Catherine McMahon dashed towards the solid wall dividing platforms 9 and 10 at King's Cross Station, her heart pounding. Instinctively, she shut her eyes as she passed through the concealed passage, pushing her heavy trolley loaded with her suitcase, broom, Orion's cage, and Nyx's travel carrier.
The young witch stopped, attempting to catch her breath and opened her jade-green eyes to see Platform 9¾ already busting with students and their parents, crowded around the scarlet steam engine which was billowing white smoke. Amidst the chatter, she caught snippets of excited conversations about the upcoming school year.
"I hope Dumbledore doesn't cancel Quidditch this year! It was so unfair! How was it our fault Gryffindors and Slytherins behaved like a hoard of Graphorns in heat?!"
"Did you hear they're adding new tasks to the OWL exams?"
"I can't wait to go to Hogsmeade! I saved up all my allowance during the summer!"
"Isn't that Duke McMahon with his wife and son? Merlin, they look picture-perfect!"
"Lord McMahon has been appointed a Prefect! No surprise, he excels in everything!"
"Do you think I can introduce myself?"
Ignoring the talk about her family, Catherine navigated her trolley through the crowd, biting her cheek in frustration. After three full years of being Catherine Plantier, she still felt a sting of humiliation by the sheer unfairness of hiding who she really was as if she had committed a crime by being born.
'I guess it could have been worse.' – she consoled herself, thinking about the poor Erin – 'At least I'm still sane and in control of myself.'
That control, however, was swiftly taken away from the young witch as she found herself being scooped off the ground and swirled around.
"Ouch, Sirius, put me down! I'm getting dizzy!" – Catherine cried out, trying to break free from his embrace.
"I'm just happy to see you, Flame!" – he grinned, finally releasing her.
"You saw me two weeks ago. It hasn't been that long." – the young witch retorted dryly, but she almost stumbled when Sirius suddenly buried his face in the nape of her neck – "What are you doing?"
"A little show for my mother." – he whispered, his breath sending tingles down Catherine's spine – "Is she watching?"
The girl glanced behind the wizard's back and saw his mother, with whom she had a pretty nasty encounter during her first time taking the Hogwarts Express, standing about 20 paces away, accompanied by Sirius's brother, Regulus. Walburga Black was dressed all in dark silk robes, adorned with an absurd amount of silver and onyx jewellery. She held her head high, clearly displaying her disdain for most people on the platform. Her cold black eyes were fixed on her older son and Catherine with a distinct expression of disgust and anger. The young witch thought that if they were alone, Mrs. Black would certainly attempt to hex her head off.
The girl roughly shoved her housemate away from her, completely irritated by his innocent smile and the twinkle in his grey eyes. "I distinctly remember telling you the first time we met that I didn't want to partake in whatever twisted relationship you had with your mother!"
"But, Flame, some opportunities are so damn perfect you can't miss them!" – Sirius complained with a wicked grin, following his friend who was angrily pushing her luggage towards the train, still feeling Walburga's murderous stare at her back – "Don't be mad and slow down with the trolley, would ya? You're zooming so fast, you might accidentally knock someone over. At this point you're not even seeing where you are going!"
"I'm perfectly capable of taking care of my own stuff!" – Catherine snapped, giving the trolley a sharp push – "Believe it or not, I'm very much aware of where I'm going. You may think that…"
What Sirius was accused of thinking remained unspoken because at that moment, the young witch's trolley bumped into another one, causing a collision. The end result was Nyx's carrier landing on the ground, accompanied by sharp hissing noises from the unhappy Kneazle, as well as the other person's heavy and battered suitcase falling over.
"Can't even wait to get on the train before starting the attacks against me!" – Severus Snape murmured angrily as he tried to collect his belongings and place them back inside the old suitcase.
"Don't flatter yourself, I didn't even see it was you." – Catherine replied icily, attempting to soothe her pet, which resulted in a few painful scratches that worsened her already sour mood – "Although, it's odd I haven't smelled you. Did you take a shower to commemorate the beginning of the school year?"
Sirius burst into laughter, while ugly red spots appeared on Snape's sickly pale face. He reached inside the pocket of the worn-out black jacket, made of something that might resemble leather, but it most certainly was not. Catherine jumped back, still holding the carrier, painfully aware that her wand was inside her luggage, and she would never reach it in time.
"Severus, please, don't make a scene!" – the wary voice of a tiny, badly-dressed woman interrupted the tense atmosphere.
Snape flinched visibly and glanced at the woman with frustration. He murmured something under his breath that sounded like 'doormat like you' and swiftly turned his attention back to fixing his suitcase and loading it onto the trolley. Catherine decided to accept the stalemate and move on. She nodded to Sirius, who immediately understood and took over pushing her trolley, while she hummed gently to the still angry Nyx. As they were leaving, Catherine caught another glimpse of the woman who was supposed to be Snape's mother. She looked much older than she should have been, but most of all, she appeared defeated and apathetic. Their gaze met for a second, and Catherine was taken aback by a strange feeling of familiarity when she stared into what could only be described as violet eyes, belonging to Mrs. Snape.
The girl shook her head as they moved closer to the train, trying to clear her buzzing mind. 'That's what I call a good start of the year. I haven't even gotten onto the train and narrowly avoided being hexed twice!' – she thought, as she quickly searched through her luggage for her wand.
Duke Edward McMahon's face was frozen in a perfectly rehearsed polite smile. He and Louisa needed to appear happy and relaxed as they sent their son to Hogwarts. The wizard could feel many eyes watching their every movement, although most of them due to simple curiosity. Most men around were arguably much more interested in his wife, which filled the Duke with annoyance that was hard to conceal. He was forced to greet a few Ministry officials who went out of their way to show he knew who they were.
