“I am afraid I am the reason they did not meet you.. I *detained* them in the dungeon.....” Sev paused when he heard Catri gasp.

“You-did-what?!!” she whispered “You locked my son and my best friend ... where?!” Cat couldn’t believe what she was hearing.

“I apologize Catri. And I pray you can find it in your heart to forgive me...” he replied hastily. “I locked them in the dungeon so I could be with you. It seems to be the only way I can spend any time with you anymore. I swear they are unharmed, I even cast a protection spell to make sure no one could harm them, you and I are the only two that may pass through it.” Snape could see the anger flaring in her eyes “Please, Catri, before you get angry, see it from my point of view. I care for you, very much” he said softly as he took her hands in his “But every time I have tried to spend any time with you” he shook his head “Lupin has banned my very presence using your own clan laws, Cash has threatened me, locked me in my office, then destroyed my office, Black is doing everything within his powers to seduce you...” he stopped short when he saw the pained look on her face “Catri? Catri what is it?”

“WHAT IS IT ?! Severus Sebastian Snape, what in the bloody blue blazes were you thinking?!” Cat yelled as Severus winced painfully. “Take me to them this instant” she demanded as tears sprung to her eyes. She would never be able to forgive herself if something had happened to them while she was out enjoying herself with the girls.

“Of course I will Catri, but please...calm down” Sev implored as he took her by the hand and lead her to where he had left Harry and Remus. “I swear to you, they are perfectly safe, no one can undo that spell, not without my wand...” he paused as Catri glared at him.

“No other *wizard* could undo your spell, what about me? I can walk right through most of the magic the Ministry uses.” she replied tersely “And if the Tremere show up.......” She closed her eyes to stop her tears “Severus Snape I am giving you fair warning... if *anything* happens to either of them... I will *never* forgive you.” . . .

“What did my Dad do then, did he figure it out” Harry asked as he laughed, picturing the look on his father’s face as Cat flipped him into the gelatin.

“Almost, but not quite. Lily stood over him, and in between laughs, introduces James to Cat MacLeod, the new exchange student who will be staying with her in the dormitory. Then James realizing *finally* what had happened,” Remus said as he rolled his eyes “took unfair advantage of Sirius and I. We still hadn’t managed to stand up, we were laughing so hard, and placed a fortis mortis curse on us. Poor Cat, she had no idea what was going on” Remus finished wiping the tears from his own eyes. “She had only just met us, she must have thought we were all lunatics..”

“So you were all good friends then, right” questioned Harry “She knew my parents, and you and Sirius? And you all liked each other.”

“Yes Harry, we were quite the team that year” Remus replied as he fondly thought back on all their escapades.

“So, what’s up with her and Sirius then? He told me what he did, and that they broke up or something, but that’s all in the past now.. Right?” Harry asked hopefully “They can forget about it all and get back together, be a family.”

“Not exactly” Remus sighed.

“You know Remus, you’ve been saying that a lot lately.” . . .

Cat felt her stomach lurch as Sev lead her deeper into the dungeon “You call this safe!!” she glared as she began to sniff the air, something wasn’t right.... the smell of death and decay was hanging heavily in the air. “How close is this to your classroom?” Cat asked as her voice grew unsteady.

“Only a few doors away, why?” Sev asked, he was thankful she was at least speaking to him, she had been stonily quiet the whole way here. He noticed she lifted her head back and twitch her nose strangely the closer they got.

“You mean you don’t smell it? The blood and decay” she asked, her voice becoming short and nasty with anxiety “Its all over, I’ve never smelled this before” her voice all but seized in her throat. “That blood.... its Garou blood.... its to gamey to be human” she gasped as she quickly ran ahead of Severus, hoping to find Harry unharmed. She skidded to a stop when she saw Olia, who appeared to be waiting for someone. “Olia... What’s happened, what is that stench?”

“We don’t know either, but its giving me the shivers” Olia replied as her body shook visibly “its absolutely putrid. And I can sense others down there.” she motioned towards the end of a dark corridor “I pray they are unharmed.”

