The Potionsmaster's Promise (a Love Story)

[Katharina Lioncourt]

Part One: New Orleans

The sun had set. The orange glow had long since died from the pillars at the front of the house on First Street. It was a typical July evening in the city of New Orleans, the air thick with humidity and the smell of magnolias. Severus Snape opened the large iron gate and pushed it closed behind him, cursing the heat and wishing for the cool air of England.

"You came," purred a male voice from the large front porch. "I had hoped you would."

Severus neared the porch and embraced the voice's owner. "You have always been there for me. It is only fitting that I do the same for you."

The man nodded. "It has been a long time," he said in his luxurious tenor.

"I know. And I apologize. But I have been studying, preparing to begin my teaching position next year."

The man nodded once again. "I understand."

"I've missed you, Lestat."

"And I have missed you, Severus. So many years have passed. And I can no longer take care of-- well, perhaps you'd best come in."

Lestat held open the heavy door and Severus entered the drawing room of the house. Warm light glowed from the chandelier, gracing Lestat's golden hair. "I've told you about the girl, haven't I?"

"Girl? I don't think so."

For the first time since they'd met, Severus detected what looked like an air of exhaustion on Lestat's face. He'd grown up alongside this man, been taught all Lestat had to teach, and had then left for England at age eleven to finish his education. Now, at twenty-two, Severus raised an eyebrow at his old teacher. Lestat sighed deeply.

"I need your help, Severus. And I need the help of Albus Dumbledore. I can no longer take care of my daughter."

" Daughter?!" Severus staggered backward three steps and fell into a plush armchair.

"Oh, I'm going about this all wrong. I knew I should have told you by degrees. Well, I had an... out-of-body experience, to say the least. And I made love to a human woman. This was ten years ago. And, when the woman found out what I really was... she abandoned the child to freeze. I couldn't just let her die, Severus, and I missed taking care of a fledgling... but she's grown up, and she has magic power beyond that of anyone I've ever seen, with the possible exception of you."

"Then..." Severus Snape tucked a lock of his inky hair behind his left ear. "The child is not... like you."

"Vampire? No. She is human, like her mother." Lestat looked almost sad for the briefest of moments. "But she has magic. Powerful magic."

"What would you have me do, Lestat?" Severus looked up at his former teacher... his mentor.

"She needs an education that I cannot possibly give her. My ways are of the night. She has no interest in the blood that keeps me alive, nor does she have need of it. I can only hope that Albus will accept her into his school and train her as he sees fit."

"You want me to bring her to Hogwarts?"

Lestat nodded. Outside, clouds were rolling in from the south. He sighed. Rain, he knew, would only add to the humidity.

Severus Snape bowed his head. "But I leave for London tomorrow."

"She will be ready to accompany you, if you agree to take her."

"It is still a month before the school year begins, Lestat."

"I know, but I have no other way of getting her to Hogwarts. Severus, please..."

"I begin my teaching position at the beginning of the term. I am to be Potionsmaster."

"I know. Is there any way I can convince you, Severus? You remain my closest friend."

Snape sighed deeply. His head was perched in his hands. "Is she here?" he asked.

"Yes. Shall I call for her?"

"Please."

Lestat turned toward the large stairway the curved slowly up toward the second floor. "Katharina? Darling, please come here. There is a man I'd like you to meet."

The first glimpse Snape received was of a pale hand on the ebony banister. He closed his eyes to ward off the beginning of a headache, and tried to think of a polite way to decline his closest friend's request. The last thing he needed was a child to take care of. After a long moment, he opened his eyes again.

[Katharina Lioncourt]

The child was standing at the base of the stairwell, her pale hands clasped in front of her. Her feet were bare beneath the hem of the dress she wore; a white sheath that ended just above her ankles and tied at the waist with a sash. Her hair, a wave of brown and red, hung halfway down her back, and her eyes were the color of blueberries in summer. Her body was at the stage just before womanhood... legs were beginning to lengthen and curves were beginning to take shape. Severus Snape, for the better part of thirty seconds, could not breathe.

"Dearest, this man is Severus Snape, a close friend of mine. Severus, this young lady is my daughter, Katharina."

"How do you do, Sir," the girl said in a voice that would assuredly become a clear soprano.

"Hello," Snape finally managed. Lestat moved to his daughter and put an arm around her.

