(Trigger warning)

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xx DCAGP

Katherine swirled her finger around the ring of moisture her glass had left on the table top, staring down into her textbook. Outside the windows of the Three Broomsticks, snow fell in heavy curtains as students bustled by, the cold air alive with the sound of chatter and laughter. Meredith had made a date with that Connor boy from Ravenclaw, leaving her friend alone to wander Hogsmeade. Kate had found her way to the small pub, bundled up in a thick coat and knit hat and her book bag full. She had found an open table in the back of the pub, hidden away from the constant student traffic. The goblet of ginger wine sat untouched in front of her, a plate of nibbled pumpkin pasties turning cold besides it. Her books were laid out in front of her, her eyes darting between the print and her notes, her glasses sliding down her nose. Her potions book was propped open in her lap, Kate scribbling notes in the margins with a muggle pen. She had always preferred them over quills. Much easier to use and store. Her dad had preferred them too. She had joked with him that he was obsessed with the things, stuffing as many as he could into their kitchen drawers. He was unlike other wizards she had always thought, always intrigued by the simplicity and near laziness of the muggle world.

She brought her pen to her lips, sucking on the cap lightly as she scanned over her next batch of notes. Ancient Ruins, what an utterly useless class. She never quite enjoyed it as she found the subject matter rather dense. She had hoped to take Advanced Herbology in its place, but to her misfortune the class had reached capacity before she could enroll. Her eyes strayed from her loopy handwriting to the crossed wand and bone crest that peeked out from behind her Defense Against the Dark Arts notes. She sighed, pulling the internship application out from under the mess of parchment and lifting the goblet in from of her to her lips and taking a long drink. Once again she thought of her father, coming home in his Healer robes, the exhaustion of the day hidden behind his warm smile. She had always imagined following in her father's footsteps, working alongside him at St. Mungo's after her time at Hogwarts came to an end. But after his death, living her father's legacy didn't have the same magic as it did when she imagined it during the early month of that summer. It was bittersweet now; the idea of standing where he stood, doing what he did, wearing what he wore. She was unsure of it, the heartache a little heavier as the deadline for the application crept closer. McGonagall was unhelpful, the Head of House just telling the girl to "follow her heart" when she spent hours at a time in her office, crying over her uncertainties. Katherine set the application down, sighing heavily as she ran her fingers through her hair, stretching slightly in her seat and draining the rest of her glass. She set the goblet down heavily, looking up to get the attention of a server.

Before she could even spot a server, a full goblet slid in front of her. She looked up, startled by the identity of the goblet's presenter. "Oh," she said, startled, "Hello, Angus."

The dark haired Hufflepuff smiled down at Katherine awkwardly, his long dark locks pulled back into a bun behind his head. "Hello, Katie," his Scottish brogue shook nervously, "I, erm, I saw that your glass was empty."

Kate stared blankly at her ex boyfriend, nodding gently to show her appreciation, "Thank you," she said flatly. She turned her eyes back to her papers, the memories of their bitter breakup flooding to the forefront of her mind. She pushed his presence away from her thoughts, reading the same sentence over and over until she could regain her focus. Angus cleared his through, Katherine's eyes snapping back up to him, narrowing slightly with annoyance. He gestured to the chair across from her, "May I sit?"

"I'm sure you're capable," she kept her eyes on her notes, cringing slightly as Angus dragged the wooden chain against the stony ground. He sat across from her, resting his forearms against the table, watching her ignore him. A few uncomfortable moments of silence passed before Katherine looked up from her notes once more, taking a sip from the glass, "May I help you, Angus?"

The young man swallowed, reaching out to take her hand, which she pulled off of the table and into her lap, "Katie, I just want to talk,"

"You lost the right to call me that and the right to talk to me a long time ago, Angus," she snapped, tossing back the rest of her ginger wine.

Angus nodded, wringing his hands, "I understand. I know I made a mistake, but please, just give me a chance to redeem myself,"

Katherine started to gather her notes, shoving them aggressively into her bag, "If I recall the events that took place correctly, Angus, you shagged Abigail Johansson. While you were dating me. I don't believe that deserves an opportunity to 'redeem' yourself." She stood, tossing her bag over her shoulder and gathering her coat, "So quite frankly, Angus, my answer is no. Good day."

Angus stood as well, crossing the table to block her way, "Katie, please. I made a mistake."

"Get out of my way, Angus ," she snapped, her voice low and cheeks growing hot as she tried to push away from him, "I'm not kidding, Angus, get out of my way," the long haired boy didn't budge, trying to bargain with the young girl who wanted nothing to do with him. He continued to close the distance between them, Kate's heart beating irregularly when he backed her up against a wall. She winced as his open palm came into contact with the stone wall beside her. "Please go," she breathed her voice a begging whisper.

"I believe she asked you to leave, Mr. MacElfrish."

