Swept From the Past

Chapter 40: The Mother-in-law -- part two

Severus Snape attended the meeting in Grimmauld Place. He sat quietly on his chair. Deep inside, he was frustrated to be stuck here instead of watching over Burns. He was so worried about her that he had stopped listening to Mad-Eye Moody's report.

He didn't really care about the meeting. He had spent his life spying on the other Death Eaters and going on missions. Now, his place was with Burns. He cast a glance around. What had those people done for him? When Potter junior had defeated the Dark Lord on Hallowe'en, everyone had been happy. The whole Wizarding World had celebrated the event. People had commemorated the beginning of their new freedom... the end of their nightmare. And Severus had experienced the beginning of his own nightmare. The war didn't mean anything to him. He had never been more miserable than that day when peace had been restored.

Severus realised that Dumbledore was speaking. He listened.

"... I am afraid to say that they were killed," Dumbledore said.

Killed? Who had been killed?

"I can't believe it!" Emmeline Vance exclaimed. Her voice quavered. "Roger and John were the best Aurors in their year!" She sniffed.

Roger Mastin and John Fielder? They were good members of the Order.

"Who did that?" asked Dedalus Diggle, anger in his voice.

"Bellatrix Lestrange," Dumbledore replied.

Bellatrix Lestrange. Severus felt enraged each time he heard her name. Since the Dark Lord had returned, he'd had to control his desire to kill her each time he'd seen her. Bloody bitch! She'd deserved a Dementor's kiss. He hated her, probably more than Black, if it was possible.

"We've received bad news," Moody said. "You all know that Bellatrix absorbed the powers of the Azure Stone. A prophecy says that 'the one who will absorb the Azure Stone will be defeated by the Heart of the Emerald.'"

The Heart of the Emerald? Ah, yes. Severus remembered that Moody and Dumbledore had talked about that at the beginning of the year.

"A few weeks ago," Moody said, "we located a stone, an emerald with unknown powers. It could be the Heart of the Emerald. Unfortunately, when we arrived, the stone had been destroyed. Our contact said that Bellatrix Lestrange had been in Romania, where the emerald was kept."

"Which means?" Hestia Jones asked.

"It means that Bellatrix Lestrange may not be defeated," Dumbledore replied. He looked worried.

A few people gasped. Severus was scared too. What would Bellatrix do to Burns? No doubt that Bellatrix would try to end what she had started. Burns had provoked the Dark Lord when she had used the talisman of Salazar Slytherin. She'd have to pay.

"How can we be sure that the emerald was the one mentioned in the prophecy?" Lupin asked.

Severus raised an eyebrow. Lupin was right. Maybe Bellatrix had failed in her choice. There were many other stones.

"We don't know," Moody responded. "But Voldemort sent her there before we came. He had his own information. I fear that he's found the right stone."

"Isn't there something called the Emerald Star?" Tonks asked.

Someone laughed behind the group. Severus turned around. Burns stood by the door. The Potions master gasped. What was she doing here? She should have been upstairs, taking rest. He should never have trusted that Weasley woman to watch her!

"I can assure you that the Heart of the Emerald is not the Emerald Star," Burns said. "A little 'big' to be a stone," she mocked.

Severus cast a quick glance at Lupin, who had blanched. The werewolf stared at Burns awkwardly. Then he looked away. Although Lupin said that there was nothing between him and Burns, Severus was suspicious. He didn't want any other man to stare at her, even someone who'd been like a brother to her.

"Why does it have to be a stone?" Tonks replied. Severus turned to her. "I don't think it was mentioned in the prophecy," she added.

"The Emerald Star is a ship," Burns retorted. "My ship. And it's not what you're looking for. So you'd better--"

"WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?" Mrs. Weasley's voice shouted from outside the room. "YOU WERE SUPPOSED TO REST!"

Burns rolled her eyes from irritation. "Shit," she swore. Severus smirked.

Mrs. Weasley came to the door and glared at Burns. "You look pale," the woman snapped.

"It doesn't matter," Burns replied. "I'm always pale."

"UP!" Mrs. Weasley yelled. "I've brought you sandwiches and chocolate!"

"Chocolate?" Burns asked. "Hmmm... okay, maybe I should rest." She turned to Tonks. "Leave my ship alone," she threatened. Then she left. Some members of the Order looked confused, but Severus didn't care. He was amused. Burns had changed a lot, but she still liked chocolate. Maybe he could try to offer her a box of chocolates one day?

