Chapter 26
A/N: The reviews for the last couple of chapters weren't so good. Thank you for being honest though. Perhaps I've blown a creative fuse : (
Severus blinked in the darkness, his eyes struggling to adjust to sudden loss of light. Only seconds before he had been standing outside of Hogwarts with Katherine, and now he was in a cold blackness, seemingly all alone.
Taking a small hesitant steps with his hands drawn out in front on him, Severus grazed against a cold slimly stone wall. He shuddered, and quickly dropped his hands back down to his sides. His heart leapt when he spotted a small shaft of light in the corner. A door!
He shuffled towards it, his feet echoing against the stone floor. It sounded like he was in a very large empty room, a prospect that was not heartening to Severus. Just as he reached the door the room suddenly flooded with a dull flickering light. He bit his lip in confusion as he took in the scene before him. A dozen torches on either side on the cavernous stone room had been lit, revealing that it was empty besides two rows of stone pillars, and a single chair at the front of the room. A stairway spiraled down in the left corner of the room, disappearing into even deeper darkness.
Severus took a jump back as she door flew open, seemingly on its own. He reached for his wand, only to gave it yanked from his hand by an invisible force. It fell clattering to the ground, and before he could reach for it a five cloaked figures marched into the room, followed by none other than Voldemort himself.
"Severus." Voldemort hissed, nodding his head curtly. "I see that you've arrived."
He nodded, swallowing the large lump that formed in this throat.
"Yes my Lord." He managed to say at last, watching as Voldemort took a seat in the front of the room.
He followed the other Death Eaters, joining them in the half circle they formed around Voldemort. He did not see Katherine among them, and at once he felt vaguely sick.
"Bellatrix and Goyle managed to break apparation wards then?" Voldemort said, looking pleased.
"How did they do it?" Severus asked, surprised at his own boldness.
Voldemort glared at him, as if deciding if he was really worth telling. Apparently he found him unworthy.
"It was merely a little experiment, that actually worked for once." Voldemort hissed, glaring at a Death Eater to Severus left who must have just failed him in some way.
Severus fought the urge to roll his eyes, and kept his face an expressionless mask. He did not even turn his head as he heard the door open and then close sharpy behind him, and the sound of light footsteps approached. He could not contain his surprise however, as his former student Draco Malfoy brushed past him, taking a seat on the floor beside Voldemort. His fair white face was marred by a black eye and a large bruise on his jaw, his lip was split, and his normally perfect white blond hair was dirty and matted.
"You're surprised?" The Dark Lord said, his voice unreadable. "I thought you have assumed that Draco would join us."
"Yes, just not so soon my Lord." Severus said, trying very hard to look pleased. "I'm happy that Draco could join us tonight."
"It is his manor after all, or do you not know where we are?" Voldemort laughed, pleased to Severus venerable.
"I would follow you anywhere my Lord, so it really does not matter to me where we meet." Severus lied, trying his best to look the part of the meek and loyal follower. "I am surprised that Narcissa allowed it. Or does she not know?"
"Narcissa is gone." Voldemort said, waving his hand dismissively. "She won't be returning."
"Where's your mother Draco?" Severus asked, not caring if his question would displease the Dark Lord.
"Romania." Draco said in a hollow voice. "She said she wasn't going to go Azkaban like the rest of us. She called us fools."
Voldemort laughed in a drawn out hiss, and then rose to his feet and placed a boney hand on Draco's shoulder. The young man flinched, but still looked as lifeless as ever.
"Us?" Severus asked, wrinkling his eyebrows in confusion. "Has young Draco taken our mark?"
Voldemort nodded his head slowly, reaching up to pet the top of Draco's head as if he was an obedient lap dog. Severus could not help finding the gesture distasteful, and turned his head to look away least he reveal his true feelings. He could not believe that Narcissa would leave her son to this man, knowing that he would be hurt or even killed. Severus could not begin to guess at what had transpired, but he doubted that Narcissa had left her only child behind willingly.
"It was Lucius's wish that Draco serve me with the same undying loyalty and perseverance as his father. Among my followers, Lucius stood alone as a shining example of what a man should be, and what Draco could become." Voldemort hissed in a harsh whisper.
