Chapter 30 - Where the Loyalties Lie

Severus was full of bad feelings, all of which were associated with the upcoming school year at Hogwarts. The Dark Mark during the Quidditch World Cup meant nothing good. He felt like the last twelve years was a holiday. He was full of dread and it only added to his usual, brooding self. He would have to think about the cure for the Cruciatus curse, because he had a feeling that he would be on the receiving end of it sooner rather than later.

Katia couldn't get over it, but the stormy, rainy weather brought up only one memory. It was quickly replaced with another when she saw sneering face of Professor Snape, who looked at Harry Potter with loathing in his black eyes. And then, she remembered that it was time for the Triwizard tournament, which soon would bring her old schoolmates from Durmstrang. Along with Viktor, a kindred soul who would make her days at Hogwarts even better.

He would make up for the lack of Marcus. Aside from Marcus, Hogwarts was an amazing place to study, but Durmstrang was also great with all of its dark glory. The difference was that the Dark Arts were forbidden at Hogwarts and the topic was very much avoided, while at Durmstrang, students learned about Dark Magic and how to deal with it.

Hermione couldn't help it, but it was hard not to notice that her study partner, Katia Ivanov, beamed at the feast. She talked vividly with Montague. There was a rumour that Katia had a thing for bulky Quidditch captains.

Hermione caught Katia after the feast.

"How was your summer?" she asked.

Katia smiled warmly at the sight of her. "Eventful, I can say. Do you know that Victor Krum is coming to the Triwizard Tournament and that he's a cousin of mine?" she said proudly.

Hermione was genuinely surprised. "Katia, that's really great. Is that what makes you so happy?"

Among other things, "Yes." And soon I will be a useful spy, and I'm already an Adept and I slept with Professor Snape which is awkward a bit, but I'm getting used to it. Not to mention that I was also intimate with Marcus Flint, but that would probably make your smile drop, but I can't stop thinking about it.

"Some people will probably not like you for being related to a celebrity, and others would try to fall into your good graces," replied Hermione.

"Like it is my virtue or fault that my cousin is a celebrity. I really don't give a shit about people who say or act like that. Montague likes me for who I am, and I think this won't change, but yeah, it will be a hard year for me, probably. And what about you, besides that you look prettier every time I see you?"

Hermione blushed a bit, not being used to anyone complimenting her looks.

"Oy Hermione!" she heard Ron yell, and excused herself to join her housemates.

"I beg your pardon sir, but if you knew that something bad would happen, why did you do nothing to prevent it?" asked Katia, as she tried to maintain a polite tone. She didn't want to imagine if something bad had happened to her father, Marcus, or Victor.

Albus Dubmledore breathed heavily.

"While I am perceived as powerful, Miss Ivanov, I do not possess any divine powers to keep everyone out of harm. Unfortunately, sometimes I can only speculate, gain information, and plan a course of action that would be the best. You did your task and-" he adjusted his half moon spectacles, "have proven yourself adequate, which will result in much more serious jobs for you."

Katia nodded. She felt utterly stupid. Of course he couldn't just wipe off all remaining Death Eaters or catch the culprit responsible for casting the Dark Mark at the Quidditch World Cup. Sometimes she imagined that possessing this amount of magic meant that she could save the world. It was a bucket of icy cold water. She should take orders and not question them.

"Headmaster I believe that you possess one divine quality," she said with a small smile.

Dumbledore raised both eyebrows. "And what that would be?"

"Your patience, sir."

Dumbledore chuckled softly at that. She was so very much like Wulfrick,. But he couldn't afford to genuinely like the girl because there was no room for sentiment in great plans. And she was just about to become a little bit more important. He couldn't become emotionally attached to a source of information who would, more likely than not, die. Well, to any other who was involved in his great plans, starting with Harry Potter.

Then they started the Legillimency and Occlumency lesson, and it was no laughing matter at all.

