Riddle Me This

Chapter 24

Catherine's POV

My eyes shot open and I panted hard as my eyes shot around. It took a moment for the shadows to become just that. I shuddered as I turned onto my side and cried quietly. This is how I've been waking up, almost every night, for two weeks. I blame the fact that Lucius seems to think that talking about my father in my presence is perfectly okay. Hell, he even asks to speak with me alone just to do it. And the only reason I haven't hexed him everytime he's uttered the word 'mudblood' is because he let me into his home, and Narcissa doesn't deserve to deal with it, even though the word has passed her lips quite a few times as well.

"Lady Catherine?" A small voice said, causing me to sit up quickly, eyes snapping around the room until I saw Lolli standing at the end of my bed. I let out a deep, shuddering sigh.

"Oh Lolli, it's you. Sorry, did I scare you again?" She shook her head.

"No. Lolli just wanted to make sure Lady Catherine was alright. Lady Catherine was tossing and turning and whimpering. Lolli wasn't sure if Lady Catherine was in pain or having a nightmare again." I gave another shuddering sigh.

"Nightmare." I answered. Lolli furrowed her brows, before pulling a vial from nowhere.

"Lolli... Lolli slipped a dreamless sleep draught from Master Lucius' potion cupboard." She handed me the vial. "Lolli hopes this helps Lady Catherine sleep." I smiled as I gently pet her head.

"Thank you Lolli. But you could have gotten in so much trouble if you had gotten caught." I said. Lolli nodded, shaking slightly.

"Lolli knows that, but Lolli also knows that Lady Catherine suffers from nightmares. And Lady Catherine is nice to Lolli and the other house elves. It was the least Lolli could do." I smiled a little more.

"Thank you again Lolli. I'll take it tomorrow night." I said. Lolli nodded before heading to do whatever her task of the night was. Sevy flew down to me, to double check on me. Once she dreamed I would be okay, she went out the slightly opened window to finish her night flight before returning before dawn. I went back to sleep, happy the nightmares didn't come back.

What I was met with the next morning at breakfast horrified me. Nald had gotten me instead of Lolli, and that had set off the first round of alarms. When I made it to the breakfast room, it was to see Lolli bruised and bandaged as Lucius sent hexes at her.

"WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!" I screamed, hurrying over to Lolli and pulling her into the safety of my arms, glaring at Lucius.

"She stole one of Lucius' dreamless sleep." Narcissa said, her nose slightly wrinkled in disgust. I saw Draco was ignoring everything, but seemed irritated. I shook with rage as I stood. "Step aside Catherine. She deserves to be punished." I turned and picked Lolli up, holding her close as I turned to leave the room.

"Get back here with my servant." Lucius snapped out. I turned and the look in my eye caused him to shut right up and actually step back, wand by his side.

"I've been suffering nightmares." I barked out. "She's been there every time I woke up and decided to try and help me. I haven't taken any of the bloody potion, so give me a minute and you can have it back." I turned back around and walked to my room, laying Lolli in my bed.

"Lady Catherine-"

"Shh." I said, gently running my hand over Lolli's head. "I won't hear it. You're staying here until one of the other elves take you to your sleeping chambers beneath the manor. Do not move." I stood and grabbed the potion from my side table and returned to the breakfast room. I slammed the vial down in front of Lucius. "Here's your damn potion." I bit out, before sitting down and eating.