Swept From the Past

Chapter 26: A Slytherin's heart - part two

Professor Burns entered her office and slammed the door. She'd had enough of hearing people muttering behind her back. She could feel the stares of the students. And that bloody Trelawney, who kept analysing her astral theme! Her great love? A blond man with blue eyes? Trelawney had only based her stupid interpretation on The Daily Prophet!

Gilderoy Lockhart... Burns grimaced. Why did everyone think she had dated him? Damn that Lola Portman! Burns had never dated James Potter, Remus Lupin, or Peter Pettigrew! As for Sirius, she had just married him. They had never dated!

Burns was irritated, especially because of the rumour about Potter. Harry Potter was her son now? Since when? It was difficult enough for the boy to accept that she had married his godfather!

Thinking of that... Burns walked to her Pensieves. She had many memories to sort out, and not much time to do it. She saw the image of Lily and the Marauders in the Pensieve and didn't hesitate...

***

Hogwarts, beginning of January, Katarina's seventh year.

Katarina entered her common room. Lily was seated on a chair next to the fire with James, Sirius, Remus, and Peter. The Marauders chatted animatedly about the next trick they wanted to play on Filch. Lily sighed and looked desperate. Kat knew that was because Lily hadn't managed to convince them to abandon their idea.

"Lily," Katarina said seriously. "Can I talk to you?"

"Don't you want to talk to me first?" Sirius asked with a seductive smile. "I'm very understanding, you know..."

"Oh, God!" Katarina replied. "Stop it, Sirius! I hate when you do this... That's really unpleasant!"

Sirius smirked, then smiled again. "Maybe you should teach me how to please you." He winked.

"Pathetic..." Katarina replied. She sighed. "Lily?"

"Yes, I'm coming," Lily replied.

"Hey!" James exclaimed. "Where are you taking my girlfriend?"

"Somewhere boys are not allowed," Katarina replied, "where they're eaten by Skrewts, and where indigenous people use their bones to cook supper..."

James looked at her suspiciously.

"The girls dormitory!" Katarina exclaimed.

"Oh!" James replied. "And what do you want to tell her?" he asked.

"I won't tell you!" Katarina said with a laugh. "Girls stuff. It won't interest you anyway."

"It's about me?" Sirius said with a luscious look on his face.

"Yes, it's about you," Katarina replied. She rolled her eyes. "It's about you and all the other perverts in the world. Come on, Lily!"

Lily and Katarina left the common room. The boys stared at them, especially Sirius and James.

"What did you want to tell me?" Lily asked when they were alone. She sat on Katarina's bed.

"It's not... easy to tell..." Kat replied awkwardly.

"Is it about James?" Lily asked. She looked a little frightened.

"No... it's about... me... and someone..." Katarina replied.

"Is it Sirius?" Lily exclaimed. "You both discovered you were in love and you're dating? But you want it to be secret?"

"No!" Kat replied, outraged. "Lily, you do know that Sirius is just a friend! No date with him! At all! Never! That would be weird. Badly weird," she added with a grimace.

"Oh..." Lily replied, a disappointed expression on her face. "So," she suddenly became more enthusiastic. "You... and someone..."

"Yes..." Kat responded.

"Is he in Gryffindor?" Lily queried. "Oh no, he must be in Ravenclaw! I've seen this cute guy who--"

"Lily!" Katarina interrupted sharply. "Please, stop doing this! I'm trying to tell you something difficult and... important, very important."

Lily didn't say a word.

"I'm... dating someone who--"Katarina said.

"You already date him!" Lily exclaimed. "Why haven't you told me--" Kat threw a reproachful look at her. Lily didn't finish her sentence. "Ok, I know, shut up, Lily!" Lily added in a lower voice.

"Please, promise you won't tell anybody!" Katarina pleaded. "I won't tell you if you don't swear it!"

"Ok, ok," Lily grumbled.

"Especially to James!" Katarina said.

"Ok, ok," Lily said again. "Wait a minute. Don't tell James... it's not Sirius, so it can be a Gryffindor! Is it Longbottom? No, he already dates Alice... or it can be Remus! Or... no, it's not Peter! It's not James, at least?" she exclaimed.

