The Dancer

Summary: Feisty Caitlyn Nott, twin sister to Theodore, has been summoned and given a mission by the Dark Lord which involves the . Follow as she struggles with her feelings towards the man that her father follows and the consequences that have been threatened if she refuses the task. Help and comfort come from a once undesired source, but will it be enough to help her through to the end?

Chapter 1

A slim girl in black jazz pants and pink, satin point shoes balanced her right leg on a wooden bar as she stretched her lithe body over it. She wore a teal colored leotard under the pants that matched her eyes in near perfection.

As she pulled her leg down from the bar she began her warm up routine. It consisted of graceful bends, toe points and other fluid movements. It was enough to mesmerize anyone, and as Draco Malfoy stared through the window to the girl's studio, that is exactly what he was, mesmerized.

The girl seamlessly moved from her warm up routine directly into her favorite piece. The twists and tip-toed movements made Draco smile. And then she spotted him in the mirror.

Abruptly the girl halted her movements and turned to stare at the boy on the other side of the window, her face transforming into a scowl.

She picked up her wand, sending a flourish towards a small black box in the corner, and stormed out of the room to confront the blonde.

"And just what do you think you are doing, Malfoy?" she demanded, her teal eyes boring into his.

"Your father sent me."

The girl let out a growl under her breath, anger flashing through her eyes. Draco was familiar with the girl's temper; it was enough to rival his own. She was always doing something to defy her father—including dancing muggle dances such as ballet. She despised his lifestyle and the one he had chosen for their family.

Draco could still remember the look of triumph on her face during their first year when the Sorting Hat had been placed on her head. After several moments the hat had finally yelled out that the girl had been sorted into Ravenclaw. With a satisfied smirk she had climbed from the stool and made her way towards the table below the blue and bronze banner.

"What could he possibly want?" the girl demanded, her eyes darting to Draco.

"I'm not sure, he wouldn't say. Just said that he needed you to 'get downstairs immediately, which does not mean at her earliest convenience.' Told me that he didn't care if I had to pick you up and carry you over my shoulder, fists pounding my back and teeth biting my shoulders."

The girl gave him a glare, "I don't think it will be necessary for you to carry me."

"You know, Nott, your brother isn't this complicated."

"Oh, yes, poor, sweet Teddy, why can't Caity be more like her twin brother?" the girl mocked.

Draco let out a chuckle. In as many years as he had known the Nott twins, Caitlyn had always been the more outspoken, more confrontational, more abrupt of the two. She had been the one to kick Goyle in the shin the first time he tried to make fun of Theodore. Apparently it was one hell of a kick, because Goyle had never done it again, and neither had anyone else in their year.

"Well, are you coming, or should I go put on my suit of armor and attempt to carry you?"

Cait spared one last glare at Draco before pulling on a thin, white hooded jacket and a pair of flip flips, and then she stormed down the hall and towards her father's study.

Thomas Nott stared at his daughter as she stomped into his office, annoyance written all over her face. He didn't understand where she had gotten her defiant streak from, Theodore certainly didn't share it. Perhaps she felt wronged in having lost her mother at such an early age. Thomas could only wonder.

"You sent someone to summon me?" she demanded, her teal eyes—so much like her mother's—smoldering.

He knew that she hated to be disturbed while she was in her dance studio, but this was important. This was an order from the Dark Lord himself.

"I did. There will be a very important meeting tonight and you must attend it."

Caitlyn let out a bark of laughter, scoffing at her father. "I don't want any part of your meetings or your dark lord. How many times do I have to tell you that?"

Thomas smirked, "Well, unfortunately it is not up to you or I whether you attend this meeting or not, it is up to the Dark Lord."

"Your lord does not rule me."

Suddenly a red light shot at Cait, hitting her square in the chest and dropping her to the floor in agony. A small whimper escaped her lips before she could control herself. She had not seen the tall blonde figure in the shadows holding his infamous walking stick.

"You were correct, Nott, she is a defiant one. She'll be fun to break." Lucius Malfoy called as he stepped from the shadows and strode towards an empty chair near the fireplace. "Draco, take her out of here. And make sure she gets to the meeting tonight."

Another blonde figure that Cait hadn't noticed in the room nodded and made to pick the girl up.

"I am capable of removing myself from the room, Malfoy. Don't touch me."

Draco withdrew his hands as if her skin had burned him and watched as she agonizingly drew herself into a standing position. If he had not known the pain from his own experiences with the Cruciatus Curse, he would have known nothing from Cait's blank face.

She stood to her full height, straightened her clothing, gave Lucius and her father a withering glare, and gracefully strode from the room, Draco following.

She made it as far as half way to her and her brother's wing before a limp entered her gait. It was slight, and if Draco hadn't been watching her so intently he probably wouldn't have seen it.

He made a move to help her, but stopped when she icily said, "Do not touch me," as she continued on her way.

When she came to her bedroom she quickly slammed the door behind her, sure to keep Draco from her room.

Draco stared at the door that had just been slammed in his face He sighed and did the only thing that he could think of to help her, he went to Theo.

Once Theo had learned about what his father and Draco's had done, he and Draco made their way to his sister's room.

He knocked once, a small succession of wraps, but when there was no answer he pushed the door open. The room appeared to be empty, so Theo made his way to the bathroom. The door was partially closed and as he pushed it open he motioned for Draco to stay in the main room.

Sitting in front of the commode was a disheveled looking Caity. As he watched, she hunched over the commode and retched.

Theo rushed forward and pulled her hair back from her face. She looked up at him, her teal eyes holding pain and sorrow in them, her normal mask having slipped from her features.

"Hey, it's okay," Theo said in a soothing tone as he pulled her into a hug, rubbing her back.

"Merlin, Teddy, that hurt."

"I know, Caity, I know," he soothed, "Let us help you. You'll feel better."

Cait slowly nodded and braced herself as Theo, as gently as possible, lifted her from the ground and carried her to the bed.

Draco watched in silence, as Theo gingerly set his sister on the pillows.

"Is there anything that you can do for the pain?" Theo asked Draco as he turned towards the blonde.

"I have something," Draco said, pulling a small vial from his pocket. "Take this," he said, uncorking it and offering it to Cait.

"What is it?" Theo asked for his sister before she had a chance to.

"It's a pain potion," Draco responded.

Cait nodded her head and Draco gently poured a small amount between her lips. She grimaced at the taste.

"Sorry, I forgot to warn you about that."

"That is one of the foulest things I have ever tasted." Cait replied hoarsely.

Both boys chuckled. "How do you feel?" Draco asked.

"Much better." she replied and then turned her teal gaze to him, "Thank you."

"Caity," Theo said, trying to gain her attention, "Caity, you have to go tonight."

Cait rolled up and off the bed in her graceful, cat-like way, and walked towards the large windows of her bedroom that stared out over the forest that lined the east of their home.

"Caity," Theo called in a warning tone.

"Why should I?" she exploded, turning to face him.

"Who knows what they will attempt if you refuse to go. Wasn't this bad enough?"

Cait dropped her gaze to the ground and sighed.

"You should wear that red dress," Theo smirked, knowing she would go, "It looks hot."

Cait laughed and turned to look back out the windows, becoming serious. "What if they want me to join them?" she whispered.

"We'll deal with that if it comes." Theo assured her. "Besides, Draco will be there with you tonight, he'll look after you."

Cait continued to stare out the windows silently.

"Get ready," Theo instructed her before wrapping her in a hug and ushering Draco from the room.

Cait sank into the chair nearest to her. The last thing she wanted was to be drawn into the Death Eaters. She knew they had already gotten Draco. She did not want to become another victim.