Hope you like this chapter. Only two chapters left in this part. I know I'm moving rather quickly through this story, just trying to cover the important parts. Let me know what you think!

Chapter Eight

That morning I managed to get a seat at breakfast near Luna even though I arrived pretty late. I was surprised to see that Cathal didn't save me a seat. When I arrived and said good morning to him at breakfast, he told me he didn't know if I was coming or not considering how weird I was acting lately. Ignoring Cathal's comment, I simply smiled and made my way over to an open seat near Luna. I was facing the Slytherin side of the table and noticed Draco falling asleep on the table. Was he not sleeping at night or something?

I felt someone put their hand on my shoulder and I jumped while placing a hand near my heart. "Harry," I said turning around and looking at him. "You scared me."

"Er, sorry," he said with a quick laugh and then sat down. I have been trying to avoid Harry until I figured out what to do about my father's 'task for me'. "Listen, I have an idea of what's going on with...Draco." I gave him a dry look.

"Harry..." I replied shaking my head.

"No listen," he replied in a whisper. "I've been watching the map and Draco just disappears." That claim caught my attention. Harry was nice enough to let me study the map often and I've never seen anyone disappear. Now I was interested.

"Like, his name disappears?" I asked curiously. That was impossible, unless that map was getting old and losing it's charm...but why would it only be Draco's name?

"Yes," Harry answered. "And I think I have an idea why. He disppears on the seventh floor every time." I thought for a moment. Harry looked at me as if there was a hidden message in all of this.

"I've run into him there at the most random times of day," I pointed out shaking my head. It couldn't be... "The room of requirement." Harry nodded. 

"That's what I was thinking," Harry answered. "Would you want to test it out with me?" Harry asked and I nodded. I was all for figuring this out. We left breakfast quickly and Harry went to get the map. We decided that I was going to enter the Room of Requirement and Harry was going to watch my name. 

Once he got the map from his dorm, Harry stayed down on the sixth floor and I went up to the seventh floor. After opening the entrance to the room, I stepped inside. I really didn't plan on what I wanted it to be, I just imagined being inside. When I got in there it was a mess. It looked like an old attic that was filled with unwanted items. I looked around curiously, such strange and random objects. When I got back out there, Harry was waiting outside with a knowing look on his face. "Your name disappeared," Harry told me. "So it's true! Draco is going into the room of requirement."

"Why though?" I wondered. 

"I don't know, but I'm going to find out," Harry said determined.

A few weeks passed, I didn't have much time to help Harry because my O.W.L.s were coming up. Cathal studied with me a lot, but things were different. He acted like I was hiding something from him, of course I was, but I wasn't going to tell him. I hadn't gotten any new letters or information from Harry. One night the black owl arrived and I realized it was my deadline. I made up a lie in the letter to my father on how Dumbledore was working on defensive spells with Harry and made it seem very convincing. I mentioned how Umbridge deprived us of using spells last year so Dumbledore wanted to catch him up. I didn't actually know what they were doing, but I wasn't going to ever give that away. O.W.L.s also took place that week. I was so distracted by my task, that my studying slipped away a bit. Luckily I have been preparing for these all year, so I felt as if I did my best. I'll have to see what happens.

Once I finished my final O.W.L., I have never felt so relieved in my entire life. I was going to take the whole week off from books and just relax. "Caoimhe," Harry said. "There you are, did your O.W.L.s go well?"

"I think I did well," I answered.

"Good," he said. "I sort of have a favor to ask."

"Yes?" I asked curiously.

"Dumbledore just called me in for a meeting," Harry said. "I was planning on hiding by the Room of Requirement tonight. I don't know how long the meeting will take, but would you be willing to-"

"Sure I'll do it," I answered. Harry's been stressing and now that O.W.L.'s were over I didn't have any other work to do for a few weeks. 

"Thank you Caoimhe," Harry said quickly walking down the hall. "I promise I'll get there as soon as I can." He turned and quickly rushed down the hall towards Dumbledores office. Well, I guess I found plans for tonight. Quickly I went back to my room to change out of my robes and put my bag down, then I went to the seventh floor. 

I found a place to sit where I wasn't clear in view of anyone walking. I sat there for about an hour and nothing happened. I only heard footsteps, but it was just a few students walking by and they didn't see me so I supposed my spot was working. Another hour passed and nothing. It was late and I was getting bored. Maybe he wasn't coming. Harry should have at least left me with the map. I gave it about a half hour when I decided to go back to my room, then I heard footsteps again just as I was walking down the hall. This time it was Draco. If only I waited a few more seconds.

"What are you doing here?" he asked the second he saw me.

"Heading to my dorm. Now, why are you always here?" I asked him while crossing my arms.

"What are you talking about?" he asked shaking his head.

"I mean the Slytherin common room is far from here and it's late, why are you always up here at night?" I asked. Draco started looking a little nervous.

