Catherine gazed intently into the hand mirror she held, perched on the edge of Sirius' bed. Her long-sleeved, high-neck gown, crafted from sheer black fabric adorned with intricate lace and floral embroidery, draped elegantly around her, pooling into a cascade of black silk. Nervously, she drummed the heel of her knee-high boot against the floor.
"Aren't you done yet?" – Sirius asked, peeking through the door.
"What happened to being a perfect gentleman?" – the young witch smirked, trying to choose a suitable eyeshadow colour from the little palette in her lap.
"That's why I'm here - to escort you downstairs, Milady!" – the grey-eyed boy grinned, as he approached his friend – "Do you need help with your makeup?"
"It's usually Mary who helps me with this, but I can't ask her now, obviously. It's bad enough we're going to leave her alone during the Ball." – the young witch sighed.
"I'm still furious about this." – said Sirius, taking a seat next to her – "But it's not your fault. You've already helped her a lot, and now you don't even want to prepare for the Ball in front of her, which is incredibly considerate. You don't need to feel bad about it."
"I know." – the girl mumbled – "But it's still kind of awkward. The girls and I are trying our best to create some sense of normalcy, but I think I lack the social experience needed to handle this situation."
"I don't think many people have that kind of experience. This has been a shitstorm since the very beginning." – the young wizard scoffed – "And the teachers still can't figure out who did it! I'm baffled that James and I got detention, while that knobhead Ronan came out completely unscathed and even became more popular because of the whole ordeal! How messed up is that?!"
"They didn't have any solid evidence, and he was in the pictures too. They couldn't exactly prove he staged it." – Catherine hissed, annoyed – "What bothers me is that these anti-Muggle and Muggle-born beliefs are more widespread than I thought."
Sirius glanced at his friend and suddenly stood up from the bed. He took the mirror from her hand and knelt on the floor in front of the surprised young witch.
"You shouldn't be afraid, Flame!" – he said gently, grabbing the brush and starting to apply the makeup with unexpected skill – "Nothing bad's going to happen to you, I promise!"
"I'm not afraid for myself." – the black-haired girl replied, feeling her face flush under Sirius' intense gaze – "You really know your way around makeup."
"Well, I'm good at painting." – shrugged Sirius, darkening the contours of Catherine's eyes – "A canvas is a canvas. Doesn't matter if it's made of skin."
"Eww…" – the young witch exclaimed, torn between disgust and amusement.
"Stay still!" – the boy warned her, layering purple shadow to her crease, accentuating the green in her eyes – "Do you want lipstick as well?"
"No!" – Catherine answered more sharply than she intended – "I'll just put on some transparent lip gloss."
'The last thing I want is him being too close to my lips.' – the girl thought, suddenly feeling very hot without any apparent reason.
"As you wish." – Sirius replied, handing her the mascara, clueless about his friend's tenseness.
Catherine critically studied her face in the hand mirror and smiled appreciatively. She was honestly surprised by the results.
"If you're ever in need of gold, you and Marianne Trundle can start a business together." – the witch teased the fourth-year, who was lazily leaning against one of the posters of James' bed, watching her.
"I'll keep it in mind." – he stated absentmindedly – "I can't wait to dance with you, you know?"
"Then we shall hurry up." – the girl mumbled nervously – "James and Remus are probably wondering where we are."
"Yeah, it's better if we leave before Evans does." – Sirius suddenly stated, heading towards the door – "It was hard enough listening to him complain the last three days."
"I hope he won't do anything stupid." – sighed Catherine. Despite Lily never explicitly answering Gwyneth's persistent questions, the young witch was certain she was going to the Ball with Greg.
"Don't worry about it." – said Sirius, holding the door for her – "He's going to be pissed when he sees her with McMahon… don't make such a face, you know it must be him! But he's never going to ruin the Ball for you! This night is meant to be your special moment!"
"You don't have to go through so much trouble." – the girl mumbled, a bit unnerved – "I just want us to spend a nice evening together."
"And we will!" – grinned Sirius - "I can't wait to see the special entertainments the teachers planned for tonight!"
"They started decorating yesterday." – the young witch noted – "I overheard McGonagall talking with Thorne about something at the Quidditch Pitch. I suppose that's why they cancelled practice for Thursday, Friday and Saturday."
"Finally!" – exclaimed James as Sirius and Catherine appeared in the Common Room.
"You look beautiful!" – smiled Remus, making the black-haired girl blush heavily. After buying Moony a set of school robes that fit, they had also gotten him stunning midnight blue dress robes, which suited him perfectly, accentuating his broad shoulders and attracting quite a few appreciative looks from the Gryffindor girls.
The Common Room appeared more crowded than usual, likely due to the variety of colourful attires. Most students had opted for dress robes, but quite a few, including Catherine, had chosen Muggle clothes, especially the girls who could experiment with various styles of dresses. James was wearing a brown Muggle blazer and jeans, paired with sneakers. The young witch suspected he was trying to copy Greg's style, and although he did look nice, he seemed a bit uncomfortable.
Sirius had been planning on a much more casual look. However, to his disappointment, his mother had sent him a package containing luxurious black robes with the Black family's crest embroidered on the front. The package was accompanied by a very stern letter regarding Sirius' duties as the heir of the family, which for some reason included him wearing that exact set of robes. The young wizard was annoyed and sulky for days after receiving his 'costume' but nevertheless obeyed his parents. Despite his initial reluctance, he still looked incredibly handsome; the cut was flattering, and the fabric appeared very expensive.
"Shall we go?" – Remus asked, nervously scanning the people around – "Peter and Nora have already left, and we're going to meet downstairs."
"Yeah, I'm not waiting for the girls, I think it will take them a while." – Catherine nodded.
"Why exactly were you not invited to the seventh-years' dormitory and had to use ours?" – asked James, glancing at the staircase leading to the girls' bedrooms.
