The Ties That Bind

by Shendra

An old friend drops back into Snape's life after being thought dead for 17 years. She isn't back for good, though. Voldemort returns, demanding loyalty this time around. Can Snape find Katie before Voldemort realizes their secret?

1. A Sudden Return

The Ties That Bind (1/?)

By: Shendra

Shendraz421@aol.com

Category: Romance/Mystery/Drama

Keywords: Snape, Voldemort, Draco, telepathy, 7th year

Rating: R

Spoilers: All four Books

Summary: An old friend falls back into Snape's life, only to mysteriously disappear again. Voldemort returns, demanding loyalty this time around. Will he ever be defeated? Will Kate ever be found? Will Snape ever get laid?

This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.

Kevin and Kate are mine, so if you want to use them, let me know first, mmkay?

CHAPTER ONE

It was noon and the sun shone brightly over the midday activities. People walked down the street, oblivious to the two men sitting silently on the bench under the apple tree. If the passing Muggles could see these men, they would surely stop and stare. The older man sat impassively staring into the office building across the street. He was dressed all in black, save the shimmering silver invisibility cloak shielding him from prying eyes. A long, slender stick was clutched in his right hand, fingers gripping over its smooth surface. His name was Severus Snape, Potions Master of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Next to him, Kevin McNeel squirmed restlessly in his dark blue robes and silver invisibility cloak. With short, sandy blonde hair, Kevin looked like the complete opposite of Severus, whose limp black mane was just long enough to brush the collar of his robes.

"Sit still!" Severus hissed at Kevin when he shifted listlessly for the hundredth time.

"I'm trying but this bench is uncomfortable! Why can't we just go in and take her now?" came the reply as Kevin gestured towards the office where a dark haired female came into view, carrying a stack of papers.

"You know why, Kevin. Don't make me repeat myself. We will wait."

So they sat. Severus stared at the dark haired female, his black eyes following her as she spoke with her coworkers, and when they brushed her off rudely with little disregard, his glare would have surely sent them running if they had been able to see it. After a minute or so, Kevin stood up.

"I need to stretch my muscles. Don't worry, Severus," he said, sensing rather than seeing the piercing glare Severus gave him, "I won't do anything stupid."

Severus smirked under his cloak, highly doubtful. Sitting back, he watched the girl walk from office to office, delivering files to various coworkers. Eventually, she settled down at her own desk and started to go through the folders she'd been left with. At this, Severus pulled a folder from his robes and flipped through it, remembering his most recent meeting with the Headmaster of Hogwarts.

*****

"Severus!" the old Headmaster stood to greet Severus, taking his hand in a friendly manner before beckoning him to sit in an overstuffed gray chair near the fireplace next to his desk. "I'm glad you agreed to coming. There are some things we need to discuss…"

Ahah, though Severus, seeing through the smile Dumbledore wore that did nothing to mask his businesslike tone. Nodding anyway, Severus sat and folded his hands in his lap. Dumbledore wanted something, he could sense it. As if for confirmation, Dumbledore pulled a yellowed folder from a drawer in his desk.

"Kate Hillian..." Dumbledore read clearly from the edge of the folder and Severus immediately recognized it as an ancient school record. Feeling the Headmaster's eyes bore into him from across the desk, he did some quick thinking. It was almost a full minute before he realized why the name had struck a familiar chord deep inside.

"Kate… Kate.." he repeated the name a couple times before full realization sunk in. "You don't mean Katie.. do you?

Dumbledore nodded and smiled a mischievous smile. "Yes, the one and the same. I believe you attended Hogwarts with her?"

Severus mumbled in assent, his attention focused on the small photograph accompanying the folder. Katie was sitting on a park bench by herself in conservative Muggle clothes, with her knees pulled up to her chest. It must have been taken at least 10 years ago, but the memory of her face was still fresh in his mind. "Sir, I'm not sure I understand why I'm here.." he said softly, glancing up from the picture.

"Ah, yes." Dumbledore replied, picking up another folder and looking through it. "Do you know what happened to Miss Hillian after she left Hogwarts?" he didn't have to look at Severus see him shaking his head. "Well then, I shall explain. Not many people know this, and not because it's common. It just wasn't made public. You remember that shortly after you left school, Voldemort began to become active again, do you not?"

At this, Severus looked up, barely unable to contain his shocked expression. "She didn't... become a Death-"

"No," Dumbledore quickly cut him off, "She didn't become a Death Eater, Severus. But she was attacked by one."

