AN:

Thank you SO much to everyone who reviewed the last chapter! Those reviews are what keep me writing and I absolutely love getting them.

MrsLolita – Thanks for your specific and detailed feedback! I don't want to give too much away, but in response to your comments on Katherine telling Riddle that she beat Grindelwald in a duel, I'll just say this – remember that one of Katherine's main skills is manipulating people, and that means she doesn't always tell the truth (or at least, she tells the version of it that best serves her purposes).

The following morning, Katherine sought out Riddle in his usual spot in the Common Room. It was early in the morning, and no one else had come down from bed yet, but Riddle was already surrounded by books and parchment, obviously having settled in do get some work done.

"Good morning, Riddle," said Katherine brightly, plopping down in the chair across from him. "You missed out on a grand adventure last night. Abraxas almost died, Orion and Adeline both nearly fainted, and I had a wonderful time."

Riddle scowled, not bothering to look up from his book. "I really don't care how you choose to spend your evenings, Katarina."

"Okay," said Katherine slowly, drawing out the word. "Someone woke up on the wrong side of the bed this morning."

She paused, as if considering whether or not to continue, then pressed on. "Anyways, Riddle, I had some thoughts on how to improve the dueling skills of some of your followers. I found some of the books we used in our dueling club at Durmstrang, and I thought we might use them to teach some of the darker, less school-sanctioned spells."

Riddle continued to ignore her, giving her no sign that he had heard her at all.

Katherine cleared her throat, annoyed. "Well? Could we meet up later to talk about it?"

Riddle suddenly slammed his book closed with a snap. He glared at her with a simmering fury. "I don't have time for you to pester me with your trivial suggestions today. Go bother someone else."

Katherine recoiled, shocked at the sudden shift in his demeanor. She narrowed her eyes. "Okay, why don't you spit it out, Riddle? Why are you acting like such a top-notch prick today?"

Riddle's hand tightened around his wand, which was rested on the arm of his chair. "I thought I made it clear that you need to speak to me with respect."

Katherine scoffed. "And I thought we were past all this power-tripping business, but I guess we were both wrong."

"You need to fall in line, Katarina," said Riddle, his voice cold. "Stop messing with my followers. Stop trying to distract them from their loyalty to me."

Katherine tilted her head. "Is that what this is about? You don't like me playing with your toys?" She rolled her eyes, annoyed. "Well, you're going to have to give me more specific rules to follow then, Riddle. Who exactly am I allowed to talk to? Can I be in the same room as your followers for classes, or should I put in a request to be transferred to Hufflepuff?"

Riddle's lips narrowed into a sneer. "It's simple. I just want you to stop making a fool of yourself by flirting with everything that moves. You're an embarrassment to the house of Slytherin."

Katherine shook her hands at him, exasperated. "What are you on about now, Riddle?"

"I went up to another tower last night to watch the meteor shower," he said, as though offering up incriminating evidence. "I could see the astronomy tower from where I was, and I saw you looking awfully cozy with Malfoy." He practically spat the last words, tone dripping with condescension.

Katherine gave an incredulous laugh. "Are you jealous, Riddle? Worried that I might find someone else to spend my nights with?"

Riddle glared at her. "Hardly. I just think a little propriety is in order."

"I can do whatever I want, with whoever I want, and it's not any of your business," said Katherine firmly. She stood up from her chair and walked around the edge of the table towards his.

She leaned against the arm of his chair, and looked down at him, her hair dangling down towards his face. "Unless you want to make it your business, that is," she said, draping her arm across the back of his chair. "Say the words, Riddle, and you can have me all to yourself."

Riddle leaned backwards and removed her arm of the back of his chair as though picking a slug off the sidewalk. "No, thanks. I don't want to risk exposing myself to whatever venereal diseases you might catch from Malfoy. Just conduct yourself with a little decorum from now on. Consider this a warning."

