Chapter 9: The mark
Kate opened her eyes to face a stern-looking potion master. That wasn't exactly a new sight to her, the surroundings, however, were a bit unusual. The angry eyes watched her from the other side of a huge bed – a bed with very crumbled sheets – and instead of the accustomed black robes Severus wore – nothing. Nor did she, she realized. And why would she, the time being a couple of minutes after midnight, as she could tell from the clock on the mantelpiece above the fireplace, that is, only a few hours after she had had sex – a very angry and amazing kind of sex – with said potion master.
It had started – doesn't it always – with a kiss, and from there went on into a whirl of motions and emotions. She remembered his breath against her lips, his arms pulling her into a tight embrace, herself driving her hands through his hair, and then things sort of got out of hands. No words of tenderness had been exchanged between them, while they removed each other's clothes, kept kissing, feeling hungrily for each other's body. Just their eyes were locked throughout – everything, the two bodies falling on the bed, moving together, again and again, turning, throwing each other over and finally reaching the point of ultimate passion. Did he cry out ? Kate wasn't sure, she definitely had. Their embrace hadn't loosened, when they sank back into the soft pillows.
I fell asleep, Kate thought. Aren't men supposed to fall asleep after sex ? She saw that Severus was still looking at her, and not exactly looking love-sick. And why would he ? She had felt hot and burning passion between them, actually more passion than she could remember from her last experiences with sex, but all the other ingredients of their strange relationship had been there, too: Severus' constant anger, her defiance, a challenge always answered with another one. And that thing in him, that always made her go on, where she usually would have stopped. You don't shy away from a man, who has already made you float over the edge of a cliff. She definitely didn't. I've turned mad !
No, he didn't look love-sick, his eyes, as usual, betrayed nothing to her. After such a night, I haven't gotten a bit closer to him. But she knew, she had to do something, or he would, and she dreaded what that would be. Because she had never felt that right in a place, a she did right now so close to him.
"Hi, I must have fallen asleep." she ventured.
A single nod was the answer. "Look, Severus …" she wasn't sure what she was going to say, but he already interrupted her.
"I'm sorry for what I did. I shouldn't have given in to such an overreaction. I'm sure you'll understand that this will not change our relation as …"
"No, it won't." Kate now interrupted him. "And don't excuse yourself, I had every opportunity to leave, and chose not to. I will now, however." She got up and started collecting her clothes that were strewn all over the bedroom-floor, apart from those, that she suspected had ended up next door. Picking up her underwear she realized that it was torn. I hope we left the outer garments in a proper state, she thought, after all she had to get back to her room and she didn't want to be seen even by a portrait half-naked.
While she dressed she wondered, what he was thinking. She had to say something, she felt, something to make sure, that their lessons didn't end, because of him thinking that she wanted … Determined to prevent that she turned around to find him still looking at her, the same scowl playing around his lips, that had been amazingly good at kissing her everywhere. She wondered if he even knew how to make a different face.
"Don't look at me, as if I had just botched a serious task. I'm going now. And I don't expect our relation to change." So, this should make clear, that she had no wrong expectations as to what this – incredible – night meant.
"I enjoyed what we did, though." Why had she added that ? Well, can't be wrong, and it was the truth.
"I wouldn't mind repeating it." She was mad !
Before she turned for the door and finally left, she saw him nod.
Walking back to her own chamber, Kate was replaying the last minutes in her head – it had been right to say what she had said, hadn't it ? – when she suddenly felt a cold hand on her shoulder. Well, not really on it, rather passing through it. "Mylady's presence is requested by the potion master, urgently." the Bloody Baron whispered by her right ear.
"I have just come from…" Kate started, wondering what this could mean.
"Not the present master. I know that you come from sharing each other's – presence." the Baron replied. Kate unwillingly blushed. I have become ghost's gossip.
"Master Salazar needs to talk to you" the ghost continued, giving no sign that he had noticed her embarrassment.
"Look, I'm really tired." Kate answered, she really didn't feel up to another nightly stroll through the castle.
"As I said, it is urgent." was the answer and the cold passed through her elbow, as if he was trying to pull her.
She gave in and followed the ghost up the stairs to the portrait on top of them.
"What do you want from me ?" she asked the painted alchemist, as soon as she was standing in front of him.
For somebody who had called her in the middle of the night on urgent business, he didn't look very receiving, she found.
"Two children have gone lost. Find them at the lake." the portrait hissed.
"The lake ? What children ? Why do you say they are lost, if you know where they are?"
"Stop asking. Go, there is not much time left."
"I have to get the teachers." Kate turned.
"There is no time for that. Go and get them, now !"
For a moment Kate stood frozen. Why should she follow the request of a portrait ? And if there really were lost children, wouldn't she have to get a teacher to find them ?
But the portrait continued urging her.
Goddamn, Kate thought. I am … but then she said "O.k. I'll go."
While she ran towards the Entrance Hall, she finished her thought: "I am scared shitless by the idea of getting in the hall right now, even more of going outside in the night."
But nothing got in her way this night, the castle didn't move, and she reached the door in less than five minutes.
The great wooden door opened at her slight push and she stared into a moonlit park. O.k., she braced herself. The faster you do this, the better. She broke into a run for the lake, that was glittering calmly in the moonlight. Long before she was there, she could discern the silhouettes of two people.
