Easier To Run

A/N : Ok, for the person who asked (I think it was Fluffy), this will be it's own story. I voiced that I didn't want it to go over 15 chapters and that it would end when the students arrived back at Hogwarts. The Welcoming Feast would be in the next story, if you want a timeline. And I think I'll stay by that. The next story will chronicle Book 4, and will be called "The Story of My Life", an unreleased song by Good Charlotte. After that, I'm not sure. In my mind, Katie will graduate with the twins in Book 5, since she was in Book 4 (trust me on that one, she congratulates Harry on tricking the GoF). But since I'm paralleling the book, I'll have to wait until I read Book 5 to see if I want to continue or not. My Book 4 story should take us through the release of OotP, so that shouldn't be a problem. : ) Only time can tell, is the answer to your question.

I will also be attending college in the fall, so if I do continue to write, expect updates to be few and far between this coming fall. LOL, a little fact about my college : Classes start on September 2nd. One day after Hogwarts starts. That freaked me out. Just the way the lady told me too, it was kind of surreal. She was very Dumbledore like. I expected her to tell me to go to Diagon Alley. But I may also be a bit nuts. : )

Dream sequence at the end is started by three *'s.

Ok, read on!

****

Seven days. Katie sighed and looked out her window at the darkening sky. Seven days until the students would be returning for the coming term. The thought both scared and excited Katie. Sure, she would see all her friends again, but her solitude would be gone. She would no longer be able to talk with Snape freely as she had all summer.

Sighing again, she threw her robe on over her shirt and skirt and headed down to the Great Hall for dinner. The tables had been reinstated the day before, but Katie had been able to sit with the returned faculty at Dumbledore's badgering request. When she entered the hall today though, a table setting was set at the Gryffindor table and an extra body was seated at the faculty table.

"Ah, Miss. Bell. I'm so sorry, but I'm afraid you must dine at your House's table this evening," Dumbledore said, his voice carrying across the immense hall.

Once Katie got closer to the faculty table, she waved off Dumbledore's apology. "I don't mind, Professor."

'But I will most certainly be eating in my dorm from now on,' Katie thought sitting and feeling all the stares aimed at her.

"Well, as I was saying, Albus," a man, sitting in her usual seat, said, "This year is going to go down in history for this school. I'm so pleased that everything has worked out so we could have the Tournament again."

Katie looked up at the man curiously, but turned back to her food mournfully. That's what Percy must have meant about her and Twins not being eligible for something. It was a Tournament. And it had occurred before. She pushed the food around on her plate before taking a bite. The house-elves had gone out of their way because of the visitor. She looked up at the table again and noticed that Snape was looking at his plate in the same manner as Katie had, although he seemed to be stabbing at his food. She thought he must not like the man, but that thought almost made her laugh. Snape just didn't like anyone.

Her vision traveled over the table to the visitor. She recognized him vaguely, but couldn't place his name. That was until Dumbledore said it.

"We can only hope, Ludo, that we have taken all the necessary precautions and that all goes well."

Ludo? Katie's mind seemed to snap on. Ludo Bagman. He had played Quidditch for England and now worked at the Ministry. This only confused Katie more. First Fudge, and now Bagman. And this Tournament they were talking about. They must not have thought that Katie could hear them, but her senses had always been more sensitive than most peoples. She could now attribute it to her weak Seer ability.

But Snape had told her that the whole school would be informed about whatever this Tournament was going to be once term started. But why was another school coming here? Katie shook her head and turned back to her plate and forced herself to eat something. She would know in seven days.

****

After returning to her dormitory, she noticed Orion sitting in the common room, and a letter sitting on the table by the window. She greeted the owl with a friendly pat and sat at the table, tearing into the letter.

Bell,

You will not believe the lengths my Father is going to, to find out about you. I haven't told him anything other than what I'm supposed to know. You're a Gryffindor and on the House Team. Of course I was cursed to see if any information was hidden, but I'm becoming quite a good actor and I didn't tell him a thing. Even under Crucio. So, you're welcome, and I'm very sore.

Have you heard about the Triwizard Tournament taking place this year? It's all Father talks about, other than you that is. He said that Durmstrang and Beauxbatons kids are coming in for it. One champion from each school. Sounds like this could be an interesting year.

Well, I'll see you in a week. Even if from a distance, you'll be a sight for these eyes.

Draco Malfoy

Katie smiled to herself and than mentally cursed the boy. Even if she didn't have to wait now, she was kind of looking forward to the surprise of it all. But what had her bothered was the fact that Lucius was trying to find out about her. A former Death Eater. She didn't think he was the one who had marked her though. And Draco had taken the Cruciatus Curse for her. Tears welled in her eyes, just thinking of the fact that a father would do that to his son. But then, Lucius was no father. He was a monster.