Draco stared out blankly at Severus, barely even blinking. It seemed that he was void of all will and soul, of all that made him a young man with his own ambitions and hopes.
"I am sure it was a wise decision my Lord, but isn't Draco a bit young for what is required of him?"
Severus knew he was treading on dangerous ground, but he had to take the risk. If there was any way of talking the Dark Lord out of keeping Draco in his ranks, he had to find it.
"If his father was still alive, there would be no need for him to have joined us. You must know this is why I have summoned you."
Severus inwardly cursed, but kept his face expressionless and void of all emotion. He had guessed as much, but had still been hoping against a confrontation. Especially one that could lead to pain or even death.
"I wanted to explain it to you my Lord." Severus said quickly. "But you did not summon me until now, I was beginning to worry."
"I had other projects to work on." Voldemort said, almost lazily. "One in particular that will be a great help to us if you ever outlive your usefulness."
Severus felt the sweat beginning to bead on his forehead, and reached up to wipe it away with the back of his sleeve.
"Am I making you nervous Severus? There's no need to be nervous, I just want to hear your side of the story."
"It was an accident my Lord." Severus said, fighting to keep his voice level. "I fell from my broom, and Katherine thought Lucius was trying to kill me. She panicked, and killed him before he could..."
"You lie to me Severus!" Voldemort scolded in a loud hiss. "That is not what your dear wife told the ministry."
"She had to lie to them. Or else they might begin to suspect us!"
Voldemort gave Severus a doubting glare, but made no move to punish him.
"You should have done something you incompetent fool!" He suddenly yelled, sending tremors of fear through Severus body. "I am holding you personally responsible for Lucius death. It is a great blow for our cause Severus, it should have been you that died instead of him!"
Severus hung his head, and nodded weakly. He hated this with a passion, and if it wasn't for Dumbledore he would have never come back. He prayed that this would not turn out to be another horrific encounter that would haunt his nightmares.
"I'm sorry my Lord." Severus breathed, trying to look as sorry and pathetic as possible.
"Thank me for letting you live Severus. That fool Katherine will be killed, she failed in her mission and brought me nothing useful. I should not have wasted the time and effort, for it is clear to me now that you're loyalty would not waver."
At first, Severus was not sure if the words we was hearing were real. Then in a flash of emotion the full meaning of Voldemort's words struck him.
"She will be killed?" Severus said, his heart beating frantically in his chest.
"I sent her to spy on you, but it appears to have been most unnecessary, for now at least." Voldemort shot him a warning stare before he continued. "I cannot let the loss of a noble servant go unpunished, and she was never worthy of taking my mark."
Severus saw before him an unbelievable situation. One that he could not coax, cajole, or beg his way out of. No matter what, Katherine would be dead by the time he returned. She could even be dead right now. Severus was suddenly sure that he would not be able to live with himself. He would not be able to go back to his dungeon rooms, where she had stood only hours before. He would not be able to touch the things that she had touched, or sleep in the bed that she had slept in. He could not live with the ghost of her memory haunting him, always drifting just out of reach. In that moment, he wished that Voldemort would kill him.
A Death Eater pulled open the creaking wooden door and stepped through hesitantly, picking up his cloak as he walked. He approached the Dark Lord and whispered something in his ear, to which Voldemort smirked and nodded.
"You can go Severus, I have other business to attend to." Voldemort said, waving Severus away. "Come Draco."
Draco flinched again, but slowly followed as Voldemort walked across the room, his long cloak scraping slowly on the ground behind him. Just as the reached the door a fantastic crack shattered the air as Bellatrix and Katherine both apparated into the large room, falling into a single heap on the stone floor. Severus heart leaped at the sight of Katherine alive, so much so that he felt it would burst. His relief quickly faded into fear as his mind ran through all the possibilities of why she should be here, still alive. None of them were good.
"Bellatrix." Voldemort hissed in surprise. "What are you doing here, and why is she still alive."
"I'm sorry Lord Voldemort." Bellatrix said, standing up slowly. "But I have very interesting news. News that I thought you should hear from the source."
Bellatrix reached down and yanked Katherine up to her feet, a crooked smile splashed across her face. Katherine kept her chin pressed against her chest, her hair hiding her red flushed face. Tears of shame shone in her green eyes, and she could not bring herself to even glance in Severus's direction.
