Breakfast at Hogwarts was always a chaotic affair. Students darted in and out of the Great Hall, amidst the clatter of utensils, lively chatter, and laughter. As the mail arrived, owls of different colours swooped in, dropping packages and letters, their hoots blending with the bustling sounds of the morning.
Sirius Black sat at the Gryffindor table, his attention fixed on the Daily Prophet, a deep frown creasing his brow. The eggs and sausages on his plate had long grown cold, his foot tapping anxiously on the stone floor.
"Are you nervous about your Transfiguration essay?" – Remus asked casually, spooning more porridge into his bowl.
"What?" – the other wizard raised his eyes from the paper.
"It seems like something's weighing on your mind." – Remus remarked – "You're the only one not excited about the Halloween Ball."
"Oh? You want us to discuss outfits and hairstyles?" – Sirius smirked – "I think you'd rock a sparkling blue ensemble!"
"This reaction only proves I'm right, and you're avoiding the topic of what really bothers you." – the other Gryffindor remarked, unimpressed.
The grey-eyed boy sighed with exasperation, tossing the newspaper to his friend. "It's not about the stupid Ball. There are plenty of other things to worry about in this world!"
"Muggle-born witches involved in morally questionable activities? What's that supposed to mean?" – asked Remus, reading the headline.
"It means that some people at the Daily Prophet share that crazy bastard's beliefs, openly or not" – Sirius scoffed angrily – "If you read the article, you'd think that these witches, who complained after being assaulted by a group of wizards in black cloaks, actually invited them to their homes and seduced them 'due to the questionable moral values from growing up in Muggle society.' And then, they wanted to 'trap' those good, pure-blood wizards by fabricating lies to force them into marrying them!"
"This makes absolutely no sense." – the other boy stated, shaking his head.
"Of course it doesn't!" – Sirius hissed, slamming his fist on the table – "They're just trying to insinuate that these women were to blame and exploiting people's lack of understanding of the Muggle world to create division between us and them!"
"I understand that, but I'm not sure what we can do about it." – sighed Remus.
"We shall fight against these lies! We can't allow them to spread within the school!" – Sirius declared, standing up and grabbing his school bag – "I won't let our Muggle-born classmates be subjected to violence and humiliation, even if it means getting into serious trouble!"
"Where are you going?" – Moony asked, struggling to calm his friend. Dealing with intense emotions had always been challenging for him, especially with Sirius, James, and Catherine, as they often boiled over at least once a week.
"I need to find Flame." – the other Gryffindor replied curtly – "She's not wandering alone around the castle anymore! I'm serious this time and I don't care if she likes it or not!"
"Do you really think this is a good idea?" – Remus inquired, catching up with Sirius on his way out of the Great Hall – "You know how touchy she gets about her freedom. If you tell her she can't go alone around the castle, it's the most certain way to ensure she's doing it, just to prove you're wrong and piss you off! Besides, she's probably with James right now. They went out for a jog earlier this morning."
Sirius stopped hesitantly in front of the entrance. He knew Moony was probably right and he couldn't be too forceful with Catherine because she would immediately push back. The young wizard hated that feeling of utter helplessness in the face of imminent danger for his Muggle-born classmates, coupled with the unmistakable sense of disgust and self-loathing due to his own blood-status. His eyes quickly scanned the Gryffindor table, occupied by the happy and unsuspecting students engrossed in everyday concerns like homework, social life, and the latest gossip about the Nebula Nexus's lead singer. The boy's heart clenched with anxiety as he mentally listed all the Muggle-born witches and wizards who could become targets of the raging hatred in the Wizarding society – from Nora, currently happily sharing a toast with Peter, to Mary, looking distressed while whispering something into Gwyneth Jones' ear.
'I'll be damned if I allow anyone to harm them just to prove their supremacy! Not in our House, not in our school, not under my bloody watch!' – Sirius thought with determination, heading towards the Grounds to find Catherine and James, with Remus following, concern etched on his face.
"The fuck!" – James exclaimed, clearly irked as he stopped next to Catherine, who greeted him with a smug smile – "How did you get so fast? Must be because you're practically weightless now! Not fair!"
"Don't make excuses for being sloppy." – she retorted, giggling as the boy playfully tickled her sides – "Blimey, learn how to lose with dignity!"
"Why bother? I'm a born winner!" – James chuckled as they strolled leisurely around the Black Lake, pausing occasionally to stretch.
"What are you talking about? I've seen you lose plenty of times!" – the girl teased with a mischievous smile.
"Those are blatant fabrications!" – the wizard dramatically exhaled, winking at Catherine – "You know, my secret is to never give up!"
"Yeah, about that…" – the young witch trailed off, suddenly stopping and focusing on the ground, pondering how to broach a sensitive topic – "I wanted to talk to you about your behaviour towards Lily."
