Chapter 20 – Irina's philosophy of life

Argus Filch was seated comfortably in the Headmaster's office. Even though it was middle of summer, the castle had the nice, cool atmosphere because of the old, thick walls that made up the school.

"What could possibly be so urgent that I couldn't finish my afternoon nap, Albus?" asked Filch as he took a sip of black coffee from an ancient, white cup.

Dumbledore took a deep breath and frowned a little.

"My dear friend, I've just received an owl with the most disturbing news. The convicted murderer, Sirius Black, has escaped from Azkaban last night. And I have been informed that he is after Harry Potter."

There was an audible 'clank' as Filch put down his cup on the saucer.

"Bloody hell," said Filch as he ran his hand through his thinning hair. "We have to secure the school. Set extra patrols, change passwords more frequently, and hell knows what else we should do. The Potter lad is crucial."

Dumbledore looked at Filch from over his half-moon spectacles. "That's why I've sent for you. The security of Harry Potter is our main priority, and I am sure that you of all people can make him safe. You were always very invaluable for help in critical situations, Argus."

"Even if the only magic I can produce is a magical link that you've created between me. And my cat," he snorted.

"Life isn't fair, Argus, but after all this time I can tell that you make the best of it," said Dumbledore with a mischievous glint in his eyes. "You'll be given as much authority as you require in regards to the safety of Mr. Potter. Everything suspicious must be reported immediately."

"Of course Albus. I won't be preparing passwords early in a case someone steals my notes, but I'll give you the list every time it is changed. Oh, screw it Albus. Do you have anything to put my mind at ease?"

Dumbledore smiled and conjured a bottle of Firewhiskey of out thin air. Two glasses followed it. "As always Argus. As always."

"If this brat shows his ugly head, I'll show him how nice is to be on the receiving end of an Old Man's wrath. I'll make sure he knows what means to threaten Dumbledore's school."

Filch poured himself a generous amount of Firewhiskey and saluted to Dumbledore, who was not very far behind.

Katia put down the ornamented, white mask into the drawer and started to take out hairpins when Irina entered her room.

"How did you like it?" asked Irina in reference to Veleriana's initiation ceremony that they'd just attended.

Katia pressed cold fingers to her heated cheeks as she sat by the dresser.

"I can't wait to see my ceremony. Everything was so well planned; so perfect." She closed her eyes to see the ballroom again. "The food, the decorations, the way Veleriana danced."

Irina sat gracefully in the armchair and looked at her perfectly manicured fingers. "What do you think of him?" she emphasized the last word.

"Honestly? Malfoy seems so cold and uninviting, even if he smiles-" Katia trailed off, unable to find proper words.

"That's because he's an aristocrat. I'm sure you can give the same impression when you act your best."

Katia sighed; there was no point to argue with Irina. The Adept surely would start attacking her in defense of her lover.

"He just seems too cold for me."

Irina closed her eyes and smiled. "He's so... so dignified." Her crimson painted lips turned in disgust. "So unlike his friend, that he talks about from time to time. That Snape, Rasputin! Not only ugly as hell," she lifted her hand to stop Katia from saying whatever she wanted to say.

"I know, he's your Professor, Katia, but I've seen his photograph. So, he's as poor as mill's mouse, nasty, and ugly. I can't understand why Lucius likes him. I know that there's some kind of business between them, but honestly." Irina exhaled, and the rubies on her neck sparkled in candle light.

Katia felt anger rising inside of her. Who was Irina to judge her Professor based on whatever crap Malfoy spread about him?

"He's also brilliant, did you know that?" asked Katia; she tried to hide her emotions.

Irina laughed. "Is that so? If he were so brilliant, he would turn it into galleons."

Maybe, but there was more to Snape than money. Lucius wouldn't be nearly quite so charming without his fortune, but Irina couldn't see past this. Katia felt the anger slowly fade away as a strange thought appeared in her head; it seemed like a plan.

"Maybe, but still I think that I want to learn everything he can teach me," she said with a smirk.