***

The meeting ended. Severus immediately left the room to go upstairs. He heard Burns' and Mrs. Weasley's voices coming from one of the rooms. He listened, hidden behind the half-opened door.

"...You seem to feel better," Mrs. Weasley said, "but you shouldn't leave right away."

"I'm not useful when I'm lying in this bed," Burns replied. "I have important things to sort out."

Important things to sort out? What? Risking her life again? Visiting Alphonso? Severus scowled.

"Since when have you taken time for yourself?" Mrs. Weasley asked reproachfully.

"I don't have time to waste on myself," Burns retorted.

"But you look exhausted!" Mrs. Weasley replied. "Rest ten minutes more."

"All right," Burns grumbled.

Severus was surprised. Burns had ceded to Mrs. Weasley? How was it possible?

"Only if you promise not to mention Gilderoy Lockhart again," Burns added. "I'm sick of hearing about him all the time."

"I shouldn't have said..." Mrs. Weasley responded. She cleared her throat. "Er... I was wrong to believe the Daily Prophet. I didn't know that..." She stopped.

Burns sighed. "Pity that I came back to Hogwarts," she said. "Before, people were afraid to talk about me. Ten years ago, a silly git wrote articles about me on the front page of the Daily Prophet. He regretted it."

Severus breathed with effort. He remembered the first article and the shock he'd had when he'd realised Katarina was alive. How many letters had he written to her then? Thousands? She had never replied. His heart tightened.

"What did you do to that man?" Mrs. Weasley asked. Her voice quavered.

"I showed him a little Dark Magic," Burns replied, "mostly based on hallucinations. And I allowed him to write another article on me. A very dark article." She laughed. "For ten years, no one wrote anything about me on the front page. I was only mentioned occasionally... as a 'Dark Sorceress.'"

Severus had read every passage that mentioned Burns. They hadn't said much, but it had proved to him that she was still alive, as the long years passed. Still alive... and evil.

"Damn that Lola Portman!" Burns continued. "Narcissa Malfoy paid her to write rubbish about me."

Narcissa was responsible for the articles? Severus' fists clenched. Of course she was. It was so much her! The bloody bitch had always hated Katarina!

"Narcissa Malfoy?" Mrs. Weasley asked.

"Yeah," Burns responded ironically. "An old friend of mine."

Someone tapped on Severus' shoulder. He jumped and spun around. Dumbledore stood behind him, smiling. Would the Headmaster say anything? Severus didn't want Burns to know that he had spied on her conversation. But Dumbledore didn't utter a word. He knocked at the door and motioned for Severus to follow him into the room.

Burns was seated in the bed, her back against pillows. Mrs. Weasley was sitting on a chair next to her. She stood up.

"Professor Dumbledore," Mrs. Weasley said, "I'm sorry for Kreacher. I should have paid attention to the key."

"It is all right, Molly," Dumbledore replied softly. "Professor Burns," he said, "Professor Snape would like to ask you something."

Burns frowned. Mrs. Weasley looked surprised. Severus arched an eyebrow. What? What was the Headmaster doing? Severus had never planned to ask Burns anything. Or... No? Would Dumbledore dare...?

"So," Dumbledore said, "I think that Molly and I should leave you alone."

"I don't think so," Burns replied. "Kreacher could come back." She pouted.

Severus screwed up his eyes.

"In that case," Dumbledore responded, "Professor Snape will watch over you."

"I wasn't thinking of my security," Burns replied. "What if Professor Snape is mysteriously attacked while you're downstairs?"

The Potions master snorted. Fine, he had got the message.

"In that case," the Headmaster replied quietly, "you had better watch over him."

"You hope against hope," Burns responded. She smirked. Severus grimaced.

Dumbledore and Mrs. Weasley left the room. The Headmaster closed the door, leaving Severus and Burns alone together.

Severus stared at the closed door for a few seconds. Then he turned around to look at Burns. She glared at him. Severus cleared his throat and sat on the chair where Mrs. Weasley had been sitting. The rustle of his robes and the creak of the chair broke the heavy silence in an awkward way. Severus felt ridiculous. He was a stranger to her. A huge gap stood between them and he felt he was going to fall within it. He felt weak and gulped.

"So?" Burns said icily. "I don't have all day."

