Riddle Me This

Chapter 45

Catherine's POV

The next meeting made my stomach churn. One of the snatchers had brought it Draco's and my Muggles Studies professor. And it made me both hopeful, and uncomfortable to hear news about Harry. I hoped Hermione would travel with him and be safe.

That is, until Father asked for a wand to be given to him so that he could kill Harry, because since they have twin cores, the most they can do is maim each other. And so he walked down the line until he took Lucius' wand, and I couldn't help but snicker, really I couldn't.

"Something funny, Catherine?" Voldemort asked as he turned to me. I smiled politely.

"His face when you broke off the adornment. As a Death Eater, shouldn't we all be jumping to allow you to use our wand? And yet as soon as you ask, everyone looks away." I explained.

"Yes, and yet you didn't offer yours." He said. I shrugged.

"I'm your daughter before I'm a Death Eater in my eyes. As such, I can say no to certain things of my will. You've allowed me to do so frequently within these few weeks. I'm afraid you've spoiled me as much as Severus has. I might as well be Draco with a spine at this point." Draco pouted at me, and it made me giggle. "Oh come now Draco, I'm only joking." This caused Draco to look to his lap with an embarrassed blush.

"Don't tease the boy, Catherine." Severus said, causing me to give another giggle before my father moved to the next part of the meeting. Which happened to involve the Muggles Studies professor. Speaking of how she believes that Muggles aren't so different from us, and that we should mate with them. His words, not mine. I would've just said shag and make babies... Blaise has rubbed off on me too much. And I haven't seen him in months.

And before I could make another thought, Voldemort killed her, and fed her corpse to Nagini. Draco looked as close to mortified and upset as he could get away with, and I just turned my gaze to Father. I smiled as I slowly stood and approached him.

"Father, may I ask something of you?" I hissed, watching a few of the Death Eaters in the room flinch at the foreign words. I found that Voldemort and I bonded more when we used parseltongue, and it was perfect for daughter-father talks in public spaces. And with the previous reactions to talk about muggle mating, this would be the perfect time to put my plan into action.

"What is it, Catherine?"

"I'm going to be of marrying age this coming April." I was now standing beside him. "And I was wondering if I could begin courting, in order to find a pureblood or half blood that is loyal to you." Father turned to me with a slightly furrowed brow. "Having to deal with my old teacher made me uncomfortable."

"Well yes, that is an excellent point." Voldemort steepled his fingers slightly as he looked across the Death Eaters.

"I was wondering if I could chose on my own?" I asked, causing my father's eyes to return to me. "I do want some say on who I'm bound to. Perhaps... collect the sons of already married Death Eaters and those here who have not yet made that step in life, and then have me decide?" I looked down the line of the tables. "I do have standards of the man who will bed me." Voldemort nodded.

"Yes, that is true. An excellent plan, Catherine." Voldemort said, bringing everyone's attention to us since we were done speaking parseltongue. "My daughter has brought up an important issue. She is coming of marrying age, and will be needing a spouse." I saw Draco's eyes snap to me, but I tried not to give anything away. "I want your sons and those of you who have no wives in the ballroom tomorrow at noon. Then, Catherine will chose who she believes has the right to court her." Everyone at the table turned to me and I smiled sweetly.