A/N: Just a note to say that this story won't be changing post-Deathly Hallows. I already planned out what was going to happen, so I'll be sticking to that. I do, however, applaud JKR for a fantastic end to the series and I shan't say anymore in case anyone hasn't yet read book seven. :)
Oh yes and when I planned this chapter, it was meant to be in one piece, but I've had to split it because it was too long. This said, I apologise for the cliffie – I didn't mean it for once. ;)
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Chapter 49 – The midnight raid
"How well do you know Professor McGonagall?"
Severus looked up to find bright blue eyes studying him with an expression somewhere between irritation and determined curiosity.
"Professor?" he questioned mildly, one thin eyebrow raised in amusement. Katherine sank into the seat opposite him and shrugged.
"She's always going to be Professor to me, Sev."
Severus half thought of making a biting reply but decided against it - she'd called him Sev, for the first time in he didn't know how long, and he wasn't going to jinx her good mood. He settled instead for a cautious reply to her question.
"Reasonably well. Why?"
Katherine rested her elbows on the table and propped up her chin on one hand. "Where does she go when she's not at Hogwarts?"
"Why on earth would you want to know that?" asked Severus, frowning deeply. He couldn't see any reason for Katherine needing to reach McGonagall unless-
"I just want to talk to her," replied Katherine, but her open expression was making him suspicious. She must have noticed this, because she rolled her eyes and leant back in her chair, treating him to a disparaging look.
"Don't you trust me?"
"I think you'd do a lot to keep your cover," he said carefully, studying her with narrowed eyes. He knew he hadn't a hope of using Legilimency on her, but there was more than one way of reading people.
"As would you," she retorted, a wicked grin spreading across her face, and the jolt in his stomach surprised him; he hadn't realised just how much he'd missed that smile.
"Only what I have to," he said softly, considering her with a thoughtful air. Did he trust her? Yes, but that didn't mean he automatically forgot what she was capable of. He trusted her to look after herself and possibly a few others, and he wasn't entirely sure Minerva McGonagall was important enough to register on Katherine's radar.
Those vivid blue eyes were still settled on him, and he suddenly came to a decision. Only time would tell whether it was the right one. "She goes to the Three Broomsticks some evenings," he said quietly, and before he'd finished speaking he could see the wheels beginning to turn in her head, formulating a plan. In the slight pause, he frowned, a thought occurring to him.
"Katherine?"
"Hmm?" She wasn't looking at him, just worrying her lip slightly, lost in thought.
"Why are you asking me this? Surely you could just go to Faye? She'd have the most up to date information – she could probably arrange a meeting if you really wanted." He watched as a vaguely guilty look flickered across her face and she glanced up at him, grimacing.
"Yeah, well, that might be a bit difficult given present circumstances."
"You haven't fallen out, have you?" he asked, the frown that wrinkled his forehead borne more out of a slight sense of exasperation than concern for the blonde witch. "I've met her, Katherine, and I don't think she can cope with the way your mind works."
Katherine shot him with a wry smile, half abashed, half wicked.
"No, we haven't fallen out," she said, shaking her head and waving a careless hand to dismiss such notions. "And I really don't get why everyone thinks she's such an angel. The fact that I'm a notorious criminal does not automatically make her a saint."
"She's better behaved than you," shot back Severus, but Katherine only laughed. "Oh? I didn't pounce on her oldest friend the moment her back was turned."
It took Severus a moment to work out exactly what she meant by this remark, but when he realised he arched his eyebrows in surprise.
"Lupin? Really?"
Katherine nodded, a cheeky grin on her face. "Just after the first war ended – I'd warned her not to come back while Tom was still around, but he'd gone by then and I suppose she wanted to find out exactly what had happened to me." She sighed, fingers wrapped around the pendant on her necklace. "I don't think it lasted very long – she had a job to get back to and, well, you know Remus – tends to push people away if they get too close. Tonks seems to be managing quite well, though, to give her credit. Interesting woman, Tonks."
"You've met her?" Severus couldn't keep the incredulity out of his voice; he would have paid a fair amount of money to have seen Tonks' reaction to Lupin's oldest friend.
"A few times," nodded Katherine, running a distracted hand through gleaming ebony hair. "Got the impression she doesn't like me very much. Then again, not many people like me very much." She smiled ruefully, hands dropping into her lap as she sunk a little in her chair. "They just don't take the time to get to know me."
"I think the problem lies in the fact that they do know you, Katherine," remarked Severus, with a vaguely amused air. "The entire wizarding world knows who you are."
"They know what I've done," said Katherine, shaking her head and gazing absently at her nails. "That's not a reflection of who I am."
"No, I don't suppose it is." The sincerity in his voice made Katherine look up, blue eyes slightly stunned, momentarily caught off guard. He smiled a little, green eyes dark in the lamplight. "Your actions never seem to bear any relation to your thoughts. Sometimes I think you don't know what the hell you're doing."
"Making it up as I go along," she said quietly, giving him a small smile. "You need to think fast to stay alive."
