A/N: Okay, at the end of this chapter, I know I'm going to get a lot of reviews saying 'That's not believable, where do they get off doing that Curse unauthorized and to a student?' Well, here's the thing, my thought pattern when I wrote this story was much less mature than it is now, so yes, I do agree with those sentiments. However, I was also thinking that in the times where no one could be trusted, it was within an Auror's own jurisdiction about who they could and couldn't trust. Besides, I'm sure that particular Auror got reprimanded, but who cares about that? This is about Kaitlyn and Dameon… you can't expect me to do everything!
Oh, and Ginny and Harry happen to be at Hogwarts because Kaitlyn is missing, and they're all family, so there. That explains that.
"You're doing what?" Dameon asked wildly.
"I snuck out of Hogwarts, Dameon. I took the Knight Bus and I ventured all the way out here. I don't think anyone knows I've even gone yet. I came here to get you so we can get away from all of this madness."
Dameon looked around the room, not comprehending what she was saying. "Kate… Kate, what are you saying?"
"Don't you see? It's Romeo and Juliet."
"It's what?"
Kaitlyn cupped Dameon's cheeks in her hands. "This is us! This is our story, Dameon. We're being punished for being together, but we have the opportunity Romeo and Juliet never had. We can escape from all of this and be happy together."
"Kate, Kate, that's fantasy… that was old England… we're fourteen, we need our parents'…"
"No! We don't! Don't you get it? All we need is each other."
Dameon stared at Kaitlyn for a few more seconds before he grabbed her and kissed her, his tears mingling with hers. He pulled away to run around the room quickly, packing a small bag of things. He walked over to Kaitlyn, his eyes alight with excitement. He kissed her lovingly and took her hand.
"We're going to do this?"
"Yes."
"All right."
A large owl tapped its beak on the window of Ron and Hermione's bedroom. Rolling over and grabbing his robe, Ron pulled himself out of bed to wonder why an owl would be tapping on his window at three in the morning.
"Bloody bird," he grumbled, opening the window. The owl hopped in, allowing Ron to open the letter it carried. It was an urgent message from Hogwarts.
Ron hurriedly opened it and read it quickly. Panic overtook him. He jumped onto the bed, shaking Hermione awake.
"Hermione! Wake up, wake up, Hermione, wake up!"
"Hmm?" she asked, rolling over and opening one eye. "Ron, what time is it?"
"Kaitlyn's gone missing."
Hermione sat bolt upright. She was completely disheveled from that night's activities, but all of it went unnoticed. "What do you mean gone missing?"
"Hogwarts just sent us a letter. It says she was missing at bed check and they've scoured the castle and grounds for her and she's nowhere to be found. They want us at the school as soon as possible."
"Then let's go."
"Surely we're not Apparating this early in the morning?"
Hermione scowled at her husband. "How many times do I have to tell you… you can't Apparate onto Hogwarts grounds!"
Ron shook his head at Hermione as he pulled on a pair of boots. "Even in crisis you find a way to remind me your intelligence is superior to my own."
"Shut up!"
Kaitlyn and Dameon had managed to make it off the Malfoy property and were now on the Knight Bus. They weren't sure where they wanted to go at all. They'd gotten on and sat together on the rickety, rolling beds.
"We're in Surrey now," the conductor announced to them. "Any chance you'll want off here?"
Dameon was the only one awake. Kaitlyn had fallen asleep against him, crying. He was holding her against him, stroking her soft, red hair absentmindedly. He looked up at the conductor with puffy, red-rimmed eyes. "No, I think we need a little more rest."
The conductor nodded and ducked out of view. Dameon's gaze fell upon Kaitlyn's. She looked so completely peaceful lying in his lap while she slept. He felt lucky to have her. She was so full of life and spirit… and she loved him. Him. Dameon Lucas Malfoy. He was no one in the sea of faces at Hogwarts, but she had chosen him to express her love and affection to.
He bent his head down and kissed her softly on the top of the head. "I love you," he whispered.
"Liverpool, sir?"
Dameon looked up at the conductor and sighed. "I guess we need to get off sometime."
The bus pulled to a stop and Kaitlyn's eyes fluttered open. She looked up at Dameon and smiled. "Where are we?"
"Liverpool, love. We have to get off sometime. Besides, it's almost light out."
"I guess you're right," she said, stretching. She sat up and dug into her rucksack. Dameon frowned.
"What are you doing?" he asked.
"We have to pay, don't we?"
"Oh, don't be foolish," he said, digging into his pockets. "I have enough money to start a small business. You don't have to pay for anything."
A tear escaped her eye. "I love you," she whispered, leaning over to kiss him.
