The Potion Mistress & the Half-Blood Prince

Chapter 23: The New Assignment

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 and Katherine apparated before the gates of Malfoy Manor. Severus had a bad feeling about the sudden summons, as he unwarded the gateway to allow both him and Katherine entrance.

He could hear Katherine steadily keep up with his pace, willing himself not to run. They seemed to be already late, and rushing in would do no good anymore. The front doors opened for them as they approached.

The manor was quiet and deserted, meaning that everyone was already seated before the Dark Lord. They hurried up the stairs, Severus striding a few steps ahead of Katherine. He stopped abruptly at the top, causing her to run into him.

Severus eyes were gazing towards the space above the long table. Katherine followed his stare; her eyes widened at what she saw. A body of a woman, who was whimpering, hung suspended in mid-air. She may have only met the woman a couple of times throughout the year, but she recognized her immediately. Professor Charity Burbage, the Muggle Studies teacher.

"Severus. Katherine. I was beginning to think you had lost your way." Voldemort sneered, bringing both witch and wizard out of their trance. "Come, we saved you both a seat." The two were given seats immediately to the right of the Dark Lord. All eyes seemed to follow them, and as soon as they were seated, the Dark Lord spoke to them first.

"What news do you bring Severus?" Voldemort asked.

"My Lord, the Order intends to move Potter form his current location of safety on Saturday next, at nightfall," Severus stated calmly, but he noticed Katherine fidget out of the corner of his eye.

"When did you find this out?" Katherine asked him.

"Right after I was summoned this morning," Severus explained. "I went and found one of the weaker order members and used the confundus charm on him in order to find out the plan."

"I have heard differently My Lord," Yalxey sneered, as the Dark Lord turned to face him. "The Auror, Dawlish, let it slip that Potter will not be moved until the night before the boy turns seventeen."

Severus caught Katherine fidgeting again, and noticed that her eyes were not trained on Yaxley. His eyes followed hers, and found she was watching the snake, Nagini. He remembered that Katherine had a huge dislike for snakes in general, after having almost lost her life to one when she was fourteen. If it wasn't for him, she wouldn't be here right now. Cautiously, he moved his hand from his own lap, and placed in on top of hers under the table. Then gave it a gentle squeeze to calm her.

"I assured you, my Lord, that Dawlish seemed quite certain of these plans," Yaxley continued.

"Of course he did Yaxley," Severus smirked. "It's more than likely that Dawlish has been Confunded, further more the Aurors no longer play the part of protecting Harry Potter, since the Order believes that we have fully infiltrated the Ministry."

"At least they've got that right!" another Death Eater laughed, which set off others laughing here and there. But the Dark Lord didn't respond and returned his focus of Severus again.

"Where are they taking the boy?" Voldemort hissed, as he eyed Severus.

"At the home of one of the Order members," Severus said calmly. "A place that has been given every protection possible. Once the boy reaches that point, I think there will be little chances of taking him, my Lord.

"Unless....of course, the Ministry has truly fallen before next Saturday, it might give us the opportunity to discover and undo the wards that the Ministry has set upon the site. Then we may be able to break through the rest."