Catherine's POV
Studying for my Charms O.W.L.s was hell. I was going to get a T, and I was not happy with that fact. Draco had been a great tutor, but this year just seemed to have everything explode in my face. So when it came time to take the Theory of Charms part of the exams, I almost chucked my quill across the room and left.
Suddenly, during the test, Fred and George Weasley came in and set off fireworks. One becoming a dragon and chasing Umbridge from the hall and knocking down all of the new rules she had enforced. Everyone ran out of the Great Hall to watch as the twins continued a fireworks display. I may have taken this time to snog Draco, who happily snog me back. It was brilliant.
Later that night, I went walking around the castle, and saw Hermione, Ron, and Harry sneaking about. I approached them.
"What are you three doing?" I asked. Hermione looked to the other two before turning to me.
"Harry's godfather's being tortured by your father and we're going to rescue him." She said quickly and quietly.
"Why the hell are we standing around for then, let's go." And I lead them into Umbridge's office. Only to get caught. Draco and the Inquisitorial squad brought in Luna Lovegood, Neville, and Ginny. When Draco saw me, he frowned.
"What are you doing here?" He asked. I shrugged.
"Got caught trying to use the floo, what else." His frown depended.
"Kitty."
"Enough." Umbridge snapped, and turned to Harry. I went to change my standing position, when the Slytherin, whose name I couldn't give a damn about, tightened his hold and made my back move in such a way that I almost cried out in pain, and Draco saw this.
"Switch with me." He hissed to the other student. "Longbottom won't be a problem to hold onto, but she is." The student was going to argue, but I used that moment to pull, only for him to pull back, making me give a pained whimper. They switched, and Draco didn't even hold my arms behind my back, just my hands, gently. And he immediately started to rub his thumbs into them, and I could almost feel him calm.
Snape came in, telling Umbridge that he didn't have anymore veritum serum, and turned to leave when Harry yelled something about Padfoot at his back. I don't know what Padfoot is, but I'm going to guess it's not important to me. That's when Umbridge decided to use the cruciatus curse on Harry, and I almost snapped.
"You heartless bitch." I bit out, pulling against Draco, who quickly tightened his grip. "Blood quills are torture enough, but now you're going to actually use the torture curse on him. That's dark wizard stuff. Why the hell are you part of the ministry if you do that?"
"Malfoy, control her." Umbridge said. Draco leaned forward to whisper in my ear.
"Calm down Kitty. Just look away. I'll cast a silencing charm so you can't hear anything." He sounded a little shaken up at the thought of witnessing the curse, but I felt a little better knowing that he would try and make this more bearable for me.
The curse never happened, because Hermione said something about a weapon and her, Harry, and Umbridge left. It was at this point that the others used disarming spells and I just shoved Draco against the wall.
"You four go." I said. "I'll hold them back."
"Thank you." Luna said with one of her small smiles. I smiled back and they left. Draco let go of my hands and wrapped them around my waist as we looked at the unconscious Slytherins around us.
"I think now is the time to enjoy the fact Umbridge isn't here and go snog ourselves silly." I said as I leaned off from Draco. "Let's go." I went to step forward, but Draco grabbed my arm and pulled me back, bringing me into a snogging session right in Umbridge's office. We headed down to the dungeons afterwards, making sure we were as close as possible, when the burning in my back spiked and stayed spiked for what felt like hours.
And once the pain had went back to the normal, easily manageable pain, news of my father's return was published in the Prophet. No one could deny it now. Heading to the train was miserable. The spells were back, and the insults harsher. I was surprised I could make it to the carriages. And knowing I wasn't heading home, it just killed me inside.
Once back in London, Severus stepped off the train and came and got me.
"See you next year Draco." I said as I gave him a kiss.
"See you next year Kitty." He said with a small smile, before he headed off to Narcissa, who hugged him and kissed his cheek before the two walked away.
"Come Catherine." Severus said, and we headed to his house. I had been there a couple of times, but I wasn't overly excited to go this time. "Catherine, you will not be staying here." He said. I spun so fast I almost slipped and fell.
"What? What do you mean I'm not staying here?" I asked. Severus sighed as he motioned for me to sit down, as did he.
"Morgana wanted me to keep you safe. You are not safe here with me. I shouldn't tell you this, but as your godfather, and for Morgana and Killian's piece of mind, and the fact I know you well enough that you'll confront me about it anyways, I am. Dumbledore has asked for me to be a double agent once again."
