Chapter 8

Monday morning was dawning on Hogwarts. The news of the dementors entering Gryffindor tower had spread throughout the entire school by the end of breakfast.

By the time the first class (Defence Against the Dark Arts) rolled around, it was all that the Gryffindors were talking about. Harry, Ron and Hermione took their regular seats at the back of the class when Tonks entered.

"Quiet down." She called over the softening noise. "Hand in your essays, and then I will answer some questions about the incident last night." A sudden rush of students came flying up to her desk, tossing over their essays before flying back to their seats. "Any questions?" The professor asked. Hands all over the room were up immediately. "Parvati?"

"What exactly happened last night? I mean, why did they attack Hogwarts, and only Gryffindor?"

"From the news I heard, from a reliable source may I add, the dementors were not trying to attack. They were sent by Voldemort," shudders and some light shrieks echoed throughout the room, "to collect someone. The dementors were not sent to harm anyone in particular, Gryffindor is merely the house that the people belong to. Not to mention that they were warded off by some very well trained students." She glanced slightly over at those people.

"Okay." Parvati muttered in reply. Tonks' eyes flowed across the room, her eyes rested on Neville.

"Neville?"

"Can a dementor attack cause serious or permanent damage?" The boy asked very quietly.

"Most likely not." Tonks replied. "The only permanent damage a dementor can give you is the kiss. If a person has lived an absolutely depressive life, a dementor can make them relieve all of their bad memories, which isn't too fun. And they will be rather distracted and distraught by that for quiet a while."

The door to the classroom opened, and Catherine entered. Next to her black robes, her skin looked nearly transparent.

"Sorry I'm late, professor." She apologized, "I was up far too late and over-slept." Tonks smiled softly.

"It's fine." The eighteen-year-old then took her seat. As she did, Harry noticed that she was wearing two layers of clothes under her robes. He leaned over to her.

"Are you all right?" He whispered.

"I'll be fine." Cate replied without looking at him.

"Okay class!" Tonks called out, "Lets get on track, open your books to page three-hundred and six . . . " Her voice trailed off as the lesson began.

Every so often throughout the period, Tonks glanced over at Catherine. The woman knew that after a dementor attack, Cate would be shaken, but should be okay, however, she didn't appear to be. The bell eventually rang, and the Gryffindors and Ravenclaws left the room for their next classes.

"Catherine!" Tonks shouted just before the young woman could leave.

"Yeah?" She asked drearily.

"You don't look so good." She commented, rubbing her shoulder, "You should go back to Grimmauld Place for a while. You need to get some rest."

"That sounds good." Catherine sighed heavily.

"Is anything else bothering you?" Cate puled up the numerous sleeves on her left arm and exposed the dark mark. The woman's eyes widened.

"Albus didn't tell us that."

"I wouldn't expect him to." The eighteen-year-old replied, walking off to Professor McGonagall's office. Knowing that she had enough clothes for a few days at Grimmauld Place, she went straight there.

"Hello?" She called through the house.

"Cate?" Charlie replied, running down the stairs. "Oh my God." He muttered, seeing the paleness in her skin. The young man rushed over to her, hugging her tightly and kissing her forehead softly. "What happened?"

"The dementors." She whispered. "I don't really know what's happening. Since I woke up, I've been thinking nonstop about my childhood, all the bad parts."

"It's most likely because you've never been in contact with them before, and when you did, you were rather weak." Cate didn't reply, just buried her face deeper in the warmth of Charlie. "C'mon." He gestured, "Let's get you upstairs" Reluctantly, Catherine followed her boyfriend up to her room, where she lay down, and almost immediately fell asleep.

"Get some sleep." She heard Charlie whisper, "I'll had some food ready when you get up." He kissed her forehead gently and left the room.