A BIG THANKS TO EVERYONE WHO IS READING THIS!
DID I FAIL TO MENTION THAT I HAD STARTED WRITING THIS I THINK AROUND THE TIME THE PRISONER OF AZKABAN (BOOK) WAS OUT. THAT OR THE GOBLET OF FIRE. CHAPTERS 2 THRU WHAT EVER PROBABLY 5 OR 6 WILL BE NEWER, SINCE I ENDED UP SKIPPING TO HER SIXTH YEAR WITHOUT MUCH BEING SAID. BUT, I THOUGHT I'D ADD A LITTLE BIT HERE AND THERE ABOUT HER PAST AND ABOUT THE WAY BOTH SNAPE AND KATRINA ARE THINKING OF EACH OTHER. OKAY, MORE SNAPE THAN KATRINA, THOUGH SHE IS AT THE TENDER AGE WHERE SHE NEEDS TO EXPLORE.
ENJOY!
CHAPTER 4
A FIFTH YEAR STUDENT WITH MORE PROBLEMS
Arriving at Hogwarts days later, she walked into the Great Hall, and sat. Again Professor McGonagall brought in the first years, sorting them into their Houses. Katrina was not watching. The only person she would look at since the sorting started was Professor Snape. He would, from time to time, slowly glance in her direction, only to look away. Neither smiled when their eyes met.
Later that evening, Katrina was in the Common Room when a student approached her. "Professor Snape wants to see you in his office." she only nodded.
Slowly, she closed her book, brought it to her room, and went to see the Professor. As she walked, she wondered why he wanted to see her when he had not even come to visit her at The Leaky Cauldron after his drunken state.
When she reached his office, she waited after knocking. No answer, so she knocked once again. Finally hearing his voice, she entered. "You wanted to see me, sir?" She did not smile.
Neither did he for that matter. "Yes, come in." She walked to his desk, waiting for him to speak. "How was your birthday?" He was not looking at her when he spoke.
She let out an exasperated sigh. "You should know." again she sighed. "You were there that night."
"Is that why you're angry with me? Because I didn't get you anything?" He chanced a look at her.
A slight bit of shock covered her face. "Why would I be angry about that? For your information, that is not the reason I'm angry. I'm angry that you never returned to the pub after your drunken stupor. You know, the night I disaperated to your home with you."
He wiped his hand over his face. "Katrina, I am very sorry about that. What I might have said to you." He leaned back, grasping the arms of his chair. "I worry about you far worse than the other students here." He stood up, walking around to stand in front of her. "You are under age, work in a pub-having to deal with whom ever gets inebriated enough to harm you."
"I can take care of myself." She was becoming angrier. She was never weak when it came to taking care of herself. "I don't need anyone to watch over me!"
"Detention." He spoke harshly. More so than he had ever spoken to Katrina before.
She stood inches from him, becoming loud. "For what exactly? Speaking the truth, or hearing that my Professor, in all his drunkenness, tell me he thinks he loves me? Then he doesn't return to 'check up' on me after that!"
"You, young lady will be serving a very long detention this year."
"Oh goodie." Her voice was starting to sound just as deadly as his. "Guess I haven't been behaving have I? Not that it much matters, but why is it you're the only one whom has done that to me? Who are you protecting me from?"
Suddenly there was a knock on the door. "Severus." Professor McGonagall gasped almost out of breath. ""We have a serious problem at the front gates, and the Headmaster is in need of your assistance."
"Lets get going. Katrina, back to the Common Room." Snape ordered.
McGonagall and Snape left, leaving Katrina by herself. Without thinking, she followed them. Reaching the Gates, she noticed two people. Two people she knew immediately. She ran as fast as she could when she saw curses and hexes being cast from them. She ran past Snape-he yelling out for her.
When she reached the Headmaster, her parents simultaneously threw a curse at her. Quickly, Katrina pulled off her cloak, whipped it around, encasing the curse, dancing in a circle to grasp the curse in her hands. As she stared at the ball, she pulled her hands apart, intensifying it. She pushed her arms out, casting it back at her parents. Instantly they flew on their backs.
"Never come here again!" Katrina shouted. She walked up to the Gate, pushed it open far enough to walk though.
Professor Snape was right behind her. "Katrina!" He yelled, but she kept walking toward her parents. He grabbed her upper arm, forcing her to stop. As she was forced to look at him he said. "Let them leave."
