Chapter 14

A/N:: Thank you guys for the reviews! Sorry for the short lapse in updates. Anyway, to clear up any confusion about the antipathy potion thing, I was going to be lame and try to be all mysterious about it, but I guess I just suck at that...lol...the antipathy potion will make whoever takes it develop a strong hatred for anyone. So basically they'll be angry and overly sensitive, and they will have no idea why.

Oh, and to answer Wytil...doing the math Katherine would be about 35 years old...if I make her any younger, it makes the things she does with Lucius when she's younger highly illegal, and thus just plain gross! We'll just say she's young at heart..hehe

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"Are you sure its supposed to look like this?" Katherine leaned over the potion that was simmering in front of her, poking at it with her wand.

"Stop it!" Severus smacked her hand away, a fierce look of concentration on his face. "It's just perfect."

Katherine sat back on the stone floor, gingerly crossing her legs. She wondered how odd it would look to an outsider, two grown adults peering over the side of a bathtub where a bubbling cauldron sat giving off the most interesting colored clouds of smoke. Of course, they would have to keep a close eye on the potion over the next two months, adding ingredients every few days or so. What a better place to store it than their own bathroom.

Katherine watched Severus as she worked, slowly becoming aware that she was watching him doing something that he truly loved. It was mesmerizing the way his hands drifted over the simmering liquid, unlocking its hidden secrets. It was like was watching a master painter at work, how every vivid line of color could blend together into a single flawless master piece. This was his art, and Severus could forge the many ingredients into one creation of stunning power. Katherine guessed that not many others could see this, and she was surprised that she herself could. Lost in his deep state of concentration, Severus didn't even notice her staring. When he did finally glance her way Katherine turned her head quickly, almost ashamed to be caught watching a moment that suddenly seemed very private.

"Don't you have broken arms to mend?" Severus said, not taking his eyes off of the potion.

"It's Sunday, Poppy said I could have the weekends off."

Severus sighed, and fought the urge to roll his eyes at her. That figures...

For the first time Katherine noticed that their knees were touching, and felt a warm blush spread across her cheeks. She was still remembering that kiss from yesterday. It was still so odd, she found that she partly wished it had really been him, but was somehow grateful that it wasn't. Wouldn't that be awkward! She was done with men like him anyway. Dark brooding types, who only cared about power. She wouldn't have come back at all if she wasn't sure her sister was still alive. She wouldn't have taken the mark if she wasn't convinced it would ultimately lead her to her. After she found Anne she was done. She was going to live in some nice quiet wizard settlement, and marry a nice quiet marginally talented wizard. That was the plan, and it she wasn't about to stray from it now.

"It's done for now. We have to let it simmer for a week before adding anything else." Severus rose to his feet, wincing at the stiffness of in his back and knees. He didn't understand why they just couldn't brew it in his office, but Katherine had insisted they keep it safely hidden. It wasn't even a dangerous potion for Merlin's sake! Not if it was brewed properly. "I'll cast a charm to keep the house elves out."

"No, let me do it!" Katherine jumped to her feet. "Charms are my specialty."

"Good luck with that." Severus remarked dryly.

"What? You think that I can't do it?" Katherine put her hands on her hips and took a huffing breath.

"I didn't say that!" Severus raised his hands defensively. "I was just merely commenting..."

"On my lack of talent? What makes you think that your so much better than me?"

"Oh Merlin!" Severus gripped at his temples. "Please...just stop."

He suddenly sounded very tired, and almost weak. Katherine was momentarily taken aback, and dropped her hands limply at her sides.

"Are you alright?"

"Yes!" He snapped. "I just have a headache."

"You look a little pale, do you feel feverish?"

"No!" Severus scowled like a school boy, and pushed Katherine's hand away when he tried to feel his forehead.

"Look, you're getting all flushed." She fussed.

"No I'm not. It's just your imagination."

"Just let me feel your head..."

"Leave me alone!"

Severus shoved her out of the way, slamming the door the bedroom with a loud satisfying bang.

"Well that was rude!" Katherine exclaimed, staring at the door as if she expected a response.

She pouted for a moment, 'why did that man have to be so stubborn!' Then she threw herself down onto the couch and curled up into a comfortable position. It seemed that this living arrangement was taking a toll on both of them. Severus seemed to be putting extraordinary amounts of effort into avoiding her, and neither had been sleeping very well. She guessed they both were under more stress than was healthy, and the fact they couldn't seem to get along wasn't exactly helping the situation. Katherine sighed, and shut her eyes. What she needed now was some sleep. But why did it seem that she couldn't sleep without dreaming about Lucius? Damn him, he was as intoxicating as ever, but also as dangerous as ever. She had to keep telling herself that, she was beyond him now. She had found the strength to shake him off for good, and she wasn't going to be drawn back in. Not this time.

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Severus woke slowly, his eyes adjusting to the soft candle light that flickered throughout his bedroom, keeping the darkness at bay. He glanced at his bedside clock...eight o'clock...he hadn't meant to sleep this long! But he was still tired, and worst of all he felt miserable. His head ached, his eyes were watering, and his throat was dry and painful. Damn her, Katherine had actually been right. Maybe he was getting sick. No great bother though, Poppy could give him a potion to restore his health in mere hours. He should know, he made them.

