Riddle Me This

Chapter 36

Catherine's POV

Studying for my Charms O.W.L.s was hell. I was going to get a T, and I was not happy with that fact. Draco had been a great tutor, but this year just seemed to have everything explode in my face. So when it came time to take the Theory of Charms part of the exams, I almost chucked my quill across the room and left.

Suddenly, during the test, Fred and George Weasley came in and set off fireworks. One becoming a dragon and chasing Umbridge from the hall and knocking down all of the new rules she had enforced. Everyone ran out of the Great Hall to watch as the twins continued a fireworks display. I may have taken this time to snog Draco, who happily snog me back. It was brilliant.

Later that night, I went walking around the castle, and saw Hermione, Ron, and Harry sneaking about. I approached them.

"What are you three doing?" I asked. Hermione looked to the other two before turning to me.

"Harry's godfather's being tortured by your father and we're going to rescue him." She said quickly and quietly.

"Why the hell are we standing around for then, let's go." And I lead them into Umbridge's office. Only to get caught. Draco and the Inquisitorial squad brought in Luna Lovegood, Neville, and Ginny. When Draco saw me, he frowned.

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

"Got caught trying to use the floo, what else." His frown depended.

"Kitty."

"Enough." Umbridge snapped, and turned to Harry. I went to change my standing position, when the Slytherin, whose name I couldn't give a damn about, tightened his hold and made my back move in such a way that I almost cried out in pain, and Draco saw this.

"Switch with me." He hissed to the other student. "Longbottom won't be a problem to hold onto, but she is." The student was going to argue, but I used that moment to pull, only for him to pull back, making me give a pained whimper. They switched, and Draco didn't even hold my arms behind my back, just my hands, gently. And he immediately started to rub his thumbs into them, and I could almost feel him calm.

Snape came in, telling Umbridge that he didn't have anymore veritum serum, and turned to leave when Harry yelled something about Padfoot at his back. I don't know what Padfoot is, but I'm going to guess it's not important to me. That's when Umbridge decided to use the cruciatus curse on Harry, and I almost snapped.

"You heartless bitch." I bit out, pulling against Draco, who quickly tightened his grip. "Blood quills are torture enough, but now you're going to actually use the torture curse on him. That's dark wizard stuff. Why the hell are you part of the ministry if you do that?"

"Malfoy, control her." Umbridge said. Draco leaned forward to whisper in my ear.

"Calm down Kitty. Just look away. I'll cast a silencing charm so you can't hear anything." He sounded a little shaken up at the thought of witnessing the curse, but I felt a little better knowing that he would try and make this more bearable for me.

The curse never happened, because Hermione said something about a weapon and her, Harry, and Umbridge left. It was at this point that the others used disarming spells and I just shoved Draco against the wall.

"You four go." I said. "I'll hold them back."

"Thank you." Luna said with one of her small smiles. I smiled back and they left. Draco let go of my hands and wrapped them around my waist as we looked at the unconscious Slytherins around us.

"I think now is the time to enjoy the fact Umbridge isn't here and go snog ourselves silly." I said as I leaned off from Draco. "Let's go." I went to step forward, but Draco grabbed my arm and pulled me back, bringing me into a snogging session right in Umbridge's office. We headed down to the dungeons afterwards, making sure we were as close as possible, when the burning in my back spiked and stayed spiked for what felt like hours.