"Here you go, Caterina. Ve shall sit vith the Slytherins. Most of my cohort vas in this House."
"I do not understand the diffisions, Cousin Igor. It seems silly."
"Yes, vell. I do not pretend to understand the English. But they can be powerful."
Just then, the match took an ugly turn. The visitors might not know it, but considering most of Hogwarts was quite accustomed to the sight of Sirius Black and James Potter chasing Severus Snape around, the fact that he became more of a target than the Quaffle or the Snitch was not that unusual.
"Vhy are those boys targeting the beater? That is bad Quidditch!"
"Who knows?"
"Ah, but he is sly. They hafen't noticed how many goals the rest of his team has managed vith them being stupid! Clefer boy." Caterina admired the nerve it took for the boy to lure those posturing idiots away from their goal rings. She also remembered the words her Great Aunt Tatyana spoke that evening many years ago, when Caterina had just started school.
Dark of hair and dark of eye
darkness is his cloak as spy
strong of heart and strong of mind
bitterness coats a heart most kind
stolen child
stolen life
gives the savior sharpened knife
only after soul bleeds free
can he make his life with thee
"Snape. He is to be potions master for our Lord. Malfoy vill make sure of that. He is certainly clefer. But he vas friends with Muggle-born." Igor almost sounded disappointed.
Caterina was startled out of her reverie. She was certain from the way her heart leapt in her chest that she was seeing the man she had been told would eventually hold her heart. But remember, girl, Babushka said that all those things Great Aunt Tatyana said should be taken with a grain of salt.
"No one is perfect, Igor. He is still young."
"You are not much older, Caterina. You've only been out of school for three years. You are only four years older than he is!"
"I am voman, Igor. That makes me about forty years older. And it is more like three, cousin dear. I graduated early if you remember."
Igor laughed. "Maybe you can see him at the party this veekend, Caterina. You older voman, you."
Severus was not inclined to go to the party at Malfoy Manor, but since Lucius was his sponsor and Abraxas had given him the introduction to Master Fabrizie for his apprenticeship, he knew he had to. He washed his hair carefully and dressed in the robes Lucius had outgrown and given him. He had learned a permanent coloring charm from Lily the summer before, and used it to turn all the soft grey robes black.
He met the rest of the recruits in the Slytherin Common Room. One by one, they entered the Floo, calling out "Malfoy Manor foyer!" as they threw the green powder down into the flames.
Severus exited the Floo gracefully. He looked around carefully, then handed his cloak to the house-elf in attendance.
"Severus! You've arrived!" exclaimed Narcissa.
"Obviously," drawled Severus.
"So droll," responded Narcissa.
Severus just gave her a look. The fertility treatments he had found would take near mastery level knowledge of potions and three years to work. The offer he had made to Lucius and his new wife to provide them was the reason Abraxas had introduced him to Fabrizie. The fact that he had been brought to the attention of the Dark Lord was not necessarily good, but Severus did like being appreciated.
"In any case, let me show you around. Igor's cousin was asking about you, Severus. You apparently made a good impression during the Quidditch match."
"She must look like Igor, then."
"Severus! Remember your manners. She's actually quite lovely... Here he is, Caterina. Caterina Ivanova, this is Severus Snape."
Severus bowed low over the woman's outstretched hand. She thought I was interesting? She's stunning. The woman in front of him had almond-shaped eyes, in a shade one could only call truly blue. She had light golden brown hair that appeared to have a bit of curl.
"I saw you fly, Mister Snape. Once those idiots started targeting you, you kept them busy; it vas wery smart."
"You speak with passion about flying, Miss Ivanova."
"I am the first female Seeker, efen though I am a reserfe player right now, for Russia in seventy-three years. Idiots like those boys who targeted you ruin the sport."
"And what makes you different?"
"I am left-handed. Wery few people know how to defend against me, and I tend to roll and spin to the off-side."
"Should you really be telling me your secrets?"
Caterina just smiled into his dark eyes. "I belieff I can trust you."
