Riddle Me This

Chapter 46

Catherine's POV

Draco and I went back to the ballroom, empty of all but my father, Severus, and Draco's parents. And when their eyes fell on us, they kept their composure, until their eyes landed on me. The look of utter shock on the Malfoy's faces were priceless. Severus seemed annoyed, and my father just cocked an eyebrow, before seeming to decide the love bites on my body were nothing to be concerned about.

"Catherine." Voldemort said, reaching his hand out to call me to him. I kissed Draco's cheek before walking up to my father and taking his hand and bowing slightly. "When were you going to tell me you were already seeing Draco?" He asked, obviously put off about being left out of something that had been happening right under his... nose?

"I wasn't sure if it would have been appropriate." I lied smoothly. "Yes, he is one of your trusted Death Eaters, however, I wasn't sure you would have approved."

"Would you have left Draco if the Dark Lord disapproved?" Severus asked. I turned to him with a smirk.

"Fuck no. Draco was mine before he was my father's. And I don't particularly like the thought of stepping back and letting Draco go without a fight." I turned back to my father. "However, with how I went about it, I knew that you wouldn't allow anyone you found unworthy in the ballroom."

"And if I had found Draco unworthy?" Voldemort asked.

"He wouldn't be a Death Eater trusted with killing Dumbledore if you didn't find him worthy." I stated simply. "Say that he hadn't fulfilled his task all you like, the fact he has the dark mark upon his arm is proof enough that he is worthy enough to be in your presence." I turned to look at Draco and smiled. Draco saw this and a small smile came on his face, which made my heart flutter. "Now, is there a reason you called Draco and I from my bed?" I asked, watching the smile fall from Draco's face as he turned red.

"I wanted to speak with Draco about the changes he and his family can expect with him as your courter." Voldemort began. I nodded.

"More responsibility, power, and such, with the knowledge that if things between Draco and I go south, it will be taken away, and not to be too comfortable with it because I still will have more power over what happens than they will and that I will be responsible for anything they do as much as they are. If they succeed, I will be rewarded as they will be, as if they fail, I will be punished. And that at any moment, you can end the relationship, even though I will still see Draco, even if it has to be in secret." I said flatly.

"Yes." Voldemort said, irritated that I spoke out of turn.

"Anyways." I said. "I want to share Draco's room with him." The room went silent.

"And why should I allow that?" Voldemort asked. I shrugged.

"Why shouldn't you?" I asked. "The only cause you have is that we aren't wedded, and that it wouldn't be proper. We aren't going to shag every night, I can promise you that. It's more of a way to promote better work ethic between the two of us. If Draco is sent on a raid, he's going to be more apt to do it correctly, swiftly, and efficiently if he knows that when he returns, I'm waiting for him, and vice versa. And it'll improve my behavior significantly if I can cuddle up with someone in between meetings and so forth."

"No." Severus said. I turned to him with a small glare. "If I may, My Lord, as her godfather, I personally do not approve Catherine sharing a room with a man she isn't married to."

"I'd have to agree with Severus, My Lord. It's not only inappropriate, but against the customs and traditions that have kept us alive and preserved the pureblood lines these many years." Lucius added. I turned to him, then Narcissa.