"Will you shut up?" Katarina shouted. "Oh God, I won't tell you anything!" she stood up. She felt really irate.

"Wait a minute, Kat!" Lily exclaimed. "Sorry! Promise, I'll shut up! Just tell me!!!"

"If I tell you," Katarina retorted, "you'll say his name very loud and everyone at school will know!"

"No, I won't! I swear I won't!" Lily pleaded.

"Nobody has to know, you understand!" Katarina said. She sat back on her bed.

"Ok..." Lily replied.

"It's someone that Sirius and James don't like at all," Katarina murmured.

"So, he must be a Slytherin," Lily said in a low voice.

"Yes," Katarina responded. "Someone I... I really, really like... It seemed obvious to me that I had feelings for him when... the first time he kissed me."

"Where?" Lily whispered.

"Er... on the lips," Katarina replied. Her cheeks flushed.

"I know that, simpleton," Lily retorted, rolling her eyes. "I mean the geographic location."

"In the library," Kat responded awkwardly.

"But there are always people in the library," Lily remarked. "Did someone see you?"

"No, it was... at night," Katarina said.

"At night?" Lily retorted. She raised an eyebrow. "What were you doing with a boy in the library at night?"

"Oh, shut up!" Kat exclaimed at low voice. "I wasn't doing anything suspect with him! I was trying to prevent him from getting into trouble!"

"And he kissed you?" Lily asked.

"Yes, he kissed me..." Katarina replied. She smiled and blushed. "It was... Whaw! When I ran out of the library, that was the only word I could pronounce. It was really amazing! What I've felt..."

"Have you seen him since?" Lily demanded.

"Yes, I've seen him... very often..." Katarina replied. "I mean... as often as we can. After classes... during Hogsmeade's weekends... But I haven't spent time with him since last Friday... We need to hide, so it's not easy to be alone together."

"Do you think he loves you?" Lily asked.

"I don't know," Katarina responded. "He hasn't said anything... But he's not 'exactly' the kind of guy who expresses his feelings... And he kissed me first, so I guess it's an encouraging sign. Maybe he... likes me."

"And do you love him?" Lily queried.

"I told you I have... feelings for him," Katarina said, turning red. "I... I guess... Yes, I love him," she confessed. "I really love him. I didn't see it coming. The first time he kissed me, I realised I felt something strong for him already."

They didn't say anything for several long seconds. Lily, like Katarina, was deep in thought.

"Wait a minute!" Lily exclaimed. "You spoke about Hogsmeade's weekends! We only had two Hogsmeade's weekends! And we all went there. Except you, naturally, and... who was that Slytherin? James told me that--"

Her eyes became wide. She lost her voice for a few seconds.

"...Someone that Sirius and James don't like at all," she continued, "who's in Slytherin... who's not exactly the kind of guy who expresses his feelings... who didn't go to Hogsmeade... and you were trying to prevent him from having trouble in the library at night... It can't be... Severus Snape?" she added in a murmur. She looked completely stunned.

Katarina nodded.

"You're in love with Severus Snape?" Lily repeated, an expression of shock on her face.

"Yes," Kat avowed. "Please, don't tell anyone! If James and Sirius know, they'll be furious and they'll try to hex him! I don't want this to happen! I don't want him to be injured because of me!"

"Severus Snape," Lily repeated again. "Your awful Potions tutor, who has tormented you since sixth year?" She still looked shocked.

"Yes," Kat said, becoming angry. "Severus Snape, the Slytherin who teaches me potions and kisses me madly at the end of the class. I shouldn't have told you, you'll repeat it!" She sobbed. "Do you know what Sirius and James will do to him if they learn about us?"

"I won't repeat it!" Lily said, probably to comfort her. "I promise! I'm just surprised... you never seemed to like each other, so it sounds strange in my ears. After all, I don't know him... Maybe he's nice... I mean... not so bad and mean," she continued.

"He's not bad and mean," Katarina replied. "Not at all... I mean... he's just a little hard to understand at the beginning. But he can be very kind and tender..."

"Whaw!" Lily exclaimed. "You really must love him!"

