Catherine Potter~Book 3~Prisoner of Azkaban

Chapter 8

DRACO'S POV

"The place is just so beautiful." Catherine said looking at the horizon, watching the sun set. We were at the terrace of Catherine's room; locked in each other's arms, forgetting the world. I just never want to let her go, I love the feeling of her in my arms, I love the way she makes me feel; I love her.

"I love you too." She whispered.

I could feel my face grow hot but I ignore it, I should get used to it by now; her being able to read my mind although I know she can't help it. I kissed her forehead, smelling her hair. She smelled like apples. She always did. A little bit of peppermint too, but it's all good. 7

"Draco."

"Yeah,"

"Do you think I've....changed?"

The question had left me mystified, changed? She did seem a bit calmer, her temper hasn't gone off for weeks, and she befriended Greengrass, which I found really anomalous.

"I do." I said to her, "But I suppose it's a side effect from your medication." I said, jokingly.

Catherine looked serious, "No. I don't think that's it. The other day, Lupin told me I was exactly like my mum. McGonagall said my mum was kind and....nice."

"Starting to think about it, you are. Maybe you're turning back into a Gryffindor."

Catherine rolled her eyes, "Come on you git, its dinner." She said with a wink.

We went downstairs and saw the two house elves finish setting the table, "Domus, Famulus; you may go to your quarters if you have no chores to do. I shall call you when needed." I say to the elves. The elves disappeared with a crack. I turned around and saw Catherine, looking at me with curiosity.

"What?"

"I'm starting to think you're the one who's changing into a Gryffindor."

"It doesn't hurt on trying to be nice once in a while." I say pulling her up a seat. Catherine gave me another look and smiled, "Maybe you're not turning into a Gryffindor, Hufflepuff might be it." She teased. "Shut up." I say smearing her nose with pudding. 2

Catherine sent me a death glare and glazed my cheek with gravy. "I think I deserve that." I mutter.

"It because you do," She said mockingly.

"Isn't this lovely?" a voice said with hints of French.

Oh bloody hell.

A girl with white blond hair just past her shoulders, electric blue eyes and a smirk plastered on her face; Eleanor. "Hello cousin." She said with a devious smile.

"Good evening Eleanor, what in the devil's name are you doing here?" I asked trying to sound calm.

"Well, Aunt Cissy said we can stay here, so here we are."

I pause for a moment. We? Who else is here?

A tall figure came in the room, with the same blond hair and electric blue eyes; Edgar, Eleanor's older brother.

"Draco, it's been a while." He said shaking my hand.

"Indeed."

Edgar's eyes shifted to Catherine's direction, he flashed his charming smile. "And who is this beautiful being?" he asked. "Catherine, Catherine Potter." She said shaking his hand.

"Yes, she's my girlfriend. Catherine, this is my cousin; Edgar." I said introducing them. 2

This is going to be one hell of a Christmas. 5



Catherine'S POV

"So, where do you go to school, Edgar?" I ask.

"Durmstrang, I'm in my 5th year. I presume you go to Hogwarts, right?"

I nodded. "So, Eleanor what brings you here?" asks Draco. Eleanor put down her goblet of butter beer, "Aunt Cissy told me you two would be here, so I thought it would be fun to surprise you by our visit." She says cheerfully.

"Well, mission accomplished." I say trying to break the tension.

"Draco tells me you're an excellent Quidditch player, what's your position?" Edgar asked.

"Occasionally, I play Seeker but my main position is Beater." I said. Edgar raised his eyebrow, "Why 'occasionally'? "He asked.

"I'm a sort of understudy of our Seeker, which is Draco. I take over whenever he can't play." I explained.

"Oh! Right. The Hippogriff incident, almost forgot about that."

"How long will you two stay here?" Draco asked looking at Eleanor and Edgar.

"Well, Christmas is only 2 days away, so-"

"We'll stay till after then." Eleanor finished.

"So, just the same as us?" I ask.

"Yeah," The brother and sister said in unison. This is going to be fun, well, for us anyway. I look at Draco, he was glowering. You know what they say: the more the merrier.

