Swept From the Past

Chapter 55: The Emerald's Heart -- part eight

Severus stood in a corridor on the second floor with Lupin. Irritating werewolf! He'd insisted on coming with Severus to search for Katarina. The Potions master wasn't pleased by Lupin's presence, but he knew the werewolf was right. Bellatrix was dangerous. Two wizards were better than only one. Severus was ready to do anything for her. Even tolerating Lupin's presence. He frowned.

"Humph," he said, "I suppose it's true. But I warn you. Katarina is mine!"

Lupin shouldn't have any illusions. Katarina belonged to Severus. The werewolf had better not try to seduce her.

Lupin rolled his eyes. "I know," he replied with a bit of irritation. "What word didn't you understand in the sentence 'she's like a sister to me?' I'm not in love with her. You are. So you'd better save her and tell her that you love her instead of warning me."

Severus screwed up his eyes. He didn't like the way that werewolf was talking to him. Lupin was not in love with Katarina? Severus couldn't believe him. How could any man consider her as a sister? The Potions master couldn't imagine it. But he was sure about something. Lupin would do his best to protect her. When it was about Katarina's safety, the werewolf was Severus' best ally.

"Fine," Severus whispered under his breath. "For her..."

Lupin sighed. "Let's go, then."

They walked quickly in the corridors. Suddenly, Severus heard people fighting. He turned the corner and gasped. Burns was engaged in hand-to-hand combat with Crabbe. The Death Eater's wand had fallen a few meters from him. But he tried to hit Katarina with his fists. She evaded his attacks, dodging his dangerous punches. But the Death Eater was strong and Katarina looked tired.

Severus pointed his wand at Crabbe and Burns, but didn't dare to utter a spell. Katarina was standing just in front of Crabbe, her back turned to Severus. Katarina and Crabbe were too close to each other. The Potions master could hex her accidentally instead of hitting the Death Eater. He couldn't risk using a curse and hurting her.

Burns punched Crabbe's face with her fist, but the Death Eater grabbed her arm violently and spun her around to face Severus and Lupin. Crabbe grabbed her neck in a choke hold. Severus felt terrified.

"No!" Lupin exclaimed.

"One word and I'll break her neck!" Crabbe snarled. "Lower your wands!"

Severus obeyed without a word. Crabbe wouldn't hesitate to kill Katarina. The Potions master heard Burns' quick breathing. He could see her chest raise... and Crabbe's rough hand touching her delicate skin... He fought the urge to hex Crabbe and make him pay for such a gesture.

Suddenly, Katarina closed her eyes. Her head lowered. Her arms hung as if she'd fainted. Her legs didn't support her weight anymore. Severus gasped. Had Crabbe squeezed her neck so tightly that he'd cut off her airway?

Crabbe raised an eyebrow. He put his arm around her waist to support her weight.

"Stupid half-blood," he growled.

But then, Burns thrust her head backward and hit his nose, making him bleed. Crabbe emitted a deep growl of pain. She elbowed him violently in the stomach. Crabbe cried out. His grip loosened. With a cry of rage, Burns bent forward and flipped Crabbe over her back. He fell on the floor with a loud thump. Then she kicked his bleeding face, knocking him out.

"Stupid, eh?" Burns snorted. "I should have made you kiss Malfoy!"

"So it was really you..." Lupin whispered.

"The best way to prevent someone from talking," Burns replied without looking at Lupin.

Severus raised an eyebrow. 'Yes, definitely,' he thought. His mouth twitched.

"Now I won't be the only one disgusted by Malfoy's kiss," Burns added with a grimace.

Severus scowled. He had forgotten that she had kissed Malfoy once. 'She did that to steal the talisman that saved you,' Severus reasoned with himself. 'She didn't enjoy the kiss.'

Katarina picked up Crabbe's wand from the floor and pointed it at its owner.

"Incarcerous!" she uttered. Thick ropes appeared and wrapped around the Death Eater. With a few flicks of Crabbe's wand, Burns conjured a big wardrobe, levitated Crabbe and placed him inside. She locked the wardrobe. "Evello!" she said. The wardrobe disappeared. Then she snapped Crabbe's wand and threw the broken bits onto the floor.

"He doesn't deserve to have a wand," she said disdainfully. "Death Eaters are the shame of the Wizarding World."

Severus frowned. Death Eaters? Or him? Damn! Why did Lupin have to witness this conversation?

"Oh!" the werewolf exclaimed suddenly. "Your cheek is bleeding! You must--"

"I don't care," Burns snapped. She shrugged her shoulders.

Lupin appeared to be surprised by her reaction.

"You must leave the castle right away," the werewolf said.

"No," Burns replied.

Oh, yes, she would leave the castle! Severus would not allow her to stay and be killed.

"Bellatrix--" the Potions master said.

"I won't leave the castle," Burns interrupted.

"Stubborn girl!" Severus replied. "When will you listen to me and be reasonable?"

"I will never listen to you," she responded. "Which proves I'm reasonable."

Severus frowned again.

"Bellatrix is dangerous," Lupin said. "She'll kill you if--"

"Yes," Burns cut the werewolf short. "She will. This is my fate. My duty is to protect the school until the end."

Severus' heart tightened. Katarina's determination would kill her.

"This is not your fate," Lupin responded. "You have suffered enough, Katarina! And... think of the people who care for you..."

"It's better this way," Burns replied through clenched teeth. "Grindelwald's bloodline must end now."

"No!" Severus exclaimed. "I won't let it happen!"

"You're not only a Grindelwald," Lupin said. "You're a Burns. Your parents wouldn't have liked you to--"

"They're dead," Burns interrupted, staring at Lupin icily. "Because of me and my wonderful bloodline."

What? Severus raised an eyebrow. Did she really feel responsible for her parents' death? But...

"They died because they fought against Voldemort," Lupin replied. "It was war. They loved you. They wanted you to be happy."

"Because they didn't know..." Burns hissed.

"They didn't know what?" Lupin asked.

"That I was evil," she said disdainfully. "So evil that I betrayed them in the worst way possible... My mother..." She stopped. She cast a quick glance at Severus and looked away, as if it was too painful. As if she was ashamed of herself.

Then Severus understood. In her mind, she had loved the son of her mother's murderer. The Potions master knew that feeling of guilt. And that she was convinced that he had only used her didn't help. How could he make her understand that she was wrong? Yes, Severus was Claudius Snape's son. But it had nothing to do with his relationship with Katarina. He wasn't responsible for his father's awful acts. He was already engaged to Katarina when he had learnt what Claudius Snape had done.

