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?

7. Making Up

The Ties That Bind (7/?)

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/Katie are mine, so if you want to use them, let me know first, mmkay? Corvus the raven came from J.L. Matthews… a great idea, if you ask me.

Credits at bottom.

CHAPTER SEVEN

Severus leaned back in his chair, his arms folded across his chest defensively. He stared at Lupin unsympatheticly while the man struggled with words.

"Spit it out, Lupin." He spat, glaring at the waste of time.

"Kate is sick. Very sick, from what Madam Pomfrey told me." Remus sighed and ran a hand through his short brown hair, and stared down at his lap. Worry lines creased his forehead and he looked quite downtrodden.

"Sick? How so?" Trying to look unconcerned, Severus didn't move. Or at least, tried not to. His hand twitched anxiously at the mention of Katie and he covered it with his other hand.

"She's… she hasn't been eating. Or sleeping for that matter. And I think I know why." At this, Remus looked up and met Severus's cold gaze with his weary one. At first, Severus merely stared back at him, expressionless, but then, his cool exterior melted into a troubled one.

"Not.. Why do you think she wouldn't be eating or sleeping?" Part of him knew for certain that he was the reason she was sick, the other part of him wanted to deny it, wanted to say it was just the stress of adjusting. The look on Lupin's face, a gentle but accusing look, confirmed the former.

"You and her had an argument a week ago, is that right?"

Severus nodded but admitted nothing more.

"At first, I didn't really notice. I thought it wasn't a very big deal to her, and figured you two would make up. But lately, and you may have noticed this too, she has been looking quite ill. Pale and trembling… and thin. A week of not eating has definetly taken it's toll on her." Remus sighed again and rubbed his eyes.

"She's broken down in tears twice in the past two days, for no apparent reason. When I asked her about it, she just shrugged it off, said she was feeling a bit moody. But I should have picked up on it, should have seen the signs, Severus!"

With a soft thump, Remus hit the desk with his hand. "Somebody should have, but now she's in the hospital wing, having passed out from sheer exhaustion and malnutrition. Madam Pomfrey says she's surprised that Kate even made it to dinner today, much less anywhere the past few days."

Severus had remained silent this whole time, struggling with keeping his feelings hidden. When he was sure the tone of his voice was controlled, he chanced another question. "Is she sleeping now?"

Remus nodded and looked down again. "She's taken some Sleeping Draught, and Poppy says she'll be fed when she wakes up. It might be a few days before she can leave the Infirmary, with all the sleep and food she's missed."

Severus took this all in. He nodded and stood up. Saying merely that he had things to do, and thanked Lupin for the information, he got rid of him and sat back down at his desk. Katie was sick. She was sick because of him. His stubborness and reluctance to apologize drove her to starve herself of sleep and food, and now it was his fault.

'Damn it… damn it!' he cursed himself and rubbed the bridge of his nose. Tomorrow, classes would be in full swing. He'd gotten most of the preparing done, but there was still the last two classes to set up for.

Just as he turned back to his planning, a voice in his head jarred his concentration.

Severus?

Katie's voice was soft and sounded quite weak, as if from far away.

Katie? I heard you were sick…

I don't know. I've been really tired lately but I haven't been able to… sleep… She seemed hesitant to talk about it, or maybe just tired. Either way, he didn't press her. It was just good to hear her voice. In his excitement, all thoughts of apologies slipped from his mind.

It's ok. Are you awake?

Kinda. I can hear Madam Pomfrey moving around, but I can't seem to open my eyes yet.

Smiling slightly, Severus found himself imagining her laying in the Infirmary bed, her long shiny black hair standing out against the pure whiteness of the pillows, with that peaceful expression on her face that he remembered from the other times he'd seen her sleep.

I'll be up there in a bit. I've got to finish a few things first.

He glanced down at the schedule he'd been writing on. It would only take a few more minutes, and then he'd be able to leave, as long as Lupin didn't beat him there.

Just as his quill touched the paper, Katie's soft voice came back one more time.

Take your time, I'm not going anywhere.