"Listen to the man, you weak minded child." Katrina's mother growled as she stood up. "We are not leaving without her, though."
Severus pulled Katrina behind him. "She is not weak minded." He made sure his hands never left her, so he would know she was there. "She is one of the most brilliant students in the school."
"We want the girl." Katrina's father demanded. "We will kill you all to get her back."
"Severus." Dumbledore quietly spoke. "Take Katrina back to the castle."
Both Snape and Katrina looked at Dumbledore. Snape spoke first. "Headmaster, I think it prudent I stay to make sure that these people do not return."
Katrina walked around Snape, directly toward her parents. "You will not harm the people I care about."
Her mother stepped forward. "That is you greatest weakness, child." Her mother drew her wand, as did Katrina.
Neither spoke as they first started to cast spells at each other. It did not take long, her father joining in, fighting Katrina. Suddenly, she dropped her wand, moved her hands around in a circle- up to the sky, around to the ground and back to the sky. After a moment, as she chanted to herself, she closed her eyes. She was using a very ancient incantation.
As the Professors watched, Dumbledore held Snape back as Snape was wanting to protect the girl he had admired since last year. "Let her show us how strong she is, Severus." Dumbledore told him calmly.
As Snape watched, he had seen a bright light manifest from Katrina's hands. As Katrina opened her eyes, she pushed her hands out toward her parents. They flew back, Katrina dropping to her knees.
Professor Snape was the first to rush to her side as the others followed. All the teachers watched as Katrina's parents scurried clumsily to their feet, quickly disaperating. Both Dumbledore and Snape knelt down by Katrina as they heard her heavy breathing. They could not see her face-her hair hanging down.
"Katrina." Dumbledore said. "Let us get you to the hospital wing, so Madam Pomfry can check you over."
Her head shook, letting them know she was not going. Snape leaned over, grabbed her wand. "Katrina, take your wand."
For the first time she spoke. "No! I cannot take it!" her voice was strained.
"But why?" Snape asked.
"I cannot. Do not place it in my hands. I beg of you." her voice sounding as if she were weakened by the incantation. "If I take it, the power that is within me from the incantation will intensify and harm me further." She pulled up her sleeve on her left arm, revealing strange markings.
Dumbledore etched his finger tips over the markings on her arm. "These are very ancient. Each incantation that you have spoken is permanently marked upon your arm. Is it not?" Katrina nodded in agreement. He looked at all of the teachers, his eyes finally resting upon Snape. "Much like the Dark Mark."
Unconsciously, Snape touched his left forearm. "They will not fade, will they, Headmaster?"
"That I do not know. I must do some research on this."
Pulling herself together, Katrina finally spoke. "No need to, sir. I will tell you everything I know about these." She still was not looking up.
Snape touched her arm, running his fingers along the markings. "Can you stand, Katrina?"
"I'll be fine in a moment or two, sir." She sniffled, and it was then that Snape knew she had been crying.
Professor Dumbledore brought himself back to reality after becoming mesmerized by her markings. "We should give her some space to collect herself."
Professor Snape started to pull away when Katrina grasped his wrist. "Stay with me, Professor. Please." She whispered. "Professor Dumbledore?"
"Yes, Katrina." He answered.
"If you'd all wish to return to the castle, that is fine. I only ask for Professor Snape to stay."
"Dear girl. After what you have shown all of us- with your concern for our well being- you may have what ever it is you wish." He was standing, but touched her back in a fatherly way. "I will call for you in a few days time."
"Yes, sir. And thank you. " She choked out
As the Headmaster and the others left. Professor Snape felt a deeper concern for her. "Katrina, what is it? What can I do to help you?" He tried to touch her cheek, but she jerked away.
"Please, Professor. I need you to promise me that you won't go running back to the castle when you see my face."
"I do not think a few tears will send me running."
"It isn't the tears, nor my eyes. When a person casts these spells, they-they…"
"They what, Katrina?" Snape asked as she looked up. He wasn't shocked, just very concerned when he saw that one side of her face had turned red and the skin melted; as if she had her face placed in hot coals or a very hot fire.
"Most people are appalled by the look of me after an incantation." She went to hang her head, but Snape stopped her.