Clearing his throat, Dumbledore continued.

"From what all of the Aurors involved in investigating the situation have recorded, it didn't seem to be a planned attack. It appeared to be one of those cases when one is in the wrong place at the wrong time. Not many people know much about what happened that night, and from the evidence we had, no one knows exactly what happened. You see, Miss Hillian was out with a friend late one night, walking home, when they were cornered on a quiet street by an angry Death Eater. We have every reason to believe that he had been drinking quite heavily, and was feeling particularly violent. It was dark, and late, and well…"

Dumbledore sighed and stared into the fireplace, as if looking for words

"From what we have gathered, the Death Eater first tied Miss Hillian and her friend up, then… well, he cruelly raped the friend, a young girl by the name of Jenna Luette. After that, he subjected Miss Luette to the Cruciatus curse several times before she finally gave up and willed herself to die."

Severus's eyes were wide and he opened and closed his mouth several times before he found words. "But... you can't will yourself to die.. can you? And Katie saw all this?"

With another sigh, Dumbledore turned to look at him, his blue eyes full of sadness, "It's very rare that someone's will to die will be high enough to actually kill them, but it is indeed possible. Very few people have ever actually been pushed so far as to be able to achieve it, but it has been known to happen before. And yes, Miss Hillian was forced to watch her friend die. After the Death Eater had killed Miss Luette, he turned on Kate, apparently set on treating her to the same fate. But.." he paused, looking perplexed, "That's all we know. Only Miss Hillian knows how she got away. When the Ministry found them, she was gone, and the Death Eater was dead. The cause of death has always remained a mystery to us, because no spells were revealed to have been cast on him. He was just dead. After that night, Miss Hillian disappeared. No one knew where she went. She never went back to her house, never contacted her family, or any of her friends. She never went back to work, and never even contacted anyone from the wizarding world as far as we know. She just… vanished."

Severus stared across the room at the Headmaster, at a loss for words. This was Katie. The quiet, but highly intelligent girl he remembered from Hogwarts. They had spent almost every minute together since they met on the train. That day came back to him as clearly as yesterday…

(Seventeen years ago…)

Katie had stumbled into the compartment where he sat alone, dragging her trunk in behind her. After getting it through the doorway, she heaved it over to the trunk rack and shoved it inside. Severus sat next to the window, staring at her. As she dragged her trunk past him, he could just read the name Kate Hillian written in delicate gold lettering on the side of her trunk. Silently, he watched her move, noticing how her black hair glittered in the sunlight, ending just past her shoulder blades. She was dressed in simple Muggle clothes, a light green sweater over a plain black t-shirt and faded blue jeans. When she turned to look at him, it was like he'd been hit by lightning. Those dark blue eyes looked right into his, he heard a soft voice in his mind.

Oh my God, it said.

"What?" he replied out loud, his eyes widening.

"Huh?" she looked confused.

"You said 'Oh my God'."

"No I didn't." her eyes searched his. What is he talking about?

"There! You did it again! How do you talk without moving your lips?" now he looked confused. He could have sworn he heard her voice, but she hadn't even opened her mouth.

"No I didn't…. wait…" she stared at him thoughtfully. Can you hear me?

"Yes. How do you do that?"

Katie said nothing. She leaned back against the side of the seats across the aisle from him and stared. After a minute, he heard her voice in his head again. I think I know what's going on. What's your name? You don't have to say it out loud, just try to think it.

Severus stared back at her in his black shirt and black jeans. His black hair was limply hanging around his face, partially covering his eyes. What the heck was she talking about? What do you mean?

See? her voice echoed What's your name?

Severus. Severus Snape.

Severus, have you ever heard of telepathy?

What?? His eyes grew even wider, if that was possible. Katie thought he looked a bit silly like this and had to repress her giggles. The shocked look didn't seem to suit him very well. But if this is what she thought it was…. I've read about this, Severus. Somewhere in a book, it said there was a very old magic called telepathy, where some people were known to be able to speak to each other through thoughts, instead of speech. It's very rare and highly unlikely that anyone is able to find someone they can speak with telepathically without studying the art of telepathy first. Have you ever studied it?

At this, Severus didn't respond. He broke eye contact with her, and looked down at his hands. He'd heard of telepathy a long, long time ago, having found it in one of the old books in his grandparents attic. When he'd asked them about it, they had told him that it was a very old brand of magic, and quite possibly extinct, as no one had reported having the ability in the past century. One of the oldest telepathers had been Salazar Slytherin himself, they'd said, using his powers to invade the minds of the monsters he created. It had been the only way he could control them, they told him. Severus had found all this out when he was just 9, and now, two years later, found it all very hard to believe.