The potions lesson was peculiar. Every time she discreetly looked at Snape, Katia couldn't get rid of the images of her first night; it was as if they were seared in her memory. She tried not to look at him at all, afraid that he might know what she was thinking about.

Stupid, she scolded herself. She was changed beyond any recognition that night, and besides - her professor would never suspect a fourth year student to be an Adept.

She did her best to focus, but sometimes she saw a graceful motion of his hand and remembered those hands on her body. First cold and unsure, and then hot and demanding, holding her in an iron grip beneath him.

Focus for Rasputin's sake or it will ruin my favourite lessons!

She gently stirred the mixture in the cauldron and wrinkled her nose.

"I need to do it again," she muttered under her breath.

"How very thoughtful of you," said a velvety voice, very close to her.

Katia jumped and she dropped the mixing stick into her cauldron

She was ordered to stay after everyone left. Professor Snape looked like a cat who had just caught a fat mouse.

"How very unfortunate that you cannot focus, Miss Ivanov," he purred in his silky timbre, which made her shiver involuntary. Great Rasputin, that night had changed everything for her.

"And why is that?" she asked, having very little to lose.

"Because I thought that, from this day, you might use your knowledge for better reasons than to boost your ego in front of your classmates."

That was hitting below the belt. She never wanted to gloat or to boost her ego. She wanted people to see that she wasn't completely worthless, despite the fact that she loved the subject.

"I never-" she wanted to protest, but was interrupted.

"Now, now, Miss Ivanov. And here I believed that you had real potential." There was disappointment but also mockery.

"Professor, please." She raised her hands in a useless gesture.

"I want you to start developing a potion that will be efficient in fighting the effects of Cruciatus Curse under my supervision as a form of additional assignment."

"I would be honoured, but honestly, I have no idea where to even start."

"That's why you will take these journals and read them. I mean read them, not just look like you flip over Witch Weekly."

Like she ever read Witch Weekly. But it was pointless to argue against him. Like it was then.

"Of course sir."

"You are probably wondering if I think that you're so extra ordinary?"

"Partially, yes"

"You received, and from what I know, are still receiving a certain tutelage that combines muggle and magical methods which I believe may me essential, to finish your task. Besides that it has to be kept in secret, and I will make sure it will be. If I started exploring the muggle substances, it would take years before I could consider the most effective ones in this case. For you, it is a unique chance, because it will be years until you would start to develop anything on your own."

"I am very grateful sir. It is very kind of you, especially when I expected a detention."

"There is no time for detention. It's over five hundred pages, and you have a month to get familiar with it. After this time, I expect your full cooperation and knowledge in this matter."

It was humiliating that he had to ask a student for help, and a fourth year at that. But Severus was never lucky to receive such extensive Potions training. The girl was bright, but even if she wasn't, she could come up with some Muggle substances that would move his research further.

Moody just added to his nervousness. The old Auror wanted to do everything to condemn Severus.

Severus had to be very careful so his research would remain secret. He asked Ivanov to take the oath of secrecy and she agreed without any protest.

The Headmaster had a strange look in his eyes when he looked at Ivanov, but Severus didn't want to dwell on it. He felt the tight grip of her cold hand on his warm one. There was something familiar in her touch, but Severus couldn't place it.

It was a sunny Saturday when Katia decided that she would follow the instructions from small, unsigned note. It said "Meet me in Hogsmeade, near the Shrieking Shack on Saturday at 10 am."

It was a little time before she would meet her fellow schoolmates from Durmstrang and would have to divide her time between hard studying, exercises, lessons with the Headmaster, and her job. And she still had three and a half weeks to study Professor Snape's journal.

A sponge on a stick did an excellent job with helping her to apply a concealment ointment on the tattoo.

She used one of the secret passages that Filch had shown her, and Marcus Flint was already waiting for her.

No matter how hard she tried, she couldn't hide the warmth she felt inside at the sight of him.

"You came," he said. There was an uncertain smile on his lips but when he looked in her eyes, there was joy on his face. In few long strides he was a breath away from her. Marcus pulled Katia into a bone-crushing hug.