“You pray?! Why are you praying instead of looking?” Cat snapped as Severus caught up to her. “Since when have the Gangrel become frightened of the dark?”

Olia was about to give a sarcastic reply, but paused and thought better of it when she saw the look on Angel’s face, she looked frantic. Olia closed her eyes for a moment and reached out with her empathic talents, Angel was beyond frantic, she was worry, distraught, terrified and hurt. “Angel?.... What has happened to you? You look wounded....” Olia swallowed hard when she realized Angel wasn’t going to play nice, she wanted an answer now “The corridor is hexed, it won’t let me through......”

“Hexed?” Cat said as she narrowed her eyes, she tensed even more when Severus placed his hand on her shoulder. “Don’t even try to sweet talk your way out of this Severus. Nothing will calm me down, nothing except seeing my son safely in my arms, and Remus standing unharmed before me.” She could feel Severus pull away as if he had been stung. Normally she would have been the one to comfort him, to explain his actions, and perhaps tomorrow she would do exactly that. But at this moment her instincts were screaming for blood “What do you mean hexed, Olia?”

Olia shrugged her shoulders and reached out with her hand. Carefully she stretched her arm towards the corridor, her body was extremely tense, as if waiting for something to happen. Suddenly a wall of roaring flames spread across the entrance to the corridor, causing Olia to quickly jump backwards. Meanwhile Cat stood there, seemingly engulfed in flames, Severus quickly grabbed her and snatched her out of harms way.

Cat looked into Severus’s eyes “Your protection spell?” She watched as he nodded mutely, she could feel his eyes searching hers, hoping to see a glimmer of warmth shining through. “Okay, one point for you on the spell” she quipped as she bolted from his arms and down the corridor, calling out for Harry as she ran. . .

Harry practically jumped off of the floor “Mum!!!!! Mum!! We’re over hear” he yelled when he heard Cat’s voice.

“Harry??? Where are you, which room? ... O never mind... step back from the door.” Cat yelled as she stopped in the middle of the corridor and took a deep breath, centering herself and gathering her powers.

Remus’s eyes grew large as he felt the familiar electricity in the air “Harry.. Get away from the door... NOW!” he yelled as he pulled Harry away and tossed him against the wall, covering him with his own body.

“Catri... NO!!” Severus yelled but it was too late. The high pitched wail had already pierced the stagnant air of the dungeon. The sound seemed to hang in front of Catri for the briefest of moments before she raised her arms forcefully, sending the sound careening through the corridor, shattering everything it touched.

“Catri, please.... calm yourself” Severus yelled as the force of her spell tore apart every door in the hall “I have the key” His shoulders dropped as he saw the damage she had done, he had the distinct feeling he would be paying for this for a very long time. . .

Harry shut his eyes tightly as Remus threw him against the wall, knocking the breath out of him. Before he knew what was happening, Remus was pressed against him, sheltering him from something, Harry felt Remus pushing his head down as a strangely familiar sound echoed through his head. Harry began to feel the same pulling sensation he had felt when Cat and MacLir fought during their first trip to Hogsmeade. Harry held his breath as the world suddenly grew very bright and loud, he felt Remus tighten his grip as a hot wind gusted past them. Harry peered under Remus’s arm, only to see what was left of the door, falling like wooden rain to the floor.

“Remus, are you alright?” Harry asked as he felt Remus shaking himself “You didn’t get hit by anything, did you?”

Remus gave him a crooked grin “Me? Nope, Kitty has great control, I should have known she would restrain herself.” he said as he brushed the sawdust from his robes “Would you look at this, she blew it into dust for crying out loud.” He turned back to Harry “Not *too* protective of you, is she?”

“Harry? Remus?” Cat yelled as she tore into the room and straight towards them. She felt weak with relief the moment she saw they were unharmed “Mo ainnis annsachd”she cried as she embraced them both “are you alright, both of you, is anyone hurt?” she asked as she looked over them, sighing with relief at the obvious lack of blood or bruises.

“We’re fine mum... but Fang is hurt, really hurt” Harry said as he pulled her over to the Garou. “He’s been like this since Gaz locked us in here.”