"I am cursed," Burns continued. "Evil. I bring misfortune to people. Even to myself. It has to end."

"Rubbish!" Severus exclaimed. He was mad at Katarina for being so blind. Mad at himself for having hurt her so much. For having spoilt everything with his lies.

"You're wrong, Katarina," Lupin said. "You never brought misfortune to anyone. Quite the opposite. Your parents--"

Suddenly, Katarina appeared to feel sick. She lost her balance and fell on her knees. She laid her hand on her forehead and closed her eyes with a painful expression.

"Katarina!" Severus exclaimed.

"What's wrong?" Lupin asked with an alarmed voice.

Both men stepped forward.

"Don't move!" Burns ordered. A blue barrier of energy rose, preventing them from approaching.

"Damn!" Severus exclaimed. "Stop this silly game, Katarina! Remove this barrier immediately!"

Of course, she didn't obey.

"I..." she said, as if she was talking to herself, "I... no... don't ask me to do this... This is... unfair... I don't want..."

Grindelwald, surely. Severus' jaw clenched.

"No..." Burns continued. "He's like... my brother... Don't make me..."

"What--" Lupin said. He looked both worried and surprised.

"Silence," Severus interrupted. The Potions master had to understand Grindelwald's plans. Lupin's role in them...

Burns seemed to suffer. She was fighting with herself... with Grindelwald.

"Fight Grindelwald," Severus said to her. "Don't let him win. Don't let him kill you! Please, Kat..."

"I..." Burns whispered with effort. "I must... for the school..." Severus perceived sorrow in her voice. "I can't do... otherwise..." she added. Then she laughed devilishly. She stood up and stared at Severus and Lupin. Suddenly, a red light flashed in her eyes. The blue barrier disappeared.

"Love is energy," she said with a clear voice. She opened her hands, her palms facing only Lupin.

"Energeia!" she yelled.

Blue mist swirled around Lupin. His eyes went wide. Severus was shocked. He could hardly believe what he was seeing. Katarina was removing Lupin's energy. He hadn't thought he would ever see Katarina attack the werewolf. Lupin, the beast she had tried to protect when he was in his most dangerous state. Severus knew how important the werewolf was to her. If Katarina attacked Lupin, it meant that Grindelwald had great power over her. It meant that maybe it was too late to bring her back. No! Severus refused to believe it!

The vapour flew straight to Burns, who was laughing harder and harder. Lupin's unconscious body collapsed on the floor. Again, Burns absorbed the energy as if she was a Dementor. Then blue flashes of lightning spread on her chest to the ends of her hands. She breathed hard.

"Katarina," Severus said, terrified. "Please turn back to yourself, silly girl!"

"This... energy... is powerful," Burns said with effort. "More powerful... than the student's. It is... strong..."

Of course... 'Love is energy,' Burns had said. Severus knew Burns' powers were based on love. It was not surprising that Lupin's energy had given her strength. Severus felt jealous. If he couldn't prevent his stubborn pirate girl from fighting Bellatrix, maybe... he could give her his strength? To defeat Bellatrix... Maybe Burns would realise that Severus loved her... and that his love was stronger than Lupin's.

Burns' breathing calmed down. The red light flashed in her eyes again.

"You would be stronger," Severus said, "if you took my energy. My love for you is more powerful than anyone's. If I can't stop you from fighting Bellatrix, then maybe I can help you to defeat her. I'm ready to do that for you."

"I don't want your energy," Burns spat. "I don't want anything from you."

Katarina's words hurt. Severus could perceive her disdain for him. But he also knew that her mind was controlled by Grindelwald.

"Interesting," a woman said suddenly. "Burns doesn't want you, Severus. How sad." The woman giggled. Severus turned around and gasped. Bellatrix stood in the hallway, at the junction of a few corridors. Her wand was pointed at Katarina.

"So, Burns, little coward," she continued. "It's time for you to die."

"No!" Severus exclaimed. He threw himself in front of Burns and pointed his wand at Bellatrix.

"Go away," Burns said coldly.

She moved her hand, projecting Severus a few meters to his right. He fell onto the floor and stood up immediately. He pointed his wand at Bellatrix again. Damn! Katarina was so stubborn that she wouldn't let him help her! If he approached her, he could make the situation worse...

"I didn't ask your opinion, Severus," Bellatrix replied. "Although I'm sure you'd want to torture her first..."

What was Bellatrix playing at? Severus felt enraged.

"I'll never torture her," he shouted. "And I swear I'll kill you if you hurt her!"

Bellatrix laughed. "Ah yes," she replied. "I had forgotten that you preferred your enemies to suffer a violent death. My methods are a little different. But don't worry, I promise you a lot of violence for the half-blood." She stared at Katarina. "You won't survive tonight, Burns."

Severus clenched his wand hard in his hand. Even if Katarina refused it, he was ready to fight Bellatrix to protect her.

"Even with more energy," Bellatrix continued, "you won't be powerful enough to defeat me."

"I know," Burns replied with a voice which didn't betray any emotion. "I don't hope to defeat you."

"Good," Bellatrix responded. "So you're ready to die. It will be easier than I thought."

"I said I didn't hope to defeat you," Burns replied mockingly. "Not that I'll let you kill me easily. The castle is under my protection. I'll fight you until the end."

Severus felt terrified for Katarina. She had decided to give her life for this stupid castle.

Bellatrix screwed up her eyes. "You won't protect this castle for long," she said. "Then, when you're in my power, I plan to torture you slowly, Burns. The last minutes of your life will be pure agony. Because of you, Potter escaped. You made me lose my prey. Do you know what I'll do to you for that? I'll take my time to--"

"...bore me stiff with your bloody speech?" Burns continued. "Yes, you're right, it's a real torture."

Bellatrix scowled. "I see," she said. "But maybe you'd be less arrogant if I killed your disgusting friend?" She stared at Lupin's unconscious body. "Werewolves are like half-bloods," she continued with a grimace. "They don't deserve to live."

"Some purebloods don't deserve to live either," Burns replied.

She raised her hands and opened her palms in front of Bellatrix. A barrier of blue energy materialized a few meters from Katarina. This time, it protected Severus and Lupin too.

"So we're back to this little barrier game?" Bellatrix asked. "You want me to pierce your defences again?" She laughed. "Will you Disapparate this time? Or will you accept your fate and die?"

