As December descended upon Hogwarts, the castle and its grounds were engulfed by the unforgiving embrace of winter. The first snowfall arrived in fierce gusts, driven by a biting wind that howled through the ancient spires and battlements, leaving the stone walls cold and unyielding to the touch. The Forbidden Forest loomed dark and foreboding, its towering trees burdened by a heavy mantle of snow, their branches creaking under the oppressive weight.
Inside the castle, the familiar warmth of the common rooms was diminished by the drafty corridors and the persistent chill that seemed to seep through even the thickest walls. The relentless cold invaded every nook and cranny, turning the long hours of study into an endurance test. The Library, once a sanctuary, now felt dim and lifeless, with only a few flickering candles battling the encroaching gloom. Outside, the harshness of winter mirrored the intense focus demanded within, as students buried themselves in their books, driven as much by the need to escape the cold as by the looming deadlines.
The fourth-years, particularly burdened with assignments, felt the pressure keenly. Catherine, among them, had never anticipated a Hogsmeade visit with such desperate longing as she did now. The snowfall outside, far from deterring the Gryffindors, seemed only to heighten their excitement as they animatedly discussed their plans for the day over breakfast. Stifling a massive yawn, the young witch downed the last of her coffee in one quick gulp.
'Thankfully, the chill outside will help keep me awake.' – she mused, watching the swirl of owls as they swooped in to deliver the morning mail.
To her surprise, two letters fluttered down before her. Intrigued—she seldom received much mail—Catherine swiftly opened them. The first was from Dumbledore, informing her that he would be away for some time due to 'unexpected circumstances' and that their lessons would resume after the holidays. He also cautioned her not to practice alone and reminded her to clear her mind before sleep.
'No need to do it if I don't sleep.' – the witch thought bitterly as she took the second envelope. Inside was a small piece of parchment with a single word: Oui. A satisfied smile spread across her face. She knew her mother had the final say on whether she could spend Christmas with the Potters, but Catherine had suspected her chances would improve if her father broached the subject instead of her.
"A lot of mail today." – James remarked, glancing at his friend.
"Are two letters really a lot?" – the girl smirked, tearing the small note into pieces – "I have good news – my parents agreed to let me spend Christmas at your place."
"Really?!" – James's face lit up with excitement – "That's fantastic! I'll tell Mom right away! We're going to have so much fun! Right, Sirius? What's up?"
"What?" – Sirius replied absentmindedly, still staring at the letter in his hand.
"Flame's spending the holidays with us!" – James repeated, slightly irritated – "What are you reading with such an expression?"
"It's a letter from my cousin Andromeda." – the other boy said slowly – "She gave birth a few days ago."
"Isn't that something to be happy about?" – Catherine asked, puzzled by his tone.
"I guess…" – Sirius muttered, noticing the surprise on their faces – "It's not that I'm not happy for her. I just got upset because she wrote I'm the only person in the family she knew would appreciate the news."
"That's so sad." – James sighed – "Is the baby a boy or a girl?"
"A girl." – Sirius answered, glancing at the letter again – "Her name's Nymphadora."
"It's a… unique name." – Catherine remarked, feeling a wave of relief that her own parents didn't pick up something similar.
"If you say so." – Sirius chuckled – "I just really want to do something nice for Dromeda so she doesn't feel so alone."
"Why don't you buy her and the baby a gift today when we go to Hogsmeade?" – the young witch suggested – "There's a big store called Pixie Dust Baby Boutique or something like that. You can check it out."
"Great idea!" – Sirius exclaimed, his enthusiasm reignited – "Let's go now!"
"I'm still eating!" – James protested, but Sirius was already tugging Catherine toward the castle doors.
The weather outside was bitterly cold, with the wind whipping snow into the Gryffindors' faces as they made their way past the Black Lake and onto the path leading to the village. The wind howled so fiercely that conversation was impossible, leaving them to trudge forward in silence.
Hogsmeade was bustling with students, who braved the cold to crowd High Street, pausing in front of brightly lit shop windows, many already decorated for Christmas. As they reached the Pixie Dust Baby Boutique, they ran into Peter and Nora. The third-year's eyes lit up when she heard they were shopping for a baby gift, and with an excited grin, she eagerly pulled Sirius and Peter inside.
"Shall we go in too?" – Catherine asked, raising an eyebrow as she eyed the door, lavishly garlanded with evergreens, holly, and even a sprig of mistletoe.
"I've got a more interesting spot in mind." – James replied, a mischievous smirk spreading across his face – "Come on, it's just around the corner!"
Intrigued, the young witch followed him as they ducked into a nearby side street, stopping in front of a cozy, inviting window.
"The Witch's Garden?" – Catherine read the sign aloud – "Not to burst your bubble, but how is this more interesting than a baby store?"
"Stop complaining and get inside already!" – James demanded as he opened the door, shoved the girl in, and then closed it from the outside.
"What are you doing?" – the witch shouted in frustration, spinning around.
"Flame…"
She turned, startled, to see the very pale Remus Lupin standing a few paces away, wearing an apron emblazoned with the store's logo—a red tulip.
"Why are you here?" – Catherine asked, her eyes darting around the empty shop.
"I help out during our Hogsmeade visits." – the boy admitted, his gaze fixed on the floor – "James thought it might be a good idea to bring you here so we could talk."
"Of course he did." – the girl muttered, vowing silently that James Potter would pay for this once she was out of there.
"Are you mad at me?" – Remus asked softly.
For the first time in weeks, Catherine looked directly into his eyes. 'Was the last full moon extra hard for him?' - she wondered, studying his whitish face with growing concern.
"You know I'm not great with words…" – the boy began, offering a shy smile as he reached behind the counter and pulled out a small bouquet of yellow roses tied with a white ribbon – "It's not a lot, compared to everything you've done for me, but I wanted to give you something—to apologise for the way I acted at the Ball. I realise now that I didn't express myself well, and I didn't make it clear how much you mean to me."
