Chapter 28

Unforgivable Curses

We had Defense Against the Dark Arts after lunch the next day. We all sat down and Moody stood before us.

"Alastor Moody. Ex-Auror. Ministry malcontent. And your new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher. I'm here because Dumbledore asked me. End of story, good-bye, the end! Any questions?"

Harry and I looked at each other with raised brows.

"When it comes to the dark arts, I believe in practical approach. But first, which one of you can tell me how many unforgivable curses there are?"

"Three sir." said Hermione.

"And they are so named?"

"Because they're unforgivable. The use of any one of them will…"

Moody cut me off.

"Earn you a one way ticket to Azkaban. Correct! Now the Ministry says you're too young to see what these curses do. I say different! You need to know what you're up against! You need to be prepared….you need to find a place to put your chewing gum besides the underside of your desk Mr. Finnigan!"

I looked back at Seamus and found what Moody said to be true.

"Blimey! The old codger can see out the back of his head." Seamus said.

Moody turned and threw the chalk at him. I was trying not to laugh.

"I'm here to call the class rules! So, which curse shall we see first? Weasley!"

"Yes?"

"Stand!"

Ron slowly stood up.

"Give us a curse."

"Well….my dad did tell me about on. The Imperius Curse." he said.

"Oh yeah your father would know all about that. Gave the Ministry quite a bit of grief a few years ago. Perhaps this will show you why."

He picked up an insect from a jar. He was whispered sweet endearments to it, which I found rather odd.

"Engorgio. Imperio!"

He was controlling it. He made it fly onto Pavarti's hand. She and Padama were trying to get it off. Draco was laughing, though I knew it was fake laughter. I knew his real laugh.

"What are you laughing at!?"

He had the insect hop to Draco's face. I clenched my fists and Pavarti looked at me.

"Don't worry she's completely harmless….but if she bites she's lethal! Ha-ha-ha!"

He had it hop to my hand and I just raised my brow.

"Ooh! Miss Potter's a tough one."

"No, I'm just no bothered by it. Would you kindly get it off me?" I asked.

I was trying to keep my anger and frustration masked.

"Talented isn't she? What shall I make her do next? Jump out the window?" he smashed it to a window. "Drown herself?" he brought it to some water.

When he finally brought it back to his hand he looked up.

"Scores of witches and wizards, claimed they only did you-know-who's bidding, under the influence of the Imperius Curse. But here's the rub: how do we sort out the liars? Another….another…Ah, ha…..come on. Longbottom is it? Professor Sprout tells me you have an aptitude for Herbology." Moody said.

"There's the Cruciatus Curse." Neville said.

"Correct! Correct! Come, come. Particularly nasty. The torture curse. Crucio!"

The insect started to writhe in pain and squeal. Neville was twitching and trying to look away.

"Stop it! Can't you see it's bothering him!? Stop it!" Hermione shouted.

He stopped and I looked at Neville. Even Draco looked uncomfortable, and he didn't like Neville all that much. He took the insect to Hermione and put it on her desk.

"Perhaps you would like to give us the last unforgivable curse, Miss Granger?"

She shook her head.

"Avada kedavra!"

I watched the green light come from his wand. The insect died and I closed my eyes.

"The killing curse. Only two people are known to have survived it. And they're sitting in this room."

His eye swiveled over to Harry and I. I took his hand and looked down. I then collected my books and left.

"Kat?!"

"Katherine!"

My friends and brother called after me, but I ignored them. I didn't like Moody at all. I went to the Astronomy Tower and leaned on the railing.

"And what would you be doing out of class?"

I didn't look at him. Snape walked forward and had me face him.

"Have you been crying?" he asked.

I shook my head and he smirked.

"You're a bad liar."

"That's a matter of opinion." I said.

He shook his head.

"Did someone bully you?"

"No, I'd be able to handle a student bullying me. Even if it was a seventh year."

"I have no doubt about that. What happened?"

I told everything about Moody. He looked beyond angry.

"I told Dumbledore…"

He sighed in frustration.

"I'll set this right. Go back to the Gryffindor Common room." he said.

He was gone before I could say anything. I didn't feel like going back, I knew my friends and Harry would be waiting to ask me questions. I stayed in the tower until Draco found me.

"I was leaving when Snape came into the room. He gave Moody a good earful that's for sure." he said.

I smiled and then stared into his eyes. He took a step forward and I looked down.

"Katherine?"

My face felt hot and I couldn't look up. I felt Draco lift my face and I avoided his eyes.

"Did I do something wrong?" he asked.

"No! No of course not. I just….I um…."

"Oh there you are."

I looked at Pavarti. In a way I was relived she showed up when she did.

"I'll see you later Draco."

"O-Okay." he said.

I ran past him with Pavarti and we made our way down to dinner.

"What's wrong? You're face is completely red." she said.

I looked down.

"I…I don't know. Ever since we got back….my heart pounds in my chest every time I look at Draco. Or even when I think about him." I said.

She stopped me and smiled.

"You're in love."

My first reaction was to deny it.

"What? No I'm not!"

She laughed and shook her head.

"Don't bother denying it. I can see it in your eyes and it's written all over your face." she said.

"But I've only known Draco for four years…."

"So? I've seen the way you two look at each other. He loves you too!" she said.