Both students turned to face the young professor. Katherine let out a breath she didn't know she was holding, a sense of relief coming with Severus's stiff presence. Angus stuffed his hands in his jacket pockets, nodding before muttering something to Katherine and disappearing into the pub. Katherine held her books and coat to her chest, her back still pressed against the wall. Severus loosened his scarf, noticing the startled nature of the young girl. Her cheeks were pink, yet her lips pale and eyes wide. She truly looked frightened. Severus felt himself soften, remembering the torment of the years prior and that shrinking feeling in the pit of his stomach that the girl must have been feeling now as he stood there. Severus motioned for the girl to follow him, "Come along now, Miss Blakewood."

She cleared her throat and pushed her hair back out of her eyes, "It's quite alright Professor Snape, I believe that I'll be returning to my dormitory now."

She started towards the door, Severus striding to her side, "I shall accompany you then," he said flatly, his body tensing as he followed her out into the brisk air. She remained a few steps ahead of him, stumbling in the snow as she tried to hurry away from him and the discomfort of the situation. Severus followed close behind still. She curse softly as she tripped, sending her books and papers flying into the snow. She let out an exasperated sigh, dropping to her knees and collecting her things. Severus crouched down next to her, students passing around them as they quietly collected her things. He placed her potions book over a copy of a muggle hardback, adding them to the stack of thick books. Severus continued to gather her things, saying quietly, "If you feel as if Mr. MacElfrish poses a danger to your safety , do not hesitate to take it up with-,"

"I'm fine, Severus," she gathered her things, standing and turning to face her professor, "I've dealt with many men like that in my lifetime. My mother married one, for Merlin's sake. I can take care of myself."

Severus nodded, walking alongside her as they made their way to the castle. The girl tried to draw her face into the collar of her coat, regretting her decision to not wear a scarf as the winds picked up and the snowflakes bit at her cheeks. She looked over when Severus cleared his throat, his eyes forward as he held his thick knit black scarf out for his student. She took it hesitantly, wrapping it around her neck as she thanked him. He nodded, "Shall you be returning home for the holidays tomorrow?"

She nodded, suddenly remembering that she needed to pack for her visit home for the holidays. Her heart sunk at the thought of visiting her mother's home in Boston for Christmas, "I shall be. I'll be returning to my mother's home tomorrow night by portkey, unfortunately."

"You're not pleased to be returning?"

"Like I said, my mother's husband is loathsome. Drinks his life away and becomes even more of an ass when he's drunk. Pathetic excuse of a human being, I don't know why she stays with him." She said.

Severus nodded, "Has he been violent towards you?"

"No," she said, the hesitance in her voice telling Severus that it was a topic she didn't care to discuss.

Katherine's trunk shook and rumbled against the cobblestone as she walked along the scarlet train. Her owl, Pigmy, hooted softly in his cage, flapping his wings in exasperation as it teetered on her trunk. Students bustled about the platform at Hogsmeade Station, waving goodbye to friends and lugging their trunks onto the train. Some teachers boarded too, headed back to King's Cross to return home for the holidays. Meredith's younger brother stepped out of the train, taking Katherine's things to their compartment. Katherine stood out on the platform, waiting for the conductor's last call to board before joining her friends. McGonagall stood in the middle of the chaos, waving goodbye to the excited mass of students as they boarded. Katherine turned, taking in the sight of the snow dusted castle. It really was a beautiful sight, one she would miss when she made the final train ride in the spring.

Her attention was pulled from her sightseeing when a barn owl came to rest on the low platform wall in front of her, a fold of parchment tucked in her beak. She tucked it into her talons, squawking loudly and flapping her wings at Katherine wildly. She looked around her, no other students paying mind to the bird. Katherine wrinkled her eyebrows, reaching forward to take the fold from the owl. She hooted happily, Katherine stroking her feathers as she opened the fold, reading;

Miss Blakewood,

If you find yourself in need of assistance, do not hesitate to contact me.

Yours,

S.

Katherine smiled, tucking the fold into the pocket of her jeans, the owl taking flight. She leaned against the small wall; staring back up at the castle and watching the bird fly towards the Astronomy Tower.

Severus closed the book he had been reading, a muggle novel recommended to him by Katherine during one of their grading sessions. A long story about a young girl dealing with the social issues of women growing up in during the British Regency. An interesting read, but quite bland, like most muggle literature. He set the book in his lap, enjoying the heat of the blazing fireplace of his quarters on his face. He looked back upon his engagements with the student. She had wrote to him a few nights prior, telling him of his mother's antics, her annoyance of American transportation, her excitement to be able to return to a dance studio and practice ballet over the break (something Severus didn't know she practiced until recent) and of her step father's drinking. At the end of her letter, she wrote that she missed him and their time together and that she looked forward to seeing him soon, which filled Severus with a joy he was not familiar with.

It was quite ridiculous really, the time he spent with her. It was horribly inappropriate; the kiss, the nights she spent in his private quarters. The nature of their relationship was vilely inappropriate and would result in serious consequence if the Headmaster were to discover it. It was foolish of him, to feel this way of another so quickly. He hardly knew the girl. And shit, what was this feeling even? Infatuation? The enjoyment of companionship? Lust? He had spent many nights in her company rolling over her body with his eyes, taking in the curves and slips of undergarment that he felt were almost being shared purposefully, only to imagine as he laid in bed that night what her naked body would look like under his sheets. Thoughts he would push from his mind, knowing the inappropriate nature of them, but the thoughts revisiting him in his sleep. But other than the physical attraction, he felt an emotion pull towards the young girl. He found himself able to laugh around her, to speak freely and to not have to mask himself behind a mask of mundane annoyance. He smiled when he thought of her. Something he hadn't done since he had Lily in his life.

