Swept From the Past

Chapter 43: Before the Storm -- part one

Remus Lupin knocked at Dumbledore's office and entered. The Headmaster was seated at his desk. In front of him sat Severus Snape.

"Professor Dumbledore," Remus said.

"Remus," the Headmaster replied. "Please take a seat."

Snape stood up suddenly. "What is Lupin doing here?" he asked disdainfully. "The corridors are full of students. Dangerous beasts are not allowed within the castle."

Remus was about to reply, but Dumbledore responded first.

"Severus," he replied softly. "I think it is time to end your fight with Remus."

Snape glared at Dumbledore. Remus was not happy either, but he knew Dumbledore was right. Those schoolboy grudges were ridiculous.

"If I might, Headmaster," Severus said, "I am the one he almost killed."

"Exactly, Severus," Dumbledore replied. "Almost. Fortunately, the worst did not happen. You are alive. And you know perfectly well that the Wolfsbane Potion did not exist at the time." He paused. "How can you expect Professor Burns to forgive you, if you do not even forgive Remus?"

Severus frowned.

Remus knew that in Severus' mind, it was not the same. Remus and Snape had never liked each other. And Katarina and Severus had been in love with each other. Severus had no reasons to forgive Remus. But with Katarina... Severus had something to gain.

"My history with Professor Burns is no one's business but my own," Severus retorted. "And I would appreciate if you didn't give me advice, unless you can tell me how to get her back."

Dumbledore sighed. "As I told you," he said, "you have to discover everything on your own. In your misfortune, you are lucky. There is still hope for you and Katarina. As I said, there is always hope as long as people are alive. But you must find your own way."

Remus wondered if it was true. In Snape's case, being alive wouldn't be enough.

"Rubbish!" Snape exclaimed. "Burns is as stubborn as a mule! She will never listen to me! All because of Black!"

"Sirius is not responsible!" Remus replied.

"Black has spoiled my life!" Snape shouted. His eyes were murderous. "If that bastard hadn't been taken to Azkaban, I'd have killed him!"

Whatever pity Remus felt for Snape, he couldn't bear hearing the Potions master insult Sirius.

"If you had spoken to Katarina before," Remus replied, "nothing would have happened! You are responsible!"

"How dare you speak to me like that, wretched werewolf!" Snape yelled. "You don't know anything! You were busy trying to find a way to support yourself! I lost her because of Black! But I'm sure you were very happy when she left me! Maybe you thought you'd have a chance with her?"

"Severus," the Headmaster spat. "That is enough." Dumbledore looked at Snape with a commanding stare. Severus' expression was murderous.

Remus was furious, but he controlled his anger. When would Snape understand that Remus and Katarina had never had that kind of relationship?

"Yes, that is enough," Severus hissed. He left and slammed the door behind him.

"Well," Dumbledore said, "it seems that we have two mules in Hogwarts."

Remus sighed. "Do you really think that there's a chance for him to save Katarina?"

"There is a chance," Dumbledore replied. "But I cannot say if Severus will take it or not. Time will tell us."

Time? How much time did Katarina have now? Remus had a heavy heart. Severus Snape doing the right thing? The Potions master was much too proud for that...

***

Remus returned to the Shrieking Shack, where Dumbledore had decided he should stay for the time being. The cures had worked, and the Healers came less and less often. Who could have believed that Remus would have been cured? A few months ago, the situation seemed to be irreversible, and now...

Was there a hope for Katarina too?

Remus remembered how much he had admired Katarina and Snape's relationship. Of course, James and Lily had loved each other too, but it wasn't the same thing. Severus Snape had never been popular like James. Most of the students disliked him. But despite all of this, Katarina had fallen in love with him. And Katarina hadn't given Snape up, in spite of all the nasty things James and Sirius had said to her. Katarina and Severus had been put to the test, and their love had survived the difficulties.

Remus was not like James or Sirius. He had never been famous at school. He was just a strange boy who often missed his classes because of his dangerous disease. He had hoped that one day a woman would love him enough to accept his lycanthropy and his poverty. Unfortunately, he hadn't found such a woman. A part of Remus' hopes had died when he'd learnt Severus' and Katarina's relationship was over. He had understood that sometimes, love wasn't enough. And what woman would have agreed to live with him?

Remus sighed, remembering his first flat, old and tiny. Everything was poor and old-fashioned, but he couldn't afford more.