"Good for you," replied Irina. "I would start learning Seduction in your place. You failed it, and you have to pass with every subject before your initiation. I set up the deadline during your Christmas break."

Katia pulled out a hairpin, and some hair. "I failed because you gave me a low score in Seduction. How could you?" she spat.

Irina laughed, but it was a dry, mirthless laugh. "How could I?" She shook her head and a mass of thick, blonde hair followed the motion. "You've failed miserably. I applied for the position of examiner and did my duty, marking your performance and not letting my personal feelings cloud my judgment."

Katia tried to take out another hairpin, but the rest of her hairdo seemed to be made of stone. Maria overdid her job; the stubborn construction failed to be loosened, and it only added to Katia's irritation. She had at least a pound of additional hair stuck to her own with whatever was put there to keep it together.

"You know very well what happened to me. You of all people knew about it and you failed me on purpose!" said Katia with accusing tone of voice.

She knew that she was being unfair, but a failed exam wasn't a good thing. It was bad enough that she struggled with Charms and Transfiguration. She loved Irina like sister, and knew that beneath her studied demeanor was a good heart of friend who never let her down, but she felt angry with Irina anyways.

"That's where you're wrong. Very wrong." Irina folded her legs; she felt insecure right now. "You and I are the only cursed ones. The rest of Adepts has no advantage like this. They need to practice their own abilities and rely on their intuition. But the lack of a curse is no excuse; you failed, I just marked it."

Irina stood up and leaned over Katia, and tried to figure out which hairpin was the loosest. Her friend was silent; her expression suggested that she felt hurt by the results of the exam.

"You can afford to fail an exam," said Irina softly. "Your father will provide you with everything you need. I have fourteen siblings; it was a miracle that Wulfrick noticed my curse and took me in. If not for him, I wouldn't be wearing this." She gestured over her expensive jewelery and clothes.

"And I wouldn't be able to help my family. Wulfrick made me your caretaker and let me be schooled as an Adept. Unlike you, I need to repay my debt" The blonde's eyes, which were reflected in the mirror, showed melancholy as she delicately removed more hairpins and fake curls from Katia's hair.

"I love your father and I love you, Katia, but I can't let you pass being miserable. I couldn't fail and drag my initiation further. I worked hard every day, and took every course possible in magic and subjects required to gain a tattoo. I started repaying my financial debt but I will never be able to repay kindness I received from both of you. Remember Katia; whatever I do for you, I have what's good for you on my mind. You can question my actions, but I'm more experienced than you are."

Irina's confession was about to be judged, sooner than Katia could have anticipated. As she opened the drawer to put the hairpins in there, Irina's talon-like nails took a wizarding photograph which rested in there.

The scene in the train looked like a plain friendship to a mere observer, but Irina knew Katia, and she knew Katia's reactions. She never behaved like that in front of boys from her family.

"And who is that?" asked Irina, a menace glinted her features.

"This is a friend of mine, Marcus Flint. I thought that I could practice my seductive skills on him," replied Katia; she tried to sound convincing.

"This is not someone you should lock lips with," said Irina as she moved away from Katia.

"I-" didn't, she wanted to say, but Irina cut her off.

"You are playing with fire. By associating yourself with that poor, ugly boy you're threatening the mission you're on. Wulfrick trusts you; he believes that you can provide vital information about former Death Eaters by associating yourself with their children; but not this kind of association! And Flint's family is irrelevant! They were never let into You-Know-Who's circle."

Irina started to pace, and accented every word by shaking the photograph.

"It's not a game where you can put down the cards in a box and live like nothing happened. It was a choice... a choice with consequences."

She wasn't stupid, but her friend seemed to be under impression that Katia's brain was a size of peanut. But it was Irina who came from poor family, and whatever she learned living with Ivanovs, she was still a small girl from poor family inside, who tried to prove herself every day.

This," she said as she waved the photo in front of Katia, "is what you need to leave behind. There is no place for silly schoolgirl crushes."

