Chapter 10 – Cabal
Part I
The Hogwarts Express was quite crowded, despite the fact that some students had stayed at Hogwarts during Christmas break.
"Davay v tchortu matcheru!" swore Katia under her breath, struggling with a heavy trunk.
"Blatz yego matz Irina, shto ti tam nautikala!" she cursed, already regretting that she agreed to go shopping in London with Irina.
"Let me help you," she heard a voice behind her. It was Neville Longbottom, who took the trunk and pushed it to a nearby compartment.
"Thanks, Neville," she smiled "Always there to help a lady in need," she joked, patting his arm.
"Merlin, girl! What did you put in here? Rocks?" He asked, breathing hard, trying to put the heavy thing on the shelf. The train pulled sharply and Neville lost his balance.
He landed on Katia, squashing her into the glass door and dropped the trunk with a loud thud. Its lid burst open in the process, breaking the window. The shattered glass landed on the two occupants of the compartment.
"Mmmphf!" wheezed Katia. Neville finally regained his composure and got off her.
"My things! They're…Everywhere! Do something!" she screeched, smacking a sheepishly blushing Neville in the arm.
"Greengrass, choose, because it's pointless right now," said Blaise, irritated.
Daphne smirked and moved a little closer. "Oh really? And what's in it for me?" She asked wryly.
Pansy, who was mostly listening up to this point, frowned. "Are you one of us or not? Because she is NOT. Oh come on, Daphne!"
"All right, listen," said Blaise, trying to get the attention back, "She's a disgrace to Slytherin, she hit me, she's barely a witch," he stopped, hearing a loud, scrapping noise.
He lifted the curtain a little to see the Ivanov girl pulling a half opened trunk and the idiot Longbottom pushing it.
"Need I say more?" He whispered, pointing at the two with his elegant, dark finger. "She's befriended Neville 'Gryffindor Pussy' Longbottom!"
Pansy's face reddened with anger as she voiced her opinion. "She has no loyalty to our house. Besides, she's violent and ugly."
"And she's called you a fat cow," said Blaise glancing at Millicent Bulstrode.
"Do what you want, I'm out of it," said Daphne, shrugging. Her smirk returned as she turned to the handsome, black boy. "Just don't lie, Blaise. It doesn't suit you."
He wanted to continue his point, but a loud stamp made him jump in his seat. "What did she call me? A cow!?" shrieked Millicent, who just got what Zabini said.
"That's right!" Exclaimed Pansy. "She said that you're a big cow," she continued slyly. The truth was that she had called Millicent a cow, but did it really matter?
Daphne just shook her head and looked through the window.
"We should hex her to the next term!" said Millicent, angered.
She was upset because this rude remark actually hit the mark. Millicent wanted to be petite and fragile, like a delicate flower, but unfortunately, none of these adjectives could describe her build. She hugged her black cat causing it to hiss under the pressure.
"Hexing her would be too obvious," said Blaise, like a professional, "We must embarrass her and make her feel inferior to us."
"Yes, she thinks that she's better then us. We need to knock her down a peg or two," said Pansy enthusiastically.
"Maybe a Babbling Beverage? During Transfiguration?" Proposed Blaise, thinking out loud.
"Or we can splash her butt with a Swelling Solution? It would get as big as a hippogriff's," said Pansy slyly, grinning.
"We have some time," he seemed to consider something, "The timing must be right. During Valentines day. There entire student body will be there. We'll figure out something for then."
"I really didn't mean to-" began Longbottom for the umpteenth time.
"Oh stop it, Neville. It wasn't your fault," assured Katia while repacking her things.
Her first instinct hadn't failed her. Neville really was a nice guy and she liked him. Not that he would be her type, but she regretted the fact, that in her thoughts she referred to him as "Gryffindor pussy". It wasn't entirely her fault. The whole of Slytherin called him that and it became more of habit. She felt terrible, being one of them. Even if she had never said it aloud, she still thought it.
Nevertheless, he deserved to be called Neville, and she had a strong resolve to do so.
