Riddle Me This

Chapter 72

Catherine's POV

Hermione and Ron decided to throw Harry a surprise house warming party at Grimmauld Place, though I don't know how they managed with him living there and all. But whatever. When I entered, it looked nice. The party was apparently for Harry finishing up with the renovations and making the house more like a house and less like a House Elf torturing grounds. Kreacher met Draco and I happily. I smiled.

"Cat!" Hermione said happily when I came in. I smiled back. Her and Ron had moved in a few weeks after their engagement party. Which probably helped with planning the party.

"Hey Hermione." I said as I hugged her. "I hope it's okay that Lolli came."

"Lolli?" Hermione asked. At the sound of a pop, she turned to see Draco's house elf.

"She's a friend of mine, and she really wanted to meet Harry in... better standings." I explained.

"Lolli heard many stories from Master Draco. And Lolli wanted to meet Kreacher." Lolli explained. "Lady Catherine is friends with Kreacher, and Lolli was hoping to befriend Kreacher as well." Hermione looked to Draco and I, but shook her head.

"Alright." She said, before looking to me. "Cat, you know I'm in S.P.E.W. and-"

"She's not here to work and it's not like I haven't tried freeing her before. I'm not her master or mistress, and when I brought it up, she freaked out and asked what she had done wrong to want me to want Draco to make her leave. If she ends up helping though, I can't stop her." I said. Hermione nodded, before moving to work on finishing setting up decorations.

"Lady Catherine." Kreacher said when he saw me. I smiled as Sevy flew around. Kreacher seemed to smile a little. "Come with Kreacher." And I followed Kreacher to the room that had the Black Family Tree. The room seemed to be the only place that hadn't been touched. I smiled as I saw Draco's face on the wall again. "Kreacher thought Lady Catherine would be pleased to know that the room had not been touched." I smiled as I turned to him.

"Thank you." Draco walked in at this time and looked around.

"It's been too long since I've been here." He said. He found his face on the wall and hummed. I looked around more and giggled.

"I know why Harry didn't touch it." I said.

"You mean besides the strong ancestral magic?" Draco asked. I shook my head and hit his arm gently.

"Teddy's on it." I said as I pointed to the child's face. "I'm sure he wouldn't want to remove something with Teddy on it if he's the godfather." Draco hummed. Hermione called for us and we went back down to help finish setting up.

When Harry came home through the floo, he was surprised and very happy to see all his friends there. The party wasn't loud and lively like one would expect. It was calmer, and we were all sitting in the sitting room, Lolli and Kreacher serving us, though Hermione protested. Kreacher must have noticed me absentmindedly playing with the locket Draco had given me on our first Christmas, because he commented.

"Has Lady Catherine opened the locket Master Draco gave Lady Catherine?" Kreacher asked. I shook my head as I looked to Draco.

"No, I haven't." I said. "And Draco won't tell me how to do it." Kreacher nodded.

"Kreacher is happy that Lady Catherine and Master Draco are together." That halted a few things. I smiled while Draco blushed, and Ron, Harry, Hermione, and the our other friends just stared, looking to be in varying stages of shock.

"Thank you Kreacher." And I pet his head gently.

"Lolli's happy too! Lolli can't wait to serve Lady Catherine at Malfoy Manor again!" Lolli chirped happily. I gaped at her.

"Yes, Master Draco is the only suitable wizard for Lady Catherine." Kreacher agreed. The two nodded in agreement.

"What?!" I squeaked. Lolli and Kreacher turned to me confused.

"Did Lady Catherine not wish to appear on the Black Family Tapestry?" Kreacher asked. I turned a darker red.

"I was asking a question! I'd never seen a family tapestry before!"

"But Lady Catherine said-" Kreacher began.

"Nope! You stop right there Kreacher! That is a secret between you and me!" I said quickly.

"Oh, poor Master Draco. Lady Catherine does not wish to become a Madam Malfoy." Lolli said sadly.

"Lolli!" Draco screeched. Lolli turned to him, looking so very upset.

"What is Master Draco to do? Asking Mr. Snape for Lady Catherine's hand in the future means nothing if Lady Catherine doesn't wish for it as well." Lolli continued on. I just stared at her, the room now silent as Lolli wepted, Kreacher looking confused.

"But Lady Catherine told Kreacher she hopes for it."

"Kreacher!" I squeaked.

"So Lady Catherine does want to wed Master Draco?" Lolli asked.

"Lolli!" Draco squeaked as well.

"From what Lady Catherine told Kreacher, yes." Kreature said with a nod, then frowned. "Forgive Kreacher, Lady Catherine." I crossed my arms.

"You're forgiven. But I know you remembered me saying that conversation was between you and me before I even asked the bloody question." I said. Something struck me then. "Wait, you asked Papa for my hand?" I asked as I turned to Draco. He was scarlet. Then something clicked. "That.... That's what Papa meant... when he said you'd make me a fine husband... He was telling me he'd given you his consent." Draco wasn't looking at me, instead blushing a deep red. I couldn't control it as I started to cry and then latched myself onto him. "Draco."

"Catherine." Draco said softly, pulling me closer to him. His hand dropped to my necklace, and he muttered a spell, before holding the locket up. I watched as it opened, and out came a ring. It was silver, and looked like half of a snake. "This is nothing like I wanted to go about this, but... will you marry me?" I blinked a few times before crying harder and nodding.

"Yes, yes. Of course." I said. Draco smiled as he slipped the ring onto my finger. I wrapped my arms around him, ignoring our friend's cheers. "I love you so much."

"I love you too." Draco said as he kissed my neck.