slytherin princess [2]

to hallowe'en and onward

The next month flew by, and the year was getting progressively harder. Catherine was still doing well in all her classes, but she figured that she needed to buckle down more than usual. Her exhaustion had increased her addiction to Wide-Eye potions; at this point, she was taking triple the recommended dosage.

Pansy and she were enjoying their fifth year, besides all of the tests and Catherine's random grieving outburst. The two of them had done a few things to Granger this year, but without Gryffindor's common room password, they had to get more creative. Last week, they had burnt Hermione's hair almost to her scalp. They also realized that when Umbridge was around, they got away with whatever. She would simply turn her head to hide a smile and walk off.

Draco was ecstatic with the recent events of the quidditch season. Catherine didn't know all the details because Harry had hidden them from her, but apparently, Harry was banned from quidditch for the rest of the season. Malfoy had said something awful, and then, he, Fred, and George all picked a fight with him. She told him that he had been idiotic doing that. Once again, Harry reminded her that he wasn't as level-headed as she was.

On the night of the Hallowe'en feast, Catherine decided to feign ill and stay in. She told Pansy that she was just tired from the week's work. So, she waited for everyone to leave before going to the Astronomy Tower. Professor Sinastra had a nasty habit of leaving the door unlocked for all of the students to use the tower. She also knew that the prefects had to go there during their rounds. Plus, it's a wizarding school that taught the unlocking charm during first year.

Catherine sat down on the cool stone once again. A bottle of Firewhiskey that she had snagged from Filch's office a week ago sat in front of her and her memory book was in her lap. She took a swig of the whiskey that burnt her throat before opening the book.

Page Five:

The first picture was one that Catherine knew well. It was from their first date. She wore that gorgeous white dress that she had torn up over the summer in a fit of grief-driven rage. Catherine was pulling open the door to her room and smiling at the "camera." Her heart swelled at the memory.

The second picture caused her to take two swigs of whiskey. It was the first time Cedric had done his famous dip and kiss. They were under the streetlamp as she watched herself be lowered in his arms towards the ground. It was painful thinking about how he did that everytime he was excited or exceptionally happy. It had been how their last kiss had been. Catherine painstakingly thought about it. Truthfully, you never know when that last kiss will be. It could be in a month, a year, or the next time you kiss. She painfully thought about the quidditch pitch, and Cedric's lips landing on hers.

In that moment, Catherine felt her most vulnerable in a while. She took a long sip and tucked her book away. She liked to talk to Harry about everything with Cedric, but even she couldn't bring herself to talk about the book or her nights on the Astronomy Tower.

Catherine didn't mind him knowing that she was still sad about it, but she would rather he didn't know how she was coping.

Catherine drank more of the bottle until she heard footsteps.

"You know, Ms. Collins, one should not make it a habit to drink alone."

She nervously whirled around to see Dumbledore.

"Fancy seeing you here," she half-smiled.

"Yes, it is most peculiar seeing the school's Headmaster at school."

"Was that a joke, professor, or am I really that pissed?"

Dumbledore smiled, "It was my attempt at one. I've been meaning to find you anyhow, Ms. Collins."