“Gaz locked you in, .... I thought Severus did this?” Cat said as she kneeled beside the injured Fang. Very gently she touched his face, grimacing as she saw the extent of his injuries. “Fang.... Fang” she called gently “come on spanky....... Fang?” She turned and look questioningly into Remus’s eyes “Has he been unconscious this whole time?”

“Yes. I thought it best to let him be.” Remus answered softly as he knelt next to her “I know nothing about healing Garou, and it would have only upset Harry if he found out how badly hurt Fang was.”

Cat carefully wiped away at the blood that had pooled around his mouth “This doesn’t look good Lupy” she sighed as she pressed gingerly on his abdomen “he’s bleeding internally, not to mention severe lacerations and more than likely a concussion. Look at this wound on his head, the poor baby” she cooed as Severus stood above her shaking his head.

“Severus how could you?” Cat asked angrily “I know you have issues with non-humans, but Fang is our ally, he’s a friend.” her voice broke with emotion as she turned to face Severus “I hope you’re happy now, he’s dying from his injuries.”

“That cannot be right.” Severus said softly, the shock on his face was apparent “I made the potion myself, it was a simple sleeping draught. There is absolutely no way it could have harmed him, it is designed to cause a deep dreamless sleep. Madam Pomfrey uses it constantly...”

“The potion didn’t do this” Remus replied glumly “Gaz did, she probably slipped him the potion and then beat him. She wanted him out of the way, he was more than just bait for Harry and I.”

“Mum? You can heal him can’t you? Cash and Raul told me that you’re a healer by nature, like your mum.” Harry’s eyes pleaded silently with her, he had grown very fond of Fang over the past several weeks.

“I’ll do everything I can Harry” Cat replied softly “but I only have so much control over life and death. Come on, I need the infirmary for this, I’ll need instruments and supplies.” She sighed deeply as she looked down at the helpless Garou. “This just isn’t right, he’s only a kid. How could anyone do something so brutal ....” she hung her head and swallowed hard.

“Catri.. Please, I swear to you. I did not know he was injured, she told me it was blood from a bird she had hunted for lunch.” He placed his hands softly on her shoulders, he felt her body melt softly against the palms of his hands, before suddenly turning to ice again. “Catri. Please.” he squeezed her shoulders slightly as she moved to stand.

“Regardless of what you thought, or *didn’t* think, YOU were responsible for them. A fellow teacher and a student of your own school. Not to mention a guest who has placed his life in jeopardy at every turn to keep us safe.” She turned to face Severus, her eyes full of tears “I trusted you to keep them safe from the people that would harm them, not deliver them into their hands. What if she would have come back for Harry? What if she brought deatheaters with her?”

“That is not fair Catri. I had no idea she had turned against us. I certainly would never have thought she would hurt one of her own. I understood the clans found it impossible to harm each other. Is that not what you keep telling me about the Gangrel?” he replied, his voice hard and cold, but his eyes full of hurt and pain. “You must know I would never allow anyone to hurt Harry.”

“Right now Severus, that may be all I know” Catri replied sadly as she turned away from Sev to face the prone body of Fang. “Let’s go, he needs attention now, he won’t last much longer.”

“At least let me help you with moving him” Severus commented as he pulled out his wand. He immediately noticed Catri’s eyes narrowing in on the deep pocket of his cloak as she clenched her small hands into fists. Shuffling a bit uncomfortably, he reached in and pulled out Harry and Remus’s wands and returned them to their owners.

I’ll take care of this myself, thank you” Catri said icily as she lightly touched Fang’s chest, causing him to levitate. She saw Olia peering anxiously, just out of the reach of the firewall. Cat simply spoke one word “Sgrios” and the wall fizzled away into a curtain of grey smoke. She could feel Sev’s eyes on her as Olia quickly darted towards them.

Cat strode towards the hospital wing not missing a step as Severus shook his head “That was the most powerful spell the Assyrians had, how could she undo it so easily? And without the wand that cast it?” Sev asked, completely dumbfounded.