The bus stopped and Dameon paid while Kaitlyn grabbed their things and climbed out. Sitting down on the nearest bench, Kaitlyn set their stuff down and closed her eyes fretfully. Dameon walked over to her and kissed the top of her head.
"Dameon…" she whispered "You know I love you, right?"
"Of course," he said, sitting down next to her and taking her hand. "Why?"
"Do you know what's going to happen now?"
He sighed, worry etched in his face. For a fourteen-year-old, Dameon didn't need to look as old as he suddenly did. "Does it matter? As long as we are away from everyone who is against us… I really don't care."
Kaitlyn closed her eyes tightly and leaned her head against Dameon's shoulder. "I still feel lost."
"So do I," he whispered, kissing her head. "So do I."
Darkness seemed to fall very early that night. Kaitlyn and Dameon were stuck with where to spend the night.
Trudging through a dark and damp forest, they only had each other to hold onto. Dameon was holding an exhausted Kaitlyn up only by an protective arm around her shoulders. Tears streamed down his cheeks. His breath came in short gasps, his heart pounded like crazy on the inside of his ribcage. He wanted to rest, he wanted to just lie down and sleep… but he couldn't. He was trying to be strong for Kaitlyn. No, he had to be strong for Kaitlyn.
A sound of a snapping twig and rustling leaves caused the pair to stop. Kaitlyn looked around, barely aware of what was going on. "What's that?" she whispered.
Dameon's hearing increased sharply within the next few seconds. Stepping in front of Kaitlyn and pulling out his wand, he called out into the night air, "Who's there?"
A scratchy voice came out of the darkness, "Who walks around the forest in the middle of the night?"
Ron and Hermione had Apparated to Hogsmeade and had hurried up to Hogwarts, where they met Professors Lupin and McGonagall.
"We're not sure where she went," McGonagall was telling them. "She was missing when I went in to check on her this evening. She seemed very upset today, as if she had absolutely no motivation."
Lupin looked at Ron and Hermione warily. "I have a pretty good idea why she left."
Hermione's grip on her husband's hand was so tight that her fingers were turning white. "What do you mean, Professor?"
"Yesterday… Draco showed up to take Dameon out of school. She was crying… screaming… I had to come out here to see what was going on. I don't even think she saw me. I had to take her upstairs to Gryffindor Tower, and she was struggling the entire way."
"Ron," Hermione whispered. "She's gone to find Dameon."
Ron frowned. "Are you sure?"
"I know, Ron, that's where she went…"
Tears clouded Ron's eyes. "I can't believe she…"
"She did!"
Madam Pomfrey, who was running down the stairs as fast as she could possibly go, distracted them all. "Mr. Weasley," she called to Ron and Hermione. They looked up, frowning. "Your sister just went into labor."
Dark figures were stepping out of the shadows, left and right. Dameon could feel Kaitlyn trembling behind him. He kept one hand on hers the entire time in a comforting gesture. He needed to stay strong.
"Who are you?" the voices called out.
"Who are you?" he asked.
"Wrong answer! Stupefy!"
Dameon fell over, stunned. Kaitlyn cried out in surprise. She felt naked and alone all of a sudden. She had no idea who she was up against and her boyfriend was lying unconscious on the ground in front of her.
"Don't hurt us!" she pleaded through her tears. She looked down at Dameon and remembered the counter spell for a Stunning Charm. Through a choked voice, she inaudibly whispered, "Ennervate!"
A gasp came from below her. "Kaitlyn?" Dameon whispered.
She knelt down. "Yes, Dameon, I'm here."
"Who are you?" the voices asked again.
"You bloody well don't need to know that!" Dameon choked.
"Crucio!"
An agonizing scream escaped Dameon's lips. Kaitlyn cried out, throwing her body over his writhing figure.
"Stop it! Stop it! You're going to kill him!" she yelled.
"What's going on here?" a distinctly familiar voice asked, appearing in the woods next to everyone.
"We've come across two very suspicious looking characters, sir," a voice said.
Kaitlyn looked at the figures. Everything was becoming foggy. "Stop it… please…"
The familiar voice gasped. "Stop this curse… end it! STOP IT!" he yelled, panicked. The pain in Dameon's body ceased. He was unconscious again; breathing in a sharp, shallow rhythm.
"Do you know these people, sir?" asked the voice.
Harry bent over, taking Kaitlyn's hand. Her blue eyes met his and her face paled completely. "Oh… oh…" she started, looking away.
"This is my niece," he told them.
"Then who is the smart mouth we had to stun?" a different voice asked.
Harry looked at Dameon and then back at Kaitlyn. She was staring at Dameon, tears streaming down her face. Her focus was on him completely. "Uncle Harry, he's dying."