He had given private lessons to several students, but it was difficult to live on so little money. His parents couldn't help him though. His mother was ill, and the cures were expensive. Remus had wanted to support himself. He'd felt he had caused enough trouble to his parents with his disease, and shame had prevented him from asking for anything. He'd also felt reluctant to invite his friends in his flat, because he didn't want them to pity him.

Remus thought of the only time Sirius had come to visit him. That day his friend had acted so strangely...

***

Remus' apartment, July, Remus' fourth year after he'd left Hogwarts.

Remus was reading when someone knocked at the door. Who could it be? He never received visitors. The young man opened the door. Sirius stood in front of him.

"Padfoot?" Remus asked, surprised.

"I should have Owled you," Sirius said, "but I was in the neighbourhood."

"Oh," Remus replied. "Er... come in." He was embarrassed, but he couldn't leave his friend at the door.

Sirius entered. "So aren't you going to give me the tour of your place?" he asked.

"Er," Remus replied, "here is the bedroom," he said, pointing at the bed. "Here is the kitchen," he continued, designating the place on his right where an old oven stood, "and here is the... er... bathroom," he added, indicating the little shower which resembled a cupboard more than a bathroom.

Sirius looked at him with an amused stare. Remus realised his friend had been teasing him.

"Straight into your trap?" Remus asked.

"Yeah," Sirius replied.

"Want to sit?" Remus asked, a bit ill at ease.

Sirius nodded.

Remus brought his friend his only chair and sat on the bed. Sirius had a line on his forehead. He looked anxious. Remus detected that there was something wrong.

"What's up, Padfoot?" he asked.

"I'm worried about... James and Lily," Sirius replied. "And about Harry. I wonder why Voldemort wants to find them. Did Dumbledore tell you?"

"No," Remus responded.

"Nor did he tell Wormtail," Sirius said. "I don't get it," he continued with irritation. "We're James' best friends. Why can't we know what's going on?"

Remus shrugged his shoulders. "Dumbledore has his reasons," he replied.

"Why should Dumbledore decide how much we should know?" Sirius exclaimed. "We're able to deal with this! What's the use of having friends if it's not to help them when then something goes wrong?"

"We must trust Dumbledore," Remus replied. "You know I'm indebted to him. And he'll never betray James and Lily. I'm sure he knows what he's doing!"

Sirius snorted.

"Padfoot," Remus said. "Dumbledore will not betray James and Lily. Never."

"Dumbledore is an old man," Sirius replied. "Old men make mistakes. They think they know everything and don't share their information. They're convinced it's the right thing even when they're wrong!"

"Padfo--" Remus said.

"Wormtail thinks the same thing," Sirius interrupted. "Either Dumbledore is playing games with us or he's going crackers!"

"That's foolish," Remus replied. "Dumbledore is doing his best t--"

"What about all those secrets?" Sirius replied. "Lily, James, Harry, Katarina..."

"Katarina?" Remus asked. What was Sirius meaning?

"Do you remember when we joined the Order?" Sirius said. "Dumbledore asked us not to tell Katarina. He said she didn't have to know about the Order. That it had to be a secret. But he didn't say much about the reasons why she didn't have to know..."

Sirius was right. Dumbledore hadn't wanted Katarina to know about the Order. But...

"He said it was to protect her," Remus responded. "I think it was a good reason."

"Maybe," Sirius replied. "But she knows the truth about her family now. And she's an Auror. Why doesn't he tell her?"

Remus didn't reply immediately. Sirius had hit something.

"I don't know," Remus said. "But..."

"Dumbledore is hiding something important from us," Sirius continued. "Something linked to Katarina. I bet he doesn't want her to enter the Order because of her... fiancé," he uttered with disdain.

"Severus?" Remus asked. What did Severus have to do with this?

"Snivellus," Sirius corrected.

"But what...?" Remus said.

"Old Snivelly would be too happy to know about the Order," Sirius replied. "He'd warn his old Slytherin friends!"

"Padfoot!" Remus exclaimed. "This is unfair. You've always hated Severus, especially since he started dating Katarina. The schoolboy grudges don't work anymore. This is war!

"Speaking of their... date..." Sirius spat. "When did it happen exactly? And how? Maybe he managed to cast a spell on her, or use a potion to control her mind. She's an Auror! She's Grindelwald's granddaughter!"

"What do you mean?" Remus frowned. He doubted that Severus had known that family detail when he'd started to date Katarina.

