Katie went to visit Nesitah. Her Merfolk friend. 'It's been a while', Nesitah said. 'Sorry, I've been busy', Katie replied. 'I know, Dumbledore told me. I was getting worried', Nesitah said. 'It's okay, but if things couldn't get any worse, watch this. Severus and I split up', Katie said.
'Why?', Nesitah asked. 'Because he was to busy to stare at another woman, who happen to be my best friend', Katie said. 'What? I'm so sorry. But you rather find out now then later, trust me', Nesitah said.
'How is life under water?', Katie asked. 'Not much to do really, we keep our ears open for any danger from the human world, the latest we heard was about Mr. Holt', Nesitah said.
They swam a bit above water since they were far away from land. You could still see Hogwarts though. 'That castle has been my home for seven years, it's horrible that after this year I have to say goodbye to it', Katie said.
'Well not permanently right, your father is still working there as he is the headmaster of the school. I'm sure he will have a job for you his only daughter', Nesitah said. 'Yes, but I'll need to make a choice first, will I remain on land, or live out the rest of my days in the water', Katie said.
'You don't have to live out your entire life in the water right?', Nesitah asked. 'Well, I don't know for the rest of my life, but I would be away for years, what if I don't want to come on shore anymore', Katie said.
'You have people on land, people who care about you, you have a reason to come back', Nesitah said. 'You have a point', Katie said.
Katie swam back to shore. She was just on shore when a voice filled her with fear. 'So there you are Katie, my Katie Holt'.
Katie turned around. There was the man she feared. It was her biological father. She grabbed her wand, but didn't used it yet.
'What are you doing here', Katie spat angry. 'Just watching you, didn't you think I didn't had a watchful eye out, even though I couldn't be the one doing the looking', Mr. Holt said.
'Yes, but I would have hoped the protective spells my real dad made around made it impossible for you to find me, I guess the spells are broken now', Katie said.
'I want you gone again, out of my life, you didn't had any problems with that when I was born, so why come now', Katie said.
'I have failed you as a father, I'm glad professor Dumbledore was so kind to take you in and raise you as his own, but soon you graduate. Where will you go. In the water or stay on land. I have informed the dark Lord about your abilities and about you being a mermaid. He is already trying to win the Merfolk and mermaids over as we speak', Mr. Holt said.
'Do you really think that mom and her mermaid crew will made a pact with Voldemort, you must be out of your mind. Do you think that mermaids will pick a side, they have always been on the outside of the war, this time will be no difference', Katie said.
'Yes it will, this time you are the key to unlocking this war, the dark Lord wants you to join his crew. I want you to be on his crew, join me', Mr. Holt said.
'Never will I ever volunteer to be on the dark Lord his side or yours for that matter', Katie said. 'So be it, you made your choice today, you might not regret it tomorrow, but you will regret it the rest of your life', Mr. Holt said.
'I will never choose Voldemort his side', Katie hissed angry still holding tight to her wand. 'You should have been in Slytherin', Mr. Holt said suddenly. Katie got confused by the sudden change of subject.
'All the dark wizards were in Slytherin, this once again proves that I'm different', Katie said. 'Yet your boyfriend was a Slytherin, so you are attracted to the dark side. You might not want to admit it, but you are, everyone is attracted to the dark side', Mr. Holt said.
'Go away, I don't want to see you or know you', Katie said. 'You thought you had a choice in this matter, that is cute. This was only my first attempt to get you to the dark Lord. Now I am forced to use magic against you', Mr. Holt said.
He tried to do a spell but Katie was faster. She had already sent out her Patronus to the castle to get help and blocked his spell as fast as it came.
Spells were fired at one another. Katie blocked spells and fired them as well. She was furious. How could this man possible think that she would go willingly towards Voldemort!
After a few minutes of dueling, Dumbledore came rushing towards her with professor McGonagall. Dumbledore fired a spell that Mr. Holt blocked. He grinned.
'This isn't the end of us, it's the beginning Katie', he whispered and he transformed into a raven and disappeared with a blue flash.
Katie now noticed how tired she was from the dueling and fell down on her knees for a second to catch a breath. 'I'm so... pfff. Sorry I couldn't stop him, send him back to Azkaban', she said. 'Hey, you did really well you know that, dueling is much more difficult then people think', Dumbledore said with proudness in his voice.
McGonagall helped her get back on her feet and supported her. 'I think you need to go to the Hospital wing, let madame Pomfrey check you, rest a bit. Only if you did that, you may go the Gryffindor common room', McGonagall said. Katie nodded.
'Please let professor Flitwick know that I'm sorry to have missed his class', Katie said. 'Don't you worry about that now', Dumbledore said. He hugged Katie.
'If it is more safe for me to explore my options in the ocean, I'll go. I don't want to risk more lives because of me. I already put Hogwarts at risk once. I won't let that happen again', Katie said.
'Don't let that be the reason to go under water, it has to be your choice, your choice alone', Dumbledore said.
'It is not your fault that Mr. Holt entered Hogwarts with force', McGonagall assured Katie. Katie ran into Severus who looked worried.
'What happened?', Severus said. 'It is not your concern anymore Severus', Katie said. She was on the verge of bursting out in tears. Severus was the last person she wanted to ran into right now.
'The fact that we broke up doesn't mean I don't care anymore, I still do', Severus said. 'Mr. Snape, why don't you take miss Dumbledore to the Hospital wing. The headmaster and I need to discuss something', McGonagall said.
Katie grunted but didn't protest. Severus did as told. He put an arm around Katie. 'Now tell me, what happened?', he asked.
'My father happened', Katie said. 'Huh', Severus said. 'I was out for... uh a run and he was there, at the edge of the forbidden forest, trying to convince me to come to the dark side', Katie said. 'Oh Katie, I'm so sorry', Severus said. 'We dueled, but lucky I send out my Patronus for help. When Dumbledore and McGonagall came he transformed into a big ass raven and disappeared', Katie said.
'I'm so sorry that this happened to you', Severus said. They had arrived at the Hospital wing where madame Pomfrey came rushing towards her.
Katie explained once more what happened to her and she was put into one of the Hospital wings beds. Severus stayed with her. 'Can you tell the others what happened', Katie asked. Severus sighted. 'I will, but first you rest', Severus said.
Severus was about to leave but Katie stopped him by grabbing his hand. 'Thank you for today, I don't know what I did to deserve your kindness for today', Katie said. 'Your welcome, also I've been thinking a lot about our break up conversation these days, I just wanted to let you know that you are right', Severus said.
'I have thought about it as well, a lot actually. You were right too Severus. I should have payed more attention, I just never thought that keeping up with the many relationships I have would be so difficult', Katie said.
'I miss you', Katie said. 'I miss you too', Severus whispered back. There faces were inches away from each other. Severus could count every freckle on Katie's face. They were however interrupted before there was any action to be taken.
Dumbledore and McGonagall came in. 'How is the patient', Dumbledore asked with a smile. 'Well taken care off', Katie said smiling.
Dumbledore had a twinkle in his eyes and looked at the pair. 'You may go to the Slytherin common room Mr. Snape, we take it from here', McGonagall said.
'You tell the others right', Katie said. 'I'll tell them', Severus said putting her mind at ease.
When Severus left Dumbledore smiled at Katie. 'Looks like he still cares about you', Dumbledore said. 'Did you two did that on purpose, leaving me alone with Severus', Katie said eyeing Dumbledore and McGonagall. 'What makes you think that', Dumbledore said with an even bigger twinkle in his eyes.