Chapter 3
Beep……..Beep………Beep………Beep……
A slow ache swept over her body as her mind swam in confusion. Where was she? What was that noise? Blinding white light shot painfully into her left eye as she forced it open with a groan. The room became visible as the night of the ball flashed before her eyes like an old projection movie…
Flashback
Once Katie arrived home her father dragged her into the living room and threw her onto the nearest chair before pouring himself a drink. Each one of his breaths came out shaking and uneven with anger as he clutched the glass of strong malt whiskey in his right hand, his left grasping the drinks cabinet. "Do you have any idea of the damage you have caused tonight girl?" he questioned, his eyes alight with malice. A small "sorry father" escaped her lips before she closed them tightly not wishing to provoke him further. It happened so sudden, with one great burst of energy Simon threw the whole drinks cabinet over, glass flew everywhere as various bottles smashed spilling their coloured content over the finely polished oak floors.
Grabbing Katie by the collar and throwing her against the wall he leaned close to her, whispering just loud enough to hear "If you ever…EVER make a scene like that again I swear girl I wont hesitate to slit that ungrateful throat of yours! Understood? Lucius is a very important business partner of mine and I wont stand for.." "But.." She interrupted before clamping her mouth shut realising what she had just done. "BUT?" Simon spat in anger before throwing her to the floor. The broken shards of glass pierced her skin but it was nothing compared to the pain which shot through her body almost immediately after hearing the word "crucio" spilling from her fathers lips. She heard herself scream in agony as pain rippled through her body like a thousand hot knifes piercing her flesh. The pain lasted a matter of seconds before she felt herself slipping into darkness, hoping she never has to come out again.
End Flashback
"Katie?...Katie can you hear me? Please Katie say something" She opened her eyes once more revealing the weeping silhouette of her sister Jessica. Looking around she realised she was in the medical wing of their manor. It was common for rich pureblood magical families to have a personal medic on hand constantly. This was probably to prevent suspicion as many purebloods were death eaters and if injured by an auror, the doctors at a hospital may put two and two together. Wires were piercing her skin and she was attached to a ventilator, had the attack been that bad? Looking around Katie noticed a rather large bunch of expensive looking flowers resting on the bedside table with a small note attached. Raising a shaky hand to the note she tilted it to read ..
To Katie
I hope your feeling better soon, your father explained everything and don't worry we all have a little too much sometimes.
Yours,
Draco xx
"Father told everyone you'd had too much to drink last night" Jessica stated noticing where her sister was looking.
The sisters continued to chat for a while about Hogwarts gossip which Jessica had heard last night. Several hours later Katie couldn't help but notice the amount of times Jessica kept looking at her watch and smiling. "I'm sorry am I keeping you?" joked Katie watching her sisters goofy smile. "Your not aloud to tell anyone ok? But I kinda met a guy last night" Katie smiled as her sister turned crimson. "Oh really? And does this mystery man have a name?" Jessica's smile died as she looked around as if to check for eavesdroppers. "That's the thing you see, its Lee Jordan, you know from my house at school" Jessica lapsed into giggles as her sister frowned. "You didn't see him last night Kate, he was so sweet and romantic, I've arranged to meet him today but you can't tell anyone!" Katie's brows crinkled in disapproval. "Jess what if Father finds out! Lee's muggleborn! You saw what father did to me last night and …hang on a muggleborn at the Malfoy family ball? How the hell did he get in?" The smitten grin returned to Jessica's face as she explained "He said he'd liked me for ages and knew I'd be at this ball so he disguised himself and told the doorman his name was Albert Moonwaffle! Hehehe" Seeing the look on her sisters face she added "I'll be careful I promise Kate just please don't tell, its just one date and I really really like him" Looking into her sisters eyes Katie saw this guy must be really special. "Fine I wont tell but if he buys you chocolates I'm having them!" Jessica giggled once more before launching into a full list of everything that happened last night after Katie left. "He kissed my hand before asking me to dance and he was such a lovely.." Jessica was immediately silenced by the door banging open to reveal the large form of her father.
With one contemptuous look at Jessica he snarled "Out!" She didn't need telling twice, she immediately made her way past her father casting her little sister a pitying glance. Simon Carrow hadn't yet looked at Katie today, his attention was caught by Draco's flowers lying on her bedside table. "Your lucky Lucius saw the funny side of things girl. I've managed to smooth things over with the Malfoys and tonight you'll make a proper apology to Draco when his family join us for dinner this evening" He made his way to her bedside making his youngest daughter cower in fear. "You will be ready by six. You will be nothing but polite to the Malfoys and if you slip up once I swear it's the end for you girl do you understand?" With a shaken nod from Katie he swept from the room.
