The Dancer

Chapter 8

When Cait awoke the next morning, she found the bed empty. Sitting up, she stretched her arms over her head and arched her back. When she relaxed, Draco was standing next to the bed looking down at her.

"Morning," he smiled, "We have just enough time to eat before we floo back to school."

Cait sighed at the thought of going back to school. "Are you going to make me waffles?" she asked innocently, batting her eyes at Draco.

Draco smirked, "The house elf has already started on them."

Smiling, Cait climbed from the bed. She was happy that Draco had remembered her favorite breakfast food.

Draco couldn't help himself. As Cait climbed from the beds, the sheets slipped from her bare legs. He couldn't bring himself to look away. She stood with her back to him as she grabbed for her skirt and slowly slid it over her boy-short panties and fastened it. She then slid her arms into her shirt, over her tank top, and began to button it.

As she buttoned, she turned to face Draco and caught him staring at her. Her mind flashed back to the kiss they had shared the night before and her cheeks colored faintly.

Draco cleared his throat, "So, waffles?"

In the weeks that followed, Cait found herself immersed in homework and studying. Ninety percent of her time was also spent with Harry. The more time she spent with him, the worse she felt.

He hadn't spoken to Ron and Hermione since they had accused Cait of sleeping with Draco. Cait knew that she should be happy about this, but she felt miserable deep down.

"Hey," Harry chimed, planting a kiss on her left cheek and plopping down in the chair next to hers.

"Hey, Harry!" She replied, trying to sound cheerful.

"Busy with studying?"

"Unfortunately," Cait sighed, putting down her quill. "I can always use a distraction though."

Harry smirked, an expression that he had unknowingly picked up from Cait, "Fortunately, I'm quite good at providing distractions."

He leaned close and gently laid a kiss on Cait's neck causing Cait to gently bite her lower lip.

"Well, well, well, Theo. Look what we have here."

Cait's head jerked up and she pulled away from Harry, her cheeks coloring—not at having been caught with Harry, but at the fact that she had been imagining someone else's lips where his had just been. And, of course, that someone else happened to be the owner of the voice that had spoken.

"God, Caity," Theo drawled in a disgusted tone, "If you're going to snog the boy wonder, can't you at least do it in private? Some of us did just have lunch."

Cait could feel Harry tense beside her. He was ready to jump and defend her against her brother.

"What do you want, Teddy? It must be something, because Merlin knows that you've never seen the inside of this library before."

Cait could see the humor in his eyes as he fought to keep a sneer on his face.

"Actually, Nott, Snape wants to see you in his office. He said something about a detention."

"Detention?" Cait cried, "For what? I haven't done anything!"

"Maybe it's for being such a disgrace to the Nott name." Theo muttered off-handedly.

Harry stood, brandishing his wand, and pointed it at Theo.

Quickly, Cait stood and pulled Harry's arm down. "Let's go," she said icily. Then grabbed her bag and forced Harry to take his before stalking out of the library. "They'll let bloody anyone into the library these days, even those who can't read."

"Professor Snape?" Cait called as she gently knocked on the professor's slightly ajar office door.

"Ah, Miss Nott, come in and shut the door."

"Yes, sir." She replied, closing the door and taking a seat in front of his desk.

"Mr. Malfoy should be along any minute, ah, here he is," Snape droned as Draco stepped into the office and closed the door behind him. Snape pulled out his wand and muttered a spell before turning to face the two students.

"I have spoken with the Dark Lord." He began, taking a seat. "He would like to congratulate you, Miss Nott, on a job well done." He gave Cait a pointed look before continuing, "As you both know, the winter holiday is quickly approaching. Your parents have suggested that the two of you remain at the castle for the holiday, however, your presence is required at the Malfoy Christmas Party."

Snape sat back in his chair, "If there are no concerns, you are both free to go."