Riddle Me This

Chapter 11

Catherine's POV

Harry went to his detention with Lockheart for the flying car incident, and I walked with Hermione and Ron to the Great Hall. Once the doors had opened and everyone turned to see me and Hermione, the Slytherin table silenced itself, throwing a mixture of dirty and frightened looks my way. I made my way and sat across from Draco, who still looked pale, but seemed happy to have something but slugs going around, though sometimes he still gagged.

"Really Riddle?" Flint sneered. "You put our seeker out of practice and-" My eyes flicked to the older Slytherin.

"I'm sorry. I don't remember there being a school rule saying that I needed permission from you to defend one of my friends. And I'm pretty sure it's thanks to you lot that our password is 'pureblood'." I nearly spat. "It's despicable."

"You're despicable." He snapped back. "A Slytherin standing up for a mud-"

"Eat Slugs." I snapped, wand quickly out, and soon, Flint was on the floor, throwing up slugs. I sheathed my wand as Snape approached.

"Miss. Smith." Snape warned. "What have I told you about disciplining your housemates?" I looked him dead in the eye with a defiant, but innocent smile.

"I don't quite remember Professor. But I do seem to recall saying something along the lines of 'Sod off'." I replied. Snape's eyes narrowed.

"Minus 20 points, for cursing a student and speaking back to a teacher. As well as detention, Miss. Smith." He said coldly, I shrugged as he then 'helped' Flint to the Hospital Wing.

"Are you bloody mad?" Daphne asked. I shrugged.

"Yeah, purebloods like us-" Pansy started.

"I'm not pureblood." I said. "My father was a halfblood, having a muggle father and all. So I'd prefer it if you didn't lump me in with the 'high and mighties' that seem to plague Slytherin house." I finished, before flinching as my back flared quickly. I froze as at the same time a voice began to whisper in my ear.

'Come, Come to me.'

"Smith?" Draco asked carefully. Snape hadn't returned yet, but maybe it's not because of what I thought? I mean, it didn't seem to mean anything last night when I woke up, though the nightmare that followed wasn't amazing. A sink with a snake on it, as well as a giant snake slithering around and calling for me in that damned language. The language which had just whispered in my ear.

"Smith!" Draco snapped his fingers in my face and I jumped a little, blinking my eyes slowly as a slightly concerned Draco came into focus.

"Sorry. My uh.... my back just flared up." I said simply. Then smiled. "I'll go talk to Snape before curfew tonight." Draco gave a simple nodded. "So, am I going to get a nasty howler from your father berating me on cursing his son in the middle of Quidditch practice?" I asked. Draco looked up from his plate with a smirk.

"Probably not a howler, but I'm sure something will be done about it." He said. I smiled.

"Brilliant." The second years that have sort of become my group of Slytherin friends looked at me weird. "Well I've always wondered if Mr. Malfoy does always hear about the 'injustices' done upon his son, even if he deserves it most of the time."

"You think I'd lie about that?" Draco asked, sneering slightly. I rolled my eyes.

"What is it with Slytherins and sneering? And I'm not saying you'd lie Draco, it's just that your arm must be sore from writing so much." I saw Goyle almost choke on his pumpkin juice, causing a round of giggles as Draco blushed. I bit my lip a little. "Oh dear, it seems I'm a little off with my assessment."

"Smith!" Draco nearly shrieked, causing me to laugh a little more.

"I'm joking Draco. Calm down." And thus I returned to my meal, ignoring the whisperings I continued to hear, though sometimes someone had to shake me out of the funk when I froze up.

When we left the Great Hall, we came across the scene of Harry, as well as Hermoine and Ron, standing next to a petrified Mrs. Norris. As well as a message on the wall. 'The Chamber of Secrets had been opened. Enemies of the heir... beware.' My back flared almost violently, and I leaned against Draco for support.

"Enemies of the heir beware?" Draco asked aloud. I wanted to punch him for reiterating the words, as they made my knees weak and a cold shudder go down my spine. "You'll be next mudbloods." I tightened my hands around his arm shaking too much to do much of anything.

"Just wait until I don't feel like passing out, Draco. You'll be puking up slugs again before the night is through." I warned, voice shaking as badly as I was. I felt him flinch slightly, but nothing else. The teachers came and Dumbledore ordered us to our dormitories. All except Harry, Ron and Hermione. I gave them a sympathetic look, but Snape was there, so I turned to Draco.

"I... I'll be behind you. I need to talk to Snape... now." I said, moving unsteadily to drape myself over Hermione with a weak smile.

"Cat, what's wrong?" She asked as she quickly moved to support me.

"My back is burning." I gasped as I shivered painfully. "I need to speak with Snape. And I don't know if I should be heading to the dungeons now." Dumbledore looked at me and I motioned to my back. He gave me a nod, meaning we'd probably be talking later or something.

And then, after determining that Mrs. Norris had been petrified, Snape stood up for Harry, Hermoine, and Ron, saying that they were probably at the wrong place at the wrong time. Then went to say that the circumstances were suspicious and having not seen Harry at dinner. Which I noticed, but assumed that Lockheart, being the vain pillock he is, had kept him longer than his detention required. Which Lockheart then proved to be true.

"And why are you still here, Miss. Smith." Snape asked, looking how I was hanging off from Hermione like she was my last life line.

"It's her back, Proffessor Snape." Hermione said for me. "And as the rules her grandparents laid down, if that happens, she needs to seek you out." I whimpered when I was shuffled slightly so Hermione had a better grasp on me. Snape nodded.

"If I may, Headmaster, I will deal with Miss. Smith and then bring her to her dorm." Dumbledore gave the okay and Snape took me by the arm and hauled me to his office, until no one could see us, then he picked me up and carried me. "What's wrong Catherine?"

"It burns, Papa." I sniffled, finally crying because of the pain, though it slowly began to fade as we walked away from the message on the wall.

"When did it start this time?"

"At dinner... and then... a voice." I hissed. "In that damned language." I clutched tighter to Snape's robes as we started down the stairs to the dungeon. "When we found Mrs. Norris and that bloody message, I thought I was going to collapse, it hurt so much." I didn't speak again until we made it to Snape's office. He sat me down in his chair and leaned back on his desk.

"Catherine, I'm going to have to tell Morgana about this. You know the rules." He said. I nodded.

"I need a bloody babysitter again. I'll tell my friends tomorrow." I stood, sighing in relief that I was able too.

"Catherine." Snape said, standing as well and putting a hand on my shoulder. "Remember to be careful." I nodded.

"If they knew I heard voices, they'd probably thought I'd opened the chamber or something." I said sadly, before being escorted back to the Slytherin dorms.