Where Your Loyalties Lie

Chapter Seventy-Three: Party The Slytherin Way

November made its entrance and with it the weather continued to grow colder.

As I awoke one saturday morning, I felt a shiver run through my body and I shifted to move closer to Draco in an attempt to get warm. Draco stirred beneath me, a soft groan escaping from his lips. I smiled and reached up to kiss him softly. His eyes fluttered open and met my gaze.

"Good morning, Love," he greeted, his voice raspy.

"Good morning," I repeated back, kissing him again. I moved so that I was still on top of him but laying on my stomach so I could face him more while continuing to kiss him.

He moaned underneath me and I broke the kiss to look down at him. "Mmm, I wish we could just stay here all day," I told him as I moved back to my original position.

"You know, the house is having a party tonight in the common room. I was thinking maybe we should go," Draco suggested as he wrapped his arm around me again.

I pondered for a moment before agreeing, "Alright."

"Really?"

"Yeah, I mean it sounds like a good way to relieve some stress so why not?"

"Well, brilliant!" I stretched and sat up. "What are you doing? I thought you just said you wanted to stay here all day?" Draco questioned.

"Yeah, but I'm hungry!" He chuckled. "I'm serious! Come on, let's get dressed and go up to breakfast."

The two of us hurried to get ready so that we could go eat. When we arrived in the Great Hall, we sat across from each other and began eating right away. Shortly after we got there, I noticed Maddie come into the room. We made brief eye contact in which she gave a curt nod before sitting farther down the table.

Draco noticed the interaction and asked, "No progress yet on talking to Maddie again, I take it?"

I sighed and looked down at my plate. "None."

"Hey." He reached across the table and grabbed my hand. I looked back up at him. "She'll come around eventually."

I half-smiled, "Thanks, Sweetheart, but I highly doubt that. Not until after the war's over anyway."

"I'm sorry, Love."

I shook my head. "It's not like it's your fault."

"But it is my fault, Katie. If it weren't for me, you would never have gotten tangled up in this mess," he insisted bitterly.

"I made my own decisions. I'm the one who decided to choose this life. Seriously, Draco, don't blame yourself for this."

He shrugged, casting his gaze down at the table. "I just feel bad."

"I know you do, but don't. It's fine, really," I told him.

We finished up eating our breakfast in silence. I looked up as I saw Dad walk past the table, heading back to his office.

Standing up, I told Draco, "I think I'm going to spend the morning with Dad. I'll see you at lunch."

He reached out and gave my hand one last squeeze. "Alright, see you later then, love you."

I hurried out of the Great Hall and made my way to Dad's office. Once I had made my way up the stairs, I entered the room, giving a slight knock on the door after opening it.

Dad looked up from his position at his desk.

"Hey Daddy!" I greeted.

He frowned, "Katie, what is it?"