The Beautifully Tragic Life of Kassandra Snape

chapter 57- Burbage

My father and I have been summoned to the dining hall for one of their meetings, when we arrive they are all waiting. Narcissa had offered to look after Arabelle for the duration. I can't stand her even breathing the same air as Greyback, so I took the offer gladly.

"Severus, I was beginning to think you'd lost your way. Ah Selene welcome, I'm pleased to see you again my dear. Come, we've saved you seats." The dark Lord beckons us over, voice calm and collected.

As we make our way to our saved seats, a Hogwarts professor whom I know to be Charity Burbage- muggle studies is levitated on the table. I never cared much for the subject but she was always nice enough. I worry for her fate.

"Do you bring news I trust?" He asks my father.

"It will happen Saturday next, at night fall." Father tells him. I always envy his ability to keep completely calm in these situations, completely undeterred.

"I've heard differently my Lord." A gravelly voice of a deatheater speaks before rambling on about something to do with Harry's birthday. Apparently he is to be moved somewhere and they mean to intercede him.

"This is a false trail." My father states in absolute. "The auror office no longer plays any part in the protection of Harry Potter. Those closest to him have believed that we have infiltrated the ministry."

"Yeah well they've got that right haven't they?" Another jokes, but I roll my eyes at the man.

I lose interest, I zone the voices out for a while appearing to stay concentrated on the meeting. I've learned that this is the easiest way to upstand the meetings, they're terrible.

I relign my attention when Voldemort stands and walks slowly around the long table.

"But I face an unfortunate complication, that my wand and Potter share the same core. They're in someways twins. We can harm but not fatally wound eachother. If I am to kill him, I must do it with another's wand. Surely one you would like the honor. What about you Lucius?" He asks and everyone can see the fear register on the blonde's ragged face.

"I require your wand." He tells him and with shakey hands, Lucius obliges.

"Do I detect elm?" The dark Lord asks before snapping the wands handle and throwing it onto the table.

He uses it to drag Burbage's near lifeless body to the centre of the table.

"To those of you who do not know we are joined tonight by Miss Charity Burbage who up until recently taught at Hogwarts school of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Her speciality was Muggle Studies, it is her belief that muggles are not so different to us. She would, given her way, have us mate with them." He says as chuckles and fake retching fill the room.

"To her the mixture of magical and muggle blood is not an abomination, but something to be encouraged." He adds.

She pleads with my father and I
"Serverus... please...we're friends. I've always been kind to you Selene, to your child." She's not wrong, each time we would pass her, she'd wish us well and compliment Arabelle. My head is screaming at me, yelling at me that I should help the vulnerable lady, it's excruciating.

Please stop begging, I wish I could help you Burbage, I'm doing this for my family. Please spare me of your pleas, please don't haunt me with your cries...

Regardless with the torture I'm going through mentally, I stay strong with my face remaining stone cold, much like that of my fathers. This must be harder for him than it is for me.

She is then killed right in front of us, and we are forced to watch as the snake feeds on the woman. I don't look, I only look to a distraught Draco, I stare at him and his eyes meet mine. Our eyes conveying so many words that our voices can't.

I wait until I'm in the safety of my room until I break down.