"Because they didn't have enough space." – the black-haired girl smirked as they headed towards the exit of the Gryffindor Tower – "But in reality, because Patricia Rakepick hates me."
"Why? She's a cool gal!" – Sirius asked, surprised.
"Who knows." – the witch shrugged, although she did suspect it had something to do with Sirius. The red-headed seventh-year had always been quite friendly with him and wasn't one to share the attention of any boy.
"Her loss! You look gorgeous, and we're going to have a blast!" – James said, throwing his arm around Catherine's shoulders as they walked through the festively decorated corridors of Hogwarts, adorned with cobwebs and levitating candles.
"Don't forget she's not only your date!" – Sirius laughed, jokingly pulling the girl away from James.
"Save it for when there are more people around." – Catherine smirked sarcastically, freeing herself from Sirius' arms – "The gossips will go wild after tonight."
"Don't worry baby, everything will turn out alright!" – Sirius hummed, prompting the black-haired girl to burst into laughter.
"The last thing I expected from you is to know about The Beach Boys!" – she stated with amusement.
"I like Muggle music. It's very refreshing." – he grinned as they reached the Entrance Hall, which looked like a spooky cave, opened both to the Great Hall and the school grounds.
"Everybody's staring at Flame." – Remus noted as the four of them walked slowly towards the bright lights, radiating from the Great Hall.
"Good!" – Sirius snickered - "After all, it's a 'season of the witch.' Perfect time to let the sparks fly!"
The girl raised an eyebrow, clearly impressed. "Donovan too? You're full of surprises tonight, Sirius."
Sirius winked. "I'm just getting started."
Lily Evans closed the door of her dormitory. Mary was set with enough snacks and drinks for the night and she was feeling a bit better, managing to even compliment her bright yellow dress. Taking a deep breath, Lily entered the Common Room where Greg was waiting for her, dressed in exquisite silvery grey dress robes that made the blue of his eyes stand out even more. He smiled charmingly the moment he saw her, and the red-headed girl felt a bit dizzy, her stomach fluttering with butterflies.
"You look mesmerising!" – Greg complimented her, offering his arm. Blushing furiously, Lily smiled in return, trying to ignore the eyes directed at them.
"I checked on Mary. She seems fine, so we can go now." – the young witch said, adding nervously – "You also look very handsome. This colour suits you!"
"Thanks, it's something my mom made for me." – the wizard replied as they left the Gryffindor Tower, heading downstairs.
"I still can't believe your mom actually owns Sorcerié!" – Lily giggled, admiring the grey fabric that seemed to radiate its own light.
"She has a few brands, but that's the one she puts the most effort into." – the boy shrugged – "She's quite an artist. I do hope I can be as good as her one day."
"You never showed me your paintings!" – Lily protested with a playful sulk – "I'd love to see them!"
"Well, most of them are at home. I don't have much time to paint here with Quidditch, Prefect duties and school work." – Greg admitted with a hint of sadness in his voice – "Not to mention all the duties I have as the heir of my House."
"That sounds like quite a lot indeed." – the young witch replied gently – "How's the elemental magic coming along?"
"I'm learning a lot, but it's hard." – the boy admitted – "Once you grasp the basics, like opening yourself to your element and extracting the soul of the water, it's all about mastering control and doing more complex things with your power. But I can't complain too much. It's necessary for me to protect my family, and at least I don't get sick anymore when using elemental magic."
"That sounds scary." – Lily almost whispered, surprisingly taking hold of Greg's hand and giving it an encouraging squeeze – "Is your family in any danger?"
The young aristocrat paused for a second, gazing into Lily's stunning emerald-green eyes. For the first time, he felt tempted to share his burden with her, but he quickly dismissed the thought. Not only could this put Catherine in danger, but Lily would also become a potential target, recognised as someone too close to the McMahons and their secrets.
"The usual intrigues and schemes. It's a big game that everyone plays but nobody really understands the reason for." – he shook his head – "It's not a great topic for a fun occasion. Did you know they've transformed the school grounds into an enchanted garden, and the Quidditch Pitch is now a labyrinth? You can win a prize if you find the exit within thirty minutes."
"Really?" – the witch exclaimed excitedly – "How do you know?"
"I met Professor Thorne earlier today about my homework, and he told me." – the boy grinned confidently.
"You're really the teacher's pet!" – Lily teased him playfully.
"Not sure about that." – Greg answered, amused at the memory of how irritated Carsilion had been after reading his essay about the duel the Marquess had with Greg's mother – "Aside from Slughorn, I don't think the other teachers really care about my status, which is honestly very refreshing."
"They're all great!" – the red-headed girl smiled – "Although Slughorn can be a bit overwhelming. He held me for ten minutes after class when I asked him about a modification in the Calming Draught's recipe that Severus suggested. He went on and on, and the worst part was that it wasn't even about the potion! He exhausted the topic in the first two minutes and then proceeded to tell me how he felt robbed of the opportunity to throw his Halloween Party. He's so busy he'll only be able to organise one for Christmas."
"Thank the Founders!" – Greg chuckled as the two Gryffindors reached the Entrance Hall, where Frank Longbottom, Benjy Fenwick, and Thaddeus Hart were already waiting for their respective dates. Waving at his friends, Greg confidently led Lily towards the group of fifth-years when suddenly a figure dressed in black blocked their way.
"I knew it!" – Severus Snape hissed, his face contorted with rage. He appeared ghostly pale, almost inhuman. His black eyes were so dark that if Greg didn't know better, he would have thought he was an Earth Mage.
"Sev?" – Lily mumbled, clearly embarrassed as many people turned to watch them with a visible interest – "Why do you look so angry? I thought we talked about this already, and you said you were fine!"
"Sure…" – the boy sneered sarcastically – "Except you forgot to mention that you rejected my invitation because I'm not up to your standards, which I must say appear to be extremely high!"
