accused of doing such an action felt beneath her.
She waited for Narcissa to answer. The woman stepped forward; she was closer.
Katherine debated on taking a step back, not wanting to look guilty. She stayed put.
"Like a cheap whore," the words left Narcissa's mouth, it felt like a slap across Katherine's face.
Katherine was use to being called a child of a blood traitor, but as a woman. To hear that another thought she was a whore.
It stung.
Even after all these years, Katherine yearned to be accepted. She would never be enough for who she was, but being accused on actions she did not commit.
It hurt.
She could plea her case, but the young woman's pulse raced. Her skin started feel hot. The urge of wanting to lash out was hard to contain.
It wasn't her fault that Narcissa was being insure, she reminded herself.
"Well, as a cheap whore I can admit I saw him last night, but I don't think it was the ending you think happened," Katherine hissed, leaning forward. She took a step toward Narcissa.
The air was thick with tension.
"Oh, aren't we brave, especially since we do not have a wand to protect us. Stay away from my husband." Narcissa fumed.
Katherine refused to back down, her posture and tone matching the woman. "Tell your husband to stay away from me, I have nothing for him and never will."
Narcissa chuckled her eyes becoming dark "I suggest you cling to the man who placed that on your finger or" her eyes dashed toward the black diamond ring on Katherine's hand.
Before she could finish her statement, a woman's voice had entered the ally.
"Or what." Charity came into view standing behind Narcissa.
Narcissa turned to face Charity before rolling her eyes, "I should of realized your lap dog would be around," taunting both women.
"I suggest you leave." Charity added, "Being seen with me isn't great for your image."
Narcissa went to speak, but she never allowed the words to escape her mouth.
Charity's words were true. She was a known blood traitor according to the pure-blood families that were not keen on muggles. It was no secret that Narcissa cared for opinions of others.
Words were not needed; Katherine knew from the glare that Narcissa still believed she was sleeping with her husband. Narcissa turned to leave the two women, but Katherine knew the one thing that could ruin her plan of leaving. It was upon her finger.
"Your ring, can Lucius find you from it?" Katherine probed.
Narcissa's body became stiff. She turned her head to look back at the two witches.
Katherine caught a flicker of worry from Narcissa's eyes. Brushing her curiosity off on why her question would cause Narcissa to worry.
Narcissa replied, "He can feel my emotions, but no, unless I inform him where I'm at. He can not follow. Similar to yours."
Katherine grazed her thumb over the ring. Snape could only feel her emotions. It was a plus.
Katherine and Charity had left Diagon Ally, they were heading toward Snape's home. Katherine wanted to return to Hogwarts, to return her husband's wand, the only link of the fireplace was Snapes' within his home. The time it took to walk, gave Katherine enough time to explain everything that happened with Narcissa.
The speculation of such an act.
Charity was overly quiet.
"Do you know something?" Katherine asked.
A fearful question.
A question she didn't want to have an answer that did put her past self with Lucius, the thought of such a thing made her light-headed.
Charity nodded, she stretched her arm, rotating her shoulder blade. "I've said it before, we all have demons in our past," her voice cracked.
Charity's tears slowly slid down her face, mixing with the snot dripping from her nose.
Katherine fumbled the handkerchief within her pocket. She began to wipe her friends tears away, rubbing her other hand upon Charity's back, trying to sooth her. Katherine couldn't remember when was the last time she saw her friend cry.
"I wish I was given the potion like you. But you were so gone, so mad…You wouldn't stop crying and screaming. At first, we were in separate rooms. I…It hurts to think of it at times."
Katherine felt like her heart was ripped from her chest, her best friend talking in a trance. She couldn't take her eyes off of Charity. The two women stood outside Snape's home.
Charity continued, "I knew it was you on the other side of the wall, you were screaming for Severus. Then my door opened. Lucius wanted answers, he wanted to know what was so special about you. I didn't know then why he cared. But now I realized," she pulled away from Katherine. "You knew or know someone-something that You Know Who, wanted to keep safe or possibly use against others. It made many death eaters jealous, especially the ones who assumed they were his right hand. Lucius used me to hurt you."
Katherine didn't try to pull Charity back, she was stunned.
Words didn't know how to form.
A part of her wanted to know what happened, but did she really want the answer? To know the truth.
A truth that was ripping her friend apart before her eyes.