As she repacked more of her clothes, her fingers curled around a woolen scarf. It had gotten mixed in by mistake, she realized, astonished. Irina had bought it for her new boyfriend. She handed it to Neville.
"That's for you," she said, smiling.
Neville eyed it carefully. It was a beautiful black scarf with complicated, gold patterns. It looked very expensive.
"I-I… Katia I can't take it."
Her smile grew wider.
"Consider it a token for your help. Besides, it'll look good on you," taking advantage of his temporary hesitation, she pushed it into his hands.
Honestly, Neville always wanted something luxurious, but his Granny would never buy him something so trivial, or so expensive. He felt bad because he really wanted to help Katia in the beginning. They ended up running from the compartment, with glass in their hair and Katia's trunk in tow. Fortunately, only a pair of jeans flew out the window.
He wanted to apologize, explain that it was an accident, but Katia ushered him out, saying it would be better to tell nobody.
"Thanks, Katia," he said finally.
She playfully punched his arm "Why so long a face? Try it on, silly!"
At least he hoped that it was playful. She was kind of strong.
Katia was the first friendly face he saw for two weeks. Crabbe and Goyle were familiar, pig like faces, not intelligent ones.
"Hello honey, miss me?" She asked jokingly. What she did not expect was a the fact that he really did miss a decent conversation.
"Actually, yes," said Draco in a similar tone and enveloped her in a firm hug.
"Ow!" she hissed, when his arm brushed around her neck.
The day before she had received her first portion of magic ink. It was a tiny thing right now, but the skin was swollen and sore anyway.
She felt incredibly proud of herself. Even if her future mark looked like a cat's scratch right now, it was there already. A little pink and green stains, a reason to her pride and joy.
Draco let go of her, but not before he noticed that she was thinner than before.
"Why do your wear these potato sacks, Katia? You're not so fat, really."
"I feel comfortable in them, I like it this way," she shrugged. "Anything exciting happened during my absence?"
Neville hummed happily as he reached the portrait of the Fat Lady. He had the scarf wrapped around his neck and had no desire to take it off. He wondered if someone would notice.
"Hogsmeade," he said and the portrait moved away. The common room was empty, but he met his friends in the boys' dormitory.
"Hello," he said and they lifted their heads to see him.
"Hi," greeted Harry and Ron.
Ron immediately noticed the black – golden scarf. It was in the Daily Prophet, described as one of the "best Christmas presents for your boyfriend." He felt a sting of jealousy and couldn't help it. He always had hand-me-down clothes and Malfoy's rude remarks did nothing to help his self-confidence or lack there of. He wasn't angry at Neville, it just wasn't fair!
"Neville, has your Granny robbed a bank or you have a secret admirer?" He asked, pointing at the scarf.
"You're referring to this?" Asked Neville, stroking the soft wool. "Actually Katia Ivanov gave it to me."
Ron expression changed to puzzled. Why would she give Neville such a thing?
"Are you sure it's not cursed? You know, some dark magic involved."
Neville looked at him disbelievingly. Katia wasn't the type who could do such a thing, was she?
"Oh come on," continued Ron, "she's a Slytherin and they do things for a reason."
"I, uh, sort of- helped her with her trunk, and she said that it was a way to say thank you"
He wanted to say how it really was, with broken glass and all, but Katia told him to forget about it and maybe… maybe it was her way of asking him for silence? If yes, than it was a fair exchange in his opinion.
Harry frowned a little and put his hand on Ron's arm.
"Ron, let it go. Can't you see he's happy? Let him be." Then he turned to Neville. "I really like the scarf, you know? It looks nice on you. I'm sure that Malfoy will be jealous as hell."
Neville's concerned face lit after this. "You really think that Harry?"
"Of course, mate. I wouldn't lie to you."
And Harry didn't lie to his friend. Ron indeed let go, but it was hard for him.
Hermione was sick of being in the hospital wing. She was alone for the better part of the day and the most depressing thing was that tomorrow classes would start and she would be stuck there, without an opportunity to attend.
