Disclaimer: Harry Potter isn't mine.

Chapter 8 Curious Kat

"Do you really think Kat would betray us?"

Regulus couldn't believe he was hiding in a bush, eating a dead squirrel, and listening to a Weasley. He wondered if Arthur Weasley still advocated for legalizing Muggle hunting. Anyway, the boy was collecting Potions ingredients with a girl with bushy hair. Regulus abandoned his meal to follow him at a distance.

"She's making it more and more obvious that we can't trust her," the girl said stiffly. "Thank Merlin, Dad cursed her. I can't believe I was sore with him for it at first…"

The Weasley boy seemed bothered by this but decided not to comment. "What did she see anyway?"

The girl snorted. "Something that belongs to my parents."

Weasley frowned but kept walking along the edge of the Forbidden Forest. The girl was doing all the work, but that seemed to be normal for the pair. "I'm only asking because… She talks about Malfoy. Like a lot."

"You're jealous." The girl laughed loudly as the boy's face flushed. They had to be talking about Draco. "She's stuck with him in Potions. She stupidly stayed here at Christmas like he did—"

"He saved her life," the boy said quietly. "At the Quidditch match. Slytherins don't do that for people they don't care about."

Here we go… Regulus had hoped such stereotypes had died but how could they? They had been around since Hogwarts had been founded. He wondered what Draco was like, if he really wanted anything to do with Katherine Potter.

She had to be just like Lily, someone who valued family more than herself, someone who would eventually crack under such pressure. Lily used to sleep with members of the Order to give Dumbledore secrets. Regulus hung his head and ran off. He shouldn't think such things of a child, but there was only one way to find out.

Blaise didn't show up to Potions. Pansy had the decency to tell him before class started instead of acting like she knew nothing all day. Draco was prepared for a fight. Blaise was perfectly justified in hexing them both. Instead, he simply turned heel and went back to their rooms.

"What's wrong with you?" Potter whispered. He was staring at Blaise's empty seat and barely paying attention to their potion, which was meant to heal burns.

"None of your business," he snapped. How were they going to fix this?

Potter grinned and grabbed a bit of Acromantula web, opening her mouth as if she were going to eat it. At his lack of disgust or reaction, she pouted slightly and put it down. "We're going to fail."

"Like you care," he hissed. "Could you leave me alone for once in your miserable life?"

Draco thanked every god he knew of when Potter quieted down. She seemed lost in thought as Black alternated between torturing Pansy and Dudley. Their potion was thick and disgusting by the end of class. Professor Black's nose wrinkled when he saw it.

Potter grinned, but it didn't reach her eyes. "He gave me a sickle to eat the aloe."

They forgot the water. That was all. There wasn't even supposed to be aloe in the potion! That didn't stop Professor Black from saying, "Twenty points from Slytherin, Draco."

Draco closed his eyes but said nothing. It's what Potter wanted after all. Her life was shitty, so she wanted him to cause a scene, lose more points, and maybe even get detention. Class ended early as usual, and he started hastily putting his books away.

He tried to hurry so he could have time in between classes to try to talk to Blaise, but the bloody beast started following him. "Did Professor Riddle talk to you?"

"No. Wh—" Draco frowned, remembering the conversation he had overheard. The Potters and Professor Black were close, and Professor Black had told Professor Riddle that he could get Lily Potter to tell Hestia to look at his tapestry. Perhaps Potter's mother or father told her about it. "Oh you mean after Christmas. Yes."

Potter thinned her lips. "I thought Slytherins were better liars."

"I'll bring that up at the next meeting," Draco said dryly. "Right in between the discussion about how many puppies we kicked and how much candy we've stolen from babies."

She opened her mouth to say something else, but Weasley came barreling over, chest puffed out like the bumbling fool that he was. "Is he bothering you?" Draco rolled his eyes. "Because—"

"He was telling me about all the candy he's stolen," Potter whispered loudly. "And that he kicks puppies for fun. I think he's flirting with me!"

Because he was an idiot, Weasley didn't take the last part as a joke and reached for his wand. Potter grabbed Weasley's arm, smiling slightly as she halfheartedly dragged him away. "C'mon! Sirius let us out twenty minutes early. Let's not waste it on him."

Weasley flushed at what she insinuated they should be doing instead. A small smile formed on Potter's face, but again, it didn't quite reach her eyes. Draco made a face of disgust. She was staring right at him.

They were gone, so Draco turned to talk to Blaise, thinking about what Potter had said. She asked if he had talked to Professor Riddle…

"What?" Blaise spat when he entered their rooms. Honestly, Draco didn't know what to say. I'm sorry didn't seem to cover it. "Go away."

Draco awkwardly stood in the doorway, torn between giving him what he wanted and trying to set things right. "I know how much he meant to you."

"My mum found him." Blaise was lying on his bed and turned his back so Draco couldn't see his face. "A few days after my dad died. She said she was going to kill him because he was a rat, but something stopped her."