"Easy big guy, I can't breathe," she squeaked, but made no move to push him away.

He lessened his embrace and kissed the top of her head. "Come with me," he whispered, and without any warning, Apparated them to the outskirts of a town.

They walked hand in hand, and admired the nice architecture as well as tasty fish and chips. Marcus led them to a small hotel. He had a room rented there already.

Argus Filch disliked this Alastor Moody instantly. Every time he passed the man in the corridor, he felt the hair on the back of his neck rising. The expression on the disfigured face was searching, suspecting, distrusting, and mocking.

That's why Argus moved all the materials concerning Salazar Slytherin's experiment into a secret space under the floor in his private chamber. He reorganized the furniture and covered it with the bed.

Even if this Moody decided to rummage through the chamber - Argus cringed at the possibility - he wouldn't find the journals, the vials, and other things. He just left the mirror because the damned thing tried to suck him inside.

Argus would have to work on translation in the daytime - when he usually slept - because this was the only way he was sure that this damned Moody would be busy with his classes.

Harry Potter saw Ivanov as she sat on a stairway with Neville. She was smiling and Neville looked like he was having a breakdown. Harry's hands clenched in fists.

"The nerve of her," he muttered.

"Don't," said Ron, and blocked Harry's view.

"Don't you see that she's being mean to him?"

"It's not the first time that I've seen them talking. It was Neville who asked me where he could find her."

"Fine," said Harry and turned back. Then Katia's gaze fixed on Ron. She just shook her head and looked at Neville again.

Ron didn't want to argue with Harry. It was obvious that there was a mutual dislike between them. It wasn't like he could defend her, because Harry would be livid, but Ron couldn't believe that she might hurt Neville and that he would willingly go to her after.

Harry Potter was wondering, what had changed. Ron wasn't willing to engage Ivanov about bullying Neville... And Ivanov. She was funny when she cowered from Trelawney.

Ivanov stayed silent throughout the lesson, doing everything to not be noticed. So unlike the cocky behaviour she usually presented during Divination lessons.

"Mr Flint, as you're moving in the team ranks so fast, our readers would like to know: what is your secret?" said Rita Skeeter as she moved a little closer so that her knee touched Marcus' thigh.

Marcus moved back a bit and looked at the ceiling while he thought. "I just like to be in motion." He ran a hand through his thick, dark hair. "It's the energy of the crowd when I'm up in the air, the feeling of them as they stop to breathe for a second. The quaffle that's being hit in a perfect motion. The perfect catch. It's not always that we win or that I won in the past while playing for Slytherin, but the tiny details that makes all of it worth its effort. I think I seek perfection in everything I do."

Rita smiled broadly. "That is really something, Mr. Flint. I'm sure that the readers will be thrilled to read about your achievements."

Katia was among people who did stupid things under the influence of Imperio. She didn't even try to fight it. She might have a slim chance to succeed but Dumbledore ordered her implicitly to keep a low profile.

It wouldn't do good to her to show off before her fellow Slytherins. Besides, the power of the curse was unimaginable. It left her shaken after the lesson. If she was to Obliviate the Death Eaters, use Legillimency on them to extract information and resist Imperio, she was far from being ready.

Dumbledore seemed to put too much faith in her. She had to try harder during the lessons with the Headmaster. If she couldn't find it the fire of revenge in her, the last talk with Neville should ignite it.

She made an oath to do whatever possible to avoid the deaths and suffering of many. To provide information while staying undetected and to not make a foolish sacrifice.

Including the time turner, it was seven years of training. Was she really that miserable? Was her father mistaken like Dumbledore? She was so sure of herself, so enthusiastic about becoming an Adept when she entered Hogwarts. Now she was nerves and uncertain.

Professor Snape added to it by giving her the responsibility of developing a successful therapy against Cruciatus Curse.