"Yellow roses…" – Catherine murmured, her fingers gently brushing over the delicate petals.
"James said they symbolise eternal friendship." – Remus explained, his voice tinged with anxiety as a blush spread across his cheeks – "Will you accept them? I can't offer you much, but I'm really selfish, and I don't want to lose my best friend."
"Moony, I'm not sure our friendship can ever be the same as before…" – the girl said sadly – "I don't know if we can move past that kiss and the fact I wanted it to lead to something more…"
"Did you really?" – the young wizard asked, prompting the witch to look at him with surprise – "I don't regret sharing our first kiss, Catherine… because I care so deeply about you, and I know you care about me too. But can we actually be a couple? Doesn't the idea of it feel… awkward?"
"I don't know." – the black-haired girl admitted, brushing her fingers lightly against Remus' hand – "But I don't regret that kiss either."
"Then why can't we just continue being friends?" – the boy asked with a gentle smile – "You said our friendship can't be the same. Maybe you're right. It won't be the same. It's going to be stronger. Is the love between friends worth less than between lovers, Flame?"
Catherine stared at him as if seeing him for the first time, her mind racing to make sense of her feelings at that moment.
"It's not worth less!" – she declared, her voice hoarse with emotion – "Not to me! Never between us! I'm so sorry Remus! I've been such an idiot!"
With that, Catherine practically threw herself into her friend's arms, sobbing silently into his shoulder for a good five minutes while he gently stroked her hair. When she finally managed to calm down, Moony pulled out a handkerchief and tenderly wiped the tears from her face.
"Feeling better?" – he asked softly.
"I do." – the witch nodded, offering a small, grateful smile – "Thank you for putting up with me and still carrying enough to fix everything."
"Don't thank me for such nonsense! Do you really think I'd rather give up on you? Don't be ridiculous!" – Remus scolded his friend before adding – "However, I want you to promise me something. If ever again it looks like we're hurting each other on purpose, let's keep in mind how much we love each other, and remember there must be another explanation for whatever happened."
"You're so sweet, you know that?" – Catherine remarked, grinning as Remus blushed deeply – "I promise you, Moony!"
"I see the plan was a success!" – James exclaimed, his face lighting up as Catherine emerged from the flower shop with a smile and the yellow roses bouquet.
"I can't believe you schemed and lied to get me here." – the girl said, chuckling as she noticed his playful, defensive expression – "But thank you!"
"You're very welcome!" – he grinned as they made their way back to High Street – "I'm so relieved you two sorted things out! You have no idea. It was worth nearly losing my fingers to frostbite while waiting outside!"
"Do you need me to warm you up?" – Catherine teased, a devious glint in her green eyes.
"No, thanks! I'd rather be a bit cold than risk getting burnt to a crisp!" – the wizard laughed – "I wonder if Sirius has bought a present already."
"Don't know. Can you see them inside?" – the girl asked as they stopped again in front of the Pixie Dust Baby Boutique.
"Nope." – James said, peeking through the window – "I'll go check."
The street was bustling with Hogwarts students, their laughter and chatter filling the air as they window-shopped. The rich aroma of baked goods and hot chocolate wafted from nearby cafés, making Catherine's stomach rumble.
'Fixing things with Remus surely improved my appetite!' – she thought happily, unable to suppress her smile.
"Catherine Plantier! Just the person I was looking for!" - Frank Longbottom's voice cut through her daydream of warm Eccles cakes and a cup of Assam tea. She turned to find a group of fifth-year boys, including her brother, flanked by Lily Evans, Mary MacDonald, Alice Fortescue, and Marianne Trundle.
"Careful, Frank. Say that too often, and people might think you mean it." - Catherine quipped, making Frank burst into laughter.
"What I really meant was that it's a bit hard to encounter you without… hmm, your overly devoted friends." – the wizard chuckled.
"They're inside the store, so you might want to get to the point before they reappear." – Catherine replied with a smile. Despite their playful banter, she really liked Frank—he was sharp-witted and fun to tease.
"Oh, right! Straight to the point, then!" – he declared with mock urgency – "Would you come to Slughorn's Christmas party with me next weekend?"
"Ahm…" – the girl stammered, blushing as she noticed several people, including a clearly displeased Marianne, watching the exchange – "This is very kind of you to offer, but…"
"Whoa, don't get the wrong idea!" – Frank interrupted with a broad grin – "I'm asking purely for moral support. No one else I know who was invited wants to go, and I really need to butter up old Slughorn!"
"Are you two not going?" – Catherine asked, turning to Greg and Lily, who exchanged amused glances.
"Well, considering this particular party is basically the entire Slytherin House plus a few select Slug Club members, I think we're definitely sitting this one out." – Greg remarked, giving Frank a sympathetic pat on the shoulder.
"You see what kind of 'friends' I have?" – the boy sniffed theatrically – "I wouldn't have asked, but I don't want to be alone among all the snakes, and you've got a remarkable knack for making our Potions Master bend to your will."
"And what exactly do I want him to do?" – Catherine asked, arching an eyebrow with a smirk.
"To consider helping me to get into his NEWT Potions class!" – Frank groaned – "I'm hopeless at Potions, but I need it if I want to be an Auror. Come on, Flame! Be a pal!"
While Catherine didn't like the idea of spending an entire evening with Slytherins one bit, she thought it might be a good opportunity to acquire some bicorn horn and brew extra Dreamless Sleep Potion. It was a rare opportunity to obtain the ingredients safely, and she could also help Frank with Slughorn.
"Alright, but you owe me big time!" – she shrugged, as Frank's face lit up with gratitude.
Meanwhile, the other students had started a fierce snowball fight, running around, screaming and laughing, often using unsuspecting bystanders as human shields in their winter antics.
"So childish!" – Lily sighed, glancing at Greg, who smiled gently at her – "Daisy, do you want to join us at The Three Broomsticks?"