"I mean that Snivellus probably had other reasons for dating her," Sirius replied. "I would bet he never felt anything for her!"

Remus didn't like the direction this conversation was taking. "Severus is in love with Katarina," he said. "And she's in love with him. They're going to be married. Sirius, don't do anything to spoil their marriage! Katarina wouldn't forgive you if you did it. Neither would I."

"Would you prevent me from doing something?" Sirius asked. His eyes widened. "Even if I have proof?"

Proof? What proof? Remus couldn't believe him. He'd seen Severus with Katarina. If Snape hadn't cared for her, he wouldn't have been so possessive and jealous. He wouldn't have proposed to Katarina.

"You're like a brother to me, like Prongs and Wormtail," Remus responded. "You accepted me for what I was. You became an Animagus.... I'll never forget that. But I refuse to let you hurt Kat, and I'd do anything to stop you if you try. I trust Dumbledore. And I believe in Severus' feelings for Katarina."

Sirius turned his back to Remus.

"Do you know what it did to me when I saw her kissing Snape at the Spring Ball?" Sirius replied after a silence. "It hurt me more than you can imagine. I was on the dance-floor, when I realised she had left. I went to search for her in the corridors, just to talk with her. To tell her what I felt for her. Then I saw her and Snivellus in each other's arms, kissing. I was so shocked that I didn't say anything. When they stopped, I had a glimpse of her face, of the way she looked at him," Sirius spat. "It was supposed to be my moment, and that prat stole it from me!"

"He didn't steal anything from you, Padfoot," Remus retorted sadly.

He understood how painful it had been for Sirius, but his friend had to get rid of his illusions.

"Katarina had made her choice before the Spring Ball," Remus continued. "She had feelings for Severus long before that night, and so had he. She always told you she didn't see you as a boyfriend. I always told you not to insist. But you didn't listen. You didn't want to listen. Believe me, Padfoot, I know what it is to be rejected by a girl. But you can have every other girl you want! Stop focusing on her!"

"He stole her from me!" Sirius barked, turning around. His face was livid and his fists clenched. "Oily, repulsive Snivellus stole her from me!"

Remus could see a mixed expression of anger and pain on Sirius' features. But he also read something else. Sirius' pride had been hurt. If Katarina had dated anyone other than Severus, Sirius would have been able to accept it.

"Severus never stole Katarina from you," Remus replied. "She never promised you anything. She was not your girlfriend. Severus couldn't steal something you never had. I know it will hurt you to hear this, mate, but Katarina has always 'belonged' to Severus. They were meant to be together."

"How?" Sirius queried. "In a normal state, she would have never dated that slime ball!"

"Padfoot, don't--" Remus said.

"I refuse to see her sad when she understands she's been duped!" Sirius exclaimed. "I couldn't bear seeing her hurt because of Snivellus! I don't want to see her cry when she understands what sort of man he is!"

"Who he is?" Remus asked. "What--"

"It doesn't matter," Sirius retorted. "I know what I'm talking about."

Remus wondered why Sirius was so sharp with him. It was the first time Sirius hid something from him, as far as Remus remembered. But it was probably because Remus and Kat were very close. Or maybe because Sirius was bluffing. His anger made him say nonsense. He always did or said stupid things when he was furious.

"You're not objective," Remus responded. "You're much too involved when it's about Severus and Katarina."

Sirius stared at Remus. There was something in his eyes. Remus had never seen this expression before. It was as if Sirius mistrusted him.

"Peter was right," Sirius replied icily. "He said that you wouldn't understand. But I didn't believe him. I thought that you'd have wanted to protect your little sister."

What did that ironic tone mean? Remus didn't agree with Sirius so it meant he was not a good brother? It was easy for Sirius to criticise!

"Severus is her choice," Remus said coldly, "and I respect it." He sighed. "They're in love with each other, mate," he continued with a softer voice. "Very in love. Severus is awful to me, to you, to James, to Peter and the whole world, but I know he would do anything for Katarina. Just because of that, we must respect their relationship." He paused and looked at Sirius straight in the eye. "They're both in love," he said very distinctly.

Sirius looked at him for several seconds. That strange expression Sirius had had in his eyes a moment before came back. Bewilderment... and... was it suspicion? It didn't last, but Remus was worried. He felt he had lost Sirius' confidence.

"You're right," Sirius replied softly. "I'm just a fool. I drank too much at dinner, and I'm talking nonsense."

"Do you want a cup of coffee?" Remus asked.

