Disclaimer: J K Rowlings owns the world of Harry Potter except for the silly little fan fictions and various characters that pop out of my head and on to paper.

The Beguiling of Snape: The Silent Prison 8

Over the next few months Katarina became very ill. She had morning sickness with a vengeance. But it was starting to wane now that she was going into her second trimester. Today was a good day, she hadn't been sick and she was waiting for Professor Dumbledore to visit. She is sitting at the piano when he arrives.

"Good afternoon Katarina," said Albus Dumbledore.

Katarina gave him a small smile and hug.

"Are you feeling well? You seem rather sad,"

She motioned for him to have a seat. After he was seated she went to the desk and wrote a note.

I am a little sad today. Albus I haven't seen the light of day in months and it is starting to wear on me. I used to be outside all the time and now I am stuck here. Of course it is beautiful here but none the less it is inside. And I am worried about Hermione. Even though I have never met her I feel close to her and would like to help her anyway I can.

As Albus read the note he smiled.

"I know that it is difficult for you to be stuck inside all the time but it is for your own safety. However, since most of the student's will be leaving for Christmas break I may be able to talk Severus into maybe a midnight stroll around Hogwart's grounds. How does that sound?"

She gave him a big smile.

"Also, as far as Hermione is concerned, she still hasn't started talking to anyone yet. This really hurt her and she has withdrawn from everyone, the only thing she responds to is her cat. Harry, Ron and Draco have had no success in getting through to her. This is killing Draco, he blames himself and no one has been able to convince him otherwise that it wasn't his fault. He feels guilty because he couldn't help her. His father had put a body bind on him and he couldn't move," as Albus said this he saw that Katarina had brought her hand to her mouth and had tears glistening in her eyes. Albus patted her hand and said,

"I think that when she comes back to us, and I believe she will, you will be able to help her. I think she needs to talk to someone that has been there and knows what she is going through."

Katarina smiled and wrote…

I would be glad to talk to her if she wants. Whenever she is ready just let me know. Now what can I play for you today?

"Something happy I think. We need some cheerfulness in our lives right now."

And so she played. Albus was still there when Severus arrived.
"So are you enjoying my wife's music, Headmaster?" Severus said with a smile.

"Immensely," he said with a smile, "Well I must get back to the school. I will see you again soon Katarina and I will let you know when you can talk to Hermione."

Katarina nodded and gave Professor Dumbledore a huge hug and mouthed "thanks."

"Enjoy your night. Severus, May I have a word with you please?"

"Certainly, I will walk you out," Severus said walking him to the door. Once outside in the passage Dumbledore said.

"Katarina is getting cabin fever. I think that maybe a small midnight stroll around the grounds would do her good."

"I think that is an excellent idea sir, She is so used to being outside. I'm sorry I didn't think of it earlier," Severus agreed.

"Well have a good Christmas, and take care of your special lady and that baby she carries, they are both wonderful miracles." Albus said and he was gone.

Over the Christmas holidays Severus and Katarina went for many moonlit walks. As the cool air felt very refreshing to them both. On one such outing as they were walking hand in hand Katarina saw something moving near the castle. She pointed it out to Severus and he said,

"Oh, that's just Hermione's cat."

She nodded and they continued their walk. They didn't notice that Crookshanks had started to follow them. When they reached the whomping willow and had prodded the knot, Crookshanks followed them inside.

Once inside Katarina noticed that they had company and ran to him and picked him up, twirling around burying her face in his fur. Severus was amused by this and started to laugh.

"I take it you like cats," he said still laughing.

She went to the desk and wrote.

This is Crookshanks, he was my cat when I went to school here. One night he just disappeared and I haven't seen him since. You say he belongs to Hermione? Well she has been taking very good care of him.

From that day on, Crookshanks spent a lot of time with Katarina and this lightened her mood considerably. January came in quite cold and that made it impossible for Katarina to go on her late night strolls. This made her a little cranky. However Severus was on one occasion snowed in with her for three days. This made up for not being able to take those walks. This is when they first felt the baby move. You couldn't get the smile off of Severus' face for days. This tickled Katarina no end.

When February came there wasn't as much snow even though it was still bitterly cold. This is when Albus thought that it would be a good time for Hermione and Katarina to meet. Hermione had been told very little about Katarina, only that she was in hiding from Lucius, that she could not speak and that they had a lot in common. When Hermione and Professor Dumbledore arrived at the shack she was amazed at how different it looked. It was no longer a run down old shack. It was magnificent. They were welcomed into the living room by one of the most beautiful woman Hermione had ever seen. As they were introduced, Hermione's jaw dropped.

