Taming the True Fire (HP)

"Are you planning to go to Slughorn's tea party?" – Lily asked, dipping her bare feet into the warm waters of the Black Lake. Gentle ripples spread outward, distorting the lake's dark, glassy surface under the spring sun.

"I'm not sure." – Catherine replied, stifling a yawn. Reclining comfortably on the fresh grass, her black hair glinted faintly in the sunlight as she tilted her face toward its soothing warmth – "It's the last party of the year, so he's really pushing us to attend. But honestly, I try to avoid Slytherins as much as I can. Plus, with the Quidditch Final the day after, who knows what they might try to pull to stop me from playing." 

"I doubt they'd risk doing something so obvious and end up causing another season's cancellation." – the other witch shrugged.

"Why do you even care?" – Catherine inquired with curiosity – "You've never been a fan of these events."

"I'm still not." - Lily admitted, her gaze drifting to the willow branches swaying above them - "I just thought it might be a good opportunity to silence all those blabbermouths who keep poking their noses into our business and claiming you stole Greg from me."

A smirk tugged at the black-haired witch's lips as she watched a group of fifth-years chasing each other across the grounds, their laughter ringing through the air—a brief escape from the mounting pressure of OWL exams. "Does it bother you that much?"

"It irritates me." - Lily replied with a scowl, her emerald eyes snapping back to her friend - "But mostly, I'm worried about your relationship with Greg drawing too much attention."

Catherine smiled warmly, a rare sense of ease washing over her. The feeling of being able to truly be herself with Lily—who had accepted and supported her unconditionally—was entirely new, and she liked it immensely.

"You don't need to worry too much about this." – she said, trying to sound cheerful – "Soon enough, they'll find something else to gossip about. It's not like Greg and I are going to start dating."

Lily gave an awkward chuckle, though her embarrassment lingered from having considered the possibility herself. "Alright, fine. But it won't hurt if we're seen together. And it's the last party of the year." – she insisted with determination – "You need to relax before the big game. Plus, Frankie's going to be there, along with Kingsley Shacklebolt and Patricia Rakepick. We'll make sure you're safe."

"You really have your mind set on this, don't you?" – Catherine remarked, sighing softly before adding – "Okey, I'll come with you - but I'm not dressing up."

"Then you'll stand out even more! Everyone will be wearing their best." – Lily said, her tone edging into a playful whine – "Don't worry! I'll make sure you look nice."

The other girl shrugged, knowing it was pointless to argue once her friend had made up her mind. And so, she found herself walking toward the small rose garden behind the Greenhouses, wearing a pastel green A-line dress with subtle polka dots. A white sash tied neatly into a bow at the back accentuated the classic cut of the dress. Her matching cardigan rested on her shoulders for when the breeze picked up. White ankle socks with lace trim peeked out from her shiny patent leather ballet flats, while her short hair, parted to one side, was held in place by a delicate silver clip.

Despite appreciating the timeless elegance of her outfit—and Lily's determined efforts—Catherine couldn't help but compare herself to her friend. The witch looked effortlessly beautiful in her light blue gingham dress with ruffled edges. Her dark red hair was tied back in a low ponytail with a pastel-coloured scrunchie, perfectly framing her gentle, refined features. Catherine sighed inwardly, feeling plain by comparison, but decided to just silently admire her friend and not think about her own looks.

Professor Slughorn greeted them with a beaming smile, clearly delighted by the strong turnout for his final party of the year. The rose garden, normally modest in size and maintained by Professor Sprout for potion ingredients supply purposes, seemed much larger now. Additional bushes and flowers had clearly been added—likely at the Potions Master's insistence—to create a more inviting and festive atmosphere.

Small white tables were scattered across the garden, each with a steaming teapot at its centre. The tables were just big enough for four people, allowing Catherine and Lily to join Frank Longbottom and Emrys Clearwater, a Ravenclaw who appeared particularly interested in Lily. As they sipped tea and nibbled on scones, the black-haired girl became acutely aware of the glances being cast in their direction. She could almost feel the whispers swirling around them, spinning wild theories about why she and Lily appeared to be getting along so well after Catherine's so-called "betrayal."

About an hour into the party, guests began to drift between tables, forming small groups and chatting casually. Slughorn fluttered from one cluster to another, his booming laughter ringing out.

"Sweet Salazar!" – he suddenly exclaimed, clapping his hands – "I thought you wouldn't come! Welcome, boys! Better late than never!"

Catherine followed his gaze toward the garden's entrance and immediately choked on the biscuit she was eating. A group of young men had arrived, all dressed in elegant robes in varying shades of green. Corban Yaxley, Ambrose Travers, Rabastan Lestrange, and Lucius Malfoy strolled in, their smirking faces radiating confidence as they surveyed the gathering. Slughorn bustled around them like a doting mother hen, his excitement palpable.

"I'll go for a walk." – the Gryffindor girl muttered, springing to her feet before any of her friends could respond. She headed briskly in the opposite direction of the newly arrived former Slytherins, determined to avoid them at all costs.

After spending a tedious half-hour loitering behind Greenhouse One, the young witch began to feel utterly silly. Not only was she bored out of her mind, but the fact that the Slytherins now targeted her more openly made her wonder if Lucius Malfoy had finally stopped caring enough to intervene. His indifference, if that's what it was, had certainly left her exposed to their unchecked hostility.