"No mate," Sirius replied. "I have to go anyway. Thanks for the conversation."

Remus accompanied Sirius to the door, said a last goodbye to his friend and closed the door behind him. He didn't know exactly what information Sirius had, but he was very worried. His friend had a brave heart, but blindness sometimes led him to do things he would later regret.

***

Remus felt he was responsible for what had happened to Katarina too. Why hadn't he brought Sirius back? Why hadn't he tried to reason with him more? He should have insisted. He should have cleared everything up with Sirius before he'd left. Why hadn't he talked to Dumbledore about their discussion?

Remus hadn't done anything to stop Sirius. Exactly like when he was at Hogwarts. Looking away when James and Sirius hexed Severus.

He should have known that Sirius would never give up... But Remus had wanted to give his friend a chance. Sirius hadn't done anything right away, thus Remus had thought the story was over. And James' parents had disappeared shortly after this discussion.

Remus remembered how difficult this period had been for him, between his anguish for James and Lily and his money troubles. Seeing Katarina happy had been his only consolation...

***

London, Katarina's apartment, September, Remus' fourth year after he'd left Hogwarts.

Remus stood in front of Katarina's door. It had been a long time since he had last seen her, so long that he hadn't even visited her new flat. He didn't dare to ring the bell. He felt so worried for James and Lily that he didn't know if he would manage to hide his anguish in front of Katarina.

He hadn't been allowed to see James and Lily for a while. He didn't know where they were hidden, since he was not their Secret Keeper. James had probably chosen Sirius, Harry's godfather. Remus shivered. What would happen to Sirius if he was attacked too? Voldemort knew how to make people talk, even the strongest ones. He had probably thought James' mother was the Secret Keeper, since she was Harry's godmother. What would happen to James and Lily if Voldemort knew where they hid? What would happen to Harry?

Remus was deep in thought, when Katarina's door opened.

"Remus!" Katarina exclaimed. "Have you been waiting out here long?" She hugged him. "I'm so glad you came! Come in!"

Remus entered and tried to focus on anything but James and Lily. "Nice flat," he said, comparing it to his own flat.

"Thanks," Katarina replied. "Severus thinks it's a little small, but he's not objective. That's what happens when you live in a castle..." She smiled. "In fact, he said it was all right for two people, but not for a family."

"Are you--?" Remus asked. Was Katarina pregnant?

"Oh, no," she replied, laughing. "We're too young to have children. But we'll have one day. At first, Severus was against the idea. But now he has changed his mind."

"I'm glad he did," Remus replied. "You're meant to have children."

Seeing Katarina's happiness each time she took Harry in her arms, Remus knew she would be a good mother. She loved children. Remus would have been sorry to hear she had given motherhood up because of Snape.

"It's been a long time," Remus said after a pause. "Almost five months. How are you doing, Miss I'm-going-to-get-married?"

They sat on the couch.

"Very well," Katarina replied. She looked so happy that her face was beaming.

"I'll try to find a decent wedding present," Remus murmured, trying to hide the shame he felt. He hadn't managed to buy anything yet, although he had economised.

"Remus," Katarina replied. She took his hands in hers. "I know you have money trouble. I don't need a present from you. I want you at the wedding. That's the best present you can offer me. Really."

Remus felt both touched and awkward. He didn't like to speak about his money problems.

"You're proud," Katarina continued. "But a wedding is about love. Not about money, or expensive presents."

"But it's the custom," Remus retorted gently. "And remember I'll have to buy Severus and you a present. Not a personal one."

Katarina laughed. "Good try, Remus," she responded. "Severus really doesn't care about your wedding present. In fact, I think he doesn't care about presents at all." She looked at him seriously. "But there's something you could do for me. Something I would really like for my wedding." She paused. "A few months ago, I spoke with Severus, and I realised how much you reminded me of my father. So I would like you to escort me to the altar."

Remus was surprised and moved. He esteemed Charles Burns. Kat's father was a good man. Being compared to him by his own daughter was stirring. And being asked by Kat to take her father's place was a great honour. But...

"Don't you want Dumbledore to do it?" Remus asked.

"No," Katarina replied. "Dumbledore will be Severus' witness. And I want my brother of heart to take my father's place. I'm sure that's what he'd have wanted."

Remus cleared his throat to mask his emotion.

"What does Severus think of it?" he asked, frowning. Severus hated him. Katarina's decision wouldn't please her fiancé.

