AN: Another chapter for you to enjoy! Please review if you have the time
The allotted three-week period of Riddle and Katherine's bet had nearly passed. Only one day remained before love and fear would compete for Orion's loyalty, although Orion himself remained blissfully unaware of this approaching deadline.
Katherine had asked Orion to study with her in the library that evening, as there was a large History of Magic exam scheduled for the next day. Orion had happily obliged, as he'd been greatly enjoying his newfound time spent with Katherine the past few weeks. When he arrived at the library, Katherine looked up from a table spread thick with books and parchment, and cheerfully waved him over.
"Thanks for keeping me company!" said Katherine brightly, moving some of her books aside to make room for Orion's notes. "This evening will be much more bearable with you here."
Orion gave an easy smile. "No problem. I'm sure I'll benefit more from your understanding of the Goblin Rebellions than you will from my company, anyways."
Katherine smiled modestly, batting her eyelashes, before turning back to her pile of notes. She picked up her quill and began scribbling rather frantically. Orion watched her for a moment before following suit.
They worked mostly in silence, with brief interludes of conversation to clarify tricky points about certain battles or historical figures. When nearly an hour had passed, Katherine leaned back in her chair with a sigh. "Well, this book is useless. There's nothing at all on Goliath the Ghastly, or the Battle of Dreary Hill. I'm going to go find something else."
Katherine stood off and strode towards one of the aisles of books devoted to History of Magic. Finding the section on the Goblin Rebellions, she began to scan the spines of the books for promising titles. Seeing a promising one, Leaders of the Goblin Rebellions, she picked it up from the shelf and dusted it off.
Pausing thoughtfully, Katherine glanced over at the table where Orion was continuing to take notes. She looked down at the book in her hands, and a crafty smile crept slowly across her face. She held the book in one hand, and placed the other hand on a lower bookshelf for support. Jumping, she managed to slot the book in on the highest shelf.
Katherine walked back over to Orion, and leaned on the table next to him. "Could you help me get a book down, Orion? It's just out of my reach."
Orion stood quickly up from his chair, apparently eager to be of assistance. "Of course! Just show me which one."
Katherine led him over to the bookshelf in question, and stood beneath the book she wanted, indicating it with her outstretched hand. Dropping her hand, she turned around and leaned against the bookshelf. "It's that one there," she said.
Orion waited for a moment to see if she would move aside. When he realized that Katherine did not plan on moving, he stepped in close to her, his chest just inches from her face. He reached one long arm into the air above her head, pulled the bottom of the book off the shelf with two fingers, and caught it in his hand.
As he brought the book down, Katherine reached for it with two hands, leaving the two of them facing each other, both holding the book. "My hero," said Katherine quietly, leaning forward slightly.
Orion took the hint, and leaned forward to meet her. His lips brushed hers softly in a kiss that was both innocent and yearning. As he pulled away, he brought one of his hands from the book to reach her face, where he tucked a strand of her hair delicately behind her ear.
Katherine was looking up at him with a doe-eyed expression on her face. Suddenly, though, she frowned and furrowed her brows.
"What's the matter?" asked Orion worriedly, afraid he'd done something to ruin the moment.
"Oh, don't feel poorly." said Katherine sympathetically, pulling the book in towards her chest. "It's nothing you've done. You've been wonderful." She looked down at the library floor.
"Then what?" asked Orion, lifting her chin gently with his hand, so that his eyes could meet hers.
"It's just that I'm afraid for what might happen to you if someone sees us together," said Katherine timidly. "You warned me just a few weeks ago that Riddle isn't who he seems…I've seen some of that for myself now. He seems to have taken an interest in me, and I think it's fair to assume that he's the jealous type. I just wouldn't want you to get hurt on account of me!"
Orion shook his head dismissively. "Riddle doesn't care about who's dating who, Kat. He's got…bigger plans."
Katherine looked unconvinced. "I trust you, Orion, I do, but…I think you're wrong about that, and if you were to get hurt, I could never forgive myself." She paused, looking down briefly before meeting his gaze again. "I think it would be best for you if we didn't see each other, at least for a little while."