"Thanks, but I'm waiting for the boys. Besides, I'm not sure everyone in your group would be thrilled to have me there." – Catherine replied, casting a glance at Marianne, who was laughing heartily with Benjy Fenwick and Thaddeus Hart near the entrance of the Pixie Dust Baby Boutique. Just then, the door swung open, and Nora and Peter emerged, followed by James and Sirius, the latter looking exhausted but proudly holding a beautifully wrapped package.
Marianne froze for a moment, her eyes flicking from Sirius to Catherine, and then to the mistletoe hanging on the door, above the Gryffindor's head. Without hesitation, she quickly approached Sirius, flashed him a charming smile, and before he could utter a word, she rose on her toes and kissed him passionately under the whistles and cheers of those nearby.
Catherine felt a sinking sense of disappointment that she couldn't shake. She forced herself to laugh with the others, but it sounded hollow even to her. Sirius, now livid, pushed Marianne away, his anger only heightened by the teasing about the mistletoe. He marched straight to where the black-haired girl stood with Frank and the others, his face flushed and his grey eyes stormy with fury.
"What the bloody hell is wrong with that girl?!" – he shouted, glancing at Catherine, who struggled to appear sympathetic while barely containing her urge to wipe the smug grin off Marianne's face as she was currently enjoying being the centre of attention of her friends who were having a blast.
"It must be due to your absolutely irresistible charm!" – Greg chimed in mockingly, not even bothering to hide his laughter.
Sirius bristled at the remark and in just two quick strides, he was standing nose-to-nose with the aristocrat. Both wizards were of similar height and build, making it hard for Catherine to predict who would come out on top in a confrontation. The fourth-year's eyes blazed as he seized the front of the young lord's blue winter cloak, which bore the McMahon family crest - a golden shield with a prominent letter 'M,' flanked by a red-maned lion on the left and a majestic eagle on the right. Above the shield sat a badger, and below it, a coiled snake.
"Do you think this is funny?" – Sirius growled, his face mere centimetres away from the fifth-year, who looked more irritated than intimidated.
"Hilarious!" – Greg replied with a dark chuckle, his eyes flashing suddenly with a bright blue light. The snow beneath Sirius's feet turned to slick ice, causing him to lose his balance and fall heavily, gasping for breath.
"That's quite enough!" – Catherine intervened, kneeling beside her friend to check on him, with James at her side, glaring at Greg with barely concealed disgust.
"He started it. It's time for your friends to learn that I'm not someone they can bully." – Greg stated coldly, his eyes returning to their normal colour – "The sooner they figure that out, the better."
"Honestly, Flame, I can't wait for you to become a Fire Mage and kick his ass!" – James fumed, watching as Greg, Lily, and Frank headed off towards The Three Broomsticks.
"I'm not planning on challenging a Water Mage who's probably a Kraken type." – the black-haired witch muttered, helping a sulky Sirius back to his feet.
"What's that?" – he asked, brushing snow off his clothes and checking to make sure the gift he'd bought was still intact.
"The strongest type of Water Mages." – the girl replied dryly – "More importantly, what did you get for your cousin?"
"Oh, I found an enchanted baby journal." – the wizard said, a shadow of a smile playing on his lips – "It preserves memories, a bit like a mini Pensieve. There are sections for pictures and voice messages, too. I think she and little Nymphadora will have a lot of fun with it!"
"Do you really have to go?" – Sirius muttered, sitting on the edge of his bed, his voice laced with reluctance as he struggled to apply ointment to his bruised shoulder.
"I promised Frank I'd help him." – Catherine replied, her tone soft yet resolute. She gently took the balm from his hands, her fingers brushing against his skin as she carefully spread the ointment over the inflamed area – "It's already looking better than yesterday. Does it still hurt?"
"It does. But it's worth it if it means you'll keep touching me." – the boy grinned, enjoying how the young witch immediately pulled back, a deep blush spreading across her cheeks.
"I'm sorry I couldn't do more." – the black-haired said quickly, trying to change the topic – "My healing powers don't seem to work as well when there's lingering magic in the wounds."
"You've done plenty. It could have been a lot worse." – Sirius shook his head in frustration – "I still can't believe Sprout put such a nasty spell around the Greenhouse. Getting strangled by Devil's Snare would've been a terrible way to go."
"To say the least." – Catherine agreed, her brow furrowing as she tried not to dwell on how close they had come to a far more dangerous outcome. The memory sent a shiver down her spine.
'We were way too confident.' – she thought with annoyance – 'Of course, the Greenhouse would be well protected with all the dangerous plants inside. We need a better plan to get the Mandrake leaves.''
"Hey!" – Sirius said, his voice softer now as he reached out to squeeze her hand, bringing her out of her thoughts. – "Try to enjoy the party and don't worry about anything. I'm fine, and we'll find a way to get that last ingredient. I promise."
Catherine nodded and left the fourth-year boys' dormitory. As she descended into the Common Room, she found Frank waiting for her, his face lighting up with a smile when he saw her. He bowed slightly, a touch of playfulness in his gesture.
"You look lovely!" – he complemented her – "Once again, thank you so much for coming with me tonight! I promise we won't stay a minute longer than necessary!"
"Don't worry, Frank! I'm fully prepared for a night of torment." – the girl replied with a crooked smile.
"I must say I've always admired your bravery." – the fifth-year remarked as they descended towards the Dungeons – "Going to a full-fledged Slytherin dinner party while proudly wearing Gryffindor colours… now that's quite a statement."
Catherine looked down at her ruby-red satin dress with its fit-and-flare silhouette, paired with gold ballet flats and a matching thin gold belt. She shrugged, a hint of mischief in her eyes. "Honestly, I didn't think much about it. I just thought it suited the Christmas theme."
"Stick to that version!" – Frank winked at her as they entered one of the smaller Dungeons where the beaming Professor Slughorn welcomed them.