~ 2

"Do you remember him? Peter Pettigrew, I mean." Madam Rosmerta said putting away the empty tankards. "Of course! The little lump of a boy he was! Always tagging along with Black & Potter, never quite in their league, I regret how sharp I treated him; of course, after what happened." McGonagall said her voice becoming cold.

"There, now, Minerva. He died in a hero's death. Muggles told us how Pettigrew cornered Black, he was sobbing on about the Potter's death, and he went for his wand. Black was quicker, of course. Blew him in smithereens," Said the Minister. 8

"Stupid, foolish boy he was. Should have left it to the ministry," McGonagall said thickly.

Then Hagrid told them the night he saw Black, the night the Potters died, saying he would tear him from limb to limb, regretting that he comforted the convict.

"There you have it, Rosmerta. He was taken away by 20 members of the Magical law enforcement squad and Pettigrew received the order of Merlin, first class, which I think comforted his mother in some way." Said Fudge, 5

They continued the talk of whether Black was mad or sane, judging by the years he spent in Azkaban. Then the conversation got interesting, Harry moved a bit closer to hear it clearly.

"What I can't stand is the fact that Sirius Black, and onto this day, is Harry and Catherine Potter's Godfather." McGonagall said with a tone of pure loathing.

Harry's green eyes widened. His breathing shallower. He raced outside the bar and into the cold bitterness that slapped him in the face as he got out, heading towards the forest and let out a strangled scream. 5

~

HARRY'S POV:

Sirius Black is our Godfather???

My head was flooded with scenarios of him babysitting me and Catherine as toddlers, then came in when he was betraying them. He betrayed us. He betrayed our parents. I sat on a rock, ignoring Hermione's calls.

For once, I'm glad Catherine isn't here. She could've done worst. She would have climbed on the Astronomy tower and shout into the air, calling for Black. Ready to kill, wand in hand, Catherine needs to know this. She needs to come back. 1

Hermione had pulled off the cloak and put a comforting hand on my shoulder.

"He's betrayed them." Was all I managed to say.

Without even saying a name she got the hint, "Harry, I understand you feel angry but-"

"No."

I felt my blood boil, I clenched my teeth. "I hope he finds me, and when he does; I'll be prepared. When he does I'm going to kill him!"

Hermione was about to answer then she clasped her mouth shut. Someone's coming. Ron threw the cloak on me, "Go back to Hogwarts. Now,"

I didn't even remember how I got back to Gryffindor common room, all I remember was writing a letter.

Catherine,

I need to talk to you. Face to face, please. I can't do this by letter. Come back home soon as humanly possible. It's about Sirius Black.

-Harry

I gave it to Hedwig. She nipped my hand affectionately and flew away with the letter safely in her beak.

2 days left until Christmas. I heard a crash emerging from the dorms; I quickly got on my feet and darted in the room. Neville had knocked down the lamp on his side table.

"R-Reparo!" he said carefully placing back the newly repaired lamp. "You alright here, Neville?"

His cheeks were flustered. "Yeah, I was just wrapping a few presents and, you know." He said bashfully.

Something had caught my attention, a plant. A flower of some sort, I couldn't tell what colour it was, but I would tell you this: it was beautiful.

They stood tall in their vase, oozing with charm and elegance. When you stood near them, you could hear them hum the most beautiful melody.

"Neville, what is it?"

Neville shrugged, "I don't know what to call them yet. I saw them growing by the Black lake a year ago, I studied them for anything lethal. Nothing, no poison whatsoever. Just an ornamental one, she is." Neville said looking down at the plant.

"I was thinking of calling them 'Children of Aphrodite because of their appearance." He added, rummaging in his trunk. 3

"You should." I said as my gaze dropped down to the long elegant neck of the flower, a name tag was attached to it. Written in elegant script was Catherine's name.

"Neville,"

"Yeah, Harry?"

I pause for a moment. "Why is my sister's name on this?"

Neville looked at me as if I was joking; he looked at the plant and began to blush.

"I-I don't know. Wait- I think I've figured out. Harry, lean in closer to the plant," He said pushing me towards it. Catherine's name disappeared and was replaced with a name of a fellow Ravenclaw; Cho Chang.

I jerk away from it. "What...What in the name of merlin is that?!"