"I would, of course, send ample funds with her," Lestat said. "If you could see her through Diagon Alley and make sure she received proper supplies?"

Snape was still staring at Katharina, who clung to her father's side.

“You truly mean to send me away, Father?"

Snape nearly choked at the maturity of Katharina's speech, but Lestat did not look at all surprised. "It is for your own good, my darling. If Severus agrees to take you in, you will receive a better education than I could ever hope to give you."

Katharina turned her blue eyes to Severus. "You'll take care of me, then?"

Severus nodded, almost without knowing he did so. "For as long as you need me. Forever, if you wish."

Katharina smiled, and he again forgot to breathe. "Shall I pack, Father?"

"Yes, Katharina. You may go ahead and get started."

She curtsied to the men and whirled, taking the stairs at a run. Severus Snape did not take his eyes off her until she could no longer be seen.

"Severus," Lestat said, "You cannot imagine what this means to me. I can't begin to thank you..."

Snape nodded. His head was still reeling. "Of course..."

"If you'd like to get some rest, feel free to go up to one of the guest rooms. I'll wake you when she's ready."

Again, mechanically, Severus moved his head up and down.

[Katharina Lioncourt]

Part Two: New Orleans

Severus' heart went out to the girl as she neared the bottom of the stairs. All her worldly possessions fit into a black backpack that sat at her feet. She had changed into a pair of blue jeans and a black tee-shirt that was entirely too big for her. Her red-brown hair was pulled back into a thick ponytail. The blue eyes seemed almost frightened.

"Are you ready, Katharina?" Lestat asked from his seat in the large armchair. He looked almost regal, his back straight against the burgundy of the chair. She nodded quickly, her eyes downcast. Severus wondered if there were tears in them.

Lestat looked out the window at the rain. It had started to pour around midnight, when he had left to hunt. His daughter had stood at the large picture window in her room, watching him as he disappeared into the night. A part of him was hurting him terribly at having to let her go. He cursed the human woman, that Katharina was not given power like his. She would grow old, and die someday, and he would lose her.

He shook off the thought. "Come, then, Child, and kiss your father goodbye. It is near morning, and I must go downstairs."

Katharina obediently moved to the armchair. She wrapped her arms around her father and buried her face in his neck. "I will miss you, Papa."

Severus was struck by the open affection in Lestat's face as he stroked his daughter's hair. Lestat, who had never felt a responsibility toward anyone or anything, loving this tiny girl with the beautiful eyes.

"I'll miss you, Katharina. But Severus will take care of you, and I'll visit as soon as I can."

"Will she be coming home for the summer?" Severus felt almost guilty at interrupting the father and daughter. Lestat glanced up at his friend.

"I haven't decided. It all depends, on so many different things. I do know this: she cannot possibly come back to New Orleans during the winter holidays."

Severus nodded. "I thought as much. Very well, then, Lestat. Get underground, before the sun rises."

Lestat rose from the chair and patted Katharina on the head. "Goodbye, Darling." He walked from the room, disappearing through a back doorway. Katharina stared after him.

"Goodbye, Papa," she said softly.

There was a moment of silence in the house, where all Severus Snape could hear was the pattering of the rain outside. He turned to the girl, who was still staring at the door her father had gone through.

"Shall we leave, Katharina?" he asked quietly. There was something about her that reminded him of a roe deer; she was tense and seemed easily frightened.

"I suppose, if you wish," she said. Her voice, he thought again, would someday be made for the opera. Perhaps her father's musical talent? He had not known her mother.

He pulled an umbrella from under his coat and extended it to her. "You don't want to catch a cold."

She smiled and waved it away. "I love the rain," she said. "It's like liquid night. It cools my face in a city like this. I don't mind a runny nose."

Severus Snape eyed the girl who walked ahead of him into the storm. "I can see, my child," he said softly, almost to himself, "that you will always be a bit of a dark angel."

[Katharina Lioncourt]

Apparently Katharina had inherited her father's hearing. She turned at the comment. "Papa called me that, once. I rather like it," she said.

"It fits you," Severus returned, and unlocked the passenger door of the black Jaguar that sat in front of the house. Katharina tossed her backpack in and plopped into the seat. "Nice car," she said as she leaded over to unlock his door.

