Riddle Me This

Chapter 37

Catherine's POV

I sat with Draco, Pansy, and Blaise on the train again, but Draco was off. And it really got to me that I knew why. A dark smoke filled the car once Draco sat down, and it freaked me out. Draco grabbed my hand immediately and started to rub the back of it.

"Must be a first year playing tricks." Pansy said. Draco made a comment about Hogwarts being a pathetic excuse for a school, and when Blaise asked what he meant, he said that he wouldn't be wasting his time in charms the next year.

"And who'll tutor me then?" I asked trying to go for serious whining, but it didn't work as well as I'd hoped, but I went on, switching to teasing. "I mean, you are the most charming wizard in our year." Draco gave me a look, and it just sort of killed the fun.

We made it to Hogsmeade station, but Draco sent me on ahead with Pansy and Blaise. I frowned, but decided not to irritate him. I sighed as we headed to the carriages. After we had everything gone through, and I had to have Snape defend me from an Auror who wanted to send me to Azkaban for being Voldemort's daughter, we got on the carriages.

"Are you alright Cat?" Pansy asked as we got moving. I looked to my hands and shook my head.

"Not really. Draco's acting strange. Has been since the last few letters. I'm worried." I said. "But I guess that's to be expected. His father's been sent to Azkaban, and with my father being back confirmed, I can only imagine how everything must have been on him this summer." I twisted my hands together, a single tear beginning down my face as a thought came across my mind. "Oh Merlin, what if my father hurt him?" I covered my mouth and closed my eyes tight.

"Cat, hey don't cry." Blaise said, placing a hand on my knee. "Draco's just bummed about his dad and everything that's happened with the Prophet. He'll come around eventually, you'll see."

"Yeah, he's just being a whiny prat, as always." Pansy said, trying to help cheer me up. "And when he's done having his tantrum, he'll be back to being..." She trailed off.

"A bitch?" I finished with a little giggle. "I fell in love with a bitch. Fantastic." I laughed a little harder.

"Well, you do seem to be the dominant one in the relationship. Had that bloke wrapped around your finger since about second year." Blaise added, adding his own chuckle. Pansy joined in and we happily headed to the Great Hall, my plights forgotten until Draco came in and sat next to me, again taking my hand and rubbing the back of it.

"Dragon?" I said softly, leaning closer to Draco. "Did you get whatever you needed sorted out?" Draco just made a small grunt in response. "If it's alright, may I speak with you before we return to the dorms?"

"Sure thing, Kitty." I smiled and gave him a quick peck on the cheek, which seemed to make him feel a little better. Dumbledore started telling us about how we had a new teacher, and I groaned.

"Can we ever keep a Defense teacher? Bring back Lupin or Moody. They were fun." And then came the loop. Our new teacher was going to be teaching potions. And get this, Snape was teaching Defense Against the Dark Arts. "Merlin's Beard. He finally got the position!" I may have clapped a little more enthusiastically than mandatory, but he's my godfather, and everyone else could sod off. And when I went to look at Draco, he just looked bored. Like he didn't even want to be here. Which I completely understood with what I knew, but I needed to keep that all from the others, and entered my 'concerned girlfriend' act.

"Draco, are you alright? I thought you'd be as excited as the rest of us. Are you unwell?" I gently laid a hand on his shoulder, and he flinched. I pulled my hand back. "Draco?"

"I'm fine Kitty." He snapped under his breath, which got him a glare from Pansy, Blaise and Daphne.

"She's just concerned for you, Draco." Pansy hissed as Dumbledore continued his announcements. "Was a right mess on the way from the station worrying about you. You don't need to be a tosser."

"No, it's fine." I said. "I am being a little annoying, aren't I? Sorry, Draco." Draco groaned quietly.

"No, Kitty. Don't- Don't apologize. I'm being an arse." He pulled me closer to him and took my hand. "There's a lot on my mind, but that's no excuse to treat you so harshly." I smiled softly.

"I love you." I said softly, moving so I could catch his eye, since he was sort of staring at our hands. Grey eyes snapped up to me. Draco turned a light pink and nodded.

"-Tom Riddle." My eyes snapped up to Dumbledore. As he continued speaking, I felt my back burning, and tried not to cry out. Of course he had to be talking about my father. And it hurt so much. Draco was quick to react, whispering softly to me, and that as soon as Dumbledore's speech was done, he'd have Pansy go with me to apply the salve. But as soon as Dumbledore finished talking about my father, the burning stopped, and I smiled to let him know I was alright.

"And another thing, that Professor Snape asked me to bring up this year. Attacks on students for whom their parents are is highly frowned upon. Not only for if they have muggle parentage, but if their parents are connected to Death Eaters, or the Dark Lord himself. They are not their parents child, and should not be treated as such. Everyone is their own person. Their decisions are their own, and the decisions of their parents should not be put upon them." Dumbledore's voice was stern. And so was Snape's gaze. It almost felt like they were just telling everyone not to curse and hex me anymore, but I knew I wasn't the only one in trouble. Draco would be too because of his father.

As soon as Dumbledore dismissed us to bed, I grabbed Draco's wrist and brought him to one of the abandoned classrooms in the dungeon. As soon as the door was shut, locked, and had a silencing charm on it, I turned and clung to Draco.

"You're an idiot." I said as I buried my face into his neck.

"What for?" Draco asked. I pulled back and grabbed his left arm, ripping up the sleeve to reveal the Dark Mark there. A sob left my lips as I gently touched it, my scar responded to it. I pulled it closer and gently kissed the skin of Draco's wrist. He reacted by ripping his arm away and pulling the sleeve down. "H-How did you-"

"Snape." I said simply. "You think my godfather is going to allow something that involves my father pass me? I know, Draco. And I'm not happy."

"Why would he tell you?" Draco asked as he stepped back.

"Because you're my boyfriend, Draco! Shouldn't me knowing that you've taken your father's place in my father's Death Eaters be something my godfather would want me to know? And it's not like I'm going to tell anyone. I'd lose you if I did." Tears began to blur my vision. "I may not know all the details, but I know I can't stop you." I choked out. "Or I'll lose Papa too. And I hate everything about this, and I'll fight it, find another way out. But I'm still going to be here for you."

"I'm scared." Draco admitted, a quiet sob leaving his lips. I crossed the small distance between us and pulled him close, kissing him gently.

"Me too." I whispered.

"What... What will you do when everything is done?" Draco asked. I let out a shaky breath.

"Well, with Snape as my guardian, and as he's spying on Dumbledore for my father, I'll be coming with you." I stated. "I knew I'd end up seeing my father. I think it's about time. It means I'll need to use this year to sort a few things out."

"Kitty-" I stopped Draco with a finger gently pressed against his lips.

"You can't change my mind Draco, you mean to much to me." Draco nodded slowly, and gave me a kiss.

"We need to return to the dorms." He said. I nodded, and so we went to the Slytherin dormitory.