"Maybe I like walking in this hall because it's normally quiet," Draco added. "I don't have to deal with running into other people." He raised his eyes. "Until you've been here lately."

"I'm on my way back to the common room," I answered. Right as I was about to say something, I spotted Cathal at the end of the hall looking over at us. We made eye contact and then he turned and left. "I have to go," I said to Draco quickly and then took off down the hall.

I ran down the hall in Cathal's direction. When I turned the corner I saw him in the distance. "Cathal," I called. "Cathal!" Finally he stopped and turned. He didn't looked mad, he just looked upset. "I don't know what you think you saw but-"

"But what Caoimhe? You've been acting so strangely lately. I don't know what to think," he asked.

"I would never cheat on you with Draco if that's what you're think," I said quickly.

"I wasn't thinking that," he said shaking his head. "It's just, even talking to him makes me wonder what you have to do with him? There's so many bad rumors about him going around. What do you even have to do with him? Also, you have been avoiding everyone-"

"I know there's a lot going on," I said not knowing what to say.

"Like what?" he asked me.

"I-I can't explain," I said.

"You can't tell me?" he asked. I didn't say anything, because I didn't know what to say. "I see," he said nodding. "Caoimhe," he began and I knew what was coming. "I don't know, I think we should take a break." I nodded, agreeing. It was for the best. My father was appearing in my life and I didn't need anyone getting hurt. Maybe it was for the best. We looked at each other once more before he turned and walked away.

When I got back to my room, I couldn't deny the few tears forming in my eyes. I hated that we broke up, but deep down I knew it was the best. He would be safer without me in his life. I sat down on my bed and looked at the picture of the two of us. We were so perfect, why did my father have to ruin it? Tears were rolling down my face. There was a pecking at the window. A cold chill went through my body. I turned and opened the window to see the black owl, I snatched the letter from it and shut the window. I was not in the mood for one of these again.

Caoimhe,

Thank you for the information, but there's a problem.

We don't believe you. Potter practicing with Dumbledore? A man who is currently injured and weaker than ever. Maybe there's truth in your words, but there is more. Find out. I'm feeling merciful, you have until the end of the month once again. Or this time, the consequences will be served.

LR

A week passed. I had spent hours trying to figure out what to write. It was going to be another lie, but it had to be more convincing. I was in no way going to ask what Harry was doing with Dumbledore. I'm sure it's extremely important and confidential. There had to be something I could lie about, but the problem was I couldn't ask anyone for ideas. Cathal and I haven't spoken. We were actually avoiding the situation and it was beginning to get awkward, until yesterday when he came up to me at the library. "Caoimhe," he said. "I'm sorry about not talking to you-"

"Don't worry about it," I answered with a smile.

"I know we're not together anymore, but that doesn't mean we can't still be friends right?" he asked me. I nodded.

"That sounds good to me," I answered. It was safer, he would unlikely be dragged into anything if my father knew we weren't dating any more. 

"Brilliant," he said nodding with a smile. "I'll see you later then." I'm glad we could at least remain friends. I knew he wasn't happy with the secrets I was keeping and I didn't plan on telling him any time soon. After this was all over, maybe we could get back together. 

Another week passed and it was nice that we were still talking, but it was just empty conversations. I wanted to go up and talk to him all about my classes, just like we used to. But it was hard now. I was sitting at the end of the lunch table, opposite of Cathal when I noticed a few Hufflepuff girls stopped to speak with him. Once girl was smiling and playing with her hair, and I couldn't deny that I felt jealous. Yet there was nothing I could do about it. We were over and it was likely he would move on.

Leaving lunch a bit early that day, I heard commotion as I walked down the hall. Following the noise, it was coming from the girls bathroom. It sounded like explosions were going off. Pushing open the door, it all went silent when I saw Harry standing there looking at me horrified holding out his wand. "Harry-" I said and then my eyes followed the trail of the wand all the way to a bloody Draco. He laying on the floor in a puddle of water mixed with his own blood. I gasped and covered my mouth, stepping back.

"Caoimhe I-I didn't mean too," Harry muttered sounding horrified. I ran out in the hall. What had Harry done to Draco? How could he do that to anyone? Snape was walking down the hall and caught my horrified expression.

"What's happened?" he asked quickly. I just pointed at the door, unable to even speak. Snape rushed in and I knew he could help Draco. I waited outside to hear if Draco was okay or even alive, when Harry stepped out. He looked at me.

"Listen Caoimhe," he said quickly stepping towards. "I didn't mean to. I didn't know what that spell would do. I read it i-in a book and I just said it. I followed him because he cursed Katie-" Harry was speaking almost too quickly to understand.

"Harry, why would you even follow him? You're taking this way too far!" I yelled at Harry. "So who cares what he's doing in the Room of Requirement? Maybe he's practicing spells or just wants to be alone. Drop it Harry." I turned and walked away.