We will meet again ~ Fred Weasley

- Divided Loyalties -

"The cruel thing about caring is that it doesn't disappear when someone gives you a reason to stop."

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The following morning arrived beneath a blanket of grey clouds and relentless snowfall.

From the enchanted ceiling above the Great Hall, thick white flakes drifted steadily down, mirroring the storm raging outside the castle walls.

The atmosphere should have felt festive.

Christmas was only weeks away, and clusters of students were already discussing holiday plans, exchanging sweets, and complaining about the amount of homework their professors had assigned before the break.

For Katherine, however, the morning felt unusually heavy.

She had barely slept.

Every time exhaustion had finally dragged her under, she had found herself back in that abandoned classroom.

Back with Draco.

Back staring at the Dark Mark branded into his skin.

The memory followed her everywhere now.

It lingered at the edges of her thoughts, appearing whenever she wasn't actively concentrating on something else.

She hated it.

Hated the confusion.

Hated the anger.

Hated the guilt.

Most of all, she hated that she still couldn't bring herself to hate him.

Logic told her she should.

Katie Bell had nearly died.

A cursed necklace had been intended for Dumbledore.

Draco was involved.

The evidence was impossible to ignore.

And yet every time she remembered what she'd seen, her mind returned to the same conclusion.

He looked terrified.

Not proud.

Not triumphant.

Terrified.

The image of his shaking hands and pale face had haunted her all night.

By breakfast, she was exhausted.

Fortunately, her friends at the Slytherin table were more than enough to distract her.

Theo was complaining dramatically about an essay.

Pansy was insulting half the school before she'd even finished her toast.

Blaise kept throwing dry cereal at students before turning so they wouldn't know it was him .

Veronica was trying—and failing—not to laugh at all of them.

For a little while, Katherine allowed herself to get lost in the familiar comfort of her friends.

It helped.

Not enough.

But enough.

Because Draco wasn't here.

He wasn't in his usual seat.

And honestly she had no idea what to say to him when she did see him again.

The thoughts were endless.

Until she spotted Harry, Ron and Hermione further down the Hall.

Immediately, her attention shifted.