His attention, however, was fixed on the lanky teenage girl with short black hair, clad in Muggle jeans and a t-shirt, pushing her heavy luggage with grim determination. Edward noticed the appearance of the handsome boy who seemed a bit too familiar with touching his daughter. 'That must be Sirius Black.' – he thought in an attempt to be reasonable. After all, he was aware that Catherine had four very close male friends, and he was not the type to make a big deal out of this like some old-fashioned prude. What bothered him more was the gaze of the witch, who looked as though she had stepped out of the pages of Hansel and Gretel, fixed upon his baby girl. She must have been Sirius' mother, and he had heard enough about the Black family to be certain she was willing to do anything to preserve their alleged pure-blood status.
'That's what we need – defending Catherine from a crazy hag who disapproves of her son's friends!' – thought the Duke wearily, lifting his head just in time to see the collision between Catherine and Snape.
To say that Edward was surprised by his daughter's reaction was an understatement. She had always been a bit sarcastic, a trait he often saw as a defence mechanism. However, the way she spoke to that poor black-haired boy was unacceptable and, in his eyes, cruel. Suppressing his initial parental instinct to correct her behaviour, he reminded himself that he wasn't supposed to know Catherine Plantier, and there was no plausible reason for him to intervene. Therefore, he hesitantly turned his back on the arguing teenagers and followed Louisa closer to the train to bid farewell to their son.
When the Hogwarts Express disappeared in the distance, the Duke offered Louisa his hand, and they headed towards the exit of the platform.
"It's still early. How about brunch at The Ritz, my nymph?" – the wizard suggested, gently brushing aside a strand of Louisa's golden hair that had fallen in front of her eyes.
"You're spoiling me, mon amour!" – the Duchess answered with a girlish smile she kept especially for him. Caught in the moment, Edward draped his arm around her waist and pulled her towards him, inhaling the sweet scent of jasmine that was radiating from his wife. He kissed her hungrily, thinking for a millionth time that he could never get enough from this enchantress whose lips were more vital to him than the air he breathed.
When he finally broke the kiss, they found themselves nearly alone on the platform. Grinning at Louisa's flushed face, the Duke took her hand. As they approached the barrier, they coincided with a scrawny, petite woman in a black dress that seemed to have been washed one too many times, giving it a brownish hue. Her black hair was pulled back into a bun, accentuating her thin, angular face. The woman appeared anxious, almost skittish, as if she were afraid of them. Edward felt a pang of pity. She seemed to embody misery itself.
"After you, Madame!" – the Duke smiled politely, taking a step back to allow the witch to move through the barrier first.
She looked at him with disbelief, as if she had forgotten what was for anyone to speak kindly to her. She immediately lowered her gaze again and executed a practiced curtsy with surprising elegance.
"Thank you, Your Grace." – she said with trembling voice and dashed through the wall.
Edward felt very strange after that brief encounter. By the time Louisa and he reached King's Cross Station, the woman had disappeared. He kept thinking about the unusual meeting even when they sat in the calm luxury of The Ritz, their table covered with assortment of gourmet dishes.
"Edward McMahon!" – the Duchess' voice finally broke through his reverie, her displeasure evident on her face.
"I'm sorry, my love, what were you saying?" – he asked apologetically.
"I offered you more macarons, but seeing you haven't touched your food, I assume you're not interested." – Louisa said, visibly annoyed – "Why invite me for brunch if you won't even listen? What have you been pondering for the last two hours?"
"That woman we bumped into when we were heading back to King's Cross." – the Duke admitted honestly.
"I must say, it's rare for someone with Veela blood to hear their partner's thinking about another woman." – smirked the Duchess – "What's even there to think about?"
"You know it's not like that, my nymph." – Edward replied, shaking his head – "There's just something about her that bothers me, but I can't quite grasp it."
"Well, she did seem like someone who had led a difficult life." – Louisa shrugged, taking a sip from her chilled glass of orange juice – "I've seldom seen anyone who looked twice their age—nothing but skin and bones. The only beautiful feature was her eyes, although those eyebrows were quite atrocious!"
Edward sighed audibly. Sometimes his wife was brutally honest in her assessments, but in this instance, she was spot-on. This realisation made the Duke feel even more empathetic towards the unknown witch. Perhaps he could have shown more kindness, asked her how she was feeling, or offered some assistance, just to see those violet eyes light up for a moment.
Something clicked in the Duke's mind. A long-forgotten memory from his school days suddenly resurfaced. The man vividly recalled himself and Carsilion as teenagers full of confidence, ready to turn the Academy upside down just because they could. He remembered them being in detention for creating a water monster during Charms class, using their elemental magic, and directing it towards Adrian Borealis. Their intention had been for the shapeless bulb of liquid to engulf the young wizard and soak him to the bone with ice-cold water as it disintegrated. Consequently, the two friends had been punished to scrub the marble stairs of the main building with Muggle toothbrushes. That didn't discourage them one bit, and they were still chuckling and joking around when Duke Prince arrived, accompanied by a black-haired girl around their age.
"I see you're using your talents to the fullest." – the Duke mocked Carsilion, who turned bright red. It was a pretty regular exchange between them being a Master of Air, as they called their respective elemental instructors, and his student.
"It was worth it!" – Edward shrugged.
"Lord McMahon, I'm still trying to determine if you're a bad influence on Carsilion or if it's the other way around!" – Alexander Prince remarked with a smirk – "By all means, keep scrubbing. Let's go, Eileen!"
The girl had glanced at the boys, smiling shyly as they grinned back. Compared to the pitiful witch on the station, she had been much younger, her face fresh and full, appearing healthy, despite her pale complexion, but the eyes – there was no mistake. They had the unique look of the House Prince about them.