"Excuse me!" – Lily snapped, her eyes flashing with fury – "What's that even supposed to mean?"
"Isn't it obvious?" – Snape laughed bitterly – "How can I compete with the fucking heir of Hogwarts?! I've never thought gold, looks and blood status were so important for you, being a Muggle-born! Silly me! I should have known there's no way you'd go to the Ball with someone who doesn't even have a proper set of dress robes!"
"None of this is true, and you know it!" – Lily exclaimed, her face as red as her hair – "And how dare you accuse me of being a gold digger? Do you think I owe you a date to the Ball just because we're friends?!"
"Of course not." – Snape shook his head, his whole body now radiating desperation rather than anger – "I knew you'd be ashamed to be seen with me. I just hoped against hope our friendship would make those things less important. But I guess I was wrong. Enjoy your… date!"
With that, the Slytherin turned around, his black school robes swirling around him as he almost ran towards the Dungeons.
"I'm so sorry…" – Lily apologised to Greg – "I don't understand what got into him! This is unacceptable, and I won't tolerate it. I'm mortified it happened in front of you!"
"It's ok." – Greg smiled at her – "I didn't want to interfere in the relationship with your… friends, but if you want my honest opinion, that was a deranged level of self-pity!"
"You're right." – the red-headed girl stated, tossing her hair back – "I've never seen anyone so determined to dig themselves into a pit of misery!"
'You think this is bad? Count yourself lucky you don't have to deal with Catherine's self-pity! It's a wonder she and Snape don't get along, considering how similar they are sometimes.' – Greg thought with a smile.
The enchanted ceiling of the Great Hall mirrored the night sky, a shimmering array of stars and a crescent moon casting a silvery glow over the entire premise. The long house tables were replaced by a single, enormous table draped in rich black velvet. It stretched the length of the hall and was adorned with centrepieces featuring flickering candles, tiny pumpkins, and enchanted roses glowing with an ethereal light.
The walls were decorated with moving tapestries depicting haunted forests and misty graveyards, where spectral figures danced and swayed to the silent music of the night. Floating jack-o'-lanterns bobbed above the table, their carved faces displaying a variety of expressions, from menacing grins to whimsical smiles. A large space in the centre of the hall was cleared for a dance floor, where an orchestra of ghost musicians played hauntingly beautiful melodies. The floor itself was enchanted to resemble a swirling mist, giving the impression that the dancers were gliding over a cloud of fog.
At the far end of the room, the staff table was transformed into a grand dais, flanked by tall candelabras with black candles that burned with a soft, flickering light. Professors in their finest attire looked on, their faces illuminated by the eerie glow. Professor McGonagall, dressed in a set of beautiful silk green robes which were a bit more fitting than she usually wore, was laughing to something that Carter Thorne had just said, holding a steaming silver goblet.
Catherine and the boys arrived just in time to witness Dumbledore giving a welcoming speech, his blue eyes twinkling behind his crescent spectacles as he explained the fun events and features he and the teachers had designed for the students. Wishing everyone a happy Halloween, the Headmaster clapped his hands, and the long table was suddenly laden with mouthwatering foods and drinks. There were pumpkin pasties, sausages wrapped in crispy pastry and cleverly shaped like spiders with edible pretzel legs, creamy mashed potatoes piped into ghost shapes with black olive slices for eyes and mouths, cauldron cakes, blood-red punch, butterbeers, and many other delectable treats.
While Sirius and James were raiding the food, Catherine and Remus joined Peter and Nora, who were enthusiastically discussing the upcoming Pumpkin Carving competition scheduled for later in the evening.
"I hope you like stuffed acorn squash because I brought you plenty!" – Sirius announced, handing Catherine a full plate along with a glass of pumpkin juice.
"Really? Even today…" – the girl moaned, staring at the generous amount of food.
"Every day until you stop looking like a twig." – Sirius said confidently, his grey eyes sparkling with mischief.
"Thank you! The compliments do be wild tonight!" – Catherine snorted sarcastically.
"You think this is bad?" – James chuckled – "If you don't get a bit chubbier by Christmas, my mom's going to stuff you with gingerbread wizards and roasted goose until they start coming out of your ears."
"First of all, I haven't said I'd come to your place for Christmas, and second, why would your mom do such a thing to me?" – the witch asked, laughing.
"First of all, yes, you're coming for Christmas! And second, I've told mom everything about you and she's looking forward to meeting you." – James grinned.
"Oh, Merlin!" – the girl sighed.
"Don't be so dramatic!" – the hazel-eyed wizard winked at her – "Unlike Sirius' dear mommy, mine actually thinks you're 'absolutely adorable' and would welcome you sincerely!"
"Why do you need to mention my mother?" – Sirius groaned, clearly annoyed.
"Hey, it's Halloween! Shouldn't we be telling each other scary stories about monsters?" – James exclaimed, causing the group to burst into laughter.
At this moment, Catherine noticed Lily and Greg entering the Great Hall, attracting a lot of stares. The girl thought they did look great together, their outfits matching in a sort of sun-and-moon couple's costume. However, James's growl quickly brought her attention back to her friends. Acting on impulse, she grabbed his hand and dragged him to the dance floor, which was relatively empty, the ghost band playing a quick and catchy melody.
"Don't forget you're my date and I was promised entertainment." – she demanded, overly cheerfully.
"I wasn't planning on making a scene, you know." – James responded sulkily. Nevertheless, he caught the lively tempo and spun Catherine around. The two friends had great fun trying to synchronise their steps, which the black-haired girl thought worked to a certain extent despite the giggles of their classmates dancing nearby.
"If you're done with your aerobics, mate, it's my turn." – Sirius chuckled as he joined them on the dancefloor just in time for the next song, which turned out to be a slow one. James winked at his buddy and disappeared towards the refreshments table, leaving a very nervous Catherine to be immediately swooped into Sirius' arms.