"Behaviour?" – James frowned, confusion flickering in his hazel eyes behind his round glasses – "I'm not sure I understand. I mean, if anyone needs to be lectured on behaviour, it's Evans! She's impossible! Just this week she called me a toerag twice!"
Struggling to maintain a serious expression, Catherine sighed deeply and gently took James by the arm. "Look, the thing is that… I know how much you like Lily, and honestly, I get it! She's gorgeous and funny, and kind – pretty much one of the most popular girls at school, and for a good reason! However, when you're around her, you turn into… for the lack of better term, a total dickhead."
"Excuse me?" – the boy snapped, his face reddening – "Are you serious right now? Isn't it enough that I need to put up with the stuck-up Evans and that aristocratic arse McMahon trailing her like a lost puppy, and now you're criticising me for trying to be friendly and looking out for my classmates?"
"Oh, please, cut the bullshit!" – Catherine retorted, unmoved by his outburst – "Even you know that the way you treat Lily isn't right. You're just too stubborn to admit it and too scared to show that you truly care because she might still reject you!"
"And who appointed you as the chief love chancellor?" – the young wizard responded angrily – "I don't see the boys at school lining up to go on a date with you! Why don't you keep your advice to yourself!"
Catherine stopped abruptly, turned around and dashed off at the opposite direction. 'Fuck!' – James thought, immediately realising his mistake, and quickly followed her. It didn't take him long to spot his friend, sitting at her favourite spot, under the tallest willow tree on the lake shore. She was hugging her knees, her face buried between her hands.
"Flame…" – James called gently, approaching her cautiously – "I'm really sorry for what I said. I was very pissed and lashed out at you. You know I don't mean any of that. Please, don't cry!"
"I'm not crying!" – the girl snapped back, her angry face emerging with flashing green eyes – "But I'll be damned if I ever try to help you again!"
"Please don't!" – the black-haired boy pleaded, sitting down beside his classmate and attempting to hug her despite her initial growl of protest – "If you stop giving me advice, I'm doomed! Between Remus, who speaks only if explicitly asked, Peter, who's better off not speaking at all, and Sirius, whose ideas would most likely get me into trouble, I have nobody, but you to rely on!"
"Stop trying to butter me up!" – Catherine retorted, though the corner of her mouth trembled, betraying a hint of a smile.
"Come on, Flame!" – the young wizard grinned – "How about this? You can knock me off my broom tomorrow during Quidditch practice? Will that make us even?"
"I'd rather not. I want us to win the Quidditch Cup this year, and despite your huge head, you're a brilliant Seeker." – the girl replied with a sarcastic smirk, standing up and dusting off her leggings before heading again towards the castle.
"Ouch!" – James chuckled, quickly catching up with her – "Seriously though, I'm really sorry about earlier!"
"Forget about it." – Catherine shrugged – "But I stand by what I said. You need to tone down your obsession with Lily! She's not your property, and you can't behave in this manner! If you ever want a chance with her, you need to be yourself. Lose the arrogant facade and constant bragging. Just be normal, like you are with me, for instance!"
"It's easy with you." – sighed James, ruffling his already messy black hair – "I just always get so nervous around her, and I feel like whatever I do isn't enough, and she'll never even smile at me."
"Even if that's the case, you can't force her." – the young witch noted – "She's her own person, and she might even decide to date someone else – it's still her choice, and you have no say about it!"
"What?!" – James almost yelled, stopping suddenly – "Is she dating someone? It's that blond prat, isn't it?"
"Not that I know of." – Catherine replied calmly – "But I do assume she'll have a date for the Halloween Ball and, well, one thing can lead to another. You need to take this like a grown-up person. She won't be impressed if you cause a scene like a moody toddler."
James looked at his friend with a desperate expression, as if this was the first time he considered that possibility. He kicked a pebble ahead of him and took a deep breath. "It's not over until it's over! I won't give up!"
"I'm not saying give up." – the black-haired girl insisted – "I'm just advising you to be smarter about it, and most importantly, stop harassing Lily!"
"Harassing her!" – James exclaimed, looking offended – "I would never do such a thing!"
"James, just the other day, you told her that her smile brightened your morning, and two minutes later, you asked her out!" – Catherine pointed out, raising an eyebrow – "Then, when she turned you down, you told her she was missing out on the hottest make-out session of her life!"
"So what's wrong with that?" – the boy argued stubbornly – "I first offered her some sugar and then added a bit of spice!"
"I don't know where you got that brilliant recipe from, but I'm telling you right now, that your 'spice' was a bit much." – the young witch responded, supressing a smile – "As a matter of fact, it was like Hagrid's spiced fruitcake disaster last Saturday. I almost choked! You really need to stop taking relationship advice from Sirius. Honestly, I can't believe Peter's the love expert of our group! Get a grip of yourself!"
The last part made James burst into laughter, throwing his arm around Catherine's shoulders as they took the last steps towards the castle.
