Swept From the Past

Chapter 27: Slytherin versus Gryffindor

Severus sat in Dumbledore's office. He couldn't stop thinking of what happened with Burns and the talisman. The incident kept gnawing at his mind. He hadn't even been able to sleep the previous night. Yesterday, Severus had informed the Headmaster that Burns had defied the Dark Lord and saved his life, risking her own. Dumbledore had listened to the Potions master, but he hadn't said anything, except that they would speak about that tomorrow. Severus had felt furious with the Headmaster. He wanted answers. He wanted to know why and how. What was that talisman? Did it belong to Salazar Slytherin? How had Burns managed to use it? And why had she saved his life?

Severus stared at the Headmaster. Dumbledore sat quietly in his armchair. His attitude angered the Potions master even more. Dumbledore acted as if nothing important had happened.

"So?" Severus asked sharply.

"Tea, Severus?" Dumbledore queried in a conversational tone.

"No, thank you," Severus hissed.

"Are you sure you do not want something warm to drink?" Dumbledore insisted. "The weather is really cold today. As Poppy says, 'there is nothing better than warm tea in winter.'"

"Meaning no disrespect, Headmaster," Severus said, "I am not here to speak about the weather, nor about tea. I am here to speak about Professor Burns and the fact that she saved my life last night."

"Indeed," Dumbledore replied, smiling. He paused. "Professor Burns saved your life. I am glad she did it."

"How did she--" Severus asked.

"That is not the important question," Dumbledore interrupted. "'How' does not matter. You already know the answer."

"No, I don't," Severus retorted. "If I knew, I would not be here!"

"You know who Professor Burns is," Dumbledore replied. "The heir of Grindelwald. The Barrier Keeper. She possesses a great power, which comes from the four founders of Hogwarts. She is magically linked to Salazar Slytherin."

Yes, Severus knew that part. But Dumbledore had never explained how the founders had transmitted a part of their powers to the first Barrier Keeper. An ancient incantation maybe? No. It wouldn't have been enough. Probably a ritual.

"Did they use a ritual?" Severus asked, hoping they hadn't. If no one stopped Burns' power, it would kill her one day. If necessary, Severus would do anything to turn her into a Squib. But it was extremely difficult to reverse the effects of a ritual.

"Yes," Dumbledore responded. "A powerful ritual. This was the founder's plan. A long time ago, the Grindelwald's line was chosen to protect the school. The founders of Hogwarts made a very powerful potion based on their mixed bloods. Something that would give strength to the one who would drink it. Blood is the essence of a wizard. It contains magic in its purest form." Dumbledore paused. "At first, Salazar Slytherin was against this idea," the Headmaster continued. "He wanted to be the Barrier Keeper. But the other founders thought that role could not be assumed by one of them. They wanted someone else. To respect equality."

All right, Severus got the point. Burns was the Barrier Keeper. She was powerful. She had a magical link with the founders of Hogwarts, which could not be broken. Now he had the missing details about the Barrier Keeper's history, he wanted to know more about the talisman. Burns had impaled her hand and his arm with the dagger, and freed him from the Dark Lord's power. It needed explanations.

"What about the talisman?" Severus asked.

"The talisman of Salazar Slytherin could only be used by someone linked to his power," Dumbledore replied. "Tom Riddle, his heir; Harry Potter, to whom Voldemort had involuntarily transmitted his powers; and Katarina Burns, the last Barrier Keeper. Voldemort had been searching for the talisman for a long time."

"What did Professor Burns do with it?" Severus asked. "What are its magical properties?"

"Well..." Dumbledore replied. "The talisman has, or rather had, the power to strengthen or sever the connection between two wizards. There are many sorts of magical links. For example, when a wizard saves another wizard, the latter is indebted to the former." Dumbledore threw Severus a knowing stare.

Severus frowned. Yes, he knew about that kind of link. He had been indebted to Potter senior, although the bastard had just saved his own skin. Stupid magical link!

"Anyway," the Headmaster continued, "the talisman was meant to break that connection. Salazar Slytherin was indebted to Godric Gryffindor. He used Dark Magic to create a powerful object able to remove the link. But the talisman was stolen by Rowena Hufflepuff and hidden before Slytherin had used it. Voldemort later discovered that the talisman had also the power to strengthen the link between two wizards. The person who owned the object could enter the mind of the other wizard and control him."

"Potter..." Severus murmured. Of course, the Dark Lord and Potter shared a special connection. It was not surprising that the Dark Lord had wanted to get the object.

"Yes," Dumbledore replied. "Voldemort wanted to use that talisman to control Harry's mind. He had tried to take possession of Harry in the Ministry of Magic last year, but failed. If he had used the talisman, he would have controlled Harry's mind entirely. I suppose that he intended to force Harry to use the Killing Curse on himself."

Severus raised an eyebrow. "The Killing Curse?" he repeated. "But only few wizards can use it. I doubt that a sixteen-year-old boy would know how to do it."

