It's not easy to explain, but . . .

Chapter 49

He was beginning to become a bit frustrated with not being able to move his arms, but comforted himself with the fact that his condition was only temporary. Severus let out a sigh and devoted himself to the gingerbread pudding being fed to him.

"There, all bowls and plates clean," Healer Treiber nodded, pleased, as she wiped Severus' chin one last time. "All tidied up and full, I hope?"

"Indeed, I'm stuffed to the gills," replied Severus. "So, you've talked to Albus, have you?"

Katie shook her head. "I knew that would be the first question out of your mouth once your dinner was finished."  She moved her chair back a little and put her hands, folded, on her lap. "I'm one of the newest members of The Order, and have been sneaking extra medical supplies out to various groups of Wizarding folk who are on the run from the Snatchers."

"Why would you do something as risky as that?" Severus inquired, frowning.

The Healer dropped her head for a moment, and when she looked up, there were tears in her eyes, which she quickly wiped away, before she spoke.

"My husband . . .my late husband, was killed by the Snatchers two months ago.  He fought them, rather than surrender, holding them off while the rest of his group of fugitive 'Half-bloods' got away.  I was to meet them and give them a few supplies, but when I arrived, it was too late; they were destroying what was left of the campsite, my husband was lying there, dead, and I barely managed to get away myself.  Artemus Pye covered for me at St. Mungo's when they came looking for me; said I had been attending an old, dying Wizard the entire night and never left his side. They gleefully told me of my husband's 'pitiful attempt at resistance' and then left . . . bastards. . . sorry."

"Understandable  . . . and true . . . my condolences, also."  Severus said quietly.

"Thank you," she whispered.  "It's still hard to believe he's not just out there, hiding from them, and that he'll send word, any day, that he's alright.  They didn't even tell me where they'd buried him, if they even bothered.  That's why I'm in the Order, Severus, to bring Voldemort down and all of those who follow him or work on his orders."

"Ah, Hufflepuff determination . . . that's a good sign," Severus nodded, as Katie looked at him, surprised, then gave him a slight smile.

X X X

"It's a lucky thing the Ministry sent those fool Carrows back to Hogwarts to finish the term," Bella muttered to Rudolphus.  "They'd be dead and gone by now, if we'd . . .if the Dark Lord had gotten hold of them first."

"Well, when the school holiday starts, it'll be their end, unless they can explain themselves to him.  Something about the official story doesn't sound right, if you ask me," Rudolphus answered. "Either way, it's not going to be good to be them!"

Bella cackled, but then her eyes got hard and black.  "But it will be nothing compared to what I'll do to my worthless sister and that sniveling Lucius when I find them!"

"Be my guest, my dear, I'll just watch and applaud," laughed her husband.

Bell smiled and curtsied and then they started walking down the stairs to the kitchen of Malfoy Manor to get some dinner. 

"I think I'll have a lot of fun re-decorating this old heap,"  Bella mused, as she looked around.  "It needs a LOT of work, tsk,tsk! HE!HE!HE!HE!"

X X X

"I've written Father and told him that I'm staying here for Christmas," Luna informed the group. "That way, I don't get taken off the train by the Death Eaters and Father won't have to worry about me."