***

Captain Burns felt ridiculous. Even though that event had happened a long time ago, hearing Katarina confessing her... love for Snape made Professor Burns feel ill at ease... and angry. She was furious with herself. She would have wanted to slap Katarina on her face. To bring her to reason and destroy her stupid illusions. To tell her to quickly run away from the one who would destroy her life...

***

Remus Lupin had transformed into a werewolf. He was trapped in his cage. His body was that of a beast, but his mind was a man's. Except on the full moon, the potion allowed him to think like a human, although he was trapped under the appearance of a werewolf.

Miss Linsay watched over him. At least, she was seated on a chair, reading a book.

Harry had left the room a few minutes ago, followed closely by Dumbledore. Remus was sad. He had always known that Harry had been shocked by Sirius' death. But it was not easy for Remus to speak about that. His own wounds were not healed. First, he had lost James and Lily. Then Peter, who was believed to be dead, killed by Sirius. Katarina, who had disappeared suddenly after Hallowe'en. And Sirius, his old friend, who he had believed was a murderer.

Remus felt guilty to have believed such a thing. But the proof against Sirius had convinced Remus of his betrayal. Learning the truth had been hard.

And now, Sirius was dead. Remus had been mistaken about him for more than twelve years. He had got his friend back only two short years ago. But what were two years compared to twelve? How could he tell Harry to confide in him? He himself had not been able to confide in anyone.

The only person he had really managed to confide in was Katarina. She had seen him being bitten when they were very young. Remus' father had made the werewolf flee, but it was too late. Remus had been contaminated. Katarina had never revealed to anyone that he was a werewolf. Not even to Lily. And even now, after she had changed so much, she still had spared his life.

Had she really married Sirius? Why hadn't Padfoot told him? The werewolf had tried to ask Dumbledore, but his transformation had started before he had got a reply. He was sure of something: it wasn't a marriage based on love.

Remus felt pity for Severus. He knew that the Potions master was still in love with Kat. Remus could imagine how he would feel if his worst enemy had just married the woman he loved. A woman who had loved him in return.

Remus remembered how shocked he had been to learn that Severus and Katarina were dating...

***

Hogwarts, beginning of January, Remus' seventh year.

The Marauders were alone in the Gryffindor common room. Katarina had asked to speak to Lily.

"What do you think they're talking about?" Sirius asked James for the twentieth time. Remus thought Sirius could be really annoying sometimes.

"I don't know, Padfoot!" James exclaimed. "Stop asking me that every three seconds! Ask Moony, he knows her better!"

"Moony, what--" Sirius demanded.

"I don't know what they're talking about, and I don't care," Remus replied. "She asked for Lily, not for me. It must be something personal. And Lily's the best person for that. You'd better mind your own business, Padfoot. Honestly, you should leave her alone!"

"Are you jealous?" Sirius asked teasingly.

"Jealous? Of what?" Remus retorted. What did Sirius mean?

"That I'll be her boyfriend before the end of the year," Sirius said with a conqueror smile.

"You've been saying that since we were in first year," Remus replied. He laughed. "And I'm not jealous." Sirius and his stupid ideas... As if Remus had ever considered Kat a potential girlfriend. That would have been like dating a sister!

"But you do love her?" Sirius continued.

Remus cleared his throat, ill at ease. "She's my little Kat," he responded, blushing a little. "She's like a member of my family. I need to protect her!"

Sirius grimaced. "How can you consider her a sister?" he asked. "That's nonsense! She's too pretty to be considered a sister. Follow my advice: treat ugly girls like sisters and the pretty ones like girlfriends."

"I'll kick your arse if you get too close to her," Remus added with a smile. "That's a brother's place." Sirius had to be careful with Kat. Remus' role was to take care of her, especially since she was an orphan.

Several minutes later, Lily and Katarina came back downstairs. Katarina looked tired. Her eyes were a little red, as if she had been crying.

Remus wondered what was going on, but he didn't ask. Not here, in front of everyone. Kat knew he was there, if she needed to speak to him.

"What's up?" Sirius asked. He looked worried about her.

"Oh, mind your own business, Sirius!" Lily replied coldly.

"It's nothing," Katarina said kindly. "I'm just tired and I cry for no reason." She looked at her watch. "Oh, it's almost five o'clock. I have a Potions class to go..."

