Chapter 17

"Draco, what are you doing?"

"Shh..." Draco whispered, bringing his lips down to hers softly.

"If somebody sees-"

"Nobody is going to see us, Caity. Everything is going to be okay. They understand why you did it. In fact, I think that they forgive you and want to give you another chance."

"Forgive me? Draco, I don't think that Voldemort forgives people."

"Let's not talk about this now, okay?" he suggested, trailing kisses down her neck.

Cait's eyes fluttered shut and when she opened them again there were five black cloaked figures wearing masks standing behind Draco. She made to scream, but nothing came out. She tried to pull away from him, but Draco just held her tighter and continued to plant kisses.

"And now, for your failure, you will watch him die." came a cool, distant voice that she immediately recognized as Voldemort.

"No." Cait tried to scream. "No."

Cait's eyes widened as she watched the green light move towards Draco in slow motion. Slowly his body began to fall to the ground and the light leaked from his eyes. Cait fell to the ground beside Draco's body, tears streaming down her face.

Cait awoke with tears streaming down her face. Teddy was standing over her looking anxious.

"Caity, it was just a dream! Wake up!"

Cait blinked several times, taking in her surroundings and bringing Theo's worried face into focus. "Oh, Merlin, Teddy."

"It's alright," he soothed, pulling her into a hug as he slid into the bed beside her. "You're okay."

She nodded her head vaguely, her mind wandering back to the dream and Draco's grey lifeless eyes.

"Go back to bed, Teddy."

"Are you-"

"I'm just going to go get some water." she interrupted as she climbed from the bed and slid her feet into slippers.

Stepping from her bedroom, Cait made her way down stairs. As promised, she made her way into the kitchen and grabbed a glass of water before going to her chair by the fireplace. The embers were barely glowing, but she didn't mind. Nothing could be colder than the feeling that had taken over her heart. As she stared at the embers she brought her fingers up and trailed them over the three stones on the necklace that Draco had given her for her birthday.

"Please let him be okay," she whispered.

Draco limped into his dorm room and pulled the door shut quietly behind him so as not to wake the other boys. He glanced towards Theo's empty bed and sent silent thanks out into the universe. He hoped that wherever Hermione had taken Cait, that Theo would be there to ease her mind.

He pulled off his sweater with difficulty and tossed it to the floor. Wincing, he kicked off his shoes and slowly eased his pants down. There wasn't an inch of him that wasn't sore. Once the death eaters had found him stunned in the dungeon they had done a thorough sweep of the manor. Thankfully, Hermione and Cait were long gone. Unfortunately, they believed that he knew where they had gone. After several days of torturing him, they had finally ordered him to go back to school and report back if he heard anything.

Reaching under his pillow, he pulled out the picture of Cait that he kept there. He ran his finger over its glossy surface and watched as she twirled around her dance studio. He had taken it last summer without her knowing. Her face was relaxed and carefree.

Resting his hand on his chest, holding the photo over his heart, he fell into a fitful slumber.

The next afternoon, Draco sat in Charms staring off into space. He couldn't focus on anything. Suddenly a note appeared on his desk. He looked from side to side, but no one seemed to be paying any attention to him. Slowly unfolding the paper, he read:

She is fine; I will tell her the same about you.

Draco didn't recognize the messy penmanship, but he was grateful to whoever it was. As he refolded the note it began to disintegrate, leaving behind a small pile of ashes. He smiled to himself.

"Mr. Malfoy, is there something amusing that you would like to share with the rest of the class?" Flitwick asked.

"No, sir," Draco muttered.

"Good, now open your book and do try to pay attention."

Draco complied with the request, but he couldn't focus on the lecture. Caity was okay, she had made it to safety. No matter what happened from here on out, she was under the protection of the Order.

"Cait, this just arrived for you via Professor Snape."

Cait gave Hermione a puzzled look before she took the letter from her. The other girl gave Cait a tentative smile before she turned and left the living room. Cait turned the parchment over in her hands as she stared into the fire. Finally she got the nerve up to open the letter.

He returned today.

That was all it said, three little words, but it was all Cait needed. She felt like she could finally breathe. She quickly brushed away a tear that escaped her right eye.

"Professor Lupin?" Remus Lupin stopped short as he was passing through the living room.

"Yes, Cait?" He questions, lifting a brow.

"Remember when you asked if there was anything that you could do for me?"

"Yes?"

"I've thought of something."

"What is it, dear?"

"I want to go back to the school."