"Haf I towl you how mush I luff you?" – Sirius asked, his mouth full of Black Forest cake.
"You've mentioned it a few times." – Catherine smirked, leaving her half-eaten piece on the low table in front of her.
"You really outdid yourself, Flame!" – James praised her – "But you always put so much more effort into Sirius' birthday cakes than mine!"
"Are we comparing cakes now?" – asked Sirius with a smug smirk.
"Please don't!" – Remus groaned tiredly, but added with a smile – "Although this cake does taste delicious!"
"Mhm." – the black-haired girl answered without looking at the wizard.
"What's wrong with the two of you?" – asked Sirius, his gaze darting between his two friends – "You've been acting so weird the last two days?"
"Nothing. I'm just tired." – Catherine snapped, standing up – "Good night."
With that, the young witch quickly dashed towards the girls' dormitory. It was still relatively early, and she found herself alone in the bedroom. She jumped into her bed and buried her face in the pillow. Although she wasn't planning to sleep, she couldn't bear being so close to Remus and pretending nothing had happened between them. The young witch hated to admit that she felt humiliated by his rejection. Watching him act skittish and guilty, tip-toeing clumsily around her and trying to start conversations despite his introverted nature, gave her a sense of vengeful satisfaction.
The tension between them was obvious to everyone, though only James knew the real reason. Catherine realised she was behaving childishly and that Moony was not at fault for how he felt, but that only made her angrier. She still couldn't bring herself to treat Remus the same way she used to. Additionally, she was ashamed of initiating the kiss, which had put her in an extremely vulnerable position.
Her lack of sleep over the past few days also contributed to her anxiety and frustration. After suddenly waking up in the early hours following the Halloween Ball, she had seen the rug in the middle of the room burn to ashes in seconds, with various personal items flying out of the trunks at the foot of the beds and hovering around. While the sight was scary, it paled in comparison to the disgusting taste of blood that the nightmare had left in her mouth. She had spent thirty minutes in the bathroom trying to gargle it away, eventually deciding not to sleep again that night.
The days that followed were a blur of endless discussions with the girls about whether they should complain to McGonagall about the burnt rug, and flashbacks of the dream which drove her to the edge. While she wasn't certain what exactly the term ' leaking magic' entailed, she knew the nightmares were a bad sign. She impatiently awaited her next lesson with Dumbledore, hoping for some reassurance and help.
'I wish I could get some Dreamless Sleep Potion.' – the girl thought as she sat up in bed – ' I guess I could make it myself, but acquiring bicorn horn is difficult. That means I'd either have to steal the potion from the Hospital Wing or the ingredient from Slughorn. Either way, it's just a temporary solution, and I don't want to develop an addiction.'
Grunting with annoyance, Catherine prepared for another sleepless night, preferring it to the alternative of having nightmares. The dormitory door opened, and Mary entered the room, carrying a pile of books.
"Hey! I didn't know you were here." – she said, surprised to see her classmate.
"I'm feeling a bit under the weather these days." – Catherine replied, trying to be as amicable as possible.
"Oh? Maybe you caught a cold during the Halloween Ball." – Mary suggested with a sigh – "I'm sorry I missed it. It sounded like so much fun. But on the other hand, I wouldn't have been able to cope with all the gossip and people offending me, some of them straight to my face."
"They're absolute garbage!" – the other witch hissed – "You should really try to ignore them, regardless of how hard it is. You need to continue living your life!"
"That's what Lily said as well." – Mary admitted with a sad smile – "But I don't know if I'm strong enough. I know you deal with all kinds of rumours too, but at least you know they're not true. What can I say? I really loved him, Catherine, and I still do! I thought he loved me too. That's why I agreed to be with him even though I felt awkward and it hurt a lot. I just thought I had found someone who'd always be by my side and protect me. How could I have been so stupid?!"
"You're not stupid." – Catherine said gently, hugging her friend who was on the verge of tears – "You just trusted the wrong person. That's not a mistake that should have been punished in such a manner."
"He told me he couldn't be with a Mudblood and he thought I knew from the very beginning." – the other girl sobbed – "Is it going to be like that for us? Never being one of them despite being born with magic?"
"No." - the black-haired witch shook her head – "I refuse to believe it! Bloodline isn't important. It's bullshit through and through!"
"Apparently it does matter. Look how they treat us even here at Hogwarts!" – Mary sniffed desperately.
