Chapter 5

"Ahh!"

Kat hit the ground hard. She landed on her butt bone, jarring her entire body. It was funny really, in an odd sort of way. One can always complain of how big their butt looks, but when you fall on it it's nothing but bone and pain. ~The irony of it all,~ Kat thought as she stared at the ceiling. Taking a few breaths the pain dulled into an ache and her world slowed its spin. Odd. She hadn't noticed it was spinning until it stopped. A mind can play funny tricks really. For that matter, her mind was quite exhausted. She really didn't know why, she didn't remember using it much today at all. Powers or academics to be truthful. The whole day had been spent in an impatient blur waiting for tonight so she could try out that new power on Snape. The problem was talking him into it. Wait. Hasn't she been through this before?

Suddenly it all came back in a jolt. Her invading Snape's mind, the memories, Snape getting mad. No, mad was a huge understatement, more like furious. He advanced on her. That look of death in his eyes. So where was he now? Now that she was on the floor and nowhere to run? Dread clenched her stomach at that thought. Pushing herself up quickly, but not to quickly since she had learned her lesson many times over about doing that, she looked around the empty room. Empty being the key word. Kat didn't know if she should take his absence as a good thing or a bad thing. But one thing was for sure as she looked around her, he wasn't here.

A badly stifled moan came the desk right in front of her making her jump. A foot suddenly kicked out from behind it before drawing itself back into it's hiding place slowly. Taking a few steadying breathes Kat leaned forward onto all fours and peeked around the desk. Snape was lying there on the ground with his hands clenched to the sides of his head. They held their grip so tight it looked painful. He was slowly rocking sideways, lying on his back then to his side then back again. His legs were stretching and drawing back in, scraping across the floor. He looked for all his might as if he were trying to fight off something that wanted to control his mind. Or, that of a man to big to scream out in pain and rather whither from it. Kat banked on the letter of the two theories. What had she done?

He was in so much pain and Kat was at a loss to what had just happened. It couldn't be the same as in the woods before otherwise everything around he would be slammed against the walls and he wouldn't be as close as he was to her. No, she had done something totally different, and once again had no idea what or how. Whatever it was she had done had caused a lot of pain. Immense amounts of it in fact. Why did this have to happen to her? For there was a very good chance that if Snape ever got over this, he ~would~ kill her. That was of coarse, assuming that he did. What kind of permanent damage could she have done to him?

The little voice in her mind spoke up in its rationality once again. ~Well, you aren't helping him by sitting here and contemplating it now are you? Do something!~ Kat shook her head at the fact the little voice had been gaining a life of it's own for a while now. But it was right, she had to do something. Like what? Well, that was rather obvious really, ease the pain. But how?

Kat thought about the other day and the drink he had given her. It had worked on all kinds of pains, though mainly for headaches. Well, his condition right now seemed to cover both aspects of the potion. Kat forced herself to her feet and ran over to the cabinet. For a fleeting moment she thought of just running out the door and never looking back. But the kinder and more rational side of her wouldn't let her. What kind of Gryffindor honor and bravery would that be?

Stopping in front of the cabinet Kat racked her brain for exactly which bottle he had chosen. Well, she knew the general area and general size and remembered quite well the smell of it. So, grabbing the first bottle that might work Kat uncorked it and took a whiff. Then she instantly choked on the smell. Nope, not that one. Putting it back she grabbed another and followed the same procedure. Bingo. She Poured it into one of the small glasses until it was half full and then ran back over to Snape, while trying not to spill any. Once she was in front of him she was faced with another problem. He didn't look like he was ready to drink anything.

Kat bent down beside him and waited until he was on his back once more. She put a hand on his forehead to hold him still. He was covered in a sheen of cold sweat and felt icy to the touch. That wasn't a good sign. A jerk spasmed through him and he tried to roll back over but she stopped him. He could hardly put up any resistance and finally gave in and consented to staying on his back while emitting a strangled sound of protest and pain. Wasting no more time Kat carefully tilted the glass to his lips hoping he would make an attempt to drink it. His mouth opened in the slightest, letting a small trickle in. Once he managed to swallow that past the obvious clamping of his throat he seemed able to drink a little more, then a little more. Soon, he had the whole glass down in a few more gulps. Breathing for him was still rapid but it came into his lungs easier. His death grip on his head slackened some and the jerky movements all but stopped.