So Burns had already met Bellatrix and had escaped? What had happened?

Bellatrix pointed her wand at the barrier. Severus' own wand was at the ready, in case Bellatrix' attacks would pierce Burns' defences. He couldn't do anything else for the moment.

"Destruere!" Bellatrix yelled.

A green jet of light hit the blue wall brutally, producing a loud thud. It made Burns' body jerk. Her eyes closed from pain, but the barrier didn't cede. Severus knew how violent the shock from two strong powers could be. Every attack coming from Bellatrix hurt Katarina as well as it hurt her protective barrier. Severus didn't dare to approach Katarina. He didn't want to disturb her. To add to her pain. He didn't know what to do.

"If you Disapparate," Bellatrix said, "I'll kill the werewolf immediately. Of course, I'll also kill him if you don't!" She giggled. "But maybe I'll play with him first. I--"

"You speak too much, Bellatrix," Burns said icily. She snorted. "Obviously, powerfulness doesn't rhyme with cleverness."

"I'll make you pay for these words," Bellatrix said, "and for Blazy's death."

What? Severus' eyes opened wide. How was it possible? He had modified Bellatrix's memory! She couldn't remember!

Another powerful spell hit the wall.

"I was wondering when you'd mention it," Burns replied. Her jaw clenched.

Severus gasped. He'd told Katarina that Bellatrix didn't remember. She would think he was a liar although he'd spoken the truth!

"I swear I erased her memories!" he exclaimed. "I don't know how she got them back!"

Bellatrix laughed. "Great acting performance, Severus," she said. "The Dark Lord is right. You were the best for such a mission! To seduce Burns again... I don't think it worked, but I admit you really have talents!"

Severus became enraged.

"Bitch!" he growled. "Do not dare to call her a mission or say that I used her! If Blazy hadn't disarmed me, I'd have attacked you... and killed you. For nearly sixteen years, I've dreamt of making you pay for her scar and torture. For the day you ruined my life with your filthy words!"

Bellatrix laughed harder.

"Really good!" she said.

Severus was frantic. Bellatrix was laughing at him, making Katarina trust him even less, if it was possible.

"That's enough," Burns said, detaching her words. The red light flashed in her eyes again. Suddenly, she clenched her fists and opened them again. The barrier moved forward instantly, hitting Bellatrix. Blue energy spread on the bitch's body. Bellatrix cried out. She was projected violently almost twenty meters backwards.

Burns stepped forward and knelt beside Lupin.

"I didn't lie," Severus said. "I don't know how she..." He stopped. Katarina didn't seem to be listening. She was just looking at Lupin with an expressionless stare. Again, Severus felt jealous.

"She may destroy the whole castle," she whispered to comatose Lupin, "but she won't do anything to you, my faithful friend." She paused. "I wish you a happy life."

She placed her gloved hand on Lupin's forehead and closed her eyes. A blue light flashed around Lupin's body. He... Disapparated. Severus was puzzled. How had Katarina done that?

"What..." Severus asked. "Where has Lupin..."

"In safety," Burns interrupted. "You and your friends will never do anything to him."

Severus felt angry.

"They're not my friends!" he exclaimed.

"That's not very nice, Severus," Bellatrix said. Severus stared at her. She had stood up and approached the barrier again. "Did you think your ridiculous little attack would stop me, Burns?" she continued. "I didn't expect much from you, but I'm disappointed. I felt nothing." She paused. "So, you made Lupin Disapparate? And you think I won't find him? That's so cute!" She pouted.

Burns stood up and stared at Bellatrix icily. "You won't find him," she said. There was no aggression in her voice. No threat. It was an assertion, as if she was certain that Lupin was safe now. Then she turned to Severus and placed her palm in front of her. Severus gasped. A new barrier of energy rose, but around him this time. It prevented him from approaching Katarina and defending her. From attacking Bellatrix if she pierced the barrier that protected Katarina...

"Silly girl!" he shouted frantically. "What are you doing?"

"My duty," she replied.

She pulled Grindelwald's wand out of her cloak and turned to Bellatrix. A flick of her wand and the barrier that protected Katarina from the bitch disappeared. Severus was horrified. Katarina pointed her wand at Bellatrix.

"Release me immediately, Katarina!" Severus yelled. "Bellatrix is insane! Don't fight her alone!"

Bellatrix laughed. "It's okay, Severus," she said. "I can defeat this disgusting half-blood on my own."

"Bitch!" Severus swore. "You'll regret these words!"

Bellatrix laughed again and ignored Severus. "So, Burns," she said, "you're ready to face death now?"

"Stupefy!" Burns yelled. A huge bolt of red light escaped her wand.

"Protego!" Bellatrix shouted. The spell deflected the attack and threw it back at Burns. Katarina sidled to her right and dodged the spell. The jinx hit the wall at the other end of the corridor, making it explode.

"Expelliarmus!" Burns shouted.

"Impedimenta!" Bellatrix yelled at the same time.

Both spells hit each other and blasted.

"Protego!" both women shouted to protect themselves from the explosion. Severus realised that he didn't need to use the Shield Charm to protect himself. By chance, that damn barrier Burns had produced around Severus protected him from the blast. He had never seen a shield so resistant. All the spells he had used previously to get rid of this barrier hadn't worked. He had run out of ideas.

"Interanea Extrahere!" Bellatrix bellowed.

Severus gasped. The Entrail-Expelling Curse...

A yellow jet of light shot from Bellatrix's wand and flew straight on Burns.

"Nooo!" Severus yelled.

"Propulsus!" Burns shouted. She jumped three meters high in the air, avoiding the dangerous curse. When she landed, she lost her balance. She fell forward on her hands and knees.

"You like acrobatics, Burns?" Bellatrix said. She laughed. "Geniculi Invertere!" she yelled.

Burns stood up, but she didn't manage to avoid the hex. Katarina's knee caps twisted around to face backwards. She lost her balance for a second, but managed to find it again. She had an expression of pain on her face and tried to hold on her legs. Severus knew she was suffering a lot. His heart tightened. His fists clenched. He felt so helpless!

"It hurts, doesn't it?" Bellatrix said, giggling.

Burns glared at Bellatrix.

"Explodere!" both women shouted at the same time.

Two enormous jets of light went out of their wands. Both Blasting Curses hit each other with so much force that the explosion blew up a few doors in the corridor. It projected the two women backwards. Fortunately for Severus, the barrier absorbed the shock and protected him from the blast. Katarina fell hard on the floor and let go of her wand. She didn't stand up. She didn't move. Bellatrix lay on the floor too, thirty meters from Severus. But she appeared not to be comatose.

