It all makes sense
Cait could have gone back to sleep for a couple of hours, but she didn't. Instead, she kept reminiscing about that single second where she had lost her mind and let her lips brush Vi's. The iron taste they had, the warmth in her chest and belly that definitely did not come from the hot spring.
She had quickly put a stop to it and forced both of them back to bed—not because she was tired, but because she had suddenly become conscious of how sexual the whole thing would have been if not for the magic towels hiding what she imagined as a perfect, muscular chest.
The memory of her leg between Vi's thighs when she had turned around to face her, the sheer proximity of it all, swarmed her like a tsunami.
And she wanted to get lost in it. She so desperately begged every god and goddess to let her drown in it.
But Vi was hurt—both physically and emotionally—and something deep inside Cait pulled her back, reminding her, like a scorching pain of red-hot iron on her skin, that no matter how much she wanted Vi, this was not how she wanted her.
She was also held back by all the things she needed to tell Vi. First on the list: the findings and theories she had just uncovered. Talk about the next step.
But also, how much she wanted to tell her how she had missed her—missed her smile, her laugh, the sight of her red-pink hair. How she had dreamt of her, imagining she was back, or that none of their arguments had ever happened.
Vi needed sleep. Or at least some rest, whatever kind she could find, even if Cait couldn't get any herself.
When the rooster sang at seven, she was still dreaming of closing her eyes.
"A very long day ahead," she muttered.
As soon as she was dressed, she went to knock on Vi's door—gently, just in case she was still sleeping. But a few seconds later, Vi's face, still sleepy and messy, but at least cleared of any traces of blood, appeared in the frame.
"Five more minutes, Mom," she greeted with a smirk, still in her muggle-like PJs.
"What's your plan for today, Vi? Back to work?"
Vi shook her head.
"Nah. I'm going back to bed as soon as you leave. I haven't slept on a real mattress for weeks, I'm gonna enjoy it. Then I'll go and see the old man, see if I can have my job back, you know."
Caitlyn smiled, her day already brighter knowing Vi was here to stay.
"I'm sure Dumbledore will not cause any problems. Can we meet at lunch then? I have some things I wish to share with you."
Vi's eyebrows moved up, stretching the cut that barred one of them.
"You found something?"
"I might have, yes. But nothing that cannot wait a few more hours. Get your rest, and we'll talk later."
Vi seemed hesitant, obviously eager, but—surprising Caitlyn as much as herself—she nodded.
"Alright. I'll see you then. And Cait..."
She waited a second, swallowed, and blushed a little.
"… I didn't dream it last night, did I? You kissed me? 'Cause I'll be honest, the whole thing is still fuzzy in my head, and I'm not sure what was real or not."
Caitlyn let out a gentle laugh.
"So I finally decide to kiss you, and then you just forget about it?"
"So you did kiss me!"
Vi's smile was brighter than ever.
"Maybe I did. Maybe I didn't."
Caitlyn's smile matched Vi's, until the latter faltered a little.
"You know, Cait… We play around and we tease each other, and I don't mind it. I like it, even, but… if my time away—let's call it that—made me realize anything, it's that…"
Her fingers moved back and forth between herself and Cait.
"… I want this. I'm all in for it."
Cait's hand reached for Vi's arm.
"I know, love. Me too. Let's talk after lunch, alright?"
Vi couldn't help but yawn.
"Yeah, okay. You're the worst bloody tease I've ever met, but okay."
Caitlyn almost winked.
"Thank you. I do my very best."
It was good to be back.
Who could have predicted that this morning would, of course, be absolutely horrendous? Every single child seemed to have received a memo to be on their worst behavior possible. Between chattering, forgotten homework, disrespect, and textbooks blown-up in smoke, if she had been playing the teacher's bingo, she would have won in just three hours.
The high from the night's events and the morning's discussion was put to the test, but it had not yet melted away, kept alive by the anticipation of the upcoming conversation.
Would it be so easy, though? Of course not. When lunchtime finally arrived—after doing her very best not to run straight to the Great Hall and instead keeping a pace befitting a respected professor—she took her seat. And as the chicken, roasted pork, beef with gravy, steamed vegetables, baked potatoes, pasta salad, and all the rest appeared… Vi did not.
Albus Dumbledore did, though. A few minutes after the other professors, while forks and knives were already clanking around, but he was here. It was only at dessert, after forcing some modicum of food down her throat, that Caitlyn decided to go see him.
