Chapter Seven

A sickly sweet smell drifted and camped out in Draco's nose as he came into consciousness. He was lying on his back, Kate's hand still tucked into his own. She was still sleeping, breathing deeply. There was a vial on the bedside table filled with a silvery crimson liquid that he could see through the half open curtains. With slight giddiness, Draco realized this was the first time he'd seen Kate during the day. In place of the midnight darkness and mystery, there was light and a certain sunny quality to her sleeping figure.

Without a knock, Severus Snape stole into the room and gaped at what he saw. His favorite student lying in bed next to his goddaughter. Frankly, he couldn't be more pleased at this match, but this was edging on inappropriate. "Draco!" he said to the boy lying awake in front of him.

Draco stumbled out of bed, waking Kate in the process.

"Good morning, Severus," she said as if nothing was amiss.

Draco garbled some words by way of apology for their improper state and nervously ran a hand through his hair.

Remus strolled into the room, a spell book in hand. "Good morn--" He stopped abruptly and stared at Malfoy. Slowly, comprehension dawned. He looked from a very awake Kate to Draco to a grim-looking Snape. His voice was quiet, like age-old stone. "I think it best if you take your leave right now, Mr. Malfoy. Kate needs to take her medicine." He, however, didn't look angry, only surprised and a little shocked.

Spooked, Draco nodded at Remus, then turned his head and gave Kate a small 'It's okay. Really.' smile.

Without regarding neither Severus nor Remus Kate smiled warmly and said, "I'll see you later. Okay, Draco? Can you come back at lunch?"

"Of course," he said with absolute seriousness. With one last nod at the two men, Draco left, closing the door firmly behind him.

"What was that all about?" Remus let a mischievous smile pass to his lips.

"Nothing at all," she said loftily while Severus helped her sit up.

"You must take the potion. Now, Kathleen," Severus interrupted, glancing at a wall clock.

Obediently, Kate took the vial from him and swallowed the metallic crimson liquid in one gulp. Sputtering and coughing, she accepted the cup of water from Remus. Immediately, she felt the familiar warmth spread from the roots of her dark hair to the tips of her toes. A sunny smile tipped onto Kate's mouth and eyes.

"My. You look pleased this morning," Remus commented. "You're radiant."

And she was. Her hair shone in the sunlight, creating a halo around her head and Kate's skin glowed with happiness from the inside out. "I am, aren't I?"

"The question I have is why young Draco here was? At night?" Severus, again, interrupted.

Remus shifted his weight and leveled his eyes with Severus'. "I let him in."

"You what!'

Kate could sense where this conversation would go. And it had to stop. "It's okay. Nothing happened. I swear." There was an edge to her voice, a strength, that hadn't been there before.

Oddly, this stopped the two men, who looked like they might whip out wands and duel at any moment. Awkwardly, they mumbled a few garbled words and excused themselves, going opposite directions into the hall.

Sighing, Kate pulled herself from bed and began to get ready for Draco.

Two hours later, Kate was showered and sat at the vanity mirror applying some balm to her face. Just for the day's lunch, she'd dressed in a simple skirt and top with the cream linen robe. Kate decided they'd have a picnic inside on the floor. Since it was daytime, Kate couldn't go outside. Never mind her illness.

"Kate?" Draco called through the doorway.

"Come in!" Kate was busy bringing various items of food from the counter to the floor. She'd found a pretty beaded blanket and spread it out on the wooden floor and opened the practically all the outside doors and windows, hoping to shepherd as much warmth and light in as possible. Faintly warm grilled peanut butter and banana sandwiches, tart strawberries with sugar, fat juicy slices of melon, and chilled, golden iced tea.

When Draco saw what she was doing, he rushed over and took all the remaining plates and baskets of food in one batch over to the picnic area, grinning triumphantly. She'd been bringing them over one by one. "There. All set." He helped her to the floor, for fear she might fall hard on the way down.

Kate almost reprimanded him that she could, in fact, take care of herself but closed her mouth before any words could spill out. It was a nice act and that's what mattered.

"Tomorrow's the last day," Draco said quietly between bites of melon.

"Of school?" Kate didn't believe it. Couldn't believe it. "How much time did I miss? How long was I sick?"

Draco looked away. He didn't want to be the one to tell her she'd wasted almost three weeks of their time together being sick. Every moment was precious. It had to be because they were out of it.

"Answer me, Draco. How much did I miss?" she repeated slowly.

He too put down his food and looked away, avoiding her eyes. "You were sick for almost three weeks. This is the first time I've seen you in a month."

They were both silent. Kate berated herself silently for letting so much time be wasted and Draco was speechless.

"So, tomorrow's it then. What are we going to do?" She stood unsteadily, her knees wobbling visibly beneath her skirt. Draco attempted to give her his arm to steady her, but she shook it away and staggered toward the piano.

Once they were seated, Kate didn't dare touch the keys. She needed to tell Draco how she felt with her words, not give him guesswork with some fragmented song. He laced his fingers into hers and she breathed in deeply.

"How were your exams?" she muttered, staring at their touching knees.

Draco didn't dignify the worthless question with an answer. "I think this is the end, Kate. I can't see another way." He was hopeless.

"But--we could…I could…" She was going to say 'we could write to one another' but that was no good. It really couldn't happen. They couldn't write or keep in any contact. Kate was supposed to be in hiding. His father couldn't find out where Kate was. Contacting each other again risked too much. Kate only hoped Draco would keep her secret for always. "So this is it," she said, defeated.

"I guess so."

For the rest of the lunch hour and into the afternoon, they sat on the piano bench, grieving for the loss of themselves, for that is what they were giving up.

"You need to go, Draco. You're probably already late for your class." Kate wiped at her reddened eyes.

"Yeah, probably. I'm sorry, Kate. My Katie. For everything," he said, kissing her cheek.

Slowly, they leaned their heads closer, shared a final kiss. Everything about it said 'goodbye.' It was their farewell and tasted of bitter tears and sadness.

"I love you, Draco. Always remember that, okay?"

He nodded. "I love you, Kate. I always will, Katie." He kissed her hand, grayed eyes never leaving Kate's trembling green ones. "Goodbye."

She didn't answer, didn't watch his back vanish behind the heavy door of the Tower. And with that, he walked silently out of her life.