Katherine gasped in mock-shock. "Oh, I've been warned, have I?" She narrowed her eyes are him, appraisingly. "If a little harmless flirtation evokes this much of a response from you, I wonder what you'll do if I kiss someone else."

"Katarina," he growled, his voice low and threatening.

She smiled, challenging. "What are you going to do, Riddle? Crucio me again? I can take it. I'm not afraid of you."

Suddenly, his hand shot up, clenching around her neck. His thumb pressed against her windpipe, making her wheeze, struggling to get air in. "Maybe you should be," he hissed. "Your horcrux doesn't make you invincible, Katarina. There are a number of ways to damage one, and I wouldn't hesitate to destroy a piece of your soul. In fact, at this moment, I think I'd derive great pleasure from it."

He released her throat, and her hand flew upwards to rub at the marks he'd left. "Well," she said, her voice shaky and hoarse. "It's a good thing I hid my horcrux on another continent. Good luck finding it."

He smirked, seeming to take pleasure in her shaken composure. "Did you really think I believed you when you told me you hid it somewhere in Europe? You'd want to keep it nearby; I've seen how protective you are over it."

Katherine paused, and he knew he was right. She remained perched on the arm of his chair, like a rabbit frozen in a wolf's gaze.

"You wouldn't kill me when I'm the only person alive who can show you how to successfully make a horcrux," she said, trying to sound more confident than she felt.

Riddle's smile grew wider. "How funny that you should mention that – just last night, after our astronomy class, I stopped by Slughorn's office, and told him of my academic interest in Horcruxes. He told me he knew of a book that describes the production of Horcruxes. A bit hard to find, but he thinks he can secure me a copy," said Riddle, clearly gloating.

Katherine shook her head. "That's like trying to paint a masterpiece using a paint-by-numbers book. You can't just read about it in a single book and expect to be successful. Grindelwald spent years researching Horcruxes – gathering evidence, talking to magical historians, conducting experiments."

"Fear not, dear Katarina," said Riddle smoothly, practically purring with self-satisfaction. "I'll be keeping you around for now, at least until I'm certain I don't need any more information from you."

"Anyways," he added, "I have other ways of making you behave, ways that don't require me to know where your horcrux is."

Katherine stood up, stepping away from him. "Is that right? Do tell."

"No," said Riddle, shaking his head. "That would ruin the surprise. You'll have to wait and see."

Riddle returned to his book, humming quietly to himself. Katherine had obviously been dismissed. She gave herself a shake, trying to regain her composure, and strode quickly from the Common Room.

Katherine tried to distract herself as the day went on, but Riddle's threat kept running through her mind. She had no idea what his next move would be, and that lack of control frightened her more than anything else.

As she headed to lunch after her morning classes, she ran the scenario over again in her mind, trying to predict what he might do. She was so caught up in her ruminations that she almost bumped right into Celeste just outside the doors to the Great Hall.

"Oh, sorry," exclaimed Celeste.

"No, no," Katherine assured her. "I'm so in my own head today, it was my fault. I'm actually glad I bumped into you though – do you have a minute?"

Celeste nodded, smiling. "Of course. What did you want to talk about?"

Katherine gestured to the side, and the two of them stepped into an alcove a few steps away from the doors to the Great Hall.

"I just wanted to say that I'm really happy that you and Thaddeus are going steady. I know you've been wanting that for a while now," said Katherine, smiling.

Celeste smiled broadly. "Thanks. I know it's probably just new relationship bliss, but we're really happy together."

"That's great," said Katherine. She paused, taking a beat. "I also wanted to apologize for what happened between me and Thaddeus the other night. I can't say I regret what I did, because it needed to be done, but still…I hope you can forgive me. I don't want any bad blood between us."

"Honestly, Katherine, it's behind us. Don't worry about it." Celeste sighed. "I know Thaddeus can be a bit of a prick sometimes, so I won't hold it against you."