"You're spying on Father?" I asked. Severus nodded. "I want to too! I want to help in any way I can."
"Catherine-" Severus began in a warning tone.
"No!" I stood. "I'm done sitting on the sidelines! I want to help! If not yet, then soon. Keep me in the loop so I can help, please Papa." And I wiped out the puppy dog pout, and I saw the resolve almost instantly vanish.
"That shouldn't still work on me. But fine. However, you can not tell anyone. Not Granger, not Malfoy. No one. This stays between us." I nodded firmly. "And you still can't stay here. It's not safe. I figure the Dark Lord will be here throughout the summer, and you are not ready to face him yet."
"Where am I going?" Snape walked over to the fireplace and got the floo working.
"The Order's headquarters." And we went through. The house was empty, eerie, except for the house elf that wandered around and cleaned. "Sirius had said we could use his childhood home, so we're going to. This is where you'll be. I already have an explanation of your absence from my home ready." Severus turned to me and put his hands on my shoulders. "Be careful. I will come to check on you as often as I can."
"What are you doing here, half blood?" The house elf asked. Severus turned to him.
"Kreacher. This is Catherine Riddle-Smith. She will be staying here until she returns to Hogwarts. She is Narcissa Black's son's lover, as well as the Dark Lord's daughter." Severus introduced.
"Lady Catherine." Kreacher said with a small bow. "It is an honour for Kreacher to serve you." I frowned a little. He still looked annoyed.
"Thank you for being willing to serve me, Kreacher." I turned back to Severus. "I guess I'll see you later Papa?" Severus nodded, gently kissed my forehead, and then disappeared through the floo.
"Is there anything Lady Catherine needs?" Kreacher asked. I bit my lip a little.
"Would you please show me to my room? I would like to lay down." Kreacher nodded and lead me to a room on the top floor.
"Madam Black should be pleased that someone as important as Lady Catherine is using Madam Black's room." Kreacher said as he began to move my things up and put them away. I was going to tell him otherwise, but decided against it as I sat on the bed and just laid down.
"Thank you Kreacher." I said once Kreacher had finished.
"Anything for Lady Catherine." And Kreacher left.
The first week was okay. Kreacher cleaned and we only spoke when he was asking if I needed anything. It was tolerable, until my first letters came.
"Why is Lady Catherine writing to blood traitors and a mudblood?" He asked in a disgusted voice. I turned to him and glared.
"They're my friends. And the MUGGLEBORN is my best friend."
"Lady Catherine is a blood traitor." Kreacher nearly shrieked. I stood as I stared down at him.
"You didn't figure that out the first time I was here? Yes, I am, because I'm not headstrong in blood purism. It's vile to think that those born of muggles can't practice magic, or that witches and wizards can't fall in love with muggles. You can't control who you fall in love with, and you definitely can't choose your parents. Muggleborns don't choose to have muggle parents. It just happens." Kreacher gave me a nasty look.
Things changed after that. He'd whisper nasty things under his breath, and would only half make any meal, forcing me to finish on my own. It was awful.
"If I knew I was going to be insulted my entire summer, I'd have gone and lived in my old home on my own." I said one day as Kreacher was hissing insults.
"Then why doesn't the blood traitor leave." Kreacher barked.
"Because I can't." I said as tears formed in my eyes. "I have nowhere to go. I'm just stuck here with a miserable house elf. I don't see why you're still even here. I thought Sirius would have freed you from your servitude when he first came here." That seemed to confuse him.
"Why would Master Sirius release Kreacher?" He asked, confused. I stared at him.
"Because I don't believe in owning house elves. It doesn't sit well with me. And I'd think after everything that's happened, maybe he would have released you. We're magic, we can enchant things to clean themselves. Why force servitude on another magical race?" Kreacher seemed to take in my words.
"Lady Catherine is a strange witch." Kreacher finally seemed to concluded. I saw a fresh wound on Kreacher's hands, and I quickly grabbed it.
"What happened?" I asked. Kreacher tried to pull him hand back.
"Kreacher cut Kreacher's hand while preparing Lady Catherine's previous meal." I frowned and pulled out my wand, casting a quick healing charm. Kreacher watched as his skin stitched back together, not even a scar was left behind. When I let him take his hand back, he examined it. "Lady Catherine is a very strange witch. Kreacher thanks Lady Catherine." I smiled lightly.