"A sixteen-year-old boy would not," the Headmaster replied. "But Voldemort would."

Severus kept silent. He realised how powerful the talisman was. Using the Killing Curse on someone was one thing. Forcing an inexperienced student to use it on himself was another.

"In the middle of October," Dumbledore continued, "Bellatrix Lestrange and Narcissa Malfoy were sent to find the talisman. They stole the object. Fortunately, the talisman ended up in the hands of Lucius Malfoy." Dumbledore smiled slightly.

"And Professor Burns stole it in the Wizard Plaza..." Severus murmured. He had just realised the connection between that night and the talisman.

Something hit him. If the object was so dangerous for Potter, why hadn't Dumbledore been more worried? Severus had told the Headmaster about that evening at the Wizard Plaza. But Dumbledore had replied that Professor Burns knew what she was doing. And now that the dangerous weapon had been destroyed, Dumbledore appeared perfectly quiet.

"You knew!" Severus hissed. "You knew that she kept the talisman!"

"I knew," Dumbledore replied. He paused. "Professor Burns learnt of the talisman from the Grindelwald's archives. The first Barrier Keeper had been told of the secret. But Professor Burns found little information on the subject. Not enough to determine its exact location. Her crew watched several Death Eaters closely. Narcissa Malfoy was among the targets of their surveillance. Professor Burns did not know what Narcissa was up to when she left the country, but Burns suspected foul play and sent reinforcements. She discovered later that Narcissa had been sent to find the talisman of Salazar Slytherin. And that she had not been sent alone."

"Bellatrix Lestrange..." Severus said. The Headmaster's explanation fit with the one that Lucius Malfoy had given.

"Bellatrix Lestrange," Dumbledore repeated. "But Bellatrix had another mission and left the talisman with Narcissa, who gave it to Lucius. Our chance."

Severus smirked, thinking of Burns' kiss with Malfoy.

"Was that little scene in the Wizard Plaza really necessary?" Severus hissed. Damn that kiss!

"I guess it was, Severus," Dumbledore retorted. "An attack would have failed. The place was full of Death Eaters. So Professor Burns had the idea to... seduce Lucius Malfoy and steal the object while he was not looking."

"And you let her do that!" Severus exclaimed. Damn that bloody Potter and the Dark Lord! "What if her mission had failed? What if she had been discovered?" Didn't Dumbledore realise that she could have been killed?

"It was her choice," the Headmaster replied. "And our only chance." He stared at Severus in a way that meant the subject was closed.

Severus' eyes flashed, but he controlled his anger.

"Now that Professor Burns has used the talisman," Dumbledore continued, "its powers are gone, which is good. Voldemort will not be able to use it to control Harry. And you are not linked to him anymore, Severus."

Severus kept silent. He had forgotten about that. Burns had used the talisman on him... It had been used to his advantage. But...

"Why did Professor Burns help me?" Severus asked.

The Headmaster sighed. "Maybe because she wanted to pay her last debts. Or maybe it was the best way to destroy the talisman. The link between you and Voldemort was extremely powerful. As such, the magic of the dagger could be used only once. Or maybe Professor Burns just wanted to save your life. I do not know her real motivations, Severus. But you are alive, thanks to her."

Severus was about to ask something else, when someone knocked at the door.

"Come in," Dumbledore said.

Filch entered. "Headmaster," he said, "Professor McGonagall wants Professor Snape to come to her office. There was a fight between students. Slytherins and Gryffindors, as always..."

Severus smirked. Damn those annoying students! He didn't want to take care of that problem now. He would punish them severely for having bothered him!

***

Harry, Hermione, Neville, Ron, Malfoy, Parkinson, Bulstrode, Crabbe, Goyle, and Zabini were in the corridors, in front of an angry Professor McGonagall. Harry was worried. He had never seen the Transfiguration's teacher so furious. Her lips were sealed in a thin line, her body looked stiffer than usual, and her eyes flashed behind her square glasses.

The Slytherins started to moan as if they were seriously injured. An agonised Crabbe held his head between his hands, and emitted all sorts of grunts. Goyle, who had been frozen, shivered uncontrollably. His teeth chattered as quickly as his brains worked slow. Harry noticed that the movement of his jaw was unnatural. Blaise Zabini was bent in a half, his hand on his stomach. "Oooh, I'm going to be sick," he kept whining. Millicent Bulstrode threw out her chest and massaged her kidneys as if she had strained her back. She didn't care about the poor, first years she had crushed under her weight. Pansy Parkinson massaged her fist, pretending to have fallen on it, although her rigid body had fallen to the floor like a board. Draco Malfoy gathered the locks of his hair and whimpered. What a bunch of fakers! It was obvious to Harry that the Slytherins thought a trip to the Hospital Wing was the best way to avoid a trip to McGonagall's office.

Harry was disgusted to witness the Slytherins' pathetic acting performance. Professor McGonagall seemed to share his point of view.

