The Potion Mistress & the Half-Blood Prince

Chapter 51: The Final Mission Begins

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.

Katherine steadied herself and continued walking towards the meeting site. She knew as long as Severus remained hidden in the Shrieking Shack, the final plan would work. It had to work.

No one could know that Severus lived. Harry had to believed that he had sacrificed himself for the Light and for Lily. So she knew that she had to play her next part well. Katherine brought false images forth of a bloodied Severus lying on the floor of the ancient building. Images of herself checking for a pulse, but finding none. His eyes lifeless.

She knew that those images would bring tears to her eyes, and before she knew it, they were streaming down her cheeks. Her eyes were still red and puffy from the first time she had cried tonight, but real dried tears would be even more convincing. Wiping her face with her sleeve, she knew it would convince the others that he was dead.

Before long, Katherine found herself wandering into the clearing that held the inner circle of Death Eaters and other followers of the Dark Lord alike.

Narcissa and Lucius were sitting on an old log together, to the Dark Lord's right. At the sight of Katherine, a worried looking Narcissa rose to greet her, but was stopped short at the sight of Katherine's tear stained face and reddened eyes.

"Katherine," Narcissa whispered. "What is it? Where's Severus?"

Katherine didn't answer her, and instead walked straight over to the fallen log and plopped down next to Lucius. He saw the unshed tears forming in the younger witch's eyes.

"Katherine? Where is he?" Lucius whispered as well. The blonde hung her head, not bothering to look at either of them.

"He's...he's dead," Katherine muttered from behind her fallen locks.

"Dead!" Narcissa's eyes widened as she sat down next to Katherine.

"Yes Cissy. Dead."

"But when and who?" Lucius murmured. Both Lucius and Narcissa waited for a response, but never received one, as they heard a small twig snapped near them.

The three looked up into the red, cold eyes of the Dark Lord. He stood, hovering over them with a cold sneer on his face. He glazed into Katherine's reddened, ice blue eyes.

"I'm glad to see you have returned Katherine," the Dark Lord hissed. "Because of Snape's untimely death, you will now take his place in the inner circle."

Katherine only nodded in response, her eyes never leaving the Dark Lord's. The Dark Lord smirked, he could see it in her eyes the anger that was held there. The anger for the loss of a companion, a friend.

"Forget him Katherine," the Dark Lord sneered. "There will be others that are worthy enough for you." He then took his leave, heading towards Bellatrix, who stood in the opposite corner of the clearing.

"What did he mean, others who are worthy?" Lucius asked.

"I was supposed to be given to Severus after the war. As his bride; to help create a future generation of servants." Katherine explained in hushed tones.

"Already started that, didn't you?" Lucius whispered, receiving deadly glares from both Narcissa and Katherine alike.

"Lucius!" Narcissa hissed. "No one is to know about the child?"

"I know, but what will happen when it is over. Hmm. What will the Dark Lord do to her then?" Lucius retaliated.

"Enough, both of you!" Katherine hissed at the elder witch and wizard. "No one will know about this until after the war." Katherine paused, before adding even quieter. "If I survive this war at all."