"Trust me, Katrina, I have seen far worse than this. Believe me when I say, I have seen a man, who was only as mall amount of whom he used to be. Your wound will heal, though I believe I should get you to Madam Pomfry so she can help the healing."
As soon as he stood, he held out his hand, which she gladly accepted. "Do you think that when we arrive back at the castle, the other students will be gone?"
"I am sure there will be students running around, Katrina." They started walking. "I am deeply sorry." They stopped in front of her cloak.
The Professor leaned down to retrieve it. "No! don't touch it. My-my parents curse is still on it. I don't want you to touch it and have it harm you as well."
He pulled his wand out, waving it over the cloak. It quickly disappeared. "It will be clean by morning." She looked up at him as they started walking. "Don't worry, the house elves will know to take caution when cleaning it."
They reached the oak doors, Katrina looking up at her Professor. "I can't have anyone seeing me like this."
"I will hold you close to me so no one will notice." He smiled down at her. He wrapped his arm around her, as she bowed her head, covering her face with her hair. Snape kept her close to him as they walked as quickly as they could to the hospital wing. "Poppy?" Snape yelled into the room full of beds. "Madam Pomfry." He looked to Katrina and said. "Katrina, please lay down."
Moments later, Madam Pomfry walked through the door. " Professor Snape. What…" She stops as she noticed Katrina laying on one of the beds. "Did we get into a fight with another student?" She rushed to the bed.
Snape answered, "Yes and no." Madam Pomfry pushed Katrina's hair to the side.
She gasped. "What happened?"
Katrina lied, "Acid spell."
"From a fifth year?" Madam Pomfry questioned. "Fifth years, let alone Seventh years know nothing of those…"
"Poppy, it was not a student." Professor Snape said. "Is there anything you have to help with the healing?"
"I've never had to deal with something like this before." Pomfry replied. "I will go check. I'll be only a few minutes."
As Madam Pomfry walked away, Katrina needed to ask, "Professor, I cannot go back to the Common Room like this."
"I will see what I can do, Katrina." He replied watching her. "If anything, you can stay in my office for the night."
She looked down at her hands. "It might take more than a day to heal." She whispered. Snape sat on the side of her bed, and she looked to the windows. "It usually takes about five days, depending on the incantation, or how many times it is chanted."
He placed one of his hands on hers. "As long as you need. I understand you do not want to return to your dormitory with the other Slytherins." He bowed his head, looking at their hands. "I believe it was a mistake putting you in my House."
She tried to smile. "It would have been a mistake to put me in any House." She replied looking down at their hands.
"Here we go." Madam Pomfry said walking up to the bed. "I need to clean out the wound and apply dressings. You will need to come back every day for new ones, and for me to check the healing process."
"Yes, Ma'am." Katrina answered without delay. Madam Pomfry started dressing the wound when she let out a gasp. "It isn't helping- I mean what you're doing, is it, ma'am?"
Ignoring Katrina, Madam Pomfry looked at Snape. "Severus, I have never seen this before!"
The Professor turned Katrina's head to examine her himself. "No, Katrina. It is making it worse." He sat, thinking, then replied. "I'll take her to my office. I will see if there is a potion to clean this out."
Madam Pomfry looked defeated. Katrina touched her hand, trying to smile. "I'm sorry I've been such a pain to you tonight, ma'am. Most magical doctors cannot fix this. I promise, I won't hold it against you."
Madam Pomfry smiled slightly. "If you need anything, dear, let me know." She handed Professor Snape bandages, and set them off on their way.
As they left the hospital, the Professor said, "This way, Katrina." He stopped at one of the portraits. "We will go to the dungeons a more private way." He spoke to the man in the portrait for a few moments, then walked through. Quietly, they walked down the stairs leading to a portrait close to the potions room. They then quickly walked to his office, finding very few students out.
As Professor Snape closed the door, Katrina turned toward him. "I'm sorry to put you out, sir. I promise I won't stay here any longer than necessary."
"You'll do no such thing, Katrina." Snape said walking up to her. "You may stay here as long as you wish." He touched the unscathed part of her face. "There is no time limit. If you choose to stay here for the entire term, then I will let you."
"I cannot put you out of your office, sir."
"Let me find a potion, so you can start healing." He walked to his desk, but instead of sitting, he faced the enormous bookcase.
"Professor?" She asked after a few minutes of silence.
"Yes, Katrina." He turned toward her, letting her know she had his full attention.