Katie sat in the seat across the aisle from him, but still stared over. Severus?

What?

Do you… do you believe me?

He sat there for a minute, just thinking to himself. At first, he didn't know what to believe. Here, this girl had appeared out of nowhere, speaking in his mind, and he in hers. He had no idea who she was, and no real reason to trust her. But, as he tried to convince himself, there really was no other possible explanation that he knew of.

With a resigning sigh, he looked back at her. Yes. I believe you.

After that day, they became inseparable. Every possible moment was spent practicing their newfound ability. At first, it only worked if they were in the same room as each other. After they got to know each other a bit more, it would work from different rooms, then different towers. By the end of their third year, they knew each other inside and out, and could talk to each other from practically anywhere. All they had to do was picture the other in their mind, and just think.

Back to the present day…)

Severus thought about all of this silently, staring down at the photo of the quiet girl he'd known. All throughout their time at Hogwarts, they only had each other. If the other Slytherins had their suspicions, they didn't let on. Both of them had always been treated like outsiders before, and even more so now. Neither had any friends besides each other, and so it was most likely that none of Severus's classmates even remembered Katie now. The Gryffindors, already long-time enemies of the Slytherins, had shown no mercy either. Severus had lost count of the times he had been bullied by the other students. Katie had been the only one who would ever look twice at him, talk to him, even spend time with him. She knew him better than anyone else, and had stood by him when everyone else turned against him. Only at the end of their seventh year had their paths parted. In the beginning, he thought that it would be easy, just saying goodbye, and figured he would see her again soon. It was only after she kissed him on the cheek and told him that she hoped they would meet again, that he broke down, feeling as though he had been ripped in two. Watching her walk away, he had felt half empty, like half of him had just been drained leaving him useless and alone. There had been times when he had tried to find her, tried to contact her, but it was like Dumbledore said. She just seemed to have disappeared. She never replied to any of his owls, even though he knew she'd gotten the letters.

Smirking, Severus mumbled "So that explains why she never wrote."

The corner of Dumbledore's mouth twitched. He couldn't figure out if Severus was making a joke or not, so he figured the best response would be to just nod and smile.

"Sir," Severus said while flipping the folder casually, "If no one has seen her since she disappeared, why did you call me in here? Certainly you don't expect me to find her…"

"I hadn't said no one's seen her since then." Smiling slightly, Dumbledore paused for effect. "I merely said she never contacted anyone. She didn't have to, though. One of my sources reported that they'd seen someone resembling her in a Muggle city outside of London. She's been keeping a low profile, but somehow I don't think that it's her intention."

"What do you mean?" Severus was confused. He didn't understand why Katie would go into hiding unless she thought someone was after her. "Wait, you don't think she believes Voldemort's after her, do you?"

Dumbledore shook his head. "Not exactly, no."

Looking thoughtful, he sighed and leaned back in his chair. "Sometimes, Severus, a person will experience something so horrific, so traumatizing, that they will do whatever it takes to block the memory out of their mind. And sometimes, once they manage to get rid of that memory, most of their other memories go with it. It's not always intentional, and there have been cases where a wizard or witch doesn't even realize the memories are gone… after all, they don't remember them at all." With a simple wave of his hand, Dumbledore continued. "That is what I believe happened to Miss Hillian. Now…" folding his hands in front of him, he leaned forward again." This is where you come in."

After a brief explanation as to what he wanted Severus to do, Dumbledore stood up. "Also… there is someone I want you to take with you on this… mission. His name is Kevin McNeel and he's Fudge's nephew."

"Who?" Severus didn't recognize the name off the top of his head, although he felt he should. He tried to think of where he'd heard it, but couldn't.

"He's Cornelius's Fudge's brother-in-law's son. He graduated from Hogwarts about 8 years ago, and has been doing simple work for the Ministry ever since. I received an owl a few weeks ago, from Fudge, saying that Mister McNeel wanted to apply for the Defense Against the Dark Arts position this year.. he wanted to know if I'd consider the boy. I think this is the perfect opportunity to test his trustworthiness."

Nodding, Severus looked away, still trying to think of what he remembered about the boy. He'd been the Potion's professor for almost 12 years, and had taught Kevin when he attended Hogwarts, but didn't remember much about him. It seemed like so long ago.

