Chapter Six

Albus Dumbledore swept over to the bed where Snape was sitting, forcing down a potion. Minerva McGonagall was standing by him.

"Ah, Severus. Are you feeling quite recovered?"

"I am still a little weak, Headmaster, but I am quite sure I shall be well enough to teach after the weekend has passed. How is Miss Johnson? She took a number of very heavy blows."

"Poppy is attending to her now. I believe that she will be fine. I think that in future we should have the patrols done in pairs, and perhaps have the ghosts around as well so students can send word with them." Minerva looked relieved now that Kate was in the Hospital Wing.

"How anything this foul can be good for you is beyond me." Snape pulled a face as he drained the goblet. "I really must change the formula of this, no wonder so many students complain."

"Severus was just telling me about the magnificent display of magic that Miss Johnson put on during the fight. It seems that she has grasped the more complex spells extremely well."

"Headmaster," cut in Snape, "what impresses me most is that she showed no fear during the fight. I suspect that she was feeling very scared, but she didn't show it. She dealt with the situation as though she were a fully-trained witch. She produced an extremely powerful Patronus as well- impressive, given the state she was in at the end of the fight."

"Severus also tells me that Miss Johnson managed some controlled wandless magic, which they haven't started yet. They've only studied a little of the theory," commented Minerva, looking very proud of the Kate's abilities.

"Then perhaps we should give her a Special Award for Services to the School? And some points for Gryffindor, I feel..." Severus Snape scowled at the latter part of the sentence, but said nothing.

They broke off their conversation as Kate walked over to them. "Professor Snape, I thought I should return your wand to you." She handed it over to him, and as she did, she caught sight of the hooded figure- except the hood had been removed. She studied the face carefully for a moment, and a in a flash she suddenly recognised it. When her abductors had tried to control her with the Imperius Curse in the summer, the hood of one of them had slipped. She grabbed the end of the bed Snape was sitting on to stop herself from falling. She clapped a hand to her mouth to stop herself from screaming. She was shaking wildly.

Albus Dumbledore assessed the situation an in instant. "Minerva, fetch Poppy and ask her to move him to a different room. I fear that Katharine has seen this man before, perhaps in the summer. For her own wellbeing I think that she must not have any contact with him." She nodded, and slipped away quietly. "Severus, fetch a strong Calming Potion from Poppy's store." Snape nodded, and flicked his wand at the cabinet as he walked over to it. He could guess at what Dumbledore meant by strong.

Kate was still holding on to the bed tightly, her knuckles white. The colour had drained from her face, and her legs didn't look like they were going to hold her up much longer. Dumbledore walked around to face Kate, blocking her view of the source of her fear. Poppy and Minerva slipped in discreetly and moved the unconscious form away. Dumbledore placed his hand over Kate's, and muttering an incantation he was able to prise her hand from the bed.

Dumbledore held Kate firmly to stop her from falling with one arm, and with his free hand managed to take Kate's hand away from her mouth. "Severus, the Potion, please." He took the small bottle from the young Professor, and put it into Kate's hand. After a few moments, she recognised what it was and slowly drank it. Dumbledore took the bottle back from her. As the Potion took effect, she began to relax.

After a few moments more, she fainted.