Chapter 16
Months had passed since the Easter break. It was the last day students were at Hogwarts, exams were completed and students spent their time relaxing around the school and grounds. It was just about eight in the morning and time for breakfast.
Smiling faces of students and staff alike entered the Great Hall. Chattering filled the hall as food appeared on the golden platters infront of them, and everyone began to eat. Suddenly, a flock of owls came flying toward the house tables. Some of them had mail, most of them were just returning to their owners for the journey home. Amidst them, were five jet-black owls. These owls held blank envelopes, addressed in red ink, the flew only to specific people:
Malfoy, Crabbe, Goyle, Theodore Nott and Catherine.
The owls dropped the letters and immediately flew away. Catherine looked down at the envelope infront of her, the red ink shimmering in the light of the hall. She then realized what she was looking at, wasn't ink. Her head snapped up in the direction of the staff table, both Professor McGonagall and Severus were looking down toward her.
The eighteen-year-old reached to grab the letter, once her fingers touched it, she re-coiled. It had sent a searing pain up her left arm. Wincing slightly, she picked it up and hurried up to the staff table.
"What the bloody hell is this?" She asked quietly, throwing the letter down beside her father's plate as she crouched down at the corner of the table.
"I have no idea." He looked down at her. "My guess is it's from Him"
"Obviously." Cate rolled her eyes, "Try to touch it."
"What?"'
"Try to pick it up." The man reached out, his fingers touched it and he dropped in immediately.
"Did anyone else get this?"
"Yes. I'm not really sure who though? The other owls flew over to the Slytherin table."
"Of course." Snape muttered, he then grabbed the letter and touched Catherine's arm, "Come with me." The man led her into a small chamber off to the side of the Great Hall.
"Why are we in here?"
"Open it now." He instructed, handing the envelope to her. The yong woman slid her finger under the flap and ripped it open.
A silver mist like material floated out of the envelope, swirling around itself, a voice then began to speak.
"Catherine Alice Snape, daughter of Severus and Elena Snape, you have been marked by Severus, a fellow death eater," Snape scowled at this point, "With this mark, comes a great burden of responsibility. You are now a death eater, one of the next generation. You will be required to attend al meetings, which will begin in April of next year. All death eaters will be gathered by May, and we will attack soon after. You will be called at your own time. Come here." The silver cloud formed a dark alleyway, then it formed a darkened pub, then spelled out 'Knockturn Alley, Number 172'.
Catherine studied it, memorizing it, as did Snape. With a poof, it vanished, the envelope ripped itself up, burst into flames, and also vanished.
"You're not going." Snape stated harshly.
"Excuse me?" Cate shrieked. "I'm eighteen! You can't tell me what to do anymore."
"I don't want you getting hurt. There are things far worse than death when you're with that crowd." Concern was growing on his face. "You're needed with The Order."
"Fine." She agreed, "But there's no way you can keep me from fighting later on." Severus smiled lightly.
"I know." He then turned and left the room, Cate soon followed.