Riddle Me This

Chapter 26

Catherine's POV

We made it to the location the Quidditch World Cup would be a few days before it'd begin, entering one of the finer tents. It had four individual bedrooms, as well as a cooking area, and a sitting area, decorated like Salazar himself had stayed in it. I happily got situated in the room farthest from Lucius, and no one seemed to mind. We had gone to Diagon alley the week before and gotten Draco's and my things, all ready to go to Hogwarts once the Cup was over with. Draco and I spent the few days leading up talking about the upcoming school year, and guesses on who our new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher would be, as well as Quidditch. You can't go to the Quidditch World Cup, and not talk about Quidditch. I couldn't tell you what Lucius did, except leave the tent for hours before returning, just to leave again.

"Draco, make sure you pay attention." I said as I tapped his foot with my own the day the tournament was to begin, waiting for Lucius to come get us. "Maybe you could take some of the seeker's tricks back to Hogwarts and kick some major arse."

"I planned on it." Draco said. I smiled as I kicked his foot again. "What?"

"I'm just kicking you." I giggled. Draco raised an eyebrow and kicked my foot back. This continued until Lucius returned, ruining my good mood as it seemed he was back for the evening until the match started.

"What have you two been up to today?" Lucius asked as he sat down and grabbed a tea cup.

"Having fun, until you came back." I said, stretching lightly. "I swear, you take the fun out of the room quicker than a dementor." Draco gave me a look, and I ignored it.

"The tournament will be starting soon, let's go." Lucius said after finishing his tea. We headed out and into the stands, where I heard a familiar whining. And when I looked up, I saw Ron, his family, Hermione, Harry, a Hufflepuff boy named Cedric, and who I guessed was his father.

"Well put it this way. If it rains, you'll be the first to know." Lucius said. I groaned and rubbed my temple. I've had to deal with this git for one summer too long. And then Draco started to brag, and I groaned a little louder. And when Lucius got Draco with his cane, I nearly broke the thing in half. I'd rather listen to Draco be a boasting git. After Lucius was done being an arse, I smiled up to Hermione.

"Hope you enjoy the match Hermione!" I called happily. She saw me and smiled as well.

"You too. I see you're wearing the clothes I sent you." She called back. I twirled to show off my entire outfit. Brown plaid skirt, tan blouse, white coat, white tights, and the cutest, most comfortable brown heels I have ever worn. "I'm glad you like it." She called. I smiled wide.

"Draco likes it too. Said 'You actually look cute for a change'." I giggled, and Hermione rolled her eyes playfully. Draco looked absolutely horrified. By the comment or the fact he unknowingly complimented me in muggle clothes, I didn't care. "See you in school Hermione."

"See you in school Cat." And we continued to our respected sections. Once we entered the Minister's box, I greeted the Minister, and though everyone shifted away from me slightly, I ignored them as I sat next to Draco. As the match began, I smiled and clapped happily. Draco watched his father's reactions and responded so, but as the match continued, it became more natural.

Once the match was over though, Lucius turned to us outside of our tent.

"Things are about to become tricky. Draco, take Lady Catherine to the meeting spot and wait until I come get you." And he ducked inside, while Draco took my arm and lead us away. I felt my back begin to burn. It didn't take long for me to figure out what was tricky, as I saw people walking about with the Death Eater's robes and others screaming and running away.

Once at what must have been the meeting place, I blew up.

"You've got to be bloody well kidding me!" I yelled, pulling away from Draco. "Your father is seriously doing this right now?" I shook my head. "Bloody perfect. And I had been enjoying myself." Draco tried to look sorry, but instead, he looked sort of scared. I frowned and pulled him into a hug. "At least we'll be heading to school tomorrow." I said. Draco hugged me back and shuddered slightly. We pulled apart and as soon as Lucius got close, we apparated back to the manor, where our things were packed and we got ready to head to London.

Once on the train, Pansy had a copy of the Daily Prophet, and at the sight at what was on the front cover, I curled into Draco and grit my teeth, back flaring.

"What's wrong Cat?" Blaise asked as he sat back in his seat.

"You try having a scar on your back that reacts every time something linked to your father happens, and tell me you don't automatically wince when you see his mark anywhere. Bloody Death Eaters ruined everything." And I buried my face into Draco's neck.

"It's fine now, Cat." Draco murmured reassuringly, before shooting a glare at the other two. Pansy and Blaise just chuckled before returning to the Prophet.

Once at school, I saw Hermione and forwent going to the Slytherin table and ran over to her, hugging her tightly.

"Thank Merlin you're all right." I said as she hugged me back.

"I'm happy you're alright too." She said. "Did you see-" I shook my head.

"We left before they appeared." I said. "But what about you and the others? Did your group make it out okay?" Hermione nodded and I turned to Harry, putting a hand on his shoulder. "And are you okay? Pansy read some of the article. How's your scar?" He cocked an eyebrow. "Hermione told me that it reacts to things related to the arsehole who helped conceived me." Harry nodded.

"Oh, I'm fine now, but it definitely burned back at the Cup, once the mark was in the sky." I nodded and took a deep breath.

"I have a bad feeling about this year." I said, looking around a bit. "So be careful."

"You too." I gave a nod back before returning to the Slytherin table to wait for the sorting ceremony.

"You alright Cat?" Daphne asked. I quickly shook my head.

"No. I have a bad feeling about what's going to happen this year." She nodded slowly, and once everything was dealt with, Dumbledore began to make his announcements. Our new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher was going to be Alastor Moody. Hogwarts was also hosting the TriWizard Tournament, and our sister and brother schools, Beauxbatons and Durmstrang, were coming here. Draco made a comment about wanting to have gone to Durmstrang, but came to Hogwarts because his mother wanted him close to home. I giggled.

"Mama's boy." I said, pinching his cheek. Draco bat my hand away and sneered.

"Am not." He denied. I cocked an eyebrow.

"I lived with you for a summer, and saw how you interacted between both your parents. You're definitely a mama's boy." Draco just looked away as we watched the students from the other schools come in. While all the boys drooled over the Beauxbatons' girls and the girls nearly fainted over the Durmstrang boys, I was amazed at their little shows of magic, and made sure to help Draco pick his jaw up from the floor by promptly closing it for him.

"I believe it's something called Malfoy pride, show some of it by restraining yourself. You can drool into your hand to help you fantasize later." Draco turned beat red as the surrounding Slytherins snickered.

The head of Durmstrang gave Snape a look, which confused me slightly until a few things clicked in my head and I sighed.

"What is it Cat?" Pansy asked.

"Oh, just wondering how long I'll have to deal with Death Eaters before I go mad." I said before leaning against Draco.

"What are you doing?" He asked. I shrugged.

"Enjoying not sitting with a stick half up my arse because I have to be a polite priss. I loved staying with you Draco, but if I have to stay the summer at your manor again, I'm going to kill someone. And take Lolli, Nald, and Alf. Especially Lolli." I said with a firm nod.

The Goblet of Fire was revealed, and Dumbledore informed us that he would be putting up an age circle so that no one below the age of seventeen could get into the tournament. I was perfectly happy with this, though a few of the underage wizards around me were not.

"It just means you get to live." I said with a shrug.