Forever Yours

Chapter 17: Wounds We Keep Hidden From View

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the people or places that belong to the wonderful world of Harry Potter, as they belong to J.K. Rowling. The OCs (Katherine, Septimus, Helena, Christoph, Elisa, Henry, Nick, Justin, Kyle, Carlos, Mike, Nurse Canter, Headmaster Jeremy Mickels, Hunfrith, Olwen, Huffie, Sorsek, Bilik, Fossum, Lars, Sven, David Suttington, Darius Prescott, Gerard's, Grace, Zielinski, Wakanda, Raya Rasole & Julie Byrd) are entirely my own.

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Severus worked his way tirelessly through the week. Without Septimus to help him with potions in the morning, he found himself working late into the afternoons to fulfill the hospital's order in time. But that wasn't the only thing he had been working on. Severus was still trying to find the perfect time to confront Katherine about Wakanda.

Luckily for him, it came on that first Saturday, after Septimus' departure. Katherine had taken a break from the gardens and gathered herself on the porch, with a book and a cup of tea. Severus had noticed a difference in Katherine's mood with the absence of the boy; she had been quieter both physically and mentally. Gone were the simple touches and comments that often led to the bedroom. Most of the time she looked deep in thought, with her eyes glazed over and her face expressionless.

Severus stood in the doorway leading out to the deck, quietly observing his wife. The wind had picked up over the lake, chilling the air around them. A storm was coming; he could feel them now, like Katherine could. It had taken him all summer to adjust to the different weather, but he could finally feel it now. But he knew he would have to adjust again once winter came.

Katherine shivered slightly, and pulled the blanket, she had brought out with her, closer around her person. Her face was pale, except for her reddening cheeks caused from the colder air. Her eyes were locked on the book in front of her, but they were unfocused on the print.

"Katherine," Severus spoke up, as he noticed Katherine shiver again. "Come inside before you get sick." His voice broke Katherine's trance, and slowly she closed her book. Quietly, she rose and gathered her things, but not before the heavens released a few tears. A low rumble of thunder echoed over the lake from the west, as the clouds began to get thicker and darker.

Severus silently held the door open for Katherine as she quickly hurried inside to avoid getting wet. Inwardly, Severus sighed, knowing it was now or never to question her about the strange witch that had given Katherine the soul spell.

"Katherine?" Severus murmured, as he took the slightly damp blanket from her shoulders.

"Yes Sev?"

"We need to discuss something," he said, as he gestured for her to sit down.

"What is it?" Katherine asked, as she lowered herself gently down onto the settee, with Severus following her.

"How do you know Wakanda?" Severus watched Katherine's face closely, noticing that it remained expressionless at the mention of the other witch's name. Katherine's mental wall had gone up in full force, blocking him out completely. "Katherine. How do you know her?"

"There isn't a witch or wizard from around here, who doesn't know her name Sev," Katherine stated, as she held his gaze.

"But you have spoken with her, have you not?" Severus asked, as he lightly pushed at the walls with his own mind.

"Perhaps," Katherine muttered, as she focused on keeping her walls up. "Does it matter that I spoke to her?"

"Just what you spoke of."