"Katarina!" Severus yelled.

He pointed his wand at the barrier around him.

"Destruere!" he shouted despairingly.

A green jet of light shot from the rod and hit the shield, but nothing happened. Damn! He couldn't get through this bloody barrier! Severus was really worried. Was Katarina unconscious? What would happen if Bellatrix stood up now and found her in that frail state? Katarina had to Disapparate immediately!

Katarina moved her legs and arms slowly. She raised her head and appeared to be groggy. She crawled painfully onto the floor to reach her wand.

"Katarina!" Severus shouted again. "Disapparate!"

"A... accio wand," she uttered. The wand stirred a little but didn't move close enough. Katarina appeared to be in great pain. She sidled on her right, her hand extended, and breathed hard. Severus knew the shock had been violent. Katarina must have had lost a lot of energy during this dangerous confrontation. And she couldn't walk anymore. The Potions master cast a quick glance at Bellatrix. The bitch had managed to stand up. She stared at Burns with a sadistic smile. She raised her wand, firmly clenched in her hand, and pointed it at Katarina.

"A... accio wand!" Katarina repeated with a firmer voice. The wand flew to her hand.

"Watch out, Katarina!" Severus yelled, terrified.

Burns turned to face Bellatrix.

"Stupefy!" Bellatrix exclaimed.

Burns Disapparated with a Crack before the spell touched her. She Apparated a few meters back. Bellatrix and Burns pointed their wands at each other.

"Crucio!" Bellatrix yelled.

"Destruere!" Burns shouted at the same time. But she didn't aim her wand at Bellatrix. She pointed her wand higher, to the ceiling just above the insane woman. The Cruciatus Curse hit Burns. She fell backwards and shrieked from pain. But the green ray of light had already shot from her wand. Burns' spell hit the stony ceiling, which collapsed on Bellatrix. Bellatrix cried out and disappeared under the debris from the ceiling.

Severus' heart pounded fast. He stared at the pile of rubble, scared that Bellatrix would stand up again. The mound of debris didn't move. Was the bitch dead?

Burns lay on her back and breathed hard. The barrier around Severus disappeared. He rushed over to Katarina and took her in his arms.

"Are you all right, silly girl?" he asked. Katarina's eyes closed. She fainted.

"Finite Incantatem," Severus uttered, pointing his wand at her reversed knees. They went back to normal. Then he kissed her forehead and caressed her face.

Before he could sigh in relief, the mound of debris that had fallen on Bellatrix moved. Severus raised an eyebrow. He put his wand at the ready and clenched Katarina in his arms. Suddenly, the pile of rubble burst apart, projecting debris all around.

"Protego!" Severus yelled. The magical shield protected him and Katarina.

Bellatrix emerged from beneath and stood up. How was it possible? A trickle of blood ran from her head, but she was alive. Alive and very angry. She had a hateful expression on her face. Severus pointed his wand at her, but her wand was already pointed at him.

"Impedimenta!" Bellatrix shouted.

"Stupefy!" Severus yelled at the same time. Both spells hit each other, exploding loudly.

"Protego!" Severus bellowed again. How could he protect Katarina? The Potions master was a very good fighter, but he knew he didn't stand a chance against Bellatrix. She was very powerful and completely insane. He couldn't resist her attacks for long. He couldn't Disapparate. He couldn't bring Katarina away. There was no possibility of escaping.

Bellatrix uttered a series of spells. Severus kept uttering the Shield Charm, but it wasn't enough. Bellatrix's spells were so powerful that Severus was becoming fatigued.

"Impedimenta!" Bellatrix shouted again.

This time, Bellatrix's spell pierced through Severus' Shield Charm and hit him and Burns. Severus protected Katarina with his body as much as he could. It was like being hit by ten Impediment Jinxes at the same time. Severus and Burns were projected away by the blast. But Severus didn't let go of Katarina. Nothing would have compelled him to leave her. Then he heard Bellatrix shout "Carmen Indormire," the Bewitched Sleep, and a dome of darkness surrounded him.

***

When Severus woke up, he was tied to a pole on the Hogwarts' grounds near the Quidditch Pitch. He could hear people fighting on the grounds behind him. He could see a few jets of light flying in the air. Severus panicked. Where was Katarina? He looked around and saw her. She was tied to another pole ten meters from him, her arms secured above her head. She looked unconscious. Bellatrix stood in front of her.

"Don't touch her!" Severus yelled.

Bellatrix turned in his direction, then stepped to him. The light coming from the burning Emerald Star allowed Severus to see the expression of delight on her face as she approached him. Soon, her face was a few inches away from him. She giggled.

"I removed the spell a few minutes ago," she said, "but I wanted you to wake up on your own and discover what I had done to your little half-blood bitch."

Severus' jaw clenched. "Don't insult h--" he bellowed.

"Silencio!" Bellatrix uttered. No sound came from Severus' mouth anymore. The Potions master felt enraged.

"You know what, traitor?" she said. "My powers are huge. So huge that I've even managed to get my memories back."

She grabbed Severus' chin between her fingers and forced him to look her straight in the eye.

"I remember the day you used the Memory Charm on me," she continued. "The day Burns, the little idiot, killed our dear Blazy. And you, turncoat, you wanted to save her life, eh? You wanted me to modify her memory. 'As a wedding present, I want to be the one to kill her!' you had said."

She looked at Severus disdainfully.

"You betrayed the Dark Lord for her," she added. She paused. "This is so funny... Burns hates you. How does it feel to be hated by someone you love so much? Still now, you're ready to sacrifice your life for her... And she doesn't know it... She thinks you used her."

Bellatrix smiled sadistically.

Her mean words didn't touch the Potions master. Yes, Katarina thought that Severus had used her. But Bellatrix was wrong. Katarina didn't hate him. She hated herself for loving him. It was different.

"Maybe I should tell her the truth," she said. "How tragic to discover that her ex-fiancé loved her. A whole life of happiness lost because of stupid misunderstandings. Hard to hear, especially when the ex-fiancé is about to be killed in front of her eyes. But it would be too easy. I want her to die with the conviction that she was your toy. And I want you to witness her death without being able to do anything. The price for your treachery..."

Severus wished he could kill Bellatrix just with his stare. What would that bitch do to Katarina? Would he be forced to see his ex-fiancée tortured without being able to do anything? Again? No! He refused it! And yet... he couldn't do anything... Bloody bitch! His jaw clenched as well as his fists. Severus dreamt to squeeze Bellatrix's neck and hear her bones break under his fingers.