"Thanks, Celeste," said Katherine, relieved. "That's been weighing on me."

"No problem," said Celeste. "To be honest, I really don't like getting involved with any of Riddle's business. I try to stay out of it as much as I can."

Katherine nodded. "Fair enough. Anyways, I'll try to stay out of Thaddeus' way in the future, for your sake if nothing else."

Celeste smiled. "Well, maybe you can show him who's boss every once in a while. Someone has to keep that ego of his in check."

Katherine laughed. "I'll do my best, but I make no promises. You want to get some breakfast before class?"

Celeste nodded and linked arms with Katherine, and the two of them headed into the Great Hall.

Later that day, Katherine met up with Orion, who had promised to help her practice her Quidditch skills.

"Hey, Kat," Orion called out to her as she approached the pitch. "I got here a bit early to get things all set up. You ready to go?"

Katherine jogged the rest of the way over, and arrived slightly out of breath. "Definitely! What have you got in store for me today, Quidditch Captain Black?"

Orion smiled slightly in response, but it was tight lipped and didn't reach his eyes. He seemed slightly more reserved than usual. "I thought we might practice dives and turns. I could set up a bit of an obstacle course," he said briskly.

"Oh come on, Orion," Katherine said, the hint of a whine colouring her voice. "You said last time that we would use the bludgers this time."

Orion shook his head. "I know I said that, because you begged me last time too, but I just think it's too dangerous."

Katherine groaned. "I'm not made of glass, you know. I can keep up with the boys."

Orion rolled his eyes. "Yeah, I know you don't have any trouble with that."

Katherine recoiled. "What's that supposed to mean?"

Orion looked away, avoiding her eyes. "Just that I saw the way you were with Abraxas the other night. I guess the two of you are getting pretty friendly these days."

Katherine groaned. "This again? You're not the first person today who's decided to make me feel like trash for the crime of having a little fun."

"Well," said Orion bitterly, "Maybe you should consider how your fun affects the people around you."

Katherine exhaled softly, collecting herself. When she next spoke, it was in a much gentler tone. "You really think I would do that to you Orion? I would've thought you'd know me better than that by now."

Orion stayed silent, leaning down to fiddle with the clasp of the crate of Quidditch supplies.

"Riddle was watching, Orion. From another tower. I thought he might be, as he's taken quite an interest in me lately," Katherine trailed off.

Orion scoffed. "What does that have to do with anything? It wasn't Riddle who you were flirting with."

Katherine leaned down, and lifted Orion's chin gently with a few fingers so he was looking up at her. "I only flirted with Abraxas because I thought Riddle was watching, and I suspect he's the jealous type. I didn't want Riddle to know how much I care about you."

Orion stood up, and took a deep breath before letting it out in a long sigh. "Okay," he said flatly.

"You don't believe me?" asked Katherine, surprised. "Orion, I do care about you. Enough that it scares me what Riddle might do to you. And based on his reaction this morning, I was right to try to deflect his suspicions."

Orion shrugged. "It just seems like you're using Riddle as an excuse for a lot of things these days."

Katherine widened her eyes, and gently bit her lower lip. "Just because it's an excuse doesn't mean it's not true. I may not be made of glass, but that doesn't mean I don't get scared sometimes." She forced herself not to blink, and a few tears built up in her eyes, making them water slightly. She swallowed hard, as if trying to keep herself from crying.

Orion's eyebrows knit together in concern, and he pulled her into a tight hug. "I'm sorry, you're right. You act so tough all the time, it's easy to forget that you're as human as the rest of us."

Katherine leaned back and looked up at him, his arms still wrapped around her. "Thanks," she said, sniffling slightly.

They stood in silence for a moment, before Katherine spoke again, the hint of a smile playing at her lips. "Now can we please practice using the bludgers?"

Orion laughed. "Fine, you win." He leaned down again to start pulling the various Quidditch balls out of their case, and for the moment, Katherine was forgiven.