Kayla's eyes widened. She grabbed his arm and pulled back his sleeve, revealing his Dark Mark. Draco recoiled, pushing his sleeve over his arm.

"You're one of them, aren't you?"

Draco buttoned his sleeve. "You have no idea what you're talking about! They made me..."

"-I saw you, Draco. You were standing on the Astronomy Tower. You were about to do something. You were scared. What were you going to do?"

Draco shook his head, "I don't know!"

"You're lying!" She shouted, standing up. Draco stood and brushed himself off. "I'm not!"

"You were afraid, Draco. You were shaking. You were talking to someone but I couldn't see who."

"-Did you see my parents?" He asked suddenly. Kayla opened her mouth but then snapped it shut.

"DID YOU SEE MY PARENTS?" He shouted. Kayla nodded.

Draco brushed back his hair from his face. He stared at the ground, unable to look Kayla in the eyes. "And... were they..."

"-I don't know!"

He looked up at her. "I don't know if your parents are alive or not in the future. I saw them talking about you." Draco moved closer to her but Kayla moved back in return.

"What were they saying?"

"Your father said your mother lacked faith in you. But your mother was angry and said she believed in you. She said the only person she doubted was 'him'."

Draco's eyes darted around as he digested the information.

"Who are they talking about, Draco?"

Draco picked up his wand, waved it and the mountain of books began to levitate. They floated around the bookshop, lodging themselves into their rightful places on the shelves around them.

"Who were they talking about? Answer me!"

Draco flicked his wand at his suit jacket and it was immediately dried. He put it on and pocketed his wand.

"I have to go." He said bluntly. He walked by Kayla and headed to the front of the bookshop.

"That's it then? Quick snog in the back of a bookshop, I tell you your future and you just leave?!"

Draco turned, "You didn't tell me shit!" Kayla pulled out her wand. "Like hell!"

He glanced at her wand, chuckled and shook his head. "I'm not going to fight you."

"I don't get to choose what I do and do not See! I didn't ask for this curse! I didn't ask for any of this!" Her voice cracked. She was sobbing now. She wiped her cheeks. She could feel her blood boiling. What would he do now? Reveal that she was a Seer? Was she going to lose everything.

But Draco's face softened, "I understand."

He walked over to her. "Neither of us chose to be stricken with a burden that threatens to destroy us. I understand that. I won't tell anyone your secret. I promise. Just please, don't share mine."

He grabbed her hands and held them. Kayla glanced up at his grey eyes. She tried to pull herself together. The entire situation seemed so surreal. She was standing in a bookshop in Hogsmeade and had kissed Draco Malfoy. Okay, if she was being truthful with herself she had snogged Draco Malfoy. She'd seen the future and possibly the present. She felt as if something had been taken from her. It felt as if a piece of her had become dislodged.

A few moments later, Draco smiled sadly and turned before he left the store.

Kayla stood alone in the bookshop. Hot tears fell down her face. This was too much. Her head felt jumbled. Where she had felt so certain just days before, she now felt as if she'd been socked in the stomach. She fell to her knees and cupped her mouth, sobbing.

The door opened again and Catherine stood in the doorway. She rushed over and fell to the floor, wrapping her arms around her best friend.

"Did you do it?" She whispered. Kayla nodded. Catherine hugged her tightly. "It's okay. I promise it's going to be okay. I promise."

Dane sat on a bench at The Three Broomsticks, his leg bouncing nervously as he stared at his Butterbeer on the table in front of him. A girl beside him set down her glass on the table with a loud thud. "You mind?"

Dane looked at her. "You're causing the whole table to shake." She said. Dane apologized, stopped shaking his leg, and took a long swig of his Butterbeer. His heart was beating so fast that he could feel it throbbing in his temples. Kayla hadn't been at The Three Broomsticks. Catherine had left him there, declaring she had a hunch Kayla had "gotten distracted" and gone to Tomes and Scrolls on a hunt for a book they talked about. But Dane was no fool. There was something going on. Maybe she'd met up with Draco there after she'd given him the Amortentia.

Thoughts of Kayla making out with Draco danced in his head. It was giving him a headache.

"Ahh, Mr. Blackwood!" Came a cheery voice. It was Professor Slughorn. He was dressed in his usual robes, his cheeks were tinged red. Probably from too much mead.

Dane stood and shook Slughorn's hand. "Nice to see you Professor."

"You look distracted my boy. Too much homework I gather?"

Dane tried to gather his thoughts, "No sir, I'm actually all caught up actually. Like to leave my weekends free and clear."

Slughorn clapped him on the shoulder, "Of course you have." Professor Slughorn sat down across from him. "Now, I must tell you. I'm throwing a little Christmas party. I know we're a little ways out from Christmas but I like to plan these things ahead of time, you know?"

Dane shook his head in response and eyed the doorway. Catherine should have been back by now.

"I was wondering if you'd like to attend? Would love to have you. One of my best and brightest you know?"

Snapping back to the conversation, Dane shook his head. "Of course Professor, I'd love to come." Professor Slughorn chuckled and took a long sip from his cup. He swallowed and rubbed his mouth with his sleeve. "Perfect!" He said a little too loudly. He stood and began to leave. "Look for my owl then!"

Dane nodded, cursing himself for being so distracted. Slughorn moved away, waving at another student before he approached the barkeep and asked for another round.

Suddenly, the heavy wooden door at the entrance swung open and in came Catherine and Kayla soaked to the bone. Dane stood and crossed the bar to them. Kayla looked abnormally pale and her eyes were slightly swollen. Catherine had an arm draped over her. She sat Kayla down, told her that she was going to buy them some Butterbeers and headed to the front to order.

