Riddle Me This

Chapter 47

Catherine's POV

That Saturday, on Severus' word, an ambush was set outside of Privet Drive in order to get Harry. Father went as well while Draco and I stayed behind. Draco because he was still new to being a Death Eater and had yet to have a duel while in flight, and I for similar reasons. When they returned, the only news we received was that they succeeded in killing Moody.

"I am disappointed, Lucius." Voldemort said as he dropped what was left of the Death Eater's wand before him. It was cracked, and to be honest I was surprised it was still in one piece.

"Probably shouldn't be." I said as I fed Sevy, who was hanging on the chandelier above us, Father allowed her to join our meetings if she kept quiet. "You expect a wand weaker than yours to be able to go against one that is the brother to yours?" I asked. "And with a wand that hadn't bonded to you or accepted you as it's new master either. Sorry Father, you're going to need something better than simple elm and dragon heartstring."

"You're right, Catherine." Voldemort said, holding out his hand. I looked at it and shook my head.

"I can promise you unicorn hair is not going to do any better against a phoenix feather that's as loyal to Potter as his happens to be." I said, pulling my wand out and twirling it slightly. "My wand will not help you any. Nor will anyone here. You'll need the ultimate wand. And I promise you that no one here has it on them." I said as I elevated another piece of fruit to Sevy.

It was with that, that Father dismissed the meeting and headed to the dungeons where he was keeping his prisoners, such as Ollivander. I stayed in the dining room with Sevy, giving her fruit until she refused it, Draco sitting next to me.

"This bloody well sucks." I said as I put my wand away and started practicing my wandless magic.

"What?" Draco asked as he grabbed the apple floating past him.

"All of this." I said. "I want everything to calm down. I can only drink so much dreamless sleep before I form an addiction to it."

"I thought you stopped taking it." Draco stated, before taking a bite of the apple.

"It's an off and on thing. I try not to, hoping that maybe I'll just have a wet dream. Knowing my luck, the nights I take the potion are the nights I would have those dreams. Hell, I'd prefer to dream about the things Luna would rage about in school. What did she call them? Nargles? Something like that." I gave a humorless laugh as I moved a pear. "Anything but all this death." I frowned, dropping the pear to the table. Draco took my hand in his gently and rubbed the back with his thumb.

"I know what you mean." He said softly. We sat in silence for an hour or two before moving to Draco's room to sleep.

On July 31st, the Death Eaters not only killed the Minister of Magic, but found where Harry had been hiding and attacked. Draco and I once again stayed back, this time to begin preparations for Hogwarts next term.

"Sort of sick of not being allowed to go on raids." Draco said as he packed his trunk.

"Well, even as a couple, I'm afraid to say that though my Father trusts me, he does not trust your family. A few too many failures on both yours and your father's part." I said as I inspected what I had laid out to put in my trunk. "Not only that, but your father is wandless, and we have a mission at Hogwarts to fulfill." I stared at the blouse I had picked up with a sad sigh.

"You're the one that brought up the mission to the Dark Lord." Draco said as he closed his trunk. I frowned.

"Well, it makes sense doesn't it? Take the only people you believed you could trust, and turn them against you. It makes it easier for someone to want to give up and turn themself in. If you have nothing and no one to fight for, why fight at all?" I said as I put the blouse back in the wardrobe designated for my clothing.