The party was indeed much more subdued than usual, likely because the Potions Master wanted to set it apart from the grand Halloween Ball. As expected, the room was filled mostly with Slytherins, along with a few older students from other houses. There were no outside guests, or so Catherine thought, until she spotted Lucius Malfoy lounging in a luxurious green armchair by the fireplace. Surrounded by his former housemates, he was clearly in his element, dressed in expensive emerald robes that matched the décor. A glass of red wine was elegantly poised in his hand, and a slight, condescending smile played on his pale lips.
Feeling a surge of anxiety, Catherine quickly turned away, muttering a hasty excuse to Frank before making her way to a large table laden with trays of finger food. Her mind raced as she tried to think of ways to avoid being noticed by Malfoy. As she reached for a mouth-watering mini quiche, her hand accidentally bumped into someone else's. Startled, she looked up and found herself face to face with Regulus Black. He seemed surprised and a bit nervous, his expression a far cry from the confident demeanour she expected from a Slytherin.
"Excuse me." – the Gryffindor said coldly, though she found it difficult to be too harsh with him, especially since he resembled her best friend so much.
"I…" – the boy began, his voice wavering slightly before he gathered his courage. His grey eyes, strikingly similar to Sirius's, suddenly sparkled with a hint of bravery – "Are you having fun?"
Catherine blinked a few times, unsure if she had heard correctly. She stared at the third-year boy, who was nervously chewing his lip. He was her height, but much thinner and more fragile-looking than Sirius. Despite her natural wariness of Slytherins, the black-haired girl couldn't help but smile at the youngest Black.
"Are you attempting to make small talk?" – she asked, amused – "Honey, you might want to work on your social skills a bit."
"I was just trying to be polite." – the wizard replied sulkily – "It's not like there's a line of people waiting to talk to you, either."
"Which I consider a Christmas miracle." - Catherine smirked - "Are you sure it's wise to be seen talking to me? Taking into account how much everyone in your House despises me, it could tarnish your reputation."
"I'm a Black!" – Regulus puffed proudly – "You might not get it, but that's a pretty big deal! My reputation can survive a little chat with…"
"With a Mudblood, right?" – the Gryffindor interrupted, her voice cutting through his bravado like a knife. Her green eyes blazed with barely veiled contempt, her smirk turning bitter - "What do you even want from me?"
Regulus faltered, the confident mask slipping from his face. "I… I wanted to thank you for healing my wound last year." - he stammered, his cheeks flushing with embarrassment as he stared at the floor.
"Don't worry about it. I just needed a guinea pig." – the young witch replied, picking up a glass of punch as she prepared to leave. Without another glance at him, she moved toward the centre of the room.
'He doesn't seem bad, just easy influenced and a bit meek.' – Catherine mused as she scanned the dungeon for Frank – 'I wish Sirius weren't so stubborn about giving Regulus a chance.'
A burst of laughter erupted from the sofas near the fireplace, where a group of students seemed engrossed in some sort of game, accompanied by whistles and giggles. The lively atmosphere provided the perfect cover for Catherine to slip away unnoticed. She decided it was a good moment to sneak into the Potions storeroom while everyone was preoccupied with the party. Moving quietly, she headed towards the exit, careful not to draw any attention.
"Where are you going Little Bird?" – Lucius' voice cut through the noise, stopping her in her tracks as she passed the raucous group. Catherine turned around, her heart skipping a beat when she saw him. The former Slytherin Prefect and Head Boy reclined in his chair, his smile sending a chill down her spine. In the few months since she had last seen him, Malfoy had changed in a way that was hard to pinpoint—he was no longer just an arrogant boy, but a man who exuded a subtle, menacing power.
"I'm looking for Professor Slughorn." – she replied evenly, though her eyes darted around the room, searching for an escape.
"Oh, I believe he's gone to his storeroom to fetch a special kind of spiced Mead." – Lucius said, his smile widening – "Why don't you join us for a few rounds of Wizarding Truth or Dare? It's the holiday season, after all. We should be celebrating, not dwelling on houses and old grudges."
Catherine quickly glanced at the others gathered around the sofas, drinks in hand. It was clear to her that the wizard's last comment wasn't meant for her, but for them. Evan Rosier lounged with Aelia Greengrass on his lap, while Augustus Zabini and Lavinia Nott sat nearby, their expressions unreadable. On the opposite sofa, Marcellina Flint whispered something to Rodolphus Lestrange and Draven Nott. Malachi Selwyn was leaning casually against the fireplace, chatting with his cousin Octavia, while Severus Snape hovered in the background, trying to blend into the shadows behind Lucius's armchair.
"While I'm touched by the tempting offer, I'd rather walk into a Basilisks' nest than play any game with the likes of you." – the young witch replied, her voice dripping with sarcasm.
"That Mudblood is funnier that I gave her credit for!" - Rodolphus Lestrange barked out a laugh, but quickly went silent under Lucius' cold, heavy gaze.
"Now, now, Little Bird, don't be so quick to decline." – Malfoy chuckled softly, his grey eyes reflecting the firelight in an almost hypnotic way – "How about I sweeten the deal? Play with us, and you might just discover who among your so-called friends betrayed you."
Catherine's eyes narrowed, her irritation barely contained. "That's low, even for you. And you must think I'm incredibly stupid to fall for such an obvious trap."
"Do you know what this is, Miss Plantier?" – Malfoy asked, extending his right hand, revealing a slender crystal sceptre that glowed faintly green.
"No." – the black-haired girl replied sincerely, ignoring the amused giggles from the other Slytherins.
"This is what we call a Truth Rod." – the wizard explained patiently – "It's essentially crystallised Veritaserum—quite a pricey little toy, but very entertaining. It detects lies. If you tell the truth, it glows green, as I just demonstrated. If you lie, it turns red."
Catherine glared at the Truth Rod, her mind racing. She knew Lucius well enough to sense a hidden motive behind this invitation. 'Could he suspect who I really am?' - she wondered anxiously - 'But if that were the case, he wouldn't expose me in front of everyone. He'd save that information for himself, to curry favour with Borealis. So what is this about? Could there really be a traitor among my friends? I need to play. Even if he asks something dangerous, I'm not obligated to answer—I can simply stop playing.'
