The Potion Mistress & the Half-Blood Prince

Chapter 47: A Venomous Kiss

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.

Lucius apparated within a few feet of the burning Quidditch pitch. Quickly he pulled out his secondary wand, which had belonged to his father, and cast a location spell. He was pleased to find that they were not far from where he was, and began trekking in their direction.

"SEVERUS!" Lucius shouted over the screams and blasts, but they muffled his voice. "SEVERUS!"

Katherine and Severus had been fighting side by side the entire time. Sometimes back to back, other times firing spells over each others' shoulders. Severus was feeling relieved that Katherine had kept to her word, and had not left his side.

They had been standing side by side, when he saw she suddenly cease her curses; her eyes quickly scanning the battlefield.

"Katherine, what is it..."

"Shh..." Katherine shushed him; her eyes still glancing cautiously over the grounds. Severus put up a small barrier spell around them as Katherine continued listening closely to something within the screams.

"SEVERUS!" Both Severus and Katherine had heard it this time. It came in the direction of the pitch, and both wizard and witch turned towards the voice.

"Lucius?" Katherine sneered. "What does he want right now?"

"Not sure," Severus muttered. "Come on." He began dragging her off in Lucius' direction, casting blocking spells ever so often to avoid a rouge hex or curse.

"Severus..." Lucius panted as he stopped before the younger couple.

"What's going on Lucius?" Severus asked, pulling the three of them behind a group of trees in order to avoid the battle. "What are you doing over here?"

"The Dark Lord sent me..." Lucius said, trying to steady his breathing. "He wants you and Katherine to go to him...at the Shrieking Shack."

"Why?" Katherine snarled, whipping her head around the tree ever so often, to check for any oncoming spells.

"I'm not sure..." Lucius said, taking a deep breath. "But it must be important."

Severus only nodded in response before pulling Katherine to him, and side along disapparated to the decaying house, just outside Hogsmeade.

It was dark around the little shack. As a loud crack echoed through the air, the figures of a witch and wizard dressed in black could barely be seen against the faint glow of

the waning moon from above.

The silhouettes stealthily moved to the boarded up house and slipped inside. The rooms were dark, except for the faint light from a small oil lamp in the corner of the old sitting room.

"My Lord," a rich, baritone voice whispered as the figure of the wizard knelt before the Dark Lord in the center of the room. He kissed the hem of the dark wizard's robes before rising again, and moving off to the side to allow the witch to do the same.

"My Lord," a soft, melodic voice whispered too, as the shadow of the witch kissed the hem of the robes and rose again.

"Severus," the Dark Lord hiss. "How goes the battle?"

"My Lord, their resistance is crumbling," Severus stated, as he and Katherine stood before the Dark Lord.

"And it is doing so without either of your help," Voldemort sneered. "Skilled as you both are, I do not think either of you will make much difference now."