The Potion Mistress & the Half-Blood Prince

Chapter 40: Albus' Elder Wand

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.

Thankfully enough the Ides of March had come and gone without incident. And Severus was thankful when the students had packed and gone for the Easter holidays. Even more grateful that Draco had not put up a fuss about going home like the last time.

Saturday the twenty-second was one of the most peaceful days that Severus could recall having in a long time. Since all the students had gone, most of the professors had opted to travel as well. And so, Severus and Katherine spent most of the day curled up in front of his fireplace; their noses in the books they held.

Katherine sat upon the small sofa, with her legs in a pretzel and parchment in her lap. Four books surrounded her, two on either side; as she would read through a passage quickly then scribbled profusely on the page in front of her.

Severus watched her from over the top of his book. It almost felt like he had stepped back in time; like he was still sitting in the Slytherin Common Room as a student, himself. There had been many nights like this, especially so when they had been seventh years and studying for their NEWTS. They would sit before the fire there too, in the green light of the expansive room that sat below the Black Lake.

He smirked softly at the studying witch before him. Her eyes flew across the page as speedily as her hand could jot the information down. Katherine's blonde hair hung freely, occasionally getting in the way of her writing, then she gently tuck it behind her ear.

Severus looked forward to the rest of the week, but knew that it would go all to fast before the students return the Sunday next. He knew Katherine would keep to her normal Sunday routine. A fly at dawn, a walk down to the lake after breakfast, spend the afternoon in the lab, then finally research and grading in the evening in his quarters.

But what Severus did not anticipate was what was to come on Monday morn.

It was still dark out when Severus felt the burn of his mark. Katherine laid curled up into his side, like always; undisturbed in her sleep. He knew he had to wake her though, for the burning sensation was different, a tingling feeling only. Severus knew what it meant; the Dark Lord was coming.

Voldemort was coming to Hogwarts.

"Katherine," Severus said, shaking the witch gently with his free hand. "Katherine, wake up."

"Hmm...," Katherine muttered sleepily. Her eyes fluttering slightly, but remained closed. "It's too early."

"I know, but the Dark Lord is coming," Severus told her, as he disentangled himself from her limbs.

"WHAT!" Katherine shot up so fast, that Severus knew if he had his head any closer, they surely would have collided. "Why is he coming here?"

"I have no idea," Severus said as he slid out of the bed and hurried to his wardrobe to get dressed. "But we will have to meet him at the gates to let him in I assume." Katherine followed his lead, getting up and dressing quickly.

It wasn't long before both wizard and witch were hurrying along the path to the main gates. It was still well before dawn, the eastern horizon only having a faint sign of light appearing along the mountain lining.

Upon reaching the gates, the two remained silent, listening for any moment for beyond the wards. Suddenly a strange noise came from the edge of the path on the outside. Out of the dark emerged a hooded figure, who appeared to be floating across the ground towards them.

"Severus. Katherine," the hooded figure stated, as it stopped behind the gate. Severus quickly lifted the wards and opened the gate from the figure to pass through.