“She doesn’t follow anyone’s rules but her own and her clan’s, that’s it.” Remus explained hastily “And her first rule is, protect those that protect you. Something you’re about to find out about. If you think for one minute she won’t see what you did as a betrayal to her and her family ......”

“She will not see it that way. Not if you convince her it was a harmless prank.” Snape said quickly.

“And *why* would I do that?” Remus glared. “You trapped us in the dungeon, took away our wands, and would have left us there for heaven only knows how long.” Remus stopped short when he saw Snape holding a parchment with all to familiar writing on it.

Severus pulled a piece of parchment out of his robes “Look familiar Lupin?” he asked as he raise an eyebrow “I *found* it in your bedroom while I was looking for Catri. I wonder what she would think if she read what her dear *brother* wrote about her. I am certain *this* would count as a betrayal as well, after all she trusts you so completely, so innocently. I am quite certain she has no idea of the lust you have for her” he drawled “What do you think she would do if she knew what you really wanted to do with her?”

Remus scowled as he watched Snape slip the parchment back inside his robes. “I thought I burned that” he growled “and I can’t believe you would dare to show her that. It would kill her, I wrote it in a moment of weakness. I thought she was going to die for the love of heaven.” He turned to look Snape in the eye “How can you think of hurting her like that? You keep telling me you love her.... prove it” Remus said as he held out his hand for the parchment.

“Prove I love her by losing her, .... I think not.” Snape replied coldly “You have done everything in your power to stop me from seeing her. Your old friend Black hurt her in ways I cannot even comprehend, but you would gladly hand her over to him without a second thought....”

“Because I *know* he loves her” Remus growled “whatever his faults, whatever he did, I can look him in the eyes and know without any shadow of a doubt that he loves her,.... and her son.”

“So you think *you* have the right to chose for her?” . . .

Olia kept rubbing her hand along Fang’s furry cheek as they walked briskly towards the hospital wing. “Angel, can you save him? Will he survive?” she asked as the blood tinged tears fell from her eyes, staining his light fur even more.

Cat looked at Olia with questioning eyes “You know I will do everything within my power Olia. But why are you so deeply concerned over him? Its not like you to become overly attached to people” Cat commented “Olia? Are you going to answer me?” Cat asked softly as she placed her fingers under Olia’s chin, lifting it so she could see her eyes clearly. Cat took a deep breath as her mind explored Olia’s “You’re in love with him?” she whispered as Olia’s tears resumed with renewed vigor. “Olia, my poor girl” Cat cooed as she wrapped her free hand around Olia’s shoulders, allowing her to cry freely. “Don’t be frightened. Garou, Kindred or Human, there is precious little I cannot heal.”

Harry hung back slightly, watching the four adults in front of him. Remus was obviously angry with Snape, and Snape looked as if his world was falling apart in front of him. But what particularly struck Harry, was the way Cat was carrying herself. He could tell how upset she was, he had seen her crying over Fang and lashing out at Snape. But to look at her now, no one would ever know, she was levitating Fang with one hand on his chest while her other arm was wrapped around Olia, comforting her as she cried. Harry shook his head, if he didn’t know any better he would have mistaken her for a queen.....or an angel.....all she was missing was the wings.

Cat heaved a silent sigh of relief when she saw the door of the hospital wing loom into view. “Harry, sweetie, run ahead and let Poppy know we’re coming and why. She’ll know what I need.”

Cat gently lowered Fang onto the bed while Harry led Olia to another, he sat with her as Cat gave Fang a more thorough exam under the bright lights of the hospital. “Poppy, check his throat, I think his larynx may be crushed. These bones are definitely broken, so is his shoulder and she did a lot of internal damage, he’s bleeding pretty bad. Hand me the nitrium silvero.” And on and on it went, Harry held Olia’s hand as she leaned against him sobbing. He looked over to Remus and Snape, who, in between their own arguments, would look over to Cat and Fang, their faces somewhere between horror, guilt and anger.