And Rasputin - she didn't like spiders, but she wept for hours for the poor tortured creature that was killed in front of her eyes. She imagined people instead and the sadness was overwhelming. She had to work harder on getting better, not only for her father or to prove herself.

For not letting history repeat. As if she had any power over things so much greater than her.

It was a late hour when Marcus finally got home after training. He went upstairs, where Amy lived now. They had all of the second floor for themselves, although they were planning to move on their own before summer instead of living in his parents' house.

It was almost ten, but Amy was sitting by kitchen table, her eyes red and puffy. There was a newspaper in front of her that was wet a bit.

"Hello," he said uncertainly, not knowing what to expect.

"How could you do this to me?" she asked, her voice thick with tears. She threw the Daily Prophet at him.

Marcus Flint and the Imperfections of Unrequited Love

The promising Quidditch player confessed recently that he is in constant need of being in motion and he seeks perfection.

"It's the energy of the crowd when I'm up in the air, the feeling of them as they stop to breathe for a second. The quaffle that's being hit in a perfect motion. The perfect catch. It's not always that we win or that I won in the past while playing for Slytherin, but the tiny details that makes all of it worth its effort. I think I seek perfection in everything I do."

Is it just Quidditch or is there another game going on? He didn't comment on an exceptionally satisfying weekend that he spent with his former girlfriend, Katia Ivanov. It was like they couldn't have enough of each other. After casual fish and chips, the atmosphere turned out to be more cosy and also more heated in a lovely hotel room of an Old Muggle town not far away from Hogsmeade. The aspiring captain made that day special by openly showing his affection towards his former girlfriend, and she must have been impressed with his later success, as she seemed to enjoy his company in every meaning of this word. There was no word about his current girlfriend, Anastasia Morrigan, who refused to comment.

He felt all blood drain from his face.

"You were so-so different that day. I thought that-that it was Quidditch related. I never suspected-" she trailed off, unable to continue as she started crying. It was gut-wrenching sobs of absolute despair and Marcus wanted to do everything to make it stop. He kneeled in front of her, taking her black hand into his white one.

Her crying was breaking his heart. "Amy I don't know what to say. I don't know why I did it, but I care for you. I really do. Please say something."

Her brown eyes with hints of green in them were full of tears, sadness, and betrayal.

"How could you? She dumped you, treated you like nothing while I cared, while I was there for you. Why Marcus?"

He sank deeper on the floor and embraced her knees.

"Look, I don't know why! You are pretty, sweet, and caring. And my home is wherever you are."

"What does she have that I don't?" she whispered and cursed herself for the tears that traitorously fell from her eyes.

Marcus shook his head. "I don't know. I don't want to lose you Amy. You mean so much to me."

"Can you at least promise me that it won't happen again?" she asked, but there was no hope in her question.

He shook his head. "I won't make a promise I can't keep. But I will never hide it like that from you." He stood up and started pacing. "I don't deserve you, but I don't want you to leave me."

"You're right Marcus. You don't deserve me, but I'm too weak to leave you."

He marched across the room and kneeled before her again. He took her face in both hands and despite her protests, he kissed her forehead. "My Amy," he whispered. "I am so sorry."

"I can't believe that we will be together for the whole year," breathed Katia. She was lifted up and spun around in the air by Viktor.

"I'm so glad to hear that, little sister," he said, as he whirled her around again before he put her down.

Then she was lifted again by Iliya Poliakoff, her close friend throughout her childhood and first year at Durmstrang. She felt like a five year old. Despite not being petite, she felt helpless against their strength.

Sasha, Viktor's brother, seemed to have matured over the summer as he grew an inch or more and his hair darkened. He, of course, ignored Katia's dark gaze and lifted her as well. She felt like a doll that had no free will.

"Now I know why Emiliya complains," she said with mock anger. She felt a bit stupid, because she hadn't seen Iliya for almost two years and his features had changed so much that she barely recognized him. His face had become more sharp, with black hair, and a prominent nose. He also had a goatee, which suited him perfectly.

He had become a really handsome man, and many girls turned heads to him already.

