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Disclaimer: Ok, I totally own the HP universe. Aw man, I suck at lying...

*****

Chapter 14:

My schedule was overwhelming, but I made it work. I finally finished out detentions with Snape, and he told me I was progressing very well with Occlumency. All of my teachers thought I was "doing a marvelous job adapting to the grueling schedule at Hogwarts," or at least that was what McGonagall gushed to me one day after class. I smiled, not letting her know that I'd had a breakdown my first Saturday there. Fred had talked me through it, tolerating my wordless sobbing.

"I'm going to fail at everything, I just know it," I gasped out, hiccupping as Fred rubbed my back.

"No, you're not," he said. "You're doing great, and so long as you learn that you don't have to get straight O's in everything, you'll stop stressing."

He sat with me all afternoon, and I woke up at three in the morning with my head on his lap in the Gryffindor common room.

"I'm sorry," I said, blushing.

He smiled. "It's nothing."

I frowned, standing up. "No, it's not nothing. It's unnatural and weird, and I'm sorry that I freaked out."

"You're under a lot of stress, and—where are you going?"

"Upstairs. I need to think. Sorry."

I ran up to the dorm room, sparing one last glance in Fred's direction; he gaped after me, and I blushed harder, quickening my pace. I couldn't believe I'd freaked out in front of him after dating him for barely half a week. So I did what any reasonable girl in my position would have done.

I avoided him.

Other than that, things began to wind down as the days wore on. My obsessive reading throughout the summer had paid off, and once I'd finished my entrance essays for each class, I learned which ones to prioritize and which ones to… take a nap in. I focused in on Potions, Charms, Transfiguration, and a little bit on Herbology.

I sloughed off in History of magic, Defense Against the Dark Arts, Divination, and Astronomy. Binns put me to sleep, Umbridge wasn't actually teaching, Astronomy wasn't interesting enough, but I occasionally paid attention in Divination; I was getting an O in the class, much to Harry's irritation. I sat with him and Ron, gasping every few classes and proclaiming that he had the grim.

"Please don't say I have the grim today," Harry pleaded with me one rainy Wednesday at lunch

I pouted as Fred sat next to me and scooted a bit away from him. "Where's the fun in that?"

He pinched the bridge of his nose. "I've just been having a bad day, ok?"

It looked like it. His hair messier than ever, there were small hints of blue under his eyes.

"Been having any weird dreams lately?" I asked.

Harry said nothing, only frowning in my direction, suspicion in his eyes.

"I think it's funny," Ron said, pouring a second helping of stew into his bowl. "But it is getting on his nerves."

"Alright alright," I said, taking a bite of bread. "I'll lay off. But just for today."

"I still don't understand why you're taking divination," Hermione said, half-angry as she pulled out her large runes textbook.

"Yeah, you act like Hermione did before she dropped it," Ron said.

Hermione frowned as Ron smirked.

I shrugged, taking a sip of pumpkin juice. "I like Trelawney," I said. "She's absolutely batty."

"That's a good thing?" Ron asked, frowning.

"It's entertaining, at least," I said.

Hermione snorted.

"Hey Kat," Fred said finally.

I groaned internally.

"Could I talk to you for a moment?"

I gathered my things and glanced mournfully at my half-eaten stew. "You know, I'd love to, but I have to… ask Snape about… a potions thing."

Fred's cynical look followed me to Defense against the dark arts when I realized miserably that I was over ten minutes early.

Go figure.

*****

"Today, we're going to review crystal balls for the last time before moving on to dreams," Trelawney said majestically, walking through the room with her scarves heavily clad around her. True, the biting cold of autumn had set in, but wasn't she overdoing it just a bit?

There was a collective sigh as everyone began to drag out their books, and slowly the class peered into the crystal balls in the center of each table.

"Alright," I said, clapping my hands together and looking at Ron and Harry. "Who wants to go first?"

Ron raised an eyebrow at me as Harry frowned, closing his eyes in obvious pain.

I sighed.