Dumbledore continued, "Take him with you, and let me know how he does. He has orders not to interfere with the Muggle relations, just to accompany you and assist you as needed."

"Yes, sir. I'll keep an eye on him." After a minute's silence, Severus spoke up. "Sir? If.. well, if Katie has managed to block out her memories… does that mean she doesn't know she's a witch? What does she still remember?"

Dumbledore sighed heavily and stared past Severus's chair thoughtfully. "As to that, I really have no idea. She may or may not even remember who she really is. If that is so, it may be quite traumatic to bring back those old memories, especially if not done just right. That's why I need her brought here. I've heard word that Voldemort's supporters have become a little active in the past few days. I need you to get her as soon as possible, so if need be, you can leave again as part of the Plan. Right now, I need to write to Fudge to let him know what's going on, and I trust you know what to do. Just…" Dumbledore picked up his quill, preparing to write the letter, "be careful, Severus."

Back on the bench, Severus looked up from the folder at the girl now sitting at a desk. "So," he thought to himself, "this is Katie." She looked pretty in a dark gray pinstriped skirt and jacket suit, with a plain white shirt underneath. Her long hair hung over her shoulders, wavy and well-kept. It was hard to believe this was the same girl he'd known in school, with the sweaters and jeans they'd always worn. It was nice seeing her this way, though. Strange, but nice.

His thoughts drifted back to Hogwarts and all the late nights spent sitting in the common room with her. The first few months, they had only used their telepathic ability to just talk to each other about their thoughts, their pasts, and their ambitions for the future. Once lessons were in full swing, they realized how much they could help each other with assignments and tests. During tests, they would give each other answers to the questions. In the dead silence of the classrooms during those tests, no one ever suspected anything was going on. Now, having been a teacher for so long, Severus found it ironic. He chuckled to himself at this thought just as he felt Kevin sitting down again next to him. They were both covered in their own invisibility cloaks, so it was impossible to really see him.

"Hey," came the familiar whisper next to him, "Want a hotdog?"

Severus sighed. If it had been his choice, he would have gone on this mission alone. It wasn't as if he couldn't do it by himself, Dumbledore had just said to watch the kid, most likely to determine if he'd make a good DADA professor in the future. Whatever, Severus thought. Personally, Severus figured Dumbledore had sent Kevin along because he was a dimwit and wanted Severus to knock some sense into him. Ever since he'd graduated from Hogwarts, Kevin had been begging Dumbledore for the Defense Against the Dark Arts position. He said he felt he knew everything that he needed to, and wanted to be a professor.

Yeah right. The day that kid joins us will be a very sad day indeed. Severus smirked and stared across the street. Dumbledore had hinted that he had chosen someone already for the DADA job, but wouldn't say who. Severus suspected there had been few volunteers, given that the last DADA teacher had died in an attempt to steal the Sorcerer's Stone, but, he thought, there would probably always be a fresh supply of idiots who still doubted the position was jinxed.

Inside the office, Katie sat at her desk, still sorting through paperwork. Severus watched her for a second, then stood up.

"Hey, where are you going?" Kevin whispered from somewhere below.

"There's nothing more I can do out here. I'm going to apparate into the office to get closer."

For a second, Kevin said nothing, then Severus heard the cloak rustle as he stood up. "I'm coming with you," he whispered.

"Suit yourself, but don't touch anything, and don't say anything." And with that, Severus disappeared from his partner's side… not that he could see it anyways.

*****

With a quiet *pop*, Severus apparated next to the bookcase behind Katie's desk. Leaning casually against the bookcase, he watched her as she sorted through the paperwork in her lap, talking on the phone.

"Yes, Mr. Williams, I know." She said, pulling a folder from within the stack, "I have the report right here in front of me, I just need to make copies."

As she spoke, another quiet *pop* told Severus that Kevin had arrived, but he couldn't see him. Then, something happened. She stopped talking to listen to the person on the other end of the line, but Severus still heard her voice… but in his head.

God, what a jerk, the voice said, If he calls me babe one more time…

You'll what? Severus thought, losing his sense momentarily, then silently gasped. Oh shit.

For one wild moment, Severus prayed Katie hadn't heard him. At first, he thought there might have been a chance, but then he noticed she had gotten a strange, distant look on her face. "Hello? Miss Hillian?" the voice through the phone echoed quietly in the small office.