"Severus thinks..." Katarina said with a smile, "that he wants me to be happy for our wedding."

Remus' mouth fell agape. "You convinced him?" he asked, puzzled. He wondered how Katarina had managed to coax Snape. Severus was like a dangerous, wild beast no one had ever dared to approach. Except Kat. She seemed to be the only one to have hold over him.

"Yes," Katarina replied. "Oh, he groused a little. You know him. Often in bad mood. But I told him I wanted our wedding to be perfect. After a few days, he finally agreed."

"A few days?" Remus asked.

"Well..." Katarina said, "er... six or seven days. But it's okay now."

Six or seven days? Katarina's way to say 'a week.' Remus screwed up his eyes. "So Severus is not mad at you now?"

"Oh," Katarina replied, "yes he is. But not because of you. Three days ago, Alice came unexpectedly to visit with her baby, Neville. She wanted to see my wedding gown before the ceremony." Katarina smiled. "The problem is," she continued, "that Severus was here. I immediately saw that he was bored and irritated by her presence, but when Alice splattered her cup of tea on his clothes, well... he became furious. Alice said she would use a Drying Spell to repair the damage, but Severus was not very cooperative. He told her that Neville 'had the same ugly, round face as hers,' and that 'with her genes, Neville would probably be the worst student in the century at Hogwarts.' I hardly managed to stop the quarrel. And when Alice left, Severus was mad at me.

"Are you okay?" Remus asked. How strange... Katarina was always sad when she quarrelled with Severus. But now she looked perfectly well.

"Yes," Katarina replied. "Of course, he hasn't spoken to me for the last three days. But every morning and evening, he turns up suddenly at my place to kiss me. Then he leaves without uttering a word. So I guess he's not too mad at me." Katarina rolled her eyes and pouted. "You've just missed him a few minutes ago."

"Severus is probably not the easiest man to live with," Remus said, frowning. Katarina had to be very patient to bear Snape's temper!

"You're right," Katarina replied. "Severus is very jealous, paranoid, bad-tempered, and he can be very sharp." She looked amused. "But I'm happy with him. Very happy. For more than two months, he comes home every day through the Floo Network."

Remus had often seen Katarina alone for the weekends before, miserable because she couldn't see her boyfriend. She wouldn't be alone anymore now.

"Sometimes he stays for the whole day," Katarina said. "Sometimes he just comes for an hour. But he's always there for me. Now... I really feel he needs me like I need him. We sometimes quarrel, like three days ago. But when he's angry, I can see he tries to control himself, to improve his temper. He's really trying."

"Really?" Remus asked.

"Yes," Katarina replied. "He says he wants to become a better man. For me. And he is. A month ago, he even prepared a romantic dinner for me."

"Severus cooked?" Remus asked, puzzled. The idea of Severus Snape cooking for someone was really... odd...

"Well, yes," Katarina responded, "He said that cooking wasn't different from preparing Potions. He was wrong." She laughed. "But he cooked better than me anyway. With a little practice I'm sure he'll improve his talents. And he offered me red roses, so I really enjoyed our dinner."

Remus smiled. Sirius' theories were wrong. Severus Snape was completely under Katarina's spell. Who could have believed that he'd have made efforts for someone?

"I'm glad that he treats you well," Remus said.

"He does," Katarina replied.

Remus' stomach grumbled loudly. Remus had hardly eaten for the past few days and was starving, but he didn't dare say anything to Katarina. He felt awkward and blushed.

"Hey," Katarina said. "Dinner time! The elves prepared everything. I'm glad I don't have to cook. Although I don't want the house-elves to be enslaved, I must admit that I like when they prepare dinner. Thank God that the Hogwarts' elves cook well. I'm so lucky to have a fiancé who works at Hogwarts to provide for me." She grinned and conjured a great amount of food.

"There's food for twenty!" Remus exclaimed, his stomach grumbling again.

"You know the elves," Katarina replied. "They always cook too much. But they'll surely be upset if we don't eat everything. I don't know about you, but I'm really hungry!"

They both sat at the table. Katarina served the food and quickly started to eat, probably to make him feel at ease.

The elves always cooked too much? Remus was grateful to Katarina for her delicacy. Of course, she had noticed how thin he had become -- what his mirror shown him every morning --, but she hadn't wanted to upset him. He knew he looked ill and needed to eat. Enjoying Katarina's efforts, Remus relaxed and took a mouthful of the first decent meal he'd had in ages.