"You have a point there, Flame!" – he grinned – "Speaking of the devil! What brought the two of you here? You're late if you want to join us for jogging!"
"We finished breakfast earlier and wanted to make sure everything was alright with both of you." – Sirius said, his expression grave.
"Did something happen?" – the young witch asked with concern, her gaze shifting between the serious faces of her two friends.
"More attacks against Muggle-born women." – Sirius said with disgust – "They're trying to portray these poor witches as being promiscuous, manipulative, immoral vixens who practically raped the poor Death Eaters or whatever those bastards call themselves!"
"Bloody Hell!" – James swore in disbelief – "Is there anyone who would even believe such a bunch of obvious lies and manipulations?!"
"You'd be surprised." – Catherine said in a low voice, her eyes blazing with fury – "Look at all the filthy rumours they spread about me here. They're total bullshit, and despite people knowing me, some still buy into it! All because I'm a Mudblood."
"Don't fucking say this!" – Sirius snapped angrily – "It's hardly your fault a bunch of losers feel so threatened by you that this was the only way they could attack you and hurt your image! In my opinion, you should own this and shut them up!"
"Own being labelled as the Gryffindor slut?!" – asked the witch sarcastically as they entered the building.
"It's certainly not what they expect!" – shrugged the grey-eyed boy – "It's war, Flame! You need to be the one in control in order to avoid any nasty surprises!"
"I think you might be overreacting a bit." – Remus intervened impatiently – "We're just students, after all! These people who have nothing better to do than gossip about us are just pathetic. We shall ignore them. It's the best punishment! It renders them powerless!"
"It's a bit hard to ignore, though, Moony!" – Catherine remarked, her attention drawn to a big, noisy crowd gathered around the message board in the Entrance Hall – "What's all this about?"
The four friends managed to squeeze to the front of the gathering, where they saw everyone pointing at several magical photographs pinned to the message board.
"Holy hippogriff shit!" – James exclaimed, followed by Remus' horrified gasp. It took Catherine a few seconds to distinguish what she was seeing in the moving black and white images.
"Putain de merde!"* – Catherine shrieked as she recognised Mary MacDonald in multiple explicitly sexual positions with a guy whose face was not visible, but the young witch could swear was Ronan Nightshade. Some of the students around were giggling, while others whispered vigorously, but the overall tone was hardly sympathetic towards the Gryffindor fourth-year.
"What should we do?" – asked Sirius, who stared at the pictures with a mixture of disbelief and disgust.
"We need to find McGonagall." – the black-haired girl suggested once she regained her ability to speak coherent sentences in English – "But we can't just leave those here! Poor Mary! Take them down before she sees!"
"Too late…" – James groaned, prompting the girl to turn around and see Mary standing almost next to her. There was not a single drop of blood left in her face. Her big docile brown eyes were wide with such horror, that Catherine could feel it radiating physically from her classmate. Her pale lips were trembling as was the rest of her body.
"I didn't know we can use this board for advertising!" - Rodolphus Lestrange chuckled, with the rest of the Slytherins around him laughing and whistling – "Although, I must say, I'm not much into second-hand goods."
"Shut the fuck up!" – James yelled, drawing his wand as Sirius rushed to take down the photographs.
"They've used a Permanent Sticking Charm or something!" – the grey-eyed boy growled after several unsuccessful attempts to remove them.
"Mary!" – Catherine screamed as she saw the other girl collapse unconscious onto the floor.
"What's happening here?" – the authoritative voice of Professor Minerva McGonagall forced the students to make room for her and Carter Thorne. The Head of Gryffindor's gaze fixated on the message board, as she emitted a sound akin to an owl's screech mixed with a cat's hiss when its tail is trodden upon. She quickly noticed the unconscious Mary and hastened to her side. Meanwhile, Thorne attempted to remove the pictures, encountering the same resistance as Sirius had earlier. Suddenly, darkness shrouded the board, rendering it invisible while everything else remained unchanged. Catherine glanced at her Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher and noticed his eyes gleaming silver.
'Can Air Mages manipulate light?' – the girl wondered, making a mental note to ask Dumbledore during their next lesson.
"Everyone, proceed to your classes!" – Professor McGonagall ordered, lifting Mary's motionless body with the help of a spell – "There's nothing to be seen here, and I insist you refrain from gossiping about this disturbing and malicious incident!"
"Yeah, right!" – Sirius scoffed as they made their way slowly toward the Grand Staircase – "The entire school will know about it before lunch."
"Poor Mary!" – sighed Remus with genuine concern – "How could such images appear in the first place? Who could be so cruel?!"
"Who do you think?" – Catherine snarled – "That piece of shit Ronan!"
"Ronan? Ronan Nightshade, the sixth-year from Ravenclaw?" – James asked, clearly confused.