"Excuse me, Headmaster," she said, almost shyly, as if she were a student again.
"Hmm?"
A small bowl of chocolate pudding levitated from the table to his plate.
"I was wondering… Would you happen to know where Vi is? I saw her this morning. I thought she was back."
"Oh! Right!"
His mischievous grin returned for the first time in a while, and Caitlyn had almost—almost—missed it.
"I did meet with her this morning. Mrs. Lane was thankful for having the time to, how did she put it… deal with her issues by completely failing. Sometimes, a positive outcome is not the one we expected, or even wanted!"
"Right, right… but where is she?"
"Well, I had her sent on an urgent mission. You see, Vander was quite unpleased with her, ahem, sudden leave of absence and had asked me to let him know as soon as I had news. I thought it best for everyone to strongly encourage her to go see him. I'm sure you understand."
Caitlyn's shoulders sagged slightly, as relief and disappointment battled for first place in her heart.
"I see. That is good news, I suppose."
Then, with renewed interest:
" i didn't know Vander and yourself were acquainted, Sir?"
Dumbledore's smile did not falter for a second.
"We are indeed, although I wouldn't say we are close friends."
"From his time with Grindelwald, I suppose?"
Now his lips pressed into a thin line.
"That would be a correct assumption, yes. Although I was not aware that this… connection was widely known. And I would appreciate it if this knowledge did not spread further, Professor Kiramman."
"Vander explained it to us over Christmas," she said. "I only just made the connection. I remembered what Vi told me when she joined the staff—she made it sound as if it was a favor. It seems you are committed to helping the former associates of your… former friend as much as you can."
Dumbledore sighed.
"I feel like I am repeating myself, but I truly wish you would not consider me your enemy, Mrs. Kiramman. But if it can ease your mind, I have always believed in second chances, and that no one is ever beyond redemption. Vander has proven time and again over the last decades that he is a good man. And until recently, I have never done anything to help him more than being vocal about my love for his shepherd's pie."
Caitlyn smiled—or at least tried to.
"I do not think of you as an enemy, Sir. Quite the opposite. I find this philosophy commendable. I was only trying to confirm my theory rather than just assume things."
"I see."
Dumbledore's attention shifted to his awaiting pudding.
"I suppose that is for the best. I am not used to people looking so closely into my life, but I suppose, if it must happen, I would rather you be upfront about it indeed."
She took her leave, unsure whether her relationship with the Headmaster had deteriorated further or if he had accepted her explanation.
She knew she should be more careful—her constant investigations could put her employment in jeopardy, and with that… almost everything else.
It wasn't really her fault if everything kept leading back to Dumbledore, whether it was his werewolf-related secrets or his past with Grindelwald. The old man seemed to have secrets in every pocket of his long purple robe!
Before returning to class, she swung by her bedroom to swap her notes for the afternoon's lesson. As she opened the door, she noticed a strange noise beneath her steps. A piece of parchment had been carefully slid under the door, now crumpled and pushed further inside.
Curious, she leaned down and picked it up, trying to flatten it to limit the damage.
Cupcake,
Dumbledore said I should pay a visit to Vander, you know... Apologize. I reckon he might be right. Sorry, I know you wanted to talk. I'll be back in an hour or two! Sorry again.
Vi
Well, at least she hadn't left without a word this time. The problem was that when dinner was served—after three more excruciating hours of class and one hour of supervising detention for a bunch of fifth-year students—Vi was still not there.
Despair and betrayal crept in, like drops of blood from a scratched-out scab on a poorly healed wound. She clenched her jaw, trying to push the feelings down, but she knew she wouldn't hold on for long.
She focused on her spaghetti, watching the noodles spin round and round on her fork. Maybe if she swirled them enough, they would turn into a black hole and swallow her whole.
"Those pastas seem damn interesting," said someone behind her.
Cait's heart skipped a beat, and she bit her tongue in surprise. Considering the alternative would have been letting out the most unladylike scream of fear, it was probably for the best.
"Vi! Merlin, you scared me!"
Merlin, I'm so happy you're here.
It took everything in her not to jump at her neck.
"Sorry, didn't mean to. Mind if I sit?"
She didn't even wait for an answer before sliding into the seat next to her, looking as nonchalant and heartwarming as the first time they had met. No one could have guessed she had come home bloody the day before. Perks of magic.