Her former headmaster wasn't also bad to look at. She felt uneasy when she thought that she was infatuated with him before. She definitely wouldn't deny him on her first night.

She spent the evening on the Durmstrang ship, and they ate the food each of them nicked at the supper. Iliya Poliakoff had his precious mulled wine, which Katia brought after his whining.

She, Sasha, and Viktor drank a bit of Vodka with traditional, eastern European sour cucumbers in brine and herrings in vinegar. Katia could only eat onions from herrings, but she was okay with it anyway.

"And no matter how he tried, his magical eye always stopped at her breasts," said Sasha and laugher erupted at the Slytherin table.

"Because she's so tall, it was a brilliant excuse for the old weirdo," added Iliya and they laughed again. Katia was eating at this moment and she spluttered, a bit of her toast flew to Malfoy's lap. He looked at her with loathing and Viktor covered his mouth. One...two...three...

"Bwahahah!" Sasha's eyes filled with tears as he laughed so hard and the others joined him almost simultaneously. It was always like that with a group of people that when they started laughing, everything was funny.

"His face! Oh Rasputin have you seen it?" cried Katia, wiping her eyes.

"Sorry Draco," she said in English.

Then they watched as the Weasley twins tried to enter their names in the goblet and then as it flung them backwards with impressive, white beards and the laughter erupted again.

The Durmstrang boys were ordered to go to the boat some time later, but Katia was allowed to go with them as she was a former Durmstrang student, but also because she used to call Karkaroff uncle before she went to school.

She listened when he told her how much she'd grown and what a pretty girl she was, though even if she resembled Hargid spawn, she was sure that she would hear the same compliments.

"Why there are only boys?" she asked once.

"Because we were instructed to take only the male population," replied Karkaroff.

Katia snuck through the corridors, having had a serious task to smuggle another bottle of wine to the Durmstrang ship. At least she was trying to sneak, because she couldn't stop giggling and Sasha, who walked behind her making a theatrical "Shhh" noise, wasn't helpful at all.

"Shut up," she said in Bulgarian and turned to hit his arm. She bumped into someone and lost her balance, but Sasha caught her in time. He encircled her waist and she burped loudly.

"Weasley," she said between giggles. "Why are you here alone and looking so grumpy?"

"Not your business," he said quietly.

"Oh come, cheer up!" said Sasha.

"Wanna join a little party with Viktor?" asked Katia and waggled her eyebrows.

At this Ron's eyes lit up. "Really?" he asked disbelievingly.

"Of course mate," said Sasha. "Come with us."

Ron Weasley ended up in Viktor's Krum cabin, having a penalty drink glass to empty. He was encouraged by loud cheers. He cringed and downed the contents of the glass, which was mostly Vodka. Poliakoff was drinking wine straight from the bottle.

He quickly got tipsy after that and confessed how much he wanted the autograph of Viktor. Even in his slightly drunken state, he didn't think that the wizarding photo of him sitting in Viktor's lap would be something that he could show anyone.

Then there was arm wrestling, and Ron noticed that Ivanov had developed some ugly, manly muscles on her arms, which were complimented by the boys to his horror. She lost the wrestling contest with everyone but him.

Somehow, she fitted there. She was completely different from what he saw during lunch breaks. She was completely relaxed and accepted.

That's when he made a comment on how her blond hair, that reached just below her ears, was so much below the beautiful, silvery hair of the French girl.

"I prefer to not being looked at like I was a juicy steak. I really don't envy this poor girl. Nobody cares about her as a person," said Ivanov.

Viktor stood up, and tipped over the chair he had been sitting in. "You have a problem with my little sister's hair?" he asked as he knitted his black eyebrows together.

"No," squeaked Ron.

Katia immediately stood between Ron and Viktor. She put her hands on Viktor's arms and shook her head. She said something in Bulgarian and he sat down on a chair that Sasha put up for him.

