Chapter 10

Two weeks had passed since Christmas. Catherine had kept to herself for most of it, as she was still greatly saddened by the death of Elena. The other time, she spent at Grimmauld Place. This time was spent doing work for The Order, and visiting. Mostly with Charlie. The Christmas break had allowed them to get to know each other much better.

However, it was now Monday, and time for potions. Catherine and Snape's first face to face meeting since Christmas. (Since the fight, Cate had been avoiding him at all costs).

The young woman walked into the Great Hall a tad late for breakfast, sitting across from Harry and Ron. Parvati, Lavender and Hermione were no where to be seen.

"Morning." She greeted, picking up a piece of toast.

"Morning." Ron replied.

"Are you feeling better?" Harry asked sympathetically.

"Yeah." Cate responded, "I've done a lot of talking to people over the break. Let everything out, found out everything about how she was killed." She bit into her toast.

"I see." Harry replied. Catherine chewed on her breakfast, then swallowed hard.

"How have you been? Anything weird going on?"

"Not really. On Christmas eve, I got a really bad pain in my scar."

"After dinner, while I was out?"

"Yeah." She nodded thoughtfully. Harry raised an eyebrow.

"You don't happen to know why, do you?"

"Of course now. Why would you think that?"'

"Well . . . " Ron began, "You did seem like you knew. And you're friends with Charlie, who's in The . . . " He was cut short bu a sharp elbowing in the ribs from Harry and a slap on the hand from Cate.

"Ron!" She snapped, "You know you're not supposed to talk about that here!"

"Right . . . sorry" His face flushed a bit, he looked down at his watch. "We should get going now. Snape 'll kill us if we're late for our first class back."

"Yeah."

The three of them stood up from Gryffindor table, and left for potions. The class went rather well, Snape had them write notes the entire period. He was rather quiet, only spoken when spoken to, or when giving orders. He even let them leave a couple of seconds early.

Gryffindor's then filed into Professor Beckinsale's room for defence against the dark arts. This class was a bit more rough for Cate.

Halfway through Beckinsale's lecture, a sharp rapping on the door interrupted him. He flicked his want, and the door flew open, there stood Severus.

"Good morning Professor." He greeted cooly, "I was wondering if I could borrow one of your students."

"Why of course." Beckinsale had been very intimidated by Snape since the event on Christmas even. Snape leaned into the room.

"Catherine, come with me. Bring your things, this may take a while." Sighing, the young woman shoved her things into her bag, swung it over her shoulder, and left the room. Snape began walking in silence, leading her to his office. He closed the door after they had both entered. Cate dropped her bag and sat down heavily.

"What did I do this time?" She asked. Severus sat down across from her at his desk.

"Nothing. I need to speak with you. I figured that it would be best to wait until classes were back in."

"All right. What do you need?" Cate crossed her arms across her stomach, leaning back.

"Catherine, we've both known since the first potions class way back in September that you are my daughter. Neither of us really acknowledged that until Christmas. Now, I just want a chance to explain myself before you go tearing off again."

"Go ahead." The young woman was filled with a feeling she had never felt before, other than toward her mother.

"Seventeen years ago, I did two of the stupidest things a man could do. I left you and Elena, and I went to the dark side. As soon as the war was over, I went back home, and found you both hone. There was no note, no sign of life, it was as if you had never been there before.

I spent the next years searching for you and Elena. I searched through records, sent dozens of owls, but nothing worked. Seven years ago, I waited anxiously, thinking that you might possibly be coming to Hogwarts, but yo didn't. Four years after that, I spent waiting, until Albus told me where you were. Elena was wanted back in The Order, and they wanted you to come over here as well. I was told to figure out a way to get you into Hogwarts, so I arranged with Flueracot's to send some dancers over.

When I saw your face up on that stage, I knew immediately who you were. There was no mistake. I wasn't so surprised when you told me you were in The Order, it was expected.

I am terribly sorry for making you think that I never tried to contact you. And I am truly sorry to have gotten in so many fights with you, especially for marking you. Please, forgive me?" Cate looked up at the man, tears rolling slowly down her soft cheeks.

"How could I not?" She whispered, "Mum's gone, you're the only person I have left in this world."

"Thank-you." Snape then did a very rare thing, he smiled. "I'm afraid however, that you won't be able to move in after school. With The Dark Lord searching for death eaters and their children, it won't be safe. I advise you to stay at Grimmauld Place, I'm sure Reamus won't mind."

"That's fine." She replied, "I'm already accustomed to Grimmauld Place, it'll be good for the summer."

"All right." Severus sighed, "You're turning eighteen in February, the seventeenth, why are you in the sixth year?"'

"Professor McGonagall wanted me to be available to keep an eye on Harry for the next few years."

"Oh. Potter, of course." Snape stood up, "We all must keep a close eye on him."'

"I know." Catherine stood up as well, picking up her bag. "Thank-you Severus. You should have explained all this months ago." Hesitantly, the young woman hugged him, quickly, before leaving the room.