"The very same! I'm sure he's the guy in the pictures! He and Mary were dating, but he abruptly broke up with her yesterday. That's why she's been distraught since then!" – the black-haired witch explained, her voice laced with disdain.
"In that case, we're going to handle this." – Sirius declared with a dark smile.
"How?"- Remus and Catherine asked simultaneously, visibly alarmed.
"Mary's reputation may be beyond repair, but that doesn't mean such a low blow should go unanswered. This time, I'm not waiting for the teachers to do nothing. We need to protect our school and our classmates!" – the young wizard proclaimed heatedly, glancing at James, who nodded in agreement.
"Please don't! It's not going to solve anything!" – Catherine begged, realising her plea was entirely futile.
* Equivalent to fucking hell or holy shit.
The rest of the week passed agonisingly slowly. Every person in the school was talking about the photographs. While most felt scandalised, few were particularly sympathetic toward Mary, who Madame Pomfrey was keeping in the Hospital Wing due to a nervous breakdown. Ronan didn't seem particularly bothered. Actually, Catherine suspected he was enjoying the attention, which was not nearly as negative as the reaction towards Mary. In fact, a few Slytherin girls were spotted talking with him in a rather flirtatious manner. However, his enjoyment was short-lived because Sirius and James were serious about making him pay. They didn't bother to hide their attack or craft an elaborate plan. The two fourth-years simply cornered Ronan in the corridor in front of the Charms classroom and hit him with at least five different hexes before a few Prefects could help the miserable wizard, whose face looked like an illustration from a DADA textbook.
"It was totally worth it!" – Sirius declared while polishing yet another suit of armour – "He's going to be sore for weeks. It's fascinating what a combination of a Horn Tongue Hex and a Pus Squirting Hex could do to one's skin."
"While I admit this was fun to watch, I don't see what exactly you accomplished besides losing fifty points and getting two weeks of detention." – Catherine remarked, leaning against the nearest wall and eating Dragnofire Delights – "The worst part is that even people from our own fucking house are gossiping and berating Mary. I can't believe they don't see how this was all staged to humiliate her and play with her feelings!"
"Do you want us to have a word with those knobheads?" – asked James, applying some more polish to the rusty metal.
"No! I'm just saying that the problem is much deeper." – the young witch hissed angrily, staring out the window into the darkness. With everything that was happening, it was challenging for her to clear her mind before sleep. Consequently, the chaos potentially caused by her nightmares continued every night. The only silver lining was that by following Dumbledore's orders and not opening herself to true fire, the nausea and dizziness had reduced significantly. This was handy during the fourth-years' first visit to Hogsmeade that Saturday, allowing Catherine to enjoy the sunny day without constantly worrying about finding a place to throw up.
After practically dragging Remus to the local branch of Madam Malkin's Robes for All Occasions for final fitting of his new robes, which they were to pick up a bit later, Catherine was relishing the beautiful autumn weather, sipping a cup of tea at one of the outdoor tables at The Charmed Teapot. Alice, Marianne and Tabitha occupied the other three seats, busily discussing the last details for the upcoming Halloween Ball.
"So, in the end, I finally decided to put my hair in a bun and be done with it!" – Marianne concluded, helping herself to another butter cookie – "What about you, Catherine? Granted you don't have too many options with short hair, but you can apply Shine Infusion to create a wet effect, for example. By the way, can't you use something to speed up the hair growth at this point?"
"I suppose I could." – Catherine replied thoughtfully – "But I think I'll keep it like this for a while. It's much easier to maintain. And for the Ball, I'm just leaving it the way it is. It's not important. I'll be alone anyway."
"What?" – Alice exclaimed, surprised – "How come? We kind of assumed you'd be going with Sirius Black or at least one of the other boys!"
"Well, Sirius hasn't asked me, and even if he did, I'm not sure I would have accepted." – the Gryffindor admitted – "Actually, we haven't really discussed the Ball. The only one of us who definitely has a date is Peter."
"How about that!" – Marianne chuckled – "Too bad I didn't know Sirius was available. I already agreed to go with Edgar. He's nice enough, but it's really a missed opportunity."
"What about Remus and James?" – Alice asked, noticing Catherine's scowl after Marianne's remark.
"James wants to go with Lily, but I don't think she'd agree, so I suppose he'd rather be alone. And I can't even imagine Remus gathering the courage to invite a girl. He's so shy." – the black-haired witch explained, shrugging.
"Oh, this is very sweet!" – Tabitha smiled – "Perhaps some girl will actually invite him. It's not that uncommon. Actually, Catherine, maybe that's the way to go. Just invite someone you like. What's the big deal?"
"Honey T speaking from experience." – Alice giggled, winking at Marianne – "After all, she's the one who invited Finnegan Boot, and he did say yes."
"Well, I like him, why shouldn't I have asked him on a date?" – shrugged Tabitha – "Honestly, I think it was quite a relief for Finn."