Remus would have wanted to speak about James and Lily to Katarina, but he couldn't. He couldn't say anything about the Order, and Katarina wasn't supposed to speak about her Auror's missions. Katarina hadn't told Remus that James and Lily wouldn't come to the wedding. Of course, she thought he didn't know anything about their problems, so Remus had acted as if everything was normal. Katarina had probably planned to mention a few days before her wedding that James and Lily wouldn't come. Remus felt guilty to hide the truth from Kat, especially since he knew she probably felt the same way. He sighed inwardly, aware that he didn't have choice. He had to keep silent.

"By the way," Katarina said after several minutes. "You didn't answer. Will you escort me to the altar?"

Remus smiled softly. "I'd be honoured," he replied.

***

Remus felt sad. He hadn't been able to escort her to the altar. Instead, he had entered the church to say a last goodbye to James and Lily, whose bodies were enclosed forever within a stone prison. He had prayed for his old friend Pettigrew -- that awful traitor -- and for Katarina, and cursed Sirius for having betrayed his friends. He had cried, cursing himself for having done nothing to prevent it.

What had Dumbledore said? Ah, yes... that Voldemort had killed James and Lily, then had been defeated by Harry. That Sirius had killed Pettigrew. That Katarina... had probably died in the fire. That Severus had almost become mad from sorrow, and that Madam Pomfrey was taking care of him with powerful Sleeping Draughts.

This was the way the first war had ended... While the whole Wizarding World had celebrated the return of the peace, Remus had mourned the loss of his dearest friends.

***

Professor Burns was in her quarters and opened one of her drawers, which contained the medallion Snape had given to her on Valentine's Day. She had been surprised it hadn't been cursed, but her tests hadn't revealed anything. No nasty spell put within the object. Strange.

She had put the medallion in the drawer, hoping to forget about its existence. But she hadn't forgotten anything.

What was written inside? Ah, yes... "With all my love. Forever. S."

Burns grimaced. Why had Snape given that to her? Why did he keep hurting her? He probably found it funny to pretend he had -- and still -- felt something for her. What a sadistic bastard! Knowing that she was dying was not enough. The more she suffered, the better it was for him.

Sirius had been right. Snape had manipulated her from the beginning. Why the hell hadn't she understood the truth? Why had she defended Snape, although Sirius had claimed that Snivellus was using her? It was probably linked to the Love Philtre. Snape claimed that he had never used such potion on her, but it was impossible. He would have never risked losing his prey. Death Eaters knew what they were doing.

Burns remembered the quarrel she'd had with Sirius shortly before Hallowe'en. The day she'd said she would never speak to him again. No need to check in her Pensieves. She remembered exactly what had happened, like on that awful Hallowe'en day. She hadn't wanted to forget...

***

London, Katarina's apartment, thirtieth of October, Katarina's first year as an Auror.

Katarina came back from a mission with Sirius. She entered her apartment, hoping that Severus wouldn't be here. Sirius wanted to talk to her, so Frank Longbottom had left them at the corner of the street. Katarina didn't know what Sirius wanted to talk about, but she hoped he wouldn't stay long. Who knew what Severus would do, if he caught them alone together. Katarina felt uncomfortable. She didn't want to quarrel with Severus three days before their wedding.

"Sirius," Katarina said, "Could we speak quickly? I don't want Severus to see you here when he comes back home."

Sirius snorted and sat.

"So," Kat said, sitting too. "What do you want to tell me?"

Sirius' features were hard. He took a deep breath. "Kat," he said. "I've thought a lot since the day I saw you kissing Snape... And when I heard you were engaged, I can't deny that I felt pain. But what I'm going to tell to you now... believe me, I'd have never wanted to tell you."

"What is it?" Kat asked. She raised an eyebrow. Her heart beat faster. What was Sirius going to tell her?

"Well..." Sirius replied awkwardly. "It's something... hard to tell. And it's absolutely not revenge..."

"Speak," Kat interrupted sharply. What was Sirius on about? Would he try to spoil her wedding?

"It's about Snape..." Sirius replied. "I've discovered something... you have to be strong, Kat..."

"What is it?" she repeated.

She was worried now. Was there something wrong with her fiancé?

"Is he ill?" she asked.

"No, it's not... that kind of thing, Kat," Sirius responded. "I... I've seen him in Knockturn Alley. He was giving money to a prostitute named Charisma."