"The Dark Lord hasn't got any plans concerning Hogwarts," said Severus quickly, curiosity and anxiety getting the better of him. "What do you want with McGonagall?"
"You really think so?" Katherine was watching him with open interest, but her question confused him.
"What?"
"That Tom doesn't have any plans for the school?" she prompted, tilting her head a little, that small, sad smile tugging at her lips again.
"Not immediate ones," said Severus, though he knew full well what she was getting at. The time was going to come when the Dark Lord would take a real interest in Hogwarts and when he did they'd both be called upon to help him. The only thing keeping him away at present was the illusion that Katherine was teaching there, supposedly screening potential Death Eaters and spreading his message. "You didn't answer my question. What's McGonagall got to do with anything?"
Katherine sighed heavily, gazing up at the ceiling and said bitterly: "I mentioned that New Year is Tom's birthday and now Trix wants to get him a present."
"Hogwarts?"
"The Prophecy."
"What?" Severus stared at her in horror as she brought her gaze down and shrugged tiredly.
"I know, I've told her it won't work, but will she listen-"
"What does Hogwarts have to do with the Prophecy?" asked Severus, interrupting her before she could start on Bella's many infuriating qualities. Katherine blinked in surprise, then said:
"Trelawney."
"Trelawney?" he repeated, staring blankly at her. "What does Bella want with her?"
"She made the Prophecy," answered Katherine, casting her eyes heavenwards once more. "Trix thinks this means she'll know it. I tried telling her she won't remember it, but since when has she listened to me?"
"Are you sure she won't know it?" asked Severus, the impact of what she was saying kicking in. If the Dark Lord got hold of the Prophecy the chances of Potter defeating him fell somewhat.
"Severus, no Seer ever remembers their prophecies," replied Katherine with a heavy sigh, shaking her head despairingly.
"But if they're alone, how are they recorded?" asked Severus, utterly bewildered. Katherine fought the urge to roll her eyes and settled for a wry smile instead.
"They're not – the Ministry only have records of the prophecies that were made in someone else's presence. If no one heard, we don't know about them." She grinned sympathetically at the disconcerted look on his face. "It's not a big deal. There's too many prophecies gracing the shelves at the DoM as it is, if you ask me. Best to leave them well alone – no one wants their life ruled by Fate."
Something in her voice made him frown, but he couldn't quite work out what it was. Was that slight note of dejection stemming from knowledge of the Prophecy or from something else entirely? After all, she knew as well as him that it came down to Potter or the Dark Lord, and, for all his failings, Tom Riddle was still her father. And Katherine Riddle still cared.
"You're going to warn McGonagall, aren't you?" he asked, gazing at her with a renewed sense of curiosity. "About the attack. That's why you want to find her."
"Wouldn't hurt to keep the kids safe, would it?" responded Katherine, and Severus caught the defensive tone of her voice. "If Trix gets Trelawney she can't complain. It's not as though we've got orders to kill anyone, and if she doesn't come across any students she can't be tempted."
"You're going to let her get Trelawney?" questioned Severus, doubt lacing his words. Despite her reputation, Katherine didn't tend to hurt people if she could avoid it. Well, she didn't tend to hurt people if they didn't deserve it, at least.
"Trelawney is McGonagall's problem," said Katherine levelly. "Even if Trix gets her, she won't learn anything."
"In other words, you're not going to risk your neck for some woman you've never met."
"Got a problem with that?"
"No," replied Severus calmly. "But I really do think you ought to make it up with Lupin."
"Remus? You think I should talk to Remus? You think I should talk to Remus?" She stared at him, suddenly suspicious. "Who are you and what in Salazar's name have you done with Severus Snape?"
"Don't be flippant-" he began, eyebrows creasing into a frown.
"I wasn't," she interrupted darkly. "You loathe Remus. Why would you want me to make it up with him? How did you even know we'd fallen out?"
"Robert mentioned it," shrugged Severus. "And I don't loathe Lupin-"
"Yes you do – you think he tried to kill you."
"No, Black tried to kill me."
Katherine's eyes narrowed, and Severus got the distinct impression that she was trying to decide whether to smirk or not.
"Don't tell me you've stopped blaming Rem?" she asked at last, a different emotion flickering in her sapphire coloured eyes and it took him a moment to recognise it for it was. Pride. She was proud of him.
This thought was the only thing that kept him from sneering and saying instead:
"Like you said, the past should be left where it belongs. There are more important things to think about right now." Their gazes locked and she smiled gently, a hint of sadness in her dark blue eyes.
"Yes, I rather think there are."
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Minerva McGonagall walked the halls of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry and wondered for the hundredth time why she was doing this. Death Eaters as a rule couldn't be trusted and yet here she was, proving to Katherine Riddle of all people, that she did just that. She stopped outside the wooden door, knocked once and waited, her former pupil's words echoing in her head.
"Get Faye out of the way, I don't want her being spotted or getting hurt. I don't care how you do it, just get her out of the castle, that's all I'm asking..."