Burns' rudeness made Severus angry. He took a deep breath to calm his nerves. Then he gathered all his courage.

"I would like you to go to the Spring Ball with me," he said. Damn! He sounded ridiculous!

Burns didn't respond. She frowned and stared at him with a shocked expression. Suddenly, she clutched her chest and shrieked, her eyes closed from the pain.

Severus jumped from his seat and rushed over to her. Her hand groped for the bottle in her cloak, but could not find it. "Fire... whisky," she moaned. Severus tried to grab her gloved hands, but Burns fought back. She seemed to be suffering a lot. Severus panicked. She needed... physical contact... Without thinking, he embraced her with force and kissed her on her mouth. Burns continued to resist, but her left hand didn't clutch her chest anymore. Her hands moved to fight his embrace. Severus loosened his hold, but deepened his kiss. Burns' arms wound round his neck. Her gloved hands dug in his hair and caressed his scalp almost painfully. She ardently returned the kiss.

Severus was surprised. It had been so long since she'd willingly returned his kisses. His heart pounded very fast in his chest. Suddenly, Burns broke off the kiss. They stared at each other for several seconds. Burns' breathing was haggard and fast. Severus saw in her eyes that she was terrified.

She pushed him backwards, making him fall on the floor.

"OUT!" she cried. "I'D NEVER GO TO ANY BALL WITH YOU, BASTARD! NEVER!"

She grabbed the pillows behind her and threw them at Severus. The Potions master quickly left the room. He leant his back against the closed door and sighed deeply. What had happened? He couldn't sort out his ideas and feelings, as confused by Burns' angry reaction as by the amazing kiss they had just shared. A kiss that had calmed her crisis.

Damn! That woman was driving him mad!

***

The following day, Harry was seated in an armchair in the empty Gryffindor common room. He had used the pretext that he had forgotten a book to be alone. He was thinking hard. The day had arrived. Time to ask Ginny to the Ball. But Harry felt petrified. He was cold and his hands trembled.

He remembered how his father had asked his mother for a date. Harry noticed with bitterness that his father had been more courageous than he was. He didn't have James' self-confidence when it came to asking girls out. Actually, Harry didn't have James' rudeness either. After all, his parents had seemed to dislike each other in Snape's memory. Burns' memory explained a lot of things about Lily's feelings for James, but Harry had to admit that his father had sometimes acted like a prat.

The boy wondered how his parents had managed to communicate and finally go out together. Maybe with Burns' Pensieve, he would know...? Harry frowned. No, he'd refuse the gift. He had thought of that all night. Of course, the temptation of knowing more about his parents remained. But he would rather see Burns alive and well. She had signed the letter 'Love, Katarina Burns.' Burns, who said that she was unable to love. Was there hope for her still? What had Snape done to her? He seemed to have loved her... Harry didn't understand anything.

The door of the common room opened suddenly. Hermione, in tears, ran past and up to the girls' dormitories. She didn't notice his presence.

"Hermione!" he heard Ginny's voice exclaim.

Harry's heart pounded fast. Ginny entered the common room too and rushed over to the girls' dormitories. She didn't notice Harry's presence either.

The boy sighed, relieved that Ginny hadn't seen him. He felt a flush of heat on his face. He was more and more embarrassed each time he saw her. How could he ask her to the Ball now?

Harry shook his head, trying to focus on the main problem. What had happened to Hermione?

Ten minutes later, Hermione and Ginny were still in the girls' dormitories. Harry didn't dare to knock on the door or call for them. It would be too embarrassing to stand like an idiot and shout in front of a closed door. And he didn't want to bother Ginny and Hermione. He decided that he wouldn't learn anything just waiting for them. He went out of the Gryffindor common room and searched for Ron. Maybe his friend knew what was going on?

Harry met Susan Bones. "Susan," he said. "Have you seen Ron?"

Susan nodded and pointed at the other end of the corridor. "On the right," she responded.

"Thanks," Harry replied. He walked forward and finally found Ron. The boy appeared to be awkward... ill at ease... angry maybe. What was going on with him?

Ron noticed Harry's presence. "Found your book?" he asked.

"Yes... I mean no," Harry replied. He had forgotten about his book excuse. "It doesn't matter," he said. "I've seen Hermione and she looked... troubled by something. She was crying. Any idea what--"

"Dunno," Ron responded. His face reddened and he stared at the floor. He mumbled something like "Have to go," and left.