"Did Vander keep you?" Cait asked, hell-bent on not letting her voice quiver.
"He made me wash every single forks, knives, and mugs by hand. Even the clean ones."
Caitlyn chuckled.
"He could have done a lot worse."
Vi gazed at the clean cutlery in front of her and smiled again, though a hint of sadness tinged the glint in her eyes.
"Yeah, he could have. Should have. I didn't realize how it might've felt for him, you know? That it would remind him of all those years ago, when I left for America. For me, it wasn't the same thing—I was looking for Powder, not… running away. But for him… Yeah, he could have done a lot worse, after what I put him through. Again."
"He's a good man."
Caitlyn's hand moved to Vi's forearm.
"He is."
Silence settled—or as much as silence could settle in the Great Hall during dinner.
Vi finally grabbed a piece of bread floating by and Accio'd a slice of cheese, which was very unlike her, Cait noticed.
"What? I've been washing dishes for hours. I can use my wand once in a while!"
Then Vi leaned in, eager. "So, what did you want to tell me? What did you find out? I've been waiting all day!"
"Not here. Let's talk in my room."
Except, of course, they couldn't just excuse themselves in the middle of dinner without raising a few unwanted questions. So, once again, they had to wait.
Just a little longer.
Just. A little. Longer.
"Come on, spill it!"
Vi's patience had finally reached its limit. But at last, they were alone in Cait's room, with no immediate interruptions in sight—and no blood nor wounds to clean.
"Alright, so. The weirdest thing happened a few nights ago…"
She recounted her late-night meeting with Singed in the library, the same way she had told Dumbledore.
"The thing is… Singed, it seems, used to work—either for or with—a certain Grindelwald."
Vi's eyes went wide.
"So that's how Dumbledore knows him! From when he was fighting Grindelwald! But why would he offer a teaching job to someone like that?"
Caitlyn shook her head.
"No, Vi. This is how Silco knows him."
Vi's eyes now turned into silver plates.
"Wh… what?"
"Think about it! We already suspected that Powder has been working with Silco—the same man who, according to your father, used to work for Grindelwald with a certain zeal. We know that Singed also worked for Grindelwald. And right after I catch him digging through the Restricted Section for Dark Magic—the kind Dumbledore himself warned me against—he's gone. Disappeared into thin air, with the book he stole."
"You think he stole the book for Silco?"
Caitlyn nodded.
"Dumbledore told me he took away the only book with clear instructions on how to make Horcruxes years ago. And since we suspected Powder was conducting experiments…"
"Oh fuck…" Vi muttered, clenching her fists. "She's working with Singed to make those Horty-thingies."
"Horcruxes. My theory exactly. I'm just not sure if this is for Silco himself or whoever he kept referring to as Master. If that person even exists—which, at the moment, I'm not entirely convinced of."
"But Vander can tell us if he knows Singed! I never talked about the guy—I'm not sure he even knows that creep was working here. He could confirm it for us."
Again, Caitlyn nodded, relieved to see Vi's mind making the same connections as hers.
"I wanted to write to him yesterday, but I got interrupted. And honestly, it gave me time to think… This information might be too sensitive to just write down and send with an owl. This could be what Vander needs to send Ekko in the right direction."
Smashing her right fist into her left palm, Vi agreed.
"So we should meet him face to face then! It's not that late—he won't be done for the day yet. Let's go!"
She got up from the bed, but Cait grabbed her wrist.
"Vi! Wait!"
Her grip was strong enough to pull Vi back, and she visibly winced from the pain.
"Hey! It might not look like it, but it still hurts!"
Slightly ashamed, Cait let go with a small apology.
"Sorry, sorry, it's just… I wasn't really finished."
Vi sat back down, the bed sagging slightly under her weight, pulling Caitlyn closer—just a little—as if Vi had some kind of gravity of her own.
"You found something else?" Vi asked.
"No, not really, sorry."
Caitlyn hesitated. She breathed in, then out. Her cheeks looked reddened, and she seemed unusually unsure of herself. Vi picked up on the clues.
"Oh, it's about last night. I gotta admit, it was pretty hot. But I'd say that was mostly the pool!" she added with a wink.
But Caitlyn didn't respond to her banter.
"What? I thought it was pretty good!"