"I've placed a spell on you so that you'll be able to hear my conversation with Burns," Bellatrix continued. "And a spell on her so that she can't see you on that pole. It will be funnier that way..." She laughed.

So Katarina wouldn't be able to see that Severus was a prisoner? She would think he had abandoned her? Severus was yelling inwardly. What could he do now? Every hope was lost for him... for Katarina...

Bellatrix left Severus and stepped to Burns. She pointed her wand at Katarina's face.

"Ennervate!" Bellatrix uttered.

Katarina stirred and woke up.

"Hello, little half-blood," Bellatrix said.

***

Burns felt a shock run through her body. She woke up and saw Bellatrix smiling sadistically at her. Where was she? Her body was sore. She tried to move. Bloody hell... She was bound to a pole, her arms over her head. She felt so dizzy...

"Hello, little half-blood," Bellatrix said.

Burns' eyes got used to the semi-darkness caused by the burning Emerald Star. She was... on the Hogwarts' grounds. People were fighting. She could hear them on her right. But her viewpoint was too limited for her to see much.

"Nice trick, to make the ceiling collapse on me," Bellatrix continued. "But I'm too strong to be killed by something so common."

Unfortunately, Bellatrix was right. But at least, Burns had done her best to destroy the dangerous woman.

"I admit I felt wobbly for a few seconds," Bellatrix added. "But with Severus' help, I managed to recover quickly. He used a Sleeping Spell on you. He also suggested that I bind you to this pole and end what I had started long ago." She giggled.

Snape... Of course he had overpowered Burns. What had she hoped? Voldemort would be proud of him. Helping Bellatrix to get rid of the disgusting half-blood definitely... Snape would be promoted. Death and pain were the price for Katarina's stupid love.

"That's so sad for you," Bellatrix said. "You'll die all alone. Boohoo." She pouted.

Burns snorted. "Yes," she replied ironically. "You'll spoil my greatest dream. Wanted a huge feast for this occasion. With streamers, confetti and chocolate cakes. Bloody sad!"

"Amusing," Bellatrix responded, "little Katarina Burns has changed since the last time I saw her. Poor little thing was about to cry..." Bellatrix whimpered to imitate Katarina. Then she giggled. "How sad for her to discover who her little fiancé was..."

Burns' jaw clenched. Bellatrix knew to touch where it hurt.

"It was so fun to read your love letters to Severus," Bellatrix said. "You declared your love to him while he spent time being unfaithful to you!" She laughed. "He enjoyed the company of every type of woman. All except your type, of course..."

So it was right. Snape had been unfaithful to Katarina. Burns knew it was the truth, but hearing it hurt her all the same. Even after all those years, this idea was unbearable. She swallowed the painful lump in her throat. Stupid tears pricked in her eyes. The last thing she wanted was to drop a tear...

"My Love," Bellatrix continued with a childish voice and a sad expression, "I miss you so much! Will we see each other next weekend?" She paused. "And what did your dear fiancé write back?" Bellatrix put a finger on her lips as if she was trying to remember. "Ah, yes!" she exclaimed. "Sorry," she said with a deeper voice and Snape's way of talking, "I can't come. I have so many important things to do. I don't have time to visit a disgusting half-blood. Of course, you're so stupid that you'll trust my alibis without asking any questions." Bellatrix looked at Burns sadistically.

The Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher felt humiliated and wounded. It was over. She'd been defeated. Bellatrix would torture her and kill her. Burns would never get her vengeance.

"He never gave you any sign of affection in his letters," Bellatrix added, "but you kept thinking he loved you. It's sooo cute!" She paused. "So," she said. "How does it feel to be used like that, filthy half-blood?"

Burns glared at Bellatrix and spat in her face. Her last act of bravery before her ineluctable death. She wouldn't die like a coward.

Bellatrix's eyes became slits of fury. "How dare you spit in my face, you dirty abomination of nature?" she yelled. She slapped Burns' face so hard that Burns almost lost consciousness. She was in a second state. She could still hear Bellatrix's voice, but it sounded far away... So far away...

***

Severus was so furious that he fidgeted on the pole. Bellatrix was torturing Katarina with her words. How dare the bitch say that Severus had helped her and wanted Katarina to be tortured! That he had been unfaithful to Katarina? It was lies! Everything was lies!

Burns glared at Bellatrix and spat at her face. Severus gasped. Bellatrix would make her regret her act.

"How dare you spit in my face, you dirty abomination of nature?" Bellatrix yelled. She slapped Burns' face hard. Katarina's eyes closed. Her face lowered. She appeared to have fallen unconscious. Severus hardly breathed. Was she unconscious or... worse...?

"Oh!" Bellatrix exclaimed. She sounded disgusted. "You stained my hand with your filthy blood! You need to be punished for that. Hmmm..." She paused. "Bleeding cheek," she said with a childish voice. "It's not pretty... But I'll arrange your other cheek so it looks like your left one. Laws of symmetry."

She pulled something out of her robes. Severus realised with horror that it was a dagger.

"This time," Bellatrix said with a sadistic voice, I promise I'll disfigure you so much that no one will be able to recognise you. I'll make you pay for what you did to Blazy."

Bellatrix brought the dagger close to Katarina's face. Nooooo! Severus tugged on the ropes that bound his wrists, struggling to get loose. He could not let Bellatrix do that to Katarina. Not again!

But suddenly, Bellatrix's movement towards Burns' face stopped. She let go of her dagger as if a strong power forced her to do so.

"Wha--" Bellatrix asked.

Her body rose a few inches in the air, and her hands went up her throat. Was Katarina doing this? No, it couldn't be. She seemed comatose. What was...?

A shadowy form appeared behind Bellatrix. The form of a man. His hand closed over her windpipe as if he tried to strangle her. Suddenly, he threw Bellatrix backwards with so much strength that Bellatrix landed thirty meters away. Severus couldn't believe what was happening. This man could only be Grindelwald! Severus didn't understand anything.

Grindelwald placed his palm in front of Burns. The ropes that held her body released her. She fell onto the ground slowly, as if Grindelwald didn't want to hurt her. The Dark Mage turned back to Bellatrix. Bellatrix didn't stand up or try to defend herself. Severus supposed she was unconscious.