"Those who do are a bunch of clowns who dream of greatness and power but understand neither!" – Catherine declared, her eyes flashing with anger – "Look how they coward in front of the aristocrats! They're ready to do anything to be associated with them, but at the same time they don't comprehend that nobody in the major Houses gives a fuck about their blood!"
"They don't?!" – the other girl asked, astonished.
"No…" – Catherine admitted, realising she might have revealed a bit too much knowledge on the matter, but she felt she needed to share this in order to reassure her friend – "Greg McMahon explained to me it's not blood that makes those families so powerful. They possess such rare magical talents that they pass down the generations regardless of who they have children with. That's why it's not uncommon for them to marry Muggles who are rich or have connections to the Muggle governing structures. How do you think they got their noble titles? They rule both worlds. That's what the pure-blood morons don't understand. Power comes in many forms. It's not only about magic."
"Thanks, Flame!" – Mary smiled – "Hearing all this does make me feel a bit better."
"It's going to be alright!" – Catherine smiled back.
The next day started off unnervingly for Catherine as she nearly fell from her broom during Quidditch practice. Exhausted from another sleepless night, she hadn't noticed her grip slipping until Sirius shouted at her to get a better hold of her broomstick. Unfortunately, that wasn't the end of it. She endured severe scolding first from the team captain, Marvolo Wood, and then from both Sirius and James.
"Since when do you drink coffee?" – asked Remus during breakfast.
"Since today." – the girl snapped, ignoring the pain in Moony's amber eyes.
"Seriously, why are you so mean to him?" – Sirius asked curiously – "I can hardly imagine Remus doing anything to displease you. What's the matter?"
"Nothing!" – Catherine almost yelled, then lowered her voice as she noticed half the Gryffindor table looking at them – "Can I do anything without constantly being asked why? Seriously, give me some breathing room, all of you!"
"I'm sorry." – Remus mumbled, his eyes fixed on his eggs, his appetite gone.
"The perks of having a fiery lioness for a friend!"- James laughed, desperately trying to lighten the atmosphere - "Another recent example is Evans giving Snivellus the boot! They're not talking to each other!"
"She didn't mention anything." – the black-haired girl said, surprised, glancing at Lily, who was sitting with Greg and Frank and appeared to be in an excellent mood.
"I wish she could also get rid of McMahon, but I guess one can't have everything at once." – James sighed dramatically.
Lily wasn't the only one in high spirits. Catherine had noticed that Professor McGonagall had been unusually cheerful during their Transfiguration lesson on Monday. And the next morning, when Catherine ' accidentally' encountered Carter Thorne on her way to Herbology, he also seemed extremely happy.
' Too bad no amount of sex could stop him from following me around.' – the young witch thought, annoyed. Furthermore, she felt embarrassed every time she remembered the steamy scene she had witnessed from under James's invisibility cloak.
In stark contrast, Severus Snape was the embodiment of misery. Catherine saw him for the first time Tuesday afternoon during Ancient Runes, and he looked completely defeated. His uncut black hair was messier and greasier than usual. Dark circles under his eyes and a sickly yellow undertone to his skin made him even uglier. Apparently, not being on good terms with Lily had taken a severe toll on his well-being. He wasn't even participating in class. The only sign of life he showed was when Catherine took the seat next to him. For a second, his black eyes flashed with hatred, but then he just returned to doodling in his notebook.
'I'm not sure whether it's flattering or offensive to be so hated by someone to the degree that it takes them out of their despair!' – the girl thought as she left her schoolbag on an empty chair in the Library. With Gryffindors having Astronomy later that evening, she decided to skip dinner in order to catch up on her homework before her lesson with Dumbledore the next evening. The Library was extremely peaceful at that time, which helped her concentrate. In her opinion, it was worth the tirade she would endure later for not eating properly.
"No dinner tonight?" – Greg's voice startled her.
"I have a lot to do and limited time. What about you? I'm surprised you're alone." – the girl teased her brother.
"I needed to pick up some books." – the boy shrugged – "Are you alright? What happened this morning during practice? You almost fell off your broom."
"I'm fine. I lost concentration because I have so many things on my mind." – the young witch lied – "By the way, can you send this to Dad?"
Greg scanned their surroundings. When he was certain nobody was around, he took the sealed envelope and placed it between the pages of his Intermediate Transfiguration textbook.
"If this is another letter about Professor Thorne, it's a waste of time." – the fifth-year remarked casually – "We've already checked him numerous times. Wouldn't it be easier to just accept he's a jerk? If he's giving you such a hard time, maybe you can ask McGonagall to speak with him as our Head of House?"