"I need to send Carter an owl!" – Edward announced, quickly rising to his feet and darting out of the hall, leaving the astonished waiters behind.
'No wonder people say you're more Carsilion's husband than mine.' – Louisa thought with an amused smile, shaking her head.
Sirius and Catherine finally reached the last train car with a lot of effort. Walking through the crowded, moving vehicle with the travel carrier of the rebellious Nyx, who was hissing and trying hard to escape, turned out to be quite challenging.
"You're sure she's locked, right?" – asked Sirius with genuine concern. He and the Kneazle didn't have the best relationship and despite Catherine's assurances and blind adoration for the spirited black furball, the boy had no doubt he would be the one on the receiving end of the beast's sharp teeth and claws if it managed to break free.
"Yes, she is locked and you don't have to look as if I'm transporting a Basilisk!" – smirked the girl, opening the glass door of the last compartment.
"Close enough!" – shrugged the young wizard, following his friend inside – "Wow, James, way to pick the prime spot at the very end of the train! We totally loved spending half the trip on a wild goose chase to find you all!"
"Huh? If you want a front seat that badly, you can try and be a good boy this year. Maybe this way you'll get to be a Prefect and ride at the very front of the train with all the other Prefects!" – James replied with a bright smile, winking at Catherine.
"Sure, and we'll be best chums with Greg McMahon!" – the other boy sneered, taking the free spot next to Peter – "Did you see him trying to show off in front of his parents, giving orders left and right? I thought I'd be sick!"
"Sadly, I've missed it." – James chuckled – "Who's the other Prefect from Gryffindor?"
"Seraphina Jordan." – Sirius announced indifferently, adding with a smirk – "I've heard Frank Longbottom cried for days because Gryffindor couldn't have two male Prefects and he was to be separated from his precious little lord while he's on duty."
"Come on, mate! Frank's not half-bad! Nothing like McMahon! You should give him a chance, right Flame?" – James defended Frank, turning towards Catherine, who had been unusually quiet.
The girl was standing in the middle of the compartment, still holding her pet's carrier, staring at the tall young man with broad shoulders sitting next to the window. His light brown hair was a bit on the longer side, and he was dressed in clothes that appeared old and shabby. As she and Sirius walked inside, he turned towards them and smiled kindly. His face was pale, with gentle features and full lips. A small stubble made him look like a wary traveller to some distant lands. However, his amber eyes were still a bit child-like and innocent, making Catherine gasp, unable to hide her surprise.
"Remus?!"
"What happened to you?" – asked Sirius with astonishment when he finally looked in the direction of his friend and realised he must be now be taller than both him and James.
"I'm not entirely sure." – Remus replied anxiously, blushing furiously and embarrassed by all the attention – "It happened in literally a few weeks. We wrote to Dumbledore and he had a theory that due to the difference in the maturity age of wolves and wizards, werewolves reach puberty earlier than what's normal for us, and I kind of had a growth spurt."
"We almost didn't recognise him!" – James chuckled.
"But it's kind of weird with your voice being the same, it doesn't suit how grown up you are." – noted Peter, who looked impressed by his friend's new appearance.
"That's the least of my concerns." – Moony said gloomily – "My parents were shocked, and we couldn't afford… I mean, we didn't even have time to get me new clothes. So now, I've got some of my dad's old ones, and I'm going to look ridiculous trying to fit into my school robes. I was hoping one of Hogsmeade's businesses would need help during the weekends we visit so I can make a bit of money, although I doubt it will be enough for a new set of robes. It's just one day every two months, after all."
"You can use one of the secret passages and go to Hogsmeade more often." – Sirius suggested helpfully – "Nobody would think you are a fourth-year! You can pull this off."
"Or we can just buy you new robes as a much more sane solution." – Catherine interjected, shooting Sirius a disapproving gaze – "This could be our collective Christmas present."
"I can't accept that! It's way too expensive!" – Remus protested vigorously.
"Flame's right!" – James agreed – "Plus, they can't be more expensive than the Ashwinder egg."
"Speaking of that…" – Sirius said grimly, interrupting Remus' continued objections – "I couldn't help but notice that your hands don't bear the slightest burn mark. Don't you think you owe us some explanation, Catherine?"
"What happened?" – asked Peter, confused, his pale blue eyes darting between his friends' tense faces.
"Well," – Sirius began, carefully closing the compartment door – "It seems our friend here wasn't exaggerating when she said she didn't feel cold like the rest of us. Turns out, she doesn't feel heat either."
The young wizard quickly briefed Peter and Remus on what happened during their trip to Knockturn Alley. Catherine listened half-heartedly, staring at the floor of the train. Her thoughts were racing as she pondered how to keep her secrets hidden from her friends and appease them at the same time.
"Come on, Flame? Spit it out!"- James urged her – "I've seen your wounds and they were pretty severe. Sirius and I were worried sick you would not be able to hold a quill for months. But, still, an ordinary person would have burnt to crisp holding the egg for as long as you did."
"You know you can trust us, right?" – Sirius added, his tone gentle, yet insistent.
Catherine took a deep breath, steeling herself. She lifted her gaze to meet her friends' anxious expressions. "I'm inclined to fire. When the inclination is very strong it manifests in certain ways regardless if you're trained in Elemental magic or not. In my case, I don't feel hot and cold the same way as other people do and any wounds caused by fire heal very quickly."
"Come again?!" – said Peter, bewildered.
"Wait a second! You're talking about this thing we discussed in the closet when we were hiding from Filch and Thorne, right?" – Sirius asked, his brow furrowed in concentration.
"Yes."- the girl confirmed with a nod.
"I'm no expert, but isn't that something aristocrats do" – James exclaimed, adjusting his glasses – "You said you only heard about Elemental magic from McMahon."
