Chapter 22
Friday soon rolled around, a joy to those left at Hogwarts, for, not only was there no school in the afternoon, but there was a trip to Hogsmaede. Draco insisted that Catherine go with him, of course. The two of them sat in The 3 Broomsticks in silence, while drinking their butterbeers.
"How do you like it here?" Draco suddenly asked, the coldness and slyness absent from his voice.
"Hmm?" Cate raised an eyebrow.
"How do you like it here, compared to Canada?"
"It's much better."
'Were you always a Dark Lord supporter?"
"There was no Dark Lord in Canada, he wasn't brought up in conversation often. I also grew up with my mother."
"So once Snape took you over, you became a death eater?"
"You could say that." She replied, taking another sip of butterbeer. In the background, they heard the dinging of the bell above the door, little did they know that an invisible person had just snuck in.
"But you do enjoy it, right?"
"Enjoy what?"
"Being a death eater."
"Oh! Yes, of course."
"That's good." A raspy voice whispered from beside the table. Malfoy and Catherine's heads both flew up, and saw nothing. The voice laughed quietly, "It is time." Draco took Cate's hand and casually walked out of the pub. He continued to lead her into an alley way.
"We're going to apparate to the ministry now." Draco ordered, "Go straight to Fudge's office and start distracting him."
"Mmkay." She nodded, looking up at him, "Are you sure this will work?"
"Yes." Malfoy softly stroked her cheek, then kissed her, "I'll see you in a bit." The two the apparated to the ministry.
As she walked to the minister's office, Catherine unzipped the sweater she was wearing slightly. Luckily, the shirt she was wearing had a rather low neckline, so, her job wouldn't be too hard. The young woman put on a seductive act, then knocked on the open door.
"Hello Cornelius." She spoke, the man looked up, his eyes gazing up and down her body.
"Hello." He smoothed his hair back, standing up from his desk. Cate closed the door behind her as she walked in.
"How are you today?" She slid onto the side of the desk.
"I'm good." Fudge sat back down in his chair, "Yourself?"
"Very well, thank-you." The nineteen-year-old reached her hand out, touching his cheek softly. She traced a hand along his chin, stroking it gently. "You know, you're a very handsome man." Catherine whispered.
"You're very beautiful yourself Miss." She giggled softly.
"Thank-you." Her hand continued tracing his way around his face, slowly finding its way down to his neck. From a distance, Cate suddenly heard a commotion break out. Thinking quickly, Catherine slid onto his lap, using her left hand to turn on the clock radio on his desk. She didn't want to let anything happen between them, but she did not want to go against Voldemort's words.
Fudge closed his hands around her waist, Cate wrapped a hand around his neck, pulling them close together. Another crash came from the outer offices, Fudge fidgeted in his chair.
"You know, I should really check on that."
"No!" She nearly shouted, "I'm sure it's fine." She shifted her weight slightly, moving closer. "I'd much rather you stay here with me." She spoke with the seductive tone again. As Cornelius fidgeted again, Catherine leaned in, preparing to kiss him.
"Move!" A voice thundered from the doorway when their lips were only a mere inch apart. Cate dived off the chair as she saw a death eater's want pointed at Fudge. An incantation was muttered, and the next second, the minister of magic was slumped over in his chair. A small scream managed to escape's Catherine's lips, the death eater grabbed her arm, pulling her off the ground. "Good work." He complimented. "Now, apparate out of here! Aurorers are coming."
The nineteen-year-old immediately apparated to Grimmauld Place, hoping that she couldn't be traced. The young woman burst into the kitchen, where she found quite a few members of The Order, including her father.
"Get to the ministry!" She shouted urgently. A few confused faces looked back at her, "Don't ask questions, just go! Be prepared to fight!" Nearly everyone in the room vanished, including Charlie, which alarmed Cate slightly. Only Mrs Weasley, Professor McGongall and Severus remained.
"What's going on?" Snape asked hurriedly.
"Voldemort and the death eaters attacked the ministry. Fudge was killed, and others were injured and probably killed. I don't really know."
"How do you know this?" He asked once againt.
"How do you think?" She rolled her eyes, "I was told to occupy Fudge for a certain period of time. I wanted to leave to tell you, but if I left, god knows what would have happened."
"Why wasn't I told about this?"'
"I have no idea. Probably because they assumed you wouldn't show of something." Cate shrugged, "God, I hope everything's okay." The nineteen-year-old then began to pace the kitchen, frantically trying to tell herself that nothing was going wrong. Minerva tried her best to calm the young woman down, but her plan failed as Molly began fretting about Arthur and Charlie..
Nearly an hour later, Charlie, Arthur and Tonks appeared back at Headquarters. The four heads in the kitchen flew up.
"Is everything okay?" Molly and Cate asked.
"Fudge was killed, and a few other ministry officials." Tonks replied, looking awkwardly at Charlie. The young man stepped toward his mother.
"Mom...I don't know how to tell you this. But..." He face was filled with worry, "Percy was also killed." Tears began forming in Mrs Weasley's eyes, she quickly walked to the sitting room, Charlie and Arthur at her heels. Catherine sighed heavily, her eyes blurring with tears at the realization of what she had just done, even if it was all an act, and even with her life at risk. Charlie then appeared back in the kitchen. "Dad's got her under control." He muttered, looking over at Cate, noticing her teary eyes. "You alright?"
"I will be." She sniffed heavily. The young man took her by the arm, leading her into the library.
"Cate, what's wrong?"
"How much did I have to do with this today?"
"What?"
"I was sent in to distract Fudge, if I had done what I should have, no one would have been killed. Fudge would have seen what was going on and the aurorers and The Order would have been alerted a lot sooner. I don't know how much more of this I can take."
"Cate...it's going to be all right. People are going to die no matter what, it isn't your fault." Charlie wrapped his arms around her as the tears began to fall from her eyes.