Neville was jotting down notes, "Do you hear her singing? Well, don't go near it. The singing goes in your mind, takes the information that concerns with the most intimate emotion there is; love. When it does, the name of anyone you fancy comes out. My theory, the longer you stay near that thing, the longer it feeds on your mind. This means brain malfunction, memory loss and the decrease of IQ levels." Neville said. 5

"But why?"

He paused for a moment and then continued writing.

"The singing penetrates your mind, when it does it makes you feel all fluttery inside like when you're in love. So, to cut the story short; the longer you stay near it, the faster it'll make you a mad, emotionless psychopath." 7

He didn't even wait for me to speak; he strapped on a pair of ear muffs and carried the plant in his arms.

"I'll just bring this to Professor Sprout!" Neville said within earshot.

The plant was gone, I felt like I rode a bull and a rollercoaster 7 times, like I wanted to throw up on the spot.

What just happened? 4

~ 2

"Hedwig? What are you doing here?"

The snowy owl hooted softly when she saw Catherine, "You must be hungry; you can stay here for a while." Catherine said. Hedwig perched on her arm as they went outside the manor; Catherine released her in the garden where the Malfoy's had a bird house big enough to fit half the school's owls. Catherine took the letter from her beak, tearing through the envelope glue; it was from Harry.

It had said that he wanted to speak to her. Soon, Catherine thought he had gotten into trouble but then she read the last sentence.

It's about Sirius Black.

"Hedwig, you rest for a while. Yeah? All you need is in there. Might take a while to write back." Catherine said stroking the bird's head with her thumb. The owl nipped her fingers with gratitude.

Catherine had swiftly run back into the manor, locking herself in the library. It was closest to her and besides, she couldn't risk anybody getting a look at the letter, especially Draco and Eleanor.

She grabbed an eagle feather quill and wrote back a very drawn-out reply,

Harry,

I haven't the foggiest idea how you came across some news about Black. I'll come back there soon. A day after Christmas, I promise. Until then, don't do anything idiotic without me; don't look for Black, Harry. Please. Sorry if Hedwig took too long, I just rested her for a while.

Also, I sent a bird along with Hedwig. Its name is Aquila, you'll see a bag she's carrying all of the presents for you lot are there. The names are on them so you'll know who's who.

And, Harry, be safe. 5

-Catherine

Catherine had run to her room and collected the gifts and checks them off her list:

· Luna: Book, "Unusual magical artefacts and their properties"

· Ginny: that pink satchel she always loved

· Neville: a pruning kit for his plants

· Ron: an assorted box of Honeydukes sweets 5

· Fred: a hand buzzer that can shock you and make your hair stand on end

· George: a box of caramels that makes your hair turn into yellow, blue, and then green (takes a few weeks to rub off). 6

· Hermione: that book she always kept looking at, "The beginning of Magic".

· Harry: a set of books all about Quidditch and his favourite teams.

· Aunt Minerva: an emerald silk scarf 5

"That's about it." She said tying the bag full of presents. She knotted the letter with the bag and hulled it over her shoulder, careful not to make a sound while coming out of the room.

Catherine peeked in the living room to see if they were awake. A mischievous smile crept on her face, they were asleep. Catherine settled the bag behind the Grandfather clock and snuck to the kitchen, she took 3 small bowls and filled them water.

"Sweet dreams, lovelies." She said putting each of their hands into a bowl of water, "Excellent." 2

Catherine snuck out of the room and went into the bird's house, "Hedwig?"

The snowy owl's amber eyes sparkled at the mention of her name, "Hedwig, you'll be travelling back to Harry with Aquila, yeah?"

Hedwig looked at the eagle with distaste and looked back at Catherine, "She's nice, you two will be fine. Tell you what, when I get back to Hogwarts, I'll give you two rats. Deal?" 5

Hedwig's eyes softened and hooted in agreement. "Good, Aquila, come on girl."

The eagle swooped to the ground and clenched her talons to the bag, "Be careful you two, I want you to come back in one piece. Alright?"

Catherine opened the cage and watched the two birds fly, be safe.

The owl and eagle was now nowhere in sight, she closed the cage and went back in the manor. Catherine snuck into the living room and saw them still asleep, hands in bowls.

She giggled and lay down to a couch next to Draco's, falling into a dreamless sleep.