Disclaimer: I do not own any of the people or places that belong to the wonderful world of Harry Potter, as they belong to J.K. Rowling. The OCs (Katherine, Septimus, Helena, Christoph, Elisa, Henry, Nick, Justin, Kyle, Carlos, Mike, Nurse Canter, Headmaster Jeremy Mickels, Hunfrith, Olwen, Huffie, Sorsek, Bilik, Fossum, Lars, Sven, David Suttington, Darius Prescott, Gerard's, Grace, Zielinski, Wakanda, Raya Rasole & Julie Byrd) are entirely my own.


Chapter 17: Wounds We Keep Hidden From View

Severus worked his way tirelessly through the week. Without Septimus to help him with potions in the morning, he found himself working late into the afternoons to fulfill the hospital's order in time. But that wasn't the only thing he had been working on. Severus was still trying to find the perfect time to confront Katherine about Wakanda.

Luckily for him, it came on that first Saturday, after Septimus' departure. Katherine had taken a break from the gardens and gathered herself on the porch, with a book and a cup of tea. Severus had noticed a difference in Katherine's mood with the absence of the boy; she had been quieter both physically and mentally. Gone were the simple touches and comments that often led to the bedroom. Most of the time she looked deep in thought, with her eyes glazed over and her face expressionless.

Severus stood in the doorway leading out to the deck, quietly observing his wife. The wind had picked up over the lake, chilling the air around them. A storm was coming; he could feel them now, like Katherine could. It had taken him all summer to adjust to the different weather, but he could finally feel it now. But he knew he would have to adjust again once winter came.

Katherine shivered slightly, and pulled the blanket, she had brought out with her, closer around her person. Her face was pale, except for her reddening cheeks caused from the colder air. Her eyes were locked on the book in front of her, but they were unfocused on the print.

"Katherine," Severus spoke up, as he noticed Katherine shiver again. "Come inside before you get sick." His voice broke Katherine's trance, and slowly she closed her book. Quietly, she rose and gathered her things, but not before the heavens released a few tears. A low rumble of thunder echoed over the lake from the west, as the clouds began to get thicker and darker.

Severus silently held the door open for Katherine as she quickly hurried inside to avoid getting wet. Inwardly, Severus sighed, knowing it was now or never to question her about the strange witch that had given Katherine the soul spell.

"Katherine?" Severus murmured, as he took the slightly damp blanket from her shoulders.

"Yes Sev?"

"We need to discuss something," he said, as he gestured for her to sit down.

"What is it?" Katherine asked, as she lowered herself gently down onto the settee, with Severus following her.

"How do you know Wakanda?" Severus watched Katherine's face closely, noticing that it remained expressionless at the mention of the other witch's name. Katherine's mental wall had gone up in full force, blocking him out completely. "Katherine. How do you know her?"

"There isn't a witch or wizard from around here, who doesn't know her name Sev," Katherine stated, as she held his gaze.

"But you have spoken with her, have you not?" Severus asked, as he lightly pushed at the walls with his own mind.

"Perhaps," Katherine muttered, as she focused on keeping her walls up. "Does it matter that I spoke to her?"

"Just what you spoke of."

"What are you talking about Severus?" Katherine frowned at him.

"I know about the spell Katherine," Severus growled. "I know what you have done."

"How...?"

"Christoph and I found it in one of your books," Severus snarled, as he rose angrily from the sofa.

"When did you do that!" Katherine growled.

"The day Elisa took you shopping," Severus stated with a huff.

"That was planned?" Katherine hissed.

"Yes, it was," Severus snapped. "How could you do that to yourself Katherine? Why would you do something so stupid?"

"Do you really want me to answer that?" Katherine snapped back, as she crossed her arms over her chest.

"Yes I do!"

"I think it should be obvious why I did, what I did," she snarled.

"I really don't have a clue Katherine. Enlighten me!" Severus snapped. "Why did you willingly split your soul?"

"BECAUSE I LOVE YOU DAMMIT!" Katherine yelled. "I hated my uncle for what he made you do! He should have never put you in that position! You didn't deserve that! You didn't deserve to be treated that way!

"I knew that what he asked you to do would damage your soul, and I knew I couldn't allow that to happen!" Katherine bellowed, rising as quickly as she could from the couch. "Your soul didn't deserve to be split because of something you didn't want to do!

"That's why I did it!" she continued. Her hands clenched at her sides, and suddenly the lights in the house began to flicker and dishes in the kitchen began to rattle. "Because I love you, and I didn't want to see you suffer from Albus' stupidity! I didn't...I didn't..." It was though time had slowed, as Severus watched Katherine clutch her chest and began to pant heavily.

"Katherine?" Severus asked, his anger dissolving completely at the sight of Katherine's sudden pain.

"Sev..." Katherine whispered, just before her ice blue eyes rolled back into her head. Her knees buckled and Severus bolted forward, reaching for her just in time. Her body collapsed heavily in his arms, and her hands fell limp at her sides.