"I guess that means me," I said, peering into the large crystal ball. There was a large group of clouds and fog, but nothing else. I tried for a moment to mentally push them aside, to clear my mind, but, as usual, a headache settled in before I could see anything.

Snape's potion was working, and besides thwarting any accidental dream visions, I knew it had prevented me from any non-accidental ones. The only reason I'd seen anything on the first day was because I'd already seen it—every time I pushed through a headache in divination, it was something I already knew. Just a more vivid version of it. So I pretended.

But today I was tired. So I leaned back and shrugged.

"Did you see something?" Ron asked.

I shrugged. "I have a headache."

"Come on," he said, glancing over at Trelawney. "She wants us to write down what we see. She's collecting our group parchment at the end of class."

"You're going to lose a quill, Ron. Beware."

He rolled his eyes as Harry smirked, leaning in. "Yeah, I see it too. How long till class is over?"

"An hour," I said, stretching and getting out my own quill.

"What are you doing?" Ron asked.

"Potions essay."

"Oh bullocks, here she comes."

I stuffed the potions essay under a book just in time, Trelawney approaching us with a deep smile.

"Ah, two of my brightest students," she said, appraising Harry and myself.

I stifled a snort of laughter, Harry rolling his eyes as Ron scowled.

"What have you seen today?" she asked.

I glanced at Harry apologetically before letting my face fall into a pained expression. "The grim," I said dramatically.

Trelawney's smile faltered. "Is that all?"

My face fell. "What?"

She quickly miscalculated my crestfallen look and pat me on the shoulder. "I don't mean to discourage you, but in order to develop the inner eye, one must press beyond mere outlines of the future and attempt to discern the details."

I frowned as Harry yawned.

"Here, close your eyes,"

I did.

"Take a deep breath."

I took a very, very deep breath.

"Now what do you see?"

I opened my eyes. "Death is looming," I started dramatically.

Trelawney urged me onwards.

"It lurks within the g—" but then I heard a loud shriek. I glanced up, frowning, and looked around, confused when no one turned to look.

"Did you hear that?" I said.

Harry and Ron shook their heads, but Trelawney clapped her hands together. "It is the inner eye, my child. Look further."

My head started to throb even as I closed my eyes once more, clearing my thoughts in earnest.

"Now open them, and stare into the crystal ball. Let its purity clear your mind, and let nothing in but the future."

For once I fully listened to her, the headache growing immeasurably as I pressed through the fog, hearing the scream once more.

Harry and Ron leaned forwards, but they seemed miles away as a scene came into focus.

A dark haired woman stood in a marble room that was dark save for torchlight. Everything around her looked expensive. She stared at someone with calculating eyes.

"Lucius, she's been here for a week. The dark lord has commanded it."

Footsteps, and then a familiar drawling voice. "I thought he would come."

Bellatrix raised an eyebrow. "He hasn't. You must do it. Now."

Lucius nodded and opened a large door leading to a dark hallway. They took their time, screams meeting their ears long before they'd reached the cell.

"Please, please no more," someone gasped. My mother.

Wormtail stood over her, wand out, as Lucius strode in. His silver hand tightened automatically even as his eyes fell to the ground in a gesture of respect.

Lucius sneered. "It seems our little test has worked."

Wormtail's face lit up. "He's coming?"

Bellatrix snarled. "No you little cretin, he's not. The dark lord trusts him. We are to dispose of her."

My mother started to sob. "Please, no. I'll do anything."

Lucius waved his wand in an almost casual gesture and a green light momentarily enveloped the room. Something thumped to the ground and my mother lay there, sprawled, her face contorted in an eternal look of fear.

I stood up, barely aware that I'd overturned my chair, and realized the entire class was watching me.

Harry looked as if he'd just figured out a riddle, and Ron looked worried.

Trelawney was smiling. "What did you see?"

"I have to go," I choked out before grabbing my things and darting from the room.

Trelawney called after me as I ran away, but I ignored her. I had to find Snape. Though no one had mentioned time, I knew it was in the future.

I could stop it.

I burst through the doors of the potions room, Snape glancing up from one student's cauldron, anger melting into surprise as he saw my face.

