The Potion Mistress & the Half-Blood Prince

Chapter 53: A Final Glance

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.

Cheers of joy echoed across the Great Hall, and the Dark Lord's body was removed to the corridor, along with Bellatrix's. Aurors had come and were now taking those Death Eaters, who were left, back to Azkaban.

As Katherine opened her eyes, she became aware that Draco was kneeling on the floor next to her. He was clutching his left arm as well; his head buried in Narcissa's shoulder, as the elder witch gently stroking his hair.

Feeling Katherine's gaze upon her, Narcissa turned towards the younger, with tears welding up in her eyes. Smiling, Narcissa slid the slit of her skirt up high enough to reveal the skin of her left thigh, that was now sisterhood mark free.

"Thank you Katherine," Narcissa said, as tears began running down from her blue eyes, staining her pale cheeks. "Thank you for keeping us safe."

"You're welcome Cissy," Katherine said, as she shifted slightly to gather the witch and her godson in her arms. "Do you forgive me?"

"Whatever for?" Narcissa asked, pulling away a bit to look Katherine in the eye.

"For lying to you, after all this time."

"How could I be?" Narcissa smiled softly. "You were my friend before you took that vow, and that's what's important. Your family, Katherine, and we will be there for you and for the baby."

"Thank you Cissy," Katherine smiled sadly at her. A part of her wanted to tell Narcissa that Severus was alive and well, waiting in the Shrieking Shack; but she couldn't. Severus still didn't know her true loyalties, and Katherine and Albus had devised a plan that would allow them to slip silently away.

Severus had only stayed at Hogwarts because of his oath to Albus, but the elder wizard had known that the younger wanted to start a new life after the Dark Lord was gone. That was one of the reasons why Albus had summoned Katherine back; to watch over Severus and protect him, so that he could begin anew. The main reason she had returned, was to help bring Voldemort down in the end, from the inside.

So she kept quiet. She knew it sounded selfish, but she also knew that he deserved the peace and quiet of a normal life.

"Cissy," Katherine said, rising from the stone floor and brushing herself off. "I'm going to go get Severus..."

"I'll come with you," Narcissa said. "You shouldn't be alone right now and..."

"Please Cissy," Katherine pleaded. "I want some time alone with him. Just me. No one else. Please." Narcissa nodded slightly, before turning her attention back to her son, who was still in her arms.

Katherine glanced over at Lucius, who was standing stiff against the side wall. The button on his left sleeve was undone and Katherine could still see the Dark Mark fresh on his pale skin. Hers had burned away because of her false loyalties; Narcissa's because of her betrayal; and Draco's because it was forced upon him. Lucius' mark remained due to the fact that he did not fully betray the Dark Lord like his wife had, and his mark would remain long after his dying days.

The sun was now rising steadily over Hogwarts, and as Katherine moved to the doors of the Great Hall, she paused to look out over the crowd. The house tables had been replaced, but the students and others sat jumbled together. She smiled at the sight of Neville Longbottom sitting with the sword of Gryffindor lying beside his plate as he ate; the Weasley family and Hermione Granger sat together, mourning the loss of their son, yet celebrating the end of a long year; her father was chatting with Kingsley and Seamus Finnigan on the opposite end of the room.