Harry felt his stomach lurch when he saw Cat reach inside Fang, he watched as she closed her eyes in concentration, her hand began to glowing brightly. She pushed her hand in deeper as she searched for all of his injuries, healing them one by one. Finally she withdrew her hand from his abdomen and, wiping away his blood, she gently placed her fingers on either side of his throat. Cat was trembling from the effort of healing him, but she refused to stop, he had protected her clan, placing his life on the line daily to ensure the safety of everyone within the walls of Hogwarts, she could do nothing less for him. Finally she took a long, deep breath as she tenderly touched his cheek and called his name. She cried silently as Fang’s eyes fluttered, and the stress and horror of the evening began to catch up with her.

“Hey Spanky,” Cat said softly as Fang looked blankly at her “welcome back to the living.” she cooed as she smiled. She noticed the glint of recognition in his eyes as he tried to sit up. Quickly Cat and Poppy restrained him, forcing him to lay still as Cat called Olia over.

Fang muttered as his vision began to clear, all he could see was a kind and lovely face peering down on him. It took him several moments until he recognized her scent “MacLeod?” he whispered weakly as she smiled at him and forced him to lay on his back. “Why do I hurt so badly?” he asked softly as his senses began to return. He sighed as he felt Olia’s cool hands caressing his face as she searched his heart and mind. Normally he would have taken offense at her intrusion, as much as he cared for her, he insisted on his secrets. After all if your own mind was not sacred, what was? “My sweet Olia” he sighed as he relaxed, allowing her to do as she would, as long as it meant she was near him. .

Severus walked up to Catri and tentatively placed his hands on her shoulders, hoping desperately she would not shun him. He had lived far too long without affection, but after the last few weeks with her, he knew he could not bear to live without it ever again. “Catri, you need to rest” he said softly as he felt her body trembling “you were far too weak to have even attempted to heal anyone.” He gently forced her away from Olia and Fang as he guided her to the hospital bed next to them “I could never forgive myself if you came to harm because of my actions. I swear to you I never thought she would hurt anyone”

“That seems to be the problem Sev, you *didn’t* think. You were being gullible at best, selfish and callous at worst. I’m honestly not sure that my feelings or welfare ever even entered your mind.” Cat said softly as she turned away from him “it’s obvious Harry’s never did. You seem to have forgotten, he is my son, he is the *most* important person in my life, bar none.”

Before Severus could utter another word, Olia’s hand was around his throat “You did this to him? You helped that traitorous cur do this?” she growled viciously as she invaded his mind. “Why? Why did you help her? Why do you hate us so much?” Olia smirked as the potion master struggled against her steel like grip, she hardly even noticed his eyes rolling up into his lids until only the whites were visible. She was too busy tearing through his mind, searching out his fears, his pain, she needed to know why he had done this. Why he would betray those who fought every moment to keep him and his kind safe....

Severus felt his reality twist horribly the moment Olia touched him. Her anger was a palatable as she tore through his mind and soul. Severus fought back a scream as he felt her presence invading him, after their last encounter she knew exactly where to look, she knew his weaknesses and his pain all to well, and she seemed more than happy to use them against him. Severus tried reaching for his wand, only to have it smacked out of his hand by Olia’s lightening fast reflexes. Severus struggled vainly against Olia’s attack, whimpering softly as she found what she was looking for. . .

Olia grinned wickedly as she tightened her grip on the Slytherin, he had betrayed her clan, and her lover, he must be punished. She remembered him well from their last encounter, his pain had been so deliciously wretched, his soul was practically laid to waste by his past. Olia heading instinctively to the place where she could inflict the most damage, his all to fragile heart. He had been betrayed and abuse far to often to trust or loved anyone the way a *normal* person would. The moment she found her target she began peeling away the defenses he had spent years building. She mocked his pain with her growling laughter as she saw the loveless marriage, the abusive father, the callous friends... each one only interested in what the Slytherin could do for them. She watched his pain as his wife lay beneath him, motionless and frigid the night of their wedding; as his father swung his large, beefy hand hitting the Slytherin squarely on the face, causing him to go sprawling across the floor; as he watched jealously while Angel and her friends laughed happily, holding and touching each other on their way to and from classes.