It wasn't an angry comment, or bitter, but he could tell she was still a little upset about his words against Lupin. What she saw in him, he would never understand, but if it made her happy…

Half an hour later, he hurried down the hall. It was getting late, and most of the students were in their common rooms anyways, settling back in for the new school year. It was a cool summer evening, so even the dungeons were pleasantly warm. Up the stairs, around the corner and down another corridor. He'd forgotten how isolated his office was, and began to regret being so far away from everything.

Just past Dumbledore's office, and 100 paces from the hospital wing, a sharp pain shot through Severus's left arm, and he gasped in pain, stumbling to his knees. It was like fire and needles, shooting through his wrist. He clutched it tightly, breathing short, shallow breaths. A minute later, the pain was replaced by a slight tingling. Without even looking, Severus knew. The Dark Mark burned a bright black on his arm, signalling a request for his presence.

He pushed himself up and dusted himself off, peering down the halls for anyone who might have seen him. Then, he turned around and walked quickly to the stone gargoyle in front of Dumbledore's office.

****

Severus half walked, half ran to the Apparation point just outside the Hogwarts grounds. He'd stayed only long enough to tell Dumbledore he was leaving before taking off, knowing all too well that if he didn't appear soon at the Dark Lord's side, there would be hell to pay.

*pop* He apparated from the warm grassy hill to a cold dungeon that he recognized as being Malfoy-owned. They were under the Malfoy mansion, in one of the rooms reserved for Voldemort's meetings. A dim glow was cast around the room by three torches along the gray stone walls, and the only piece of furniture in the room was a high-backed chair. Oak, with snakes carved into the arms, it was occupied by a robed figure Severus had no trouble recognizing.

Voldemort.

He sat stiffly, his thin, pale hands protruding from a set of simple black robes. With red eyes and slits for nostrils, one might think he looked more like a serpent than a human, but then, no one really knew what he was. He glared and Severus fell to his knees in worship.

"Master," he whispered, crawling towards the Lord, prepared for the worst of punishments. This was the second time he'd been in the Dark Lord's presence since the Tri-Wizard Tournament fiasco, and he'd gotten away lightly that time only because the Dark Lord's attention had been diverted by Karakoff's capture.

Now… there were no distractions, nothing to save him.

"Severus… Ah Severus… My faithful Potions master. You fall so quickly in worship to me now… but I have been hearing strange things, Severus. Do you know what I heard?"

Severus didn't dare look up, afraid to see the accusations in the Dark Lord's eyes. The other two Death Eaters in the room stood cloaked in darkness behind their Master's chair. He knew they would do nothing, say nothing to support Severus, or even help him in the slightest.

Voldemort didn't seem to expect a reply, because he continued without a response from Severus. "Some say you are a traitor, Severus, and that you work for Dumbledore. Is this true?"

"No Master," Severus whispered, having already planned a response to this, "It is the other way around. Dumbledore trusts me, thinks I am working on his side when I am working for you instead."

"Ah.. but if it was only so easy, Severus. You see, I am wondering if the others are right. Maybe it was you that plotted my downfall 15 years ago? You knew the Potter boy would be protected, didn't you?" Voldemort's wand was lying in his lap, ready for dealing out punishments that Severus knew was unevitable.

"No, Master, I didn't. I am faithful to you, Master. If I wasn't, do you think I would return? I know the fate that awaits traitors… traitors like Karakoff." He was careful to spit the name out like it was an obscene word, making sure the Dark Lord noted his disgust.

There was a minute's silence, then… "Alright, Severus. I will believe you. After all, I have no proof. And your tip to Karakoff's whereabouts were indeed helpful. I still need you, whether or not I like it. You're the most powerful Potion's Master out there…and the most well-placed Death Eater I have. I can't ignore how … convenient your position at Hogwarts is. Especially when a certain wizard places to much trust in you…" A manic gleam flickered in his eye, and there was no doubt that he was talking about Dumbledore.

He lifted his wand from his lap, pointing it lightly at Severus's back. "But let me remind you what happens to those with whom I am disappointed. Crucio."

