Katrina woke a couple hours later. She rose and decided to change into something other than nightclothes. She found a pair of black pants, a simple cream blouse, and a black robe which all fit her well. She changed in the bathroom before exiting and pacing back and forth across the room.

The pacing managed to work out some of her nervous energy, but it only made time seem to crawl by. She moved to the room's only window and looked out. She was on the second floor of the cottage and her window looked out over a green field with a forest beyond. She sat on the wide windowsill, turned so she could look outside.

How long she sat there, she didn't know, but the sound of the door opening startled her. The one called Wormtail stood there with a tray of food. She stepped further back into the room as he quickly entered, placed the tray down, and hurried out. She glanced at the food – a couple sandwiches, some fresh fruit, and a bottle of water – and decided she wasn't really hungry.

So, she thought, he is going to keep feeding me. In fact, he has done nothing to hurt me yet. The thought frightened her. There had to be some purpose behind his 'kindness'. She wasn't sure she wanted to find out.

-- --

Snape had just finished eating dinner with his daughter in his quarters when his Mark began to burn. He threw his napkin onto the table in disgust. He had expected to be summoned again so he could deliver the potion to Voldemort, but he had been hoping it wouldn't be tonight.

"Maggie, I'm sorry but-"

"You have to go again," she said quickly. "I saw you rubbing at your arm. It's okay. We can do the potion tomorrow."

"I am sorry," he said as he handed the invisibility cloak to her so he could take her to Minerva's room. He retrieved the potion and instructions from the drawer, pocketed them, and led his daughter out. Thankfully, all of the students seemed to be in the Great Hall for dinner. Then he realized Minerva would also be having dinner. Luckily, he knew the woman's password to her quarters and he ushered his daughter inside. "I am going to go tell Professor McGonagall that you are here, then I must leave."

He watched his daughter pull off the cloak and he was startled when she gave him a quick hug, "Be careful, father." The words were a hushed whisper as she let him go.

He nodded to her, "I will be." With that, he swept from Minerva's quarters, hurrying to the Great Hall. He would have to hurry more than usual in responding to the summons. Entering the hall, he went directly to Minerva, "I need to speak to you for a moment."

"Of course, Professor Snape," she responded, rising quickly and following him from the hall.

He led her from the hall and towards the entrance doors, "It is in your room, Minerva. I must leave."

"Of course, I'll take care of it," Minerva replied, her eyes understanding.

He watched her for a moment as she hurried off to her quarters. He hurried from the castle, his pace faster than normal. As he walked, he realized Maggie had addressed him as 'father' instead of 'sir'. He had to clamp down on the fierce sense of joy he felt at that thought. It wouldn't do to go before Voldemort visibly happy.

-- --

Katrina didn't touch lunch, though she did drink the water. By the time the sun began to set, she was beginning to get hungry. Shortly after sunset, the door opened and Voldemort entered, levitating a tray of food behind him. She watched him banish the lunch things and place the tray on the small table.

The food smelled heavenly and she found herself drawn to the table. He sat in the same chair as before and gestured that she should also sit. "None of the food or drink hasss been tampered with, I promissse you."

She gracefully sat, giving him a small nod, "Thank you, it looks and smells delicious."

Thus began the strangest dinner she may have ever had. He was polite and even made small jokes. She replied appropriately the entire time, while her mind was screaming that she was sitting eating duck with the most feared wizard in the whole world. By the end of dinner, her nerves were frayed and she was only too happy to bid him a goodnight.

Bloody hell, she thought as she entered the shower a couple hours later, I wonder if anyone would believe me if I told them about this surreal dinner. Assuming I live to tell anyone, she corrected herself morbidly.