One eye slowly opened to squint up at her. All of her courage and bravado failed as she flinched and paled under the look they held. He may be weak looking, but those eyes forever held their ferocity. Soon, though that look seemed to resign and he closed his eyes again. He attempted speech but it wouldn't come out his still mostly constricted throat. Kat put a shaky hand over his head and listened to his thoughts instead.

"What did she do to me?"

That was a very god question, "Well-" she started to say, but he flinched at the sound. So she told him to his mind instead.

"I'm not quite sure myself."

A sharp intake of breath showed that he wasn't expecting to hear her voice in his head like that.

"Just not possible to stay out of my mind for you is it?" even then she could hear the sneer in his thoughts.

"I'm sorry. I." but she didn't know exactly what to say.

Snape did the equivalent of a mental sigh. "It's not your fault I suppose. It would not have happened if I had not advanced on you like that."

"I can't very well put all the blame on you." She admitted a little forcefully. "I shouldn't have tried that without knowing what to do."

"No. I am here to help you learn to control your powers. But next time, I will be more prepared to guide you in where you can and can not go."

Kat was about to say something but was momentarily stumped. Next time? He was actually allowing her a next time? Miracles never cease. "Thanks." She thought to him.

"Don't." he said tiredly. "I believe our lessons are over for today. You may go." With that he took a deep breath but seemed to have no inclination to move.

"I can't very well leave you here on the floor." She thought to him matter- of-factly.

"Then what would you propose?" he thought mockingly and she blushed a little at his tone. He was a perverted little thing.

"I'm afraid you are in no condition," She retorted and paused for good measure. "to lie on a stone floor all night that is." She completed her sentence in a tone of pure innocence.

At this his lips twitched some at the corner of his mouth. Was that almost a smile? If it was she was only glad it wasn't a full blown one. She didn't know how many surprises she could take in one night. She decided to move into action before he found a better way to make her leave him alone. Truly, she didn't know why she insisted on it. She supposed that she really did have more scruples to leave a teacher lying on the floor when it was her fault in the first place.

Kat took hold of his upper arm and proceeded into pulling him up. He seemed to want to refuse at first and didn't help in the slightest. When she refused to give up he realized how childish it was and struggled into a sitting position. He seemed completely spent from just that exertion but Kat wasn't giving up. Helping him out was keeping her mind off what he could do to her when he came to his full senses. Kat moved around behind him and took hold under both of his arms to heave him up. At a certain height she lost her advantage of taking most of his weight so it was mainly up to him. He griped a chair with all his might as he tried to get up. When he was finally on his feet he stumbled forward some. Kat wasn't going to let him get away with that, not when she was already breath heavier than usual just after that much. Snape was much heavier than he seemed.

Quickly Kat jumped up to his side and took hold of his arm. Pulling it around he should once he was relatively steady she let him balance on her. Which wasn't much fun since he was quite a bit taller than she, a lot of weight was put on her. Her heart went out to Atlas just then, for all she had to deal with was Snape, look at all her had on his shoulders. Pushing that thought out of her mind she focused on walking him to his office. It wasn't an easy trip, or a short one. After a while though she managed to get him behind his desk and into his not so comfy chair.

He plopped down into the chair and leaned his head back, looking totally exhausted. Kat leaned against his desk some and was breathing heavily when she realized she had broken a sweat. Once she caught her breath again she felt eyes on her. She looked up to see him staring at her with an odd, hooded look. She smirked at him.

"Was it good for you?" she asked in a small voice. She couldn't believe she just said that.

An amazing thing happens when he's tired and spent, he laughs. Maybe not a big laugh, but he was tired and he had just gotten his voice back. But none the less, it was a laugh. Kat found herself smiling as well at that. At least it didn't get her in trouble. Then again, he was probably too tired.

She shivered just then. The cool air of the dungeons added to the drying sweat was cooling her off rapidly. She realized Snape wouldn't have the energy to move for a while and it wasn't like he kept a spare blanket in his office. So, not knowing what else to do Kat cast a warming charm in the office and got a funny look from Snape.

