Riddle Me This

Chapter 69

Catherine's POV

I was more than ready beginning the program. The first day of training, everyone was glaring at me, except Pansy, who hugged me happily.

"I'm so glad you made it, Cat." She said. I smiled.

"Yeah, me too. I thought I would be rejected for sure." I said, still a little upset. Pansy rolled her eyes and huffed.

"They seem to forget you turned against that psycho." Pansy said. I nodded as we got ready for our trainer to come in. "So, how have you and Draco been?" Pansy asked with a smirk. I smiled softly.

"We're doing great. It sucks not seeing him everyday... and to be honest..." I frowned. "The nightmares have been absolutely unbearable. There isn't a night I don't wake up from a nightmare."

"Catherine! You should be taking dreamless sleep if it's that bad!" She sassed firmly.

"I know." I sighed. "But I don't want to rely on it." I explained. Pansy glared at me.

"Have you told Draco?" Pansy asked. I shook my head.

"Merlin no. I don't want to worry him more than he probably is." I said. I saw a look pass over Pansy's face. Before I could speak, Pansy had her mouth open.

"If you don't start taking it, I'm telling Draco." Pansy said. I glared at her.

"Bitch." I hissed.

"Slytherin." She corrected. We ended our 'conversation' once the trainer came in, turning to our textbooks and parchment.

I started taking dreamless sleep in small doses, to keep the dreams away, but also the dependence. Figured it would be a good compromise. And it worked for the most part. Some days I still woke up feeling like I got hit by a Petrificus Totalis, and with a funky taste in my mouth, but nothing a little Pepper Up and tooth brushing didn't fix.

Christmas came quicker than I thought it would, but the Healer program didn't give us a break until Christmas Eve, Christmas day, New Year's Eve and New Year's day, which I spent with Draco and Narcissa at the Manor. Which as happy as we all tried to act, none of us were comfortable in any of those rooms. And Narcissa decided on New Year's day to drop something big on Draco and I.

"I'm moving to France." She said as we sat in the sitting room drinking tea. Draco turned to her quickly.

"Mother?" He asked carefully. Narcissa let out a big sigh.

"I can't stay in this horrible place anymore, Draco. I have tried to, while you had been away at school, but I can't possibly pretend that nothing happened here. This isn't my home anymore. It hasn't been since that... bastard took over." Draco and I stared at Narcissa for a moment, surprised she would use such language, even if it was understandable.

"I can understand that, but France?" Draco asked. Narcissa nodded.

"The Malfoy Estate there hasn't been tainted. I shall leave this estate in your care, Draco. You may do as you please." She gave a sly smile. "That and I won't be subject to you two forgetting to use a silencing charm when you too decided to make your love to each other known in the middle of the night when Catherine comes to visit." Draco and I blushed deeply, both refusing to make eye contact with anyone or anything.

"Sorry." I mumbled. Narcissa laughed, and though it was a little forced because of the bad feeling the Manor always gave anyone in it, it was still the happiest sound I have heard from the woman in my life.

"No need." Narcissa smiled softly. "Though I do hope to still be included in your two's lives. I will meet my grandchildren and be here for the wedding." There was an underlying threat of what would happen if we did forget to invite her to such events.

"M-Mother!" Draco squeaked. "Please, we aren't at that stage yet." Narcissa gave Draco a look that only a mother and son relationship could make sense of. Draco looked away, grumbling slightly, while Narcissa smiled proudly, apparently winning whatever the fuck just happened.

"I plan to be gone within the month." Narcissa finished. Draco and I nodded. And Narcissa kept her word. After getting permission between the Britain and French Ministries of Magic, Narcissa Malfoy moved to the French Malfoy Residence, leaving Draco the sole residence of the Britain Manor.

It was hard for Draco. I could tell by the floo calls we had at night when we had the time. And I didn't know what to do for him. I couldn't go back into the Manor. It just wasn't fucking happening. I think I can list all my good memories from there on one hand. But for Draco... that was his home. The place he grew up. And it was tainted and empty now, with just him, the house elves, and the shadows of the death that flooded that house in only a couple of years.

Luna thought maybe having Draco throw a party would be nice. I reminded her that the only reason I stepped foot in that place was because Draco was there. If he wasn't I'd free all the house elves and burn the damn thing to the ground. That and no one else was willing to step in that house as it was. Gatherings with our group of friends happened at my house or Harry's. It'd be at the Burrow, but Draco and Ron still hadn't really made up yet, and Blaise and Pansy felt terribly uncomfortable surrounded by Weasley's. If the Manor wasn't so tainted, everyone had agreed (without Draco in the room) that it would be the perfect place because it was built to entertain guests and if anyone decided to stay the night, there would have been enough guest rooms to hold them.

We had tried bringing Hermione in once. As soon as she saw the sitting room she was tortured in, she started to have a breakdown. Luna wouldn't go near the dungeons and though she looked her normal, dreamy self, she was tense the entire time. Draco noticed, and that killed him a little more. Blaise and Pansy went over sometimes, but it wasn't the same for them either. Neville, Seamus, and Ginny refused to enter the place at all, and no one blamed them.

"We'll work something out." Luna had said before leaving her final visit. Draco nodded solemnly, before watching her disappear through the floo. I sat next to him, having had the day off, and pet his hand gently.

"I don't know what to do Kitty." Draco said after a few moments, leaning his head against my shoulder. I hummed softly.

"I know Dragon. For now, let's go to bed. I have the feeling you're not in the mood for dinner, and neither am I." Draco nodded slowly to my words, and so we moved to his bedroom.

Happy news eventually came in the form of an overexcited Hermione falling through my floo a month or so later.

"Cat!" She yelled, clinging to me the best she could.

"Hermione?" I answered back, obviously confused. Draco entered the sitting room from the potion's lab, having been brewing me some more dreamless sleep. Hermione got off me and picked up her hand, showing off the simple thin golden band. My eyes widened and I screamed just as happily, clinging to my best friend as we squealed and laughed and cried together.

"Do I want to know?" Draco asked carefully. I turned to him, smiling widely.

"Ron proposed to Hermoine." I squealed, before hugging Hermione again. "Oh Hermione that's absolutely marvelous! Do you have a date or anything yet?" I asked. Hermione shook her head.

"Not yet. I only know two things for sure." She said. I nodded quickly, waiting for her to continue. "Harry's best man." I nodded. Obviously. Hermione took a deep breath. "And I want you to be my Maid of Honor." My eyes widened once again as the house went quiet, only the distant sound of the bubbling cauldron to be heard. Tears began to roll down my face as I hugged Hermione close.

"Of course I'll be your Maid of Honor, Hermione! I'd be honored to!" I responded. Draco startled grumbling about 'Great, Weasley Interaction' before leaving the room to let Hermione and I get off the floor and dive straight into trying to find out what the fuck to do with Hermione's wedding, and who else was helping.