All she was asking. The temporary absence of her younger cousin in exchange for information about a planned attack on the castle. She'd been suspicious, of course, but Katherine had looked so genuine and she couldn't for the life of her come up with a plausible reason for her to lie.
"Oh hello. Everything all right?" Faye was standing in front of her, blonde hair tied up in a loose bun. McGonagall nodded, taking a steadying breath and gripping her wand more tightly in her pocket.
"Everything's fine. And I'm really sorry about this..."
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Katherine stood in the headmistress' office and stared at the slumbering portrait before her. She highly doubted he was really asleep, but didn't care. It wasn't as though she wanted to hear anything he had to say, anyway. Except...
"Why did you have to ask him?" The sleeping eyes remained closed, but she was sure he'd heard. "It's not as though people don't hate him enough already. Or was that why?" More silence. "I really don't like you, you know."
The faint sound of footsteps reached her ears, getting louder by the second and then the door swung open and she heard a hastily stifled gasp of surprise.
"Hello Professor."
"I did what you asked," said McGonagall, entering the room and shutting the door carefully behind her. "She's...safe."
Katherine turned her head to look curiously at her old teacher and a slow grin crept across her face.
"Was that a threat?"
McGonagall held her head a little higher and walked over to her desk, though Katherine noticed she didn't sit down; she didn't want to lose the mental advantage of her height.
"It is...a precaution," she said calmly, eyeing her former pupil distrustfully. Katherine grinned and looked back at Dumbledore's portrait.
"Never trust a Slytherin."
"Something like that, yes."
"He wouldn't have done that," said Katherine quietly, though there was still a smile on her face. "Then again, I may not have warned him." She glanced at McGonagall, expression serious once more. "Don't worry. If Faye's safe, I'll keep my part of the bargain. Good luck." She turned to leave, but cast one last look back, eyeing a spot just behind McGonagall. "You too, Shacklebolt."
There was a slight pause after the door closed behind her, and then the tall black Auror removed his concealment charm and exchanged a bemused look with McGonagall.
"How did she know you were there?" asked Minerva, staring after her.
"Well Alastor always does say she's good," murmured Kingsley, looking thoughtful. "Good enough to get into this office without opening the door."
"You didn't see how she got in?"
"No," replied Kingsley, frowning deeply. "One minute I'm alone and next she's standing in the middle of the office."
"But she didn't see you?" asked McGonagall, peering out of the window towards the school gates. Katherine had said she was going to open them to let the Death Eaters in; she just hoped the Order was ready.
"I don't think so - she didn't seem to, at least. Started speaking to Dumbledore's portrait," said Kingsley, joining her at the window.
"What did she say?"
"Not much." He paused, dark eyes catching sight of something that might have been a shadow rippling across the grounds below. "Maybe she did know I was there - she asked about someone but didn't say his name."
The shadow reached the gates and a minute later they swung open. McGonagall raised her eyebrows, sucking in a breath.
"She wasn't joking, was she? She really can get them in without setting off any of the wards."
"And yet she told us she was going to," said Kingsley, pulling out his wand and heading for the door, McGonagall close on his heels. "Remind me again - exactly who's side is she on?"
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"It's a bloody ambush, Riddle!" Bellatrix sent another killing curse at her attacker who cast a shield charm to deflect it. Next to her, Katherine was duelling with a dark haired wizard who bore the badge of an Auror on his robes.
"And I suppose that's my fault, is it?" yelled Katherine, dodging a Stunner and cursing the culprit so badly he flew a couple of feet into the air before landing in a heap on the grass.
"You must have let something slip-"
"Oh yeah, right." Katherine's usually calm voice was full of sarcasm. "'Cause that's the kind of thing you just happen to mention in conversation. Could you pass the salt, Filius, and by the way, we're planning an attack on the school tonight-" She broke off as a scalding hex hummed past her ear and threw a Stunner at Bella's opponent who crumpled like a paper doll. "We're outnumbered, Trix. We should leave."
"Not without the Seer," hissed Bella, flinging a curse at an approaching Auror and glaring at the younger woman in the starlight. Katherine glowered right back, but sighed.
"Fine, you go find her. I'll lead the retreat – they'll think we've gone, so you can slip into the castle and get her unnoticed. Sound good?"
Bella was about to answer when there was a scream, and they turned in time to see a black hooded figure fall to the floor.
"Fine," snapped Bella, casting a Disillusionment charm on herself. "But you better not be up to anything."
"That hurt, Trix," said Katherine, casting a reproachful look at the patch of shimmering air where the elder woman had stood a moment before. "As if I'd ever double cross you."
She just heard Bella's scornful laugh above the noise of the fight, and then she was gone, running up the slope towards the castle. Katherine eyed the castle doors for a moment, then turned her attention back to the battle. At least one of them was dead already; it was time to move before they lost anymore.
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Reviews are greatly appreciated. I'd love to hear what you think . :)