The girl felt uncertain about where to look and tried to observe the other dancing couples, ignoring the wizard's hand on her waist. She appreciated how effortlessly Sirius guided her, and for the first time, felt thankful for the countless hours her mother had spent teaching her the necessary skills for a lady in high society. Despite hating the dance lessons, she realised that without the practice, she would have likely lost her balance and made a fool of herself in her current state of mental confusion.
"You might want to relax. I don't want these heels of yours piercing my foot." – Sirius chuckled in her ear, prompting her to look him in the eyes.
'He does have a charming smile.' – Catherine thought, feeling the blood rush to her face.
"It's just a dance, silly!" – he grinned, which surprisingly made a huge part of the tension leave her body.
'What's wrong with me? This is Sirius. It's hardly the first time he's touched me despite how many times I've told him not to.' – the witch mused, finally smiling back as they moved in perfect synch.
Suddenly, as the boy twirled Catherine in a slow, elegant spin, they unexpectedly bumped into another dancing couple. The black-haired girl glanced at them, ready to apologise, and noticed it was Regulus Black and Lucinda Talkalot, who wore so much jewellery it was a miracle she could move at all.
"Watch where you're going!" – Sirius snapped with disdain – "What would Mom say if she saw you dirtying yourself by bumping into impure strangers?"
Regulus skittishly glanced at Catherine, and she thought she saw regret rather than anger in his eyes. He hesitated for a moment, then promptly led his dance partner in the opposite direction.
"You know, I don't think he's that bad. He's your brother, after all." – Catherine noted as they bowed to each other with the last chords of the song – "It seems to me that Regulus is rather misguided and easy to sway. Perhaps…"
"Let's not ruin our evening." – Sirius interrupted impatiently – "Do you want to grab a drink?"
The girl decided it was pointless to discuss the topic any further, so she simply shrugged and joined Remus and James while Sirius went to fetch her the promised drink and calm his irritation.
"What's the joke?" – the young witch asked Remus and James, who were laughing wholeheartedly.
"That pickle-brain Vincent Crabbe came to mock us for being so desperate we share a date." – James replied, wiping his eyes behind the glasses – "So we told him that there were fewer girls than boys at school and that a witch with a date had to accept additional invitations so no one feels left out, and only the first invitation was her choice. And then, that knobhead went straight to Lavinia Nott, demanding his rights as a wizard."
"Really?" – Catherine exclaimed in disbelief, looking around, curious to see Crabbe's face.
"Yeah, we were amazed too." – Remus chuckled – "Malachi Selwyn who was with Lavinia, couldn't close his mouth for a whole minute, then dragged him out of the castle. I presume Vincent's not coming back tonight."
"We should go check out the Labyrinth they made on the Quidditch Pitch!" – Sirius suggested, returning with a few butterbeers he handed to his friends – "I'm also curious about this Scary Garden set up around the lake. I bet there's some scary creatures roaming around!"
"Scarier than her? I doubt it!" - Volumnia Travers' unpleasant voice interrupted the young wizard's excited monologue.
"What the hell do you want?" – Catherine asked, feeling tired of dealing with Slytherins and their nonsense.
"Nothing in particular, Mudblood." – the other girl replied with a smug smile – "Everyone's talking about how shameless you are to go on a date with all three of your buddies. I told them it's astounding you didn't make Pettigrew invite you as well! People are saying MacDonald's a slut, but she had just a few pictures with one guy. I'm sure you have an album by now!"
Catherine's face flushed, and she trembled with anger. She hated Volumnia since her second year, and while the Gryffindor could soldier through all the rumours spread about her, involving Mary was a low blow.
"So what?" – Sirius responded before the black-haired girl could reach for her wand – "You're such a perv you came to ask for a signed copy of that album? Or is it because you want to disperse the rumours about you and Tullia?"
The Slytherin's face turned pale. She murmured something incomprehensible, turned around, and marched out of the Great Hall.
"There!" – Sirius grinned – "That should keep her quiet for a while."
Catherine, however, was not listening to him. Her eyes were scanning the people around, and she noticed quite a few glancing in their direction, obviously gossiping. She saw Marianne nearby and smiled at her, but the Hufflepuff didn't smile back. She just glared at Sirius and turned away.
"Maybe we should go outside now." – suggested James, his eyes fixed on Lily and Greg dancing.
"Let's go, but we need to return for the pumpkin carving competition." – Sirius agreed and the four of them left the castle and headed towards the Quidditch Pitch.
The teachers had definitely put a lot of effort into the Ball. The Quidditch Pitch was completely transformed to a Labyrinth, made from thick, high bushes. Silver mist hung everywhere, reflecting the fade light of the crescent moon. From within, creepy noises echoed, mixed with the occasional scream and giggles of students attempting to find the exit at the far end of the field.
"Alright! Shall we go together or make it a competition?" – asked Sirius impatiently, his fingers tapping the small silver gadget set at the entrance to stamp participants' starting times.
"I feel like wiping this smug smirk off your face." – said James cockily – "I bet I'll get out first!"
Catherine shook her head helplessly. She wasn't particularly interested in competing but was willing to compromise for her friends' fun. So, the four of them entered the green depths of the Labyrinth and quickly separated in search of the correct route. The young witch didn't have a particular plan, so she took random turns, hoping her intuition would lead her in the right direction. She encountered a few living bats and a black cat, but so far, the scariest thing was the sound of her own footsteps in the darkness.
Taking yet another right turn, she bumped into a tall, dark figure. "It appears we're both lost." – Remus chuckled as he gently grabbed Catherine's upper arm to steady her after the impact.
"At least we'll be lost together." – she smiled at her friend – "It gets boring pretty quickly. I expected something a bit more dangerous than a couple of bats."
"Well, I guess you don't count literally bumping into a werewolf." – the boy replied with a grin.
"Considering how far we're from the full moon, my Kneazle would be more of a scare than you, Moony." – Catherine giggled as they walked past a big, withered tree.