"It's not about Thorne." – Catherine replied, scoffing sarcastically – "And there's no point in involving McGonagall at all. I don't feel like becoming the subject of their pillow talk."
"I beg your pardon?" – Greg exclaimed in disbelief – "What do you mean by that?"
"What do you think?" – the girl smirked.
"You can't insinuate such things without proof." – the boy said, trying to recall if he had noticed anything suspicious about his two teachers.
"What proof? I literally saw them making out and then going to McGonagall's room! I doubt they were having tea there." – Catherine laughed.
"Merlin!" – the wizard exclaimed in shock – "Wait! You said you saw them?"
"Yeah, but it's not important." – the witch waved her hand dismissively – "Why do you look so bothered? It might not be very professional, but honestly, I don't think Thorne really cares."
"I'm not bothered, just surprised." – Greg replied, attempting to appear calmer – "Anyway, I'll send your letter to Dad tomorrow."
"It's not that urgent." – Catherine said – "I have another favour to ask, though."
"Oh? It seems you're really going to be in my debt." – the boy smirked, amused – "What do you need?"
"I want you to use your position as the heir of House McMahon to make people stop mocking and humiliating Mary MacDonald." – the girl replied decisively.
"And how am I supposed to do that?" – her brother asked, utterly confused.
"I don't know. Be creative." – the young witch shrugged – "Maybe chat with her where people can see you together, or invite her to Hogsmeade with you and your friends. It won't be that weird now that you're with Lily."
"A true heir of Salazar Slytherin, aren't you?" – Greg chuckled – "You could have just asked me, you know? Yes, we're together, but we're trying not to make it too obvious for now. I don't want people to give Lily a hard time. You know how disgusting they can be."
"I do." – Catherine nodded with a slight smile of satisfaction – "That's why I asked you to help Mary."
"Alright. I'll do my best to stop the bullying against her." – the aristocrat finally agreed – "I think I owe you for not letting Potter ruining the Ball for us, and I also feel bad for the poor girl."
"I'm glad the Ball ended well for at least one of us." – Catherine noted, turning her attention to her Summoning Charm essay.
'What happened to her last Friday?.' – Greg thought with concern, observing his sister's pale and tired face – ' It's pointless asking her now. I better go and write a letter to Dad. He'll have a field day when he finds out about Carsilion and Professor McGonagall. I wonder why Catherine needs to contact him directly. It's a first.'
Catherine entered Dumbledore's office and took a seat in the familiar burgundy armchair in front of the Headmaster's desk. The wizard finished writing a few lines, set his quill aside, and sealed the parchment. Fawkes, perched behind the door, swooped down, grasped the letter in his beak, and disappeared in a burst of flames.
"I didn't know phoenixes can be used for carrying messages." – Catherine noted casually.
"They usually aren't." – the Professor responded with a smile – "But I prefer to use him when sending letters to certain friends. It's safer. How have you been these past weeks, my dear? I heard you fainted."
"Yeah, once." – the girl admitted – "I was nauseous and felt very tired. I haven't tried to use my elemental power, and I've been feeling better these last several days, although the exhaustion persists. It could be from the lack of sleep, though."
Dumbledore observed the pale face of the student in front of him. "Do you clear your mind before going to sleep?" – he asked.
"I try, but last week I had a terrible nightmare. I mean, they're all terrible, but this one was again linked to some past life of mine, or whatever that is. When I woke up, the rug in the dormitory was burning, and all kinds of objects were flying around. It's me, Professor! I'm the one causing all this! In the dream, they mentioned something about 'leaking magic' and nightmares as signs of the awakening of the demon… I think I'm not going to make it!"- the girl exclaimed, almost in one breath.
The release of the tension she had been holding inside for the past week, combined with the fears she was too scared to admit even to herself, caused a torrent of tears, which she quickly tried to wipe away.
The Headmaster stood up and quickly approached the young witch, placing a comforting arm on her shoulder, his blue eyes filled with empathy. "Take a deep breath, my girl." – he said gently – "You need to tell me everything you remember about your dream. The details are important."
Catherine obeyed, recounting her nightmare in a detached manner, as if describing a movie she had recently seen. When she finished, she noticed that Dumbledore had returned to his chair and appeared deep in thought.
