Witch Hunt

6

"You did what?"

The words were as sharp as broken glass, his voice deceptively quiet as malice dripped from his tone.

Up until that moment, they had been eating supper in what could be referred to as amiable silence. She appreciated when he made time to dine with her, leaving the castle for a few hours every week. She had been exceptionally lucky that weekend, he had decided to spend the Friday evening until the Sunday afternoon with her. A rare occurrence, that she might had ruined for good, judging by his reaction to her latest foolish behaviour. She had just finished explaining to him that she had spent the afternoon with her nephew and his friend, that Granger girl. And that the two had been ever so curious about her bracelet and its origins.

His fist slammed against the wood grain of the table as he stood. Leaning his weight on his hands, he prowled around it, toward her. The woman backed away, tumbling from her chair, scrambling backward as she tried to escape him. Unsuccessful, she found herself caught between the man and the kitchen wall.

Determined to refuse his intimidation, she lifted her chin defiantly as he stared her down. He crouched, approaching closer still. "Why would you expose yourself? What purpose did revealing yourself to Hermione Granger serve?"

Careful fingers wrapped around her wrist as she raised a hand to strike him. Her breathing quickened as she turned red in the face, the heat spreading to her chest rapidly. He pulled her hand toward him, his nose brushing the inside of her forearm as he turned his head, his lips coming to rest in the bend of her elbow. "Wicked man," she whispered, a gasp leaving her as her breathing hitched. Her heart skipped a beat.

He raised a brow, lifting his eyes to meet hers, fingering the delicate jewellery at her wrist. "Am I?"

"You know it!" She exclaimed, though a smile had found her lips again, the anger leaving her.

He chuckled softly, tugging on the bracelet, his mouth travelling to her palm. "So temperamental, Katie," he commented, turning her hand as his lips brushed across her knuckles.

She pouted, her brow furrowing. "Not any more than you are. You've a nasty temper."

He took her face between his fingers, pulling her near with a brusque gesture. "At least I do not act on impulse and visit my nephew to spew vile lies in order to slander." He spat, his hand moving to her neck. His fingers curled around her throat, and he flexed ever so slightly. "Do not lie to me, Potter. I'll know. How am I supposed to keep you safe if you keep going out and exposing yourself unnecessarily? Hm?"

She was breathing heavily, her jaw clenched. "Get your filthy hands off of me." she demanded, eyes flashing angrily, voice hard.

The man in black smirked, squeezing her throat. "Strange," he mused. "That isn't what you said last night."

The woman tried to lunge at him, halted in her movement by his hands pulling her back down. She yelled out in frustration, pushing against him again, though she knew she would never escape his grasp. He was far stronger than she was. "Sod off, Snivellus!"

The Potions' Master leaned in, his nose tickling her ear. "You will regret what you did," he warned, voice icy.

A shiver ran down Kate's spine and she sneered, turning to look at him, disdain evident in her features. "I hate you,"

He smirked again, kissing her cheek. "I know." He replied simply. "If you'll excuse me, I've a witch to hunt down."

In a moment, he was gone. The door closed with a definitive 'click' behind him.