The Potion Mistress & the Half-Blood Prince

Chapter 8: Silent Night...

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 OC (Katherine) is entirely my own.

With most of the students gone for the holidays, even the Chosen One and his friends had gone, Katherine enjoyed the silence and solitude of the castle. She could work late into the night on her potion experiments or was able to sit by the fire in her quarters reading a book without being interrupted.

On the morning of December 21st, the remaining students and staff gathered in the Great Hall for breakfast. When the mail began to arrive, a great distinguishable Eagle Owl flew towards the staff table, dropping an emerald green envelope onto Katherine's empty plate.

The beautiful green wrapper held her name in impeccable silver letters on the front. Katherine knew immediately who sent it; she had received invitations like this one before. Carefully opening the seal, she slid out the embossed invitation.

Professor Katherine Dumbledore,
you are cordially invited to
Christmas Eve Dinner
at
Malfoy Manor
On Tuesday, December 24th
at seven o'clock in the evening

Please give our owl your response.

'Will you be going?' Severus' voice startled her. She glared over at him and noticed that he held a similar envelope in his hand.

"I believe I've asked you not to do that while I'm reading," she said out loud, deciding it would make more of an impact than answering him silently. "But to answer your question, yes, I do plan on attending." She conjured up a quill and bit of parchment. Writing her response, she attached the note to the owl's leg, then turned to face Severus again.

"I believe it's waiting for yours," she smirk at him. Severus sighed at conjured up his own quill and parchment. Quickly scribbling his response, he rolled it up and handed to her. Katherine tied the note to the extended owl's leg, then gave it a bit of toast before it took flight again.

"I take it you are going then?" she raised a mocking eyebrow at him.

"Obviously," he grimaced as he turned his attention back to his breakfast. "I suppose we could travel there together, if that would be alright with you?"

"That would be just fine," Katherine grinned as she drank her pumpkin juice.

"I'll meet you in the main hall at six-thirty that night then," Severus finished his own breakfast and rose from his chair.

"I'll be ready," she watched as him walk to the staff entrance, black robes billowing, then disappear beyond the door.

......................

As six-thirty rolled around on Christmas eve, Severus stood in his dress robes in the main hall waiting for Katherine to arrive. He pulled out his pocket watch, before hearing the soft clicking of heals ascending the dungeons stairs.

As she emerged from the darkness of the dungeons, Severus caught his breath. She looked so elegant, something that made him think she was still the twenty-one year old girl at Lucius' social gathering the night before her capture. But tonight, there was something more.

Katherine wore an off the shoulder, deep emerald gown, that was trimmed with a hint of silver, that would make any Slytherin proud. The dress hugged every curve right down to her waist, then flowed out around her legs. Her golden hair done up in a stylish loose bun with a few locks down, framing her slender face. A trace of silver reflected off her ears and a simple silver chain graced her neckline.