Grindelwald crooked his hands, his palms up, and lifted them gradually. A huge pole was exhumed from the ground near the place where Bellatrix had fallen. Her body lifted in the air. Thick ropes appeared and bound her to the pole, her hands up, exactly like she had tied Katarina.

Grindelwald turned to Burns. Then he disappeared.

Burns stood up slowly. For what seemed an eternity, she looked around and appeared to be very confused. She made a few steps with a very strange gait. It was as if... she was motioned by another will than hers. Suddenly, she moved her hand as if she wanted to get rid of something... or someone...

She stared at something on the ground. Severus followed her stare, but didn't see anything.

"You may kill the bride," she said, detaching her words.

***

Burns was in a strange state. She felt feverish. The pressure on her aching limbs ceased. She felt she was falling forward, but the sensations were odd. It was as if she was falling slowly within a cloud of cotton. Then her face went in contact with something soft. Grass maybe... Was she dead? Had Bellatrix finally killed her? She hadn't felt her tortures. Yes, maybe it was over.. Or...?

She moved her legs and arms and stood up slowly. Her conscious thought faded. Where was she? It was dark around her. So dark that she didn't see anything. She didn't hear anything anymore either. The silence was so complete that it was scary.

"Thisss isss tiiime," Lord Grindelwald's voice said, tearing off the hushed dome that surrounded Burns. "Feeeel your pooower. Feeeel your paaain... Remmmember the daaay youuu lossttt eeeverything... Reeelivvve ittt!"

Suddenly, Katarina felt more and more dizzy. The world seemed to move fast around her. Everything became more and more confused. Then it stopped. Her eyesight came back to her. She stood in the street where the three Death Eaters had just attacked her. The street where she'd just learnt the truth about Severus. Where she'd just been tortured. Where she'd just killed Blazy.

Despair and emptiness had invaded her heart. Severus had betrayed her. He had planned everything from the beginning to manipulate her. Nothing could compare to her pain. She wished she would die.

She turned to Severus and Bellatrix. She didn't care about Bellatrix. She didn't even care about that man who had toyed with her. She had deserved her punishment. To be disfigured and tortured. She was Grindelwald's granddaughter. A disgusting half-blood who had brought misfortune on her parents. Severus had used her to take her powers for You-Know-Who... for Voldemort. She didn't fear this name anymore.

Despite all her efforts, Severus had never loved her. She couldn't bring anything but death and hate. Voldemort had wanted her powers. She was evil. She felt it deeply within her. Evil... disgusting... and powerful.

Katarina didn't have time to waste with those gnats in front of her. They could be crushed without effort. She moved her hand, projecting the two Death Eaters backwards. She had something more important to do. One little thing and she would find her release. The disgusting half-blood had a wedding to celebrate...

She stared at Severus a last time. He looked terrified.

"You may kill the bride," she said, detaching her words.

Then she laughed diabolically and Disapparated.

She Apparated to the sitting room of her apartment. The flat she had shared with that man who had used her, where they had spent wonderful moments together. False moments.

The place was shrouded in darkness. Katarina wanted light. She wanted fire. With a circular movement of her hand, all the curtains caught on fire. The light allowed her to look around.

Severus' presence was everywhere in the room. On the couch, reading poetry to her or having a cup of tea. Near the bookshelves, searching for an old book. Everything reminded her of him. The feeling of loss was unbearable. He had betrayed her, and yet... she felt cold and empty without him, so cold that her body shivered. Shadows surrounded her. She wanted to bury herself in them. To forget about Severus. To forget about everything and sleep forever. She had never known that anything could hurt so much. She was living in hell...

A lump ached in her throat. Her chest hiccupped. Tears dropped from her eyes. She felt wounded, as if her heart had been torn from her breast, leaving only a yawning hole within her. No hope. Nothing to believe in. She had lost everything.

She searched the room with her eyes, looking at all the false memories that surrounded her. Then she saw it through the open bedroom door. Lying on her bed, her wedding gown was waiting for her.

"Vestire," she uttered. She opened her palm in front of her. The gown disappeared. Her clothes flashed, replaced by the white dress.

Katarina conjured a big oval mirror. She adjusted her dress to her body. She observed her silhouette, brushing the delicate lace and the pearls with the tip of her fingers. The bridal gown was beautiful. She'd often wondered how Severus would react when he saw her in that gown walking the aisle. Now she knew what he would have seen. A disgusting half-blood he had dreamt to kill.

Severus had never thought of her as his wife or as his fiancée. Katarina put her hand on her belly and stroked it in a slow clockwise movement. He had never wanted to have children with her... She closed her eyes, feeling her tears dropping on her face. On her aching cheek.

She stared at her mirror image. The ugly wounds on her cheek bled hard. She could taste her blood and her tears on her lips. How would Severus have killed her? Would he have disfigured her first? Hit her? Poisoned her? Would he have used the Cruciatus Curse? Would he have made her bleed until she had no blood left?

A dagger appeared in Katarina's hand. Had she conjured it? Everything was confused in her delirious mind. She observed the sharpened blade and laughed devilishly. Emptiness... despair... It was the only future for her. That dagger... it was a gift. The gift of freedom.

"Would you have loved me if I hadn't been a disgusting half-blood?" Katarina whispered. Then she laughed hard, her tears falling endlessly on her cheeks, and slit her wrists. The cutting sensation really hurt, but she didn't care. She didn't have anything to lose.

"I'm half Muggle, half pureblood," she said. "Maybe if I lose half of my blood..."

The dagger fell with a tinkling sound. Blood ran down her wrists, dropping from her fingertips and splashing on the floor.

All her love... had been false. Her relationship with Severus... had been a lie, a trap. Her wedding... had been meant to be her burial. She was not wearing her wedding gown... she was wearing her shroud.

Katarina stared at her mirror reflection. Tears blurred her vision. Blood ran from her cheek, from her wrists, splattering on her white gown.

"What a beautiful bride," she said, giggling. "Don't you want to kiss me, my Love? Please, smother me with your kisses. Forget you're a traitor and kiss me until I die."

Katarina laughed hard while she sobbed. She could smell and see the acrid smoke which invaded the flat. In the mirror, she could see the reflection of the huge flames behind her. She saw the fire spread on the carpet and reach the train of her wedding gown. The dress caught fire.

Burnt alive? It had no importance. Living? Why? She had lost everything. She didn't want to live. No torture could be worse than what she had endured. Soon, it would be over...

The door to her flat burst open.