"I'm happy for the two of you, but I really don't see myself in that role." – Catherine admitted – "It's just that I really don't have any experience, and I wouldn't even know how to start such a conversation or how to behave so a boy would like me. Plus, it's not that I really have anyone in mind. I told you before – Sirius and I are just friends."
"Nonsense, darling!" – Tabitha smiled warmly – "There's no specific thing you need to do. Just be yourself!"
"It seems to me you have a bit of a self-esteem problem more than anything." – Marianne remarked, playing with a lock of her shiny chestnut hair – "You need to work on that, witch! Try wearing a pretty skirt under your school robes or painting your nails in a vivid colour! It always makes me feel beautiful when I'm feeling down."
"I might try this, but I'm still not going around asking boys on dates. I'll just enjoy the Ball and not think about it too much!" – Catherine said determinedly with a smile.
"It's not obligatory to be alone." – Tabitha interjected – "I thought I shouldn't spoil this for you, but you seem like you need some reassurance. I've heard Finn teasing Leif Thornton about how much he likes you, and I'm certain Leif's going to ask you to be his date!"
"Really?" – the Gryffindor gasped, feeling both flattered and anxious – "But we've never even talked to each other."
"This is not a necessary condition." – Alice giggled – "Thad and I also hadn't exchanged a word before he invited me for the Ball, and now he even insists on me sitting with his group of friends for dinner! They're great by the way, especially Frank Longbottom, he's super funny! But my point is that, Leif is very kind, and he's good-looking, in addition to being on the Hufflepuff Quidditch team. I'm sure you have a lot in common!"
"He's not the brightest penny in the pot but apart from that, I'm certain you'll have good time together!" – Marianne chuckled.
Catherine smiled at her friends and finished the tea in her cup. Suddenly, her social life didn't seem so grim. The idea that someone actually liked her enough to invite her to the Halloween Ball was fascinating, and she was looking forward to the entertainment the following Friday.
"Are you sure about this?" – Sirius asked, his face dark and stern.
"Absolutely!" – Peter replied, with a mouth full of potato salad - "Nora heard Frank Longbottom talking about it, and he heard it from Thaddeus Hart's date for the Ball, Alice Fortescue from Hufflepuff."
"Sounds reliable." – Remus mocked him, finishing his lentil soup.
"Leif Thornton? Isn't he Hufflepuff's new Beater?" – James asked, absentmindedly stabbing the lamb chop in front of him with his fork.
"Sure is!" – Sirius scoffed condescendingly – "With the other Beater being Edgar Bones, they probably share one brain cell."
"Edgar Bones is not stupid." – Remus remarked, earning a growl from his friend – "Plus, even if this is true, I don't see how it's our business. If Catherine wants to go to the Ball with him, good for her. If not, she'll just reject his invitation."
"We can't just let all kinds of trash bother her!" – snapped Sirius – "She has enough on her plate with the elemental magic and taking care of Mary! She's even skipping lunch now just to help her move back to the dormitory from the Hospital Wing!"
"If you're so concerned, why didn't you invite her to be your date for the Ball?" – Remus retorted.
"Because…" – Sirius stammered, feeling a bit flushed – "Because I thought she didn't want to have a date for the stupid Ball! How was I supposed to know she changed her mind?"
"Well, in all honesty, she's never mentioned anything specific about it. I think, we've just assumed." – said James, readjusting his glasses.
"Why don't you invite her now, though?" – Peter suggested – "Go before Leif gathers his courage!"
"I can't, Peter!" – Sirius groaned – "If I do it now, she's going to think she's my last resort and feel humiliated!"
"Better that, than ending up with a guy who doesn't know which end of the wand is the handle." – James snorted – "I remember someone telling me he barely made it through the exams last year."
"Jeez, thanks, mate!" – Sirius replied, rolling his eyes – "In any case, I think it's our duty as Flame's friends to make sure this bloke doesn't bother her. There are plenty of more suitable people out there!"
"You better hurry then, because he may ask her any moment now." – Peter remarked, pointing at the tall, blond boy who had just left the Great Hall.
"Yeah, we should do it now!" – Sirius said, jumping to his feet and heading after the Hufflepuff. James immediately followed him, leaving Remus and Peter alone at the Gryffindor table.
"I should go or they'll end up doing something stupid!" – sighed Remus – "Are you coming, Peter?"
"Yeah, this is not something I'd like to miss!" – the other boy grinned.
In the Entrance Hall, the two wizards caught sight of Sirius and James already ascending to the first floor and hurried to catch up. By the time they managed to reach them, an ugly scene was unfolding in a corridor near the Library. Sirius had Leif Thornton pressed against the wall, whispering something in his ear, while James stood next to them with a sinister smile, his wand pressed against Leif's throat. The Hufflepuff's face was swiftly turning green, his round blue eyes wide with pure horror. Remus and Peter joined a small group of students watching the intense confrontation, none daring to intervene.