"Miss Hermione Granger, may I introduce Mrs. Katarina Snape," said Albus.

As Hermione composed herself she said sweetly,
"So wonderful to meet you."

Katarina handed her a note that read,

It is wonderful to meet you, Severus has told me a lot about you. Please sit, would you like some tea?

Hermione smiled and said, "Yes please that would be lovely."

"Well I see you ladies don't need an old man around so I will take my leave. Katarina, Severus will be late tonight so you two enjoy the evening. Hermione, Draco will come with Severus to bring you back to the school. Have a good evening," and he kissed both of them on the cheek and took his leave.

They sat quietly for a few minutes drinking their tea before either knew how to start up the conversation and then Hermione broke the ice. Looking down at her hands she asked,

"Was it Lucius that took your voice?"

Katarina nodded.

"I am so sorry, he is an evil man," she said as a single tear rolled down her face. Katarina moved over to the couch Hermione was sitting on and gathered her into her arms and let her cry. After a few minutes she straightened up and said,

"I'm sorry for bursting into tears like that, it's just that he hurt me so much and I don't know what to do. I take it you know what happened?"

Katarina went to the desk and wrote….

I know some, Severus told me that it was he that found you and Draco and that it was a long time before you would open up to anyone. But let me tell you my story and maybe that will help you. It started when I was 17. I was madly in love with Lucius but he wanted me to become a death eater and when I refused he was ordered to kill me. But instead that bastard cursed me and took my voice. Then once a year when he brought me supplies to my silent prison, he raped me. He did this for eighteen years. And then Severus rescued me but not before Lucius nearly beat me to death. And that is how I ended up here. Another prison of sorts. I have to remain here until Lucius is dead.

As Hermione read the note she started to cry again and then through her tears she said,

"Over the summer Draco and I fell in love, but knowing how his father would take the fact that his son loved a mudblood we hid our relationship. A girl that considered Draco hers, saw us and told his father. He was livid and came to the school. When Professor Dumbledore wouldn't let him see Draco that night, he became even more angry and on his way out of the castle he heard us talking. He came into the room where we were and locked the door. He then bound Draco and made him watch as he brutally raped me," Hermione had to stop for a moment to compose herself, "I wouldn't talk for almost three months. Draco finally brought me back but not before he sacrificed his own sanity. You see, Lucius is beyond evil. Draco brought me back by showing me his scar, the same one I carry. Lucius' signature for his victims. I imagine that you carry the same scar," as Hermione looked at Katarina she nodded.

"It was then that I told Draco that I carried his father's child."

Katarina was now in tears shaking her head as she wrote.

How did Draco take this news?

Hermione smiled at this,

"He told me that if I decided to keep the child, he would raise it as his own and the baby would never know that Lucius was the father. Draco is a wonderful man. So unlike his father. I love him with all my heart."

Do you have a picture of him?

Hermione reached into her pocket and pulled out a picture of Draco that she carries with her at all times.

As Katarina gazed at the picture tears were rolling down her cheeks.

"Katarina are you alright?"

Yes, it's just that he looks a great deal like the Lucius I fell in love with. I am glad to hear that he is nothing like his father.

They talked about Lucius for a little while longer and then got on the subject of babies and food cravings.

"I don't know about you but my cravings a terrible. Do you crave anything?" Hermione asked.

Katarina smiled as she wrote..

Treacle! It doesn't matter if it is tarts, fudge or pie, I don't care but I just can't get enough of it.

Hermione started laughing,

"I want a pizza so bad I can hardly stand it, and of course it is something that I can't get at Hogwarts."

As the evening went one they felt as though they had known each other all their lives.

When Severus and Draco finally showed up around midnight, they were welcomed with a site they will never forget. There sitting at the piano were Katarina and Hermione playing "The Sting" and Hermione was laughing so hard she was in tears.

"Excuse me ladies, I was looking for my girlfriend Hermione, you know the one that hasn't smiled in months, have you seen her?" Draco asked as he started laughing.

Hermione got up and ran into his arms.

Katarina got up slowly and stood half way behind Severus.

"Katarina this is Draco," Hermione said and she sent a thought to Draco through telepathy. Be careful Draco, she may be skittish, your father hurt her too.

As Draco slowly put out his hand he said,

"It is very nice to meet you."

Katarina took his hand and shook it. She then wrote a note that said.

It's nice to meet you also. I hope you don't consider me rude but you look a lot like your father.

"Maybe some day I will grow out of it," he said as he smiled. And Katarina smiled back.

Over the next couple of weeks, Katarina spent a lot of time with Hermione and Draco and decided that Draco was really nothing like his father. Thank the stars.