L O Y A L; [d.m.]

| P A R T N E R S |

~Kat Turnwell~

A week before term started, I walked into Dumbledore's office humming softly to the tune of an old lullaby mom used to sing to me. I picked up a small lemon candy before petting Fawkes as Dumbledore slid further into his chair as he read over papers.

"Kat, dear," Dumbledore said, breaking the small silence between us. I sat down in the old leather chair that housed me through many holidays. I huff out air to blow the bangs out of my face. "I want you to do something for me."

"Anything Granddad," I picked up the hardcover book that sat on the arm of the chair opening it up to where I had last left it.

"I want you to befriend the Malfoy boy." I stopped scanning the page and  stared at my grandfather as if he himself had put a curse on her. My heart hammered in my chest as I blinked away the words she had just heard. "Get close to him. Be there for him in this... trying time."

"What? Why?"

"I'm not going to sit here and pretend you don't know why. He needs to be saved, Kat. Tom gave him no choice." Granddad's words cut through me. He knew that I had overheard him and Severus weeks ago. Though only muffles, I knew what happened to Draco was serious.

My throat felt suddenly dry, but even the swallowing of spit that had built up couldn't ease the feeling of nausea. "I thought...."

"It doesn't matter what you thought, Katrina. What's done is done. I know you can do this," Dumbledore looks at his lineage longingly as tears formed in my eyes.

"I can't lose you, Granddad. You're all I have left." The words stung Dumbledore as he swallowed his pride down. It was true what I said. My father was nothing to me anymore.

"My sweet Kat, the world offers you more than I can. I see how Draco looks at you. This should be easy. And if you succeed, you'll will always have me."

"No I won't!" I stood up shouting, causing Fawkes to squawk. "Snape's promised he'd do it!"

"Now, Kat," Dumbledore holds up his blacked hand.

"I can't..."

"I won't do it! I won't let them kill you!" Tears brim over my eyes staining my red cheeks.

"Katrina Alba Turnwell, it has to be done. I'm only trying to save Draco." Dumbledore's voice boomed over the office, the moving paintings standing still for a moment as they listened.

"You can't...." My  tears suffocated the words I  tried desperately to say. "I-" I buried my head into my hands, already mourning someone who is still alive. I felt the warmth of Dumbledore's comforting hug.
"No need for goodbyes now. Let's save the Malfoy boy before it's too late. Slughorn's agreed to take you on for Advanced Potions. See to it that you're his partner."

"Most people team with their houses. I don't think I can," I wipe my eyes, feeling the empty pit of grief already consuming me.

"I'll make sure to mention the idea to Slughorn. He'll more than likely claim it as his own, but get close to Draco as much as you can. He's going to need a friend from what Severus says."

I left Dumbledore's office, with my book still in hand, scared and unsure of how this year would turn out.

****

~Draco Malfoy~

Slughorn was standing in front of the class. His voice was annoying- high pitched and sharp. He looked like he didn't know what he was doing. I miss Potions being in the dungeons, but after Snape became the Dark Arts teacher, Slughorn insisted on moving classrooms.