"Please, Madam Pomfrey, I know what it's like, to be here alone all the time."
She recognized Katia's Russian accent. "It depends on if Miss Granger has a wish to see you."
Hermione was desperate to see people. Besides Katia wasn't the gossiping type.
"I wouldn't mind a visitor, Madam," she said and lifted herself to a sitting position.
"Hello, Hermione," greeted Katia, smiling. "I thought that you might be lonely here, because you know, I've spent some time here myself when I had pneumonia."
Her hands were behind her back and Hermione was almost sure that the girl was hiding something there.
"Actually Ron and Harry visit me in the evenings, but most of the day…yes I feel rather lonely."
"I thought, that maybe a book would keep you company. I'm sure that most people brought you a book, but-" she took a breath. "The hell with that, it's for you" she handed her a book with an elegant cover.
Twelve uses of dragon blood by Albus Dumbledore, read Hermione and her eyes widened.
"Oh my, Katia! Thank you but I have nothing for you…"
Katia took a seat on the nearby chair.
"It's my gratitude for your help throughout the whole semester," she leaned closer and whispered "Professor McGonagall thinks that it was her tutoring, but she's wrong. You helped me, Hermione."
She was positively surprised with Katia. She did not help her because she wanted gifts of appreciation, but because Katia was so keen on learning.
The Bulgarian girl was different today. She was smiling more than usual and she could see that this smile was also dancing in her eyes. Seems that she really had a good time at home.
Few days after classes had begun, Pansy had a brilliant idea.
"You know what," she started, "I think I know what will humiliate her completely."
They had just left the Transfiguration classroom and were heading to lunch. Blaise took her and Millicent to an empty corridor and they talked with hushed voices.
Pansy waited for their reaction with an expression like that of a fox who just caught a fat hen.
"And what is that? A potion that makes the drinker fart like crazy?" Asked Millicent, curious.
"It would be a great idea, but I think that slipping her a love potion in front of Lockhart would be ten times better," replied Pansy smugly.
"Those are good ideas girls, but there are two things," said Blaise. "First we need to have a love potion and none of us are capable of brewing it, besides it's forbidden and we can't buy it legally. Second, how would we slip it to her?"
"Maybe we could do it during DADA lessons?" asked Millicent.
Pansy frowned and then it hit her.
"Do you remember what Lockhart said about Valentines day?"
Blaise smiled. "We can do it in the front of the whole school. She would be sitting, facing the teachers, and if she happens to look at one of them, she'll be in love-"
Pansy interrupted him
"With the first person she sees, even-" this time it was Blaise's turn to interrupt.
"And no one will know, because we'll do it when all attention is elsewhere. No one will suspect us."
"But how you will get the love potion?" Asked Millicent.
Pansy rolled her eyes. This girl was as thick headed as a brick. "I'll owl my mum, of course, and tell her that I want to give a love potion to the rich, handsome boy I fancy."
"You better practice swapping glasses during meals, Blaise," said Millicent.
"Why me?" Asked Zabini.
"Because I would be too obvious," said Pansy. "And Millicent who sits closer, is too clumsy"
"Hey!" Protested Bulstrode.
"Calm down, Millicent," assured Blaise. "You had a good idea with those glasses."
Ron never had any friendly feelings towards Ivanov, especially since he found out that she spends afternoons with Hermione in the library. He was full of suspicions and jealousy since he noticed the black scarf, but now… Now he disliked her as much as Malfoy.
She was a friend of Malfoy's and she gave a present to Hermione. If that wasn't enough, she tried to botch up their friendship, visiting Hermione and doing it alone. When he and Harry weren't present. Merlin knows how she could poison Hermione's mind with her Slytherin theories and this sense of superiority.
Unfortunately, Ivanov seemed oblivious to his hateful glares. She never noticed when he burned holes in her back, wishing something bad for her.
Potions were particularly difficult without Hermione and Ivanov showing off. It didn't help his irritation.
His own wand was broken and he could never owl his mother to buy him a new one.