Harry was puzzled. First Hermione, then Ron? Had they quarrelled again? But why hadn't Ron talked about that to Harry? Every time that Hermione and Ron had quarrelled, the boy had complained about Hermione and her 'dear Vicky.' Why had he suddenly kept silent? He obviously knew something!

Harry continued walking in the corridors. He had to get to the bottom of this. He saw Neville talking with Luna.

"Neville," Harry said, joining them, "has something happened? I've seen Hermione... and Ron... and--" Harry stopped. Why had he said that? He didn't want to mention that Hermione had been crying. Why hadn't he found a better way to inquire about that? "They seemed... er... upset about something," he continued. "But maybe I'm wrong?"

"It's Malfoy and his gang," Neville responded. "They provoked us again."

"They weren't very nice," Luna replied. "But I don't care. Dad says that Slytherins have always been like that. He thinks they've founded a magical sect and sacrifice goats on the full moon."

"Oh," Harry replied, not to be rude. "And what did they do?" he asked, trying to come back on the subject.

"They laughed because Luna and I are going to the Spring Ball together," Neville replied. He blushed.

"What about Hermione?" Harry asked.

"Malfoy said that 'no one would want to invite a... a Mudblood like her to the Ball,'" Neville responded. "That 'even... er... a monkey's dung like Weasley hadn't invited her.' Then he asked if 'Marietta Edgecombe had applied for a job in humanitarian aid, because she agreed to go with Ron.'"

Marietta Edgecombe? Harry's eyes flew open. Had he heard right? Would Ron go with Marietta Edgecombe to the Ball? Had he forgotten Marietta's betrayal last year?

"That's impossible," Harry said. It couldn't be. Why hadn't Ron talked about that with him?

"That's the truth," Luna replied. "She said he asked her this morning."

"But when--?" Harry stopped. Ron had left for several minutes during breakfast. But... Marietta?

"Ron and Malfoy were ready for a fight," Neville said, "but Filch came down the corridor just then. I don't want to know what punishment Burns would have found this time..."

"And Hermione?" Harry asked.

"She said that she didn't care and left," Luna replied.

Hermione didn't care? Harry knew it wasn't true. She was crying because she hadn't been invited to the Ball. Remorse sprang in Harry's chest. He hadn't even thought of inviting her. He had been too focused on Ginny, although she'd probably say no. A voice in his head told him he had to invite Ginny quickly. A second voice told him he had to invite Hermione instead.

***

The Potions master sat in his office, unable to correct the students' essays. He thought of the kiss he'd had with Burns yesterday. She had pushed him away, as always, but not since her return to Hogwarts had she kissed him back. Severus kept thinking of what Dumbledore had said about Burns walking in the corridors at night. Was it possible that a part of her still wanted him? Searched for him? Could she still feel something for him although she hated him?

Severus raised his left sleeve and stared at the Dark Mark. Even now that he was not a Death Eater anymore, the mark hadn't vanished. When he was young, he had often stared at this mark with bitterness and anger. That ugly sign printed in his flesh, that no spell could remove or hide. He could lie to Katarina, but he knew that the Dark Mark wouldn't lie.

What had he said to her? Ah, yes... that he had wanted to wait until marriage to make love. That it was important to him. Katarina had reluctantly agreed, probably because she didn't want to quarrel with him. It hadn't prevented her from bringing up the subject again later.

Marriage was a very powerful, magical link, which couldn't be broken easily. Severus had thought that telling Katarina the truth on their wedding night was the best way to make her understand everything.

'Bastard,' he thought, 'did you really believe that she'd have liked to hear that on her wedding night? You were just a coward!'

The Potions master remembered what the portrait of Mrs. Black had said. That 'Severus had realised in time that Burns was as dirty as her filthy parents.' Exactly what Burns didn't need to hear. Exactly what Severus' own mother would have said.

Agrippina Snape wasn't a servant of the Dark Lord, unlike Claudius Snape. She cared too much about people's opinions to become a Death Eater. She didn't want her name to be tarnished. But she hated Mudbloods and half-bloods as much as any Death Eater. And she hated Severus as well...

Severus remembered how difficult it had been to speak about his mother to Katarina...

***

London, February, Severus' third year as a Potions assistant.