"I know it will wear off." She said indignantly. "But I've timed mine to two hours before it fades off. Hopefully by then you'll have enough energy to move off to your chambers. If you fall asleep then the cold will wake you up."

"You are such a thinker." He said sarcastically.

Kat tried her best to bite off the snide comment forming on the end of her tongue. A battle of words was not what she needed to get into right now. Instead she smiled brightly at him and said a cheery "G'night Professor Snape." And walked from the office. His only response was a weak "humph" before she closed the door and walked out of the classroom.

Trudging back up all those steps weren't going to be fun, but at least it gave her a little time to think. But soon, all thoughts except the one of going to her room and getting a good night's sleep, were out of her mind. About half way back up the steps to the tower she heard Sara call out to her from somewhere below. Looking down she saw Sara tearing up the stairs after her and stopped next to her at last just the slightest bit out of breath.

"I'm glad I caught you." She said cheerily after she caught her breath. "I finished my work early and thought I'd join you on your walk." She checked her watch, "You're about half way done already I suppose. But better late than never." She giggled, "It took me forever to find you! You don't mind if I walk with you for now then?" she finally finished rambling.

Kat suppressed a groan. Poetic justice comes when least expected. Resigned Kat gave Sara a cheery "Sure." And forced her screaming muscles to walk the long way back up to the tower. She was going to be cramped tomorrow.



Kat groaned as she put her head in her arms at the small table. It had been weeks since the failed lesson with Snape. She had been afraid to go back at first but he had insisted. Since then it had all been work and no talk. Which she didn't mind at all, she didn't know what to say. But this did have an up side, she could now go for two minutes in someone's mind before an overload. That was giving her more time to work on the Slytherin project, which wasn't coming along at all. Malfoy seemed to be the only one that thought about what he had to do for any dark forces. The problem was he wasn't sure he wanted to. This had surprised Kat at first, but after a while of different "tests" they were trying to put him through, it was understandable. His dad gave him no help, if he didn't do everything the best he could, he'd be punished and turned away from. If he asked his dad for help, or maybe just to talk about something, anything by the jist of it, then he was being weak and not working. By the time all of the Malfoy family dynamics had come out to Kat, she had wanted to go take care of the senior herself. Still, all this didn't make Draco good. He was just depressed and trying to use this to his advantage. In fact, he was organizing the whole "Dark Lord takes over school" thing. Which ended up scary because even though most of them were in Slytherin, there were a lot in the other houses too. And she had a feeling that there were more she didn't know about.

This led to another problem, Snape wanted to know. Which by their "no talking, all business" rule, she wasn't comfortable with talking to him about Draco's problems. She did tell him who all was in on this. He didn't seem surprised to hear of all those in the other houses though. The fact that more could be found in the other houses was making her suspicious of everyone, Melanie included. That led to a big problem right there. Not soon after the fight, Kat had gone to find Melanie and explained what was going on with Sara and was ready to cuss her out for it. Melanie had gone pale at the news and said that she had had a bad night and a bad day and had thus been in a bad mood. She hadn't meant to be so mean to Sara, it was only that she had accidentally let out her anger on her and hadn't known what was going on. She apologized to everyone, from Kat to Sara, and right down to McGonagall for causing the fight. Then, Kat, Sara, Christy, and Melanie had all become friends. So, suspicious or not, Kat felt bad about invading a friend's mind, so she never did.

This only made Kat more worried about everyone and everything they did. Though she knew Harry, Ron, and Hermione weren't in lead with the Dark Lord, they were always up to something that involved him. And they were sure up to something now, but she didn't know what. This gave her another mission: find a way to befriend the group, and then earn their trust. All the while making sure ~her~ friends didn't know what was going on. Then in the midst's of all that she had to make sure to work with her powers outside of Snape's classroom. That, she was falling behind on because of the other stuff she had to do, like schoolwork. It did come in handy though when she needed a quill or parchment across the room, when no one was around that is. Right now she would give anything if that power could help her with her transfiguration homework.