"Goyle," McGonagall said sharply. "Stop making that irritating noise with your teeth. I have already released you from the spell. Zabini, be sick, but do it in silence. From now on I don't want to hear any of you moan or complain."

Crabbe's grunts, Goyle's teeth, and Zabini's whines stopped immediately.

"My hair," Malfoy whimpered again. "My wonderful hair..."

"Stop it, Malfoy," Professor McGonagall snapped. "Madam Pomfrey will see to your problem later."

"Ouch," Ron said, his eyes closed from the pain. He slowly massaged a visible, violet lump on his forehead.

"Later, Weasley," McGonagall replied, pitiless. "If you have enough strength to fight in school, you'll find strength to wait for the Hospital Wing."

She motioned for them all to follow her, and sent Filch to fetch Professor Snape. Several seconds later, they entered her office.

McGonagall stared at them all.

"I am shocked by your attitude," she said sharply. "Students are not allowed to fight within Hogwarts. Such behaviour is unworthy of this school! Your families will be informed immediately."

Harry gulped. He didn't mind if the Dursleys were informed. But his friends were in trouble.

Someone knocked at the door. Snape.

"Severus," McGonagall said. "I caught these students fighting in the corridors. I think you will agree with me when I say that they deserve an exemplary punishment."

"Indeed," Snape hissed. He threw a quick look at the Gryffindors.

Harry's jaw clenched. Snape's notion of punishment varied according to House. That was not fair!

"According to the rules of Hogwarts," McGonagall said, "fifty points will be taken from your houses. For each of you."

Snape's features hardened. Harry laughed inwardly. The Gryffindor House would lose points, but not as many as the Slytherin's.

"Why should my House be penalised more than yours?" Snape asked. "I suggest that the two Houses lose the same quantity of points. It would be fair to give both Houses the same punishment. For equality."

Professor McGonagall frowned. "We will speak about that detail later, Severus," she said coldly. "For the moment, we--"

Suddenly, the door of McGonagall's office opened and slammed. Harry jumped. McGonagall stopped speaking.

"I am scandalised!" Professor Burns' voice exclaimed.

The Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher went in the middle of the room, ignoring the other teachers.

"I've just learnt that you have fought in the corridors!" Burns shouted. "In front of the whole school!"

What? Burns was mad at them because they had had a fight? Harry couldn't believe it.

"Professor Burns," McGonagall said, "You are--"

"... The shame of this school," Burns continued, ignoring Professor McGonagall's comment. "That's what you are! Didn't anyone ever teach you the rules of Hogwarts?" she bellowed.

Harry was really puzzled. Was Burns stricter on rules than McGonagall? Burns?

"Never," she said, "Never fight in front of everyone. Choose an empty corridor, where you can't be caught! Have sense!"

Harry was bewildered. A quick glance at McGonagall showed that he was not the only one. McGonagall looked shocked. But Snape was impassive.

"Have you ever listened to me in class?" Burns shouted. "You made a fool of me by fighting like that! The whole school saw your pathetic attempts to use spells! You were not able to defend yourselves!"

She took her wand out of her cloak.

"First lesson," she said. "This long, thin, wooden rod is a wand. That's what wizards use to produce a spell. A wizard who can't produce a spell is a dead wizard. A little Expelliarmus and you are disarmed? Are you in sixth year or in first year?" She snorted. "Second lesson: It's very clever to attack someone who isn't looking. But when you aren't looking, someone attacks you too. Pay attention. If you are hexed you won't be able to attack or save anyone. Look around. Analyse the position of your enemies. Foresee their reactions!"

Harry followed Burns' advice. He looked around. Neville was staring shyly at his feet. Ron was grinning. Hermione appeared to be shocked. Crabbe and Goyle's mouth were agape. Zabini and Bulstrode smirked. Parkinson repressed a laugh. And Malfoy was busy touching his bald skull.

"Professor Burns," McGonagall interrupted. "Teachers should not be giving the students advice on fighting in school."

"Gryffindors and Slytherins have always hated each other," Burns replied. "They have always fought against each other. If they must fight, I think they should do it well." Burns stopped speaking and stared at Malfoy. Then she burst into laughter. Malfoy's face turned red.

Harry was glad to witness Malfoy's humiliation. After all that he had said to Harry and his friends, it was good to see him so awkward.

"Professor Burns!" McGonagall exclaimed. She looked irritated, but she controlled herself.

"Who did that?" Burns asked.

"I did," Neville replied. He raised his head timidly.

"Third lesson," Burns said, "Analyse the weaknesses of your enemy. You hit Master Malfoy's pride. Not a corporeal damage, but very interesting. And very funny! Ten points to Gryffindor."

"Professor Burns!" Snape and McGonagall exclaimed at the same time.

"That is totally unfair!" the Potions master whispered under his breath.

"Take me to court," Burns replied mockingly.

Strangely, Snape didn't reply. Harry noticed the Potions master took a long breath, as if he was irritated but wanted to keep hold on himself.

