Riddle Me This

Chapter 27

Catherine's POV

I was looking forward to our first day of Defense Against the Dark Arts. I set myself behind Draco and Goyle and watched as Moody apparently decided that we needed to know what the Three Unforgivable Curses are. The Imperius Curse, which made you do whatever the caster willed, was given by Ron. Moody then took an arachnid from one of his many jars, and after making it bigger, had it jumping across the room. When it landed on Draco's face, and he freaked out, I almost died laughing. But then it became more serious, with Moody asking if we wanted the arachnid to jump out the window, or have it drown itself.

Neville gave the Cruciatus curse, the torture curse. And as Moody tortured it, Neville looked so uncomfortable. And Hermione just snapped, telling Moody to just stop. And Moody approached her, asking if Hermione could give the last. She looked the most uncomfortable of all. And then with The Killing Curse, Moody killed the arachnid.

"Only one person has survived that curse, and he's here, in this room." And Moody stood in front of Harry. "And only one person survived the backlash of that curse, and she sits in this room as well." And his eyes moved to me, and I immediately felt sick. Which then translated into me getting sick on the floor. "Malfoy, take Smith to the hospital." And after using a cleaning charm, Draco lead me from the room.

"Cat, are you alright?" I shook my head as I shivered, my back burning.

"No." I cried. "I'm not." I shivered and managed to keep everything in my stomach until we made it to the hospital wing and Madam Pomfrey got me a bucket.

Hermione, Ron, and Harry came in and visited me as Draco sat on the bed next to me. He had been rubbing my back, but once he saw the others, stopped, sneered, and went to another bed to wait for me.

"Cat, are you alright?" Hermoine asked, taking up Draco's previous task.

"I... I never knew." I breathed, gagging a bit, but I'd been dry heaving for a couple of minutes now. "That was awful." I shivered. "And my back is burning."

"Cat, is... is it going to be like first year again?" She asked carefully. I shook my head.

"No. First year, it always burned in that class. This year, it's just... every so often. A small tingle of warmth under the skin, before cooling completely. But the nightmares." I shuddered and was brought into another fit of dry heaving. "They're getting worse." Hermione sighed.

"And has anyone tried to attack you yet?" Harry asked. I nodded.

"Nasty stinging hex on the way to the dorm yesterday. Draco and the others aren't going to be enough to keep them away this year. I'll be needing to pay attention to defensive charms and spells in the coming years." Hermione and Harry nodded.

"Are you feeling any better, Miss. Smith?" Madam Pomfrey asked. I nodded. She took the bucket away. "Then you may go. I hope not to see you anytime soon." I nodded and headed out, Draco following behind and only catching up once the Gryffindors had left.

"Are you taking dreamless sleep?" Draco asked. I shook my head.

"I haven't talked to Dumbledore yet on having Proffessor Snape keep me in steady supply. I planned on speaking with him tonight before curfew." Draco nodded and we continued to our next class, but not before getting stopped by Professor Moody.

"Smith, are you alright?" He asked. I nodded.

"I'm fine Professor. I just... didn't know that I had survived a back lash. It shocked me was all." Moody gave a nod before continuing to wherever.

"Bloody demented that one. Wait until my father hears about this." Draco said. It caused me to giggle and we continued with our day.

The day of the champion selection came, and I happily sat between Daphne and Pansy, whispering excitedly of who we thought deserved to be chosen. As the names came out, we clapped. Fleur from Beauxbatons, Krum from Durmstrang, and Cedric from Hogwarts. But then the Goblet produced another name. It was Harry's.