"There goes my bad boy persona." – Remus smirked, amused.
"You don't need one." – the witch replied gently – "I like you just the way you are."
Taking a left turn, the Gryffindors found themselves at one of the side exits, meaning they needed to return and find the correct path if they wanted the prize available only at the main exit. However, they were no longer alone. Two girls stood near the torches illuminating the archway, arguing about something. As they turned towards the newcomers, Catherine almost moaned in despair, recognising Narcissa and Bellatrix Black. Before she could decide what to do, Bella swiftly closed the distance between them, her dark eyes full of anger.
"How dare you eavesdrop on us, you filthy Mudblood!?"
"You're the ones talking in a public place. I don't give a damn about your conversation." – the fourth-year girl replied, her hand clutching her wand hidden in an internal pocket of her skirt.
"Don't get smart with me!" – the other witch hissed – "My stupid cousin is not here to protect you."
"But I am." – Remus intervened quietly but firmly.
"So?" – the younger of the Black sisters laughed – "You're nobody – a step above a Mudblood, but you're certainly not worthy of even being in the same room as pure-blood witches like us."
"Good thing we don't plan on staying." – Catherine responded, taking Remus' hand in an attempt to leave before a fight broke out.
"Indeed, you must be busy." – the fifth-year Slytherin chuckled lowly – "Take an advice though – stick to this one. He's the best you can hope for. Sirius is out of your league, and your plan will never work. Aunt Walburga would rather disown him than accept a Mudblood into our family."
With that, Bellatrix headed back into the Labyrinth, Narcissa quickly following her without even sparing a glance at the Gryffindors.
"Are you alright, Flame?" – Remus asked, concerned.
"I'm fine, Moony." – she replied, her voice trembling a bit – "It's just so hard to remain thick-skinned when you're constantly under attack."
"Let's get out of here!" – the boy suggested – "Screw the prize, we're lost anyway."
Catherine nodded slightly, and they left the Labyrinth, heading back towards the castle. The Scary Garden, which occupied most of the grounds in front of the school and spread towards the Black Lake, turned out to be surprisingly nice. There wasn't anything truly scary about it, just dim blue lights and autumn decor that looked quite sorrowful under the moonlight.
"Do you want to rest for a little bit?" – Remus suggested, gesturing towards one of the small stone benches facing the lake, designed to resemble gravestones.
"Yeah, let's sit for a while. These heels were not made for such adventures." – the girl sighed, reclining on the bench.
"I can imagine." – Remus smiled, sitting next to his friend – "At least the view is enjoyable."
"It is." – the witch confirmed, touched by Moony's clumsy attempt at small talk – "Also, no people around. It must be nice for you."
"It's not that I don't like people. I just prefer them in moderation." – the wizard stated, gazing at the moon, a shadow crossing his handsome features.
"Does the moon bother you?" – Catherine asked concerned, observing the change in her friend's expression.
"No, it's fine now." – the boy smiled sadly – "It just always terrifies me when I see it. It's subconscious, I guess. It makes me sick even thinking about it. You can't imagine how awful it feels when you slowly lose control over yourself, to the point where you have nothing left."
"I can imagine it better than you think." – the young witch mumbled, lowering her gaze, her hand instinctively reaching for her braid, which was no longer there.
"I don't think so." – Remus disagreed, taking a deep breath – "I mean, being stigmatised because of your abilities is one thing, but in your case, it's just pure prejudice. In my case, people are right to isolate and fear me. Werewolves are dangerous! You know, I still fight it. Every single time! But no matter what I do, I always end up dragged into the darkness—completely terrified by the evil I'm capable of."
Catherine felt her heart clench. Remus' words resonated deep within her very soul. She desperately yearned to tell him the truth, to share her own fears with him and finally feel she was not alone. Biting her lower lip, the witch gently took the boy's hand, prompting him to look at her.
"I'm not afraid of you, Moony." – she said, almost in a whisper – "I know how scary it all feels, but I'm never going to give up on you."
"Thank you." – Remus said, his amber eyes full of tenderness – "I know Sirius keeps saying that the two of you have a special bond, but I do believe we also share one. It probably sounds stupid, but I've always felt we had much more in common than it seems on the surface… I don't know, it's like you understand even the darkest parts of me. I wouldn't change it for the world."
Catherine leaned forward. Before Remus could realise what was happening, her soft, warm lips pressed against his. Time seemed to stop. The familiar scent of lemon grass and apple blossoms fogged all his senses, making him feel dizzy. His hand moved to cradle the back of Catherine's head, fingers tangling in her hair, as his lips moved gently against hers. His heart pounded wildly as the girl's mouth opened slightly like a rosebud, her burningly hot tongue slowly exploring the boy's lower lip. With tremendous effort, Remus pulled himself away from the young witch, trying to catch his breath and collect his chaotic thoughts. She opened her jade-green eyes, staring at him in clear confusion and embarrassment.
"Moony… I…" – she started, but couldn't find the right words to finish her sentence.
"Flame… I can't." – he said quietly, avoiding her gaze.
"I'm sorry. I know I'm probably not very good at that, but I… I thought we could be together as more than friends… I don't know…" – the girl mumbled, flushing red to the roots of her hair.
"I don't think this is going to end up well for any of us. It's better if we just pretend it didn't happen and move on." – Remus stated, finally regaining his composure. He felt remorseful for turning down probably one of the most amazing girls he had ever met, who for whatever reason, was actually interested in him. However, he knew deep down that he wouldn't be able to cope with the intensity of someone as emotional as Catherine Plantier. He wasn't willing to risk their friendship for a relationship that would likely end in disaster. He couldn't put his best friend through the stigma of being associated with a werewolf, let alone the danger of actually being with one. No woman deserved that, and he had long decided to spend his life single. Furthermore, he was not unaware of Sirius's feelings towards Catherine and would never betray him in such a manner, regardless of how good it felt to hold and kiss her.