Katherine pushed frantically past Orion and out of the aisle of books. She stopped at their table to sweep rest of her books into her book bag, and rushed out the door of the library, leaving Orion both bewildered and poorly prepared for the next day's exam.
Riddle watched the scene unfold from where he stood in the Restricted Section of the library. His mouth curved into a scowl and a searing anger burned through him.
'What do I care if she kissed him?', he thought, frustrated with his lack of emotional control. 'It's trivial, of absolutely no import beyond its impact on our bet.'
Riddle exhaled sharply, forcing all thoughts of Katherine and Orion out of his mind. Instead, he looked down at the reason for his trip to the Restricted Section, resting in his left hand. It was a book, of course. The title was Magick Moste Evile.
The next morning, Riddle arrived in the Great Hall for breakfast to find Katherine already at the table. She was sitting alone, save a few younger students sitting further down the table. She sat leaning her elbows on the table, holding a coffee cup in both her hands.
Riddle paused in the doorway for a moment, enjoying watching Katherine when she thought she was alone. 'Are you really as relaxed as you appear? Or more nervous about the outcome of our bet than you're letting on?' he wondered.
Giving himself a shake to break out of his thoughts, he proceeded through the Great Hall and sat down in the chair across from Katherine. She looked up at him calmly. He couldn't tell from her controlled expression if she was surprised by his presence or if she'd known he was there all along.
"Three weeks are up. Are you ready?" asked Riddle brashly, while making himself a cup of black tea.
Katherine smiled confidently at him from over her cup of coffee. "I've been ready for days," she replied lazily. "I hope you're ready to lose."
Riddle rolled his eyes at her challenge. "To be clear, if you have to defend yourself with magic, you lose. This isn't a contest between your spell work and Orion's; it's between your methods of gaining power versus my own.
Katherine flipped her hair behind her shoulder. "I won't even have to draw my wand," she said, lifting her chin.
Riddle smiled a predatory smile. "We'll see about that."
Some of the other Slytherin students trooped into the Great Hall, cutting off any further conversation about the bet. Abraxas and Orion came in together, followed by Celeste and Adeline.
Orion's gaze darted around the table before landing on Katherine, and his eyes narrowed slightly when he noticed she was seated across from Riddle. He took the seat next to Katherine, with Abraxas on his other side.
"Good morning," said Orion shyly. He spoke to the whole table, but was looking at Katherine, waiting to see her response.
"Good morning," murmured Katherine, looking demurely down at her breakfast, a slight blush creeping onto her cheeks.
Abraxas was oblivious to any changed dynamics at the table, and began talking loudly about his success against Dolohov at Wizard's Chess the night before. Breakfast conversation proceeded as usual, with Katherine perhaps a little quieter than normal.
As the Slytherin students gathered up their things and began to head to their Transfiguration class, Riddle caught Orion's attention. "Orion, I'd like to speak to you before class."
Orion looked nervous, but nodded his agreement. As the rest of the students headed down the corridor towards their Transfiguration classroom, Riddle and Orion stepped into an empty classroom.
As soon as they were alone, Riddle's countenance changed. He dropped his usual mask of politeness and charm, and adopted a commanding and severe demeanor. He seemed taller and more powerful, like a snake that shed its skin to reveal a stronger, new form underneath. Orion shrank away from his classmate, clearly intimidated.
"I have a task for you, Orion," said Riddle, twirling his wand in his hand threateningly.
Orion nodded nervously. "Yes, my Lord." He couldn't maintain eye contact with Riddle's intense gaze, so he alternated looking at the floor and Riddle's chest.
"I need you to get me some information. I suspect that Katherine has been less than honest with regards to the deaths of her family members. I want you to find out the real story of the Markova family, by any means necessary," said Riddle darkly. "Do you understand?"
Orion frowned. "I don't think Kat's lying. She wouldn't do that."
Riddle took a menacing step forward towards Orion. "You have no right to question my commands, nor do you have any idea what the lovely Miss Markova is capable of. Do you accept this task, or do we have a problem, Orion?"