"I did hear about it from him, but it's not something just aristocrats can do." – the young witch affirmed, her tone neutral as she attempted to conceal any trace of emotion – "I became curious after overhearing Greg and Lily's conversation. Apparently, Elemental magic was once much more widespread, but people grew hesitant to learn it due to the associated risks."
"Risks?" – Sirius interjected, his concern palpable, but James swiftly silenced him with a gesture.
"I was interested in finding my elemental inclination after everything that I read." – Catherine continued – "So, I reached out to the Headmaster to ask if anyone at school could help me, and it turned out Dumbledore himself was an Elementalist."
"He is?!" – the four boys gasped in unison.
"He's actually a Fire Mage. That's why when we discovered I am also inclined to fire, we decided he would teach me how to use this power. It's a very rare one, especially for a woman. Thus, I'm having lessons with him, starting this year on how to control true fire" – the girl finished her story.
"And why didn't you tell us that in the first place?" – snapped Sirius angrily.
"Well… I wasn't sure if I'd even be able to learn Elemental magic. It's hard, and I didn't want to look as a failure…" – Catherine explained, trying to portray a look of pure embarrassment – "And I knew it would be a bit dangerous, so I didn't want to worry you."
"So instead you decided to lie to us?!" – Sirius asked with an icy tone, his grey eyes flashing with anger – "I thought you trusted us a bit more than that."
"I didn't lie to you. I just didn't tell you about this. I would have eventually." – answered young witch, feeling ashamed of herself – "I never intended for you to find out this way. People tend to react poorly when they learn someone is training to be an Elementalist; they're often seen as unstable and dangerous."
"Are they?" – Peter asked, concerned, but James shot him an annoyed look, and the other boy lowered his gaze guiltily.
"Not if properly trained and if they don't break the rules set by their instructors." – explained the girl – "However, people are just wary, especially when fire is concerned. I didn't want you… to fear me."
"Oh, Flame!" – Remus exclaimed, rising from his seat and moving beside Catherine. He enveloped her in a comforting embrace – "I know very well how you feel, believe me. But it's important that you understand we will be here to support you no matter what, and we're certainly not afraid!"
"Yeah, I mean, I'd be much more concerned if you decided to punch me, considering how you decorated Snivellus' face!" – James declared with a grin – "Seriously though, you should have told us. We're not friends just because we have fun together, right mate?"
Sirius didn't respond immediately. His gaze bore into Catherine, a knot of unease tightening in his stomach. There was something else she was hiding, and he couldn't shake off his frustration. Torn between anger towards her and anxiety over the new and dangerous endeavour, he sulkily asked "What are these risks you keep mentioning? Not for the others, but for yourself?"
"Mainly, hurting myself during practice, but I do trust Dumbledore to prevent that. I'm not going to use true fire unsupervised, I promise!" – she said, her cheeks flushing slightly – "Also, in the beginning of training, it takes a toll on the body. It's quite normal to feel exhausted, to vomit, to pass out or have other symptoms during the first several months."
"Is it truly worth it?" – asked James, who seemed taken aback.
"I believe so." – the girl assured him – "Especially because Fire Mages are so rare. But, yeah, it's going to be a very rough year for me."
"You know, you can rely on us. We're going to support you." – Remus said gently but firmly.
"My mom has a really good remedy for nausea. It's a family recipe, but I'll get it for you." – Peter offered with rare dedication, earning a smile from Catherine.
"And if you don't want to alarm your parents, since they're Muggles, you can spend Christmas with my family!" – James suggested with a grin.
"Oh! I'd love to, but I'm not sure they'll allow it."- Catherine admitted, sounding genuinely disappointed.
"You can't know for sure unless you ask!" – the boy refused to give up – "In fact, you can all come! My mom loves having the house full of young people!"
"I wish I could, but I can't leave my mom alone on Christmas." – Peter chimed in with regret.
"It's full moon again around then." – Remus murmured, his tone low and thoughtful.
"I can probably come. My family seemed thrilled to have me out of their hair for a while." – Sirius said with a casual shrug.
"Honestly, I'm surprised your Mom would let you to stay with the Potters. Doesn't she think they're blood-traitors?" – asked Catherine.
"They're teetering on the edge." – Sirius smirked with satisfaction – "I think the only reason, I'm allowed to visit James so often is because my great-aunt Dorea is married to James' great-uncle Charlus, so we're kind of related."
"I didn't know that." – the girl exclaimed, surprised that James and Sirius were relatives, albeit distant. The Potters and the Blacks appeared as different as night and day.
"If you insist on marrying only pure-bloods, the choice is fairly limited." – Sirius chuckled dryly – "That's why in my family we often rely on marrying our cousins."
"I bet Bella's the greatest possible spouse you can choose in your Mom's eyes." - James teased him.
"Second-best." – the grey-eyed wizard sneered – "However, I have no idea where I can acquire a willing aristocrat to marry into the shit House of Black."
"Ask McMahon if he has a sister." – James suggested, laughing.
"Flame, are you alright?" – Remus asked, concerned – "Your face turned completely white."
"I'm fine, Moony." – the girl replied, hoping it was not visible how hard her heart was pounding – "I just felt sick thinking about Sirius marrying Bella."
"You and me both." – Sirius agreed with a scowl – "However, you don't need to worry. Rest assured, I'd sooner face Azkaban than agree to such a fate."
"Don't worry, mate, I'll hide you if Bella decides to show up in a wedding dress!" – James offered with a grin.
"I'm glad you find my potential misery amusing." – Sirius replied, his smile crooked – "Between your total lack of empathy and the possibility of Flame setting my arse on fire if I displease her, who needs enemies?"
The food trolley arrived at this moment and they all stepped outside the compartment to see what kind of treats they can purchase for the remaining part of the trip. While James was busy with his selection, Catherine moved closer to Sirius and discreetly slipped her hand into his.
