Chapter 13
Over the next month, students were pulled out of class in ones and twos twice a day. Classes were getting smaller and smaller each week, until Christmas break, when everything stopped, and only the DA and the children of death eaters remained. Anyone who had gone home for Christmas was going into hiding as soon as the holiday ended. But for now, back at Hogwarts, it was Christmas day.
"Cate!" Parvati's voice broke into the young woman's dreams. "Cate! Get up!" A pillow then flew into her face. Catherine pushed the pillow to the ground and sat up.
"Happy Christmas." She said groggily, looking around the dormitory, she noticed that Ginny had joined them
"Happy Christmas!" A number of voices replied. The room was then filled with OoO's and shrieks of joy as the girls opened their presents. Just as they were finished (and had gotten dressed), a dog came bounding up the stairs, stopping at Catherine's feet. It was a small dog, mostly jack Russell Terrier, but with some other breeds mixed in as well.
The dog sat promptly, wagging its tail quickly, staring up at Cate with sparkling eyes, it barked, still sitting there. Cate reached down to pet it, and it jumped toward the doorway. Laughing slightly, the young woman followed it as it bounded down the stairs to the common room. When she walked around the last corner, she saw Charlie standing in the room.
"Happy Christmas." He smiled, the dog bounded between the two. Catherine walked up to him, hugging him tightly.
"Thank-you." She replied, "He's adorable."
"I'm glad you like him." Charlie began as they departed. "The only other one I could get was a cocker spaniel, but I figured you wouldn't really appreciate that."
"Yeah, not really." She laughed, "It's great to see you again, it's been a while."
"True." Charlie wrapped his arms around her waist. "I have missed you."
"I've missed you too." Cate replied, leaning closer to him, she kissed him softly. Charlie was just leaning in for another one when the sound of the others coming down the stairs reached his ears. The couple departed and turned their attention to greeting everyone else. Hermione turned her attention out the window, the sun was brightly shining among the grounds, illuminating the common room.
"What'd'you guys say about going out to the grounds to play around after breakfast?"'
"Sounds good." A few voices replied, then ran back up to their dormitories to get coats. With that all behind them, they headed off to the Great Hall.
Breakfast passed very well, when the younger ones announced that they were planning to go outside, a couple of their teachers exchanged nervous glances.
"Severus." Albus began, "Maybe you and Minerva should go with them." He gestured.
"Of course!" Minerva nearly jumped out of her seat, "I'll just be a moment, I have to grab my cloak."
As soon as the thirteen of them were outside, they ran off into the deep snow (not including McGonagall and Snape of course) and began pelting each other with snow balls. When Catherine missed hitting Ron by at least three feet, he jogged over to her.
"Ha!" He shouted as he stopped, then lowered his voice, "I bet you can't hit Snape in the back of his head from here." Cate looked up, Snape was about ten feet away from them, his back to them, talking to Minerva.
"What'll happen if I do hit him?"
"I'll serve your detention if you get one." Ron smirked.
"Okay . . . " Cate gulped, hoping Severus wouldn't murder her, then gathered up a ball of snow and threw it. It hit him smack in the back of the head. First, everyone froze, mortified, then they burst into laughter.
"Oh man . . . " Ron gasped for air, "If only Fred and George could have seen that."
Snape turned slowly to face them while wiping the snow off his head. He grimaced for a moment, then bent down and got a handful of snow. He ended up hitting Ron directly in the face, which, of course, caused everyone to burst out laughing again. And . . . soon enough, everyone was involved in the snowball fight.
After another half hour of storming each other with snow, and Charlie throwing a fer of them into massive snow banks, the group headed back into the castle. All of them were sopping wet, and left a rather damp trail for Filch to clean up later.
The dinner Christmas feast passed rather relaxed. Around the table, people chatted in twos and threes while they ate. By the end, most were rather tired, and went straight to their house towers. Catherine and Charlie however, remained talking at the table until only Professors Dumbledore, McGonagall, Snape and Tonks were left. Cate drained the last of her cup of tea, then spoke out to everyone.
"Kind of weird how it just so happens to be the six of us left here eh?" A few others looked around, then nodded in agreement. "Well, as we're here now, is there anything to be said?"
"As long as you know that you're not to do anything that I don't approve up, no." Severus spoke cooly. Catherine rolled her eyes, standing up from the table.
"As I've heard that numerous times, I'll take that as a no." She gestured to Charlie, and the two of them left the Great Hall.
"I'd have to say, it's great to be back." Charlie stated quietly as they walked to McGonagall's office.
"I can believe that." Cate smiled as he took her hand in his. The couple walked in silence the rest of the way to infront of Minerva's fire place. Charlie turned to his girlfriend, taking her hands in his.
"Remember to keep yourself safe over the next few months." He warned.
"I will."
"Good. But . . . when you go out to meet with the death eaters, make sure you're protected. Make sure that somehow, you're connected to The Order so that we can back you up."
"I'd rather now." Cate replied, "If I was connected to you guys in any way, Voldemort would know. Then he'd have a way to find out who you are, where you are, and I wouldn't want to put you in that kind of danger."
"Fine." He gave in, "But have some sort of danger signal arranged with someone up here, and use that."
"All right." She agreed, leaning into him.
"Thank-you." Charlie kissed her head gently.
"Anytime." Catherine looked up at him, then kissed him softly, yet, passionately. They departed after a tiny bit, Charlie stepped toward the fire place.
"I'll see you soon." He said, kissing her hand, then flooed back to Grimmauld Place.