Just tired? Remus wondered if that was entirely true. She had asked for Lily, and returned crying. And Lily's response to Sirius was strange.

"Does Snivellus bother you?" Sirius asked.

Of course, Sirius would have been happy to make Snape responsible. Remus saw the light of revenge flashing in his eyes.

"Because I can curse him if you want!" Sirius continued. "It'll be my pleasure!"

No doubt it would be. Remus was glad Kat didn't know what they had almost done to Snape. What he had almost done to Snape when the Slytherin had discovered he was a werewolf. Remus had been forced to hide this awful event from her. Remus was disappointed. He had thought Sirius would have understood the lesson. But he obviously hadn't.

"What?" Katarina asked. "No," she responded absent-mindedly. "No need to curse anyone..." she continued. "Well, I'll see you all for dinner!" She left.

"She's behaving strangely," Sirius said.

"No, she's not," Remus replied. He frowned. Of course she was.

Remus borrowed James' invisibility cloak to spy on Kat during her Potions lesson. If Snape was responsible for her tears, he wanted to know. Remus hadn't said anything to his friends, especially to Sirius. Sirius would have cursed Snape, without being sure he was responsible for what happened to her! Remus put on the cloak and opened the door of the Potions class silently. He entered and closed the door behind him.

Katarina was seated at her desk. Snape was on her right, sitting on the chair next to hers.

"So, how do we get the repulse-pixies potion?" Snape asked, a strict look on his face.

"We... we add the chicken's legs, we mix it with the toad's extract and..." Kat stopped. She had seen Snape's expression.

"What have I forgotten?" she demanded, her eyes pleading.

"Everything!" Snape responded angrily.

Remus felt sad for Kat. Working with Snape! She was too sensitive to bear such a teacher!

"First, chicken legs!" Snape said sharply. "Mix it three minutes and a half! Then the asphodel, five minutes! The lilac essence, two minutes, the toad's extract and the mandragora roots, fifty minutes! I've already told you twice! You're not good at anything!"

Katarina sobbed. Remus frowned. He wondered if he should tell Sirius after all.

"I try, I swear I try!" Kat replied. "I hate Potions! I hate mixing things I don't know the use of! I hate using the body parts of dead animals to make stupid soups, which are not even the right colour! I'll never pass my Potions exam!"

"Calm down," Snape said. He hesitated. What was he going to do? Remus couldn't guess. Then he awkwardly caressed her cheeks to erase the tears that had flowed down them.

Remus nearly collapsed from the shock. It couldn't be... possible... Severus Snape being... almost tender? Snape? Tender with Kat?

"Er," Snape continued, looking ill at ease. He took out a greying hanky and stuffed it in her hand. Then he looked away. "Watch out," he said, "or your tears will ruin the potion."

Katarina stared at the hanky, and finally wiped her eyes.

"I didn't mean to be... rude," Snape said softly. "You're good at many things, especially at Defence Against the Dark Arts. You're amazing at it! Maybe I should use another method to teach you Potions? I was angry because you understood better last time."

Snape apologising? Snape complimenting Kat? Remus' eyes flew open wide. Was he dreaming? Was he witnessing a miracle?

"Are you all right, Kat?" Snape asked.

Remus couldn't breathe. Kat? He had called her Kat? Remus had never heard him calling her anything other than "Burns" or "Mudblood's friend." Remus would have found it strange to hear Snape call her "Katarina," but "Kat?" Was it a hallucination?

"No..." Kat admitted. "Severus, I... I hate when I lie to my friends. I feel so miserable and sorry!"

Remus listened attentively. So that was not a hallucination... that was just well-hidden secret she was afraid to reveal. But was it really what Remus thought? Were they...?

Snape hadn't replied yet. His features hardened. "So you think it's better to break up with me?" he said coldly.

Remus had his answer. They were together. Kat dated Snape. Remus shivered. He was glad he hadn't brought Sirius with him. A drama had been avoided. Remus stared at Snape. He looked hurt. But was it his pride or his heart that had been hurt? Difficult to know with Snape. Especially when Remus had just discovered the Slytherin had a heart.

"No!" Katarina replied. "I don't want to break up with you!" she sobbed again. "I don't want to..." she repeated. "I'd miss you too much..." she added in a whisper. Then she embraced him.