"Katherine?" Severus murmured to the unconscious witch in his arms. "KATHERINE!"


Severus paced wildly outside of the bedroom door. After placing Katherine in the bed, he had flooed Elisa immediately. The healer came through quickly, and rushed to Katherine's side. But becoming frustrated with Severus' hovering as she examined the fainted witch, she banned the wizard from the room.

Christoph watched the dark wizard pace like a lion in a cage, figuring if Severus kept it up, he would wear a trench right into the hardwood floor. Slowly, after what seemed to be an eternity, the bedroom door opened, and Elisa slipped quietly into the living room.

"Elisa," Severus muttered, as he leaned against the wall near the bedroom door. "Give me an occupation, or I shall run mad."

"There is nothing to be done Severus," Elisa said, as she placed a hand on his arm. "She only over-exerted herself and fainted. It's not an uncommon thing with pregnant women."

"And what of the accidental magic she displayed?" Severus asked.

"It's something else that is not uncommon with pregnancy," Elisa explained. "Katherine's hormones are fluxing and her magic is changing because of it. Since she is also harboring the baby's magic, her own magic will become more erratic with her emotions. Stress is also a factor of it; she's been dealing with a lot more than any of us realize."

"So then she's alright otherwise?"

"Yes," Elisa said, smiling softly at him.

"And...the baby?"

"Is fine as well."

"Is she awake yet?" Severus whispered.

"No, not yet," Elisa said. "She will wake when she is ready. But I don't want her to get out of that bed when she does. I want her on a week's bed rest, so this doesn't happen again."

"She won't like that?" Christoph chuckled lightly, from his spot on the couch.

"Can I go in now?" Severus asked quietly.

"Of course," Elisa said, as she nodded slightly. "We'll see ourselves out. But remember, don't try and wake her. Let her wake on her own."

"Of course," Severus said, as he opened the door and slipped silently into the bedroom. Lightning flashed outside the covered windows, and low rumbles of thunder echoed through the silent room. Rain pounded heavily on the closed French doors and the wind howled through its' seams.

The only light in the darkened room came from small oil lamp on the side table near the bed. Slowly, Severus made his way to the bed and sat down cautiously next to Katherine's form. He was glad to see a bit of color had returned to her pale face, and gently he reached out and caressed her cheek with his long fingers.

"I'm sorry Katherine," Severus whispered. "I didn't mean for you to get so upset." A soft whimper escaped from Katherine's lips and slowly her eyelids began to flutter open. Ice blue eyes met obsidian black, as she leaned into his touch.

"Sev?" Katherine murmured. "What happened?"

"You fainted," Severus said, still stroking his thumb over her cheek. "Elisa was here and checked you. She said that you're alright, but she wants you on bed rest for a week."

"What about the baby?" Katherine whispered, as she closed her eyes and leaned into his hand even more.

"The baby is fine as well," Severus said; his eyes never leaving Katherine's face. "Katherine, I'm sorry. I didn't think you would get so upset over my questions."

"No Sev," Katherine said, opening her eyes again. "I'm sorry. I overreacted. Please lay down with me."

"Katherine..."

"Please Sev," Katherine begged. Severus nodded lightly and moved to lay down with her. Carefully he gathered her into his arms; her head resting against his chest. "I do love you Severus. That's why I did the spell. That's why I took the damage for you."

"But it wasn't necessary," Severus murmured into Katherine's hair. "My soul would have never been damaged due to the fact that I regretted taking Albus' life."

"But the spell worked," Katherine said, looking up at him. "I know it did, I felt it."

"It did to an extent," Severus said sadly. "Your soul was fractured Katherine, and that fracture attached itself to me. That is why I can feel your pain and why you can feel mine. Thankfully there is a counter-curse to the spell you used."

"There is?" Katherine asked.

"Réparer l'âme, que je suis lié. Rendre toutes les âmes ensemble à nouveau," Severus whispered. "It means 'Repair the soul, that I am bound. Make all souls whole again.'"

"That's it?"

"Yes," Severus said. "But the spell can only be performed on a day that holds special meaning to us. Unfortunately, the only date I can come up with is the day of our bonding."

"We can't just do it now?" Katherine asked.

"No," Severus said softly. "Wakanda said it would harm...no...take the baby's life."

"Then we wait," Katherine said, as she settle her head back on his chest. "I don't want to lose our child."

"Neither do I, Katherine" Severus said, as he began rubbing small circles on her lower back. "Neither do I."


a/n: So very sorry that this chapter was over a week late. Work went into overdrive this week and I only saw home for a couple hours each day, which was when I was sleeping. Chapter 18 should be posted some time next weekend, and I promise I will try not to be delayed again.

A big thank you to Mira Severus Sirius Black-Snape, AccioSS, RequiemWolfenstein87, Drin Scorpio, Love me like snape loved lily ALWAYS, Missyick & Hiwatarisgurl38 for their wonderful reviews!