Sighing, Kat lifted her head up and looked at the extra chair she had pulled up beside her. She was trying her best to turn it into a chair like those in the common room, but it refuse to do anything. The arms on the chair would grow larger, but they were still hard as wood, and the seat of it would get little designs, but it wouldn't do anything else. Well, looks like remodeling her house wasn't in her future. Kicking the stubborn chair Kat sat back in her own and rubbed her eyes. If only she could use her powers on it. But that wouldn't work, what would she do, lift it to cushions?

Then a small voice in the back of her head, one that had been suggesting theories on her powers since she got them, proposed a very interesting idea. What if she could focus her power through her wand to enhance her own magic? It was an interesting idea, but how much would it help, if it helped at all? Well, she wouldn't know until she tried. To be on the safe side though, it might be best to start with something small. A lumos should work fine.

Taking a breath Kat picked up her wand off the table and checked out the empty bedroom again to make sure no one had snuck in on her. Focusing her power through the wand wasn't as easy as expected. The core of her wand was magical and it was having a hard time accepting the extra power going into it. But it worked soon enough and she was ready. Taking a breath to calm the unexplainable butterflies in her stomach, Kat muttered "~Lumos.~"

The light that came out of the wand was so bright that Kat yelped and covered her eyes, forgetting the source was coming from her right hand. Since she had stopped the flow of her own energy into her wand it took three times - the last being a scream - to put out the wand. Kat blinked repeatedly to clear away the spots in her eyes. Fang was barking like crazy and could be heard from across the lawn. Had he seen the light? Of coarse he did! A blind person could have seen it! It was like twenty spotlights coming out her window all at once. Worst of all she had screamed, and that meant people must have heard her. What was she going to tell them?

Franticly Kat searched her room trying to find something to explain away what happened. The extra chair sat there like an offering. Thinking quickly, Kat set it on fire, messed up her hair, and backed away from it while putting on a nervous look. It was all in time for McGonagall, Sara, and Hermione - in that order - to enter her room. Taking one look around, McGonagall put out the fire and assessed the damage.

"I think you've pushed yourself enough tonight Miss Jennings." She said. "You look tired and Advanced Transfiguration is not what you need to be working on right now." She gave a soothing smile, which didn't settle Kat's nerves in the least. Well, maybe it was a good thing that's all she thought had happened.

Christy came pounding up the stairs and stood out of breath behind Sara, both having worried looks on their faces. Kat had to say something, "I'm sorry Professor," Kat said sincerely, even though that hadn't happened, she was sorry for the mess she had made of everything. "I just couldn't get it down and I got fed up and I guess I just wasn't concentrating." Well most of it was the truth. Seeing the look on McGonagall's face kept her going. "It's only 8:30 ma'am, I promise not to loose concentration like that again, I can work a little longer." That part was out of desperation. She had been more caught up in the rest of her problems than working on her homework; she didn't need sleep as much as she needed time. Or so she thought.

McGonagall took on a thoughtful look, turned and asked all but Hermione to leave the room. That's when Kat noticed Melanie had joined the group without her seeing. After the door was closed McGonagall took on her business like manner. "I've noticed that you haven't been doing as well in class over the last month. Though I don't know if anything else has come up in your life, I do know that you have been slowing you usual progress in class. If there's anything on you mind I want you to know that I am there to talk to." She gave Kat a meaningful look, "In the meantime, I think you should have a tutor to work with until you can once again regain your usual good work." All that pretty talk was to cover up the fact that she wanted to give Kat a tutor. A tutor? That wasn't going to go well with all that she had to do already. Then it hit her, Hermione. "Miss Granger, I hope you would be willing to help Miss Jennings out?"

Kat glanced at Hermione and saw the flicker of "Oh, no!" cross her face before she smiled brightly and nodded her head. "I would be glad to Professor."

"Good," McGonagall smiled back, obviously missing that flicker on Hermione's face. "Now Miss Jennings," Kat looked back at her, "You two can start tutoring tomorrow, but I want you to get some rest. If you have other homework I would suggest it and not Transfiguration." With a stern look that made Kat nod longer than probably needed she bid her farewells and left.