"Katarina!" Sirius' voice shouted. He coughed. "Where..." he stopped talking, staring at Katarina's reflection in the mirror. The mirror reflected his image as well. He looked shocked.

"Your gown!" he exclaimed. "It's on fire!"

Katarina's vision blurred more and more. Then nothing... she felt she was carried away in Sirius' arms. No acrid smell of smoke. No crackle of fire.

She was laid on a smooth surface and heard the sound of springs. She felt a soft material under her fingers and against her face. Sheets maybe. Was she lying on a bed?

"Hold on, Kat," Sirius said. His voice quavered.

He grabbed her wrists and bandaged them.

"Leave me alone," Katarina moaned. "Don't want to live..."

"I'll kill him!" Sirius snarled. "I'll find him and I'll kill him for what he did to you! Greasy git! I'll make him pay!"

Katarina whimpered. That feeling of despair was awful. She wanted it to be over.

"Think of Remus," Sirius said. "Think of me. Think of Lily and James. And of little Harry. We all need you."

Lily... James... Harry...

"P... Potter," Katarina said.

"Yes, that's right," Sirius responded. "Potter."

"No..." Katarina replied in her delirium, "Potter... P... Potter... Potter... Vol...demort..."

"What did you say?" Sirius asked. He gasped.

"Potter... dan...ger..." she said. She opened her eyes with effort.

Sirius stared at her with a shaken look.

"I must go," he said. "The elves will take care of you. I'll come back as soon as possible. Please, hold on, Kat. For me."

Katarina moaned again and fell unconscious.

***

Severus took a swift intake of breath. Had he heard correctly? Had Burns just said... 'You may kill the bride?' What was happening to her? These words... It was as if... she was reliving the day she'd learnt he was a Death Eater...

She Disapparated, but Apparated a few meters closer to Severus. Of course, she didn't notice his presence. Bloody Bellatrix!

Burns made a circular movement with her hand. Severus was terrified. The lawns around them caught fire. Or... did they? Severus could see the fire burn, but he didn't feel its warmth. And the grass didn't appear to blaze. The flames didn't seem to spread further. It was as if they were limited to a perimeter.

'This is an illusion,' Severus thought, relieved. He was perplexed. What was going on?

Tears dropped from Burns' eyes and froze on her face. She looked around. What was she searching for? Then she stared at something.

"Vestire," she uttered. She opened her palm in front of her. But why? Nothing happened. Severus didn't understand.

A big oval mirror appeared in front of her. The image reflected in the mirror was Katarina's... exactly like she was sixteen years ago. Severus was shocked. She was dressed in the bridal gown her Boggart had been wearing. Her bridal gown.

Severus gasped. So she was reliving the moment after she'd broken up with him... When she had Apparated to her flat and decided to take her own life? And he was witnessing all that had happened before the flames had destroyed the apartment? But... wasn't it too dangerous for Katarina to relive such an awful experience? Wouldn't the shock be too violent? Damn! Severus couldn't free himself. How could he save Katarina if he couldn't approach her?

Burns adjusted her cloak to her body and observed her silhouette. Within the looking glass, the young Katarina in the wedding gown mirrored her actions.

Remorse and regret sprang in Severus' chest. She'd have been a beautiful bride. And he'd have been a very happy and lucky man. Without his mistake, she would have married him... Severus wondered what Katarina had been thinking or was thinking now. He remembered his own feelings when he had lost her. The awful sensation of having no future left, certain that he would never see Katarina again. That he would never be happy again. Maybe Katarina was thinking of all that she had lost too?

Katarina put her hand on her belly and stroked it in a slow clockwise movement. The gesture a pregnant woman could have made. She closed her eyes with a pained expression.

Severus hardly breathed. His heart tightened.

Children. Katarina had always wanted to have children. With him. Their family. Their future together. But Burns had never been pregnant. She'd said she had given up on love, marriage, and motherhood when Severus had broken her heart. She had probably thought she had no future left either. Or that her future had just been an illusion since she thought he had never loved her.

Burns opened her eyes again and stared at her mirror image. Then a dagger appeared in young Katarina's hand. She observed the sharpened blade and laughed devilishly.

Severus was terrified. Witnessing the scene was unbearable. He knew what young Katarina was about to do, but he couldn't do anything to stop her! He didn't want Burns to relive this moment again. He wanted to stop her and change the past. To be here for her. He was enraged.

"NO!!!" he yelled. But no sound came from his voice. His call remained desperately silent.

"Would you have loved me if I hadn't been a disgusting half-blood?" Burns whispered. Her tears fell endlessly from her eyes and froze on her cheeks. She laughed hard while her younger image in the mirror slit her wrists.

Severus thought his heart had stopped. Or was it his breathing? His mind? He was in shock. Why couldn't he approach her and save her this time? Tell her that he loved her more than anything? Why must he be a passive observer when all that he wanted was to protect her?

"I'm half Muggle, half pureblood," she continued. "Maybe if I lose half of my blood..."

Severus could not tear his eyes from the horrifying image in the mirror. Young Katarina let go of her dagger. A trickle of blood ran down her wrists, splashing on her white gown.

The world had collapsed around Severus. He knew what she had done... but knowing was not the same as witnessing the scene and seeing Katarina's sorrow. She loved him truly, so much so that she had slit her wrists from despair. Because she thought blood had prevented him from loving her. How wrong she'd been! And now she was suffering again because of him.

"What a beautiful bride," she said, giggling. "Don't you want to kiss me, my Love? Please, smother me with your kisses. Forget you're a traitor and kiss me until I die." She laughed hard, although she kept sobbing.

Severus swallowed painfully. What had he done? If he had told her the truth, she'd have forgiven him. Even then, while she'd thought he'd betrayed her, she had loved him still. She hadn't disavowed what she felt for him. He hated himself for having hurt her so much.

Suddenly, the fire spread. The bottom of Burns's cloak caught fire. Severus felt panic. What if the flames were not entirely an illusion? In the mirror, he saw that the train of Katarina's gown had caught fire too. What had happened to young Katarina? What would happen to Burns? He had saved her from the flames on The Emerald Star and now she was going to be burnt in front of him? No! He tried to free himself, but the ropes were too tight. To his horror, Burns fainted.

'Please, no!' he thought. "Please wake up, Kat! It can't end this way! Not like this!'

Suddenly, the mirror disappeared. The fire went out. Severus sighed from relief. Katarina's body levitated to the ground, as if someone carried her away. If Katarina relived all that had happened to her, no doubt that it was the moment when Black had saved her life.