Katia felt like she'd been stabbed in the back. Her friend should have understood her; it was her last chance to be with someone without making a business deal.

"How can you be so... so unfeeling! How?" she asked, with a desperation that crept up into her voice.

Irina turned sharply, and the movement made her dress swirl around her.

"Oh, I can tell you how. I've learned it, my dear. And I've paid for every fucking bit of it! I wanted to save you the pain of following my steps. I've taught you everything I know without the price I've paid for it. I wonder when the fuck you'll start to listen to me! Why the hell do you want to be an Adept?"

Katia was silent, she was angry, and she hit some point where tears of helplessness formed in her eyes. She wanted revenge and wanted a safe future for herself and the others around her.

Irina's pristine features, now twisted with emotions, looked somewhat grotesque.

"You think that you will be adored and loved by men who would pay big money to fuck you? Answer me!"

It was a provocation; she knew Irina and she knew her games. The blonde wanted her to admit that harmless kisses could ruin her future. But she wasn't going to play those games today.

"You know why!" shouted Katia, outraged. "They killed my mother and I want all sons of those bitches dead! I would rip them apart with my own hands if I could!"

And she would, if she only could have them at her mercy and be sure that it wouldn't send her straight to Azkaban. Katia wasn't delicate and compassionate. Her mercy for former or present Death Eaters burned with green light of Avada Kedavra that killed her parents. But Irina knew only part of the truth; the same part that the rest of the family knew. That it was Wulfrick who was her father and Anthony Avery was only her mother's lover who lived with her after she broke up with Wulfrick.

Irina's voice was cold as ice, and her teeth were bared, which gave her the resemblance of a harpy.

"Remember this reason every time when your heart beats faster for some unworthy filth! Remember to not waste your chance, because you've got the only one. And if you can't restrain yourself, just quit! You don't have to be a martyr and sacrifice everything; you can back off or just limit the things to be sacrificed and you'll live a quite decent life."

Katia was clinging to a spark of hope that maybe Irina would let it go, but no such luck.

"Soon it will be over, he will be no more than my past. Just not yet!"

"This is the past!" shouted back Irina and threw the photograph into the fire of largest candle. "There is nothing here!" She shook Katia by arms "Nothing! You hear me?"

"Get out!" shouted Katia and pointed at the door. "And not being wealthy doesn't mean worthless, you bitch!"

She sat against the sofa with face in her palms and cried. Irina had few priorities in her life. One of them was her family, which extended to Katia and Wulfrick and money. The rest could go and drown themselves for all she cared.

Irina couldn't understand that everything between Katia and Marcus was not important. It was just a stupid infatuation and it was fueled by the need to be close to somebody. Katia was fifteen and, unlike her classmates, she was aware of her needs and was educated about adult issues.

She would continue their close association despite of what Irina thought. Just to have something only because she wanted to.

Next day was so filled with shooting lessons that she barely had time to think. She was trained how to use a Muggle gun, because in a crucial situation she knew that she wouldn't be able to defend herself with wand.

Guns and pistols weren't electrical devices and they weren't magical by any means, so it made them a good weapon - undetectable by magic and not affected by it; at least until the gun was noticed. Katia imagined herself a situation when a wizard changed her gun into a chipmunk and laughed hard.

Mudblood...

Snivellus...

Dirty pants...

Yellow teeth...

Greasy hair.

This was all that remained in his memory after Sirius Black was imprisoned. He left just this, and when Severus was told that Black was responsible for Lily and Potter's death, Severus gave it no second thought. The constant torments and gloating left no doubt in Severus' mind that Sirius Black had indeed murdered people, that he was a traitor.

And now he was free to finish what he started. To finish Harry Potter as the last act of his loyalty towards the Dark Lord. It made him sick. Sooner or later, he will come to Hogwarts. And sooner or later, Severus will have him captured, and he will make sure that Sirius Black will be Kissed. That's what he deserves. Nothing more, nothing less.