***

The Potions master left Minerva's office and returned to his classroom. He hadn't expected Burns to come and react that way. Severus could have said something to defend Malfoy and the other Slytherins. To accuse Potter and his friends of starting the fight. But he had preferred not to quarrel with Burns again.

A secret part of him hoped that she had used the talisman for him. Because she didn't want him to be killed. Severus knew that was a stupid hope. But it was the only thing he had. Hope...

Severus stared at a table in the classroom. Katarina's place. Where they had studied potions together for more than a year...

***

Hogwarts, end of January, Severus' seventh year.

Severus and Katarina were alone in the Potions class. They had been dating for four wonderful months. Potions time had become the happiest moment of the day. Since the beginning of the year, Severus had tried a new method to teach Katarina Potions. Shouting at her wasn't the best thing to do. It always made Katarina sad. And Severus didn't want her to be sad. That was why he had thought that a gentler approach would be more effective. Indeed, Katarina had improved her knowledge of ingredients and focused more on her work.

"So..." Severus said. He made a few steps behind her. "What colour is the Potion supposed to turn after only two and a half minutes?"

"Blue," Kat responded.

"All right," he said, satisfied. "And what ingredient do you add next?"

"An extract of toad's skin..." Kat replied again.

"That is correct," he said with a slight smile. He put his hands on her shoulders, leant over her, and kissed her cheek tenderly. That was the best he could do for the moment. He would have wanted to be less awkward. To act like the other boyfriends. To be more... normal. Sometimes, he just wanted to run away from Katarina and be alone. To escape from the frightening need he had to be with her, since he couldn't show her how much she meant to him.

"I prefer this method of teaching," Katarina commented, smiling too.

"I share your opinion," Severus added.

He suddenly pulled away. Would she learn faster if Black was her teacher? What a horrible thought! Severus shivered unconsciously. He feared the day she would understand he was just a bastard. The day she would dump him.

"Is there something wrong?" Kat asked.

"No," he lied. He sat on the chair close to hers. She stared at him with a look of concern.

"I know there's something wrong, Severus," she said.

Damn, how could she know him so well?

"Don't you want to speak of it to me?" She continued. "I could try to help you."

She really seemed to worry about him. In other circumstances, Severus would have been angry. He would have taken her attitude as pity. But there was no pity in her eyes. There was concern. Maybe it was time to ask her for answers.

"I... I wonder..." he just said, unable to tell more.

"Yes?" Kat encouraged.

"Why...me?" he queried. He worried about the response.

"Why you what?" Kat asked. She didn't appear to understand what he was talking about.

"Why do you date me?" he murmured finally.

Kat looked dumbfounded. She didn't utter a word for several seconds.

"I don't understand," she replied at last. "You ask me this as if... it was horrible to be with you... I just... don't understand why you think something so ridiculous..."

"Come on," Severus retorted, "you know what I mean," he continued. Of course she knew what he meant!

"I don't know, Severus," Katarina retorted. She looked sincere. "I swear I don't understand. Maybe you should tell me now, because this discussion won't lead anywhere."

"You know I'm not the most handsome guy in the world," Severus explained, "that I'm just Severus Snape, the ugly Severus Snape... Why don't you date... Black?" He grimaced. "Aren't you disgusted to be with me, although you can have more handsome boyfriends? Aren't you sickened of kissing me?"

He didn't have time to continue. She gently took his face in her hands and kissed him as if he was the most important guy in the entire world. There was a special intensity in this kiss, something that moved him deeply, as if she loved him and wanted him to understand it with just a kiss.

"You know I have feelings for you, don't you?" she asked.

She looked him straight in the eye. Severus' heart pounded so fast and loud that he was almost sure she could hear it. He couldn't believe she really felt something for him.

"You're not ugly at all!" she continued. "That's all in your mind. I don't want Sirius or anyone else. I'm attracted to you, not to him! And I'm not sick of kissing you at all! How could I? Jesus, you have some strange ideas, sometimes."

"You... you have feelings for me?" he stuttered. That was highly impossible. She was just polite. Severus snorted inwardly.

"I thought it was obvious," Katarina replied. She sighed. "God, if you knew how much energy I waste, trying to hide those feelings from everyone... It's difficult to act every day as if I disliked you!" she said tiredly. "I guess it's not as difficult for you," she added. She seemed disappointed. So disappointed that... What if it was not just politeness?

"No!" Severus interrupted quickly. "Don't think that! I... I feel something too..." he finally managed to say. "I just... It's just hard to believe that you could be attracted to me!"

"I find you handsome you know," she replied.

He lost his voice again. Even more impossible. Definitely politeness.

"You protect yourself behind coldness, because you are not self-confident," Katarina continued gently. "But you have so many qualities! You have a lot of charm, you're clever, tender when you decide to be, and you're brave... Severus, you shouldn't ask yourself so many questions. Believe me, I wouldn't date a bloody bastard. I... still remember what you did for me at the end of fifth year."

