Chapter 4

Hogwarts school and its grounds were now covered in a thick blanket of snow. It was early November, Monday, the weekend had been filled with laughter as everyone ran around the grounds playing and throwing snowballs.

Now however, the Gryffindor's and Slytherin's were filing into Snape's classroom, not looking forward to the lesson ahead of them.

Catherine however, was in Professor McGonagall's office, speaking to her mother

"How has it been going?" Elena asked.

"It's been pretty good. As I've already done this year, classes are really easy."

"Anything weird going on with Harry or his friends?"

"No." Cate replied, confused at the question. "Why would I know?"

"Catherine!" Elena cried, then lowered her voice, "You're in The Order, you're supposed to be paying attention to any weird activity that could be going on."

"Oh! Right!" She sighed, "I haven't seen anything."

"How's Severus?" Cate looked up at her mother, an eyebrow raised.

"He's my teacher. I don't know anything more about him than anyone else does."

"Does it seem like his left forearm has been bothering him?"

"Huh?"

"His left forearm. During classes does his hand fly to it out of nowhere, like he's in pain?"

"Kind of. In the middle of class last week, he was rubbing his arm." Elena's eyes widened.

"That's interesting."

"Mom, please, I highly doubt his dark mark is bothering him. I mean, Voldemort already has his death eaters."

"Yes, but there's two alive that we know he's missing, and Severus is one of them."

"So?"

"So?! He wants as many people as possible! Just because two didn't return to him doesn't mean he doesn't still want them. Reamus told us a few days ago that any Death Eaters who have children are to brand them with the dark mark. His way, the kids are in pain until they give in. All the parents have to do is grab their child's left arm while their mark is burning."

"Does Severus know this?"

"He has no idea. He hasn't been in contact with The Order since we came over."

At that moment, the door to McGonagall's office opened, and Professor McGonagall herself walked in.

"Elena? I didn't know you were here." She stated, then looked down at Cate. "Catherine, classes started forty minutes ago." Cate's stomach lurched.

"You're kidding!" She shouted, jumping up and grabbing her bag. "He's going to kill me!" With hat, she flew out of the office, running down to the dungeons. She pulled open the door, walking into the room, and sitting down in her seat.

"Catherine." Severus said cooly, "You're forty minutes late to my class. May I ask why?"

"No." She replied strongly, leaning back in her desk and crossing her arms.

"All right. Did you complete your essay?" Cate pulled five rolls of parchment from her bag, walked up to Snape's desk and slammed it down.

"Happy?" She sneered before returning to her seat, crossing her arms and leaning back. Snape glared at her for a second, then turned back to the board and continued writing notes. Twenty minutes later, he turned around to find Catherine exactly as he had left her, with none of her books out.

"Catherine," He stepped toward her, "You were forty minutes late to me class. It's been twenty minutes, and your books aren't even on your desk. You're supposed to be writing the notes down."

"Your point?" Cate shook her long hair behind her shoulders. "I don't have any interest in this class."

"Are you saying that you don't like my teaching style? That I'm a bad teacher?" The young woman stood up, inched away from Snape.

"No." She said calmly, "I'm saying that you're a self-centered git who has no feeling for anyone apart from yourself." Snape's hand twitched, his eyes hardened. "What?" Cate sneered, "Too afraid to do anything about this? Are you a coward too?" His hand twitched again and before he knew what he was doing, he had hit her. In an instant, she had backhanded him in return. Gasps echoed around the class. Snape flicked his wand, a quill scribbled on a piece of parchment, it then flew into his hand.

"Take this to Professor McGonagall and get out of my class." His voice was cold as stone.

"Gladly." Catherine snatched the note, and her bag, then stormed out of the room.

As she approached Professor McGonagall's office, the door opened, and Minerva appeared.

"Catherine, why aren't you in class?"

"This is for you." She handed her the parchment. McGonagall's eyes darted across it.

"Get into my office. Sit." They both sat. Cate looked up, Minerva was looking at her with a disappointed look from over her desk. "You hit Professor Snape?"

"I hit him back." She replied strongly.

"What?" McGonagall shouted, "He hit you? Teachers are forbidden to lay a hand on students."

"Well...I did provoke him . . . maybe just a tad." The woman whipped around.

"What did you do?"'

"Well, first I was late, then, not caring about the lesson. Then I uh . . . called him a self-centered git, and a coward." McGonagall dropped down into her chair.

"Did he give you detention? Yell at you? Anything?"

"No." Cate shook her head. "Nothing. He just sent me to you."

"All right." She sighed heavily, "You're free to go. And please, watch what goes on between you and Severus. We can't afford to have you expelled."

"I will. Thank-you Professor." Catherine stood up, leaving the office.