No more doubt concerning Kat. She loved him.

Snape was still stiff on his chair, but his features relaxed. "No tears," he said. "Remember about the potion..." He slowly put his arms around her. He didn't squeeze her as much as she did, but his slight embrace seemed to intensify a little.

Remus would have never thought he'd see Snape being so kind with someone. Between Snape's heart and his pride, Remus was sure it was not his pride that had been hurt. If Snape had followed the way of pride, he would have never acted that way with Kat. She was a Gryffindor, and he hated Gryffindors.

"Everything will be all right Kat," Snape said. "And I don't want to break up with you either." He kissed her tenderly.

"He loves her," Remus thought. "Definitely."

***

Meanwhile, Captain Burns returned her own memories of the same incident to her Pensieve. She snorted, shocked by her naivety. She wouldn't give those memories to Potter. Much too embarrassing. The boy would collapse from laughter. Burns pointed her wand at the same Pensieve to see the following memory...

***

Hogwarts, beginning of January, Katarina's seventh year.

Katarina had left the Potions class. On the way to reach her common room, she was intercepted by Remus.

"Kat, we need to talk," he said.

"I feel better now, Remus," she responded. "Believe me, I'm fine!"

"I know," Remus retorted. "That's precisely the subject I wanted to talk about."

"Did... Did Lily say something?" Katarina asked, anxious. Did Remus know? What would he say? Katarina gulped.

"No, she didn't say anything," Remus replied. "But I've discovered your secret by myself."

"How?" Katarina asked.

"Well," Remus replied awkwardly, "I just... guessed."

"You guessed?" Katarina repeated. She snorted. "You're a bad liar, Remus. I'm sure you just spied on me! You didn't have the right!" she said angrily. So Remus knew the truth?

"All right," Remus admitted, "But I didn't want to spy on you, just to follow you to know what was happening... I didn't think that I'd see you kissing Severus Snape this afternoon in the Potions class..."

"Remus, I--"Katarina said. How could she make him understand the situation?

"You don't need to defend yourself," Remus interrupted. "I know what it is to keep a heavy secret. And I also know that James, Peter, and Sirius particularly wouldn't be 'happy' to learn the truth... But I wonder why you didn't tell me..."

Katarina was surprised by Remus' attitude. She thought he would have been angry, disappointed. Something like that.

"I wanted to," Kat replied awkwardly, "but I knew that the boys would have asked you too many questions. I told Lily, because I needed to speak to someone... And... I feared your reaction. You're sometimes a little overprotective, and I didn't know--"

"...if I would accept that Snape and you are in love with each other?" Remus continued. He smiled slightly.

"Yes..." Kat admitted. Remus was much more understanding than she thought.

"It's not as if I was pleased," Remus said. "You know that Snape and I don't get along. But... that's your decision, and I'm happy for you."

"Thank you, Remus," Katarina replied. "I'm relieved you know the truth." She paused. "Er... Do you really think Severus is in love with me?" she asked shyly. If only he could be right!

"Er," Remus replied. He cleared his throat. "I guess... er... maybe..." There was an awkward silence. Katarina knew that in Remus' language, it meant something like "yes, I think he's in love with you."

***

Harry was walking in the corridors with Hermione, Neville, and Ron. He had said to his friends that he had seen Lupin, but he hadn't mentioned what they had talked about. It was too personal. Later, he would talk about a few things with Hermione. Maybe.

"I'm glad they found a cure for Professor Lupin," Neville said. "Even if the effects don't last very long."

"Yeah," Ron replied. "That's great!"

Malfoy, Crabbe, Goyle, Zabini, Bulstrode, and Parkinson appeared at the other end of the corridor. The Slytherins stared at Harry, Hermione, Ron, and Neville, and laughed. Harry felt furious. Malfoy had kept spreading rumours about Professor Burns being Harry's mother and other rubbish.

"Ignore them," Hermione said.

The Gryffindors kept walking, as if they hadn't seen the Slytherins. They crossed the path of Malfoy's gang. Neville was jostled brutally by Crabbe. He fell on the floor, provoking the hilarity of the Slytherins.

