Bloody Beautiful-Bloody Love (Book 4-George Weasley Love Story)

Chapter 17

Kat's POV:

I look around and can easily sense Dementors outside of the castle, and I feel an overwhelming sense of gratefulness towards Fred for making me conquer that spell before coming here. I walk towards the Great Hall where all the teachers were told to report once they arrived, and as soon as I walk in I smell the fear and anxiety that they each carry with them.

I see Scar's favorite professor, crazy old Trelawny, as well as Madame Hooch, Professor's Flitwick, Sprout, McGonagall, Babbling, Slughorn, and Vector. The only ones missing that I can tell are Hagrid, the Carrows, and Snape himself. Well Professor Binns of well, but I can't fear for his life as I can the other professors present. He's already dead after all.  I walk quietly up to the empty seat between McGonagall and Sprout, before anyone seems one notices my presence.

"Good heavens child....what are you doing here?" (Sprout)

"I'm hardly a child anymore Professor Sprout. I was hired by Dumbledore and my contract carried over. Snape did not null and void it, so I reported here as I was told." (K)

"Do you think it wise for you to return here now Mrs. Weasley?" (Mc)

"Please Professor, call me Katherine if you can, and I could ask each of you the same thing. I have my reasons for returning here to teach, as I'm sure each of you do." (K)

I see McGonagall give me a keen look, as I sit by her, before she shakes her head at me. She knew I would not leave my friends and the students that I have yet to meet without additional help. I sit between her and Professor Sprout, earning small smiles from the rest of the staff before we hear the door slam open. Everyone freezes in their seat, except me, I know that scent from anywhere. Earthy but with a hint of giant.

I look up to see Hagrid panting some as he rushes in and sits across from us at a different table. I catch his eyes and he only gives me a questioning look before our attention is again taken by the people entering the room. I recognize Alecto, her image burned into my mind as Bellatrix's is, her brother I'm assuming the snake like man walking behind her. Then I see him, Severus, with his black robes billowing behind him as always.

The scent around the room, though still mixed with fear, grows heavy with hate. I feel my heart ache for the man who will be forever scorned in history as the biggest betrayer, even though he is the biggest ally. He walks to the front of the Great Hall, the Carrows following closely behind, standing to the side as he stands directly in front of all of us. He delivers his speech with practiced calm, each word seeming to drag out for an eternity as he speaks.

"I need not tell you that we aim to have a rather changing year here at Hogwarts. Standards have dropped through the years, and now the Dark Lord has seen fit to restore them to their former glory. Therefore, beginning immediately, you will report any acts of disobedience among the students to Professors Amycus and Alecto Carrow the new Deputy Headmistress and Headmaster of Hogwarts." (Severus)

I feel myself look at him with surprise at this news, as it was not what I was expecting. I wonder if that decision was not under his control. I can smell the fury radiating off McGonagall and I gently take her hand into mine under the table and give it a gentle squeeze, one that she slowly returns as she looks at Severus.

"As such, the class Against the Dark Arts is to be henceforth The Dark Arts. Muggle Studies shall remain but Alecto will be changing the curriculum. As for Katherine Weasley, she will be assigned to a different Professor every two weeks for additional aid in maintaining the standards of the school." (Severus)

I see him stare at the staff and me as if daring anyone to ask any questions, though no one does. I see the Carrows snicker some as they assume that the staff are scared of him, but they aren't. They are fearful but not of Snape and the Carrows but of Voldemort, towards Severus and the Carrows they feel only anger.