"What would that be?" Voldemort asked, his interest peaked.
Katherine shook her head, her tears falling freely now. Bellatrix snorted at the her show of emotion, looking throughly disgusted.
"Well?" The Dark Lord hissed, quickly losing his patience.
Bellatrix kicked Katherine, who let out a small yelp and then sunk even further into herself. Bellatrix even raised her wand threateningly, but she still would not speak.
"She told me that our dear friend Severus here, in a spy."
Voldemort froze, his red eyes narrowing in angry slits. Severus let out a strangled gasp, an explosive pain erupting in his chest. Bellatrix stood with her hand on her hips, a proud smile on her face.
"Is this true?" The Dark Lord hissed, glaring at Katherine.
Katherine let out a sob, but nodded slowly. Severus stared at her in disbelief, his hands shaking wildly and his throat closing up with fear.
"What should I do with her, my Lord?" Bellatrix asked, giving Katherine a hard slap on the back of the head.
Katherine threw her head up, staring daggers at Bellatrix through her tears.
"Keep your hands off me you stupid bitch." Katherine shouted, looking like a rabid angry dog.
Bellatrix brandished her wand, looking murderous. The Dark Lord intently watched the seen unfolding before him before slowly speaking.
"Bring her down to the lower dungeons." Voldemort said, a nauseating smile spreading across his face. "Then you may return and help me resolve this little problem."
Bellatrix dug her nails into Katherine's arm and dragged her towards the door. Katherine was no longer sobbing, her lips pressed together tightly and her face looking very pale. She did even dare to look at Severus as Bellatrix dragged her past the spot where he stood looking both angry and dumbfounded.
It was only when she found herself tossed into a dark dank cell that she allowed herself to cry once again. She knew without a doubt that she would never be able to forgive herself. She had just killed another man, one that was sure she was beginning to love. She might not have killed him with own hands, but she might as well have.
Crawling into a dark corner she buried her head in her hands, and cried until she thought her soul would burst from her sadness. If he lived he would never forgive her. If he died, she would never forgive herself.
----
It seemed as if a long while had passed before the heavy metal door was unlocked again, and a heap of cloth and blood was thrown inside. Katherine peered over the tips of her fingernails, her heart pounding wildly in her throat. The Death Eater that had brought it had disappeared just as quickly as he came, and Katherine was now alone again.
With a quivering sob she climbed onto her knees, and moved towards the head of cloth. It smelled heavily of blood and something very sour, but it the darkness she could not make out exactly what it was. She reached out with a shaking hand to touch it, thought why she want to she couldn't guess. Katherine let of a strangled gasp as her hand came in contact not with cold dirty fabric, but with warm wet flesh. She drew her hand back, clutching it to her chest like it was wounded.
"Oh Merlin, Oh Merlin..." She whispered, her entire body shaking.
She crawled around the body, breaking out into desperate sobs when she reached his long black hair, matted in blood.
"Oh Merlin Severus, I'm so sorry. Please be alright, I'm so sorry."
She did not even recognize him beneath the blood, it covered him nearly from head to toe. His body was twisted painfully, his clothing ripping and the skin beneath it torn. For a heart wrenching moment she was not sure if he was alive, until he starting weakly coughing, dark red blood pouring from his mouth.
"Severus, can you hear me?" She turned him over onto his side, watching in horror as more blood seeped from his open lips.
The fallen man did not respond, his bruised eyes swollen shut and his bloody lips unmoving. Katherine fought the urge to break out into more sobs, and frantically tried to think of how she could help him. She had supplies, but maybe she could transfigure something....but Bellatrix had her wand.
Katherine felt frustrated tears spring up in her eyes. She could just sit here and watch him die! This was her fault, and now she was sure that she could not live without him even if she tried. She would have to do something, anything, to try to save him. If he kept bleeding like this she might only have minutes...
The sound of keys in the locked door grabbed her attention, and she yanked her head up, staring at the small figure that stood beyond the metal bars.
"Draco?" She whispered, recognizing the young mans lithe form and his blond hair.
"Shhh!" Draco ordered. "They're right upstairs!"
