Chapter 23
The next day, many, many owls flew in at breakfast, telling the news of the attack on the ministry. Those who didn't get the Daily Profit were receiving letters from family and friends alike, some worrying about their security at Hogwarts.
Ron, Hermione and Harry sat at the Gryffindor table, a short bit away from Parvati and Lavender. Catherine had decided to sit with the Slytherin's that morning, as she did not want to be with Ron when he found out about his brother.
Unluckily for her, Malfoy stood up just before any Gryffindors had gotten letters. The seventeen-year-old walked over to their table.
"Hey Weasel!" He snarled, "How's your brother doing?"
"What?"
"Is your mother taking it well?"
"Ron!" Hermione gasped as her Daily Profit arrived, "Look at this!" She shoved the paper under his noise, her finger pointing at the words
'...and Percy Weasley were also killed in the attack . . . '
"What?" Ron shouted, his eyes flying through the article. Malfoy cackled evilly, sauntering back to the Slytherin table, which was full of laughter, minus Cate.
"That was wonderful." He laughed, sitting, "Weasley is such an idiot." He wiped invisible tears from his eyes, wrapping an arm around Cate.
"You know, I should really keep an eye on them today, he might want revenge." The young woman stated bluntly, pushed Draco's arm off her and hurried across the hall. The Gryffindors had already left for class, not wanting to be around the Slytherin's anymore. Cate pushed open the dungeon door, entering their potions class.
Hermione, Harry and Ron sat three rows away from Ginny (who had come to support Cate), Neville, Parvati, Lavender, Seamus and Dean. The trio froze mid-sentence when Cate walked in.
"What the bloody hell did you do?" Hermione snarled as Catherine walked up to the empty seat beside Lavender.
"To do with Percy's death, nothing."'
"You've done enough lying to us already! We all know you're dating Malfoy, we've all seen it! Are you on Voldemort's side or not?" She shouted.
"What kind of a question is that?" Catherine yelled back, "If I was a Voldemort supporter, why would I be in Gryffindor? Why would I know about the DA? Why would I be part of The Order? Need I remind you that both of my parents were part of it as well?"
"That doesn't prove anything!" Hermione stormed over to where Cate stood, "But this does!" The outraged teen forcefully pulled up Cate's left sleeve, exposing her dark mark to the others. Mouths dropped open, eyes widened, and silent gasps filled the air. "People who support our side, DON'T have those." She spat.
"Hermione, having this mark means nothing. It means that at one point, Severus was enough of an idiot to accidentally pass the mark on to me. And that Voldemort is able to summon me at any time."
"It's the dark mark! It causes havoc all over England!" Hermione was back to yelling, "Don't lie anymore Cate, we're just going to end kill anyways!"
"MISS GRANGER!" Snape's stone cold voice shouted over all the ruckus from the door. "WHAT is going on?"'
"Professor, I'm sure you've heard about the attack on the ministry, am I right?"'
"Yes." He walked further into the room.
"Well, I was just saying that Catherine had something to do with it, when she denied it, I revealed her mark."
"And what does that prove?
"That she supports Voldemort!" Three voices shouted in reply.
"Miss Granger, and friends, may I remind you that I too have that very same mark? And I am most definitely not a Dark Lord supporter."
"But Professor..." Hermione whined.
"No more." He looked at the corner, "Alastor, would you care to alert Reamus, Arthur Tonks, Minerva and Albus about this accusation?" Moody suddenly appeared in the corner.
"Should I bring them in?"
"Yes." Severus replied, "And do be quick, we only have eighty-minutes." With a flash, Moody was gone.
Ten minutes later, everyone was gathered in the potions classroom. Order members sat scattered around the room, students in their desks.
"Miss Granger," Severus began, "I believe you may have a problem with my daughter?"
"Yes!" The seventeen-year-old replied, "She's a death eater!"
"Hermione, that is where you are wrong." Dumbledore began softly, "Miss Catherine joined us nearly two years ago, into her sixth year, all though, she was already seventeen. Catherine was put into the sixth year so she could keep an eye on you three." He gestured to Harry, Ron and Hermione. "She was to report everything to her mother."'
"School hadn't been in progress for a day before she became part of The Order." Arthur threw in.
"This doesn't explain why she has the dark mark.
"I accidentally passed the mark on to her. When the dementors attacked, it became the actual dark mark rather than a hand-print bruise." Severus replied cooly, "As yo mu knowledge, she has not been going to any meetings."
"But she did."
"We know" Minerva spoke harshly, getting annoyed with the younger students. "Catherine came directly to me after the first meeting she attended. Now, she is continuing to go to those meetings while spying for us."
"Then how come she didn't tell anybody about the attack they were planning!" Ron shouted
"Because I wasn't told!" Catherine shouted directly back at him, "I was asked if I knew who Cornelius Fudge was, I said yes, they told me that at some point, I would need to keep him occupied, that was it. On Friday, Lucius Malfoy told Draco and me to go to the ministry. I couldn't leave because Lucius had his eye on me. As soon as I could leave, I alerted The Order."'
"Then what about going out with Malfoy? You've been all over him for the past month." Ron shot back.
"I've been betrothed to hi, I have no choice!" She spat.
"So what?"
"She's not with him." Ginny spoke up frm the corner, "Cate's dating someone else, someone who's with our side one-hundred percent." Tonks smiled softly from her side of the room.
"And who would that be?" Ron asked.
"RONALD WEASLEY!" Arthur shouted over the starting noise, his voice silencing it, "Cate is on our side, she's part of The Order, which includes doing spying while posing as a death eater. Yes, she did play a role in the attack on the ministry, but she saved many lives by coming straight to The Order."
"What about Malfoy?"
"I'm betrothed to him because they need a female death eater his age."
"Why his age?" Ron was the only one asking anything now.
"Because I'm supposed to supply him with an heir." She sighed lightly, "He is the next dark lord if Voldemort fails."
"So just because you're the only female death eater aside from his mother, you were chosen?"
"Actually," Severus started, "It's because of the reputation you have with the death eaters." Cate raised an eyebrow, "Lucius Malfoy said you give off a vibe that you're rather easy."
"Interesting." Cate turned back to the Gryffindors, "So is this settled now? I'm not against you?" The Gryffindors nodded, some taking a few seconds longer to agree.
"Good!" Dumbledore clasped his hands, "It's all settled now." The man then disappeared, leaving everyone else to soon leave.