"You seem angry with me." – she whispered.
Sirius looked down at her, his heart tightening with concern. He couldn't shake the feeling that she was in some kind of invisible danger. Despite whatever she was hiding from them, he couldn't bear to leave her alone. So, he smiled cheekily, bending down to place a quick peck on her forehead.
"Not angry, just worried. Look how scrawny you've gotten! I'm personally going to make sure you eat properly!"
"I'm not scrawny!" – the girl protested, pursing her lips.
"You won't be now that you're back to our care!" – James declared, stuffing a chocolate frog he had just unwrapped into Catherine's mouth.
Stepping into the brightly-lit Great Hall felt like a long-awaited return home. Catherine's gaze was drawn upward to the Enchanted Ceiling, which mirrored the night sky. It was aglow with countless stars, each shining like a tiny diamond set against a black velvet cloak.
"I hope the Sorting Ceremony is quick. I'm starving!" – complained Sirius as he took next to James at the Gryffindor table.
"I'm shocked!" – the girl smirked, settling across from the grey-eyed boy.
"What? We just had some candies during the trip. It's hardly a proper lunch!" – Sirius retorted, casting an impatient glance at the door – "Come on! Where's McGonagall with the newbies?"
As if to answer his question, the Deputy Headmistress entered the hall, carrying the old Sorting Hat and a roll of parchment, followed by a bunch of first-years who were looking around skittishly.
Catherine briefly thought that there was something different about her Transfiguration teacher but she couldn't immediately pinpoint what it was. Before she could think some more about it, though the Sorting Hat, that had already been placed upon a three-legged stool, began its traditional song for welcoming the students to yet another year at Hogwarts.
In this hall, I've seen years come and go,
Friends and foes, and the seasons' flow.
But now dark clouds gather overhead,
A storm of chaos, filled with dread.
Oh, listen well, young ones tonight,
The times ahead will test your might.
Put aside your House, your pride, your fright,
Together stand, and face the blight.
Gryffindor's courage lights the night,
Ravenclaw's wisdom gives us sight.
Hufflepuff's loyalty keeps us tight,
Slytherin's cunning, ready to fight.
Each House holds gifts beyond compare,
Courage, wisdom, loyalty, and flair.
United as one, we're a force so rare,
Together, we'll conquer the deepest despair.
Darkness looms, but remember this lore,
Together, you'll face what comes to the fore.
Strength in unity, peace you'll restore,
With courage and wisdom, hope will soar.
So heed my words, as you unite,
In this great hall, under starry night.
Forget your quarrels, end your spite,
Together march into the light.
"That was a bit of a weird song." – James commented as Professor McGonagall opened her parchment and called the name of the first trembling student.
"I read that the Sorting Hat had sometimes issued warnings, especially during turbulent times." – murmured Remus, his face a bit anxious, however, not solely due to the content of the song. Since he had entered the school, many people, predominantly girls were staring at him, giggling and whispering to each other.
"You might become even more popular than Sirius, Moony!" – Peter chuckled as he looked at two third-years who sat a few seats down the table and were clearly very intrigued by Remus.
Remus shook his head, trying to hide his discomfort. "I'd prefer if I don't." - he replied, his cheeks flushing slightly as he focused on the Sorting Ceremony unfolding before them.
"Me too." – said Catherine, earning surprised glances by the boys, thus she quickly clarified – "I'd like to be able to go around with at least one of you, without two or three witches bothering us or trying to sneak you love notes."
"At least they restrain themselves to just love notes. Have you heard that last year Lavinia Nott attempted to drug Greg McMahon with a love potion?" – Peter asked in a hushed tone, glancing around if anyone was listening.
"Too bad she was not successful." – hissed James, as his eyes continued to be drown to the opposite side of the table where Greg was currently explaining something to Lily with a huge smile. The red-headed girl was laughing merrily which was adding insult to injury in James' view.
"This is not funny, and it's also highly illegal!" – Catherine scoffed, irritated, while clapping to greet Beatrice Figg as a new addition to Gryffindor.
"Yeah, and we disapprove of everything illegal! – James chuckled, winking at his friend who pursed her lips.
"Maybe you should not discuss this here." – Remus shushed them as the newly sorted Lucas Morgan sat just two places over.
"I don't want to discuss anything! I want to eat!" – complained Sirius, glancing with frustration at Daphne Nott, on whose head the Sorting Hat was currently placed.
While the hungry wizard proceeded enlisting what he wanted to eat at that moment, Catherine eyed the High Table. There were no new faces there. The young witch smiled and waved at Hagrid who grinned back under his bushy beard. There was one empty space, probably left for McGonagall. Next to it, Carter Thorne was sitting with a bored expression. As usual, he was dressed impeccably, in a luxurious midnight blue velvet robe, with intricate silver thread embroidery in the shape of swirls and spirals. The sleeves were wide and draped, adding a dramatic flair, while the collar stood high and stiff, lined with a soft, silvery silk that complemented the embroidery. He was resting his chin on his hand, his gaze studying the faces of the students in the Great Hall.
'What's he up to?' – Catherine mused with curiosity – 'It seems he's looking for someone.'
Just as Simeon Thicknesse was sorted into Ravenclaw, drawing the Sorting Ceremony to a close, Thorne's attention shifted to the arrival of the Head of Gryffindor, who took her place beside him, and smiled in a very coquettish way. Catherine finally realised what was different about her teacher – she was wearing discreet, yet visible makeup. Catherine's realisation was interrupted by Dumbledore's standing that immediately commanded the hall's attention with his ever-energetic demeanour. His warm welcome enveloped the room as he addressed both new and returning students.