I thought for a minute. Ever since last year, Draco had been looking at me differently.

Draco's POV

Katherine was acting rather odd. I sat in a chair in the common room. I had kissed her a couple of nights ago and she seemed happy. Blaise came and sat down across from me.

"Was she okay?" he asked.

I nodded.

"Professor Moody….he's completely demented." Blasie said.

I nodded again.

"You alright mate?"

"I don't know. Katherine's been acting weird. She can't look me in the eyes, and her face always turns red when she looks at me. It's weird. And she ran past me today when I tried to ask her. I'm worried she…."

"If you're about to say 'doesn't like me anymore' I swear I'll hex you." I shut my mouth. "There's no doubt in my mind that she likes you, and I mean likes you a lot. I don't think she'd still be wearing your ring if she didn't."

I looked at him confused.

"She wasn't wearing it."

He smiled.

"Yes she was. She was just trying to hide it. Her brother was right next to her genius. And she never takes off the locket you gave her, or at least not that I've seen. Maybe she's got something on her mind and she doesn't want you to worry about her." he suggested.

Now that I thought about it, she never did take that locket off. I smiled and looked at Blaise.

"Thanks Blaise. I think I'll go get something to eat. Care to join?"

He smiled and shook his head.

"No, you go on. I've got studying to do."

I shrugged and walked to the great was late so there were only a few people there, but they were leaving. I drank my pumpkin juice and sighed.

"Hello."

I looked at Katherine and smiled.

"I owe you an explanation." she said.

She sat down next to me.

"Is something wrong? Remember I told you that you'd never have to be alone in anything. Please tell me what's wrong kitten." I asked her.

She wouldn't look at me.

"There's nothing wrong it's just that…."

"Do you not want to be with me anymore?" I asked softly.

She looked up panicked.

"No! No of course I still want to be with you! It's just…" she took a deep breath. "my feeling for you are even stronger than before. I couldn't look at you because I wouldn't know what to do if I did. I'm sorry if I made you worry." she said.

I pulled her into my arms.

"I'm never going to let you go Kat. Never."

She wrapped her arms around me.

"I can live with that." she said.

I chuckled and we separated. I looked at her lips and she leaned forward. I leaned with her until our lips met. Her lips were warm and soft. I liked kissing her. When we separated she smiled.

"So then I'll see you tomorrow?" she asked.

I smiled.

"Definitely."

She smiled and gave me a quick kiss before leaving. I smiled and finished my juice. When I got back Blaise avoided eye contact. I smirked.

"You knew she'd be there didn't you?"

He shrugged and I shook my head.

"Thanks."

"I take it things went well?"

I nodded. He squinted and then smiled.

"You've got something on your mouth."

I frowned and touched my lips. It was Katherine's lipstick. I blushed and quickly wiped it away.

"Lucky buggar." Blaise said.

I laughed and then went to bed.

Katherine's POV

I sat in the great hall with Hermione that afternoon. I was reading a book with her and she looked at my ring.

"Did he give you that."

I nodded and she smiled a bit.

"Maybe I am wrong about him." she said.

I smiled and she nodded.

"Eternal glory, be brilliant wouldn't it? In three years from now, when we're old enough to be chosen." Ron said.

"Yeah better you than me." Harry said.

Fred and George burst inside.

"Ha-ha! Yeah, yes!"

Everyone else started to cheer and clap. Hermione and I looked at each other.

"Ha! Thank you ha, ha, ha! Well lads, we've done it." George said.

"Cooked it up just this morning!" Fred added.

I sighed and shook my head.

"It's not going to work." Hermione said.

I nodded and the twins came and sat with us.

"Really? And why is that ladies?" they asked.

I smirked.

"See that?" I pointed at the circle.

"That is an age-line. Dumbledore drew it up himself." I said.

"So?" Fred asked.

Hermione laughed.

"So, a genius like Dumbledore couldn't possibly be fooled by a dodge as pathetically dimwitted as an aging potion."

"Ah, but that's why it's so brilliant!" Fred said.

"Because it's so pathetically dimwitted!" George added.

I smirked.

"Let them learn themselves Hermione." I said.

They laughed.

"Ready, Fred?"

"Ready George!"

"Bottoms up!" they both said.

They drank their potion and then jumped forward. Nothing happened, but I knew it was only a matter of time. They put their names in and for a moment it was fine. Then the fire turned red and threw them back. I now realized their hair was white and they were both sporting beards. I started to laugh and they started fighting each other. Then Viktor Krum walked in with Karkroff. He walked up and put his name in the goblet. He looked towards Hermione and I and he stared at Hermione. I smiled and so did she. I looked at her.

"I think he likes you." I said.

She shook her head but she was blushing. I went down to potions early hoping to see Draco. And I did.

"Draco."

He smiled at me and I walked into his arms. I loved the feeling of Draco's strong arms around me. I took a deep breath and listened to his heart.

"I should come to class early more often." he said.

I laughed a little and looked up at him. His cool eyes were shining back at me and I leaned towards his lips.

"And what are we doing?"

We jumped apart when Snape spoke.

"N-nothing!" I said.

He smirked and walked into the classroom.

"I suggest you finish before the other students come down." He said.

He closed the door and I smiled.

"Sometimes I love him, sometimes I can't stand him. But I guess that's what family is right?"

Draco nodded and I kissed him.