Riddle Me This

Chapter 25

Catherine's POV

I sat on the edge of the fountain, still able to see the lights of the ballroom, the shadows of people, but not their stares.

"Cat?" I turned to see Draco. "You alright?"

"Bloody peachy." I snap, before flinching slightly. "Sorry. I shouldn't snap at you." Draco sat next to me. I took a deep breath. "No, I'm not alright."

"So what's up?"

"I was raised to hate Death Eaters, and my father." I started. "So this isn't really the ideal place for me at the moment. And they're acting like I share the blood purist ideals. And I don't, obviously. And I'm not a princess. I'm a fourteen year old witch, and that's all I want to be treated as. And then... that mark..." I resisted the urge to bury my face in my hands. "I hate it."

"But you have it." Draco pointed out.

"I never asked for it!" I snapped. "I got it the night that bastard killed my mother! I still don't know why! I don't know if I ever will! And it bloody well REACTS to him, Draco! That time in the forest, I could barely move because my back felt like it was on fire because that thing was Voldemort! Every time something happened second year with the Basilisk, it was because that bastard was controlling it. This past year was the first time I could go through without the sting. And it was fantastic." I laughed bitterly. "But now, I'm strutting around with this stupid mark showing, like I'm proud of it or something. Grandma has been trying to heal it off me for years."

Draco stood in front of my and reached around, pulling pins from my hair, and it fell, charmed, loose curls rolling down my shoulders and back. I saw Draco swallow before he stepped back.

"There." He said, placing the pins in a pocket in his dress robes. I smiled as I threw myself into his arms.

"Thank you." I said, trying hard to hold back tears. "Thank you so much Draco."

"Let's head back inside." Draco said, presenting his arm. I smiled as I grabbed it and we returned to the ballroom. It was quiet for a minute, and I saw Narcissa frown for a second, before it changed into an adoring smile. I heard Blaise give a whistle, quickly being silenced by Pansy in the form of a slap over the head.

"This party has nothing to do with dancing, does it." I asked as we approached our friends again.

"No." Draco said. "But it's always good to know how to dance properly." I smiled as I bumped him lightly.

"Such a gentleman." I said. Pansy snickered a bit. "So, how have you been since school got out?" I asked, and Pansy quickly started talking about her summer so far.

The rest of the evening went well, with dinner as well. People came to speak with me, and I quickly reminded them that I was fourteen, and didn't really care about the politics they were talking about. I was happy when I returned to my room, bathed and ready for sleep.

Only to awake to Draco, shaking my shoulders, Narcissa and Lucius standing in my doorway, and Lolli off to the side.

"Cat, are you alright?" Draco asked. I shivered before latching onto him and sobbing.

"Lady Catherine had another nightmare." Lolli said, frowning as she shifted from foot to foot, wanting to try and comfort me, but not being sure she could.

"Catherine?" Narcissa asked as she came and sat next to me. "What's the matter dear?"

"Every bloody time I close my eyes, he's there." I cry. "Killing my friends, approaching me in the Dark Forest, sicking the Basilisk on me. That mark. That ugly mark." Draco started to rub my back.