"I believe we can confidently assert that these particular nightmares provide us with an accurate depiction of the demon's nature and your ancestors' reactions to it." – the wizard remarked, tapping his crooked nose thoughtfully – "The Skyfall Athame, it seems, is an immensely significant artifact in the struggle against that dark creature. However, it appears to require all four kinds of elemental magic to function. Judging from your previous dream, it is probably in the possession of either House Prince or the Council. As for the term 'leaking magic,' it is unfamiliar to me. It could be connected to your nightmares, or it might be something else entirely. For now, I do not perceive anything unusual in your power. Nonetheless, I will instruct Madame Pomfrey to administer Dreamless Sleep Potion to you once a week. It is not much, but we must avoid the risk of addiction, which could be fatal, as you likely know."
Catherine pressed her lips tightly together. Dumbledore's cautious approach left her with few options to address her sleep deprivation. She felt like a test subject in his research. She was certain that taking Dreamless Sleep Potion up to three times a week would be safe and preferable to choosing between sleepless nights or nightmares with unknown consequences.
"You should continue to try to clear your mind before bed." – the Headmaster continued – "This exercise is crucial until we begin studying Occlumency in a more structured manner."
"When will that be?" – the girl asked, a bit sulkily.
"That depends on your progress with true fire." – the Professor responded with a smile, his eyes suddenly turning red as he opened himself to his element – "Shall we commence with that task?"
The young witch found no difficulty in summoning enough anger to open herself to her element. She had started to love the feeling of power and heightened awareness that came with the connection. Trying not to ponder the colour her eyes were glowing, she instinctively stretched out her arm and attempted to create a fireball, mimicking how she had seen Greg work with the soul of the water. A massive burst of flames erupted from her open palm, nearly exploding in her face. Opening her eyes, she realised Dumbledore was standing next to her, containing the fire and slowly letting it die out.
Catherine collapsed to the ground, barely able to hold her dinner. Her head spun violently, and she couldn't shake the sensation that she had made a foolish mistake.
"I believe you are relying a bit too much on your instincts and assumptions, my dear." – the Headmaster stated firmly, using his wand to conjure a bowl of ice cubes, which the young witch immediately took advantage of – "Fortunately, the fire you summoned was merely ordinary flames, although the quantity was quite impressive. What exactly were you trying to do?"
"I wanted to create a small ball, like I've seen Water Mages do." – the fourth-year admitted, feeling incredibly foolish for attempting unfamiliar magic without waiting for proper instructions.
"Ah, that clarifies much." – Dumbledore replied with an amused smile – "As I mentioned, the four elements require different techniques. Water bends and flows naturally, but fire requires considerable compression to shape it into forms. We are quite far from that stage. What is most important now is for you to extract true fire. This involves drawing out the essence within yourself rather than attracting and using normal fire from your surroundings."
With that, the old wizard extended his palm, and a golden flame danced a few centimetres above his hand. Catherine gazed at the true fire with adoration. It appeared alive, and she could sense the pure energy it held inside. She knew it could be used for both creation and destruction, making her even more impatient to harness this wild force of nature.
"You almost never use solely true fire because it drains you very quickly." – Dumbledore remarked as the golden flame grew larger and turned bright red – "Such concentration, for instance, is excellent for forming a shield that can withstand most medium-strength hexes."
"But how do I conjure true fire in the first place?" – the black-haired girl asked impatiently.
"This is something you should know instinctively." – the Headmaster replied – "Open yourself to your element and reach deep inside, as if searching for the very core of your power."
Catherine took a calming breath and attempted to follow the instructions of her Master of Fire. Concentrating on herself proved incredibly difficult when her senses were overwhelmed and her power pulsed through her veins, begging for release. Nevertheless, the girl persisted. She tried to turn her inner gaze toward the source of her power, but suddenly she heard a thunderous roar that made her sink to her knees, trembling in fear.
When she came back to her senses, she was lying on a comfortable sofa that Dumbledore must have conjured for her. The wizard was holding an ice pack to her forehead and appeared extremely relieved when she opened her eyes.
"You're finally awake, my dear girl! – he exclaimed, jumping to his feet with surprising speed for such an old man and quickly returning with a glass of iced coffee – "What happened? You just lost consciousness. Was this exercise too exhausting? Perhaps we need to slow down."
"It wasn't a matter of exhaustion." – the young witch frowned, sipping from the cold drink – "I was trying to do what you told me, Professor, but then, all of a sudden, it was too much! I felt scared! It was power I couldn't control, and I felt it was about to consume my very soul. Is that normal?"
"It's much more intense than what I've experienced myself." – Dumbledore admitted, his expression serious – "However, we must consider that you're a female, and true fire might affect you differently. Unfortunately, we have no records on that, but I hope we can establish a connection with another female Fire Mage, even if she's a Salamander Type. It would be extremely helpful."