"Did you understand what we told you, pal?" – Sirius finally asked in a law voice.
Leif started nodding vigorously, his gaze quickly darting to James, who lowered his wand with a smirk.
"Good boy!" – Sirius chuckled, finally realising the Hufflepuff wizard, who initially fell to his knees before scrambling to his feet and hurrying towards the Library, constantly glancing over his shoulder.
"That should do." – James nodded with satisfaction – "He won't go anywhere near Flame if his life depends on it."
"What is wrong with the two of you?" – Lily's angry voice startled the two Gryffindors.
"Oh, Evans! I didn't know you were here." – James said, trying to sound as mature as possible, smiling at the visibly annoyed redhead standing only a few meters away from him.
"And if you did, would that have stopped you from torturing innocent people just because you can?" – she demanded, her eyes flashing and her hair crackling with static electricity.
"That's not the case!" – James attempted to defend himself – "We were protecting Catherine from being put in an awkward situation by someone clearly below her level! If anything, we were just acting like her big brothers!"
The nearby drinking fountain suddenly erupted, sending a stream of cold water spraying over James and Sirius, soaking them from head to toe.
"Bloody Hell!" – Sirius swore, spitting out water while the surrounding students looked on nervously.
"It seems this place is getting really old. The pipes need urgent replacement." – Greg McMahon noted, a lazy smile playing on his lips as he made his way through the students and stood next to Lily.
"You damn prick! It was you!" – James yelled, drawing his wand.
"Me?" – Greg laughed, unimpressed, his ocean-blue eyes remaining ice cold – "I don't need to go around showing off my wand skills. It's a very weak act, Potter. You're lucky I didn't catch you red-handed this time, or you might have missed the Halloween Ball for yet another detention."
"Screw you, McMahon!" – James hissed, beside himself with anger – "There's nothing that can stop me going to this party together with Evans!"
"Pff!" – Lily laughed mercilessly – "You must be insane, James Potter! Even if I didn't have a date for Friday, which I do, I would rather go out with a Slytherin than someone as insecure, malicious, and idiotic as you!"
James' face turned bright red as he bit his lower lip as hard as he could in order to avoid saying something that would ruin his chances of even talking to Lily. He was well aware that people behind him were whispering among themselves, quite pleased with the latest scandal unfolding before their eyes. The young wizard took a deep breath and attempted to smile at the girl.
"I'm sure, you're going to change your mind eventually. I can wait. You'll realise one day I'm not half as bad as you think."
"No?" – Lily sneered, her face full of disgust – "In my book, you're not better than people like Mulciber or Lestrange. It's just that your targets are different. Actually, I take that back. You're worse because they at least care about their friends."
"Hey! James is a terrific friend!" – Sirius intervened, irritated.
"You're one to talk! The two of you are the same!" – Lily snapped – "Look at what you've just done! Not only you bullied a completely innocent person, but thanks to your efforts, Catherine's probably going to be alone at the Ball. I doubt anyone would dare come near her now. Do you have any idea how low her self-esteem has been recently? For you, this might be some exciting big brother play, but she's really miserable and feels unattractive. Do you have any idea how hard this is for a girl?! Of course, you don't! You're just two empty-headed, selfish prats who don't care if their best friend is mocked, as long as she caters to all your whims! Shame on you!"
With that, Lily turned abruptly and walked away, followed by Greg. The rest of the crowd began to disperse, students hurrying to their afternoon classes. James stood in the middle of the corridor, staring at the spot where Lily had disappeared.
"I'm not sure I'll ever understand your obsession with this girl! She's evil, this Evans!" – Sirius attempted to lighten the mood, winking at Remus and Peter who carefully approached – "Honestly, what got into you to ask her out like that? It was lame, mate!"
"Do you think what she said was true?" – James asked softly.
"About you being an insecure, malicious idiot?" – Sirius smirked, patting his friend on the back – "No way!"
"About Catherine!" – James snapped, turning toward Remus – "Did you know about her feeling that way?"
"No…" – the amber-eyed boy shook his head – "I mean, we all know Slytherins mock her for all kinds of reasons, but I never thought she cared about having a date for the Ball or that she paid them any heed."
"We really screwed up!" – James hissed angrily – "How could we not notice she felt in such a way about herself? We're together all the time!"
"That's because it never even crossed my mind that anyone could think of her as being ugly, let alone say it or make her believe it!" – Sirius responded heatedly – "That's not a reason to just throw her in the hands of the first loser!"
"So what then?" – Remus snarled, feeling frustrated by Sirius' unreasonable stubbornness and its effect on Catherine's well-being.
"Actually, Moony, if you and Sirius agree, I have an idea that can make things better, even if just a little bit." – James said suddenly with, a mischievous smile spreading across his face.