Severus had come to spend the weekend with Katarina. He sat on the couch and put his steaming tea cup on the coffee table. He was deep in thought. He and Katarina had planned to be married on the second of November. How could he tell Mother about their engagement? Mrs. Agrippina Snape was the kind of woman who would spoil their lives. If she learnt from someone else that Severus was engaged, she would be very angry. Not that she was interested in him. But there were some important conventions to respect. And notifying the fiancé's mother was one of them. Otherwise, she would probably poison their wedding cake.

Katarina sat on the couch, near Severus. "So," she said, "what did you want to talk to me about?"

"I think you should... meet my mother," Severus replied. "Why not tomorrow?"

"Meet your mother?" Katarina asked. "But I thought she was--"

"...an old, heartless dragon?" Severus continued. His lip curled up a little. "Yes. But since we are getting married, I think she must meet you. A least, she must know you exist. For convention's sake."

"So you didn't tell her that we are engaged?" Katarina asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Not really," Severus responded. "In fact, I never talked to her about you. I didn't want her to intervene in our relationship."

"So you kept our relationship secret from your mother?" Kat replied teasingly. She looked amused.

"If you call her a mother," Severus hissed. Thinking of her angered him. "Monster would be more appropriate."

"Come on," Katarina said, "your mother can't be that bad! With such a wonderful son, it's impossible!"

"That's not what she thinks," Severus said with bitterness.

His mother was ashamed of him. She had never shown him any kind of interest. She was really horrible. She had always hated him and his father. But Claudius Snape terrified her, unlike Severus.

Severus thought of his father. The one who had made him become a Death Eater. Had his father ever been interested in him? Or had Severus only been a pawn in his father's alliance with the Dark Lord? Had his father ever loved him? Probably not.

"Severus?" Kat asked. She looked worried.

Severus realised he had been thinking for several seconds. "You always think that there's good in everybody," he whispered. "But it doesn't work for everyone. My mother is a perfect example."

"How is she?" Katarina asked. "I would like to understand."

"My mother is an old shrew," Severus hissed. "She never took care of me. She hired a few nannies when I was a baby. When I got older, she replaced the nannies with governesses. She lived in a wing of our Manor. I hardly saw her. When I was ten, she said I was an accident. That she had wanted to get rid of me, but that it had been too late."

Katarina moved closer and took him in her arms.

"It doesn't matter," Severus said. "I never loved her anyway. It's not a big deal."

"I guess it is, my Love," Kat said. She put her head on his shoulder and sighed. "I can't picture a mother saying that to her son," she said. "You're right, she's awful. It's not surprising you took so much time to open yourself to me. But I'll do my best to make you happy."

Severus was touched to see her so concerned. "You already do," he said.

He kissed her on her forehead. He felt pacified. It was the first time he had talked about his mother. He had sworn he would never tell anyone. He feared people would agree with her. He didn't want them to laugh at him and say that even his mother didn't want him. But Kat understood. More than that, she still wanted him.

"Do you think that your parents would have liked me?" Severus asked softly.

Katarina smiled. "My parents would have welcomed you to the family," she responded. "My mother... she was very sweet and understanding. She'd have accepted you right away. As for my father... he was very protective. He'd have probably questioned you for a long time. But in the end, he'd have liked you." She paused. "Remus often reminds me of him."

Severus frowned. Again the werewolf? If Katarina's father was like Lupin, they'd never have liked each other. Severus reasoned with himself. Lupin was a disgusting werewolf, which had almost killed him. Charles Burns was the father of Severus' fiancée. The context was different.

"Do I remind you of your father sometimes?" he asked.

Katarina laughed. "Not really," she said. "First, he was blond. He had blue eyes. And he had a moustache and a slight beard. And you..." She put her arms around his neck, "...you have very dark hair. You have black eyes. The most bewitching stare I've ever seen. And you're clean-shaven." She planted a kiss on his left cheek. "And if I might, your after-shave smells really good."

"You are a sex maniac," Severus teased.

Katarina giggled. "Absolutely," she replied. She planted a second kiss on his cheek.

Severus had made a lot of efforts to look as handsome as possible... at least, to look less ugly. He never told Kat he still thought he was ugly. She would have scolded him. But he was pleased that she noticed and appreciated his efforts.

"I'm glad you don't look like my father," Katarina continued. "I'm glad you just... look like you."

Severus smiled slightly and looked at her adoringly. "What about your father's personality?" he asked.

