The Potion Mistress & the Half-Blood Prince

Chapter 33: Carrow, Carrow

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.

"Dumbledore's Army Still Recruiting!"

"Support Harry Potter!"

It was the seventh time this week that Severus woke to find graffiti on the walls near the Great Hall. The blasted D.A. was quickly gaining members after the return of four Death Eaters to the school, and were gaining confidence as well. The Carrows along with Katherine had caught several students, who had snuck out of their common rooms after curfew and painted the slogans on the walls.

Thus, they were given detention with the Carrow siblings. Severus dreaded those detentions, for he knew what went on during them, but could not do anything about it. If he were to interfere, it would jeopardize his role.

In the classrooms, it was worse. Most members of Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff had decided to join Dumbledore's Army, and joined the rebellious Gryffindors in acting up and voicing out in both Carrows' classes, as well as Katherine's. Severus was just glad that Katherine seemed to have his Slytherins, no her Slytherins, under control. Although she had expressed concerns about Draco's behavior, or lack there of.

The boy had been unusually quiet and distant since his return to the school. Severus was surprised by Draco's return, wondering why the Dark Lord allowed him back. Katherine had tried talking to him, but got nothing in return.

As September turned into October, the weather changed dramatically. The skies were becoming a darker gray, the winds became harsher and the trees shed their leaves, leaving the grounds looking more sinister than ever before.

Severus stood at the large paned window, watching a lone figure in black stand along the shoreline of the Black Lake. It seemed like the same time every day, that the figure would appear there, just to stand and stare out over the glassy surface of the darken lake. He continued to watch the person as the form turned from their spot and began walking towards the school. He knew where the person was headed, and it would take her a total of ten minutes to arrive.

"Severus," a voice behind him, startled him out of his gazes. Severus turned towards Albus' portrait, to find the old man looking at him intently. "How is she?"

"She is eating better," Severus sighed, as he walked to his desk and leaned against to face the portrait. "But your Gryffindors are getting to her. She has been rather stressed lately."

Stress was an understatement. Severus knew that it was way beyond just normal stress. It seemed like every other day that she would appear in his quarters and either apparate with him to Glenariff forest to duel or seduce him as quickly as possible. And then again, sometimes it was both.

Katherine had seemed to become a permanent fixture of his bed. He couldn't remember a morning, during the last month, that he hadn't woken up next to her. He felt a strange comfort from it, waking up to a beautiful woman, who was with him willingly and not forced to be there.

"Have you had a chance to look into her condition?" Albus asked, eyeing the younger wizard carefully.

"I've tried Albus," Severus growled in frustrated. "No where can I find anything of the symptoms that she described that night of your death. I looked everywhere. I've searched ever book in this office. Nothing!"

"And what about your mind connection? Have you found out how that is possible?"

"No." Severus shook his head. "Not a damn thing."

"I see." The two went silent, both contemplating the situation. The roar of the floo in Severus' private quarters alerted both wizards that the witch in question had arrived.