Dane felt the urge to reach across the table and grab Kayla's hands. He looked at her eyes but she would not return his gaze. He reached forward, grasping her sleeve and tugging it closer to him. But she pulled away, swallowed, as a single tear fell down her cheek.

"Kayla..." He whispered. "You're not alone in this." She looked up at him. "May I?"

His words fell softly. May I?

He was asking. He wasn't demanding. His clear blue eyes held nothing but truth. They weren't hiding foreboding secrets. They were shallow pools, promising her that his motives were clear and transparent. She extended her hand across the table and gently, he took it. They stared into each other's eyes across the table. Her lip trembled and her hand shook slightly, but Dane held it steadfast, his expression reassuring. Her hand was cold and wet, his was warm and soft.

"Here we go," Catherine said, setting down two mugs of Butterbeer beside them. Dane gently let go of Kayla's hand. Catherine eyed them suspiciously. She sipped her Butterbeer quietly while eyeing the two of them.

Kayla wiped her face. "Please drink it." Catherine urged. Kayla took a small sip from her mug and set it down again.

"Listen, Dane... Things happened and I don't know if Kayla feels up to explaining right now-"

"He knows," Kayla said hoarsely. "He knows everything."

"I was gone for like a minute, how did you..."

Both Dane and Kayla looked at Catherine.

Catherine tilted her head back, "Say no more. I understand."

Silence fell over the table again. Catherine took a sip of her Butterbeer and then muttered, "Wish I could be filled in on a whole story in a matter of moments just from touching someone."

Dane smiled.

The three of them let silence fall over the table again, unsure of what to say. They couldn't discuss anything in public at the moment. So, they sat silently, sipping their hot Butterbeer. Catherine was adamant on getting colour back into Kayla's cheeks before they headed back to Hogwarts.

"Oh, I nearly forgot," Dane said, as he fished in his pocket for something. He pulled out a tiny box and placed it in front of Kayla.

"Thought you'd like this. It's a Chocoball from Honeydukes. I know you like chocolate and strawberry. It's got strawberry filling."

"Thanks," she replied. She opened the box, and took a big bite of the Chocoball. Slowly, a smile spread over her face and all three of them began to chuckle.

Catherine smiled. They were going to get through this. She just knew it.

Catherine and Kayla leaned against the stone walls of the entrance courtyard. Kayla had her arms wrapped around her. Some of the colour had returned to her face and Catherine was positive that between the Butterbeer and the Chocoball Dane had given her, it had done the trick.

"So, can I call him a right foul git, or is that too harsh? I'm conflicted." Catherine joked, as she nudged her friend. Kayla smiled.

"He's not going to hurt anyone." Kayla said bluntly. "I saw him. I saw that he was about to do something. But Draco Malfoy is afraid. He's like any of us. He's got his secrets. But he's got concerned parents and he has his own problems. But he isn't going to hurt anyone. And I think it's safe to say he has nothing to do with Dane's sister."

They walked on toward the Great Hall. The sounds of cheers in the distance could be heard from the Quidditch pitch. The match had begun.

Catherine nudged Kayla. "So, this might not be the right time but..."

Kayla stopped, turned to Catherine and leaned forward, "I can confirm, as a Ravenclaw, that yes, Slytherins do indeed 'do it with their tongues', as has been been reported."

Catherine clapped her hands together and laughed. As the entered the corridor, Catherine asked, "How do you think Dane feels about you kissing Draco? I mean, now that he knows and all?"

Kayla shrugged. "I don't know, really."

"You know that guy is crazy about you, right?"

Kayla arched an eyebrow, "Just because he has the same abilities as me and feels a connection doesn't necessarily mean he's attracted to me."

Catherine rolled her eyes, "Come on! I mean it's so obvious! How can you be so oblivious?"

Kayla shrugged, "I'm not! You can't help but wear your heart on your sleeve when you're, someone like me. Or us."

"So there's an 'us' now, is there?" Catherine chided.

"Shut up. I just mean, feelings can get misinterpreted."

Catherine stopped in her tracks. "Why don't you go up to Ravenclaw Tower right this minute, grab him and kiss the living hell out of him and then tell me what he says!"

Kayla's face immediately turned scarlet.

"Well, if I had known that would have gotten colour back into your cheeks that fast, I would have said it sooner."

Kayla turned on her heel and walked faster toward the Great Hall.

"Bet you'll be snogging by Christmas!" She shouted. Kayla turned as she walked on, shooting Catherine a poisonous look.

When Catherine remained where she stood, Kayla asked, "Aren't you coming? There's probably still food left."

"No, you go on. I'll catch up in a few minutes. I've got to do something."

Kayla smiled and nodded before she disappeared into the Great Hall.

When she was out of sight, Catherine rounded a corner and leaned against the stone wall. She pulled out the crumpled envelope from her cardigan and opened the letter.

Catherine,

I'm writing you to inform you that your father will be away for awhile. He has urgent business

with the Ministry. Do not be alarmed. I have been informed that even though the matter

is urgent, he shall be returning home in the next few weeks. I must however, urge you to

look after your friend. I know that she has been quite lonely lately as you have indicated

in your past letters. Please stay safe. Know that I am okay.

Do what is necessary. Stay safe.

Love,

Mum

Catherine folded the letter quickly and tucked it back into her cardigan. She held her hand to her mouth and bit down on her forefinger.

It didn't take a Seer to know that her mother was speaking to her in code.