Severus Snape paced up and down the corridor on the fourth floor, near the Arithmancy classroom. His palms were sweaty, and he quickly wiped them on his robes, mentally rehearsing what he was about to say to Lily. He had postponed this for long enough, the humiliating experience from last year, courtesy of Plantier and her friends' cruel joke, still vividly engraved in his mind. However, with the Halloween Ball just three days away, he knew he had to gather his courage and ask the red-headed witch, or risk going alone.
Taking a deep breath, Severus noticed with irritation that a group of sixth-years from his House were hanging around, taking advantage of their free afternoon, joking and laughing, mostly at the expense of other students. The fourth-year clenched his teeth in annoyance. The last thing he wanted was for Rodolphus Lestrange to witness his interaction with Lily. As he considered where he could move to avoid the unpleasant company, the red-headed Gryffindor witch appeared around the corner. She noticed him and smiled immediately, despite looking a bit flushed.
"Oh, Sev! What are you doing here?" – she chirped sweetly – "Don't you have Ancient Runes this afternoon?"
"I do." – Severus answered, trying to isolate all his emotions in order to overcome the rising panic – "But I was thinking during lunch... since we have to go to this Halloween Ball they came up with, maybe we could go together... I mean, as friends. I thought it would be... nice."
Lily stared at the black-eyed boy with a mixture of tenderness and regret. She looked visibly uncomfortable, aware of the older Slytherins who had picked up on the situation and were now attentively listening.
"I'm sorry, Sev!" – she began, her cheeks reddening with embarrassment – "I'm sure we would have had a great time together, but I already promised someone else I'd go with him."
"I see." – the young wizard replied evenly, his eyes – two pools of unreadable darkness – "It's alright. It was just an idea. No problem."
"Again, I'm sorry, Sev!" – Lily said, looking concerned as the boy refused to meet her gaze – "Maybe we can talk about this tomorrow? I need to go now, or I'll be late for class!"
"There's nothing really to discuss." – he stated with a crooked smile – "Go, I don't want you to lose house points."
He watched as Lily quickly headed towards the Arithmancy classroom at the end of the corridor, his heart feeling completely hollow. He couldn't even register the pain of the rejection. The hardest part was the pity in Lily's emerald-green eyes. It made her going to the Ball with someone else ten times worse.
'It's my fault! Why did I wait so long?!' – Severus thought, steaming with anger. He was vaguely aware of his housemates giggling and whispering not even five metres away, and he had no doubt he would be the centre of tonight's entertainment in the Slytherin Common Room. The devilish twinkle in Rodolphus Lestrange's brown eyes was clear evidence of that.
"This was actually heartbreaking!" - Calpurnia Yaxley sneered with a cruel smirk – "And to think you were rejected by a Mudblood!"
"Go fuck yourself!" – Snape snapped, furious predominantly because of the way Calpurnia referred to Lily.
"Careful, lad!" – Rodolphus warned him with a smile that never reached his eyes – "If you're so desperate for a date, perhaps you can ask that Gryffindor whore, Mary MacDonald. At least you'd know what you've signed up for there. No surprises!"
"I have no interest in that filthy girl." – Snape said condescendingly – "I'm sure you can find much better things to do than meddling in my life. If you'll excuse me, I have to go to class and I'm already running late."
With that, the black-haired boy swiftly turned left and headed towards the stairs leading directly to the sixth floor. At the same moment, the nearby tapestry of three old witches bent over a steaming cauldron was moved aside, and Catherine Plantier appeared from behind it, her face red and sweaty.
"Move! I'm late!" – she barked, trying to squeeze past Snape in order to reach the stairs first.
"What if I don't?" – Snape asked quietly, his black-eyes boring into her jade-green ones.
"I'll move you myself." – the Gryffindor smirked arrogantly. But before she could even reach for her wand, the Slytherin boy had his own at the ready. Pouring all his frustration and anger into the spell, he swished his wand, pointing it directly at his opponent.
"Levicorpus!"
With a flash of light, Catherine was hoisted into the air by her ankle. She screamed as her school robes fell over her head, as did the red skirt she was wearing underneath. The Slytherins roared with laughter at the sight of her skinny legs and plain white knickers. Severus smirked vengefully, thinking that being late for Ancient Runes was totally worth it to put that bitch Catherine Plantier in her place.
"Put her down immediately! Why aren't you in class?!"
Snape glanced at Fabian Prewett, who had just emerged from an empty classroom, with annoyance. Nevertheless, he twisted his wand, pointed it downward, and mumbled: "Liberacorpus!" Then, he quickly turned around and headed towards the sixth floor, leaving everyone behind.
"Flame, are you alright?" – the Gryffindor Prefect asked with concern.
Catherine just nodded her head, cast a glance at the Slytherins' mocking faces, and dashed in the opposite direction, heading back towards the Hospital Wing from where she had just come after escorting Mary for a final check-up.