Jessica re-entered the room with a huge smile across her face. "Oh my God Kate! You can keep them busy while I go and see Lee!" Rolling her eyes Katie looked away from her sister moving her gaze to the flowers once more, looking at them like this whole mess was their fault.
It was 5.50pm and Katie's mother was fussing around the dining room screaming at random house elves who were unfortunate enough to cross her path. Katie was extremely on edge, after swearing to her sister not to breathe a word about Lee to her parents, she was sure watching her father sucking up to the Malfoys was not about to be a pleasurable experience. Also, to add to her stress, Katie had promised to keep her parents distracted for as long as possible to divert the attention from the fact that their oldest daughter was missing on a date with a muggleborn or "a filthy little mudblood" as her father so elegantly called them. Jessica had promised to be home by nine.
The doorbell rang as Simon cast one last warning look at his daughter. The Malfoys entered and Katie reluctantly stood ready to graciously greet their guests. Lucius and Simon shook hands as Narcissa and Katies mother Heather kissed each others powdered cheeks. Draco stood to the side looking very smug with his arms folded across his broad chest looking her up and down. "Hello Katie, I trust it's safe to speak to you without getting assaulted?" "Draco!" Narcissa scolded as Katie silently fumed. "Keep the Malfoys sweet, that's all she had to do, its just one night, your doing this for Jessica" Katie told herself over and over in her head. With this thought in mind she batted her eye lashes and tilted her head to one side placing her face into an innocent, apologetic expression which she knew would fool them. "Im so sorry for last night Draco I didn't mean it" The look on his face was priceless! It was obvious he could see straight through my act but his dimwit parents took it hook, line and sinker!
Smirking, Draco's slate grey eyes sparkled with malice as he replied "That's ok dear I understand, but once we're married the drinking will have to stop" It took every ounce of self control not to punch his lights out! How dare he! All she could do however was politely smile and change the subject. The subject must be changed! The M word must not be spoken in front of my parents I refuse to marry a prick like him! The evening dragged on sitting around the dinner table with Narcissa constantly asking about my love life, dropping hints like bombs that her precious little Draco wouldn't stay single for long and how she longs to see him happily married to a girl like me. Draco wasn't helping matters; he was sat next to me, which I was constantly reminded of as his hand kept slipping onto my thigh when nobody was looking. In the end I couldn't resist, I discreetly dragged my shrimp fork under the table and jammed it into his long pale hand. He screeched in alarm attracting several questionable looks from his parents. Blushing, he returned to his meal, not attempting it again.
After everyone was full and finished they moved into the lounge for drinks. The adults were sat on comfortable leather arm chairs while Draco and Katie shared the couch. As time went on Lucius stood from seat and beckoned for his wife and son to do the same. "Well Simon its been a thoroughly enjoyable evening but its getting late" Looking at the clock Katie realised it was only eight thirty, no this cant be happening they must stay another half an hour! Oh no! Jessica wouldn't be back until nine! Thinking fast Katie sprang to her feet "No! Wait!" she exclaimed startling the adults as she had barley spoken all evening. Thinking fast she stuttered, desperately thinking of a way she could get the Malfoys to stay a little longer to avoid her father noticing Jessica's absence. Knowing this would probably be the worst decision she had ever made, the sentence left her mouth before she had thought it through "Before you go can I show Draco our gardens? The roses look beautiful at night" Her stomach dropped. Simon and Lucius smirked, Heather smiled and Narcissa went as far as to squeak in delight. "Oh of course you can sweetie!" she exclaimed pushing a confused looking Draco towards Katie.
Draco smiled and took her hand before leading her out of the room away from the watchful gaze of their parents. "You stupid bitch! What have you done?" Katie mentally scolded herself all the way along the pathway towards the gardens. She only stopped when she felt herself being pulled into an empty hallway and pinned against the wall as a deep voice drawled into her ear "Wanted me all to your self eh Carrows?"
A/N Please please REVIEW. Im really enjoying writing this fic and it would be a shame to scrap it Review! Constructive criticism welcomed cough you son of a bitch cough! hehe xx