For the first time ever, Severus Snape enjoyed a dinner party. He spent the evening talking to the beautiful woman sitting beside him. I don't know why she chose me, but I like it.
After dinner, there was dancing. Severus danced two waltzes with Caterina before she asked him to find her a place to rest.
"Narcissa, I'm not certain she is well. She is an athlete, and she asked to rest after only two dances."
"Oh, Severus. You can be such a naif. She likes you, dear. Take her to the guest room you usually stay in; it is in the family wing, you shouldn't be disturbed."
Severus walked away shaking his head. I'm not certain Narcissa is correct, but I certainly can't discount the possibility.
"Caterina, Narcissa has given us permission to rest in the guest room they assign to me in the family wing, if you are amenable."
"Yes, Severus, that vould be nice."
Severus led Caterina to the family wing, the first set of rooms on the left was his. "Here we are. This is where I stay during the summers and whenever I'm on break. the Malfoys were nice enough to sponsor me after my mother died."
"Are the rooms safe, Severus?" Caterina was motioning to her ear as she asked the question.
"Yes, quite. No portraits, the landscapes are warded against entry and I have designed my own Silencing spells."
"You are quite talented for a young man."
"My best friend and I support each other's magical endeavors; we have very different talents."
"That is good. I'm glad you are not only at the mercy of those mean boys and those who follow the Dark Lord."
"No, I do have Lily, I think."
"You think?"
"She doesn't really like people to know how deep our friendship goes. She certainly doesn't want people to know there is the possibility of more. I just don't think I'm handsome or rich enough. She aspires to more than our poor beginnings."
"She sounds spoiled. But I do not mean to disparage your friend."
"Thank you. She is very beautiful and smart and I don't think the poor, ugly boy was ever going to have a chance, not really."
"You are not ugly! Your face has character. I much prefer a man who looks like a man to a boy who is pretty enough to be a voman."
Severus smiled, making his interesting face handsome.
"You're beautiful, and I have no idea why you're talking to me, really."
"I vas impressed when you lured those idiots away from the goal and let your team score so many goals they von efen though the other team had a better Seeker. You can converse on many topics, and you dance wery vell. Vhy vouldn't I talk to you?"
Severus leaned toward her, and seeing no resistance, kissed her.
Caterina could feel his magic when he touched her and realized just how compatible they were. She also could tell this young man was incredibly powerful.
"Oh, my."
"Did I do something wrong?"
"Oh, no, Severus. You are just powerful, and that much magic can be quite arousing." Caterina was quite amused when he blushed. "Haff you nefer done this before?"
"I have, actually. My best friend and I, well, last summer... "
"Ah. She was experimenting?"
"No, comparing. I should've known she didn't really want me then."
"No vorries, Severus. I am not so crass as to compare."
"Then you won't mind if we get more comfortable?" Severus asked, gesturing toward the bed.
Caterina smiled, and grabbing his cravat, pulled him toward the bed, sitting down, leaning back and pulling him over her.
Severus went quite willingly. The look of wonder he had when she disrobed enchanted her more than any pretty words or baubles ever could have.
Every touch, every caress, every kiss brought them closer and closer to the edge, until finally, both of them were lost to the pleasure of the moment. Soon after they both drifted off to sleep.
Hours later, Caterina woke up, and tried to get dressed and leave the room quietly.
"Regrets already?" asked Severus in a sleepy voice.
"No, Severus. I vould haff written. And I vill write. But I belieff our lifes vill become wery difficult. Ve vill haff to defise a method to stay in touch as best as ve can."
"If it gets too hard, Caterina or unsafe, we will stop, all right?"
"Wery vell, Severus. Das Vedanya."
She kissed him, then dressing quickly, called a house-elf to take her to her cousin.
Severus lay back down on the bed, considering everything that had just transpired.
The year ended, with many people in the school wondering at the fact that the generally dour Snape seemed to be distracted by something. The Slytherins at the party certainly weren't going to talk.