Caitlyn's eyes moved from the bed to Vi's—and locked in.
"I'm done."
Vi's smile disappeared like snow under a desert sun, and blood drained from her face.
"Done with what?"
Fear dawned over her like dusk on the day. Done with their little games? Done with helping her? Done with her and her stupidity?
Cait's hand moved up to her neck and held her firmly, leaving no escape. She leaned in, her breath like a summer breeze against Vi's skin. Her gaze dropped—from Vi's steel-blue eyes to her red lips.
"I'm done playing…"
The hesitation—the silent question for consent—hung in the air for only a second before Caitlyn's lips crashed against Vi's.
Vi's heart kicked against her ribs as their warmth melted together, as though their bodies had always known the rhythm, the hunger, the urgency. Their lips moved in perfect sync, as if they were two halves of the same whole, instinctively falling into place. Caitlyn's fingers tightened against Vi's neck, pulling her closer—as if no distance, no space between them could ever feel like enough. It was fire and need, a consuming rush of everything they had been holding back.
Their tongues met, and Vi let out a slow, raspy breath, a sound of pleasure escaping her lips, a sound she didn't even realize she was making, as Caitlyn lost herself in the taste of her—tea and something sweet. It wasn't just a kiss; it was a release, a promise, an eruption of everything that had built up between them.
One hand moved down to Caitlyn's hips, gripping, pulling, grounding herself in the reality of this moment, making sure that this was real, that they were here. Another hand slid into Cait's blue hair, the sensation of the strands slipping through her fingers blurred with the overwhelming sensation of being completely lost in her.
When they finally broke apart—maybe an eternity later—their breaths still mingled in the small space left between them. Vi rested her forehead against Cait's, a lazy grin tugging at her lips as the wild heat still lingered in her chest.
"Took you long enough," she murmured, her voice thick, low, still catching from the kiss.
Caitlyn scoffed, her cheeks still flushed, still burning.
"Shut up."
Vi laughed, and just like that, the whole world came rushing back around her—though nothing felt the same anymore. Different, brighter, more vivid, more alive than before. Nothing would ever feel the same again.
"I thought you wanted the most romantic thing ever?" she managed to ask.
Caitlyn smirked. "Allow me to borrow one of your philosophies, my dear. Screw the rules. Especially my own."
Her lips found Vi's again.
"I've waited long enough. I want you, Vi. I don't want to play anymore, or pretend, or act like whatever it was we were doing was enough. I really, really want you. If you'll have me, that is."
Vi's smirk grew, though it was softer now, more tender, less guarded. Her hand cupped Caitlyn's face, her fingers trembling slightly as she pulled her in, kissing her again—but this time, it was gentle, slow, almost hesitant, as if she was savoring the taste of this moment, of Caitlyn.
"Hmmm… I need to think this through…" Vi teased, a playful twinkle in her eye, clashing with the intensity of the moment, simmering just beneath the surface.
Her hand moved to Caitlyn's neck, her thumb brushing over her pulse. Caitlyn felt her heart beat faster at the touch, at the sheer gravity of everything they were about to give each other.
This time, her own hands reached out, cupping Caitlyn's face. Her cheeks were warm under Vi's fingers. She pulled her in gently and kissed her—softer than Caitlyn had expected.
"I have thought this through. The council is unanimous: hell yeah I'll have you." Vi's voice, low and steady, was laced with a confidence Caitlyn hadn't expected.
Cait's heart flamed up, and suddenly, everything inside her danced around the room like an out-of-body experience. She couldn't think, couldn't focus on anything but the overwhelming warmth, of something pure and wild and real. She had never felt like this before, so light, so free, yet so intensely grounded at the same time... So giddy! Like a child again, though her thoughts were suddenly very adult.
"You still want to go to Vander's?" she murmured, her voice raw and unguarded, the words leaving her lips without thought, without any intention other than to pull herself back, to hold on to a bit of reality.
Vi's response was immediate. With a sudden movement, she pushed Caitlyn back onto the bed, the force of it surprising and thrilling.
"No way I'm leaving this room tonight," she answered, her tone dark, almost possessive, but with an undeniable affection. The finality in her words sent a ripple of excitement through Caitlyn's chest. It wasn't just about the kiss anymore. It was about them, together, in a way that felt like both release and beginning.
The world outside no longer mattered. Only this. Only them.