Maybe not politeness after all. They had never spoken about that event since he had left the Hospital Wing a few years ago.

"I'll never forget," she confessed, with a slight smile.

Severus could see that the memory of this event was painful to her. Not only because Malfoy wanted to hex her, but also because it made her think of her parents' death.

"You helped me although you could have--"Kat said.

"I couldn't let him hurt you," Severus interrupted. "Especially not that day," he murmured.

"That's what makes you different from Malfoy," Kat said. "Believe me, you're so much better than you think."

Definitely not politeness.

At that moment, Severus would have liked to tell her how much he loved her. He would have liked to hold her in his arms, but he didn't move. He couldn't make the step. He stayed motionless, stiff on his chair, and didn't reply anything.

After several awkward seconds, he realised he had to say something.

"Er..." he said, "you are... a very surprising person. Not the awful, little Gryffindor I thought you were. And it's nice... to know more about you."

He knew that it was a clumsy answer. That she would be sad to hear something so common.... And actually, not very gentle. But he couldn't do better. He saw she forced herself to smile back, as if she had been satisfied with the answer. But he knew she wasn't.

'Damn,' he thought, when he returned to his common room, 'She says she likes me, that she feels something for me, and I reply with a line I could tell my best friend, if I had one! I really am a Bloody Bastard!'

He was still hearing her voice in his mind. She said she had feelings for him. And the way she had kissed him... was it possible that she was in love with him? 'Well, if she was, I guess your stupid answer will make her think differently now!' Severus thought. His jaw clenched.

***

Professor Burns left Professor McGonagall's office. She observed a group of seventh years who walked in the corridors. It was difficult for Burns to imagine she had been like them once. A long time ago...

Captain Burns snapped her fingers and Apparated to her office. The fight between the Gryffindors and the Slytherins looked strangely familiar. Draco Malfoy... he was exactly like his mother. Burns remembered that Narcissa Malfoy had hated her and was always mean with her. Professor Burns only kept scraps of memories about Narcissa in her mind. But she had an awful impression when she thought of her.

She decided she would know why...

***

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

Katarina, Lily, and the Marauders were having dinner in the Great Hall. James and Sirius laughed hard, but Katarina didn't hear them. She was deep in thought.

"Kat?" Lily asked several times.

"Hmmm... yes?" Kat replied dreamily. She was absent-minded, since she had returned from her Potions class. Of course, she had been disappointed by Severus' answer. She reproached herself for what she felt about him. She hadn't been able to control her heart and she had been caught too quickly. Now, it was too late. She was crazy about him! 'Shit!' she swore in her mind, blaming herself for having been so stupid to believe he felt the same way. Why did she tell him what she felt? From his response, he couldn't be in love with her. Maybe he liked her but there was not much. She had been wrong and so had Remus. Shit!

"Are you still with us?" Lily asked again curiously.

"Yes," Katarina responded. "I'm just tired."

"I bet Snivellus bothered you again!" Sirius exclaimed. A strange light appeared in his eyes. "Bloody greasy git!"

Kat saw that Remus looked as anxious as she was. "No," Kat replied. "These days, he leaves me alone. Maybe Dumbledore said something to him."

"Are you sure?" Sirius retorted, disappointed. "Because if he bothers you, we can take care of him," he continued, winking at James.

"I know you can," Kat responded, "But as long as he leaves me alone, I'd prefer that you leave him alone."

"Shit!" James cursed. "I guess you'll be very mad at us! We found something new at Zonko's! Elephant Spots! It's an orange-coloured liquid, which makes your ears grow as big as an elephant's. After a couple of minutes, green spots appear on them! We put it in the Slytherins' pumpkin juice." James and Sirius burst into laughter.

"What???" Lily, Kat, and Remus exclaimed at the same time.

"James Potter!" Lily said in a reproachful tone.

"Lily Evans!" James replied teasingly.

"Sirius Black!" Sirius added. The boys seemed to enjoy this little game.

Lily stood up. She looked angry. "Forget about our next date, James!" She left.

"Prongs," said Sirius, "Do you remember what we wrote on the list?"

"Yes mate," James replied. "First, buy Elephant Spots; second, put it in the Slytherins' pumpkin juice; third, never talk to Lily about that! Damn!" He slapped his head and winced. He stood up quickly to go after Lily. "Lily!" Katarina heard him say from far away.

"The Slytherins' pumpkin Juice?" Katarina asked. She swallowed.

"Yeah! I've put it in the jug next to Snivellus," Sirius boasted.

"What???" Kat shouted a little too loud.

Everyone turned to stare at her. She looked around and curled up, hoping to disappear within the ground. Many Slytherins laughed.

After several minutes, when everyone chattered again, Katarina stood up.

"Where are you going?" Remus asked.

"To the Slytherin table... I must bring that jug back!" she replied.