"You're welcome Kreacher." I stood and went to do the dishes I had used, but Kreacher stopped me.
"It's the house elf's duty to serve their master. Lady Catherine go do something with Lady Catherine's bat. Kreacher will clean." I smiled wider.
"Thank you, Kreacher." The rest of the summer, Kreacher and I seemed to form a sort of bond, like a friendship. We would bicker light heartedly, and sometimes I joined him in chores, and he would join me in the library where I read up on any books that had healing spells, either helping me find another book to read later, or even tutoring me in charms a bit.
We even played games. It was fun, and I enjoyed my summer. And Sevy liked Kreacher as well. And Kreacher had no problems getting fruit just for Sevy when he went out to get food for the two of us. He was polite enough to leave the room and bring tea when Severus came over to check on me and update me on things happening with Voldemort.
One day, I was looking at the Black Family Tree, looking around at the different faces, and smiled wide when I saw Draco.
"Lady Catherine?" Kreacher asked as he entered the room. His eyes followed to where my hand had moved to gently rest over Draco's name. "You are Master Draco's lover?" He asked. I nodded.
"As of the beginning of fifth year, yes." I said happily. A thought sort of struck me as I looked around at a few other names. "Can I ask you something? Something that will stay only between us?"
"Of course, Lady Catherine." Kreacher responded with a small bow. I blushed deeply.
"Well... If I was to marry Draco, how exactly would it appear on the tapestry? I've never actually seen a family tapestry before, which is why I'm asking." I said, feeling silly. There were no guarantees that Draco and I will be together forever. Even if that would be fantastic, realistically, feelings can change. But damn would I love to be called Malfoy instead of Riddle-Smith. Which really says something since I can't stand Lucius.
"Lady Catherine's name would appear under Master Draco's name." Kreacher stated, sounding slightly happy. "Does Lady Catherine love Master Draco that much?" I nodded.
"I do. But we're still young. Anything could happen. Hell, I could end up marrying Harry." Kreacher made a disgusted noise.
"No, if Lady Catherine is to marry, Lady Catherine must marry Master Draco. Master Draco is the better choice." Kreacher said firmly, nodding as if he was agreeing with his own statement. I laughed. "Why is Lady Catherine laughing at Kreacher?"
"I'm not laughing at you Kreacher, just what you said. I wouldn't go for Harry anyways. He's just a friend. Besides," I smiled as I turned back to Draco's position on the tapestry. "Draco's proven he cares for me deeply on multiple occasions." Kreacher just nodded again and left the room as I continued to look at the tapestry.
A few weeks after, Snape came in to give me his most recent update. This one involved Draco.
"He what?!" I yelled, standing and almost knocking the teacups over. "He has the mark? Draco accepted the Dark Mark?" Severus nodded.
"He has. And his first task." Severus took a deep breath before releasing it. "He is to kill Dumbledore."
"HE WHAT!?" The candles flickered out and almost split it two. "No. He can't. I won't let him."
"Catherine, you can't intervene. He has no choice. The Dark Lord will kill him and his parents if he doesn't, or if I don't." I stared.
"No. You can't do it either, Papa. I won't-"
"I made an unbreakable vow, Catherine." Severus snapped out. I felt all the air leave me, the room feeling cold. "Dumbledore knows, and has accepted it." He didn't look at me as he stood. "I must do this to get Voldemort's trust. And through that, I will be able to bring you in as a spy as well." I nodded.
"Alright." Severus kissed my forehead and left again. I cried myself to sleep that night.
The day I was heading to Severus' in order to head back to school, Kreacher helped me pack everything.
"Kreacher may not see Lady Catherine again after this." Kreacher said as he brought my last suitcase down to the living room.
"Not true." I said, leaning down and hugging him. "I'll see you again. I'll make sure of it." I smiled as I stood straight. "Thank you for keeping me company, Kreacher. It truly was a wonderful summer."
"Kreacher is glad Lady Catherine enjoyed staying." I finished my goodbye and headed through the floo, getting ready for another, hard year at Hogwarts.
I didn't know what to do for Catherine's summer. My mother gave me the idea of having her stay at Grimmauld Place to keep her hidden from Voldemort for another year and have her and Kreacher form a kind of bond. I like it. Think it'd be cute! So yeah!