Sighing, she tried to remember anything about the Triwizard Tournament. Drawing a complete blank and noticing the Orion had flown off, she decided to go up to her dormitory. She lit a lamp at her bedside with her wand and when she turned to her bed, she saw an envelope laying there. It was, yet again, unmarked. She grabbed it, blew out the lamp and ran from her dormitory. She ran, not out of fear, but out of curiosity. She would let Snape open it and then she could read what was inside. She walked into the Great Hall and saw everyone still seated at the faculty table, talking jovially. Snape, Katie noticed, looked as if he'd rather be anywhere else. Knowing full well that she couldn't just walk up and hand him the letter, she sat at the end of the Gryffindor table and opened the letter gently. A piece of parchment fell from it. She looked at it before turning it over. It was written in blood red ink.

Severus can't protect you forever, Kathleen. Remember that.

Katie stared at the parchment. That was all it said. No signature, because that would defeat the purpose. But whoever sent it, knew her given name, and knew that Snape was her godfather and now principle guardian. Katie didn't like the look of the ink. It was too dark. Like actual blood. She looked up at the faculty table and saw Snape inconspicuously gripping his left arm. She had no doubt that the pain caused by the Mark on her godfather's arm was a direct connection to the parchment in her hand.

She stood, and like a woman on a mission, walked directly up to Dumbledore. She saw her godfather move to stand, but a glare from her halted him, and he sat back down, waiting for what was inevitably to come. Katie slammed the parchment down in front of her Headmaster.

"I would like to bring this to your attention, Professor," she said with a confidence she only possessed when truly terrified.

"Miss. Bell!" McGonagall scolded, but Dumbledore held up a hand to keep her from going further.

He picked up the parchment, and read it. His expression was undeniably concerned when he looked at Katie over the edge of the parchment.

"Who sent this, Miss. Bell?"

"You tell me," she said, using the same defiance she had learned to use with Snape, "They come in unmarked envelopes," she said with a sigh, "The other one held a cursed image of the Dark Mark, which Professor Snape informed me would harm me if I touched it, so he disposed of it for me."

Dumbledore's eyebrow raised and he looked down the table at Snape, as McGonagall peered at the parchment. She gasped and stood immediately.

"Albus, Severus, if you would be so kind. You too, Miss. Bell," she said walking to the room adjacent to the faculty table.

Katie followed McGonagall and sat on one of the high-backed armchairs adorning the room. McGonagall began to pace, and when Snape closed the door, she exploded. For lack of a better word.

*

"Severus! Why didn't you bring this to our attention?" Minerva said in a stern voice.

"I wasn't aware that there would be any following letters from the person," Severus said, standing behind the chair that Katie was sitting in, gripping is arm once more, "Merlin."

He noticed Katie turning herself around to look at him, but he looked down at her with a no nonsense look, that turned her back around. She didn't need to see him in pain.

"Well, that was stupid of you. It's obvious that Miss. Bell has been marked, and I-"

"I know that Minerva," Severus sneered, "I'm not that deranged yet."

"Professor, I believe he did so to not draw attention to the situation. No one can touch me here anyway, and seeing as I have to stay her for all holidays now, I think I'm pretty safe," Katie said defiantly to her Head of House.

Minerva looked at her shocked, but shared a knowing look with Albus. "Miss. Bell, please show me respect."

"Sorry, Professor," Katie said backing down.

"This is rather serious, Miss. Bell," Albus said gently, "But I agree. Severus was smart not to make it public. But why did you, Katie?"

Severus watched Katie look up at him, tears in her eyes, before looking to Albus. He knew exactly what she was going to say.

"I know that Professor Snape was a spy. I know that my parents were Death Eaters, and I know that they were let go because Voldemort has a soft spot for families," Katie said seeming to scoff at the very idea, "And I also know that the Death Eaters knew that Professor Snape is my godfather. What if He came back, and Severus was found out? It would be my fault because of who I am. I don't want to be the blame for that. I have to fight this," she said pointing to the parchment still in Albus' hands, "A Death Eater is out there, planning to make my life hell. And I'm not going to let it happen without a fight."

Severus gripped Katie's shoulder as his heart felt a pride he reserved only for her. Albus looked at her with a twinkle in his eye at the girl's slip in calling Severus by his first name.

"The next time you receive one of these letter, you bring it straight to me the moment after it lands with you. I'll do a tracking spell and see if we can find out who this person is and where they are," Albus said kindly.

Minerva couldn't speak. Her student know knew of the past she swore the girl should never know. And had accepted it. Wanted to fight it. She could see her pride mirrored and magnified tenfold in Severus' eyes, and knew that they would not fail.

*

Katie looked around at her professors. They all looked so proud of her after her speech. It was making her feel a little uncomfortable, so she said so.

"Um, may I go now?" she asked timidly.

She felt Snape squeeze her shoulder. "Yes, go on. We'll see you at breakfast, Katie."

Katie stood and resisted the urge to hug Snape. For some reason, she had wanted to do that a lot as of late. But she had to train herself for the coming year. She couldn't run to him anymore, not with Slytherins lurking in the dungeons. She left the room, looking at her feet instead of ahead of her and made her way out of the Great Hall by means of walking along the closest wall and slinking out of the door.