Katarina gasped. What had Sirius just said? No, it was impossible! Severus couldn't...

"No!" she exclaimed. "You're a liar! You're ready to say anything just to ruin our marriage!"

"That's the truth!" Sirius replied.

"Severus couldn't do that!" Katarina shouted. "He couldn't... have an affair! He loves me! He wouldn't betray me!"

It was rubbish! Why would Severus have... hired a prostitute? This simple idea disgusted Katarina. Severus was not that kind of man. He kept saying he wanted to wait until their marriage. They could have made love before if he had wanted to. Sirius was just a liar!

"There's more," Sirius snapped. "I've inquired about Charisma, and..."

"Oh," Katarina yelled, "shut up!" She was going to be sick.

"She's a Death Eater, Kat!" Sirius shouted. "Your fiancé paid a Death Eater prostitute!"

Katarina covered her ears. "I don't want to hear this!" she said, shaking her head.

"You'll have to!" Sirius exclaimed. "He's surely a Death Eater too!"

"No, he's not!" Katarina yelled. "You made everything up!"

"I didn't!" Sirius replied.

"Severus isn't unfaithful to me!" Katarina bellowed.

"So if he isn't," Sirius replied, "why did I see him giving money to Charisma? Katarina, face the truth!"

"I trust Severus," Katarina responded sharply. "I could entrust my life to him."

"You'll probably lose your life because of him," Sirius retorted.

"I'd give my life to protect him," Katarina replied icily.

"You know what I mean," Sirius retorted. "I'm not taking about saving him. I'm talking of the day he'll decide to attack and kill you."

"He'll never do that!" Katarina barked.

"Among all those prostitutes," Sirius continued, "why did he choose a Death Eater?"

"You're as bad as your cousins Bellatrix or Narcissa!" Katarina spat. "How dare you come to my apartment to tarnish my fiancé's reputation? You are repugnant!"

"I don't want him to hurt you, Kat!" Sirius yelled. "I know you don't feel anything for me. I didn't tell you that to make you fall into my arms."

"Well that's great, because I'll NEVER fall in your arms!" Katarina bellowed. "I'll NEVER fall in love with you! You can't bear the fact that someone pushed you away! It's just a question of ego!"

"I don't want him to kill you!" Sirius shouted. "Maybe he's working for Voldemort!"

"He's not a Death Eater!" Katarina yelled.

"Won't you just try to believe me?" Sirius barked.

"No, I won't!" she shouted. "Severus would never have become a Death Eater! He loves me!"

"That's what you think!" Sirius replied. "I bet he wants to keep an eye on you, because you are Grindelwald's granddaughter! Maybe Voldemort has given him a special mission! Maybe he has plans for you! Did Snape tell you that he was still seeing his old Slytherin friends? Those whom Mad-Eye Moody suspects to be Death Eaters!"

"I can't believe you would come here and tell me this!" Katarina shouted. "You disgust me, Sirius! Get out of my apartment!"

"Katar--" Sirius exclaimed.

She pushed Sirius violently and pointed her wand at him. His mouth fell agape. She looked him straight in the eye.

"Never cross my path again! Never!" Katarina spat, with all the disdain she could muster. That man in front of her was disgusting. She regretted ever calling him her friend. She opened the entrance door sharply.

"You're dead to me, Black!" she hissed. She was about to hex him.

Black stepped backwards, a shocked expression on his face. Before he could say anything else, Katarina slammed the door in front of him. She uttered a spell to lock the door, then put a Silencing Charm in case Sirius would speak through the door.

She sat on the couch, trying to calm her anger. Accusing Severus of having an affair... of being one of those murderers! Black made her sick! She'd be married in three days, and the bastard had found it amusing to slander her fiancé... Katarina was so enraged that she hit her cushions as hard as she could, imagining that it was Black's head. She would never forgive him for that awful lie.

She tried to control her anger and took a potion to relax. Black was gone. And soon, she'd be married. No matter what the awful git had said. She was going to spend her life with the man she loved.

***

Burns was disgusted. She hated the girl in her memories. To spend her life with the man she loved? He had only waited for an occasion to kill her! When Katarina had slit her wrists, she had wanted to die. To punish herself for loving Snivellus and believing that he had felt the same. She regretted that Sirius had saved her life. He shouldn't have come to her apartment. He should have let her die in the flames, as she had decided.

But at least, being alive had allowed her to help other people. Soon, her suffering would end. Very soon.

***

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