"I suppose it's hard to find one if we're so rare." – Catherine suggested, without much hope.
"Indeed. Female Fire Mages are very uncommon, and those who are fully trained are often protected and kept hidden." – the Headmaster noted with a crooked smile.
"Why?" – the girl asked, surprised.
"I think this is a conversation for another time." – the Professor deflected, changing the topic – "That's enough for tonight. I don't want to overdo it like last time, especially considering you have your first Quidditch match this Saturday."
"Ah, yes." – Catherine responded, wondering how she'd manage the game if she felt as bad as she did the last time she used her elemental powers.
"It will get better eventually." – Dumbledore stated, as if reading her mind – "Once again, I insist that you don't practice on your own. We'll address any questions you have and try again in two weeks."
"Yes, Sir." – the young witch replied and turned to leave the round office, when she remembered something she had been pondering for a while – "Professor, I wanted to ask you something regarding Elementalists in general. Is it possible to control light and darkness?"
"An interesting question." – the wizard responded, his blue eyes piercing his student from behind his glasses – "Fire Mages can create light and darkness through the manipulation of fire, but that's not quite what you're asking, is it? Some Air Mages possess a very rare ability to change the density of the air around them, thereby manipulating light, even making it disappear completely. It's a unique talent indeed. I've heard Duke Prince was one of the very few in Britain who had it. Is there any particular reason you ask?"
"No, I was just curious about it." – the girl shrugged and quickly headed towards her Common Room, thinking frantically about the meaning behind Carter Thorne possessing such a rare ability.
On Thursday evening, Catherine sat on the floor of the Gryffindor Common Room, struggling to finish her Defence Against the Dark Arts homework while battling the urge to throw up for the fourth time that day. James and Sirius were at their last Quidditch practice before the match against Ravenclaw. The young witch felt so sick that her friends had strictly forbidden her from getting near a broom.
"We need you rested for Saturday" – Sirius had insisted before leaving – "Be a good girl and go to bed!"
Catherine hadn't told him that sleeping was impossible for her and that she was saving her weekly dose of Dreamless Sleep Potion, provided by Madame Pomfrey, for the night before the game. Determined, she forced herself to concentrate on her assignment on the Reductor Curse, knowing it was far from her best work but hoping it wouldn't be bad enough to earn her detention. The last thing she wanted was to spend time alone with Professor Thorne. It was bad enough that she could hardly look at him without recalling how he had kissed her Transfiguration teacher. The most disturbing part was that she didn't feel disgusted or outraged.
'The fuck is wrong with me?' – Catherine thought, her face flushing with embarrassment – ' He's the same mean, arrogant bastard. Why do I feel like this? Maybe because he seems different when he's with McGonagall. I just can't understand this man at all!'
"Are you alright, Flame?" – Peter's voice interrupted her thoughts.
"Yeah, I'm fine. Why?" – she asked a bit defensively.
"Remus asked me to come and check on you. Your face is all red. Do you have fever?" – the boy asked with concern.
"I don't!" – Catherine snapped angrily – "Go tell Remus I'm perfectly capable of taking care of myself, and if he's that interested, he could come and ask me himself!"
"Don't be so harsh on him. I'd have come by myself if I knew you were sick. He's just way more observant than I am. You know how I don't notice stuff." – Peter said with an awkward smile – "I don't know why you two fought, but it really makes me sad."
The young witch stared at Peter, uncertain how to react. He was a constant presence in her life, but she couldn't say they had the deep bond she shared with Sirius, James, and Remus. Often, his clumsiness and inability to remember even the simplest information or his complete lack of reasoning had pissed her off. Yet, he had defended her in front of Slytherins and had always been there, to the best of his modest abilities. Peter Pettigrew was part of their group, even though they all needed to protect and guide him, and he did deserve the recognition of a friend. Catherine took a deep breath and forced herself to speak calmly.
"It's nothing serious, Peter. Don't worry too much about it. Thanks for checking on me."
"You know I've always admired how much you and Moony care about each other." – the boy remarked sincerely – "Just let me know if I can help in any way. Also, if you need any help at all! I mean, we all count on you for the match on Saturday and, I, personally, for the Potions assignment next week."
"You don't say!" – Catherine chuckled – "Don't worry. I'll rather die on my broomstick before I let us lose, regardless of how sick I feel."