Katarina landed slowly on the grass.

"Leave me alone," Katarina moaned. "Don't want to live..."

Severus gulped. 'Please live,' he thought. 'And let me prove how wrong you were about everything! I don't want to lose you again!'

Katarina whimpered. She seemed to suffer a lot.

"P... Potter," she said in her delirium. "No... Potter... P... Potter... Potter... Vol...demort..."

So that was how Black had learnt about Potter. Even in an awful state, Katarina had thought of her friends... If only Severus had known where she was! He would have taken care of her in Black's place! He would have repaired his mistake!

"Potter... dan...ger..." she said. She opened her eyes with effort. Then she moaned again and appeared to have fallen unconscious.

***

Burns had fallen unconscious. She was dreaming. An awful dream full of dark ideas, where despair mastered everything. The pain in her heart was so intense that the rest of her body ached like hell. All hope had gone forever. She could see Death Eaters' masks fly in the air and hear Bellatrix's awful laughter echo all around. Suddenly, Severus appeared at her side. He looked at her with an icy stare and smirked. Then he slapped her.

"What did you think, half-blood?" he said. "That I would marry you?" He laughed hard.

Katarina sobbed.

"Heeee doesn'tttt lovvve youuu," Grindelwald's deep and reassuring voice said. "Heee neverrr diiid..."

'Never...' Katarina thought. Severus' image disappeared.

"Kaaattaaarrriiinnaaa," Grindelwald continued, "Fooolllloooowww meee... Thiiisss isss yourrr faaate. Acccomplissshh ittt... Waaakkke uppp... Staaand uppp and cccommme to meee..."

Burns felt guided by this protective voice. She opened her eyes and stood up slowly. Her movements were awkward. Her body was numb. Her only aim was to follow this voice...

A strange music filled the air. Something Stupid, by Frank and Nancy Sinatra. That song... She had heard it a long time ago... but her memory had gone. The melody was soft in her ears.

"Daaannnccce," Grindelwald said. "Fooolllloooowww yourrr wishhh..."

Burns obeyed. She closed her eyes, raised her arms as if she had a partner, and danced. She wanted to lose herself in that song. How could music be both so sweet and so painful? Burns had a strange feeling of nostalgia, as if the sweetness of the song had only been poison. It was like being so fascinated by fire that she would be devoured by its flames. But it was what she wanted. To disappear within this melody that would consume her aching core.

The song accelerated. The music changed. Tears kept falling down Burns' cheeks. She heard shrill sounds of violins pushing her to the point of no-return. Everything went too fast in her head. The world around her moved too fast... She became tipsy with dizziness...

Then something within herself ordered her to stop dancing. She almost lost her balance, caught by her impetus. The world kept waltzing around her. The ground pitched from right to left.

Then she saw him... Two meters in front of her, Lord Grindelwald was waiting for her. His hand extended, he was silently asking her for a dance. Her last one...

***

Severus was anxious. Katarina hadn't moved for several minutes, but he could hear her sob in her sleep. Suddenly, her body jerked. She opened her eyes and stood up slowly. Then she closed her eyes again and raised her hands, as if...

Severus gasped. Burns danced with an invisible partner, exactly as she had done so many times this year. She hummed a part of the melody. Again, it was Something Stupid. They'd danced to that song at their Spring Ball. But what did it mean? Was Katarina searching for Severus? Damn! Why couldn't he free himself and join her? Tell her that he was here for her and hadn't betrayed her. That he loved her and would never go away...

Burns danced quicker and quicker. Her face was wet with tears. Her hands let go of her invisible partner and she whirled around herself frantically. Suddenly, she stopped and almost lost her balance. She stared at something in front of her. Severus noticed Bellatrix had woken up. She was staring at Burns with wide eyes. But Katarina wasn't looking at Bellatrix.

Severus gasped again. The shadowy form of Grindelwald appeared two meters in front of Burns. The Dark Mage held out his hand towards her. What would he do? Severus was terrified. Katarina stepped forward and extended her hand. Her gloves disappeared. When her hand touched Grindelwald's, a blue bolt of lightning spread over her body. Her skin became pearly-white, thin, almost translucent. Silvery blood-stains appeared on her wrists where her scars were. A blue light flashed over Grindelwald's dark form. Severus stopped breathing. The shadows surrounding Lord Grindelwald's body faded. His frame and his features appeared clearly as if he was a real person. As if he was alive. But it was impossible! Severus didn't understand. He didn't know what Grindelwald was exactly, but he'd never imagined that the Dark Mage would return to life.

Grindelwald grabbed Katarina's waist and pulled her into his arms. She placed her right hand on his shoulder so that they could dance. The waltz movements became more and more rapid, as frenzied as before. The Potions master couldn't detach his eyes from the dancing couple. He was too anxious to think properly. What would Grindelwald do to Katarina? Did he think she was his long lost wife? Jealousy and indignation sprang in Severus' chest.

Suddenly, the blue light flashed again over Grindelwald's body. His frame and features dissolved into the air. They transformed into a blue energy that spread over Burns' body and whirled around her like a tornado of light. Katarina kept dancing alone very fast. Her devilish laugh, tear-stained face, and very pale skin made her look like a diabolic ghost. She looked completely insane.

The Hogwarts' grounds shook violently. The tornado decreased as the energy spread in Burns' body. She seemed to absorb Grindelwald's energy. Suddenly, she stopped dancing and turned to Bellatrix. Burns' eyes flashed with a red light. Severus shivered. She had never looked so formidable. A quick glance at Bellatrix proved him that she was terrified too. She hadn't even uttered a word since she'd been overpowered by Grindelwald.

Burns stared at Bellatrix with a disgusted expression. "You wanted my power, pureblood," she said with an icy voice, detaching her words. "Take it!"

Severus perceived her rage between her words. What had she planned? Terror made Severus' heart pound fast in his chest. He didn't want to lose Katarina.

"But you should hear my little secret first," Burns added. She smirked. "The Heart of the Emerald... is here." She placed her right hand on her left breast.

Then Severus understood. His eyes opened wide. Nooooo!

Burns spread her arms wide and screamed. Blue light blasted out of her breast and flew straight at Bellatrix, hitting her violently. Lightning bolts spread on Bellatrix's body. She shrieked like a pig, as if the pain was unbearable. Suddenly, her body exploded, sending blue waves of power all around. The last bits of power left Katarina's breast. She fell backwards and landed on the Hogwarts' grounds as if she was dead.

***

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