'I'll tell Madame Pomfrey I don't feel well.' – she thought, wiping away a few angry tears – 'I can't spend two hours sitting next to Snape without hexing his head off. Fucking bastard! I can't risk getting a detention just before the Ball.'
On Wednesday morning, Catherine sat alone at the Gryffindor table, her mood foul and her desire for conversation non-existent. She didn't have much appetite either but didn't want to provoke an argument with the boys.
The news about the spectacle, involving her white knickers had quickly become the hot topic among the Slytherins, who were mocking her from the other end of the hall. Catherine regretted taking Marianne's advice about wearing the skirt and berated herself for being careless with Snape, allowing him to cast that strange spell she had never even heard of. The helplessness she experienced while hanging in the air had been terrifying, especially because she had been left at the mercy of that greasy git.
Fighting an unexpected wave of nausea, the young witch finished her orange juice and looked around, wondering if she should ask Gwendolyn for help with her missed Ancient Runes class. Suddenly, she noticed a tall blond boy leaving the Hufflepuff table. He glanced over his shoulder, and their eyes met. Catherine recognised him as Leif Thornton. Trying to calm her racing heartbeat, she smiled at the Hufflepuff, hoping he'd find the courage to ask her to the Ball. To her surprise, however, Leif's face turned pale, his lips trembled violently, and he almost sprinted out of the Great Hall as if a horde of demons was chasing him.
'What the Hell?!' – the Gryffindor girl thought, disappointed – 'Tabitha said he liked me and wanted to invite me to the Ball. Instead, he runs away as if I'm a Boggart. Could it have anything to do with what happened yesterday? I doubt the Slytherins spread the news outside their House; they didn't have enough time, and they don't usually talk to Hufflepuffs. I guess he just changed his mind.'
The arrival of the mail interrupted Catherine's grim thoughts. Since she wasn't expecting anything, she gathered her stuff and was ready to leave when James' owl, Nimbus, landed in front of her, carrying a message tied to its leg. It turned out to be a small piece of parchment on which the fourth-year recognised her friend's handwriting in one simple sentence: Come to the Entrance Hall immediately!
'Merlin, what now?' – the black-haired girl sighed and swiftly joined the stream of students leaving for their classes.
Just in front of the wide marble staircase, James Potter, Sirius Black, and Remus Lupin were standing, each appearing quite nervous and holding a single red rose.
"What are you doing?" – Catherine asked, arching an eyebrow as she stopped in front of her friends.
James looked at her, then took a long breath and smiled brightly. "Miss Plantier, after much deliberation, we decided none of us wanted to miss your company during the Halloween Ball. Therefore, we agreed to share you as our partner for this occasion. So, will you come to the Ball with us?"
A small crowd had formed around the Gryffindors, buzzing with excitement at the unusual proposal. Catherine stared at the boys in disbelief, trying to figure out whether this was some kind of joke from their endless repertoire.
"Just so you know, it's not a joke." – Sirius smirked, as if reading her mind – "We've always been together all these years, and this is our first event of this sort. We couldn't imagine it any other way. What do you say, Flame? We'll make sure you have a lot of fun, and I promise we'll be perfect gentlemen!"
"Sirius…" – Catherine finally found her voice – "It's not that I'm not touched by the offer, but with all the rumours about us, how will this make things better if we essentially confirm them?"
"Screw them!" – Remus snapped, earning surprised glances by everyone, as he rarely used such strong language – "I mean, we know what's between us, and their vile gossip can't spoil our friendship! I'm just sorry we didn't think about it earlier. You're our lady, Catherine! Let's go to the Ball together!"
"Do you really mean it?" – the young witch asked, feeling moved by the affection from her friends.
"Absolutely!" – James nodded, handling Catherine the rose – "I warn you, I'm not much of a dancer, but Sirius is a decent one, so we have everything covered. I'll be bringing you food and drinks."
"Then what am I supposed to do?" – Remus chuckled.
"You'll be responsible for leading the conversation." – Sirius responded, causing everyone to burst into laughter at the look of horror on Moony's face.
"Alright then!" – Catherine said, sinking into an elegant curtsy – "I graciously accept your kind invitation!"
"You might have taken the part about the lady a bit too seriously." – Sirius teased, tucking his rose behind her ear.
"Perhaps, but I bet that there aren't many witches among the aristocrats who have attended a Ball in such a splendid company!" – the young witch chuckled.
"Indeed!" – James grinned – "Lady Catherine Plantier and her three knights! I like the sound of that!"
"I don't need knights, I just need my friends by my side!" – the girl smiled, giving each of the boys a quick hug.
"I'll remind you of that next time you tell me to leave you alone." – Sirius chuckled as the four of them headed towards their Charms class.
'I never really wanted to be alone.' – Catherine thought, feeling at ease for the first time in weeks – 'To hell with all the rumours; I'm going to fully enjoy myself on Friday! No guilt and no regrets!'