"You can't do that!" Sirius exclaimed. "You'll get in trouble!"

"Yes, you'll get in trouble!" Peter repeated.

"Come on, Kat!" Sirius continued. "They're just bloody Slytherins! It doesn't matter!"

"It matters to me!" she said sharply. She took a deep breath before going directly to the Slytherin table. When she came close, the whole Slytherin table silently turned to face her. It was scary.

'Hold on, girl,' she encouraged herself.

***

Severus Snape was thinking of that day Katarina had confessed she felt something for him. The day he had almost spoiled everything with his awkward response. A very eventful day...

***

Hogwarts, end of January, Severus' seventh year.

Severus was sitting in the Great Hall. He raised an eyebrow. Why did Kat come to the Slytherin table? And why had she yelled a few seconds ago? She was acting strangely. Kat wasn't the sort to make trouble. What was going on?

"Where are you going, Burns?" Narcissa Black said sarcastically.

"Hmmm..." Kat replied. "Er... Hi!" she responded awkwardly. "I just want... this..." she said. She grabbed for the handle of the pumpkin-juice jug in the middle of the table. But Narcissa caught her hand firmly before she could lift the jug.

"No, I don't think so," Narcissa retorted.

Severus looked at the jug suspiciously. If Kat had dared to launch an attack in front of the whole Slytherin table for a simple jug, it was surely because it was full of something nasty. 'Potter and Black!' he thought immediately.

"I'll ask the house-elves to bring you a new one..." Kat replied.

But Narcissa still held her hand firmly. Severus saw that she plunged her nails deeply in Kat's skin.

"Ouch!" Kat said. "Let go of my hand!"

"No," Narcissa replied. Severus saw that Kat's right hand bled now. He noticed that she clenched her jaw and swallowed her tears.

"Let go of my hand!" Kat repeated.

"No," Narcissa refused sadistically. "I first want to see you cry..." she added.

Severus felt very bad for Kat now. He knew she had come for him, to prevent him from drinking the contents of the jug. But he didn't know how to help her. He saw the marks made by Narcissa's nails in Katarina's soft skin and he felt a deep rage growing inside him.

"Do what you want," Kat responded bravely. She didn't lower her eyes, "you'll never make me cry..."

"Let go of her hand!" Black shouted. Of course, Black would become her white knight, coming to rescue her. Damn!

"Well, that's my dear cousin!" Narcissa exclaimed. She laughed. "Rescuing your girlfriend, hey?"

Snape's rage intensified at this word. 'She's my girlfriend!' he exclaimed in his mind. 'Not his! Mine!!!'

"I guess you weren't there to rescue her parents when they needed help!" Narcissa added, laughing hard.

"Shut up!" Kat replied furiously. She freed herself from Narcissa's grip, raised the jug and broke it over Narcissa's head. The blow knocked Narcissa cold and drenched her with juice. Katarina's eyes became wide. She gasped. After a few seconds, Narcissa's head grew like a ball and many green pustules appeared everywhere on her face. Her ears also became gigantic. Everyone grew silent and stared at Narcissa and Katarina.

"Interesting effect!" exclaimed Black, who stared at Narcissa. He appeared to be fascinated by his cousin.

"Oh, God!" Kat exclaimed. She clasped her hands over her mouth, "Oh God!" She turned pale.

"Miss Burns!" Professor McGonagall exclaimed.

"BURNS!" Blazy yelled. "WHAT DID YOU DO TO MISS BLACK? STUPID GIRL!!! DETENTION!!!"

Severus felt bad for her. Kat shut her eyes. Suddenly, she Disapparated with a Crack in front of the whole school. Severus' mouth fell agape. How did she manage to do that?

"Where is she?" Black exclaimed. He stared at the empty place where Kat stood a second ago. "WHERE IS SHE???" he yelled. He looked panicked. "IS IT ONE OF YOU?" he shouted to the Slytherins. "WE CAN'T DISAPPARATE WITHIN HOGWARTS!" he bellowed. "AND SHE'S NOT OF AGE! WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO HER???" He looked at them. His eyes stopped on Severus, who was whiter than ever.

"CALM DOWN, BLACK!" Professor McGonagall ordered. "We'll find her!"

As for Blazy, he seemed both puzzled and infuriated.

Narcissa's desperate groans eventually caught his attention. She had regained consciousness. She appeared to have just realised what she had become.

"Master Holm," Blazy ordered, "Bring Miss Black to the Hospital Wing. I'll personally search for Miss Burns!" He left the Great Hall. Severus knew he would punish her badly if he found her.

"WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO HER???" Black barked again. He stared at Severus. "I'M SURE IT'S YOU!!! SHE SAID YOU HAD BEEN LEAVING HER ALONE!!! THAT WAS A TRICK!!! I BET YOU'VE BEEN PLANNING THIS FOR A LONG TIME, SNIVELLUS!!!" Black was really furious now, his wand pointed at Snape's chest.

