Chapter 7- The secret Riddle

Katie was removed to St Mungo's Hospital for magical Maladies and Injuries the following day, by which the news that she had been cursed had spread all over the school, though details were confused and nobody other than harry, Ron, Hermione, Taylor and Leanne seemed to know that Katie herself had not been the intended target. Taylor watched Draco more closely, trying to figure out if he was behind it anxiously. Draco avoided her gaze as much as possible during this time.

Taylor waited impatiently in the astronomy tower for him to arrive. She was feeling nauseous at the thought of him doing it the poor girl. She stood leaning on the railing looking over the grounds. Checking the time she sighed.

"It's 8:15, he's not going to come" she thought. Looking one last time at the grounds she turned around to head back to her room. He stood there watching her in the shadows. Debating whether or not to come out when she headed to the exit. He came behind her and put his hand on her shoulder. Before he knew it he was against one of the walls of the tower with her arm against his throat. Realising she dropped her arm and stepped back.

"Shit, sorry you scared me... Never sneak up on me again" she said ending it by hitting him on the shoulder.

"Wow princess, your up tight. Didn't take your calm pills today?" he joked rubbing his shoulder, trying to make her feel better.

"Why would I when a girl gets cursed in front of you the first time you leave the castle grounds since school started and someone you trust may have something about it? Your right I'm completely over-reacting." sarcastically she retorted taking a seat against the wall opposite him. He moved to crouch down in front of her and put his hand on her knee.

"Are you ok? Your not hurt?"

"I'm fine" she pulled her knee away from his hand. "So are you?"

"Am I what?"

"Involved with what happened to her"

"It's not what it seams, It wasn't meant to be her. I had no choice, it was the only way I could think of doing it easily." he rambled on trying to explain it, almost begging her to listen to him.

"It wasn't meant to be her, are you kidding me? That's supposed to make me feel better about the fact you were going to curse someone?" She started, her emotions pushing her to the edge "everyone has a choice about everything in their lives every day. What is meant to be easy about cursing someone huh?, the fact you don't have to watch it happen? Well I did and it was horrible. You aren't who I thought you were" she finished quietly.

Standing up she tried to push past him to leave, but he kept on stepping in front of her and pushing her back.

"Pease let me explain, Its not what you think. Just listen to me"

"Or what you will curse me too, well news flash buddie, I'm a lot harder to curse" she challenged, tears threatening to spill down her face.

"I would never hurt you. Please just give me 5 minutes, that's all I'm asking for.

She walked back to the wall and leant against it, arms crossed waiting for him to continue.

"The death eaters want me to kill someone in the school. If I don't I die. I got it to her to give to him. I didn't mean for anyone else to get hurt. I have to kill him, it's the only way. I tried cursing him because its easier than killing him face to face." his voice cracked, "please help me, I'm scared, Snape is watching my every move and it must be done by the end of the year. I don't know what to do"

"Who was it?... you were meant to kill"

"Dumbledore... I have to kill him"

"You can't do that. He is my godfather, he- he is protecting us, gave us a safe home. He is helping me find them"

"Then what do I do huh? Give myself over to them to be killed, tortured and get my family hurt as well"

"There is another way, there has to be. We could run, It's worked before. We could fake death and escape until it was safe. Or..."

"Or what? Cause none of those options are going to work"

"I have an idea, just give me a couple of weeks and I'll try and figure this out." She walked passed him, but was pulled back into a hug. Warmth spread through them both.

"Thankyou" he whispered shaking slightly with relief, kissing her forehead slightly.

"Your welcome" she whispered, smiling slightly, burying her head into his chest.

What did you mean by 'us'?"

"What?" she pulled away, anxiously tucking her hair behind her ear.

"Before you said he was protecting and giving 'us' a safe home. Who are you referring to as 'us'?"

"It's a long story"

"I've got time. Plus I just told you I have to kill someone so go for it... I'm not going any where"

Sighing she pulled off her jacket and shirt revealing the assortment of scars all over her. One particular one stood out, the word 'bitch' was carved across her back in large, deep letters. Shocked he walked around her staring at the scars. Picking up her shirt and jacket he gave them to her, pulling off his jacket and wrapping it around her to try and protect her from the cold night. She quickly dressed again giving him the jacket back.

"The death eaters that murdered my family found me in my muggle residence. I had no idea that I was a wizard or that I was adopted. I found out a couple of weeks before they took me. I was a mess, not paying attention. Th- they tortured me, wanting something my parents had, something I didn't realise I have. One of the people I knew, he was the youngest one there, he dated me years before hand, it didn't go far. He raped he every night until they noticed I was pregnant. They taunted me saying how they were going to kill the baby in front of me."

He hugged her, comfortingly he rubbed her back before letting her continue.

"I don't quite remember how but I escaped and was on the run. I had her at the nearest hospital of the time, the second I could I disappeared with her and ran again. I found how to contact Dumbledore and corresponded with him for weeks until he convinced me to come here. That's why I have my own room"

"You have a daughter" shocked he looked down at her.

"Weird eh. Now would probably be the time to run away" She looked away, expecting him to leave. He put his hands on her shoulders, and looked down at her gently.

"I told you I'm not going anywhere, this just proves that you are as tough as nails, just like I always believed. What is her name?"

"Your ok with this?"

"Of course. When could I meet her?"

"Now if you want to"

Holding hands they walked to her room, entering he saw a normal bed with a cot next to it. A changing table, rocking chair with a door for the bathroom and another for a large wardrobe. There was a desk in the corner with a basket of toys next to it. The other side of the room had a punching bag hanging from the roof and a mirror covering one wall. Numerous fighting equipment covering the other one. A house elf was in the chair nursing a bundle.

"Winky I want you to meet Draco, Winky has been helping me look after her while I was in class or out doing other things. Thankyou for helping me, I can take it from here now,I'll see you in the morning"

"Goodnight Taylor" she answered passing over the baby and vanishing.

"Draco this is my daughter Marina Eve Di Angelo"

He approached carefully and gazed at the baby. She had black hair like her mother and large dark brown eyes. She gurgled and reached up at him smiling, causing a smile to appear on his face. She passed her to him to hold, walking into the bathroom. He didn't notice and just watched her in awe, playing with her hands.

"She needs to go to sleep now" said Taylor smiling at him and putting her down to sleep. He watched her happily, amazed by how good she was at this.

"She is perfect" he whispered coming up behind Taylor wrapping his arms around her stomach and resting his chin on her shoulder. Her wet hair brushed against his face. "When did you have a shower?"

"Just before, you were to busy to notice" She placed her hands over his. "I should try and get some sleep before she wakes up and wants to be fed"

"I'll go then. Goodnight"

"Goodnight" She turned around in his arms, wrapping her arms around the back of his neck. She slowly stood on her toes and kissed him lightly on the lips. "the password is 'hope'" she whispered before pulling away and getting into her bed, watching him walk out of the room. Once he closed the door she turned off the lights and went to sleep.