Severus screamed, and writhed on the ground, his body jerking and twitching in pain. Every nerve was on fire, being burned from the inside. Even the Dark Lord knew madness followed the Cruciatus Curse if applied for too long, and so he stopped. Only after being put under the curse three more times did Severus finally black out from the extreme pain.

"Take him out." Voldemort ordered, and one of the Death Eaters levitated Severus's body out of the dungeons and out of sight.

A little while later, Severus awoke in a dark, damp cell, feeling very bruised and aching all over. He pushed himself up, using the last of his strength to disapparate back to Hogwarts and drag himself to the Entrance Hall, where he promptly collapsed. Hitting the concrete floor would have been extremely painful as well, if he hadn't already blacked out again.

*****

Katie awoke with a start to the sound of screams in her head. She peered around the room, half expecting to see someone in there with her, but of course, it was empty. Even the usual glow from under Madam Pomfrey's office was absent, but that could just mean she was sleeping. For a moment, Katie toyed with the notion that the screams she heard were just from her imagination. They had seemed to real, so familiar, but yet… it could have been just a dream. Nightmares had become common, ever since she came back to Hogwarts. Usually, it was just the fear of death, no real scenery except that first one. She didn't have time to think about this, though, because at that moment, Madam Pomfrey appeared in the doorway, her face hidden, leading something in with her wand.

"Let's put him here," she whispered, gesturing to the bed on the other side of the curtain from Katie's bed. Katie listened silently, her face hidden in the shadows, as someone was placed on the bed gently, then covered up. Madam Pomfrey stepped back out into the hall, then, and her voice could only just be heard through the door.

"Headmaster! I don't know what happened! I was in the office when one of the house elves came to tell me that Severus was lying beaten up in the Entrance Hall!"

Severus? Katie leaned over and pulled the curtains back revealing Severus's limp body, bruised and beaten. She let out a small gasp in surprise, weakly crawling off of her own bed to go to him. Kneeling low so she wouldn't be seen if Madam Pomfrey came back, she reached out to touch his face. Already, large bruises were appearing on his cheeks from where he'd thrashed against the hard floor in pain. Pushing back the hair hanging in his face, Katie fought back her tears.

"Oh Severus," she whispered and caressed his skin. "What have you gotten yourself into?"

The Headmaster's quiet voice drifted in through the hall to where Katie knelt. "Severus was called again, Poppy… by Voldemort. As expected, Severus most likely suffered a punishment for his.. spying. Because he is still alive, though, we can assume that he was able to talk his way out of it. Will he be alright? Is there any lasting damage?"

"No, sir, no lasting damage. Mostly bruises, a sprained wrist, and his strength has been worn down greatly. Is there any way he'll be exempt from teaching tomorrow? It is the first day of classes."

Dumbledore sighed. "I don't know.. I really don't know. How much rest is he going to need?"

"Several hours, at least! I would suggest keeping him here for a few days, where I can monitor his health and make sure he is eating well."

"Of course, of course… Well… whatever you think is best." Katie heard the rustle of robes and concluded that the Headmaster must have left when Madam Pomfrey appeared back in the Infirmary. Luckily, she went to her storage room first, giving Katie enough time to scramble back into bed.

Somehow, through the noise from Madam Pomfrey attempting to heal Severus, she managed to fall into a deep, worried sleep. It wasn't long, however, before she was awoken by a deep, harsh groan from the bed next to hers.

"Ohhhhh… God…" Severus was leaning forward with his head in his hands, breathing deeply. "What time is it?" he asked himself and looked up at the clock on his wall. "Eight!?!??" he screamed and jumped out of the bed, then ran to the door.

"Severus, wait!" Madam Pomfrey appeared out of nowhere, grabbing him by the arm and pulling him back into the Infirmary. "Severus, you can't leave! I know-" she said, interrupting his sputtering with a firm grip "it's the first day of classes, but Dumbledore said he would take care of it. Now," pulling him back to the bed, she ordered him to lay down. Surprisingly, he complied.

"Oh! You're awake too, are you?"