"Sirius Black!" McGonagall shouted. "Enough!"

"Snape didn't do anything!" Lupin intervened. "Kat snapped her fingers before Disapparating. I saw her." He lowered Sirius' hand slowly. "Hey, mate," he added, "You'd better find her before Blazy does..."

Black appeared to be very anxious about Kat.

"Black mustn't find her first," Severus thought with anger. He didn't want Blazy to find her either. But Black... Black was a redoubtable enemy. He was handsome, powerful, and popular at Hogwarts. And more than everything, he was in love with Kat and able to express his feelings. 'Cretin!' he cursed himself silently, 'How could you tell her something so stupid when you last saw her?' He became enraged. 'Now, Black will find her, tell her he loves her and she will dump you, Jackass!' he swore in his mind.

He stood up, about to leave, to find her again.

"Where do you think you're going, Snivellus?" Black exclaimed. He raised his wand.

"Where do you think I go, Black?" Severus replied with a smirk. "I have someone to visit at the Hospital Wing..."

"Come on, Sirius," Remus interrupted. "Don't waste time!"

Black nodded, lowered his wand and left quickly.

Severus saw the direction Black took. He would check in the Gryffindor common room, the only way Severus couldn't go. However, Severus was convinced Kat wasn't in her common room. Even if it looked strange, she had probably Disapparated. And before Disapparating, she had looked terrified. She had shut her eyes as if she was trying to protect herself or to find calmness. She liked loneliness. Severus was pretty sure she had Apparated somewhere nobody else would go. The Owlery maybe?

Severus entered the Owlery, but Katarina wasn't there. Where could she be? The library? He went there quickly, but she wasn't there either. He was really worried. What had happened to her? Maybe the best place to find loneliness was outside the castle. There was the Forbidden Forest, but Kat feared the centaurs. No, she couldn't be there! Then Severus thought of something; the place in the park where she had offered him the book. She had told him once she thought that was the most peaceful place at Hogwarts.

Evening had fallen and it was very cold outside. Severus knew he wasn't allowed to leave the castle but he didn't mind. After all, she was in trouble because of him. Because she had wanted to help him again. He quickly ran to the park, hoping to find her. "Lumos!" he said. A jet of light appeared at the end of his wand. After several minutes, he heard someone sobbing. When he approached, he saw that Katarina was seated on a stump, crying.

"Kat?" he asked softly. The sobs stopped and Kat raised her head.

"Severus?" she questioned.

He hurried to her and knelt down. He held her firmly in his arms, unable to control his relief. He had found her! Before Black! The fear of losing her was stronger than his lack of confidence. He didn't want his adversary to steal her from him.

"You scared me, stupid girl," he whispered. "When you Disapparated so suddenly, I thought of the worst!" he said. He kissed her face and tasted her salted tears. "What happened?" He kept embracing her.

"I don't know..." she replied. "I closed my eyes and thought of... a place where I had happy memories... and when I opened my eyes, I was here... But now, it's dark and a little scary... At least, before you found me," she added. "How did you know I would be here?"

"I know you," Severus replied simply. He removed his coat and put it on her shoulders.

Katarina caressed his right cheek with her left hand. Severus held her right hand to inspect it. Narcissa had plunged her nails very deeply in Katarina's skin. The wounds had stopped bleeding, but Katarina had red marks in the shape of an arc on her hand.

"It's ok," Katarina said. "It bled a little, but I used a handkerchief to sponge the blood."

"It must be painful..." he murmured. "You haven't even dropped a tear in front of her," he said, proud of her. "I wish she'd keep the looks she has now forever..."

"Oh, God..." Katarina responded sadly. "I shouldn't have hit her with the jug... I don't know why I did it! It's bad, very bad... But I was angry... Believe me, I'm not proud of what I did. Are you mad at me?"

"Mad at you?" Severus asked. "Why?"

"I've attacked a Slytherin and cursed her," Kat replied. "Since you're in Slytherin, I thought--"

"I don't care," Severus interrupted. "Everything started because you wanted to prevent me from drinking whatever you splattered on her face. I guess that Black and Potter did the trick! Filthy Gryffindors!"

"You know I'm a Gryffindor too..." Kat said with a soft smile.

"Yes... but you are first of all in my heart," Severus replied. He kissed her right hand. He had said it. It was not the grandiose declaration he would have liked to make, but for once, his answer was clear.

"This afternoon," he said... "Well, this afternoon, I replied like a fool... It was... hmmm... well..." he continued awkwardly.

"Clumsy?" Kat suggested.

"Yes," he replied, more confident. "Clumsy... that's the right word... Black... immediately went looking for you, and I didn't want you to think that I... And... well..." God, it was difficult to speak! "I feared that you... you know... would consider other options," he replied awkwardly. "...Hmmm... Sometimes, when someone is disappointed... he can make unconsidered choices..."

"I told you I wasn't interested in him," she said, reassuringly.

"You say it now," Severus responded, "but if you had seen him, maybe you would have changed your mind."