Severus gave a almost unnoticeable smile. "I like it, too," he said as he turned the key in the ignition and the car purred to life.

"Where are you taking me?" she asked. "To the airport already?"

Snape nodded. "I need to purchase a ticket for you and our flight leaves in a few hours. We'd best get there as soon as possible."

"Is it a long drive?"

"Long enough."

She reached into the backpack at her feet and pulled out a dark green silk scarf. Carefully, she folded it into a thick roll and placed it beneath her head. "I'm going to doze, then."

"Where did you get that?" Snape asked her as he flicked on the turn signal and turned onto the highway.

"It's Papa's. Said I might want to have it where I'm going, and that the color suits me."

"It does," Severus agreed. Somehow, the green made her enormous eyes even bigger.

"Thanks."

[Sondra Roswin]

i love the story Kath keep writting more.
maybe...when i get the courage i might write about my past.
but that will never happen.

[Rowena_R.]

Ooh....enchanting...........

[Nimuee Macor]

Aaaaaah.......Snape.*sigh*

[Katharina Lioncourt]

Part Three: Somewhere above the North Atlantic

Severus Snape stared at the child sleeping next to him. He didn't understand how she could possibly need this much rest. She'd barely been awake since they'd left the house on First Street. Now, as the plane neared the airport in London, he flipped open his cell phone and dialed a familiar number.

The phone was picked up on the second ring. "Minerva McGonagall speaking," said a no-nonsense female voice on the other end of the conversation.

"Minerva, it's Severus. How are you?"

"Fine, fine... did you enjoy your time in New Orleans?"

"Well," Severus glanced again at Katharina. She shifted positions in her sleep and curled closer to him. He felt his face heat. "That's what I'm calling about..." he said. "Lestat sprung a little surprise on me."

"That isn't unlike him. What is it this time?"

"He introduced me... to his daughter."

Silence from the other end of the conversation. Severus looked at his watch. "Minerva? Still there?"

"Yes. I don't believe I heard you correctly. His... daughter?"

"Her name is Katharina. She'll be turning eleven in a month or so."

"Katharina." Minerva McGonagall felt a headache begin in her left temple. She gave a small, involuntary moan. "Any other surprises for us?"

"Well..." Severus tucked a stray lock of Katharina's hair behind her ear as she slept. "I've sort of agreed to take the girl in."

"What?!"

"Apparently she is possessed of magical powers. Lestat wishes for her to get an education at Hogwarts."

"That's all well and good, but what are we going to do with her for the rest of the summer?"

"I was hoping," Severus said, "that we could pull out the Sorting Hat and get her settled in her house. She seems to be a rather quiet child, but very smart. Perhaps she's a Ravenclaw."

Minerva drew in a long breath and pushed air slowly out between her lips. "All right, Severus. I'll talk to Albus and see what he says. Do you have a way to get here from the airport?"

"My Jag."

"You took it to the States with you."

"The convertible."

“Oh, yes. Well, I'll be waiting for you and the girl in my office." A resounding click told Snape that the conversation had ended. He closed his phone, placed it in his front pocket, and closed his eyes.

"You have two Jaguars?"

Severus opened one eye. "How long have you been awake?"

"Long enough. You have TWO Jaguars?"

"Yes."

"I'm impressed. Are we soon there?"

"Very soon. You've been asleep for quite a while." Severus smiled at her, something he was quite unaccustomed to. For the briefest of moments, he wondered when the last time was he had smiled and meant it.

She grinned back. "That's what YOU think," she said, and curled against him again.

[Rowena_R.]

Don't stop now!

[Angelina_Johnson]

Yeah don't stop it's very enchanting............I love it.

[Katharina Lioncourt]

Part Four: Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry
Gryffindor Common Room

"You certainly packed lightly," Severus commented as he led the girl down the long hallways of the school toward Minerva's room.

Katharina shrugged. "I didn't have much to pack."

Severus stopped in front of a large portrait of a fat woman wearing a pink dress.

"Password?" the woman said, and Katharina yelped.

"What in the name of Akasha was that?"

"Mandrake," Severus said to the painting, and it swung open. To Katharina: "I'm sure Minerva will explain everything. Come with me." He stepped through the hole in the wall and entered a large sitting room.

"Severus," said a woman's voice from a large armchair that sat near a fireplace. A fire blazed within, sending orange and red flickers of light to dance on the woman's face.