"Come on, Little Bird." – Lucius coaxed, his smirk deepening – "It's not a trap. I promise. I'm just trying to make the game a bit more… thrilling."
"Alright." – Catherine agreed, though her mind was still calculating. She moved to slip past Malfoy's chair, eyeing a nearby corner where she could watch the players' faces and gauge their reactions. But Lucius had other plans. He seized her hand and, with a swift tug, pulled her down onto the armrest of his chair.
"Perfect!" – he declared, while the Gryffindor struggled to maintain her composure, feeling the hostile stares of the other students. She forced herself to focus, determined not to be rattled – "Now, Lavinia, I believe it's your turn. Truth or Dare?"
Lavinia Nott paused briefly, then a cheeky smile spread across her face. "Dare!"
"How very brave of you." – Lucius purred feigning deep thought for a moment – "Then, go sit in Rodolphus' lap and eat this in front of his stuck-up face."
With a flick of his wand, Malfoy summoned a banana from the bowl of fruit on the refreshment table. Catherine felt her own face flush red as she watched Lavinia, who merely shrugged and complied. She made a show of it, eating the banana in the most slow and suggestive manner possible, right in front of Lestrange, who appeared to have troubles breathing normally.
"You're such an ass, Lucius!" – he growled when the girl returned to her seat with a smug smile, clutching the Truth Rod she had picked up on her way back.
"What's a little torture between friends?" – the blond wizard laughed, although Catherine had the odd feeling he was not exactly joking.
"It's my turn!" - Lavinia announced, standing up gracefully and scanning the room until her gaze settled on Catherine. The black-haired girl felt a knot tighten in her stomach; she knew Lavinia well enough to sense that whatever was coming would not be pleasant. With a triumphant air, the Slytherin witch shoved the crystal artifact into Catherine's hand.
"Truth or Dare?"
"Truth." – the Gryffindor chose, chose quickly, deciding she would rather die than risk a dare like Lavinia's.
"Hmm… okay, which teacher, male or female, you think is the hottest?" – the Slytherin asked, enjoying Catherine's shocked reaction.
"No one!" – she blurted out, but her heart sank as the Truth Rod gleamed an accusing red, signalling a lie.
"Tell the truth, Little Bird." – Lucius chuckled, his hand brushing casually against her back, sending a shiver down her spine – "You can't find out what you want unless you play the game properly."
Caught between a rock and a hard place, Catherine thought whether she should just give up on the game. She needed to find out what Malfoy knew, but this was quickly becoming more humiliating than she had anticipated. The girl took a deep breath and, with her cheeks burning, mumbled the name she dreaded even thinking, let alone saying aloud.
"Carter Thorne."
The crystal instantly turned green, prompting a chorus of whistles and laughter from the group. Catherine felt her face turn as red as her dress, knowing she would never hear the end of it. She caught a glimpse of Snape's mocking smile out of the corner of her eye and regretted ever agreeing to play.
"Don't worry, what happens in the game stays in the game." – Lucius whispered in her ear, his breath causing the peach fuzz on the back of her neck to stand up.
"You Slytherins play pretty weird games." – she replied awkwardly.
"This is very mild." – the wizard chuckled – "Lavinia could've done much worse, but that wouldn't have gone without consequences. I won't let you be bullied during your first game, Little Bird. It's your turn."
"Right!" – Catherine cleared her throat, striving to sound cool and collected – "Malfoy, Truth or Dare?"
"Let's go with Truth." – Lucius replied, taking a sip of his wine.
"What was the betrayal by my friend you mentioned earlier?" – the girl asked in one breath.
Lucius leaned back, his expression unreadable. "Do you remember two years ago, just before Halloween, when our two houses had a little... skirmish?"- he began, watching as Catherine nodded - "You might recall that someone wrote a threatening message on the wall near our Common Room, making it look like you were the culprit. At the time, I knew it wasn't your doing because one of your friends deliberately orchestrated that message to frame you. He was also the one who gave us the idea to hide rats in Hagrid's pumpkins."
"What?" – Catherine growled, completely taken aback. She had been annoyed at the time but assumed the Slytherins were behind it. Glancing at the Truth Rod in Malfoy's hand, its green glow confirming the truth – "Who was it? Who did it?"
"Ah, now that's a completely different question." – the Slytherin replied with a sly grin - "If you want an answer to that, you'll have to wait for another turn. But I'll make you a deal. Choose Dare, and I'll use my turn on you. How does that sound?"
"Isn't it against the rules to make such deals?" – the girl asked sulkily, trying to weigh whether it was worth risking a dare from Lucius Malfoy.
"I'm a Slytherin and a Malfoy. I make my own rules." – the wizard said coolly, then added with a seductive smile – "Where's that famous Gryffindor courage? I'm not going to ask you to do anything too scary. You might even enjoy it."
Catherine swallowed hard, feeling a knot of unease tightening in her stomach, but after a moment, she nodded slowly. Lucius handed her the Truth Rod, his eyes gleaming with satisfaction.
"Truth or Dare?" - he asked.
"Dare." – the girl replied, her voice ominous, bracing herself for what felt like an inevitable downfall.
"Promise me one dance." – Malfoy stated, his request so unexpected that Catherine locked eyes with him in disbelief – "One dance at the time and place of my choosing."
"I promise." – Catherine said, though a nagging sense of foreboding told her she had just agreed to something far more sinister than it appeared on the surface.
"Good girl." – Lucius murmured, his smile widening as he took the Rod from her – "Now, as per our deal, I choose Truth."
"Who wrote that message about snakes dying in red flame?" – the black-haired girl asked quietly, her voice barely above a whisper, yet laced with a tense edge.
"Peter Pettigrew." – Malfoy answered, the crystal flaring green with truth.
