The Potion Mistress & the Half-Blood Prince

Chapter 12: Shattered Pieces

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.

Severus sat at the head table during breakfast late that morning. He hadn't heard from Katherine since her departure the night before. And now classes would begin in an hour and he still hadn't seen or heard from her.

'Did the mission fail and the Dark Lord punished her severally?' His mind was racing so fast, that he never noticed the Headmaster, who sat down next to him.

"Have you heard from her Severus?" Albus whispered to the worried, younger wizard.

"No." Severus murmured. "I don't have a class until ten, so I'll go and check on her before that."

"Very well," the elder said. "I just hope she came back in one piece."

Severus' form became rigid at those words. He dreaded those missions; they had been on some of those numerous times for the Dark Lord when they were younger and new to the inner circle.

'I've been there before.' Severus thought as his mind continued to race back to fifteen years ago. Katherine had been badly hurt at an attack on a wizarding family. Along with Lucius and Bellatrix, their mission had failed and the Dark Lord punished them heavily for it.

Katherine, who was already well battered from the attack, passed out during her punishment due to the loss of blood. Afterwards, Severus carried her body back to Spinner's End where he mended her and cleaned her up.

It was one of the hardest nights of his life. To see his friend's twisted and broken body made him sick; he knew he couldn't fail her. But he did, on the night she was captured.

Severus brushed those thoughts to the back of his mind and locked them up. It would do no good to think about that now with classes starting soon. The students began to file out of the Great Hall, heading towards their respected classes. Severus rose from his chair and headed for the exit; students parting like the Red Sea in order to avoid his wrath.

He started to head towards Katherine's quarters in the dungeon, but stopped. He had made that mistake once before, as he knew Katherine could be extremely moody the morning after a mission, or even worse if it had failed.

He made up his mind to peek into her classroom during her first hour, and so continued on his way towards his own rooms. His first class wasn't for another hour, and he had some extra books to pick up.

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

After a half an hour, Severus had gathered the extra materials for the day and began to head towards his Dark Arts classroom. He turned the corner by the Potions room, expecting a vacant hallway, but was shocked to find it filled. He knew Katherine had sixth year Double Potions this morning, but it was nine-fifteen, and her class was suppose to start at nine.

"What are you all doing out here? Don't you have class?" Severus said sternly to the small group of students.

"Professor Dumbledore hasn't shown up yet, sir." Hermione told him. "She's never been late before and the door is locked."

Severus' eyes scanned the group before him; he knew he had to get Albus. He unwarded the door to the Potions room and motioned for the students to go inside.

"Inside now," he demanded. "And don't touch anything until a professor comes to collect you. As for you Ms. Parkinson, go to the Headmaster's office and tell Professor Dumbledore to meet me in the Potion Mistress' private quarters."

The girl nodded and sped off down the hallway. Severus turned and marched back towards Katherine's quarters. He found her door unwarded, but the portrait was locked; she was here.