"I have to talk to you," I said, my head pounding more than ever.

Snape nodded minutely, waving his wand as a small silver streak floated past me. "If any one of you so much as steps a toe out of line, you'll be pickling herbs without magic until Christmas."

He swooped out of the classroom and closed the door behind him. "What happened?"

"Mom's in trouble."

McGonagall walked up to us then, looking at Snape.

"Would you mind the classroom for a few minutes? I need to speak with the headmaster."

She nodded, heading in the dungeon as Snape turned and walked toward Dumbledore's office. I followed him wordlessly, trying to stifle my tears.

"You haven't been taking your potion?" he asked finally, as we approached the gargoyle.

"I have," I said. "I pushed through it." I held my head then, moaning in pain, and Snape stopped.

"That can cause severe ramifications," he said. Then he muttered the password and the gargoyle jumped aside.

"Enter," Dumbledore said.

Snape had me sit down, as Dumbledore eyed us both. "Severus?" he said.

"Kat has developed a resistance to the potion. She had a vision of Rose."

Dumbledore nodded, pushing a cup of tea toward me. "Drink," he said.

I did, wincing in pain, but after a sip, nausea overwhelmed me.

"I see that you're feeling the aftereffects," Dumbledore said gently. "I do not wish to keep you. What did you see?"

"She's at Malfoy manor," I said immediately. "They're keeping her there, and they're going to kill her."

"How do you know this hasn't already occurred?" Snape asked sharply.

"I just know," I muttered.

"You just know? How astounding your powers must be," he said sarcastically.

"If we don't help her, she's going to die!" I screamed, slamming the tea cup down.

"Be that as it may, we can't be certain of the validity of your vision," Dumbledore said delicately.

"You don't trust me?"

"I don't trust the clarity of your sight, Katarina. Not yet. Please understand that we are doing everything we can to—"

"The hell you are!" I shouted, standing and going to the door.

"Come back here!" Snape yelled after me.

I ignored him, pain nearly splitting my head open as I dashed down the stairs and through the hallway. I only made it around one corner before dizziness set in. I heard Snape's footsteps behind me and I groaned, trying to walk away. I lost my balance, the floor crashing into my head as Snape rounded the corner.

"How graceful of you," he muttered, leaning over to pick me up.

I howled in protest, crying in pain and frustration, but he ignored me as he held me up. With his help, I limped down to the potions room just in time to see Harry, Ron, and Hermione lining up for class. They gaped as Snape glared at them, and Harry whispered something to Hermione.

"What are you staring at, Potter?" Snape said, opening the door to the potions room.

We went in, Snape slamming the door behind us and setting me on his chair. "Stay here," he ordered.

Where was I going to go?

He went to his storage cabinet and grabbed two vials. "Drink this," he said.

I did, and my headache dulled immediately.

He handed me another one.

"What's this?"

"Dreamless sleep potion. Take it for the next two weeks."

"But mom—"

"That vision may have been a well placed hallucination by the dark lord. You are not to act on any of it."

"You can't be—"

"Do not make me tell you again," he said, his tone dropping dangerously.

I glared at him, standing up, but stayed silent.

He sat at his desk and organized a stack of papers. "Next week I'll be giving you a stronger potion than the one you've been taking. You are not excused from class so I recommend you take your seat."

At the end of class, I lingered behind.

"If you think I've changed my mind in an hour, you've—"

"She's your sister," I said, eyes brimming with tears.

Snape leveled his eyes with mine. "I'm painfully aware of that fact."

I left the room then, heading straight to Gryffindor tower with a plan forming in my mind.

*****

Fred and George were right where they usually spent their evenings; sitting in the Gryffindor common room using underclassmen as test subjects for their latest products. Hermione glared from the corner as I approached Fred.

"Can I talk to you?" I asked.

He nodded, surprise etched in his features as he stood.

"Oy, where are you going?" George asked, holding a pail for a first year that was puking violently.

"I'll be right back," Fred said, grabbing my hand and dragging me out of the common room. He led me through halls until we got to an abandoned classroom, when he cast a silencing charm and then turned to me.

