Disclaimer: Everything belongs to J K Rowling except the characters that I have created.

A/N: In this part Severus takes Katarina to a safe place. If you haven't read Draco's Secret - The whole thing, this may be a good time to do it. In the next chapter the stories will start intertwining when Draco and Hermione come into the picture. Remember, Snape and Katarina's story happens during the summer that Draco and Hermione fall in love in the USA.

The Beguiling of Snape: The Silent Prison 6

As dawn broke Severus woke in a panic. He groggily got up from the cot where he had spent the night and raced up the stairs into the kitchen. What he saw made his blood run cold. The kitchen and dining room were a complete disaster. The table had been turned over and the remnants of dinner were all over the floor. His heart was stuck in his throat as he made his way up the hall to Katarina's bedroom. The scene that met his eyes made him sick. There lying on the bed bound and bloodied was his beloved, Katarina. As he rushed over to her he realized that she was still alive. As he gently unwrapped her hair from around her neck and untied her hands and feet he talked to her.

"Kat? Can you hear me?" he asked as he tried to keep his wits about him.

Katarina slowly opened her eyes and reached for her wand that was lying by her head.

When Severus saw what she was trying to do he took the wand and asked,

"Is this yours?"

She slowly nodded.

"I need to lift you, so I am going to put a spell on you to take away some of the pain, okay?"

She nodded.

Severus mumbled an incantation and gently wrapped the bed sheet around her. He could feel her stiffen a little and then relax as he tenderly lifted her into his arms.

"I am taking you to Hogwarts, Madam Pomfrey will know what to do. Ready to apparate?" he asked.

She gave a slight nod and they were gone with a pop.

Severus apparated just outside the gates of Hogwarts and started up the long driveway. When he was about half way to the front door, he saw Hagrid and he yelled for him.

As Hagrid came closer he noticed Severus' burden and took off towards the front door calling over his shoulder that he would get Madam Pomfrey.

By the time Severus made it to the door, Madam Pomfrey was already there with a stretcher waiting.

"Severus, who is this and what happened?" she asked in a very concerned tone.

"This is Katarina Macnair and Lucius Malfoy is what happened, now hurry!" Severus said in a panic.

"Yes of course," said Poppy, "Hagrid, get Minerva and tell her to meet me in the hospital wing."

"Will do," said Hagrid as he ran to do her bidding.

When they arrived in the hospital wing Severus lifted Katarina from the stretcher to a bed and stepped back so Madam Pomfrey could examine her. As Madam Pomfrey removed the blood stained sheet she gasped. Katarina had bloodied stripes crisscrossing her back and legs.

"How could he do this to her?" she asked.

"Because he is an evil man and he deserves to die," said Severus with loathing.

Minerva came running in the hospital and abruptly stopped. There lying on the bed was a young woman she had once taught and Severus Snape kneeling at her side weeping.

"Severus, what happened?" she asked as Madam Pomfrey started to do healing spells.

"Lucius Malfoy. That bastard has been holding her captive for over eighteen years," he ground through clenched teeth.

"Merlin's beard, why?" asked Minerva.

"Because he said she betrayed him when she refused to become a death eater," he said with malice. "And that's not all of it. He also used some type of silencing spell. She can't utter a sound and to top it all off he has been sexually abusing her since her captivity," Severus said through a mist of tears.

Minerva walked over to Severus and place a hand gently on his shoulder.

"Minerva, if it is the last thing I ever do I am going to kill him," swore Severus as he looked at Katarina's very still body.

"Madam Pomfrey, is she going to be alright?" asked Minerva.

"There were a few very deep wounds and those are going to scar, but physically she will heal," Poppy said as she magically put a nightgown on her and settled her into bed.

"I am going to give her a potion to help her have dreamless sleep, she needs a lot of rest. If you will excuse me for a moment while I go and get it," Poppy said before she exited the room.

Severus took Katarina's hand in his as he began to speak,

"Kat, can you hear me?"

She opened her eyes for the briefest of seconds and nodded.

"You are safe here. Do you understand me?"

Again she gave a small nod.

Madam Pomfrey came into the room and handed the potion to Severus.

"Have her drink this, it will be better if it comes from a voice she recognizes."

"Kat, I need you to sit up a little so you can drink this alright," asked Severus.

She nodded her head and let Severus help her sit up just enough to help her drink the potion. As Severus gently lay her back on the bed she mouthed "thank you," and fell immediately off to sleep.

Severus leaned close to her and whispered, "I love you," and then kissed her gently on the lips.

Minerva had to turn away as the tears were glistening in her eyes. After she composed herself she looked at Severus and said,

"It looks like Poppy needs to look you over as well."

Severus agreed and sat still as Poppy fussed over him.

"Who stitched your wounds?"

"Katarina did."

"Well she did a wonderful job, you have healed very nicely," said Madam Pomfrey.

"Yes, she took very good care of me," he said with pride. Poppy, how long will she be out?"

"That is hard to say, she has been through a lot. She is in surprisingly good health considering the beating she received. I just don't know," she said. "She will be out for at least eight to ten hours, so if you want to get a shower and something to eat you have plenty of time."

"Yes I would like a shower and I need to talk to Professor Dumbledore," he said.

"You go on and do what you need to do and I will sit with her," said Minerva.

"Thank you, I will be back in an hour or so," and he was gone.

After his shower he felt a little better so he headed up to Professor Dumbledore's office.

As he entered, Albus Dumbledore was sitting behind his desk.

"Severus, I am sorry to hear about Miss Macnair. Is she alright?" a very concerned Albus asked.

"Eventually she will be Headmaster, she has been through a lot. Sir, I need somewhere I can hide her. If Lucius discovers that she is alive he will come after her. I don't think that Hogwarts would be a good place but maybe somewhere close by," said Severus.

Albus sat quietly thinking for a few minutes then said,

"Well there is a place that helped hide someone else years ago that I think with a little cleaning it could be just perfect."

"Where sir," he asked.

"The Shrieking Shack. Everyone still thinks it is haunted. One can only obtain entrance form Hogwarts and not a lot of people know how to get inside," said Dumbledore.

"Of course, that is a wonderful idea, she should be safe there," Severus said hopefully.

"Yes and you could visit her anytime you want. If you want I will personally go and get things in order for you," offered Albus.

"We would appreciate any help that you can give us," said Severus with a sigh of relief.

"We? Severus are you and Miss Macnair involved?" asked Dumbledore with a twinkle in his eye.

"Yes sir, I plan on asking her to marry me as soon as she is feeling better. She has been through so much and I want her to feel safe for a change."

"That is understandable. Well I will travel to the shack tomorrow and prepare it for Miss Macnair."

"Thank you Headmaster," said Severus as he left the office.