He felt a strange anticipation towards the upcoming school year. It would be interesting at least. It would be eventful, at most. Dumbledore must be out of his mind if he thought that taking a Werewolf for Defense Against The Dark Arts teacher would be a good idea.

Something smelled of burned flesh, which made Severus frown and he quickly started to stir the potion in the cauldron. It was a mess; he had started to be careless. The fact that someone donated him some part of the remnants of Basilisk shouldn't...

"Oh shit," he cursed.

The burned remnants of the potion next turned black and smelled of vanilla. He should check what it turned into; maybe it wasn't completely wasted. Severus bottled all of it, sat on the armchair, and pinched the bridge of his nose. Damn it all. He won't go far, wasting the precious ingredient he received.

Whoever decided to send it anyway.

Probably Albus.

Katia spent her morning at the Krum house, working on a banner for Viktor. She and Viktor's brother, Sasha were covered in red and black paint.

Soon, the masterpiece on a bed sheet was ready. It said:

HAPPY BIRTHDAY VIKTOR

THE BEST QUIDITCH PLAYER

WE LOVE YOU

Irina took Viktor to do some shopping so he wouldn't know of the surprise garden party that they were throwing for him until he came back.

When he Apparated with Irina, he had a dumbfound expression seeing the banner and a crowd in the garden, cheering. "Happy Birthday Victor!" they shouted in unison. They hugged and kissed Victor as they wished him a happy birthday.

"Irina! I had no idea," he said, embarrassed.

Sasha handed a Firebolt to Victor. "Happy Birthday brother," he said as he hugged Victor.

Katia clapped her hands and laughed at Victor's expression. "Let's party," she said.

"Wooooo!" shouted Irina when she saw colourful drinks resting on the tables. "For Victor and because they're so tasty," she said with raised glass and then she downed its contents.

Katia gave a high five to a boy standing next to her. "We made it!"

Sasha Krum lifted her and spun her around. "He really didn't suspect anything, Katia! Not even the slightest!"

His arms were around her ribs the same way as when Marcus had helped her straddle the broom. She closed her eyes, and felt a sudden rush of something…something which had been missing from her for so long that she was almost used to living without it. She gasped, and felt a sudden lack of breath and dizziness that overwhelmed her.

"Put me down," she said in weak voice. It was happening.

Her curse was back again.

Sasha's smile fell from his face and he held Katia as she crouched. She held her head, and bit the inside of her cheek to get rid of the feeling. Irina was by her side in seconds.

"Come on, you need to sit down," she said and walked Katia to a small table with three chairs.

When she was seated, Katia took her friend's hand. "I thought I had some time," said Katia, at the verge of tears. "But it's back…oh Irina! I can feel it and I don't know what to do. I don't want to ruin Viktor's party-"

"Shut up," commanded Irina as she pushed a half full glass of vodka in her hands. "Drink it."

Katia shook her head. "I don't want to drink."

"It helps to get rid of- fuck! Just do as I say."

Katia took a deep breath and downed the contents of glass. She felt a burning sensation, but it hardly did anything to the feeling of curse awakening inside of her. It was like if a poison had been poured into her system. Irina offered Katia another glass, and Katia drank it too; it burned her throat and made her stomach do flips.

"Why would you force me to drink this?" asked Katia, when her body had calmed down a little.

"You think I've never had to hide it? Believe me, if you get tipsy, you'll get better."

Something clicked in her head. Like a piece of puzzle.

Filch.

"You mean to tell me that if I was drinking…for example every second day I would be free of it?"

Irina expression turned to pained. "You're not meant to be addicted of alcohol, but if there would be no other way, I say absolutely no other way – yes. It would help."

"I'll sit here for a moment," said Katia. She was now starting to feel the numbing effect of the vodka, and it really did wonders to the curse. It retreated somehow, and for that Katia was grateful. "Thanks," she added.

Irina smiled and left her. The party went well. Everyone was chattering, laughing and, like her, drinking. Of course, children were on the loose, but what should they have been doing? Homework?

She put her legs on another chair and drank slowly, her mind full of Marcus.