"Welcome, one and all, to another enchanted year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry! As we gather under the resplendent ceiling of the Great Hall—brightened tonight not just by candles, but by the bright faces before me—I extend a warm greeting to every new student gracing these hallowed halls for the first time, and a fond welcome back to all our returning students."
"I have a few announcements to make. Firstly, as usual the Forbidden Forest remains strictly off-limits to all students without exception. Visits to the village of Hogsmeade are permitted every two months for third and fourth-years, and monthly for students in their fifth year and above. Secondly, Quidditch try-outs will be held at the end of next week. Thirdly, due to the unfortunate events which led to the cancellation of last year's Quidditch Cup Championship, the teaching staff and I decided we owed the many of you who were affected without a fault, something special. Therefore, this year's Halloween celebration is going to be grander than ever! We're going to organise for you a ball with dancing, seasonal competitions and entertainments!"
Excitement buzzed through the Great Hall as students eagerly immediately started discussing the upcoming ball, already musing over attire and potential dates. Dumbledore raised his hand, waiting for the chatter to subside. "We're all eagerly awaiting this marvellous occasion! But before that, we have two months of hard work and knowledge-gathering ahead. Stay strong and keep your spirits high! Now, dig in!"
The tables groaned under the weight of Hogwarts' exquisite dishes. Catherine opted to wait until the boys had their fill, mindful of avoiding accidental fork stabbings amidst their hurried plate loading. To her surprise, Sirius wasn't joking about monitoring her food intake, as he piled a generous portion of roasted chicken, baked potatoes with rosemary, and a glass of pumpkin juice in front of her.
"Make sure you eat all of it!" – the boy instructed the young witch.
"Or what?" – she asked with a smirk.
"Or I'll feed ya m'self!" – Sirius mumbled, his mouth full of pork chops.
Despite her initial scoff, Catherine began eating, genuinely hungry. Amidst the excited chatter about the Halloween ball, she found herself uncertain of her own enthusiasm. She had attended several school celebrations, but they always seemed tied to some hidden objective or complicated plan. This would be her first party where she could simply enjoy herself without ulterior motives.
However, as the girls around her began discussing dates, the young witch felt a wave of nervousness. Did she need a date? And if so, where could she find one? This unexpected dilemma dampened her appetite. She had once told Lily she wasn't interested in dating or relationships, considering the complexities of her life. Yet, she couldn't deny a lingering curiosity. While she appreciated the handsome boys around the school, she was painfully aware she didn't rank among the top ten most beautiful witches.
'Hell, after Snape hexed my hair off, I might not even be in top 50!' – she thought gloomily – 'It would be a miracle if anyone asks me on a date for the ball…well, except maybe…'
Catherine glanced at Sirius, who was gnawing on a chicken wing, and smiled tenderly. He was constantly hinting at how much he liked her, but it had become so much a part of their usual routine that she didn't really consider it as anything more than teasing. But what if he was serious about it? Could she risk their friendship? Did she even feel that way about him? The girl sighed audibly. Being a teenager was really confusing, and she felt ridiculously disturbed by the whole dating ordeal.
"Are you alright?" – asked Remus, gently caressing her hand. Catherine lifted her gaze and felt instantly at ease by Moony's closeness. He had always been such a calming presence in her life. Even though his new appearance was a bit unnerving, he was still her shy, introverted, kind Remus.
'Just looking incredibly hot now.' – she thought and immediately blushed fiercely, grabbing her glass and chugging the remaining pumpkin juice in one go.
"I'm fine, Moony!" – she finally answered – "Just a bit tired."
"There are still desserts to eat!" – Peter chuckled, offering Catherine a tray of éclairs – "These are your favourites, right?"
"They are, thanks Peter!" – the young witch sighed, immersing herself dutifully into consuming as many of the sweet delights as she could.
"I feel like myself again!" – Sirius sighed happily as they exited the Great Hall, trailing behind a procession of Gryffindors led by a few Prefects.
"I feel sick." – Catherine complained sulkily – "I can't eat that much."
"Get used to it." – James grinned, throwing his arm around his friend's shoulders.
The girl rolled her eyes, frustrated by her friend's unreasonable stubbornness. As her gaze wandered, she caught a brief glimpse of a familiar silvery figure floating toward the second floor. Without hesitation, Catherine dashed ahead.
"Flame! Where are you going?" – Sirius shouted after her.
"To speak with the Grey Lady! Cover for me!" – she hissed over her shoulder, slipping into the crowd of third-years.
Finally breaking free from her housemates, the young witch sprinted through the empty hallways of Hogwarts. Taking a sharp right turn, she found herself in a corridor flanked by towering bookcases, leading to a tetraptych of Helena Ravenclaw. The House Ghost floated gracefully above the floor, engrossed in the titles of the books on the highest shelf.
"Good evening." – the girl greeted politely. The Grey Lady turned around, her spectral gaze fixed on the Gryffindor with an unreadable expression – "I'm not sure if you remember me."
"I do." – the ghost replied, a hint of irritation colouring her tone – "You're this insolent Gryffindor girl who doesn't take no for an answer."
"I'm not insolent; I simply need you to answer my question." – Catherine insisted.
"I still see no reason to oblige." – the Grey Lady remained steadfast.
"One reason could be to help your family." – the young witch suggested calmly, despite her heart pounding in her chest.
The ghost of Helena Ravenclaw stared at Catherine in disbelief. Several moments passed in complete silence.
"You lie!" – she accused finally – "I have no female descendants… I can't have any female descendants."
"And yet, here I am – Lady Catherine Maragret McMahon, born and raised at Feywood Heights, the daughter of Duke Edward McMahon and Duchess Louisa McMahon, descendant of the Four Founders, vessel of the Curse of Morgana." – the young witch declared, her green eyes flashing.