She slowed down, now trying to get nearer without being heard. Finally she hid behind a bush, close enough not only to hear what was said, but also to get a clear view of the two people – two boys, as she could see now.
One of them was rather tall, a blond fifth-year, whose name she remembered from a conversation in her office. Draco Malfoy. The other she didn't know, he might have been first or second year, a skinny child with brown curls. He was stammering to the older boy, his speech interrupted by sobs.
"You cannot … make me… I can't do this any longer. … I … I want to …"
"Don't be stupid." Draco's voice interrupted the small boy's sobbing. "Do you really think that you can just run to … Haven't I told you what happens to cowards and cry-babies ? Haven't I ?" He had gripped the small boy by the shoulders and shook him. "What did I tell you ? Say it, what did I tell you ?"
"Cowards … cowards …" The small boy started hiccupping between his sobs.
"Say it, stop whining. What did I tell you ?" Draco repeated.
"Cowards … they die !" the boy wailed. Kate wanted to jump up.
"And what about Slytherins ? Come on, what did I tell you about Slytherins ?" the blond boy urged on, still shaking the small boy by the shoulders.
"Slytherins … stand." It was hardly understandable.
"And ? Go on, Slytherins stand. And, what else ?"
"Cowards run, Slytherins stand, Slytherins keep secret, but once they strike it will be deadly." The last words came out as a whisper.
"Good, you see ? Now, come back." Draco put his arm around the boy's shoulders and started guiding him back to the castle. Katze stepped out behind her bush and blocked their way.
"What are you two doing out here ?" she asked.
The tall boy shrugged. "Markus was homesick, and so we went for a talk. Why is that your business, anyway ?" he asked arrogantly.
Kate pondered the situation.
Two boys out at night – that calls for punishment.
She was only the secretary – no authority with that position, better leave it be and talk about it to the headmaster.
She had been sent here, so it somehow seemed to be important that she act.
She had no idea what was going on, so better call the headmaster.
What she had just heard was somehow intriguing. Find out more.
That Draco was too arrogant to answer to her, why have a useless discussion in the middle of the night ?
Arrogant brat!
"You were out after curfew. I am not only able to take house points, I'm also willing to do so. So, you better tell me, what you were doing out here." Kate stated in a matter of fact tone.
The little boy seemed ready to answer except for the steading hand on his shoulder.
"I'm waiting" Kate insisted.
Draco stared at her. "I told you," he repeated with his arrogant voice, that made Kate immediately want to slap him. "He was homesick. I am headboy of Slytherin, so I went for a talk with him."
Kate nodded. "O.k. Are you better now ?" she turned to the small boy.
"I'm fine." he nodded choking, looking up, not to her, but to Draco.
The older boy gave him a reassuring nod, that moved Kate's heart. Like an older brother, Kate thought. For an instant, she felt, that she really liked Draco. Except for …
She couldn't make up her mind about this. The discussion she had heard scared her, but she was touched by the way Draco took care of the little boy. Was he taking his duty as head-boy that seriously ? Or was there some other reason behind it ?
"Bring the boy back to his dormitory." she finally said. "I won't take housepoints, but I will have to mention this incident to your head of house."
Both boys nodded. Then they made to leave, but Kate stopped Draco, holding him by one shoulder.
"You are doing a good job, taking care of the younger children. Make sure, that nothing happens to him." she said.
Draco looked at her, unbelieving at first, but then he nodded.
"I will, miss. Thank you." he said, and the two boys left towards the castle's entrance.
Kate stayed behind. her mind in a turmoil. What had that discussion at the lake been about ? Draco really had seemed concerned – but, about what ? The boy ?
She wanted to believe it. But she had seen it on his arm, so carelessly put over the child's shoulders – the dark mark.
For a second her breath stopped – that could not be true, could it ? Or was it a boys' joke – a tattoo, something to appear cool ? She looked again – and no mark could be seen on the boy's pale forearm. Hallucinations, Kate decided, coming from lack of sleep and a rather intense and eventful night. "Good night !", she nodded to the two boys, who made for their dormitories, and started back to her rooms as well.
But even though it was by now long past midnight, sleep wouldn't come and she didn't really expect it to. The secrets had been accumulated and the dire impression, that something was wanted from her, had become a certainty. Why else would the castle try to keep her in at all cost, then send her out to the lake the next night ? It was no question to her, that portraits, ghosts, even stairs and walls of this castle collaborated, and now she desperately wanted to know to what aim. Why, for example was she so urgently told to look after the boys ? They hadn't been in danger, had they ? And if, she hadn't done anything to help them – they just walked back to the castle together. Had she been supposed to hear their conversation ? Probably, but why ? Yet, it did give her a new insight into what it meant being a Slytherin. Well, she was one, too, wasn't she ? For an instant she heartily whished to be able to keep secrets, because that would mean, that she had some understanding of what was going on.
Right tomorrow morning she would have to ask someone about it. But whom ? That brought up the next question. How far were the inhabitants of the castle involved in all this ? Were they part of it ? Was Dumbledore ? Was Snape ? What was all that about Snape anyway ?
Kate sighed. She couldn't find out now, and so she kept staring into the darkness until it dissolved into the first light of the early morning.