"Severus?" There was a soft knocking at his door.

He inwardly moaned, but kept silent. Maybe he should just pretend to still be sleeping, it was easier that dealing with her. He couldn't understand Katherine, or the way he felt about her. She made him so angry, and he couldn't wait for the moment when she was gone. But when she actually was gone, he found himself thinking about her. It was infuriating!

The door was pushed open gently, and Katherine stuck her head in. Severus let out a loud cough, mentally cursing at himself. Now she would have a reason to come in and poke and prod at him.

"Are you awake?" Katherine shut the door behind her, and glided across the room. "Are you sick?"

Severus shook his head, he didn't trust his throat enough at the present moment to attempt speech.

"Yes you are. I knew you looked funny before." Katherine sat down on the edge of the bed without being asked, and Severus frowned at her. "We should get you to the hospital wing. I wouldn't want you missing classes tomorrow. The students would be broken hearted."

In spite of himself, Severus had to fight back a smile. He couldn't tell whether she was joking or not, but either way the thought was amusing. Broken hearted? Joyous more like it.

"Come on, get up. I'll get you all taken care of."

A million questions ran through Severus mind, 'why are you helping me?' 'why do you care?', but he decided that trying to speak wasn't worth the effort. He allowed Katherine to stay, but pushed her away when she tried to help him out of bed. He glanced at her as if to say, 'I'm not an invalid. So get off!' Katherine seemed to understand, and sat on the bed with her hands clasped in her lap while he slipped on his robes.

"Let's go." He croaked painfully, immediately sorry that he had bothered.

"You sound terrible." Katherine said, walking past him and pushing open the door, "I'm sure Poppy will have a field day."

Severus shuddered, he knew exactly what she meant. Poppy seemed to make her mission to go after patients she felt weren't taking adequate care of themselves. Her ability to nag and cajole was almost frightening. Severus was her ideal target, she would be full of ammunition for him.

"You're too thin! You're too pale. You don't eat enough. You need to sleep more. I'm not letting you leave until you promise me..."

Severus grew even paler just thinking about it. Having Katherine take care of him was a field day compared to Poppy. He coughed painfully, and then followed Katherine out of his rooms like a man being led to his execution.

"Would you stop!" Katherine whispered upon seeing his face as they neared the hospital wing. "She's not that bad."

Severus was about to open his mouth and risk speech to argue with her when he was interrupted by a loud crash. They both turned, and behind them stood a house elf wearing the most insane mix of clothing choices. He had dropped a heavy metal tea tray, but instead of scrambling to pick it up he was staring at Katherine with a shocked look on his face.

"Miss!" He exclaimed. "Is it really you Miss?"

Both Severus and Katherine froze in place. Katherine's face had through numerous shades of dark red and then deathly white, and Severus stood in confusion watching her.

"No, you must be m-mistaken." Katherine turned quickly and started to march towards the doors that opened to the hospital wing.

"No Miss!" The house elf called. "It's Dobby Miss! Don't you remember Dobby?"

Severus was deciding whether to laugh or shove the house elf away. Katherine was already far down the hall, and he knew he probably should follow her. He was about to turn when the house elf burst out into noisy tears and grabbed onto Severus's robes.

"Stop it at once!" Severus croaked painfully. "Off you ingrate!"

He tried to shake Dobby off, but the elf respond by blowing his nose nosily in into Severus's robes. Severus fought the urge to be sick, and kicked the elf away in anger. Dobby skidded a few feet on his bottom, and then jumped back up.

"Why is Miss ignoring Dobby?" He wiped away his tears and leaned against a stone pillar looking oddly defeated. "Miss took care of Dobby. When Miss was there my master never hit Dobby. She protected Dobby."

"Who was your master?" Severus asked, before breaking out into a coughing fit. He never bothered to keep track of the numerous house elves that floated in and out of his daily life. This one was certainly very strange...

"Dobby is not sure if Dobby should be saying." He said, looking down the hall nervously. "Master still is very powerful, very powerful..."

"I am losing my patience elf." Severus leaned against the opposite pillar, his head was starting to spin.

"If Dobby tells professor, will professor get Miss to speak to Dobby? Dobby has not seen Miss in so long. Miss was always kind to Dobby, when no one else was."

At this point Dobby broke out into fresh tears, and Severus would have stormed off if curiosity had not compelled him to stay.

"Fine. Tell me." Severus swallowed hard after he spoke, his throat was burning from the effort.

"Malfoy." Dobby said nervous. "Lucius Malfoy."

Dobby let out a sudden squeal, and then started smashing his head into the hard stone behind him. For a moment Severus thought the elf was under some sort of spell, but then he remembered how mentally warped house elves tended to be.

"Stop it." Severus wheezed. "Go now. Get back to your work before I turn you in and..." And what? Give him clothes? It seemed the elf already had more clothes than he knew what to do with.

"Dobby will go. But professor will tell Miss?"