Katharina stepped forward to get a better look at the woman. She had a thin face, aged a little over forty-five, and her long fingers were wrapped around a mug of hot chocolate. She was dressed in a huge red bathrobe and her feet were tucked up underneath her. On the chair facing her sat an extremely old, black hat.

"Good evening, Minerva," Snape replied to her terse greeting. He extended a hand to Katharina. "This is--"

"Katharina Lioncourt. A pleasure to meet you." She took McGonagall's hand and shook it.

Minerva McGonagall was impressed. "Likewise, Child. Severus told me you wish to attend school here?"

"Yes, ma'am."

"And that you'll be spending the remainder of the summer with us?"

"That's correct."

"Well..." McGonagall stood and gestured for Katharina to sit in the chair that was now empty. "In that case, we should get you sorted."

Katharina nodded. "Go ahead," she said, and Minerva McGonagall plopped the hat on the child's head.

The hat grunted. "Isn't it rather early for this?" it said.

"Yes, but this is a special circumstance. If you please..." Minerva prodded the hat with a finger and it groaned.

"Oh... all right, then... let's see... Well, my dear, you have quite a sharp mind. And a desire to work hard for what you want. And ambition as well. But... what are you so frightened of? I couldn't possibly put you in Gryffindor... you don't seem like a good fit. And not Hufflepuff... your ambition and your brains outrule your drive. Hmm..." the voice echoed in Katharina's head. " Did you know, my dear, that I can see a bit of the future?"

"No, I didn't," she replied, and instantly felt ridiculous as Snape and McGonagall eyed her. The hat continued.

"Well, I can. And although you're the perfect fit for Ravenclaw, you'd also fit Slytherin very well. And I know someone who I think would be enchanted with the prospect of working closely with you. So... better be... SLYTHERIN."

McGonagall looked surprised as she pulled the hat off Katharina's head. "Odd," she said. "I would've guessed Ravenclaw."

Snape was smiling in spite of himself, although he desperately tried to ignore the warmth that spread through him. "In that case," he said to Katharina, "We should get you settled in and let Professor McGonagall get some rest."

"All right." Katharina hoisted her backpack onto her shoulder again and started to walk out of the sitting room.

"Severus?"

He turned. Minerva had called him back. "What is it?"

She had a very tiny smile on her face. "Good luck with this one," she said, then went back to staring into the fire and sipping her cocoa.

[Nimuee Macor]

Looking forward to what happens next!

[superstitious13]

AHHH!! Kath...thats awesome....

[Me]

[glow=purple,2,300]Fabulous. When are you posting the next part?[/glow]

[Katharina Lioncourt]

Severus lit the large tallow candle next to her bed as Katharina left the room in search of a bathroom in which to change. She'd had no serviceable nightgown, so he had been obliged to give her one of his robes. Snuffing the match in his hand with a glance, he moved to the window and gazed out at the grounds.

He hoped she noticed the view her room had... most Slytherin rooms had no windows, and he was particularly proud of his choice for her. He wanted, more than anything, for her to feel at home here, and not just because she was Lestat's daughter.

The lake below was quiet, the water like a mirror. The moon was waxing, but not yet full. A summer breeze ruffled the tops of the trees, but left the lake untouched.

"Okay."

Snape turned around. Katharina was all but swallowed in his robe. The sleeves hung over her hands and the hem trailed on the floor. The neckline hung fetchingly over her right shoulder. She shrugged. "I think this is as close to fitting as it's going to get."

He nodded and tipped his head toward the full sized bed against the wall. Dark green velvet curtains hung behind it, spreading, web-like, around the bed frame. "Good. Now go to bed so that I can."

She grinned. "Okay. What happens tomorrow?" And then, with what Severus almost thought was flirtation.... but... from a ten-year-old? "Will you tuck me in?"

"Aren't you a little old for that?"

"Papa always did."

He shrugged. She had no idea how attractive she was. He dreaded the day she turned sixteen. "Sure, I guess. Get in bed."

She did so and he pulled the comforter up to her chin. "Sleep well tonight, Child."

She leaned forward and kissed his cheek. "I will. Thank you."

He couldn't breathe. His lungs simply wouldn't move. He exited the room, closed the door behind him, and wondered seriously if he could handle being around this girl.