"You didn't break, so Lucius took it upon himself to hurt you. Your screams, I kept screaming at you to tell them. But you didn't…you kept crying and screaming for him to stop. The blood still spilling from the cuts I caused you from earlier. That's when Lucius realized the one way you would break. Was to allow the others to hurt me," Charity kept shaking as the tears poured from her eyes.
Katherine wrapped her arms around her friend's shaking body. To know that her friend had to witness such a thing, because she wouldn't speak up. Katherine didn't know what information she was knew of. Knowing that others began to hurt her friend, she felt guilty.
Did she do nothing and allowed it?
But Charity was alive. Katherine assured herself she must have confessed. She continued to hold her sobbing friend as their bodies lowered toward the pavement.
"Stuff happened, lots of blood, then the door finally opened."
She didn't want to ask; she couldn't ask about the situation. Katherine wanted to know, she needed a small amount of knowledge.
Was it the man she married that did save them?
"Who was it," it wasn't Crouch, Katherine remembered that day vividly.
"The wizard who killed your brother."
The answer Katherine wasn't expecting. Silence stung her ears.
Charity fumbled with a flask that she forced herself to drink. The substance slowly allowed Charity to calm down, her body became relax in Katherine's embrace. . The story didn't need to be completed. Katherine didn't want her friend to relive any of it. It wasn't worth it. The pain of the past was meant to be left alone. Everyone had burden from those days, but Katherine was blessed by not remembering the worst. She did learn that the substance was given to her once a month. Snape was kind enough to make her a calming potion. Katherine did learn that Snape had healed both women of their physical damages, but the forgetting potion was only allowed for Katherine to take. Charity wasn't supposed to be alive, but Snape pretended to use her as a testing piece. Charity claimed that he would heal her first, make sure it worked before he did anything to Katherine.
It was October thirty-first, when Katherine had received the potion to make her forget, it all started on her birthday.
Today was a lot of information, but many things needed to be done. She didn't want to leave Charity, but Charity assured her that she would fine, the potion was meant to help her cope with the trauma. The only reason she broke down, was because she had been skipping days, until she knew how to make the potion herself. Since she was planning to live in America and would still need it.
Both women departed.
Katherine used her husband's fireplace to return to his work office. Looking around the room she heard mutters behind the door to the classroom.
She nearly forgot about his lessons for the day, Katherine knew he would be awake soon. She made her way to Snape's bedroom. She looked at the body on the floor, allowing herself to kneel next to him she placed the wand back into his cloak. Katherine debated on leaving him alone, but she wanted to see his face when he woke up. She wanted him to know that even without a wand she was not a mat for him or even Dumbledore to walk all over.
She wasn't weak, she was a survivor.
Katherine was still a Potter at heart.
Snape's eyes fluttered open.
The potion master sat up, glaring at Katherine who sat upon his bed. Her legs crossed sneaking out from her white cloak, while a smirk rested on her lips. For once she felt like she had the upper hand. She was still fuming from earlier events.
"What did you do!" Snape hissed as his body rose to his feet, fixing his cloak and sleeves, he checked to make sure he still had his wand.
Katherine rose to her feet standing in front of the man that towered over her. "I showed you that I'm not weak, I proved a point." Crossing her slim arms across her chest.
She would never tell him her true actions.
Snape shook his head; his eyes were full of disbelief and disgust looking at her.
"I didn't harm you." Katherine stated the obvious she cocked her head staring at him like an eagle ready to strike its prey. She wanted to harm him though.
She wanted to hurt many people; the list kept growing. Her husband was at the top of it, right behind Lucius.
Snape spat on the ground "Blood magic," he hissed, "something that is forbidden."
She wasn't surprised he figured it out, with him being skilled in potions.
Katherine couldn't help but laugh rolling her eyes "you taught me well" she taunted.
Turning to leave. He was up, and it was time for her to rest before tomorrow. She planned to meet with Lupin.
"I never taught you such a thing."
His words stopped her in her tracks, if he didn't teach her blood magic that she was confident into doing, who did?
"Well, whomever it was, I thank them." Keeping her confidence, she turned her head to look over her shoulder to glance at him. "Because I'm tired of being a pawn between you and Dumbledore, I'm done."
Done with getting hurt and used like a chess piece.
Snape turned her around so she would face him, his body was stiff with a deadly glare.
"I'm done with it all" Katherine continued, "my mind is mine, get out of my thoughts."
And her life she thought.
"How would you" she pointed at his chest as her nostrils flared. "Like it if someone invaded your mind, reading your inner thoughts, past feelings, learning your secrets that you do not want anyone to find out."