"That manky arsemonger!" - Catherine exploded, fury burning through her. She sprang to her feet and stormed away from the group of Slytherins, struggling to rein in her raging anger and the power surging within her. The last thing she wanted was to accidentally unleash her true fire and reveal her abilities to everyone in the room. When Malfoy had mentioned a betrayal, she had assumed it was someone from Gryffindor, perhaps someone she was friendly with—but she had never, for a moment, suspected one of the boys.
'How could I ever imagine one of them would betray me? It's absolutely insane!'– she thought bitterly, her mind reeling as she wandered aimlessly around the dungeon.
"Ah, Catherine! There you are!" – Frank's voice cut through her thoughts as he suddenly grabbed her hand, pulling her out of her angry reverie. He was standing with Professor Slughorn, who smiled warmly at her. Remembering her initial task, the girl forced a bright smile onto her face and spent the next fifteen minutes enthusiastically praising Slughorn's teaching skills and Frank's dedication to becoming an Auror. To her surprise, the professor agreed to give her housemate extra lessons to help him secure an Exceeds Expectations mark on his OWL exam and qualify for the NEWT class.
The black-haired girl used the opportunity to discreetly slip into the storage room and pick up some bicorn horn for her Dreamless Sleep Drought. The slightly tipsy Slughorn didn't notice a thing and neither did Frank who was already depressed by the amount of extra work he needed to do.
Returning to the party, the young witch contemplated grabbing a bite to eat before leaving. But as she approached the refreshments table, she spotted Narcissa Black and Valeria Malfoy, both glaring at her with such intense disdain that she instantly changed course. Too tired and frustrated to deal with yet another unpleasant encounter, the fourth-year decided it was best to steer clear of them and avoid further confrontation.
The group around the fireplace was still engrossed in their game of Truth or Dare, but Catherine had no desire to rejoin. The game had proved far too intense and risky for her liking. Rodolphus Lestrange, now holding the Truth Rod, was toying with his housemates, theatrically pretending to pass it to various people before snatching it back at the last moment. Finally, with a wicked grin, he tossed it to Marcellina Flint, a sulky-looking fifth-year with piercing blue eyes and an impeccable figure she never missed an opportunity to flaunt whenever she wasn't in her school uniform.
"Truth or Dare, Marce?" – Lestrange asked, a mischievous smile playing on his lips as he winked at Draven Nott.
"I feel adventurous. It's a Dare." – the girl replied, her gaze drifting toward Lucius, who seemed thoroughly bored at this point.
"Let's raise the stakes, then!" – Rodolphus chuckled, his eyes glinting with malice – "Go kiss Snape – tongue and all - for twenty seconds. I'll be counting."
Marcellina's expression turned stony as she pressed her lips together. After a tense moment of hesitation, she stood up and approached Snape, who looked as if he'd been struck by a Stunning Spell. Without a word, Marcellina grabbed the fourth-year and kissed him roughly, the act lacking any semblance of tenderness. True to Lestrange's word, the kiss lasted the full twenty seconds, after which Marcellina pulled away, gagging dramatically as she threw herself into Lavinia's arms.
"Merlin, I can't believe I did that!" – she whined, her voice dripping with artificial distress – "This is the most disgusting thing I've ever done in my life! Liv, please, use a Scouring Charm on my mouth—I feel filthy!"
The group erupted in raucous laughter, except for Lucius, whose grey eyes narrowed in irritation. Snape, however, was far from amused. His face had turned a ghastly white, blotched with red spots of embarrassment. He shook his head, letting his greasy black hair fall forward like a curtain to hide behind, and then quickly moved toward the centre of the room. For a brief moment, his eyes locked with Catherine's, and she was taken aback by the depth of pain, hatred, and anger she saw there. But just as quickly, he averted his gaze and disappeared from sight.
'Why do they torture him like this?' – Catherine thought, a wave of annoyance washing over her. There was nothing entertaining about Marcellina's exaggerated reaction or the cruel humiliation Snape had just endured. Despite the tension between her and him, she couldn't find any satisfaction in what she had witnessed. A pang of guilt gnawed at her as she remembered her role in the prank with the love letter—an act that, in hindsight, wasn't much better.
'Do I still feel bad about it?' – she wondered, her thoughts swirling as she waved at Frank, who had just returned with Slughorn – 'Maybe we did go too far. I'll try to be more civil with him… well, if he's civil with me, of course.'
Severus Snape downed his glass of pumpkin juice in one gulp, the liquid doing little to quench the simmering rage within him. He could barely resist the urge to draw his wand and unleash every hex and curse he knew on Lestrange and the rest of the imbeciles who found their prime entertainment in tormenting him. He had been genuinely relieved to see Lucius at the party, believing that his presence would shield him from the usual harassment. He hadn't even wanted to play their stupid game; the only reason he'd joined was because that prat Rodolphus had goaded him, calling him a coward.
For a fleeting moment, he had actually enjoyed himself, taking satisfaction in watching Plantier embarrass herself by admitting her crush on Carter Thorne in front of everyone. But the brief spark of amusement quickly faded, and dread settled in when he realised he had made a grave mistake by giving in to Lestrange's provocation. The second Rodolphus dared Marcellina Flint to kiss him, Severus knew he was trapped. He was so shocked that he couldn't react until he felt her lips against his, followed by the invasive thrust of her tongue.
Despite the undeniable fact that Marcellina was an attractive witch, admired by many of his older housemates, this was his first kiss—and he had always imagined sharing it with Lily. The bitter realisation that this moment had been stolen from him stung more than he expected. It was also a cruel reminder of how distant his relationship with Lily had become since the disastrous Halloween Ball. The boy deeply regretted the way he had lashed out, his anger getting the better of him when he saw his friend with the one person he was most jealous of at Hogwarts. His attempts to apologise since then had been met with cold silence, leaving him to stew in his own frustration and guilt.
To make matters worse, there were rumours circulating that Lily and Greg McMahon might be a couple. Severus knew better than to put stock in idle gossip, but the possibility bothered him, feeding his insecurity and fear that there might be some truth to it after all.