Irina was right.

She should have left him, or more – never even started anything with him. It will be the first thing in the new semester; she will tell Marcus that she don't want to continue their attempt at a relationship.

It didn't go unnoticed that Katia was sitting alone after she had fallen on her knees, but knowing her temper there weren't any volunteers to go and ask how she felt. Finally, Sasha got an idea.

"We'll draw matches. The shortest one wins," he said as he prepared a box of matches.

"But you can cheat, you know which is the shortest." protested Emiliya with a frown.

"You're so stupid! That's why I won't be drawing them."

Viktor shook his head slightly. "It won't be necessary. I'll go."

"You want to have your head bitten off?" asked Sasha.

Viktor just shrugged and went towards Katia. He pulled a chair and sat beside her.

"Hey," he said as he looked at her. His cousin held a bottle of vodka and didn't bother to pour it into a glass anymore. She wasn't drunk yet, but she looked tipsy. "What's wrong?" he asked

"Nothing," replied Katia, but her tone of voice suggested something opposite. "I guess I got used to cooler weather in Great Britain and this heat just knocked me off."

He didn't believe a word. "Really," he said flatly. He took her hand. "If you want to talk, I mean – later, I'm here."

She put down the bottle. "Thanks. It's just I can't tell you. But one day I will, I promise."

She sounded so defeated, something must have happened to her. Weather had nothing to do with her mood.

"Take your time," said Viktor. He knew that pushing his cousin for answers was the worst he could do. She would probably leave the party and stop talking with him for quite some time. It happened to Anna and his brother. Katia ignored them for a good month.

Katia threw her arms around Viktor's neck. "Thank you," she said, somewhat less flatly and kissed his cheek. "I know I can count on you– and it works both ways." She released him and smiled. "Go, it's your party after all. I'll be fine and will join you later."

"Are you sure?" he asked, and watched as she took the bottle again.

"Yes," she answered, still smiling.

"Hey Gin, now, that we have money, you can buy yourself a piece of jewelry or whatever a twelve years old girls wants," said Fred, or was it George; smiling.

Ginny was grumpy, despite the fact that Egypt was a really fascinating and beautiful place. She didn't get much sleep lately because of the nightmare . It was the same every time, and it would leave her shaky so that she couldn't go back to sleep.

Eventually she got three, maybe four hours of sleep and wasn't in the mood to joke with her brothers or buy shiny, girly things from the markets. She was sleepy and angry that she couldn't get enough decent sleep each night.

"I'm sorry; I think that it's just cheap, puny things I have no use for. I think I would like to have an interesting book from Flourish and Blotts instead."

She hoped that they would leave her alone for some time.

"Are you all right Gin?" asked Bill.

She smiled. "Yeah, fine. It's just boring for me when I'm not allowed to do all the interesting stuff that you do. Pyramids and such." She yawned. "I can't wait until I'll get older."

That seemed enough for them to leave her alone. Nobody wanted to play with a girl when they had so much more interesting things to do. Being treated like a poor little girl who had a bad nightmare she couldn't remember was the last thing she wanted. She was the youngest, but she dreamed of being an equal partner in conversations or to go on adventures like her brothers had.

Marcus arrived early on platform nine and three quarters. He couldn't wait to see Katia, as they hadn't exchanged any letters during summer. Marcus thought about her very often while he'd been de-gnoming gardens and caring for tube-worms, which his father grew for some customers. He also dealt with various plants, used for potion ingredients. Some of them tried to bite his fingers off when he collected them. Yes, his father made him work really hard for a failed year.

He spotted her the moment she crossed the brick wall-like barrier.

A/N: I'm sorry for the horrible gap between updates. I will be posting chapters frequently now. Thanks for my Beta, Artemis, who made the story readable. I wouldn't be able to post anymore without you!

I want also thank all of you who wrote reviews and PM's urging me to update. I'm grateful for your support, SerbiaTakesCnrtl: I was moved reading your review and I laughed to tears at Voldemort nipples :)