"I'm sorry," Draco said, feeling his heart clench with guilt.

"Pansy already said that," he said flatly. "Just… leave me alone, Draco."

"But…" Draco certainly couldn't make Blaise forgive them. Honestly, he didn't know what to say. If it hadn't been for the broom, he knew it wouldn't have been this bad. Neither of his friends were talking to him, and then the pet that has been there for him since he was a baby is killed by one of his friend's cat. There was nothing he could say to make it better.

Blaise sat up and frowned, trying to look angry instead of sad. "The least you could do is leave me alone."

Draco left.

After dinner, Draco stopped by Professor Riddle's office, not just because he was avoiding Blaise. Potter thought Professor Riddle had told him something. Perhaps Professor Riddle would tell him what that something was.

Professor Riddle smiled warmly at him. "Draco! Is your arm ready for the upcoming match?"

It wasn't as stiff as it was a few weeks ago, but Draco still flushed with embarrassment as he tested it out. "Yes, sir."

The smile died down a bit as his headmaster pointed out the obvious. "But that is not why you're here."

"No, sir." Why was he here? The question was a bit hard to formulate. I'm here because Potter thought you told me something, but I haven't a clue what it could be. "Potter spoke to me today."

Professor Riddle raised his eyebrows. "Aren't the two of you lab partners in Potions?"

"Well yes…" There was a twinkle in the headmaster's eyes that told Draco he was teasing him, but he still barreled on. "You see, sir, she was wondering if you told me something."

The amusement disappeared from Professor Riddle's face so quickly that it was startling. "Oh? About what?"

"She wouldn't say." Draco paused, but then barreled on. He had yet to tell an adult about what happened with the Boggart. "But… She knows something about my mother, sir. Something that she wants to tell me but can't."

"Your mother." Professor Riddle's expression became guarded, unreadable. In that moment, Draco realized his headmaster knew exactly what was plaguing Potter. "She told you that she knows something about your mother, but can't tell you?"

"When she tried to tell me, she has an asthma attack, but…" Draco paused. There was no way he was going to get Blaise in trouble after everything that happened. "But when a potion was botched in class, the smoke didn't set her off. So we—I think she's cursed, so she literally can't tell me."

Draco didn't know what he expected. He had no clue what Potter knew about his mum, but he desperately wanted to know everything about his parents. Even if it was something small, he had to know. Professor Riddle had to tell him.

"I don't know," Professor Riddle lied. At Draco's look of betrayal, he hesitated but still didn't explain. "I thought I did, but I was wrong. I don't want to tell you if I am not sure myself, Draco. That would be cruel."

"But sir—" Draco tried.

"I'm sorry, Draco." With a wave of his hand, the exit to Professor Riddle's office opened. "I will tell you more when I know more."

"She wants me to know." Draco realized this on his way there. She was trying to tell him without actually telling him. That's why she was staring at him when she left with Weasley today. "She feels guilty about it, sir—"

"What I thought it was is truly horrible." Professor Riddle's voice rose in a sharp, cutting way that made Draco want to shrink back. "Unspeakable. I know you don't believe me, but I am glad that I was wrong. You are dismissed, Draco."

Daphne wanted Potter to stay away from her almost as much as she wanted her to stay away from Astoria. She didn't have her usual look of disdain, but Daphne didn't care. Potter wasn't part of their family, and she never would be, even if her own was ripped to pieces.

"What?" Daphne spat, hoping she would flee like she usually did when she attempted to approach herself or Astoria.

Potter frowned, and Daphne just wished she would hex or punch her. Then, she could "defend" herself and hex Potter to a pulp. But, for the first time since everything came out between their families, Potter spoke to her. "Are you my sister too?"

"She's your half-sister!" Daphne snarled. Since she could be just as beastly, Potter didn't flinch and just looked at her.

It must be odd, learning that one's father had a child with another woman. Her own father was too old. He was fifty years older than her mother. She couldn't imagine looking at people and wondering if they shared a father.

"And we're not." She didn't pity Potter. The other girl deserved every horrible thing that was happening to her. She was rude, spoiled, and had a psychopath for a mother. Her own mother, Lily Potter, tried to kill Astoria.

That's why they were getting divorced. Lily Potter took one look at Astoria and knew what her filthy husband had done.

"Oh." Potter looked hopelessly confused at the answer to a yes or no question. Thankfully, the bell rang, meaning she would leave. "Bye…"

Daphne hated her. Almost as much as she hated James Potter.

Bright but not a hard worker. That was what most of the other professors said about Katherine Potter. Delilah, therefore, was surprised at the student she received.

Katherine turned her assignments in early, asked questions in class, and even gave her copies of notes for students who were sick. Her face lit up every time Delilah called on her, which she was ashamed to say wasn't often. Delilah was too embarrassed to even look at her.

She knew James. Too well. She wasn't stupid either. Delilah reminded James of Lily when they were young. As she got older, she wasn't afraid to be herself and lose her family like Lily was.