Kat's first though was, "bad" at the thought of a tutor. Then she remembered once again it was Hermione. This could be perfect! It was just what she needed, an excuse to be near one of the group. Hermione obviously didn't like this and Kat could tell by the look on her face she had just as much to worry about as herself. Hermione, also looking deep in thought, stood there a minute fighting off a worried look and then said with a smile, "Tomorrow after dinner? We can leave early together and work in a quieter common room."

Not knowing what else to say Kat simply nodded. This seemed to do Hermione just fine as she said a far to perky "Great!" and bolted from the room. Sara, Christy, and Melanie came into the room and gave Kat curious looks. Before they could say anything Kat answered all questions with a half sad, "I'm being tutored."

Apparently to them it had come out really sad so they all went to counseling her about it and slowly to talking about something else altogether to get her mind off of things. Really, Kat was trying to hold in her excitement. If she couldn't figure out what was going on from Draco, then she'd get it from the next best thing: Harry and company.



Snape was becoming more agitated. There were times when he wouldn't be in his classroom or office, but leave a note to Kat saying that she should skip training tonight and they'd make it up later. In his classes he was yelling and scolding to the point people were accusing him of messing up the potion himself or flat out seeing things. Kat was worried about him but couldn't read his mind because after working with her for so long he knew how it felt and would send a venomous glare at her when she tried. Getting on the wrong side of Snape would be very bad at the moment. So Kat tried resorting to others that might know what he was up to. The only one with anything somewhat relating was Draco.

That was a story in itself. Draco's mind was becoming almost unreadable. Thoughts ran by his head all the time, to the point Kat was astonished that he could get through class at all. His father was constantly on his mind. Going from an occasional worry about pleasing him to an all out ulcer on his part. Something was going on and Draco was finding it hard to keep his neutral - if you could call it neutral - stance. According to half his thoughts, Draco resented being so thrilled when he was younger at joining the Dark Side. Something had happened to him that shook him to the core and made him reconsider. Kat hadn't a clue what it was, every time he almost thought about it, he push it away again. She couldn't just go in there and find out because he would see it himself and then he might know what was going on. At least, she told herself that, really she just didn't want to put him through all that. It was another mystery to add to the confusing jumble of Draco Malfoy.

Then there was Hermione. Tired didn't even come close to describing what she looked like all the time. The only time Harry and Ron looked rested was before a Quidditch match. That still didn't help Hermione. Transfiguration looked as if it was hard enough to keep up herself than having to tutor Kat as well. The library was rarely seen without Hermione and a pile of books around her. If anyone asked he about it she would always say "Oh, just studying too hard." or "A little insomnia, that's all." It was said that Madam Pomfrey had given Hermione some dreamless sleep potions, but to anyone's best knowledge, she never took them. The two friends that should be most worried about Hermione's tired disposition were Harry and Ron. Usually though, they looked just as tired or worse and said nothing about it. There were also times when the three couldn't be found anywhere. A mental sweep of the school from Kat found them in Myrtle's bathroom. Why? She still hadn't a clue.

Anything else? Oh yes. After the untimely death of a best friend, Sara had been closer to all the friends she had. Anything that showed the smallest sign that they were acting out of the norm and Sara was on the case. This didn't help Kat at all. Sara was worried sick about her and how stressed she looked. Finally Kat gave Sara an excuse that she was worried about Voldemort coming back and causing trouble among the school. This caused a great deal of counseling to take part on Kat, but Sara seemed satisfied. That didn't last long. Soon, Sara started to see little things she found suspicious. Harry, Ron, and Hermione among them, and Draco's lack of insult and make up of it when he looked extremely agitated. Unfortunately, Sara's curiosity got the better of her when she was trying to spy and caught Draco pacing in a rarely used hallway in front of a tapestry. He saw her and she spent a while in the Hospital wing after the hex. Sara only told Kat what she saw though, saying that she couldn't turn him in because there was something different about him. Kat was confused and Madam Pomfrey looked disbelieving that Sara couldn't remember anything but let it drop.