The Grey Lady almost jumped after the last words, her translucent features betrayed a deep worry as she studied the girl from head to toe.
"This isn't possible." – she whispered.
"But here I stand – your blood coursing through my veins." – Catherine asserted – "I speak Parseltongue like Slytherin. I can heal with my magic and vital power like Hufflepuff. I'm a Fire mage like Gryffindor. Now, I seek the gift of knowledge to connect me to your mother and you. I need your help! You won't betray your family, will you?"
The ghost stood silent again for quite a while, as if deeply contemplating the situation. After a the long pause, Helena Ravenclaw let out an audible sigh and glided closer to the young witch, positioning herself to engage in a more intimate conversation.
"I never anticipated this, even after all these years." – she murmured softly – "Since Morgana left Hogwarts, there hasn't been another one of my female descendants enrolled here. They were all home-schooled until… well, until they could no longer hold the demon. I was truly heartbroken when it came to that, you know! I couldn't understand what my granddaughter was thinking to contract a demon! After the Pact, I chose to distance myself from the McMahons. I just couldn't accept they committed such an atrocity. For you to be here... it's nothing short of a miracle. How old are you now?"
"I'm going to be fourteen in about two and a half months." – the young witch replied anxiously. Despite knowing this was merely an echo of the real Helena, the girl couldn't help but be moved by the sincerity of her emotions.
"Then you're already one of the oldest ones, aside from Morgana. Do you still feel in control of yourself?" – asked the House Ghost of Ravenclaw.
"I am one hundred percent myself!" – the girl affirmed, sensing the immediate relief from her ancestor – "But I do need your help. Dumbledore believes my friends are the key of fencing off the demon, and for their well-being, I do need to find a place where nobody could stumble upon us. Do you know if there is such a place in Hogwarts?"
"The Room of Requirement is likely what you're seeking." – the Grey Lady mused.
"The Room of Requirement? What's this?" – Catherine asked eagerly.
"It's one of the castle's many secrets my mom discovered." – Helena explained – "You see, they had plans and sketches when they were building the school, but due to the heavy loads of ancient magic and spells waved into the very foundations of Hogwarts, it became a bit of a living thing itself. Therefore, many premises and oddities developed over time and had never been planned or accounted for."
"This is fascinating!" – the young witch exclaimed – "Where can I find this room?"
"On the seventh floor in the left corridor. The entrance is just across from the tapestry of Barnabas the Barmy teaching trolls ballet. You'll only see the door when you walk past it three times, thinking about what you need. The room will provide it for you."
Catherine's eyes lit up as she realised this was exactly what she needed. She curtsied and grinned happily. "Thank you, Helena! Your help means the world to me, and I'll find a way to repay you!"
"Just fight for as long as you can!" – the Grey Lady said with a voice full of sorrow.
"I'm not going to just fight! I'm planning to win!" – the young witch responded cheekily and darted back towards the Gryffindor Tower. Nevertheless, upon reaching the portrait of the Fat Lady, she suddenly remembered she didn't know the password.
"Let me in!" – Catherine ordered the Fat Lady. Just like last time, she opened her mouth to argue, but her eyes lost focus and the portrait swung forward, obeyed the girl.
The fourth-year's smug smirk, however, vanished in an instant when she found herself face to face with Greg, his expression seething with annoyance.
"Where the hell have you been?" – he hissed angrily.
"I had to retrieve something from the Great Hall." – Catherine lied.
"Really?" – Greg chuckled darkly – "Your friends might know you well, but they don't see everything like I do, Flame. For example, I bet they've never noticed that when you lie, you always make eye contact to feign honesty, but your eyes betray you for a fleeting moment."
"I don't know what you're talking about." – the girl murmured, averting her gaze.
"Don't play dumb with me!" – he growled – "Do you realise how dangerous Hogwarts has become lately?! I'm not exaggerating when I say it's no longer safe for Muggle-borns to wander alone, especially Muggle-born witches. Don't make this face! To everyone here, that's who you are!"
"I can protect myself." – Catherine snapped stubbornly.
"Yeah, right. That's why you've ended up in the Hospital Wing more often than all my classmates combined." – the young wizard scoffed – "I see you just refuse to understand. Perhaps deducting a few House Points is in order since you're half an hour past curfew!"
"What?" – the girl almost screamed – "How dare you?!"
"Daisy!" – Lily's voice startled the two siblings – "There you are! I was looking all over for you. I was almost considering checking the boys' dormitory!"
"Tell me you don't go to the boys' dormitory!" – Greg almost moaned, but then he noticed the confused look on Lily's face and quickly tried to smooth the situation – "You know, despite us being friends, I can't just overlook you breaking school rules left and right."
"Since when have we become friends?" – Catherine mocked him, flashing a smile at Lily – "I forgot something in the Great Hall and was just being reprimanded by our new Prefect, but he graciously agreed to let me go this time, being my first infraction this year."
"I…" – the wizard attempted to argue but decided there was little point, eventually just sighing and shaking his head – "Alright, you can go, but please next time be mindful of curfew. It's for your own safety."
With an arrogant smirk, Catherine followed Lily up to the fourth-years girls' dormitory where Gwyneth and Mary were chatting excitedly, seated on their beds.
"You finally decided to join us!" – giggled Gwyneth, jumping to her feet and giving Catherine a quick hug – "We were anxiously waiting for you!"
"Why?" – the other girl asked with suspicion. It was not natural for her classmate to be so friendly all of a sudden.
"She wants to ask you about Remus!" – chuckled Lily, going to her trunk and starting to unpack.
"I thought you were more into Sirius." – Catherine replied with a crooked smile. She felt a bit taken aback by the sudden interest Gwyneth had shown towards her shy friend.