Katherine obeyed, moving away from Severus to help Draco pull open the rusted door.
"The Dark Lord had to leave, but he comes back he's going to finish this." Draco said, his eyes shining with tears. "You have take him an escape. I know a hidden tunnel that you can use."
"Why are doing this?" Katherine whispered as the door creaked open.
"He's my Godfather, I can't just let him die." Draco replied, gesturing for Katherine to come and help him with Severus's limp form.
"What will happen to you?" Katherine whispered as they struggled with the injured Severus. "Are you going to come with us?"
"I can't." Draco whispered, groaning as they lifted Severus off the floor and moved towards the door. "My mother..."
The sound of cold bitter laughter drifting down the stairs caused Draco to fall silence, and move at an ever faster past. When they reached the end of the hall he reached up and tapped his wand on a silver torch. The stones beneath them began to quiver and move, opening to reaveal a hidden staircase in the floor.
"Here." Draco pressed Katherine's wand into her hand. "I don't know what they did with his.
Katherine nodded, and clasped her wand so tightly her fingers went numb. She would have been utterly lost without it.
"Just follow the stairs down, and then go to your left. There's only one way out from there, and you can't miss it."
"Are you sure you can't..."
"Go!" Draco commanded, looking nervously over his shoulder.
Using her wand to levitate the bleeding Severus, Katherine quickly made her way through the dark tunnel. The only sound that she could hear was her own frantic breathing, and her footsteps echoing off the slimly stone floor. Reaching the end of the tunnel, she saw a single staircase that led up to another trap door. Her heart leapt at the sight, and she scrambled up the stairs with Severus floating behind her. Once they were outside she could apparate safely, and get Severus help. Pushing open the trap door with all her strength, she managed to get them both outside. They were just on the other side of the manor's carriage house. Sighing in relief she lay Severus on the ground and removed the spell, and then carefully began to pull him to his feet again. He moaned softly in pain, and Katherine bit her lip. She would have to do everything she could to keep him from being injured further. But there could be no distance between them if she was to apparate correctly, she had never done it with another person before, and could not guess what might happen. With a worried expression on her face she reached for her wand, and then prepared to leave.
She was not exactly sure what happened next, only that she heard a terrific shout, and then a heavy weight sent her and Severus toppling to the ground.
"I found them!" A familiar voice cried out.
Katherine clenched her teeth and gripped her wand. Of all the people to find them, it just had to be Bellatrix.
"Don't you dare move." Bellatrix cried, yanking Katherine to her feet. "He's going to kill you both, and I'm going to watch."
Katherine slammed her elbow into Bellatrix's face, and then dove down to the ground. It was a gut reaction, but it bought her a few seconds at least. She struggled with Severus limp body, even though he did not weigh very much, it was still nearly impossible for her to move him on her own. As the rest of the Death Eaters rounded the corner, she decided that there was only one way out. Throwing herself on top of Severus she brandished her wand, and shut her eyes tight. She didn't know if this would work, or even if they would arrive on the other side in one piece, but she had to try.
"No!" Bellatrix cried, dropping her hands away from her bloody nose and pointing her wand at them. "I'll kill you first!"
It was impossible to tell which happened first. The deafening crack and the blinding flash of green light seemed to be simultaneous, and even the Death Eaters who had nearly reached Bellatrix could not tell.
"Did you hit them?" One asked, looking both worried and doubtful.
"They better not have escaped alive, we'll be the ones that'll pay!" Whispered Crabbe Senior, looking very anxious.
"Don't worry." Bellatrix said, her voice thick with confidence. "I hit them, they're both dead."
"But how can dead people apparate?" Crabbe said, a look of extreme confusion on her face.
"If she cast the apparating charm before she died, you dolt!" Bellatrix hissed, giving Crabbe a withering stare. "Trust me, they're dead. Let's inform our Lord, now."
The rest of the Death Eaters looked skeptical, but followed none the less. Bellatrix had never been wrong before, and it was rare that anyone ever managed to escape from her grasp alive. In fact, by the time the group reached the manor dungeons they had decided among themselves that Katherine and Severus were without a doubt dead. Voldemort merely smirked when he heard the news, and then moved on to another more pressing topic, as if it never had happened.