Chapter 19

The next day, as soon as classes ended, the DA, Catherine, Tonks, Moody and Lupin met in the room of requirement. The DA however, didn't expect to see a rather large jar of spiders sitting in the corner. Ron, of course, veered away from this as much as possible. As soon as everyone was there, Moody spoke.

"Today, and for the rest of the year until the arrack comes, we're going to be studying the darkest types of curses and how to prevent them, or fight them." He paused, "And we're starting with the unforgivable curses." When part of the DA opened their mouths, Moody spoke up again. "Yes, I know that when that imposter posing as myself was here, he showed them to you. Reamus, Tonks and I are teaching them to you."

"May I ask what Catherine's doing here then?" Hermione spoke up.

"She's my example." Moody replied, Cate jumped slightly, looking over at him.

"Alastor!" Lupin and Tonks both shouted.

"What?"

"You know it's illegal to put those curses on anyone."

"She can fight it." He looked over at Cate, she looked slightly terrified, but also confident.

"If she gets hurt . . . " Reamus began.

"I know, I know." Alastor growled, "Severus will kill me, I realize that." He then turned to the DA, "The Imperius curse is first. Anyone could use this on you to control you, you may also have or want to use it on them."

"Why would be want to use it one them?" Ron asked, "Why not just kill them?"

"Because, if we were to use it on them, and they were caught murdering their own people, Voldemort would give them a more painful death then imagined."

"Oh." Ron then fell silent.

"Now, the incantation is this: Imperio," Moody began, "But before you use it, know that some people are harder to control then others. Harry and Catherine included." He then turned to Cate, "I'm going to put the spell on Catherine, and then you all are going to practice with the spiders I've brought. If we have enough time in the end, I will place it on each of you for a short time so you know what it feels like." Alastor looked up at Cate, taking his wand out. "On the count of three . . . one, two, three. Imperio!"

The spell hit Catherine, she could hear a voice inside her head, it was speaking to her . . . saying:

'Jump on the desk Jump on the desk.' She thought hard in return:

'No.'

The thoughts continued like this until the young woman's legs twitched, a sign that she was weakening, but not very much. Moody ceased the spell, if he went past her limit, Cate could have seriously hurt herself by colliding with the desk.

"Good job." Moody muttered, then turned to the DA, "You're spiders are in the cages around the room, select one, and get to work." He waved his wand, and small aquariums appeared around the room, a spider in each. "You've got ten minutes, then we're moving on."

Ten minutes later, Lupin silenced then all, making sure there were no remnants of the spell on the spiders. Tonks then spoke.

"The next curse we're doing is an absolutely horrid thing. Please, only use it if your life is at stake." He eyes scanned across the room, pausing slightly on Neville, "The Cruciatus Curse causes unbelievable pain and torture to its recipient. It is believed to be one of Voldemort's favorites for using on his death eaters and enemies, however, he never uses it to the extent of death."'

"That we know of." Moody added on.

"This one, the incantation is Crucio. Before you practice that though, we want you to be aware of Avada Kedavra There is now way to block it with magic, you might just manage to survive if you are hidden behind layers of stone. There is no way to reverse it, and it causes immediate death." Tonks finished.

"Be sure when using these two that you are in your own space, and not messing around, there is a lot of danger with these." Lupin finished off.

Everyone then went on, continuing to curse their spiders, Ron having a slight problem. Catherine left soon afterwards.

Over in Snape's office, he and Dumbledore were sitting, they were discussing the events of the last meeting from The Order.

"Severus, I'm sure you have some questions from the meeting."

"Why wouldn't I?" He asked cooly.

"I have to tell you now, I cannot tell you all of it. Though, I cannot tell you all of it, as I do not know some of it, and some is Catherine's business."

"How did she end up betrothed to Draco Malfoy?"

"I'm not entirely sure." Albus replied softly, "Mr. Malfoy probably heard she was on the dark side, and his father suggested it."

"It makes sense." Severus fell silent, thinking for a moment, "She's been in contact with the dark side, hasn't she?"

"I'm not saying anything in response, go talk to Catherine."

"That I will." Snape replied, standing up and swiftly leaving the room.

After Catherine left the room of requirement, she began on her way back to Gryffindor tower. Draco, started following her, he waited until they were in a completely deserted hallway, with minimal portraits to come up directly behind her.

"Good evening." He breathed onto her neck. Cate jumped lightly, turning around.

"Draco, I didn't hear you coming."

"I enjoy the element of surprise." He replied, kissing her cheek.

"So I've noticed." Catherine replied, Draco slipped his hands around hers, pushing her gently into the wall.

"You're happy about this right?" He asked, a puppy-dog look on his face.

"Of course." She nodded, to confirm her response, she brushed their lips together. Draco leaned in for another kiss, his hands pinning Cate up against him. She fought hard to keep his tongue out of her mouth, and his hands from under her shirt. Because of this, his hands slowly inched downward from her waist. Catherine grabbed his hands suddenly, interlocking them. Draco seemed to be getting angry, for he shoved his tongue into her mouth forcefully. He then began forcing their hands toward her ass, Cate pushed away as hard as she could, Malfoy then pulled his mouth off hers.

"Do you not want me?" He spat.

"Why wouldn't I want to be with you?"

"Not be with me, do you want me?"

"Not right at the moment." She replied, glancing down the hallway, and saw Snape standing there.

"Mr. Malfoy, did I not say to only fo that in your dormitory?" His voice echoed throughout the hallway.

"Sorry professor." Draco smirked, took Catherine's hand, to begin to lead her to Slytherin tower.

"I don't think now is the best time." Severus spoke once again, "I need to speak with my daughter."

"Oh . . . all right." Malfoy kissed Cate's cheek, then left the hallway.

"How much trouble am I in?" The eighteen-year-old asked, walking up to her father.

"Well, you're not dead yet, so that's an improvement." Snape forced a small smile. "After hearing that you were betrothed to Malfoy, I figured that you had been in contact with the dark lord."

"You figured right." Cate admitted, hanging her head.

"As long as you are in no danger, which you shouldn't be, you're fine."

"Why wouldn't I be in danger?"'

"The Dark Lord has placed the burden of providing an heir for the future lord on you. You will never be hurt by anyone on the dark side."

"Unless they find out the truth." She paused, "Or if you count Draco raping me, that might be danger."

"Or Lucius Malfoy," Severus added, "Either could be dangerous. However, the dark lord himself is far worse."

"I know." Cate replied.

"When did you go?"

"I...uh . . . I went the first time I was called, when I got you to go for me."

"You went!"

"Out of sight and ear shot. I saw them torturing you, and didn't want you to go through with it again. So the next time I was called, I went."

"Were you hurt?"

"I was whipped for times, Professor McGonagall healed me as soon as I got back."

"Good."

"I wasn't hurt since then."

"That's lovely. Now, get going, I don't want questions to be asked."

"All right." Cate then turned and left the hallway in a hurry.