"Ah, yes!" – Peter exclaimed suddenly, pulling out a vial filled with a dark liquid – "This is my mom's special homemade Tonus Elixir. It's a family recipe, but it helps remarkably well against nausea. I'll ask her to send more if you need it."
"Thank you!" – the girl replied gratefully, taking the potion and immediately sipping it. To her surprise, it tasted sour but not unpleasant. The effect was immediate.
"See? Mom knows what she's doing!" – the wizard laughed, seeing the astonished expression on his friend's face – "You should be fine for at least three to four hours."
"It's a miracle!" – Catherine cried out happily – "I really owe you! Today's been especially bad, and this is an incredible relief!"
"How long will this continue? – Peter inquired – "The symptoms seem very strong after each lesson."
"It differs from person to person." – the young witch replied – "Worst case scenario, it's going to take a year."
"Really?!" – the boy's round blue eyes widened with worry – "And I thought I had a problem with these pimples I can't get rid of…"
"Do you want some of the Pimple Solution I made for James?" – Catherine offered.
"James has pimples!" – Peter almost yelled in disbelief.
"Yup!" – the black-haired girl smiled wickedly – "He talks a big game, but if it weren't for me, his face would look like a wheel of Swiss cheese."
"Then, I'd like to try this Pimple Solution! After all, I want to look good for Nora!" – the fourth-year blushed.
"You and her make a cute couple." – Catherine complemented her friend, noticing how pleased he appeared.
"Thanks! I'll go help Nora with her Transfiguration homework now. Thanks to your explanations from last year, I can look quite smart in front of her!" – Peter grinned and quickly headed toward the other side of the room, where a merry group of third-years were chatting and allegedly doing homework.
Catherine's gaze fell on the tall, lonely boy reading a book while sitting in an old chair near the fireplace. Remus lifted his amber eyes but quickly cast them down when he met Catherine's look. The young witch felt a pang of guilt. She missed Moony, but she couldn't forget how she felt in his arms while they were kissing and how much it hurt when he rejected her for some made-up reasons. The wound was too fresh, and she feared she would never be able to forgive him or have their friendship be the same as it used to be. A dark, cold laughter echoed through her mind.
The Gryffindor Quidditch team gathered in the changing room, the roar of the crowd outside growing louder by the minute. Dressed in her red and gold robes, Catherine quickly took a sip from Peter's mom's Tonus Elixir, feeling the nausea disappear and her spirit soar. The events surrounding the Halloween Ball had completely occupied her mind, leaving little time to think about her first game. Consequently, all the anxiety slammed into her that morning when the entire Gryffindor table cheered their team as they entered the Great Hall for breakfast.
"Do you feel alright?" – James asked, sitting next to his friend.
"Yup!" – she answered, perhaps a bit too joyfully – "At least I won't throw up from my broom on top of the whole school!"
"Sounds kind of fun, not gonna lie!" – Sirius laughed.
"What is wrong with you?" – Catherine inquired, her voice a mixture of desperation, disgust, and amusement.
"Quite a lot of things!" – the wizard stated with a huge grin, adding with a wink – "Maybe you should try to fix me."
"I can definitely fix you if you don't shut your mouth!" – Greg snapped, casting Sirius a glance over his shoulder.
"Come on lads and lasses! We have a game to win!" - Marvolo Wood called out, standing in front of the team – "It's the first match for Scarlett and Catherine, but we're all here to support each other and beat the shit out of Ravenclaw! Are you ready?"
"Born ready!" - Scarlett Porter shouted enthusiastically, jumping to her feet and accidentally stepping on James' foot in the process – "Oh, sorry!"
Catherine couldn't help but smile at the funny face the tiny brunette made as she apologised profusely to James. Truth be told, the new Gryffindor Chaser was incredibly clumsy on the ground, which contrasted oddly with her speed and grace in the air. The three Chasers shared a similar flying style, and they worked seamlessly together, leading fans to believe this was the best state the team had been in for years.
As the seven players entered the Quidditch pitch, thunderous applause and shouts welcomed them. The Ravenclaws were already waiting, their captain and Chaser, Lysandra Ogden, staring at the clear sky above. Madame Hooch brought the four balls to the centre, and before long, fourteen brooms flew into the crisp November sky, accompanied by the cheers and jeers of the crowd.
Catherine immediately caught the Quaffle and sped towards the Ravenclaw goalposts. She passed to Sirius, who dodged a Bludger sent his way by Magnus Talon with practiced ease, before handing off to Scarlett. Scarlett maneuvered around the fellow Chaser, Odette Edgecombe, and scored the first goal. The stands erupted with cheers.