She kept delving deeper and deeper, until she found his weakest point, his true heart. She brutally stripped away the years worth of armor, only to find the heart of a boy. One who was broken and bleeding, disgusted with himself and his helplessness to stop the beatings and cruelty, one who was being comforted and tended to by the only person he had every really had the courage to trust in his entire life. . .

“Olia! Olia... STOP!!” Cat screamed when she saw Severus gasping for air as his body convulsed. “That is enough!!” Cat grabbed Olia’s arms and forced her away from Severus who collapsed into a crumpled heap at her feet. Cat immediately dropped to his side as she called his name, she heaved a heavy sigh of relief as she saw his eyes drop back down into there normal position as his body shivered visibly. “Severus?” she called softly as she instinctively cradled his head in the crook of her arm. “Severus. Wake up!! Don’t fall asleep, you’ll never wake up again.”

Olia stared at the Slytherin in disbelief, he was actually doing this out of love. A skewed and twisted version granted, but love none the less. He adored Angel, and he was terrified he was going to lose her, the mere thought was driving him mad. Olia stared numbly at her hands as the echo of his torment washed over her. She shuddered as she felt the chill of his loneliness settle within her heart “Echh, no wonder you’re so desperate” she stated as she shook herself and returned to Fang’s side.

Remus smiled at Harry as he sat down next to him “Are you alright Harry? It’s been quite a night” he sighed “I just wished I knew where Sirius was. I thought for sure he would have come looking for us or Kitty.”

“If only” Harry snorted “never seems to be that easy, does it?”

“He and Cash are searching for Gaz, we scented her in the dungeon earlier” Olia said softly as she tended to the sleeping Fang “we were told she left several days ago. We knew something was wrong when she came back.”

Remus motioned for Harry to stay were he was as he crossed to Olia’s side “Why didn’t you tell us? She could have killed us if she wanted to. Actually as much as I hate to say it, if Snape hadn’t been there she may have taken the chance and done just that.” Remus confided to her.

“She can’t harm Harry. Angel has made sure of that, it would take much more power than Gaz possesses to break her charms.” Olia answered plainly “She has been enchanting him since the day her sister conceived. I believe that is how he got that birthmark.” she added as she twisted her fingers playfully in Fang’s deep, soft fur.

“His birthmark? You mean the one shaped like a sword on his left shoulder?” Remus asked, his voice full of surprise “We always wondered where that came from, it appeared shortly after he was born.”

“Twenty-one days to be exact” Olia corrected him “that’s how the spell works, that’s when his blood becomes his own. It’s no longer the thin blood of a newborn, the promise of a future life becomes written in the blood at that time.” Olia took a deep breath and turned to Remus “Why haven’t you asked Angel to turn her heart against the Slytherin for what he has done? Or have you tasted his soul as well?”

Remus raised an eyebrow “Tasted his soul?!” he smirked “Thank you... NO.” He gave a quick look over to where Kitty was helping Severus to his feet “I have half a mind to do just that. Unfortunately he *found* something I thought I destroyed. I don’t ever want to have to explain it to Kitty. It would harm her and most probably kill me...”

Olia smiled at him “So, you do love her don’t you?” she stated as she smiled widely at him “Whatever would Cash and Sirius say...” She stopped teasing as soon as she saw the tormented look in his eyes. “Remus???”

“Don’t even joke about it Olia” Remus said softly as he felt his solitude creeping in on him “she and Sirius were meant for each other. I am not even a consideration here and I intend to keep it that way. I am like her brother. Period.” he said firmly as Olia nodded her agreement. “I just wish I understood what she sees in Snape.”

“Do you really want to know?” Olia asked “I can tell you, or show you” she said as she held out her hands to him.

“Tell me.” Remus answered “I don’t think I could stand being a part of him, not at this particular moment.” he added as Olia pulled her hands away.

After Olia had explained the horrors and desperation that Severus kept hidden inside himself, Remus felt he finally understood why Kitty and Lily had always been so kind to Snape. They *had* to have known what he was going through, after all, according to her family, Kitty had been able to pick things out of people’s minds since she was a youngster. Feeling slightly better about the whole situation, Remus decided it was time to confront both Severus and Kitty about tonight’s events. . .