Where Your Loyalties Lie

Chapter Forty-Five: He's Got Padfoot

"Are you ready to go?" Draco asked, getting up from the Slytherin table in the Great Hall at dinner. I nodded and got up as well. He grabbed my hand and we headed to the Potions classroom for our detention. We arrived before Dad so the two of us sat down on a table in the front of the room. "I don't think Professor Snape would want us sitting on the tables," Draco warned.

"Relax, Draco. He won't get mad at his daughter and his favorite student for sitting on the tables," I explained. Draco sighed and sat down next to me.

"So how long do you think it will be before he gets here?"

I looked over my shoulder to the door and then back to Draco. "I'd say a few more minutes, wh-" He cut me off by closing the space between us and kissing me gently. The kiss was soft and gentle, nothing more. It was a good thing it didn't go into snogging because the doors to the classroom opened and in walked Dad. We separated quickly.

"Detention is not the place for kissing, you two," He scolded.

"Dad, not to be disrespectful, but technically detention hadn't started yet." He gave me a glare that said 'silence before I give you more detentions' before walking over to his desk and grabbing a quill, ink, and a stack of parchment that he set down at my table I sit at in class.

"Today for detention, Katie, you will be grading papers. Draco, you will be taking inventory of my ingredients." We got up and got to work right away, wanting to keep from making him angry again.

Over the next month, I continued to serve detention with Dad every night after dinner. Some nights he had me grade papers like the first night. Others he had me label potions or clean up the classroom. He usually let me leave after an hour or two so it wasn't as bad as it could have been with Umbridge.

Fred and George dropped out of Hogwarts, leaving in a flourish of vandalism, chaos, and hexing students in the Inquisitorial Squad. They also left a portable swamp in the corridors. Professor Flitwick preserved a part of it because he thought it was a 'really good bit of magic'. Fred's last words before leaving with George on their brooms, which they summoned from Umbridge's office, were "Give her hell from us, Peeves." The poltergeist saluted and took off to start causing mayhem. The teachers have not given Umbridge any help to control Peeves or the students who have been rebelling against her ever since the twins left.

Maddie told me later that Fred said goodbye to her before him and George's 'Grand Finale' at Hogwarts. Later that night, Maddie received a brief letter from Fred.

Dear Maddie,

I miss you already. Good luck on your OWL exams and I'll let you know when we can see each other again.

Love, Fred

OWL exams went very well in my opinion. Except that in our last exam, History of Magic, Harry screamed and fell out of his chair. Professor Tofty hurriedly took him out of the room to keep from disturbing everyone else. I think I probably got a Troll on that exam. I didn't know most of the answers. After we were dismissed from the Great Hall, I headed down to Dad's office to talk to him. He wanted to know how my exams went.

"Hey Daddyo," I greeted as I came in, sitting down with my legs swung over one of the arms of the chair. He shook his head in disapproval.

"How did your OWLs go?"

"Over all great. I'm confident with all of them but History of Magic."

"That shouldn't matter much for your career. None of them really do since you insist on being a musician."

"Would you rather I take your job?" I laughed.

"Yes, but unfortunately I won't be ready to retire yet when you finish your schooling."

"I guess I'm sticking to musician then," I smiled.

The doors opened and we both looked up to find Draco standing there. He smiled at me before speaking to Dad. "Sorry to interrupt Sir, but Professor Umbridge wants you in her office right now."

"Very well. Katie, you may go back to the common room." He got up and followed Draco towards Umbridge's office. I left his office and waited a minute before following the two, curious what was going to happen.

Standing around the corner from Umbridge's office, I heard Harry yell desperately, "He's got Padfoot! He's got Padfoot at the place where it's hidden." The color drained from my face. Although the message was vague, I knew what he meant. Voldemort had Sirius at the place where the weapon was hidden. Dad denied knowing what Harry was talking about before hurrying back towards me.

"You have to alert the Order," I told him. He jumped, not knowing I was around the corner.

"That's what I'm going to do right now," Dad assured me. "Why did you follow us?"

"I was only curious."

"I believe what Potter saw was only a vision the Dark Lord placed in his mind. However the Order needs to go to the Department of Ministries. Something must be going on there."

"So the weapon he wants is in the Department of Ministries?"

"Yes, and you must keep that information to yourself."

"Don't worry, I will." Dad sped up and I just continued walking to the common room. No one was in there. Everyone was outside, enjoying their freedom from classes and exams. Pacing back and forth by the couch, I waited for Draco to get there. Ten minutes later, he came in looking paler than usual. I attacked him right away with questions. "What happened in Umbridge's office? What did she do with everyone? Why do you look so pale?"

"Potter and Granger led her into the Forbidden Forest to show her Dumbledore's secret weapon. The others got away by giving us some candy that makes you throw up," he explained. Puking pastilles. "How did you know?"

"I was curious so I followed you and Dad and I eavesdropped on the conversation," I told him nonchalantly. We sat down on the couch and I laid down, using his lap as a pillow. He lightly stroked my hair, but I still couldn't shake off the fact that something was going to happen tonight at the Ministry.

"Why so tense, love?" He asked.

"I'm just worried about what's going to happen is all. And no, I can't tell you."

"Does it have something to do with whatever Padfoot is?"

"Yes." I got up and began pacing again.

Draco sighed and got up, standing in front of me and pulling me into a hug. "Look, I don't know what this is all about but pacing and worrying so much won't help any. Let's go find Blaise and Maddie. Get your mind off of this."

I nodded before pulling away and following him out of the common room to search for the other half of our crew.