"There is nothing-not even a potion to heal this." She touched her cheek. "This is the repercussions of my incantation. Anything done to it, magic or not, will cause it to spread and possibly even scar."
"I'll see to it that you don't have to attend classes. I will speak with the Headmaster about teaching you here, until you recover."
"May I go with you, sir?" As she looked at the Professor, she couldn't tell what he was going to say. "I'd like to talk to him about my marks."
Snape smiled. It seemed like she was the only one who could make him feel h um an anymore. "Katrina, I find it very hard to say no to you." He proceeded to walk around his desk. Grabbing her hand, he wrapped it around his arm.
As they left his office, Katrina bowed her had. She had heard footsteps around her, but could not see. Not that she cared who they were. She pulled her body closer to the Professor, hiding her marks from everyone. As Snape wrapped his arm around her, he guided her through the castle to the entry to the Headmaster's office.
Katrina felt it necessary to speak before they reached Professor Dumbledore's office. "I'm sorry I'm putting you through this, Professor. Having you help conceal my face from the others."
He lifted her chin to have her look at him. "You not need apologize, Katrina. I might look disgusted on the outside…" He smiled at her. "…but, I am finding it rather enjoyable having your companionship. No matter how much you touch me, without permission."
Her smile brightened the night sky, "You enjoy every second of it. But, what I don't understand, is why you are always so spiteful to others."
They reached the top of the stairs leading to Dumbledore's office. "That story is for another time."
Professor Snape knocked on the Headmaster's door. Walking in, they approached the Headmaster at his desk. "I did not think I'd see you again tonight, Katrina." Dumbledore had a look of concern on his face. "Katrina, you have never hung your head around me."
Professor Snape s poke for her. "If I am not mistaken, Katrina is almost ashamed by what happened earlier." He pulled Katrina with his arm around her waist. "Not that she fought her parents, but the repercussions of her incantation."
"More than the mark?" Katrina nodded to the Headmaster. "This is why you are not looking at me?"
"Yes, sir." Katrina said. "I do not want to disgust you by my disfigurement."
"My dear, Katrina. There are things I have seen in my life that would scare others to death." Dumbledore spoke gently. "I do not think what ever it is, that it will disgust me." She looked up at him, showing him what happened. He walked over to her. "This is what happens when one chants an ancient incantation?"
"Yes, sir." Katrina answered.
Snape spoke for concern over Katrina. "Poppy tried to clean the wound. It had spread further. I have turned my office into a room for Katrina until she heals. Also, I felt the need for her not to return to classes until she is fully healed.
"I could attend classes, Headmaster." Katrina spoke. "But, I would probably scare most of the students."
"Certainly." Dumbledore said examining her face. "Completely understandable. For now, you will stay in Professor Snape's office. Tomorrow possibly we could turn one of the empty rooms down there into a more livable space."
"Yes," Snape said. "I wouldn't mind keeping her close, just in case she is in need of anything."
Professor Dumbledore moved to sit at his desk. "Katrina, if you wouldn't mind, I would like to speak with Professor Snape for a bit."
For the first time, she actually looked scared. The first time she had shown any weakness. "No one will be outside the door, Katrina." Snape reassured her. "I won't be but a moment."
After Katrina walked out, Professor Snape closed the door, walking to the Headmaster. "Severus, I know how you care for the girl." He slowly lifted his hand to the doorway where Katrina waited on the other side. "I would hope you wait for things to happen until after she leaves the school."
"Headmaster, I would do no such thing! She is-" He paused to collect his thoughts. "Albus, I do care for her. More than any other student that has ever stepped foot in here since I started teaching." He looked up at the Headmaster. "But, I know she is still a child."
"I'm glad that you understand, Severus."
"But, I would like…" He let out a deep sigh. "I would like for her to spend the summer holidays with me. I want to know she is in the safest hands possible, in case her parents return."
"Yes, yes. My thoughts exactly." Dumbledore agreed. "After what had happened tonight, I will allow her to be placed under your ward."
"If that is all, Albus." Snape stood, turned to look at the door. "I would like to see Katrina to my office. Help her rest as comfortable as possible." He could not help but think of how amazing she was. He wanted more than anything for her to age a little faster-for the years to fly by, so that she would be of age. He wanted to love her the way she deserved now, not in two more years.