As the game progressed, Gryffindor maintained a slim lead. Sirius and Scarlett showcased their coordination, weaving through Ravenclaw's defences and scoring consistently. Catherine used her impressive speed to distract Zephyr Sterling who was usually quite a good Keeper.
Twenty minutes into the game, just as Catherine intercepted a pass intended for Archibald Smith, a wave of dizziness hit her out of nowhere. Her vision blurred, and the stadium seemed to spin around her. She wobbled dangerously on her broom, her grip loosening on the Quaffle. The crowd gasped as she teetered, and for a heart-stopping moment, it looked like she might fall. Sirius, always vigilant, noticed immediately and darted towards her.
"Catherine!" - he shouted, his voice barely audible over the roaring crowd. He managed to catch the Quaffle just as it slipped from her fingers and supporting his friend while she managed to regain her balance and waved reassuringly to Madame Hooch who was ready to stop the game.
The match continued, uninterrupted, but Gryffindor's lead was slipping, and Ravenclaw capitalised on the momentary disruption. The score was now neck-and-neck, with both teams fighting fiercely for every point. Catherine, determined not to let her team down, shook off the dizziness as best she could and rejoined the fray. She managed to execute a daring feint, diving towards the left hoop and drawing Zephyr Sterling out of position. At the last second, she twisted her broom sharply and passed the Quaffle to Sirius, who threw it with all his strength. The Quaffle soared through the air, narrowly dodging a Bludger sent by Alaric Thistlewood, and passed cleanly through the hoop. Gryffindor scored, pulling ahead by ten points.
The crowd went wild, but there was no time to celebrate. Ravenclaw immediately launched a counterattack, their Chasers flying in a tight formation. Marvolo and Dominic, armed with their bats, intercepted a Bludger aimed at Scarlett, giving her the chance to steal the Quaffle mid-pass. She sped down the pitch, ducking under Archibald Smith and handing off to Sirius, who executed a spectacular Sloth Grip Roll to evade another Bludger.
Sirius then passed the Quaffle back to Catherine, who, despite feeling lightheaded, pushed forward with determination. A well-timed Bludger from the Gryffindor's captain cleared her path. With a final burst of speed, the young witch steadied herself and hurled the Quaffle straight through the centre hoop, securing another ten points for Gryffindor.
Suddenly, a flash of gold caught the eye of both Seekers. The Snitch had appeared near the centre of the pitch. James, accelerated in a steep dive, closely pursued by the Ravenclaw Seeker, Ava Donovan. The crowd held its breath as the two raced neck-and-neck, but James was faster and his reckless plunge caused Ava to pull up sharply in order to avoid crushing with the ground. James seized the opportunity and reached out, snatching the Snitch just mere centimetres from the ground.
The final whistle blew, and the Gryffindor stands erupted in triumph. Gryffindor had won with a final score of 300 to 140. Catherine, despite her exhaustion and lingering dizziness, beamed with pride as she touched down. Sirius and Scarlett flew to her side, their faces alight with joy.
"We did it!" - Sirius shouted, hugging Catherine tightly.
"We flew like pros up there!" - Scarlett yelled, her eyes shining.
The black-haired girl smiled, feeling the warmth of victory. The team descended to the pitch, the cheers of their housemates ringing in their ears. Catherine couldn't stop smiling as they headed towards the Changing Room.
"You did so great, Flame! Did you get dizzy?" – asked James, tossing his arm around the young witch's shoulders.
"A bit, but I I'm fine now!" – Catherine responded happily, the adrenaline still pumping through her veins.
"I'm glad! Of course I knew you were going to be brilliant!" – James laughed – "Let's shower first, then, we'll get some treats from our secret supplier and then we…"
The young witch glanced at her friend, waiting for him to finish his sentence, but he suddenly froze in the middle of the corridor. His mouth was half-open, and his hazel eyes were filled with horror and anger. Catherine quickly followed his gaze and almost groaned when she saw her brother kissing Lily at the very door of the Changing Room.
"James, no!" – she screamed, attempting to grab the wizard by the back of his robes. However, she was not quick enough. The boy roughly shoved Greg McMahon away from Lily. The young aristocrat, caught by surprise, lost his balance and fell to the ground, his wrist cracking ominously.
"How dare you!" – Lily yelled, her green eyes filling with tears as she saw her boyfriend getting back up to his feet.