Fighting tears of humiliation, Catherine swiftly stood up from the bench, avoiding Remus' eyes. "Okay, no problem. It was silly of me to think you'd like me in that way. I apologise for any discomfort or unpleasantness my actions have caused you."
"Wait!" – Remus exclaimed, taken aback by his friend's words – "This is not what I meant. I just think this is better than ending up hurting each other."
"Of course. I know you can't force yourself to like me." – the young witch attempted to smile without much success – "I want to be alone."
With that, she turned around and ran towards the castle, leaving the very worried and distressed Remus alone, wondering whether there was a way back to where they had been just ten minutes ago.
Running in high heels required skill and stamina that Catherine didn't possess at that moment. She tripped over something and fell face-first to the ground, lying there without much desire to stand up. The girl felt heartbroken. Her first kiss had felt amazing, only to end in complete disaster and disappointment.
'It was a pity date after all.' – she thought gloomily – 'They all just felt sorry for their ugly, undatable friend. I can't believe I was so delusional to assume Moony would want to kiss me and to be something more than a friend! What was I even thinking? Now, on top of everything, I've ruined our friendship!"
Sinking deeper and deeper into her despair, Catherine slammed her fist on the ground, attempting to release some of the frustration and anger towards herself that were burning her inside. Feeling stupid, humiliated, disappointed, and scared all at once, the young witch slowly got back to her feet, thinking that her fragile self-esteem couldn't bear someone encountering her in such a miserable state.
"Flame?" – she heard James' voice. Turning around, she saw him standing no more than five paces away, his face filled with concern.
"How long have you been there?" – the girl asked, trying to sound cheerful.
"Long enough." – the boy said, quickly approaching her, taking out a handkerchief and gently cleaning a dirt spot from Catherine's cheek – "What happened? We waited for a while after we exited the Labyrinth, but you and Moony didn't show up. So Sirius hurried off to the pumpkin carving contest, and I started looking for you both. Did you have a fight with the Slytherins again?"
"I wish that was the problem." – the young witch mumbled, lifting her eyes to meet James' – "I kissed Remus."
"What?" – the boy exclaimed, completely taken aback – "Why? No, I mean… do you like him? I didn't know the two of you…"
"I don't know why." – Catherine said miserably – "I just acted upon how I felt. And of course I like him, but I'm not sure if it's the kind of like that leads to a relationship. I don't know, James! I really screwed up! He rejected me. He said it was better to pretend it never happened. I don't understand. I thought the kiss was good, but I must have been mistaken."
"He kissed you back?" – James asked, feeling increasingly uncomfortable and nervous about the impact of what his friends had done.
"Yes, for a while, but as I said he made it clear there couldn't be anything between us but friendship… which I'm not even certain is possible anymore." – Catherine murmured desperately, her eyes filling with tears again – "James, what have I done?! I destroyed everything between Remus and me, and now I feel like a complete trash! Maybe Slytherins were right after all! Who would have wanted an ugly trollop like me?"
"Enough of the pity party already!" – James snapped, then softened his tone immediately – "I don't think you destroyed anything. I'm sure Moony's going to be as good a friend to you as before. It's not the end of the world that you kissed. I mean… we're teenagers! I'm confused and randy most of the day, but I don't stress about it!"
"Eww…" – Catherine exclaimed, fighting the laughter budding despite her tears.
"You started the topic!" – the young wizard grinned – "Seriously though, you're aware that Remus has a lot of issues at home and with… you know, his furry little problem. I kind of understand why he would have rejected you even if he liked you. You're not ugly, and stop listening to those hags! It's just complicated."
"I know you're right but it still stinks to be turned down." – the girl said, lowering her head.
"Hah! It gets easier after the tenth time!" – James laughed, handing his friend a Chocolate Frog – "Here! This is what's left from my Labyrinth prize. See if chocolate doesn't make you feel a bit better."
"Thanks!" – Catherine smiled and took a bite of the treat – "Let's go and see those pumpkins. How's my makeup?"
"Hideous but it's suitable for Halloween." – the boy teased her as they headed towards the castle – "Catherine, I think it's better if you don't tell Sirius about this."
"I wasn't exactly planning to." – the witch responded, finishing the Chocolate Frog.
"Good, because you and Remus will probably be fine, but their friendship will take quite a hit if Sirius finds out what happened between you and Moony." – James stated, his expression very serious.
"I won't say a word." – Catherine confirmed – "It's not exactly a story I'd like to be told. Plus, I have more than enough drama in my life without his big brother jealousy hissy fits!"
James stared at his friend in utter disbelief as they navigated through the crowd, making their way to the dais where the participants in the pumpkin carving competition were hard at work on their masterpieces.
'How can she be so clueless?!' – he thought, looking for a suitable place to watch Sirius working over his pumpkin – 'I need to talk with Remus too. This could turn into a huge issue. I can't believe they kissed and he rejected her… On the other hand, it would have been even a bigger mess if they had gotten together! And I thought our greatest problem this year would be winning the Quidditch Cup.'
At this moment, the competition ended, and after a brief deliberation, the judges - Dumbledore, Hagrid and Professor Flitwick - announced Thalia Fawcett as the winner and Sirius Black as the runner-up.
"I think you were both equally good." – Catherine tried to console her disappointed friend, carefully studying the Muggle motorbike he had carved with intricate details.
"They probably deducted points because of all the blood you smeared over the pumpkin." – James chuckled, earning a disapproving growl from Sirius.
"The knife was not easy to handle, and I did my best!" – he complained – "If I weren't in such a hurry, I wouldn't have destroyed my hands."
Catherine glanced at the numerous cuts on Sirius' fingers and sighed. She took his hands in her own, ignoring his surprised gasp, and concentrated. Soft blue light engulfed their cupped palms, and in less than a minute, there wasn't even a scar left.