"I'll start," he said. "I think you want me to apologize, but I'm not sure why."

I stared at him, frowning.

"See, I wanted to be there for you, and if that was an invasion of your space than I'm sorry, but I really think I like you and I know you feel something for me, so I think we need to work it out. Do you feel something for me? I'd really like to know, because usually girls don't do this to me, and I don't think you realize—"

"Fred," I said finally. "I'm a seer, and I just had a vision of my mom being murdered. Could we talk about the other stuff later?"

He paused, then his brows knit together. "Er, ok. What?"

I told him about the vision, about Snape, Dumbledore, and the potion.

"And they don't believe you at all?"

"No. But if I don't do anything, she'll die. Because of me."

He draped an arm over my shoulders. "Don't think that, Kat. We'll figure something out."

"I have an idea, but it's kind of crazy."

"Does it involve you getting into danger?"

"Maybe."

He shook his head. "No."

"Just hear me out."

*****

The wizard at the apothecary seemed reluctant to sell me anything. His handlebar mustache covered a skeletal face sheathed in shadow, and I shivered, rethinking the idea. Fred was at Zonko's; I'd told him it would be better if we weren't seen together. I didn't want the owner recognizing us. Sneaking out of school grounds was one thing, but buying a dangerous potion was another.

"Aren't you Snape's niece?" he asked before I could utter a word.

I cringed. So much for not being recognized…

"No," I lied, rather terribly, approaching the counter.

He raised an eyebrow but didn't push the subject, and I glanced around. It was as if he'd taken designing tips from Snape; jars of picked god-knew-what sat on shelves that lined the entire room, and various herbs and dried plants hung from one wall. On the opposite wall, there were vials.

Once I spotted them, I changed route, throwing him an innocent smile and examining the labels. After a moment I shrugged, disappointed. The potions were harmless, weak, and cheap. Nothing close to what I needed.

I went back to the counter. "Um, do you have any, uh, polyjuice potion?"

"Polyjuice potion, eh?" he said, eyes sparkling; I'd finally proven interesting.

I smiled, irritation growing. This guy must have been in Slytherin, I thought vindictively.

"I do have some more, sensitive, potions stocked up in the back, but I doubt you can afford them," he said, derisiveness infecting his words like a poison.

I raised an eyebrow, lifting the sack of coins from my purse and letting it drop onto the table, the galleons clinking together noisily.

"You shouldn't assume," I replied coldly.

His look became increasingly friendly, and he nodded his head in apology. "If you'll just wait here for one moment," he said, retreating to the back.

My hands were sweating as I waited, afraid that he would call Snape—of course I knew my uncle came here for his goods, but where else could I get it? And Umbridge was checking the mail by now, I was sure.

So I waited.

He returned a few minutes, later, handing me a large vial of it. "The price will be considerable, of course," he said, voice slimy.

I fought the urge to roll my eyes. "Of course." Then I had an idea. Returning his smile with one of my own, I took an extra five galleons out. "For your, discretion," I said, trying to imitate Malfoy's cold sneer.

It must have worked. The wizard nodded. "It would be my pleasure, madam."

I'm sure, I thought.

"Did you get it?" Fred asked as we snuck back into honeyduke's.

"Yeah," I said.

"I still don't like this idea," he said, frowning in the tunnel a few minutes later.

"As long as Snape's gone—"

"I know the plan. It's just dangerous."

I raised an eyebrow. I had to infiltrate Malfoy manor and get my mother out before anyone suspected I wasn't Snape.

"Piece of cake," I muttered, thankful that he couldn't see my frown.

*****

Taking the potion had been harder than I thought, but Fred slipped me a set of robes over the bathroom small, grimacing when I came out.

"What?" I asked, smoothing down my robes. I laughed slightly; I was taller than Fred.

"It's just, you look like my teacher, but you're my—" he scrunched up his nose in distaste, unable to finish the thought.

I grinned. "Haha, sorry to digust you, babe."

"Ew, don't say that," he said, closing his eyes.

