Don't own anything recognisable from J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter books.

Chapter 14

TLC and Sunshine

"My state of mind. How dare he? I am perfectly sane! No insanity here!" Katrina stopped talking when the faces of her students showed her that they thought otherwise, especially since she had begun to talk to herself in the middle of a lesson. Harry's face seemed particularly frightened. She raised one eyebrow and looked sternly at her class. "Haven't I given you a sheet of questions to answer? Perhaps you want me to give you another since you have all finished so quickly."

Every face turned immediately towards their desks, and quills were brushed against paper.

Putting her anger to one side for a moment, she replayed the events of that night for the hundredth or so time. This time, she remembered it without the emotion that had confused her. "He wasn't surprised!" she exclaimed, and stood up. Realising that again the students were staring at her with a horrified look, she said abruptly. "As you seem to be staring at me more that concentrating on your work, I suggest that you all have that to do for homework." The confused and yet delighted faces stared back dumbfounded. "I expect all of those questions to be done before I next have you, and read the relevant pages in your books. There will be a short practical exam on them. You are dismissed."

And with that she left the astonished class and made her way to the dungeon, and Severus' private chambers.

Harry raised one eyebrow and looked towards Hermione in an 'I told you so look.'

"What?" Hermione asked condescendingly. "What is that look for?"

"Come off it. Something's obviously got to her."

Hermione glared in his direction. "Maybe it was your idiotic taste in robes," she said scornfully, and flounced out of the classroom.

Ron rolled his eyes. "Merlin's sake, Harry! We've told Professor Dumbledore, there's nothing more we can do."

Harry remained quiet and thoughtful as he walked from the room, but Ron scowled.

"I don't like that look," he muttered, and followed his friends.

"Ah! Professor Phaon! I was wondering if I could have a moment of your time." Katrina swung around to see Albus Dumbledore smiling at her from the door of his office. The smile, she noted however, did not reach his usual twinkling eyes.

Deciding that Severus could wait, she nodded and followed him into his office. "Of course."

"Take a seat." He motioned to one of the comfy armchairs, and she sank into one, declining the offer of a mint.

"What is this all about Albus?" she stated firmly.

He sat in the armchair that faced her, and an unusual grave expression appeared on his face. "I wanted to start off by saying that everything said within this room is confidential. No one else will hear this, you can trust me," Albus paused.

"I know I can trust you. Now please, what is this about?" Katrina asked.

"I also want you to understand that this is nothing to do with Severus. Whatever you have told him he has not told me."

Katrina froze. "Told you about what?"

"Its a very delicate situation. A student did a spell on you. A background spell." Albus held out his hand and gave her the ruby earring that Harry had taken from her room.

Katrina stiffened, and took the earring from him. "Who knows about this?" she asked glacially.

"The situation has been contained...."

"But for how long?" she interrupted his sentence brutally.

Albus sighed. "You will always have a place to stay here. You will be protected."

"No, Albus, I won't." She ran her hand through her hair in desperation. "You won't be able to prevent the Death Eaters from getting to me. And even if you do manage that, then what happens when the students' parents find out? You won't be able to keep me here, if there is no school."

Albus patted her on the shoulder gently. "Severus has been accused of things far worse than you and he is teaching here. The school will not be harmed through your presence. Severus and I are thinking of every possible solution. Sleep on this. We will do something."

Katrina nodded slowly and rose from the chair. "Thank you, Albus," she said, lost in thought, and went out of his office.

~ ~ ~ ~ * ~ ~ ~ ~

"Come!" Severus barked at the door, as the soft knocking disturbed him from his potion.

Albus entered the room and quietly shut the door behind him. "There is a situation that needs immediate attention. It concerns Professor Phaon."

Severus stiffened, but did not leave the potion. "What happened?"

Albus sank onto a desk. "Some of the students found out about her past, there was nothing I could do."

"You told her?" Severus took in Albus' expression with dismay.

"Yes."

"How did she take it?"

"Perhaps a little too well."

Severus turned to face Albus, unable to disguise the flash of fear in his eyes. "You think she might do something drastic?"

Albus shook his head slowly. "I don't know what she will do. She needs a friend."

Anger showed in Severus' face. "Don't throw us together Albus. We may have shared something before, but not now."

"All she needs is a friend right now. I admit to... engineering certain situations, but I did not make you do anything you did not want to do. She needs someone, Severus, and only you can understand what she is going through."

Severus nodded curtly, cooled the potion he was working on and started to leave the room.

"Severus?"

Severus halted his stride, and glanced at Albus questioningly.

"I don't have to tell you that she'll be fragile. Be careful."

Severus nodded curtly and left the dungeon classroom. He headed towards Katrina's rooms, not stopping even to remove house points from a shocked Gryffindor who was playing with his wand, and creating a small fireworks display in front of his face.

He reached her room, and stopped inches away from the door. Something wasn't quite right. He could feel a sinking feeling in his gut.

"Katrina!" he said loudly, knocking on the door. It swung open at the barest touch. He walked in, silently. "Katrina?" he said softly.

His face turned a pale white as he took in his surroundings. The room was devoid of life. Every scrap of her belongings had gone. "Katrina?" he yelled forcefully. "Katrina?"

He slammed his way into the bathroom, the kitchen, her study, everywhere, but it was too late, she had gone.

He approached the bedroom last, but it was the same as all the other rooms, empty.

He turned to leave, but something caught his eye. "What the..?" he muttered, and then strode across to the other side of the room, eager to see what had been left.

His fingers barely brushed against the smooth petals of the violet that sat on the window ledge. Then he frowned as he noticed the book underneath it. Flicking idly through the pages, he noticed a small bookmark, a piece of paper held between two pages. He read the small note and shuttered his face.

Severus,

Look after the plant. It needs tlc and sunshine. Don't let water touch the leaves, put a little in the pot and stand the plant in it. Enjoy the book, it helped me in the past, and I hope it will help you.

Severus looked at the front cover and an unconscious smile momentarily flitted across his face. Dumas' "The Count of Monte Cristo" was an obvious message in itself to the reader. How the main character was deceived and imprisoned by his so called friends, but how he impersonated a Count, reclaimed his land and bride, and turned out to be the victor by putting his past behind him through revenge. Severus picked up the pink plant, wrapped it in his cloak, and made his way back to his rooms. He dropped the book onto his bed, and placed the plant on a bedside table next to a lamp.

He sank onto his bed gratefully, and kicking off his shoes, he laid on the bed and stared at the ceiling.

"She was better off without me," he tried to convince himself.

Severus woke up to a stabbing pain in his arm, and groaned. "Not now," he had enough time to say before apparating away.

He found himself in the same building as before, surrounded by a ring of Death Eaters. He stared back at them, assertively, but felt a sinking feeling when he heard a familiar voice.

"Severus Snape. Long time no see," Evaristus Devlin said coolly. He walked in front of Severus. "We've been waiting for you, and now the party can begin." He smiled sardonically and pointed his wand at him. "Crucio!"

A/N

Thanks to Annoriel and Kelest for reviewing chapter 13. Sorry it took me so long to post this one!