"Well, since Sirius is entirely preoccupied with chasing after you, I thought I might look around while waiting for him to get to his senses! – the witch stated, tossing back her shiny black hair.
"If your goal is to date all his friends in the meantime, you may want to start with Peter. He's probably available." – Catherine retorted a bit more confrontationally than she intended. The truth was, compared to Gwyneth, she had always felt inadequate. The witch had a rather early growth spurt and she looked much more mature than Catherine. In addition to her very agile and athletic body, she had beautiful tawny skin and dark brown eyes that Hogwarts' boys found irresistibly mysterious. Her behaviour was always a bit flirtatious which further infuriated the other witch, who was completely at loss on how to attract anyone. In the light of this, Gwyneth's sudden interest in Moony was really bothering Catherine.
"Oh? Did I strike a nerve?" – Gwyneth asked with a not-so-innocent smile – "You know, you can't have them all! Leave some for the rest of us!"
"I don't know what you're talking about." – the other girl responded flatly – "I know there are all sorts of rumours about us, but you of all people should know they are not true! We're just friends with the boys!"
"I'm sure it's not true that you toss a Galleon to determine who you're going to sleep with that particular week, but come on, you can't tell me you haven't considered dating one of them!" – Gwyneth refused to give up.
"Toss a Galleon to… what? Who the fuck is so sick they spread such dirty lies?!" – Catherine almost screamed, blushing furiously with both anger and embarrassment.
"I don't know who started it but you have a rich pool of options. A lot of people hate you." – Lily intertwined.
"Do you believe it?" – asked Catherine, beyond herself with shock.
"Of course I don't! Nobody sane would ever have!" – Lily scolded her gently – "Gwynnie, stop teasing her! If you like Remus so much, go ask him on a date!
"Easy for you to say, Miss Hertbreaker!"- laughed the other witch – "Not all of us can have the most popular boys at school running after us, just so you can ignore them coldheartedly!"
"I don't know what you're talking about." – the red-headed girl replied, but Catherine thought she didn't look quite sincere.
"You don't? Just today, I personally witnessed how you declined date invitation from both James Potter and Greg McMahon!"
"What?!" – the other two girls exclaimed at the same time.
"This is so not true, Gwyneth Jones!" – Lily hissed angrily – "Potter asks me on 'dates' every chance he gets, just to appear smug in front of his stupid friends! Sorry, Daisy, no offence! And Greg didn't ask me on a date; he thought I could help him pick new robes for the Halloween party. He wanted a girl's opinion because he was not confident in what he should pick."
'Yeah, right!' – thought Catherine, trying hard not to roll her eyes upon hearing about her brother's suddenly developed uncertainty in picking his own wardrobe. Gwyneth apparently shared her sentiments because she scoffed condescendingly. "If you prefer to believe this, it's quite alright. Apparently being so hard to reach makes them even more determined. And that's without counting that creep Snape."
"He's not a creep!" – Lily snapped, adding with much calmer tone – "We're just friends."
"You better tell him then because if someone was looking at me the way he looks at you, I'll be very scared. Right girls?" – asked the other witches.
"I'm not scared of Snape!" – Catherine stated firmly, noticing the odd expressions around her, she realised they were not talking about that, so she blushed and added quickly – "But it's always better if people have the same expectations in one relationship."
"I also think he fancies you." – Mary answered softly, as she was preparing for bed.
"You don't know what you're talking about!' – the red-headed witch insisted stubbornly – "We're just very close with Severus. We've known each other since we were kids. He's just protective of me! And what right have you to preach about honesty in a relationship, Catherine? The only thing left is for Sirius Black to start sleeping in front of our door! Why don't you address his feelings?"
"We're very clear about our feelings!" – Catherine lied not willing to delve into this topic, which was already causing quite a lot of confusion for her.
"Can we stop arguing already?" – Gwyneth said, tossing herself on the bed – "I have really bad cramps, and this noise makes me want to start hexing all of you!"
"You started it, Gwynnie!" – Lily replied, but her eyes softened and she quickly went through her luggage, taking out a small red bottle and tossed it on the other girl's bed – "This is Moon Cycle Draught. It helps with all the nasty symptoms."
"Oh? Do you have some more?" – asked Mary hopefully – "I usually have terrible headaches, and I was already dreading next week."
"No, but I can make more. It's easy." – Lily assured her.
"Are you talking about periods?" – Catherine asked contemplatively.
"Duh? What else do you think we talk about?" – chuckled Gwyneth, uncorking the bottle of the remedy – "Why do you look so surprised? Hasn't your period started yet?"
"Um, no, actually it hasn't." – Catherine admitted, feeling somewhat out of place among the other girls. She couldn't help but notice that all of them already looked more mature than her. Even Mary had blossomed over the summer and developed some curves.
'It's just me who looks like a stick, not to mention I don't even need to wear a bra.' – she thought self-consciously, hurrying to prepare for bed, feeling overly shy to undress in front of the others – 'They must be crazy to think that Sirius really likes me this way!'
"Hey." – Lily gently put her hand on Catherine's shoulder, prompting her to turn back – "You seem upset. Is it about your period? You know it will start eventually. Girls develop differently. There's no need to feel ashamed or shy about it."
The black-haired girl simply nodded and managed a smile at her compassionate friend. Despite James' obsessed behaviour he was right - Lily was undoubtedly one of the most captivating witches at Hogwarts. She possessed not only beauty but kindness, brilliance, and a dash of sassiness. At that moment, Catherine thought that if someone asked her to describe the perfect image of a girl, she would have answered: Lily Evans.
'I hope that one day I can get to be even half as remarkable as she is! How is it possible to feel as though I'm carrying the weight of the world in one moment and, in the next, be as clueless as a child?' – the young witch pondered wearily before succumbing to sleep.