If things couldn't get better, it got worse. Winter was upon them and Christmas break was coming up. Before it did a massive blizzard came to beat at the walls of Hogwarts. This was unlike any other that had happened before though. Overnight the grounds were so covered Hagrid was forced to come and stay inside. Where they found an empty room Kat didn't know, but no one asked after the look on Hagrid's face when everyone assumed he was told of his sleeping arrangements. The snow also took out all Herbology classes until further notice. Trelawny was making death predictions with more worry in her voice than anyone ever expected to truly be there. Astronomy was getting more and more uncomfortable to teacher and student alike by how everything was lining up in the skies. As the blizzard tore on Ron was becoming noticeably jumpy. Hermione seemed to have stopped sleeping all together, not that it mattered much, her constant state of worry seemed to keep her wide-awake. According to rumor, Harry's scar had been burning so much lately he had to put potions on it just to be able to see and make it through his classes.

Kat's friends didn't react well to the storm either. Christy admitted she was very unnerved by it, Melanie refused to talk about it, and Kat was getting worried because of them. Sara had to be the strangest reaction yet. The longer the storm went on, the more she would "investigate." She would be gone at great lengths of time with her obsession to spy on Draco. The more she did so, the less Draco would be seen anywhere but classes. Even Crabbe And Goyle seemed a bit put off by the amount of free time they had now that they weren't being bossed around. If anyone else noticed it, they gave no sign of showing it. Snape was becoming nearly absent all the time, about as much as Draco, so she couldn't report anything to him. This was all too strange.

Kat signed up to stay over for the Holidays. Usually Sara or Christy would ask her to come and stay at one of their houses. Christy was going on a trip and so Kat had to stay behind for lack of funding on her part. Sara never asked which only worried Kat more and Melanie hadn't known her long enough so she couldn't hold it against the girl. Everybody in the school was so unnerved by everything that very few decided to stay. A pass in the hallway and a quick sweep in the mind of a very angry Draco showed that he had wanted to go home but was forced to stay here. Really, by the feel of emotions that ran though his mind Kat noticed that he was more afraid that mad. The anger was all a cover up so no one would bother him, and it worked. Now if only Kat could figure out what had Draco so mad, or if she truly wanted to know.

Back in the Common Room after the last day of classes before break it was relatively empty. Everyone was either doing some last minute packing or visiting friends to help them pack. Kat noticed Hermione in a corner behind a large pile of books and went over to talk to her. What she was going to say, she didn't know, but at least it was someone to talk to. With all this tension in the air no one was around or willing to have a good conversation and Hermione looked like she needed a pointless chat.

"Hey Hermione." Kat said while sitting down in a seat next to hers.

Hermione shoved a piece of parchment she had been writing on in the book and slammed it shut before turning and giving Kat a nervous smile. "Hey. are you staying over?" It almost sounded like an attempt to keep talk away from what she had been doing.

Kay played along. "Yes. I don't really feel like going back the orphanage." She said it lightly but Hermione still took on a sympathetic look.

"I would invite you to stay at my house for Christmas but I'm staying over to." She gave a tired smile.

"Well I appreciate the thought!" Kat said happily and they both chuckled a little. ~At least someone's thinking about me.~ She thought to herself. Then she felt bad for it, she really didn't want to blame her friends for anything here lately. If anything ~she~ had been the one who was distant.

Harry walked into the common room and Hermione almost ran over to him immediately then remembered Kat was there. "I have to go." She said quickly.

Kat tried to take this to her advantage. While reading her thoughts she said, "Where are you going?" in as much of a general curiosity tone as she could.

While sweeping up some books Hermione thought, ~To possibly meet my doom in that stupid hallway.~ But she said, "I have to return some books to the library."

Kat smiled kindly as both said their farewells. The funny thing was that the mental image of the hallway Hermione was thinking about was the same that Sara had described before with her encounter with Draco. As Harry and Hermione left Kat was becoming more and more upset. She had to find out what was in that hallway that was so important. But how? Then it hit her, Myrtle's bathroom. Maybe it was more than just a meeting place.

Kat jumped up and was ready to head off in a break neck run down the halls when a book on the ground caught her eye. It was the book Hermione had been trying to hide from her. After a short mental battle Kat picked it up and turned to the marked page. The writing on the parchment didn't make any sense, but the book pages did. It was highly sophisticated Astronomy reading and the parchment was full of the calculations. After a little while Kat understood why Hermione was worried. It by the book's said by the book's translation "A powerful force will overtake one of great standing by coming into their ranks." That came out as only one thing: Voldemort was coming into Hogwarts and was going to kill Dumbledore. But it was said all the time that the stars can change, but that's exactly what Hermione and them were planning. They were going to stop it. Then what was in Myrtle's bathroom?