When her father forced her to marry a man older than himself, Delilah grew a backbone too little too late and started fighting back. She earned her master's in Muggle Studies. She wasn't afraid to say that Dumbledore was an idiot, and she wasn't afraid to join the Order.

But she was afraid of losing Daphne… Terrified, only to learn her decrepit eighty three year old husband didn't care that Astoria wasn't his as long as his heiress was. Perhaps that was why she wasn't afraid. She had nothing to lose, unlike Lily, who was losing everything.

"Are you coming over this summer?" Katherine asked, almost eagerly when class ended and all the other students left. Delilah blinked in surprise and then shut her door with her wand.

Her heart pounded, even though James told her that Katherine knew. "Why would I do that, sweetie?"

Katherine frowned. "I thought… never mind."

"Wait!" Did she love James? Delilah didn't know. After all these years, Delilah didn't know. "Astoria might but I…"

"I'll be good." She sounded hopeful.

Delilah's relationship with James was mostly physical. She got pregnant with Astoria right away when they started sleeping with each other, so most of their conversations revolved around their daughter.

But as their daughters grew older, James compared Lily and herself. A lot. Lily expected too much out of Kat. Lily complained about Kat's hair. Lily didn't let Kat play outside. Lily turned into her mother, the fearsome Mrs. Evans.

Delilah didn't throw a fit if her daughters got Acceptables in subjects they didn't like. Delilah let her children play in the mud. Delilah told her daughters that they could be whatever they wanted to be.

Purebloods always put so much pressure on their children. Delilah refused, and Katherine must have realized it. The poor girl also seemed to compare Astoria's mother to her own.

"Does your dad know about you taking Muggle Studies?" Delilah asked slowly. Katherine shook her head in the negative. "Why did you take it?"

Katherine shrugged. "My uncle's a Muggle. My grandmother burned his name out of the family tapestry with a cigarette."

"You were curious?" Delilah bit her lip when the late bell rang, and Katherine ran off without asking for a note. She knew that the girl wasn't curious about Vernon Dursley. She was trying to impress Delilah. Because she thought Delilah was going to be her new mother. Delilah wished she could have given her a straight answer.

"I don't appreciate you having my home raided," James snapped. Everyone assumed it was Lily. He didn't know what was worse, that or the truth.

Professor Riddle looked down on him. He always looked down on him. "What happened the night the Malfoys were murdered?"

James blinked in surprise. What did that have to do with anything? "How should I know? I wasn't there."

"But the Grangers were." He would never admit to that. The Grangers, along with Hestia, were Lily's best friends. Then again, he owed Lily nothing, but James still hesitated as Riddle continued to interrogate him. "I never thought you were one to put your beliefs before your daughter, James."

James clenched his jaw. Slytherins sure knew how to give low blows. "If that were the case, Delilah would not have allowed Astoria to spend Christmas with me."

"I was not talking about Astoria." Riddle regarded him coldly. "Katherine has been rather disturbed as of late."

James didn't know what Riddle was trying, but he wasn't falling for it. The Grangers were not people he wanted to associate with. He tolerated them for Lily and Kat's sake, but the couple made his skin crawl. They used to dissect Muggles alive for their medical research.

"Her parents are getting divorced," he said slowly. The words left a bitter taste in his mouth, but there was nothing he could do about it. Their marriage ended as soon as Lily gave Astoria Dumbledore's diary. If he was honest with himself, it was over long before that. "I apologize if she hasn't been chipper enough."

"I have reason to believe that she does not have asthma." Riddle rose from his seat and took a step towards him. "And if I find evidence that leads me to believe that you or Lily cursed her, I will not hesitate to open an investigation."

"What are you talking about?" James snapped. This had to be a trap to further pit him against Lily. Because if Lily cursed Kat…

Riddle pushed a small scroll of parchment towards James. "This is an incident report. Sirius made it several weeks ago about an accident in the potions lab. Thick black smoke filled the classroom. Yet Katherine, whose spontaneous asthma hospitalized her several times in August, remained unaffected. The cold air during Quidditch practice doesn't seem to bother her either. Professor Sprout has never reported an issue… She doesn't have asthma, James."

"Of course she has asthma…" That was diagnosed by William Granger. She started having asthma attacks at the Grangers, right around when she started begging to come home. James recalled asking her what was bothering her and assuming that she had a row with Hermione because she wouldn't say. Maybe she couldn't. Riddle's piercing eyes studied him as he tensed and slowly rose from his seat. "Excuse me… Something has come up."

William Granger was a dead man.

Hey! It's been a while! So something about this chapter didn't seem right with me… I think I'll have more focus on Draco's side for a while. Anyway, what do you guys think of an interlude with some more scenes of first and second year? I was thinking that for maybe the next chapter or chapter 10?

Thank you for the reviews of the last chapter NoxNightKing and Qinlongfei!

Unless I do an interlude next, the next chapter will be Draco and Snape working on the Patronus! And some more Regulus!