Katie nodded, then accepted the chocolate she was given. "When you finish," Madam Pomfrey told her, "You two will eat breakfast and rest a bit more." It wasn't a request.

They sat in silence when Madam Pomfrey left to get some food from the kitchens. Severus stared straight ahead, expressionless, feeling drained. The chocolate helped only minimally, giving him a warm, tingly feeling.

Katie, on the other hand, watched Severus carefully. His bruises and cuts were healed by the mediwitch, and now he just looked tired. And restless. She imagined it must haven taken a lot of self-control not to dash to his classroom the second Madam Pomfrey left, seeing as how Severus would rather eat glass than miss the first day of classes.

But turning back to her previous thoughts, she remembered that Dumbledore had said Severus was called by Voldemort. Did that mean he was a Death Eater? Lupin had tried to explain the details of Voldemorts reign, since she had been missing all throughout it, but a lot of it, even he didn't understand. Making up her mind, Katie quickly finished the last of her chocolate and turned in her bed to face Severus.

"Sev… I uh..Were you a-"

But he cut her off. "Katie, I'm sorry. I'm sorry about the things I said about Lupin, and I'm sorry for trying to control you." He sighed as if a large weight had been taken off his chest, and looked down at his hands. "I wanted to tell you yesterday, but.. I just felt really bad about it all. I knew I shouldn't have said those things, but I was too stubborn to just take it all back. I hope you can forgive me."

Katie stared at him, shocked. This was so…. Not-Snape. If she didn't know better, she'd think Voldemort's "punishments" had affected his brain.

Sitting up, he still looked at his hands but spoke quietly again, "I know I've been an ass about all this, and I don't know why it took me so long to realise it or to apologize, but I really am sorry." Now he looked up, a mixture of fear and sadness in his gaze. "You're one of the very few friends I have left, please understand."

Katie looked back at him like he had been speaking a foreign language, and for all that mattered, he might as well have been. He'd never been good at apologies, or begging, or even caring, and had never even found a reason to, until now. She had given him her time, her attention, and even her efforts (which came in large amounts in Transfigurations), but in return, he'd insinuated she was weak and stupid for choosing to be friends with the werewolf. Ugh, what a mistake. How could he have known she'd react like Lupin had?

His thoughts were interrupted by Madam Pomfrey coming back with two house elves in tow, both carrying large plates of food. Even before they'd set the plates down, Madam Pomfrey was ordering them to eat.

"You will eat and then you'll both rest! No buts!" She shook her finger at them in a strange, motherly gesture, then disappeared into her office. Katie didn't reply to either her or Severus before digging into her food hungrily. Severus merely poked at it with his fork and then looked up at Katie.

Sensing his eyes on her as she ate, she sighed and put down her fork. Looking up at him, she met those same weary black eyes.

"Severus, I forgive you. Now eat. You're starting to look as pasty as Professor Binns."

He smirked. "Professor Binns is a ghost."

"Yeah and you'll be one too if you starve yourself." She grinned at him, and picked up her fork again. "Severus, I.. well, I do love you as a friend, and I don't want to see you endure Madam Pomfrey's wrath, so please eat."

She'd said she loved him. Those words stuck in Severus's head, filed away in his nearly-empty good memory section. Granted, she'd added the words "as a friend" to the end of it, but it was still love. Love that he could slowly twist into something more- 'Stop it.' He ordered himself. He couldn't keep thinking like that, for more than one reason. If he fell in love with her… she would be in danger, it would most likely ruin their friendship, he had too much on his mind and in his life to handle any love life, and with all that had happened already, he could never be the man she deserved. He had nothing to give her. Nothing.

At this, he frowned and glared at his plate, then began to eat.

************************************************************

Credits go to the parties mentioned above, and also 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 goes out to BondageZebra, Weiss145 and Shirley for their suggestions and help with all of the past chapters, and hopefully for many more chapters after this.

Next chapter: Katie and Severus are friends again, but how long will that last? School will be in full swing, and Holloween is in two months. We'll see the excitement build up and Katie's bonds with Severus strengthen.