Wasting no time Kat ran out the portrait hole and straight towards the bathroom as fast as she could. Slamming into the door as she came in she startled Myrtle. "Just who do you think you are disturbing me like this?" she phased through a stall door and pouted at Kat. "Everyone's always being mean to be like this. Barging in on me, not caring about my feelings, everyone hates me!" after that she burst into tears.

Kat tried to ignore her as she searched around through the bathroom. The first three stalls were empty, but when she moved to the forth - and last - Myrtle blocked her way. "Move." Kat said rather urgently.

"Just what are you looking for?" Myrtle said suspiciously and sniffed a little.

"Just what are you hiding?" Kat retorted.

"I'm not hiding anything," she said matter-of-factly and stuck her nose in the air, "I'm just protecting."

"Protecting what?" Kat said bewildered. "Since when do you do favors for anyone?"

If ghosts could blush Myrtle did. "Well.I." but she never really said anything. She just stammered on while trying to look at anyone but Kat.

Annoyed, Kat tried to reach around her to open the door and barely got her hand away in time as Myrtle came to block it. Her mouth was shut tight, nose in the air, arms folded, and a look of defiance on her face. Kat fumed. Hermione could be out there trying to get herself killed and Myrtle wouldn't help her save them! ~Very~ angry, Kat shouted, "Move!" at her.

To her surprise, the door swung open at the command and Myrtle still hung in the air not knowing it had. Glancing at Myrtle - who had her eyes shut in determination - Kat looked into the stall. A potion was silently bubbling on top of the toilet and a book was on the floor next to it. There was a bookmark in it, and while making sure Myrtle still wasn't looking, Kat used her powers to open it to that page. The potion was called "Elixir of Life" which made Kat think it was a very corny name. She could see what it said it could do, but she could see the symbol that showed if a potion was poisonous, dangerous, illegal, or rare. It had all four on it. Well, if Kat couldn't find out here what it did, Snape would know. And Snape would have to tell her because it would technically be putting a student in danger if he didn't.

Not waiting another second Kat ran back out of the bathroom - which made Myrtle finally look up with a confused look - and ran down the stairs. Halfway down Kat spotted Draco sneaking off down a hallway. He looked enraged, that meant he was extremely worried. Kat reached out to his mind and held on to the rail to keep for passing out.

~That stupid know-it-all, he thinks he can rule my life? I'll show him, I'll show him I'm not as worthless as he thinks I am. I need help to open it? Ha! I can open as many portals as I like. I already took down the enchantments, but do I get credit for it? Of coarse not! 'Others helped me put up the wards' he says. They didn't do shit when they were there! I'll show him, I can be just as powerful as he is. I'll be the best in Voldemort's eyes. I'll get him in the school with no one's help. I'll-~

Kat couldn't go on, she couldn't read anymore. It was enough for her to know what was going on. Somehow Draco was going to get Voldemort into the school just to show up his father and most likely Hermione, Harry, and Ron were going to be right there when it happens. They could all be killed!

Taking deep, raged breath fairly quickly Kat ran back down the stairs again. She had to get to Snape and tell him what was going on. If Draco was still able to get away with it then that means he didn't know. That they knew he was a spy. If Draco opened the gate and Snape left to "spy" they would all be killed! Jumping the last few steps and ignoring the pain in her legs Kat ran at full force to the potion's classroom.



AN: I really don't know why, but it won't show the paragraph breaks. Maybe it will fix itself, I really hope it does. Until then, sorry.

Anywho! Sorry it took so long to update, I had a bit of writers block and then ff.n went down. But that's okay, I'm back and working again. My wonderful, great amounts of free time ends tomorrow. *sigh* Oh well, I'll get over it. If you find any major grammer mistakes in this, I do apoligize, I've been having insomnia and I write pretty late. Well, I finally have an idea for chap 2 of Kerioke Night, so I must get to work. Hope you enjoyed the belated chapter!