Watching Riddle's yew wand out of the corner of his eye, Orion swallowed, his throat tight and dry. "No, my Lord, there's no problem. I'll find out for you."
"Good," said Riddle, slipping back into his charming persona with disturbing ease. "Do be quick about it; I'm feeling rather impatient." With that, Riddle left the classroom.
Orion stood alone for a moment, debating with himself about how to proceed. Finally, he let out a long, slow sigh, and left the room, walking downcast towards the Transfiguration classroom.
As the Transfiguration class was let out, Orion jogged to catch up to Katherine, who was walking with Adeline. "Kat," he said, breathing a little heavily, "Could I talk to you alone for a minute?"
Katherine's mouth curved into a slight frown. "Will you excuse us for a minute, Addie?"
Adeline shrugged. "Sure," she said, before walking fast to catch up with Celeste and Thaddeus.
Katherine pursed her lips before speaking. "I thought I was clear about my concerns, Orion. I don't want to provoke Riddle into any sort of jealous retribution against you."
Orion shook his head. "This isn't about that. Could we go somewhere to speak alone, Kat? Please?"
Katherine gave a slight sigh, before giving in. "Alright. Lead the way."
She followed Orion into a nearby classroom, occupied only by a handful of desks and some old arithmancy notes written on the board.
Orion fidgeted nervously for a moment before opening his mouth to speak. "Katherine, I need to ask you about something, and I'd appreciate it if you gave me an honest answer."
A slightly confused look settled on to Katherine's face, but she said nothing, waiting for Orion to continue.
"I want to know the whole story of what happened to your family, starting from before the fire," he said seriously. "Were you living with them, or at school? Were you close with your family? How did the accident happen?" The string of questions left his mouth like rapidly fired bullets.
And then, more quietly. "Was it an accident? Or did something else happen?"
A tense silence permeated the air for a few moments that felt like an eternity. When Katherine finally responded, it was in soft and somber tones. "I'm not going to answer your questions, Orion, because I don't think it's you who's really asking them." Her searching gaze met his tense one. "Am I correct in thinking that?"
Orion crushed his eyes shut for a moment, and brought a hand to his forehead before running it down his face. His anxiety revealed the answer to Katherine's question.
"I don't want to do this, Kat. Oh god, I don't want to do this," said Orion quickly, beginning to pace back and forth across the classroom. "But if you won't answer, and I don't at least try to force the information out of you…I'm afraid of what might happen."
Katherine looked concernedly at him. "You think Riddle might punish you for failing to get this information out of me?"
Orion didn't appear to hear her; he was too wrapped up in his own train of thoughts. "Of course, he might punish me either way, especially now that I've gone and told you he sent me." He laughed nervously. "Oh God, I'm a coward. I don't know what to do."
"I know what you should do," said Katherine. He looked at her desperately, conflict evident in his eyes.
"I can't answer those questions, Orion. Not when Riddle is the one asking them. But you should do what he would want you to do," said Katherine. She reached both hands slowly to rest over where Orion's hand held his wand, and deliberately lifted his wand to point directly at her chest.
"Curse me," she said, resolutely.
Orion eyes were wide with shock. "What?"
"That's what Riddle would want you to do, so do it," she said. "Make things easier on yourself. I won't have you hurt on my behalf."
Orion's wand was shaking badly in his hand. "You would let me torture you, to save me pain?"
Katherine said nothing, but maintained steady eye contact while Orion's wand remained pointed at her chest.
All at once, Orion stepped back, and pointed his wand at the floor. "I can't do it," he said. "You're too kind, too generous, too lovely. I can't hurt you."
Katherine stepped towards him. "But you must! Riddle will hurt you much more badly, won't he?"
Orion spat his next words. "I don't care. I won't do it, Katherine. I won't!" He gave her one last lingering look, and then fled out the door of the classroom.
Katherine watched him leave, and when he was gone, a smug smile found its way onto her face. Katherine: 1, Riddle: 0, she thought to herself, before picking up her book bag and leaving the classroom.