With a twitch, she seemed to snap out of her trance. "Yes, Mr. Williams, I'm sorry. Someone just came in, can I call you back?" her voice seemed oddly strained, and the color in her face drained a little. She waited a second before hanging up, her hand shaking slightly.

I'm just tired, that's it. I probably didn't get enough sleep last night. I'm not going crazy.. just tired. She thought, and Severus suppressed a snicker.

Katie. He thought, staring at her. Katie. You're not going crazy. You aren't tired. It's ok.

He could see her thinking this over, her face doing nothing to mask her fear. "What the hell is going on?" she whispered, looking around the space in front of her. She turned in her chair to face the wall, and stared at the empty space where Severus was standing, hidden. He knew she couldn't see him, but still he was slightly nervous.

"I should have never said anything," he thought to himself, keeping his thoughts from her. "How am I ever going to explain this?"

Katie sat silently, just staring. After a few minutes, she stood up. Her dark blue eyes were wide still from the initial shock, and Severus studied them. There was something in them that he didn't remember from their time at Hogwarts. It wasn't fear, it wasn't anything he recognized. It was like… a distant pain, not recent but carefully protected. She moved slowly towards the bookcase, stepping lightly and staring right at where Severus was standing.

He considered moving, but before he could form a plan, she had stopped. With one foot of space between them, she stood quietly, just staring. Clearing her throat, she spoke, her voice shaking terribly.

"Who's there?"

Severus could feel the tension in the room. He prayed Kevin would have the sense to stay silent.

Don't be scared, Katie.

"What?" she paled even more and stepped back, stumbling slightly "Who are you?"

You don't have to talk. Just think, but think as though you're trying to think to someone other than yourself.

Katie looked thoughtful for a moment, then Who are you? Are you my conscious?

No, Katie. It's…. it's Severus.

One moment she was standing, the next, she had fallen to her knees, gasping for air. Checking first to make sure the door to her office was shut and locked, Severus pulled off the Invisibility cloak and kneeled beside her. "Katie.. Katie look at me. Are you ok?"

Silent tears rolled down her cheeks, streaking her pale skin. Her body trembled with her sobs. "Severus, oh God. Oh God, what have I done? Who am I?" She leaned forward, one hand on the carpeting and the other hand covering her face. Her crying muffled her voice but Severus half expected someone to hear her and come to check on her.

"Katie," he whispered, "come here," Pulling her up, he sat on the floor and lifted her into his lap. The rustling of a cloak came from behind and Kevin appeared at his side.

"Severus! What are you doing?" he said loudly and Severus lifted a hand to silence him.

"Kevin, keep your voice down. We need to get her back to Hogwarts."

"What? But I thought…We weren't supposed to intervene like this."

Severus brushed Katie's hair away from her face and looked down at her. She was crying quietly now, her tears fading into his black robes. "There's been a change of plans. I wasn't expecting this. Get the cloaks."

Kevin moved to pick up the cloaks while Severus struggled to his feet, bearing Katie's weight in his arms. When Kevin had come back to his side, he mumbled "Meet me at the apparating point outside Hogwarts."

A soft *pop* and Kevin disappeared. Severus closed his eyes and concentrated hard on the grassy hill they used for apparating to. In a second, he had apparated next to Kevin. Turning to leave, he heard Kevin's voice.

"I have to go, Severus. I've got to be somewhere in a bit. Here's your cloak."

Kevin put the cloak in Katie's lap and stepped back. Before Severus could say anything else, he had disapparated.

Credits go to the parties mentioned above, and even Cassandra Claire and J.L. Matthews, whose stories I've been reading lately, so if any of their quotes, ideas, or even characters make their way into here, it's their fault for writing their stories in such a way that it makes a permanent indent in your mind. Go read the Slytherin Rising stories by J.L. Matthews, and the Draco trilogy by Cassandra Claire. Go read them now and you WON'T be disappointed! So thank you, girls, for writing those wonderful, awesome, great stories and not being mad if any hint of those stories makes it into mine. In fact, if anyone wants to believe that I took my ideas for this story from them, that's fine, because they're wonderful writers, and to think that I am even close to being as good as them is an honor.

Thanks to BondageZebra, VisserV, and Weiss145 for reading this and helping me out with ideas and suggestions. If any of you want to beta read for me, email me at Shendraz421@aol.com or catch me on AIM: Annalvl.

Next Chapter: Katie slowly begins to remember what happened, and a bit of her family is hinted at. Will we see what *really* happened the day she disappeared?