"Ok, we don't have much time, so I should get going."

"Er, Kat?"

"Yeah?" I said, raising an eyebrow.

"One, don't smile, don't grin, don't laugh."

"Oh," I said, sobering up. "Right."

"Two, your voice."

"Aw crap!" I pulled out my wand and muttered a word. "Voila!" I said, my voice suddenly low like my uncle's.

"That made it so much worse," he said, still making a face.

I snorted, opening the bathroom door.

"Wait!"

"What?"

"Are you sure you can convince a few death eaters that you're Snape?"

"Of course," I said, swallowing and walking out before he could say another word.

*****

I spotted Ron outside of the boy's bathroom Fred and I had been in.

"What are you doing, Mr. Weasley?" I said quickly.

Ron turned and glared. "Nothing," he said spitefully.

"Twenty points from Gryffindor for your cheek," I said curtly, stifling a smirk as Ron's scowl grew.

Like I could take away house points…

I walked away, fairly sure that Ron was flipping me off, and made my way through the castle. Snape was in a weekly faculty meeting that wouldn't be off for another hour, at which time I would either be back or in trouble. With that pleasant thought in mind, I walked down the path to Hogwarts gates, glad that Snape had taught me apparation a few days ago and hoping I wouldn't splinch myself.

Hagrid waved a weary greeting my way and I waved back, grinning before remembering that I was supposed to be sullen. He watched me, confused, as I quickened my pace, thankful when I reached the gates.

I closed my eyes after crossing them, twirling on the spot and thinking only of Malfoy Manor. My guts threatened to spill after I landed, and I looked around to see a patch of forest.

Great.

I hadn't thought that the bad guys would have a fidelius charm on their hideout… I meandered through the woods, thankful when a building loomed into view. With a deep calming breath, I took a step forwards, only to feel a firm hand pull me back.

Panicking, I turned and drew my wand only to be disarmed easily. Whoever he was wore a death eater mask, and even as I began to hyperventilate, I fought. I took him by surprise when my fist collided with his gut, and he let out a small grunt as I ran a few steps. I hadn't gotten far when a curse hit me in the chest, freezing me in place, and he ran up to me, breathing quickly.

Oh no, I thought. I'm going to die. I'm really going to die.

But he took of his mask, and Snape glared daggers at me.

Wordlessly, he put out his arm and I took it, sullen, as we apparated back to the gates of Hogwarts.

Once I gained my footing, he grabbed my arm and dragged me to the edges of the forest, sitting me down with a small push and beginning to pace. I watched him, silent, until finally the polyjuice potion wore off. I cast a small charm and even without speaking, I knew my voice was back to normal. Snape waved his wand and I was dressed in my own clothes instead of his spare robes.

Then he crouched down to face me. "What were you thinking?" he whispered.

I swallowed. "I needed to save—"

"Had I been a real death eater you would have been killed on the spot!"

"Well, I tried, and—"

"That wasn't some sort of test," he snapped. "That was not a game, and even if you thought our world was fiction for however long, that does not give you an excuse to act like a child!"

"I was trying to save my mother's life, since you won't do anything about it!" I screamed, standing.

"You would have only gotten yourself killed!"

"Would not!"

He paused, pinching the bridge of his nose as he paced angrily for a few more minutes. Then he stopped, not looking at me. "Have you no idea the gravity of this situation? Have you completely disregarded the consequences of your actions?"

I stayed silent.

He stalked off towards the gates and tears started to fall down my face.

I'd failed.

Miserably.

But I realized then that I wouldn't have come close even if Snape hadn't found me, that I really didn't have a plan, that my mother was as good as dead.

"Come on!" he shouted.

I followed silently, trying and failing to keep from crying.

Snape ignored me until we reached his office, at which point he dismissed me.

"Aren't you going to punish me?" I asked, sniffling. "Don't I have to do a month of detentions, or lines?"

"You've done quite enough," he said, not looking at me.

I nodded, heading up to Gryffindor tower.

He was right.

I took my potion and crawled under the covers, falling asleep quickly.

*****

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