Catherine's jaw tightened. She was furious at James for hurting her brother. The next moment, she saw Greg's eyes glowing threateningly, and she knew things were spiralling out of control. Trusting her gut, the girl jumped between James and Greg, her lips forming a silent 'please' as she looked at her sibling.
"You're actually quite fortunate, Potter!" – Greg sighed, his eyes returning back to normal – "You can thank your lucky star because the only reason I'm not going to put you in your place is Catherine. Be grateful that she's your friend!"
"The Hell!" – Sirius shouted angrily, staring at the fifth-year.
Catherine ignored Sirius. She approached Greg and gently closed her hand around his wrist. The blond boy hissed in pain but didn't flinch. Soft blue light engulfed their joint hands, and in less than a minute, the bones were completely mended.
"This is remarkable magic!" – Greg exclaimed with a bright smile, moving his wrist freely to check the mobility – "Thank you, Flame!"
"Thanks, Daisy!" – Lily said gratefully, ignoring James who was grumbling angrily – "I'm glad that at least one of you has some common sense! Maybe it's better if you change and shower in the dormitory, Greg?"
"Yeah, it's probably for the best." – the boy agreed, and they turned to leave.
"Wait for me!" – Catherine shouted, dashing after them.
"Flame?!" – Sirius called in disbelief after her.
"What's wrong with girls, mate?!" – James mumbled angrily, heading straight to the showers, his mood from the victory completely spoiled.
The next two days were tense. The Gryffindor victory celebration was awkward, with many team members not speaking to each other. Catherine was furious that James had attacked her brother. James was mad at Greg, not only because the fifth-year had kissed Lily, but also for being condescending and insinuating he was the stronger wizard. Additionally, James was also angry at Catherine for defending Greg and generally taking his side. Sirius was annoyed at Greg, confused once again about the relationship between Catherine and the Gryffindor Keeper. Finally, Greg was ignoring both Potter and Black, secretly pleased that his sister defended him in front of her friends.
The mood didn't improve as the new week began. Catherine was sad to realise she was now not speaking to both Remus and James. With Sirius also sulking, she had few options for conversation, which pissed her even more. On Tuesday morning, she demonstratively went to have breakfast with Mary, Gwyneth, and Lily.
They had just started eating when Greg joined them, surprising everyone by sitting next to Mary. Catherine smiled with satisfaction when she saw her friend blush but bravely hold her end of the conversation. Many in the Great Hall noticed this unusual setting, wondering why the heir of Hogwarts would be interested in speaking to someone like Mary MacDonald, who was considered a social outcast after the incident with the pictures.
Happy with the initial success of the mission to help her classmate, Catherine headed outside into the chilly November morning, making her way to the Greenhouses for her double Herbology lesson. Professor Sprout directed the fourth-years to the area around Greenhouse Three, where they were instructed to prune a row of Flutterby bushes. It was a daunting task, as the thin branches constantly moved.
Fifteen minutes into the class, Catherine was already hot and sweaty, with a small scratch on her cheek, and was seriously considering setting the bush on fire. In an attempt to get a better grip on the plant, she almost fell headfirst into the Greenhouse window. Swearing under her breath, she leaned against the wall and casually glanced through the glass. She threw the loppers to the ground and quickly approached Sirius and James, who were working on the nearby bush.
"The Mandrakes are almost ready!" – she whispered, gesturing towards the window – "I believe we can get the leaves before the Christmas break."
"Fucking finally!" – exclaimed James, forgetting he was not speaking to Catherine.
"The only thing is that since we can't take them during class, it's best if we do it after dark when nobody's around." – the young witch states contemplatively.
"When has that been a problem!" – Sirius laughed – "We'll use James' cloak and go whenever we want."
"Don't be daft!" – Catherine snapped, irritated – "Do you think Sprout just leaves this Greenhouse unlocked and unprotected? We have to find what spells she uses so we can sneak inside. I don't exactly want to be caught stealing Mandrake leaves."
"Can't your Hufflepuff friends help? She's their Head of House after all." – James asked, casually glancing over his shoulder to check if someone was eavesdropping.
"I doubt it, but I'll try to ask them discreetly." – the girl replied, adding with a smirk – "I thought you weren't talking to me."
"Nonsense!" – said James, looking a bit embarrassed – "This knobhead McMahon stole my future girlfriend; I'm not going to let him steal my best friend too!"
"Stop obsessing over, Greg." – Catherine sighed, resting her head on the boy's shoulder – "He's certainly annoying, but he's not bad. Actually, we have much more things in common than you'd think."