Her finger was swatted away by his hand.
She watched the vein on Snape's neck pulsate, upset was an understatement that this man was feeling. Knowing that she was nearly crossing his line, she knew to step-back.
Snape's voice was firm "We need to be prepared incase HE returns. What if he goes after your little nephew again?"
Him, using Harry as a crutch, Katherine walked out his room into his office.
Snape followed close behind her like a moth following the light.
She would protect her godchild, by taking him away from this place. Hogwarts would be the boy's downfall, she knew it. He deserved better. A life with her and Charity would be better, two strong women.
Not a school under an old man with secrets and with a potion professor that hated his father.
"I'm not going to sacrifice my mind for this, no matter how important you both believe it is. I am not the key to help destroy You Know Who, he's already gone. He will never return. If you want a hero, you have the wrong Potter. He died trying to protect his wife and child," Katherine ranted.
The hero was James.
Even if she did believe that he could return, but she would be on American soil with Harry. For You Know Who to enter America, it would cause a Global War. One Wizard already lost a Global War, thanks to Dumbledore.
Snape laughed sarcastically, taking a large step toward her.
She refused to allow him to intimidate her. His dark eyes staring down into her soul.
This would be their last meeting, she would never see him again, refusing to let fear be the victor emotion.
Snape taunted, "You are no hero, that is right, but you are a Potter. Pure at heart. You ran from your own family, you are someone who is useless, shallow and selfish. A pitiful Potter. I'm sure Harry will be just like you and his father, pathetic."
Useless, shallow and selfish, the three same words he said to her the night of the dare.
It crossed her line; she didn't want to recreate that moment by him repeating those words. Her mind kept repeating the words over and over.
Was she selfish?
She was.
Shallow at times, indeed.
Useless, Katherine felt useless. To watch Charity, break down earlier, she felt useless not knowing what to say to make it better.
The man before her was no better, he was the pathetic one.
Rage ran thru her blood, boiling. Staying calm was almost impossible.
The words, her words fled her mouth "AND YOU WOULD ALLOW A FAMILY TO DIE; TO GAIN THE FAVOR OF YOUR DARK LORD!" she bellowed.
She felt humiliated all over again, but the rage was too much to control. She wasn't done, taking a step forward.
Her voice dropped "Lily's own family, tell me Severus, did you think once her husband and child were dead. She would crawl weeping for you, she never wanted you. She picked James. You ruined any relationship you had with her the day you called her that vile name." Katherine exhaled before she mocked more. "But tell me my sweet husband, did that hurt? To know the woman, you cared about died for the family you never had with her. She picked to die for her family, do you even know what a family is?"
Snape's white skin seemed whiter, if it was even possible. She wasn't waiting for the quick reaction. She felt her back being slammed against the wall. He punched his fist against the wooden wall next to her head.
Shock filled both of their eyes. Instant regret was presence on his wicked face. Katherine didn't move from the place he had slammed her into. His face was close to hers, both unable to move.
Finally, Snape stepped away, trying to control himself, he pinched the bridge of his nose. His knuckles were red.
Katherine hid her shaking hands in her cloak, biting her bottom lip. The confidence she had earlier was running away. She couldn't crumble now.
No, she needed him to know how low he was a human in her eyes.
The letter, in the vault. Pushing her body away from the wall.
"You are just like you father, take this off me now." She ordered. Raising her left hand that held the bonding ring, she waited for Snape to grab it and snatch it off her finger. She didn't want him to know her feelings.
The statement was the wrong thing to say. He lunged in her direction causing Katherine to scramble backwards. For once in her life, she was frightened of the man she once liked, he looked like a dark demon that was filled with disgust from her words.
"GET OUT!" he ordered.
Katherine was already out his office door as he yelled.
Turning around she had completely forgot that his class was present in the lab. Silence from the students as a few Slytherin's slowly averted their gaze. A red hair boy, that reminded her of the Weasleys', answered to the name Bill when a fellow student told him to look in her direction. She made her way slowly to the door at the end of the classroom, it felt like the walk of shame.
She was ashamed of what she said to Snape. Allowing an anger mind to spill venom from her mouth.
Grabbing the doorknob with a trembling hand. Katherine left the pupils, hoping he would not be too harsh on them. She was foolish with her choice of words, Katherine dashed thru the corridor, tripping over Professor Flitwick. She didn't apologize but kept running, wanting to leave this place.
She wanted to find her home.
Thank You for reading
Chapter Ten: The Eyes- Coming May 25th