"Yes, now go on back to work."

Severus spun around and glided down the hall, grasping the wall now and then to keep his balance. His head was aching now, and it was more than just his illness that was making him feel sick.

When he reached the hospital wing it was nearly deserted. A small form lay in the farthest bed from the door, a first year by the looks of it. Katherine sat on the closest bed, her head in her hands. Poppy was no where to be seen. Severus sat on the bed next to year, unsure of what to do. Should he tap her on the back? Yell at her? Wait quietly?

"What did Dobby say?" Katherine's whisper came out muffled through her hands.

"He said that he missed you." Severus croaked, his eyes starting to water again. Pretty soon his nose would start running and he would be a real mess.

Katherine turned to face him, and smiled a little.

"They always treated him so poorly, I felt so bad. I used to bring him little presents, candy and such. Sometimes butterbeer if I could sneak it under my cloak."

"How often did you see him to know well enough how he was treated?" Severus asked, giving in to his bodies protests and lying down.

"Not very often, but often enough." Katherine whispered, looking very forlorn.

"Were you friends with Narcissa then?" Severus could feel a lump forming in his painfully swollen throat.

"No, she hated me." Katherine laughed as if she was the only one who understood an incredibly ironic joke.

"You...knew...Lucius then?"

Katherine nodded, surprised when tears sprang up in her eyes.

"We were lovers." She whispered, unsure of why she was telling him this. She knew she shouldn't, but he would probably find out anyway.

"Are you still?" Severus whispered.

Immediately he felt his entire body go rigid. He shouldn't have said that! It was done of his business!

Katherine did not look angry at the question, maybe upset, but not angry.

"N-no." She bit her lip, sure that she was going to cry. "Not for a long time."

It wasn't exactly a lie. They hadn't made love. But he wanted her, and despite her will and logic, she did want him back. At least sometimes...

Severus could feel a hot anger building up inside of him. Of course Lucius would have something to do with this! Parading her around him, showing her off. No wonder Voldemort had chosen her to fufill his "test of loyalty" and whatever task she was here to complete. It was all so sickening...

"Are you alright?" Katherine asked quietly. "Let me get you the potion."

Severus turned his head, and looked up at the lofty ceiling. He could hear the young student snoring, and Katherine's heels echoing off the wood floors. He knew he shouldn't let his bother him. It wasn't uncommon for things like this to happen. Hell, Bellatrix Lestrange had slept with half of male Death Eaters. She never even tried to keep it a secret either. Even these new recruits of Voldemort's, like Katherine he guessed, they all had ties whether it be through blood or through the bedroom with the more established members of the Dark Lord's ranks. Severus knew this shouldn't be shocking. It shouldn't be surprising. He shouldn't even care. But for some reason, he did care.

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That night Katherine found herself tossing and turning in the sitting room. She had finally broken down and transfigured the couch into a bed. It was a lumpy bed, but a bed all the same. She lay awake for a long time, thinking about what had happened. As soon as Severus had taken his potion he had left the hospital wing and went straight to bed. He didn't look upset exactly, but he wouldn't look her in the eye.

Katherine sighed. She had been afraid of this. She didn't blame Dobby...poor bumbling Dobby...for accidently revealing what should be hidden. She should have known better. She should have been honest from the beginning. But even now she was being deceitful. But what was she to say? Oh sorry Severus, but Lucius decided that he wants me back. He even took a polyjuice potion to fool me into thinking he was you. He'll probably stop at nothing to get me back. Oh, and by the way, I'm pretty sure that he kidnapped my sister sixteen years ago and has her still. Oh and yes, he wiped out four months of my memory, I'm just starting to realize why, and it doesn't look good. And I used to, maybe still, hate his son, who may or may not be aware of who I am. And his wife would probably use the killing curse if we ever cross paths again.

Hot tears begin to slide down her cheeks. She shouldn't care what Severus thinks! But when she really thought it about, it made her feel so cheap, used, and foolish. That was why she was going to leave. As soon as she got Anne she was going. If Severus ever guessed her intentions he would tell Voldemort right way of course, that was why she could tell no one. She was going to have to be discrete, but slightly bold. She was going to ask around among the Death Eaters. Surly someone would have a loose tongue. Surly someone would have heard something, anything, about a girl that disappeared sixteen years ago. Lucius liked to gloat, he had always been smug. He must have told someone something...

With these thoughts bouncing around in her head Katherine fell into a fitful sleep. In her dreams she saw a man in a Death Eater mask approaching her, and she tried to flee down dark passages and hidden stairwells. But again and again he would catch her just as she was about to reach safety. He would pull off his mask, and kiss her violently. When she pulled him away and saw his face, she would begin to cry. She had this dream over and over through the night. And the face she saw was ever changing. Mostly the man she saw was Lucius, but sometimes he was Severus. What frightened her the most though, was that in the land of her dreams, Katherine saw no difference.

A/N:: To come in the next chapter: Katherine and Severus have to answer to Hagrid for breaking into his cabin (last chapter), and my favorite ditz Professor Trelawney makes an apperance.