Naturally, he was far from giving up on winning the red-headed witch's love; in fact, such setbacks only fuelled his determination. Each minor failure made him want her even more desperately. So when Marcellina kissed him, his initial disappointment quickly morphed into a twisted sense of opportunity. Already insecure about his appearance, he also lacked confidence in the realm of romance. He knew he couldn't compete with someone like Greg McMahon in looks, but perhaps he could outshine him in skill, at least in something like kissing.
For weeks, Severus had been obsessively reading any sleazy self-help book on the subject he could find, trying to arm himself with theoretical knowledge. But knowing the mechanics of a kiss was one thing—putting it into practice was another matter entirely. When Marcellina kissed him, he decided to seize the unexpected a chance to test what he'd learned. However, her reaction shattered any hope the boy had. He knew he wasn't perfect, but he refused to believe the kiss was so awful as to merit such a dramatic response. It was clear to him that the witch was overacting, setting the stage for more humiliation and mockery at his expense.
Fed up, Snape left the group, seeking solitude and maybe a drink to wash away the sickly sweet taste of the Marce's lips. As he moved away, he noticed Catherine Plantier standing nearby. Their eyes met for a fleeting moment, and he struggled to mask his emotions, knowing that soon the Gryffindors would hear about his embarrassment. But to his surprise, all he saw on Catherine's face was disapproval and something that looked startlingly like sympathy.
'I must be hallucinating.' – the wizard thought, quickly averting his gaze as he headed towards the refreshments table.
"Are you alright, my friend?" – Lucius asked, placing a hand on Snape's bony shoulder - "I see Rodolphus's sense of humour is as deplorable as ever."
"I'm fine." – Snape replied curtly – "It's nothing I'm not used to by now."
"It doesn't have to be like that." – the older wizard said softly, a hint of regret in his voice – "I hate to see your talent going to waste simply because some people lack vision. That's not the way of Salazar Slytherin."
"You're the only one who sees anything in me." – the fourth-year muttered bitterly – "To everyone else, I'm a joke. Since you left, it's been a living hell. But I don't care. They already mock my clothes, my looks, my voice, my blood, and my lack of money—what does it matter if they add 'bad at kissing' to the list? It's not like I'll get to kiss anyone in the foreseeable future. I just have to remember my goals and ambitions—become so strong that no one will dare touch me."
"You're too hard on yourself, Severus." – Malfoy remarked with a sigh – "And you can't take that silly girl's theatrics seriously. I'm certain you'll become more than adequate in that particular department. Your attention to detail is one of your greatest strengths, just as it is with your potions."
"I fail to see the connection." – Snape replied with a touch of sarcasm – "Still, on the topic of potions, I'm glad that my little invention helped your friend."
"Oh, it certainly did." – Lucius said with a satisfied smile – "In fact, I wanted to give you this as a token of my appreciation. I recall you once mentioned you liked perfumes but didn't own one. I hope this suits your taste."
With that, the wizard produced a small, luxurious green bottle and handed it to Snape, who stared at it in astonishment.
"It does smell exquisite." – the boy admitted, already imagining if Lily might like it – "I detect subtle undertones of rose. I've always adored their scent, even if it's unconventional for a men's fragrance."
"I'm glad you approve." – the blond wizard replied, his smile deepening – "You know I'm always on the lookout for the best of the best, and that includes you—even though you're still a student. If you're willing to take on a few small tasks for me, I'd be happy to support you—with gold, and other advantages. I could put in a good word for you with the Basilisks or even make Rodolphus apologise for his behaviour. All I ask in return is loyalty and good results, which I have no doubt you can deliver."
"What kind of tasks?" - Snape asked, feeling the pull of temptation.
"Nothing too demanding." – Lucius assured him – "Brewing some potions, handling a few packages in Hogsmeade, gathering information for me. If you're up for it, I actually have something you can assist with right now."
Snape nodded, and a pleased grin spread across Lucius's face. "To test our new partnership, how about you start by keeping an eye on Greg McMahon? I want to know who he meets, where he goes, and if anything about his activities around Hogwarts seems suspicious."
"What for?" – the black-eyed boy asked, caught off guard by the request.
"That's not of your concern." – Malfoy replied coldly – "But I'll pay you well for any useful information you gather."
"He's pretty dull, but I can do that if you're willing to pay."– Snape shrugged, dreading the possibility to be stuck trailing the aristocrat and observing how amazing his life was.
"I'm glad we've reached an understanding." – Lucius said, clearly delighted at having so easily offloaded the burden of fulfilling his father's orders on behalf of House Borealis – "This party turned out to be more productive than I expected."
"If you say so." – Snape muttered, then hesitated before glancing at his friend – "Why did you ask Catherine Plantier for something as ridiculous as a dance? What's the point? It doesn't seem like you at all. And Cissy looked pissed about it."
"Did she?" – Lucius chuckled, amused – "I'll have to remind her of a few things before I leave. But honestly, it's not about the dance. I could have asked Miss Plantier for a song or a walk outside; it wouldn't have mattered. The real pleasure lies in knowing that every time she sees me from now on, she'll be on edge, wondering if I'm about to call in that promise. The mix of fear, anger, confusion, and curiosity in her eyes—there's nothing quite like it. I know you're not fond of her, Severus, but that's fine. The fewer people who appreciate my little treasure, the better."
'You must be out of your mind.' – Snape thought, already planning how to spend the promised reward for spying on Greg McMahon – 'I wonder if I should tell him that half the Gryffindor boys share his "treasure." But no—I'll let him find that out on his own. At least I can be grateful I wasn't dared to kiss Catherine Plantier. Things could have ended up much worse.'
Sirius Black sat cross-legged on the rug near the roaring fire in the Gryffindor Common Room, a letter from his mother clutched in his hands. It was late, and only a few students remained. James was playing with a snitch he had nicked from Madame Hooch's office, much to the enthusiastic cheers of Peter, while Remus was diligently finishing his Transfiguration homework, his concentration evident by the small ink spot that had somehow appeared on the tip of his nose.