Hermione helped Neville to get up. A few other students gathered around stared.

"Watch out, Longbottom," Malfoy said. "Step aside! You should let your superiors go first, or there'll be trouble."

"Who do you think you are, Malfoy?" Ron retorted.

"I'm a Pureblood wizard," Malfoy replied. "A rich Pureblood wizard, Weasel. Squibs must show me respect."

Ron's face turned red. Harry didn't know if it was more from rage or from shame.

"I'm not a Squib!" Neville exclaimed.

"Right," Pansy Parkinson replied. "Squibs know more about magic than you do. I'm sure you're a Muggle. Your parents probably found you in a bin when you were a baby." The Slytherins burst into laughter.

"Don't speak about my parents!" Neville shouted.

"Calm down," Hermione said.

"Follow the Mudblood's advice," Draco replied. "If you are not too stupid to understand." He sniggered.

"Shut up Malfoy," Harry retorted. "He's not stupid! He's not a Slytherin!"

"Oh," Millicent Bulstrode replied, "Potter's speaking? By the way, is 'Potter' your real name? I heard that you were not your father's son!"

Harry's rage increased. First, he was not his mother's son, now he wasn't his father's?

"Maybe his father is a werewolf?" Malfoy replied. "I heard that his filthy mother was close to one of them! A Mudblood and a werewolf. I'm going to be sick!"

"Me too," Harry replied disdainfully. "Purebloods like your parents marry within the same family. It's not surprising their children are all mental."

Malfoy's eyes flew open.

"Watch your words, Potter," Malfoy said. "Or my aunt will take care of you like she did with the Longbottoms."

Neville grabbed his wand and pointed it at Malfoy. Malfoy pointed his own wand at the boy.

"Don't threaten me, Longbottom," Malfoy continued. "Filthy Squib!"

"It's better than being a mollycoddle!" Ron yelled. "You almost peed on yourself, when Burns conjured the snake!"

"Expelliarmus!" Malfoy shouted, pointing his wand at Ron. Ron wasn't quick enough to defend himself, although he was holding his wand in his hand. He was hit by the spell and projected in the air, losing his wand. He landed a few feet away, and hit his head on the floor. He fell unconscious.

"Rictusempra!" Harry yelled. Malfoy ducked the spell. Blaise Zabini was hit instead and started to laugh madly.

Goyle tried to cast a spell on Harry.

"Impedimenta!" Hermione exclaimed. The fat boy's body froze before he could attack Harry. "Stupefy!" she cried again, aiming at Crabbe, who raised his wand dangerously. A bolt of red light came out of her wand. Crabbe was hit and fell unconscious.

"Incarcerous!" Pansy Parkinson shouted, pointed at Hermione. Hermione was imprisoned by thick ropes.

"Expelliarmus!" Harry cried. Pansy Parkinson avoided the spell, which hit Millicent Bulstrode. The girl was projected backwards on a group of students, and lost her wand.

"Confudo!" Draco shouted. The spell almost hit Harry, but the boy ducked just in time.

"Capillo detonso!" Neville cried before Malfoy ended his incantation. A violet light escaped his wand and hit Malfoy. His hair fell out in blond clumps and landed on the floor. Pansy Parkinson gasped, staring at Malfoy. He was bald, but he didn't seem to have noticed.

"Petrificus Totalus!" Harry yelled. Pansy Parkinson's body became rigid and fell on the floor.

"WHAT IS GOING ON HERE?" the voice of Professor McGonagall shouted. Harry and Malfoy stood facing each other, their wands ready to attack. They lowered their wands.

Professor McGonagall entered the group of students. She looked furious.

"Potter, Malfoy, Longbottom," Professor McGonagall snapped. She stared at the scene, her eyes stopping on each student which had been hit by a spell.

"Finite Incantatem," she said. Then her eyes stopped on Malfoy. They flew open.

"Who used the Instant Scalping Hex on Malfoy?" she queried.

"The what?" Malfoy asked. Then he put his hands on his head, and realised he had lost his hair. He turned extremely white and moaned.

"You filthy Squib!" he yelled, looking at Neville. "I'm bald because of--"

"Silence, Malfoy!" Professor McGonagall snapped. "In my office! All of you!"

***

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