"Dad was the most upright man in the entire world," Katarina replied. "When something bad happened, he was always there to arrange everything. And he was a very good Quidditch player. He tried to teach me when I was very young. But I was awful. I fell from my broomstick and broke my leg. That day, he had been so scared that he forbade me to mount a broom until I entered Hogwarts. As I said, he was overprotective."

Severus realised Katarina's parents were the opposite of his own parents. Katarina seemed to have had a happy family.

"Tell me more about your childhood," he whispered. "I'd like to know what a loving family looks like. How was your mother?"

"She was very kind," Katarina responded. "When I was a little girl, she used to read stories to me every evening. When I was ill, she caressed my hair and sang soft lullabies until I fell asleep. She had a nice voice. She taught me a lot of things. Except cooking. I was bad at cooking too. But my mother was a great cook."

What Kat told him seemed strange to Severus. His mother had never done that for him. And his father... his father just taught him Potions and Dark Arts. The only person who had ever acted so kindly with him was Katarina.

"My parents loved each other," Katarina continued. "I can't remember them ever quarrelling."

"Do you think that quarrelling is incompatible with feelings?" Severus questioned. He raised an eyebrow. Did Katarina want to let him get a message?

"No," Katarina replied. "I just wanted to say I had a happy childhood. My parents quarrelled probably more often than I thought. But they rarely did it in front of me."

Severus sighed inwardly. No message.

"I'm glad you had a happy childhood," he said. "Otherwise, you wouldn't be so sweet."

Severus had always been touched by Katarina's sweetness. He loved the way she looked at him. The way she took care of him. Her unconditional love. With her, he wasn't the same. He realised that an unexpected midnight kiss in a library had changed his whole life.

"Honey," Katarina said. "I wondered..." she looked awkward. "Do you remember when we had that horrible quarrel before Christmas?"

"Yes," Severus retorted. He wondered what she was going to ask him. He just hoped it was not about making love.

"Please, don't get mad at me," Kat pleaded. "But there's something I want to know. I keep torturing myself about that. I just... fear you would react badly."

"Tell me," Severus said silkily.

"You said..." Katarina uttered, "that you'd never want to have children. Is that true? Or did you say that because you were angry? I have to know."

"Will my response change your decision to marry me?" Severus questioned. He knew how much Katarina cared about Potter junior. Would she change her mind over motherhood?

"No," Katarina replied. A quick expression of sadness came in her eyes. "But I don't want to hope for children, when that's not a possibility."

Severus felt too young for having babies. But Katarina wanted to know if he'd want to have children one day. And this idea was not completely unpleasant. It was not the first time that he'd imagined how their children would be. Once, Katarina had showed him a photograph of her when she was a baby. And Severus had been surprised to wonder if their future daughter would be so pretty.

"I think I... exaggerated a little," Severus said. He cleared his throat. "'Never' is not the same as 'in a while.' I'm not ready to have children now. Hearing them babbling and crying all the time would be insufferable. Not to mention the drool, the nappies to change, and probably a few other disagreeable things I forgot on the list."

Katarina burst into laughter. "Yes," she said, "that's easier when you occasionally take care of other people's babies. I'm not ready to have one either, you know!" She smiled. The sadness in her eyes had disappeared. "I'm glad you're not categorical on that point," she said. "We'll take our time. But for the moment, we'll have to get married. And then we'll have a very long honeymoon."

"How long?" Severus asked. He arched an eyebrow. They had planned a one week honeymoon during school holidays.

"Many years I hope," Katarina replied with a smile. "I want to take care of my sexy, future loving husband."

"Sexy?" Severus asked. Definitely not the word he would have used for himself.

"Very," Katarina replied. She snuggled up in his arms.

Severus smiled. He was happy that Kat loved him so much. When he went to Katarina's apartment, they were both alone. The one for the other. Like in a cocoon. But outside, life was really awful. Severus had to pay attention to everything. He had to hide his feelings all the time. Spying on the Dark Lord for Dumbledore was dangerous. Severus kept wondering if it would end one day. He also feared Kat's powers would become stronger. That the Dark Lord would discover it and try to steal them. Severus wished something would happen to defeat him. He'd had enough missions for the Dark Lord. Enough of spying for Dumbledore. He just wanted to get married with Katarina, to rest, and have the longest honeymoon ever.

***

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