Where Your Loyalties Lie

Chapter Nine: Anger

Katie's POV

The next day was the first day of classes. I reluctantly got up, dressed in my robes, and headed downstairs to the common room where Draco was waiting for me. About halfway to the Great Hall, he stopped and asked, "Are you sure you're okay?"

"Yeah, fine." The truth was I was still PO'ed at my father. He was gonna pay. I was now determined to make his life living hell for keeping this from me. We arrived in the Great Hall and had just sat down when mail arrived. I spotted Claire and watched her swoop down, dropping an envelope in front of me. It was from my mother. I opened it to read:

Dearest Daughter,

I received word from your father that you now know the truth, and that you didn't take it well. Please forgive us. We wanted to tell you sooner, but thought you weren't ready, and decided twelve would be the right age for you to know. I know you are probably furious right now. I hope you can have a healthy relationship with your father and will forgive him.

Love always,

Mother

I crumpled up the letter and used a levitation spell to lift it into the air before setting it on fire and burning it to dust. "Who was the letter from?" Draco asked, surprised that I had just burned the paper.

"My mother," I responded flatly.

"What did she say?" I just shook my head and continued to eat my scrambled eggs.

I was rather enjoying breakfast, but I had a feeling someone was watching me. I looked over to the Gryffindor table, and sure enough, Ron was staring at me with desire in his eyes. He noticed me watching him and quickly looked away. Amused, I began to eat my bacon, but still felt like I was being watched. Looking around I found my father staring at me. We locked eyes and I glared at him until he dropped his gaze.

I then went back to staring at my plate, except it disappeared from view as I began to have a flashback.

I was either two or three years old and in my room playing. The CD player was too high up for me to reach, so I went to find Mom to ask for help turning it on. As I got closer to the staircase, I could faintly make out Mom talking to someone and saying, "Stop acting childish, Severus. Think of what is best for your daughter."

"Mommy!" I cried out as I ran around the corner. "Can you help me turn on the music?"

Mom sighed, "I'll come help you in a minute, sweetie. Please go wait in your room."

Three-year-old me stared at the stranger in the doorway. He had long, black hair and a hooked nose. It was my real father, but I didn't know that at the time. "Hi," he greeted me, giving a little wave.

I gasped in fear of this stranger talking to me, even though Mom knew who he was, and ran back to my room.

My eyes blurred over and I was back in the Great Hall. Draco was shaking me. "Katie! Are you alright? Your eyes went blank and you weren't moving!"

I shook my head to snap out of what I saw. "I'm fine."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes! God, Draco! Just drop it!"

He looked down at his hands. "I'm sorry," he spoke quietly.

I sighed. "No, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have snapped."

He looked up and gave me a small smile. "Let's go. We're gonna be late for Charms." He handed me my schedule, which a prefect must have dropped off when I wasn't paying attention, and we stood up to go. I took one last look at Father in disgust and followed Draco out of the Great Hall.