Severus stood, crossing the room to the window, his hands crossing behind his back as he stood and stared at the stars through the windows. He wondered in the nights before if he was using her. She was so much like Lily; so strong and full of life. He wondered if he was using her presence to fill the void of her friendship that he lost years ago, losing her fully last fall. But Kate was so unlike Lily in so many ways. He watched as a star crossed the winter sky, his thoughts transitioning from Lily to Kate.

He thought of their kiss. Of thought of her friendship. He thought of her. She was his friend. And his friendship was returned.

He missed her as well.

He thought of writing her again. Tomorrow would be Christmas Eve and the thought of wishing her a happy Christmas crossed his mind. But she had said in her letter that her mother was hosting a party tonight. She'd be preoccupied. Severus stepped away from the window, deciding to retire to bed as he entered his bedroom. He worried for her. Her step father's behaviors, from the way she described, reminded him of his own father.

Severus slipped out of his trousers and button down, replacing his trousers with a pair of lightweight black pajama pants, moving towards the lavatory to brush his teeth before making his retiring for the night. Before he could enter the lavatory, he paused as the room turned a green color, the doorway illuminated in the light of an open Floo network. Severus's face wrinkled with confusion, quickly replaced by curiosity towards his late night visitor. The loud unmistakable sound of a body hitting stone made Severus jump, snatching his wand off his bed and slowly making his way towards the doorway. The green light ceased, replaced by the sound of soft sobs. Severus quickened his pace, stepping into the doorway and gasping at what he saw.

She laid there in front of his fireplace, her head in her arms as he sobbed. Her sweater was torn open, her floral skirt spotted with blood. The one heel she still wore was broken and her stockings torn. She was already bruising. She looked up at his, her face a watery mess of tears and blood. The bruise under her eye was already blossoming purple, her bottom lip swollen and bloody. Her knuckles where bruised and bloody. She let out another sob, Severus running to her and tossing his wand on the floor before taking her in his arms, "I'm sorry," she sobbed, "I didn't know where else to go."

She broke into a fresh wave of sobs, Severus stroking her hair as her rocked her gently, "Don't be sorry, Kate," he whispered, "You're safe, Kate, you're safe."

Kate pressed her hands against his bare chest and buried her face in his neck, trying to push away the terror of the events prior, leaving the potion master's ivory skin stained with blood and tears. He just held her, rocking her as if she were a child and stroking her hair. "Who did this to you?" he asked, his voice a quiet whisper. But he already knew the answer when she looked up into his eyes, burst blood vessels staining the whites of her own red as she whispered her step father's name.

Severus nodded and lifted the girl into his arms with a strength she didn't know his lean body possessed. She kept her face locked in the crook of his neck, shaking and trying to catch her breath through the sobs. He carried her into the bedroom, still whispering comforting words to the shaking and inconsolable girl, helping her to lie down as he took his wand to her body, muttering the spell to heal the bloody wounds. Rage burned in the potion master's body as he watched the girl's blood reenter her body, disgusted knowing that another man did this to her. Katherine began to whisper through her sobs, "He was absolutely mad, Severus," she cried, "Absolutely mad."

Severus took her face in his hands, forcing her to look at him, "He will never touch you again," he whispered, the tears running down her bruised face igniting the fire of rage that burned his body, "I'll never let him touch you again, Katherine. I promise you that."

Katherine stayed upright as she slipped her arms around Severus again, the potions master freezing in her embrace, "I didn't know where else to go," she was shaking in his arms, her tears wet on his shoulder.

"You are safe here, Katherine."

She nodded, trying to steady her sobs. He stood, turning to the chest of drawers at the foot of the bed, removing from it two vials of potions. He held one out to her, "It will reverse the bruising," he said softly, holding her shaking hand steady as she brought it to her lips. She swallowed, the potion instantly taking effect.

"I wish to change," she whispered, Severus nodding. He turned to his wardrobe, removing from it a button down that he offered the terrified girl.

"Take the second potion once you are changed. It will help you to sleep," He instructed.

She nodded, Severus turning to leave the room and allow her to change.

"Severus?" she whispered, the young man turning to face the battered woman. She twisted the shirt in her hands, "Thank you,"

He nodded, instructing her to sleep before closing the door behind him. He stood with his back against the door, listening as her clothing rusted to the ground and the pause before she settled into his bed. Severus stepped away from the door and retrieved his wand from where he had thrown it upon her arrival. He took to a bottle of Firewhisky, pouring himself a glass before placing himself in front of the fireplace, sitting on the edge of the chair, his elbows resting on his knees, bringing his glass to his lips and emptying the glass in a single swallow. The burning liquid was numbed by his anger, his pulse roaring in his ears and he stared at the dying fire.

Wand at the ready. Waiting.