Where Your Loyalties Lie

Chapter Seventy-One: A Rough Start to the Year

The last month of summer passed and it was time to head back to Hogwarts for our seventh and final year. This year Dad would be taking over as Headmaster and the Carrow siblings were going to be teaching. Draco and I would be Head Boy and Head Girl respectively as well. Alecto was assigned to muggle studies while Amycus would be the new DADA teacher. Their version of their respected classes would be different than the way those before them had taught, however, considering the death eaters were anti-muggles and pro-dark arts.

Draco and I arrived to the platform plenty early and were able to find a compartment on the train all to ourselves. We decided it'd be best that way since many of the other students would either hate us or fear us.

After the train had been going for several hours, it suddenly stopped. I sat up and looked out the window. We were in the middle of the countryside, no signs of civilization whatsoever. So why were we stopping? I got up and stuck my head out of the door just in time to see two death eaters marching by as they searched the train. They gave Draco and I a stiff head nod before continuing on their way.

"What are they doing here?" Draco breathed.

"Stay here," I ordered him, moving to follow them.

"What? Katie, what are you doing?" Draco asked, ignoring my request and following me anyways.

I silently followed the two death eaters all the way to the end of the train where many of the Gryffindors were sitting together.

"My father will hear about this," I heard Cormac McLaggen complain. I tossed a weird look to Draco. That sounded like something he would say.

I watched as Neville stood up. "Hey losers, he isn't here."

"What do you two think you are doing?" I demanded the pair, deciding to step in. "What makes you think you can just stop the train and disrupt the students?"

"We're supposed to be searching for Potter," one of them explained to me.

"You don't honestly believe that he'd be foolish enough to try to go back to Hogwarts this year? And even if he was, Draco and I would have handled it ourselves."

"Now listen here, you-"

"ah uh, do I need to remind you who my father is? I'm sure he would back me up in everything that I am telling you right now, so if I were you, I'd leave before this gets out of hand."

The pair looked at each other before shoving past us and heading towards the train's exit, grumbling to themselves.

Once they left, I turned around again to face the Gryffindors. Neville and I made eye contact and I gave him a curt nod before taking Draco's hand and guiding him back to our own compartment.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

This school year was by far different from the rest. Maddie refused to talk to Draco and I, so Blaise agreed to permanently switch rooms with me so that Draco and I could share.

At least once a week, I would visit with Dad, either getting updates on things or just to spend some time with him.

One day I headed towards Dad's new office, Dumbledore's old one, to visit with him. The hallway I was walking along was empty until someone up ahead turned the corner and came walking towards me. As I got closer to the person, I found that it was Ginny. I flashed her a shy smile, but only received a dirty glare in return.

"What are you looking at, traitor?" she spat.

"I'm sorry, I was just trying to be friendly," I explained, stopping to talk to her.

"You can't just pretend like nothing's happened. You betrayed us all. You joined his side to fight against us. Why would you want to be friendly?"

"You don't know me, alright? You don't understand why I've done the things I've done! Don't act like you do. I'm sorry for trying. I'll just leave you alone now."