"What was that?" – James asked, his eyes wide with surprise.
"A little something Dumbledore taught me." – Catherine responded with a smile – "It's a form of ancient magic, and it does come in handy, as you see."
"You're incredible!" – Sirius proclaimed with a huge grin, looking at his clear skin.
"Apparently that's not enough." – the witch murmured, deciding it was time to return to the Gryffindor Tower, as the Ball was about to end. They met Remus in the Entrance Hall, who stumbled upon some inaudible excuse. Sirius didn't think much of it, as he was busy praising his friend's amazing healing powers and discussing all the things he liked and didn't like about the Halloween Ball. James and Catherine were both relieved that they didn't need to participate actively in the conversation, while Remus walked beside them in complete silence, his gaze fixed on the floor.
The young witch felt extremely anxious being so close to him again, with memories of the kiss and the rejection playing on repeat in her mind, making her both angry and sad.
"May I borrow your Invisibility cloak?" – the girl quietly asked James as they entered the Common Room – "I need to clear my head."
James nodded slightly and brought the folded silvery cloak from his room, opening the portrait for her and whispering as she left. "Be careful!"
Hogwarts was very different at night. Without the constant chatter and laughter of the students, every corridor was filled with crawling shadows and odd noises. Despite this, Catherine felt completely free roaming around undisturbed under the protective shield of invisibility. She didn't encounter anyone on her way and finally reached her destination—the Astronomy Tower.
The cold night air made the girl shudder a bit. Her dress provided little protection against the wind constantly present at the highest point of the castle. She removed the cloak and walked to the edge of the tower, staring at the dark sky decorated with countless stars.
'It must be nice to fly in such a night.' – the fourth-year thought, immersing in the tranquillity of the moment – 'Sometimes I wish I were an Air Mage. Then I could soar for hours, without worrying about anything down on the ground.'
After spending a good half an hour dreaming of escaping reality, Catherine finally put the Invisibility Cloak back on and headed back towards the Gryffindor Tower. She felt a little better, the fresh night air calming her burning emotions and helping her reach a state of numb exhaustion in which she didn't care about anything. Her first kiss seemed like a distant blend of dream and memory.
As she walked along the empty, dimly-lit corridors, she briefly thought she should have also asked for the map to check if anyone was around, as her heels made some noise despite her attempts to walk lightly. As if to prove her point, Mrs. Norris appeared out of nowhere, her ears twitching restlessly as she sniffed around, coming closer and closer to the young witch, who had stopped dead in her tracks near a big window facing the Black Lake.
'Fuck! That's what I need – another chase with Filch around the castle!' – Catherine thought, annoyed, seriously considering whether she should stun the cat. That ended up being unnecessary, as the animal's attention was drawn by approaching footsteps and voices. A few small light orbs appeared around the corner, levitating at different heights, followed by Professor Thorne and Professor McGonagall, who were chatting lively. Thorne's eyes glowed silver, and the Gryffindor immediately held her breath, though it seemed her teacher was hardly interested in anything but the witch next to him. She was laughing wholeheartedly, looking much younger and happier than Catherine had ever seen her. Her whole face was glowing, and her smile was infectious.
"It was still a rather pleasant celebration." – Thorne stated with a smirk, approached the place where the fourth-year was standing – "Merlin, it's this blasted cat again! Filch may deny all he wants, but this animal trails me all the time. Shoo!"
"She does it with all of us." – McGonagall said, watching Mrs Norris' tail disappear around the corner – "But you must understand she's all that Argus has. We need to be more accommodating to his kind."
"I get that, but sometimes one wants to be alone when patrolling, especially at night." – the DADA Professor responded, his voice suddenly dropping a pitch.
"And why's that?" – the Head of Gryffindor asked almost innocently, before she found herself pressed against the stone wall, next to the window, just a few metres away from Catherine, who was staring wide-eyed at the scene in front of her.
"Well, one reason that comes to mind is that it's hard to do something like this while the bloody cat's watching." – the wizard purred seductively, his arm wrapping around McGonagall's waist.
"It's not funny, Carter!" – the witch attempted to pull away – "I know you're very experienced in flirting and all, but I am not into these kinds of games. We're both adults and colleagues. It's not professional, and I don't want my heart to be broken."
"Do you think I have any malicious intent towards you, Minerva?" – Thorne asked, releasing his grip and giving the Head of Gryffindor a bit of space so she could strengthen her clothes and regain her composure.
"No, not inherently." – McGonagall answered, the light from the globes flickering on her flushed face – "However, I know it's inevitable if I allow myself to succumb to your charm. I understand this is my problem, but I've seen how most witches look at you, even some students. I can't compete, and honestly, I don't want to. My life has been dedicated to this school for quite a while, and I don't plan on changing anything."
"I'm not asking you to change anything for me." – the wizard stated slowly, as if he was searching for the right words – "My own life is way too complicated, and I can't and won't promise you anything. I think I've always been honest about this. However, I want you to remember something: you don't need to compete with anyone. Yes, you're completely right, I've had many lovers in the past, but what I feel towards you… it's different. It's understandable that you don't trust me on that, but since I met you, you've always been on my mind, no matter where I go or who I'm with. I won't make any advances on you, and nothing will change between us. We'll continue to be friends and colleagues who like and respect each other. Just know that you're absolutely brilliant and beautiful, and there are very few women who can even come close to how special you are."
"Carter…" – the witch whispered, her hand gently cupping his face.
All at once, the light globes disappeared, but the moonlight streaming through the window was sufficient for Catherine to see her DADA teacher wrap his arms around the slender witch and hungrily kissed her. The fourth-year felt her face flushed, but she couldn't tear her gaze away. The primal moan that escaped from the Transfiguration teacher resonated through every fibre of the girl's body. There wasn't even a slight resemblance to the innocent kiss she and Remus had shared earlier. This was a needy, passionate expression of bottled up lust and feelings that had remained undisclosed for far too long.