"Men have fantasies about girls like her, but in the end, they prefer the ones that are more real and are fun and caring. Looks are not everything," said Iliya, and took a generous swig from his wine bottle.

And there were those cucumbers. Ron regretted asking how they were done.

"You put them in the water with garlic and something green I forgot the name in English and keep them for a month. Then they're ready," explained Ivanov and took a bite.

Ron cringed at the thought of eating rotten cucumbers, but couldn't protest really. They turned out to be pretty tasty, a bit like pickled ones.

There was herrings and horseradish and more vodka. The next thing he remembered was Harry Potter and himself, in bed, fully dressed. He was angry at Harry and had no problem being mean in his drunken state. Then it was morning and he had a mother of all hangovers.

What he didn't know was that Katia's morning was also interesting.

"Viktor! Get that smelly feet out of my face!"

"It's my bed and yours aren't nice to smell either!"

The Slytherin common room was like a bee hive. Someone made two sided badges with "support Cedric Diggory" and "Potter stinks".

Montague had just pinned his on when Malfoy offered one to Ivanov.

"Sorry but I haven't smelled Potter, and I don't support Diggory either," she said with a polite smile.

"Why?" asked Malfoy.

"Because I support Viktor Krum. Family should stick together after all, don't you think?"

"She's a traitor to her own house," shouted Pansy.

"Not exactly a house," corrected her Graham. "Diggory isn't a Slytherin, after all."

"Besides, it's not like she's here very often lately," added Draco with a nasty smile. "Siding with a competitive school after all."

"If you say so," said Katia dismissively, and just left the common room.

She went straight to the lake, where the Durmstrang ship was and where Hermione already waited for her.

Katia was thrilled that Hermione liked both her cousins and her friend. She and Victor got along quite nicely.

It just seemed natural that when the Yule ball was announced, Hermione waited for half a day for Ron to invite her, she said yes to Victor. Sasha took Daphne Greengrass, whom Katia introduced to him. Katia was invited by Iliya Poliakoff.

In the mean time, Victor's golden egg fell into the mud during play, and that's how he discovered that it sung under water.

Katia felt happy and excited about the Yule Ball up to the late afternoon when she got a strange, cold feeling. She couldn't find peace from that moment, and this feeling indicated that something was very wrong.

Iilya smiled brightly at her when he saw Katia in a pale pink dress with black roses and her short blonde hair curled and pinned up, but his smile wasn't long lived when he saw her eyes.

She was terrified.

"What happened?" he asked as he led her through corridors.

"I don't know. I've never felt like this before. Like something bad has happened, or is about to happen."

He took her icy cold hand in his warm one. "I don't know what to say," he said and squeezed her hand a little. "But no matter what it is, I'm with you, Katia. We're friends since forever and that will not change."

It was nice to hear that, but it didn't ease the persistent feeling. She tried to pretend, because Iliya was really a good friend and didn't deserve to have his good mood ruined on a day like this.

He would probably prefer to take Emiliya to the ball if she was available, because Katia noticed that something was going on between them that summer almost two years ago.

Katia spend the ball dancing with Iliya. Any form of physical activities helped her calm her nerves. She tried to tell herself that it's being in the public, dressed like that.

When she noticed Dumbledore who discreetly invited her to the side, all blood drained from her face and she suddenly felt dizzy. Iliya accompanied her and it was a good thing because she had to concentrate hard to put one foot after another.

"Headmaster, you must tell me, please," she said, a bit hysterical.

"Not here, child," replied Dumbledore, and headed towards his office. For Katia, it felt like a blow to the the head. Something had happened indeed, and she had to know what in this moment, not some indefinite time later!

She didn't know what to think about Iliya, who was allowed to accompany her. Was it better or worse?

When they reached the marble staircase, Katia was shaking like leaf already.

"Unfortunately Miss Ivanov, I have very bad news. For both of us."

Thanks to Artemis J. Halk for beta reading this chapter. It is published earlier than I planned, but I did for Fantomette34. Thank you for praise and encouragement to continue writing! :D