Riddle Me This

Chapter 31

Catherine's POV

Pansy had been more than willing to help with the salve when she saw my back, though Daphne saw as well, and they'd switch off between when it was administered. They also began to understand why I always slept with the curtains on my bed closed. They wouldn't talk about it. The only person who did was Draco, and that was asking how I was doing. Hermione had also been updated, and had told me Harry's scar was reacting as well. Something bad was definitely either already happening, or about too.

The final task for the Triwizard Tournament was taking place in a maze, that had stands around the opening. I was happily cheering on Harry, which sort of annoyed the Slytherins around me, and Cedric. Once they had entered the maze, everyone just sort of watched the entrances close. I frowned slightly.

"So, now what. If you really think about it, it's not all that fun to watch." I said as I leaned forward. As time passed, my burn began to act up. As soon as I opened my mouth to tell Pansy and Daphne, a scream ripped out of my throat as the burning pain became unbearable, and I passed out.

When I awoke, I was in the hospital wing, face pressed into the pillow and my back bared and facing the ceiling. I heard people murmuring and turned to see Hermione talking with Dumbledore and Snape. Hermione looked over to me and smiled.

"She's awake!" She said, hurrying over to me. "Merlin's beard, you scared us."

"What happened?" I asked, going to move and gasping with the pain that shot through my body.

"You fainted." Hermione said. "Right after giving off a frightful scream. Not even a minute later, Harry came through and..." She bit her lip.

"The Dark Lord has returned." Dumbledore said. It was almost a natural reaction for a sob to escape.

"No." I cried, burying my face into the pillow. "He can't be back." Hermione gently rubbed my shoulder as Snape sat next to me and applied more salve to my back.

"I'm afraid it's true." Dumbledore said. My shoulder's shook as I sobbed. Hermione turned away, and I could see she was also upset. "Your grandparents have already been informed. I would suggest using caution in the coming years." I nodded as I continued to sob, eventually to the point of unconsciousness.

The next time I awoke, it was to Draco, Pansy, and Daphne. Pansy and Daphne were whispering, and Draco was sitting next to the bed, just watching me. I just sort of stared at him for a moment, feeling numb. Either from the news I had received, or the salve on my back, which seemed to have an underlying burn still, I didn't know.

"You have the cutest nose." I said flatly, watching Draco's nose twitch slightly as the other two hurried over.

"Cat, you're alright!" Daphne said as she sat next to me, petting my head gently. "Are you alright?"

"My back is burning like someone used Fryefield on it and then had a mountain troll take a whack at it with his club. You tell me." I said as I dropped my head back to the pillow. "I feel terrible. Enough about me though. What have I missed?"

"Cedric Diggory's funeral." Pansy said. I froze. "According to Dumbledore, You-Know-Who killed him." I turned my head into my pillow and began to cry again.

"Something happy damn it!" I cried.

"There's nothing happy at the moment." Draco said stiffly, but he pushed Daphne away as he sat next to me. "Unless you include classes being canceled for another week as a good thing." I huffed out a pathetic laugh.

"Sure. Let's pretend that's a good thing." The others went quiet for a moment.

"You back isn't as red as it has been." Daphne supplied, which caused a small sigh of relief to pass my lips.

"And Draco's been here every day during his breaks to keep an eye on you." Pansy added with a slight tease. Draco turned back at her, but I couldn't really tell what was happening.

"I haven't been here every break!" Draco snapped. I heard Pansy and Daphne giggle.

"Hey Pansy, where was Draco yesterday during break?"

"Here. As he was since Dumbledore allowed visitors. And don't forget how he would keep Cat up to date on what's been happening." Pansy teased.

"Or when we caught him running his fingers through her hair, muttering something about 'hurry up and wake up, this castle's boring without you'." Daphne continued. I could just see Draco's ears turn red as my face heated up.

"Sod off." Draco said, standing. Madam Pomfrey choose this time to come over to check me over. After deeming me able to go, I headed to the Slytherin dormitory, where everything just seemed so much more dreary. Everyone watched me carefully, and it took Pansy threatening to hex them for everyone to stop staring.

The next day, when I ran into Harry, I clung to him and sobbed, apologizing for everything that's happened that year, for everything he had witnessed. He hugged me back.

"You didn't know. You couldn't have done anything to stop it." He said. "And you must be worse for wear if what Hermione says is true." I nodded slowly as we pulled back.

"Can you do something for me Harry?" I asked. After a nod, I continued. "I know this is a lot to ask of you, but if you get the chance, please, take him out." My voice was filled with poison. "That thing should never have come back. And I'll play my part if you play yours." Harry gave me a firm nod, and we continued to class.

The rest of the year was awful. I had horrible nightmares about Voldemort. Add that up with how many times I was hexed, cursed, and jynxed, well. I'm surprised I'm still able to walk. And I had mixed feelings when it was time to go home. I wanted to stay, but I wanted to see my grandparents. Things were going to be different from now on, and that killed me.

I sat on the train with Draco, Blaise, and Pansy. I smiled as I spoke, and remembered the last thing Hermione had said before we parted.

"Don't let him coming back ruin your school life, or your potential love life, Cat. I say go for it. Tell Draco how you feel. Because he obviously cares for you a great deal."

That circled through my head as I spoke with my friends, laughing and gossiping before we made it back to London. I saw my grandparents immediately, and took a deep breath as I turned to Draco and the others.

"My grandparents are already here. I'll see you all this September." Everyone said their goodbyes. "Oh, and Draco?" He turned to me and I stepped forward, grabbing his shirt to pull him towards me. Our lips met and I almost forgot about the scar burning on my back by the feeling of comfortable warmth that flooded through me. When I pulled back, I smiled softly. "I love you." And I turned and hurried to my grandparents, leaving a dazed and confused Draco Malfoy behind.