'I can hardly believe these people…' – Sirius thought grimly, rereading the last paragraph for what felt like the tenth time – 'What does she mean by "try to avoid being associated with Mudblood filth. We need to maintain the right appearance"? Appearance for whom? Could they seriously be considering joining that Voldemort?'
His brooding thoughts were abruptly interrupted as Catherine burst into the Gryffindor Tower, her entrance as sudden as a gust of wind. Frank trailed behind her, looking noticeably distressed.
"Flame? What…" – Sirius began, but his question was cut off when Catherine stormed over to Peter, grabbing him by the front of his robes and shaking him violently, her green eyes blazing with fury.
"How dare you?!" – she hissed, her voice low and dangerous – "After everything I've done for you!"
"Hey! Hey! Let go of him!" – James intervened, struggling to separate them. It took considerable effort, but he finally managed to pull Catherine off, while Peter squeaked and curled up on a nearby sofa, his eyes wide with terror.
"What happened?" – Remus asked anxiously, taking hold of Catherine's hand and pulling her further away from the trembling Peter.
"What happened?!" – the girl snarled, her gaze sharp enough to cut glass – "What happened is that this little piece of crap has been using me as his personal tutor for years, letting me save his sorry ass time and time again. And how does he repay me? By framing me for something I didn't do and betraying us to the Slytherins!"
"Are you serious right now?" – James yelled angrily – "Peter wouldn't have done anything like that! Did Slytherins tell you this? Why would you believe them?"
"Because I know they weren't lying!" – the young witch snapped back.
"Can you slow down for a second?" – Sirius interjected, trying to grasp the situation – "What exactly are you talking about?"
"Remember that threatening message someone left on the wall next to the Slytherin Common Room two years ago? Everyone thought it was me. Turns out, it was Peter who did it—to frame me!" – she replied, eying her classmate who was now sobbing softly.
"Did you really do that, Peter?" – James asked, his voice tinged with disbelief.
"I…" – the short wizard stuttered – "It was not my intention! I was just planning to paint those ugly stone snakes in the dungeon red. I didn't realise they were right next to the Slytherin Common Room. Then Lucius Malfoy and his friends cornered me, asking how they could ruin the Halloween Feast for us. I panicked and mentioned the rats in the pumpkins… There were so many of them. What could I have done? If I'd fought back, they would've beaten me anyway! Then they forced me to write a message, making it look like it came from a Gryffindor… I thought you'd be protected by Sirius and James. You have to believe me—I had no choice!"
"You had plenty of choices!" – Sirius snapped, finally catching up with the story – "If you were that scared, you could've framed one of us! Why would you do this to Catherine of all people?"
"I didn't really think it through" – Peter whined – "I was just so scared!"
"Why didn't you tell us afterward?" – Catherine demanded, her eyes filled with disgust – "Not only did you betray me, but you also lied to us by keeping it a secret!"
"But nothing happened to you!" – Peter cried desperately.
"That's not the point, Peter!" – James said, his tone suddenly serious – "It could have! The Slytherins who didn't know might have targeted her! She could've been in serious trouble with the school—all because you wanted to save yourself from a bit of hexing and a few punches! How could you be so selfish?"
"I… I'm sorry!" – Peter sobbed before turning and bolting out of the Common Room.
"Maybe I was a bit too harsh.." – James sighed, glancing helplessly at Remus, who was gently rubbing Catherine's back, trying to soothe her.
"Too harsh? My ass!" – Sirius exploded angrily – "I knew he was a total wimp, but this crosses the line!"
"It seems this party has caused you a lot of stress. I'm sorry, Flame!" – Frank said anxiously, having watched the scene from the sidelines.
"It's not your fault." – Catherine shook her head – "Honestly, I'd rather know I've been betrayed than live in blissful ignorance."
"Still, I'm sure he's genuinely sorry for his moment of weakness." – the fifth-year remarked, though he quietly excused himself, leaving the distressed group of friends to grapple with their internal crisis.
"You look exhausted." – Remus observed, handing Catherine a cup of coffee at breakfast.
"I was too angry to sleep." – she explained, taking a large sip.
"Same here." – Sirius grumbled – "You know that knobhead didn't even dare come back to the dormitory? He probably slept in the Common Room."
"I haven't seen him today." – James added, scanning the Great Hall – "Do you think something happened to him?"
"I doubt it." – Sirius shrugged – "As we saw yesterday, he's pretty good at looking out for himself, no matter what happens to the rest of us."
"Flame?" – Peter's shaky voice interrupted, prompting Catherine to turn around. She saw the very nervous and very dirty wizard standing there, half-crying, clutching something in his hand – "This is what we need, right?"
The young witch stared at the bunch of purplish-green leaves Peter held out to her. It took her a moment to register that she wasn't dreaming.
"How in the Founders' names did you manage to get those?!" – she exclaimed in awe as the boys leaned in, unable to hide their surprise.
"Oh! Um, it's actually thanks to your explanations." – Peter admitted with a shy smile – "Remember how you told me that spells usually only cover the parts above the surface where the object lies? I figured the same might be true for the spell on the Greenhouse… so I dug a hole and managed to sneak inside. Took me all night, but I did it!"
"You dug a hole?" – Sirius repeated, torn between laughter and astonishment.
"Yeah!" – Peter blushed – "My hands are covered in blisters, but it was worth it! I'm sorry for what I did, but I care about you all, and I couldn't think of any other way to make it up to you."
"You're such a numbskull, Peter!" – James sighed, quickly hiding the leaves as his friend's appearance started to draw looks from the students nearby.
"I'll put a Preservation Spell on them." – Catherine mused as she grabbed Peter's hands, a soft blue light melting all the blisters and leaving fresh, healthy skin beneath – "We can use the Christmas holiday to hold the leaves in our mouths. It's significantly less risky than doing it at school for the whole month that's required. We'll start brewing in January!"