"I wouldn't," she replied.

"He's handsome," he retorted with a smirk.

"So are you," she responded.

"No, I'm not," he replied. "Look at my nose!"

"Idiot... I love your nose," she responded with a tender look.

"But..." he said, puzzled. He hated his ugly, fat nose. Katarina couldn't love it... she couldn't love him.

"What? Don't you love mine?" she asked teasingly.

"Of course," he replied. "It's pretty! But mine--"

"I tell you I love it," Kat repeated. She skimmed his nose with her forefinger. "I also love your forehead, your eyes..." She touched his face gently, "...your cheeks, your mouth..." she caressed his lips very delicately with her fingers, "your lips... your hair... every part of you..." Severus didn't reply. He was both stunned and under the charm of her touching game. He gulped.

"You... you can't..." he stuttered, moved very deeply by her words. It was too much. He was completely lost.

"Don't you see I love you, idiot?" she said gently. Severus' heart pounded faster. Was it true? Did she really love him?

"And if you want to know," she added, "it's been for a long time." She kissed his lower lip playfully. Then she put her arms around his neck and deepened the kiss. In reply, he held her around her waist and squeezed her against his chest like he never had before.

After what seemed to be a delicious eternity, their faces were suddenly both lit by the light coming from another wand. But they didn't realise it immediately.

"Hmmm, hmmm..." a masculine voice said. The man cleared his throat louder. Suddenly, Severus realised they weren't alone anymore. He and Katarina broke the kiss and got away from each other. Katarina seemed to be as awkward as Severus.

The voice belonged to a tall, old man with half-moon spectacles, blue eyes, and an amused expression on his face.

"Professor Dumbledore..." Katarina whispered, her head lowered.

"Katarina Burns... Severus Snape..." Dumbledore said simply. "So," he added after a few seconds, "Anything to tell?"

"This is all my fault," Katarina confessed. She raised her head timidly. "I have... harmed Narcissa Black at dinner."

"Indeed... Professor Blazy told me you were responsible..." replied Dumbledore. "He told me you have gratuitously attacked her, and disappeared in front of him and the whole school. I am sorry I was not there to witness it myself."

"Headmaster," Severus said, "May I speak?" Dumbledore observed him and nodded. Severus couldn't let Katarina be punished without telling the truth. She was in trouble because of him. As for the kiss... What a delicate and awkward position! But it was too late now.

"Katarina did not attack Narcissa gratuitously," Severus said. "There was something in the jug. She didn't want us to drink it. She went to the Slytherin's table to take the jug away. But Narcissa caught her hand and... See... she has been injured..." he said, taking Kat's right hand. He showed the marks to Dumbledore. "When Narcissa insulted her parents, Katarina replied impulsively. Professor Blazy came and... then, Katarina Disapparated."

"And I guess you are kissing her at night in the park because...?" Dumbledore asked teasingly.

"I was searching for her, Professor," Severus replied. "I thought she would be here and... I found her."

"It's not his fault, Headmaster!" Katarina pleaded. "He just worried about me! I don't know how I Disapparated, but I'm responsible for what happened to Narcissa. And I have no excuse for that. If you think I deserve to be expelled--"

"Calm down, Katarina," Dumbledore responded in a paternalist tone. "You will be punished, but I do not think that Professor McGonagall would allow me to expel one of her best students. Concerning the evening kiss..." he added. He stared directly at Severus, a look of mischief in his eyes. "I suppose we must make allowances for youthful indiscretion. There is no need to speak. As for... disappearing, well... we shall speak about that later, Katarina."

"I swear I don't know how--" she said.

"I know," Dumbledore interrupted gently. "I believe you... Do not fret. This is not the first time such incidents have happened in the castle. It is not your doing. Just the castle. It could happen to anyone, but today, it was you."

Severus had the impression Dumbledore didn't tell the truth. This explanation was rather strange and short.

"Now, stand up," Dumbledore said, "the both of you! Let us return to the castle!"

Severus returned to the Slytherin common room. Dumbledore escorted Kat to the Gryffindor's. Before Severus left, the Headmaster threw him a reassuring look. Kat was safe.

All the Slytherins were asleep now. "If they ask tomorrow," Severus thought, "I'll tell them that I wanted to find her to hex her, but that I didn't succeed."

He undressed silently, put on his pyjamas and lay on his bed, his eyes still opened. It had been an exhausting and intense day. He had succeeded in repairing his mistake and she had avowed she loved him. There was still the shadow of Black between them - Severus couldn't believe she wasn't seduced by the git -, but for several minutes, she had been with him and only with him. She had touched his face and looked at him as if he was the only person who mattered in the entire word. He knew that for a short instant, she had been entirely his. She hadn't thought of anyone else but him. He had felt it deeply in his heart, his skin. This evening, when he found her, she had loved him. He fell asleep, the memory of her kiss in his mind and a happy feeling in his chest.

***

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