Besides Percy infuriated him to no end. He was like Slytherin, keeping his nose high in the air.
"Stop it and tell me what to do next," said Harry, breaking Ron out of his thoughts. "Come on mate, I'll never finish it in time without your help."
He sighed and opened the book on the proper page. It wouldn't be good if Snape targeted them again with his snarky remarks. He liked Harry and had no wish to cause him problems. Or himself of course.
One embarrassing Howler for a year was enough.
Katia felt as though some burden had been lifted off her shoulders. There was nothing but time and hard work between her and her initiation as an Adept.
She spent the afternoons after her classes with Hermione in the hospital wing and evenings with Draco in the Slytherin common room. Using her Time - Turner she trained hard, to be ready for the next exam with Aine Delorge in July and the Art of Seduction exam in September.
She practiced Graceful Movements under the watchful eye of Mr. Filch and she found an unused classroom to practice seducing. Having no one to train on, she brought a mirror and spent long hours talking to it in trained poses and expressions.
It was tiring sometimes, but Katia had the determination to become the best Adept.
They say "if you want to be the best in anything, you must put your sweat and blood into it". At least that's what her father always told her.
Her good mood after a training session seemed to affect Mr. Filch as they often laughed together and it became rare when he was upset about Mrs. Norris. It was a shame that they couldn't think of nothing constructive concerning Polyjuice potion.
She couldn't tell anyone that, by using the Time - Turner quickened her aging and the curse grew stronger each day. Morning exercises and hitting walls were not enough and only her will kept her problem hidden.
The day after Hermione was released from the Hospital, Katia mastered a particularly hard swirl with her hips. She stayed longer in Mr. Filch's office and reached the library just before closing.
She took a book of Transfiguration to do an essay for the next week and headed towards the Slytherin common room. She almost bumped into Millicent, she was so lost in thought and happy inside of her next successful achievement.
Bulstrode seemed to be going in the opposite direction. It was strange because it was almost curfew.
"Stop," said Millicent while Katia tried to pass her.
"Is it urgent?" Asked Katia with a playful smirk on her lips. Nothing could spoil her good mood.
"As a matter of fact it is," said Millicent darkly. Katia was used to the fact that the big girl wasn't the happiest person ever.
"Yes?" She smiled and adjusted her bag.
Bang!
A well-aimed punch landed straight into Katia's face. She bent down, feeling blinding pain and covered her face with her palm. "Whaa-" she tried to say but Millicent grabbed her neck and slammed Katia, head first, against the stone wall.
END OF PART ONE
A/N:If anyone wonders how Katia looks like here you can see her:
http : // img41 . yfrog . com / img41 / 1848 / contemplatingkatia . png (remove spaces)
Katia punched by Millicent: http : // img97 . yfrog . com / img97 / 6927 / waylaid . png (remove spaces)
The model is my dear friend known as Devil Yoko.
CABAL
Word meaning secret clique or conspiracy, given to Charles II's administration of 1671-3. The ministers, whose initials formed the word cabal, each had different objectives. Lord Clifford, who climbed from being a Devon squire to become lord treasurer, became a catholic and advocated war to seize Dutch commercial wealth. Arlington, a courtier and careerist, tried to implement what he interpreted as Charles's wishes. Buckingham wanted to become chief minister: he affected popularity and favoured religious toleration. Lord Ashley, advanced to be earl of Shaftesbury, also advocated toleration. The cynical Lauderdale governed Scotland. The cabal disintegrated 1673: Clifford died, Buckingham and Shaftesbury went into opposition.
Some problematic words:
Davay v tchortu matcheru!- Come on, the hell!
Blatz yego matz Irina, shto ti tam nautikala – Oh fuck, what did you put In there Irina?
I want to thank you my wonderful beta reader, Cat Paws. I know that you're very busy and you still find some time to help me! :)
Thanks for reading, reviews are very much appreciated, as always ^^ I would like to know if it was interesting. Oh and maybe there is a character you would like to see here but he/she had no screen time yet?
Merry Christmas folks :)