Once back up in the common room, her hands started shaking. What had she been thinking? Everything she had just said was a load of shit! 'Well, maybe not all of it, but me being brave was definitely shit,' Katie thought wringing her hands in frustration.

She hated herself. Now her professors would be expecting more from her. She knew she wasn't well mentally yet. How could she have done this to herself. She should have just cried and had someone coddle her. But no, she had to be little miss ambitious.

Her breath hitched in her throat. She had been ambitious. Ambitiousness. A Slytherin trait. She closed her eyes and sighed before opening them again and making her way to bed.

****

Hours later, Katie woke in a cold sweat. She only had time to catch her breath before the tears came. Her dream replayed over and over as she cried.

***

"Please, no!" she cried, her arms being restrained, "Let him go, its me you want!"

Before her, Oliver Wood was on his knees before Voldemort. She looked up at the people restraining her, hoping for any shred of pity left in them. But she knew it was impossible. The people holding her were Peter Pettigrew and Lucius Malfoy.

"But, my dear child, how do you know that we were not also seeking Mr. Wood as well as you," Voldemort said, side-stepping Oliver and approaching her, "Let her go."

Lucius and Peter let go of her arms, but pulled their wands on her, to make sure she didn't run.

"Now, now. She will not run. She would not leave Mr. Wood to die, am I right, Kathleen?"

Katie nodded weakly, trying to catch a glimpse of Oliver. Voldemort looked at her, with a mixture of pity and respect. Something only he could pull off successfully.

"What would you do, Kathleen, to have him released?" Voldemort asked, loud enough for the other Death Eaters in the room to hear, "Would you tell us the whereabouts of your no-good, spying godfather, I wonder."

Katie wanted to lunge at Voldemort, kick him, curse him, something! But she knew it equaled instant death.

"He is good, and he's not a spy," Katie said through gritted teeth.

"Do I sense insolence, Kathleen? I believe your boyfriend will pay for that," Voldemort said wickedly, turning his back to Katie and shouting, "Crucio!" at Oliver's kneeled frame.

Katie let out a scream and pulled out her own wand. "Let him go," she said pointing her wand at Voldemort's back, "If you want to kill someone, kill me."

Voldemort took the curse off of Oliver, whose body still seized on the ground as an aftershock. He turned and came face to face with Katie's wand.

"Why would I want to kill you? I need you for bait. To torture you until our spy comes out of hiding."

"Don't bother," a voice sounded behind them, "You touch her and you'd wish you were dead."

Katie started to cry as Severus stood beside her, and reached out a hand to take her wand. "Put that away, Katie," he said softly, handing it back to her.

Katie did as she was told and looked at Voldemort. He was staring at Severus with a sadistic look on his face.

"I never knew you had a heart, Snape. I assumed you a graveling coward like the rest of my servants."

"Let her and Wood go and do what you wish to me. But you won't win this war. You have to realize how outnumbered you are," Severus said evenly.

Voldemort waved Katie off, and she ran to Oliver's side. He had hit his head badly, but he smiled up at her weakly, and squeezed her hand. Katie was listening to Severus and Voldemort, completely ignoring her injured boyfriend though.

"I can't believe you betrayed me so, Severus. Malfoy I would have expected. Pettigrew too. But you? I always thought we had an understanding. You let you gift go to waste teaching at that school, you know," Voldemort said, and Katie could hear the smile in his voice.

"Did I? I count those as the only good ones in my life," Severus countered.

Katie closed her eyes, bracing herself for what she was about to do. With all the Death Eaters watching the argument and not Oliver and Katie, Katie took out her wand and pointed it at Voldemort, tears coming to her eyes. She opened them and aimed her wand right for the middle of Voldemort's back.

"Avada Kedavra!" she shouted, and her voice echoed off the stone walls as a green jet of light hit Voldemort and he fell to the ground.

Severus stood there for a moment before stepping over Voldemort's body and running for Katie and Oliver. Helping them up they ran from the cave-like area and once outside, apparated.

***

Calming her breathing, she lit her lamp and her parchment and a quill, writing down the details of the dream before trying to go back to sleep. She desperately wanted to go down to the dungeons, but she knew that she should keep it for tomorrow. But she couldn't help herself, as she threw on her robe, and extinguished her lamp. She grabbed the paper she had written her dream on and made her way down to the dungeons.

Knocking several time on the "door" to Snape's quarters, proved to be an exhausting task. By the time Snape answered, Katie was dead on her feet and she was sure she looked it by the look on Snape's face. He led her to that same couch in the front room. As soon as she was seated, she handed Snape the parchment and curled herself into a ball in the corner of the couch, feeling sleep taking over her body. As she drifted into unconsciousness, she felt Snape drape a blanket over her and she muttered her thanks. She fell asleep hearing Snape pacing and taking books from shelves.