Chapter 14

The Christmas break slowly passed, most spent it relaxing, and catching up on any homework that hadn't been completed yet. On the last night of the break, Hermione, Harry and Catherine were sitting in the common room. Harry and Hermione were chatting away while Catherine was busy doing write ups for The Order.

Out of nowhere, a blinding pain shot into Catherine's arm. Trying hard not to try to reduce the pain by holding it, the young woman shoved the parchment into her bag, placed her wand into her jeans, and stood up.

"Where're you going?" Hermione asked. Cate stopped at the open portrait hole, turning to face her.

"I'm going out to walk around for a bit." She replied.

"Outside?" The other girl questioned, looking at the coat in Catherine's hand.

"Yes." She then left into the empty hallway. Cate glanced down at her bare arm, the mark was glowing black slightly . . . if that was possible. She looked down the hallway in both directions, and then headed for the forest, pulling on her coat when she got outside.

Pulling her coat tighter around her, she continued across the grounds, her hand closed tightly around her wand. Soon, she entered the forest, straining her ears for any sign of noise. Catherine continued walking straight for at least ten minutes, until a sudden rustle of the bushes made her jump. Cate whipped around, a figure dressed entirely in black emerged from between the trees.

"Come." A deep voice said, slowly, Cate followed him into a clearing. A half-circle of death eaters stood there, Voldemort in the middle, facing her.

"Welcome." Voldemort's voice seemed to be glowing with glee "To our circle. We are very glad that you could join us."

"I am too My Lord." Cate replied, bowing only the slightest bit. Her act had to be good, but not too good.

"Why could you not come to us before? I am assuming that you were not ill."

"I was not." She began, "Severus would not let me come."

"I am glad you do not lie as he does." Voldemort paused, "All though you could have snuck awa to us, and you did not. For this, you will be punished." Catherine gulped silently, preparing for whatever it was that was coming. "Lucius." He ordered, the blonde man stepped forward, letting a whip drop to its full length from his hand.

"Yes My Lord." He complied.

"You know what to do." Voldemort instructed, then turned to Cate.

"Take off your coat." She did as he said. Lucius raised the whip, bringing it down onto her back. Catherine winced just the slightest bit. The man brought it down three more times, each breaking open Cate's pale skin. Voldemort motioned for him to stop. "You have been hit four times, do you know why?"

"No, My Lord." She replied, not daring to look directly at him.

"One, for not sneaking off the last time you were called. One for coming late today. One for coming in muggle clothing, and one for breaking you in. Do you understand?"'

"Yes, My Lord."

"You are wanting to do work for us, are you not?"

"Yes I am."

"Then you will do some spying."

"On whom?"

"Mr. Potter, and those who are against us."

"Of course My Lord."

"You may go now."

"Thank-you." Catherine bowed slightly before heading off through the forest, puling her coat over her bloodied back.

The young woman walked through the forest, pushing her way through the bare trees. Soon enough, she had found her way back to the grounds, plowed through the deep piles of snow up to the castle. She brushed the snow off herself, and headed to Professor McGonagall's office, knocking hard on the door. Minerva's face soon appeared in it.

"Catherine? Are you all right?"

"Uh . . . partially." Minerva stepped back, letting the eighteen-year-old in.

"What happened?" She asked as Cate peeled off her coat.

"Would you be able to heal me?"

"Heal you . . . " The woman stopped as Cate turned her back to her. "Oh . . . " Minerva reached over to her desk, picking up her wand. The teacher then performed a simple spell, which vanished Catherine's wounds. McGonagall then cast another spell to remove the rips and blood from her clothing.

"Thank-you." Cate replied, facing the woman.

"Anytime." Minerva said softly, she paused, "I'm assuming you were called?"

"Yes." She nodded, pulling her coat on again.

"You should get some rest soon."

"That was my plan."'

"Good to hear." McGonagall softly patted Catherine's shoulder before the young woman headed off.

Back in the common rom, Hermione was still sitting up, presumably working on some extra credit work, but she was really keeping an eye on how long it took Cate to get back.

"Where were you?" Hermione asked the second Catherine entered through the portrait hole.

"I told you before I left, I want for a walk."

"For that long?"'

"I needed to clear my head." The eighteen-year-old started up the stairs.

"Whatever you say." She heard Hermione say as she closed the dormitory door. Catherine quickly changed, pulled the hangings shut and dropped down onto her bed, where she fell asleep immediately.