"My quarters are on the seventh floor, close to the Gryffindor Tower." – McGonagall mumbled breathlessly.
"Are you sure?" – Thorne asked, praying to every divine entity that she'd answer affirmatively.
"I'm sure." – the witch replied with a small giggle – "I'm also sure it's a terrible idea, but I'm tired of always doing what's right."
"Well then, you're about to do someone who's wrong in many ways." – Thorne laughed, picking her up effortlessly and disappearing around the corner.
It took quite a while for Catherine to move. She was shocked and embarrassed by what she had witnessed, and at the same time, she was terrified to realise she actually wanted to see more. Shaking her head vigorously, she sprinted towards the Gryffindor Tower, entering the completely empty Common Room. Folding James's cloak, the fourth-year climbed the stairs to the girls' dormitory, eager to relax in her bed. She snuggled under the blanket and tried to block out all the memories from the night that were flooding her restless mind. Her last thought before falling asleep was that Remus's lips tasted like the caramel apple he had during the Ball, and that Carter Thorne pinning McGonagall against the stone wall was the most erotic thing she had ever seen.
High, vaulted ceilings with dark, wooden beams carved with ancient runes loomed above stone walls adorned with rich, animated tapestries. A grand four-poster bed with velvet curtains embroidered in protective charms dominated one side, while a large, ornately carved fireplace with flames dancing in hues of blue and green provides warmth and light. Tall, narrow stained glass windows let in soft, natural light that casts colourful patterns on the stone floor, and tall bookcases filled with leather-bound tomes on magical theory and ancient spells reach up to the ceiling.
Behind an intricately carved wooden desk cluttered with parchments and enchanted quills, a blond wizard in his thirties was reading a letter with a deep scowl on his face. He lifted his ocean-blue eyes from the parchment as a petite brunette entered the bedroom, carrying a silver tray with a pitcher and a goblet.
"I thought you might want something refreshing."- Duchess Annabella McMahon said, placing the tray on top of the desk and smiling at her husband.
"Thank you, Anna." – Duke David McMahon replied, exhaustion evident in his voice.
"Did you receive any news from Her Grace?" – the witch asked softly.
"I did, but she doesn't know of any ritual that could help with Rosa's nightmares." – the man answered with a hint of desperation.
"How's that even possible?!" – Annabella cried helplessly – "All this knowledge and power of the seven Houses, and you're telling me there's no way to extract that thing from my sweet angel!?"
"We've been trying to find a solution for hundreds of years!" – David exclaimed, standing up and pacing around the room nervously – "And we're nowhere near making any progress. The truth is that we don't know what Morgana did and why. We only deal with the consequences of her greed. You know what those nightmares and the leaking magic mean, my wife… We don't have much time left. Once the demon starts invading her mind and transferring her power, there's no turning back."
"But she's only five!" – the witch sobbed, sinking to her knees – "We have to find a way to slow this down or at least lessen her suffering! She sees horrible visions even during the day now! Yesterday, she asked to meet her brothers, but I'm afraid they might be hurt by the leaking magic. It's so hard to disappoint my little girl when she asks for such small thing."
"It pains me to see her like this too." – the Duke said softly, kneeling next to his wife and embracing her – "But we have to be prepared that Rosamund is not going to be with us for much longer. We can't allow the demon to go berserk! This will only result in unnecessary deaths and suffering of innocent people!"
"What about our daughter? Isn't she innocent too?" – the woman wept uncontrollably in her husband's arms – "I can't bear the thought of losing her, David! I just can't!"
"Mommy!" – a faint cry reached the couple from the adjoined bedroom. The Duchess quickly rose to her feet and went to check on her daughter. The wizard also stood up and returned to his desk, picking up the letter Duchess Prince had sent him earlier.
A sudden scream sent chills through his veins. He quickly grabbed an old wooden box stored in a secret compartment of the nearest bookcase and took out the dagger inside, along with three vials that appeared to contain human blood. The aristocrat wasted no time and broke the glass containers. The dark red liquid splashed across the blade, which shimmered faintly. Darting towards Rosa's room, the wizard could sense raw waves of magic power that somehow felt filthy and wrong. A disturbing gurgling sound made him stop abruptly. He took out his wand and opened himself to the soul of the water as he entered the dim room where Rosa had been sleeping just a minute ago.
As his eyes got used to the darkness he spotted some movement, accompanied by a gruesome sound that became more clear with each cautioned step he took.
"Lumos!" – the Duke almost whispered, the light from his wand revealing a scene from his worst nightmares. Annabella was convulsing on the floor in a pool of blood spraying from the open wound on her neck. A small blond figure, dressed in white nightgown was kneeling next to the witch's head. Hearing the wizard's footsteps Rosa turned towards her father. The sweet innocent face of the child was unnaturally pale. Her otherwise blue eyes were now bright red and her pink lips were covered in blood. Rosa grinned maniacally revealing a set of sharp teeth.
The loud sound of apparition jolted David McMahon back to the painful reality in front of him. His knees gave way, and he would have hit the floor if not for the strong arm of Marquess John Whiters, who helped him back up.
"I didn't expect this to happen so soon." – the red-headed wizard growled, his eyes gleaming with red glow – "We need to take care of the demon first. You'll have time to mourn them later. Duty before all!"
"Duty before all!" – the Duke mumbled, clutching the Skyfall Athame in his trembling hand, as he was joined by Duchess Prince and Duke O'Dargan. The four aristocrats stepped forward, staring with hatred at Lady Rosamund McMahon who was still laughing, rocking back and forth above the corpse of her mother.
A/n I hoped you all enjoyed this chapter. I was looking forward to write it in quite some time! Also, thanks to everyone who follows the story and of course to those who share their feedback, I'm always enjoying your theories which may or may not be correct ;) Stay tuned for the impact of this very turbollent party!