'I'm being ridiculous.' – Catherine thought, steeling herself as she gathered her courage and headed back to the rose garden. By now, most of the students had left their seats, forming groups of various sizes as they chatted animatedly. House-elves weaved through the crowd, balancing trays of finger foods and drinks. 

Scanning the clearing, the fourth-year spotted Frank and Lily standing with a few other Gryffindors near the centre of the gathering. Determined to ignore everyone else, she moved swiftly in their direction, weaving through the clusters of guests as discreetly as possible. She was almost there when a dark figure stepped into her path, stopping her short.

"Excuse me." – she muttered, attempting to sidestep the obstruction, only for him to move deliberately to block her way. Irritation flashed across her face as she looked up, her annoyance quickly morphing into unease.

"You're not in a hurry, are you, Little Bird?" – Lucius Malfoy's voice was smooth, his lips curling into a grin as his sharp grey eyes locked onto hers.

"Actually, I was about to…" – the girl started, her voice trailing off as he gently took her hand. With a light, deliberate motion, he spun her gently, his touch unnervingly soft. His eyes roamed over her appraisingly, as though she were a prized doll, their possessive gleam sending an unwelcome shiver down her spine.

"You look quite nice today." – Malfoy said, his tone dripping with amusement – "I assume the choice of colour was for my sake? What a delightful surprise!"

"In your dreams!" – Catherine hissed, her face flushed as she felt pretty pissed at herself for indulging Lucius' insane whims – "I just happen to look good in green. It's not like Slytherin owns the colour."

The young man chuckled lightly, clearly enjoying her reaction. "I see you haven't changed much." – he winked at the annoyed girl – "Still so quick to speak your mind, with no thought for the consequences."

"Why should I change? I'm quite content with who I am."- the witch shot back boldly, standing her ground – "Feel free to pass that along to your former Housemates. I'm not the least bit intimidated by any of you."

"I've heard about the unfortunate incident you were involved in." – Lucius said, his smile fading into a sharp scowl – "Alas, there was little I could do in that particular instance. Bella is… not someone easily controlled, and she seems to have some personal grudge against you. Perhaps it's due to your peculiar closeness with her cousin, although rumour has it he's not as keen to stay close to you anymore."

"Sirius and I are as close as ever." – Catherine snapped, her voice taut with anger. Whether her frustration stemmed from Malfoy sticking his nose where it didn't belong or from the uncomfortable truth in his words, she couldn't quite decide.

"If you say so." – the blond wizard smirked – "But it's for the best. He's hardly someone who could keep you safe, let alone use you to your full potential."

"I don't fancy being used for any purpose." – the girl retorted, lifting her chin defiantly – "And I certainly don't need anyone to keep me safe. I can protect myself just fine. What happened with Bellatrix was solely because she's a cowardly bitch who doesn't have the guts to face me in an honest duel."

"While I do admire your ridiculous Gryffindor bravery, you'd do well not to underestimate Bella." – the former Slytherin remarked condescendingly – "What she did was merely a warning. If you keep playing with fire and refuse to show a little humbleness, you might end up seriously hurt next time."

"Oh?" – Catherine exclaimed sarcastically – "Should I then kneel and beg to be allowed to exist in the same space as the noble pure-bloods? Or perhaps I should take one of those trays and replace the house-elves?"

Lucius' lips curled into a slow, predatory grin. "If I ever have you on your knees, Little Bird, you'll be begging for something very different." - he murmured, his voice low and husky. Catherine flushed furiously, the crimson creeping up her neck to the roots of her dark hair.

"You have far too much pride for someone of your blood."- the young man continued, his grey eyes gleaming - "I'd hate to see you suffer because of it. Of course, I could punish Bella or anyone else who harms you, but wouldn't it be far better if we avoided such unpleasantness altogether? I'd rather not see my little toy broken—unless it's by my own hands."

Catherine's jade-green eyes flashed dangerously. "I don't know where you got the impression that I'm your toy, Malfoy, but you might want to reconsider your behaviour towards me." - she snapped, her voice icy - "I've been patient with you, but even my patience has its limits. You might be surprised by how capable I am of punishing those who displease me—without anyone's help."

The wizard's grin widened, his arrogance undeterred by the Gryffindor's fury. "How very intriguing!" -he drawled, clearly enjoying her anger - "I may just take you up on that challenge. After all, I'm quite curious to explore your hidden… talents."

With that, the former Slytherin's arm snaked around the fourth-year's waist, pulling her close, his other hand firmly gripping her right wrist. "For example," - he whispered in her ear, his breath brushing against her skin - "I'm curious to see if a remarkable Quidditch player like yourself is as graceful on the dance floor as you are in the air."

Catherine wrenched herself free, her heart pounding wildly as her fury surged. She fought the overwhelming urge to unleash a torrent of flames onto the wizard's smug, handsome face. "Keep your hands off me, or you'll regret it!" - she hissed, aware of curious glances turning their way. The onlookers' poorly concealed interest only fuelled her humiliation.

Lucius smiled lazily, clearly pleased by her reaction. Undeterred by her threats, he raised a hand to gently cup the girl's cheek, drawing her face closer to his. For a moment, he wondered if this fiery, unpredictable creature might actually bite him. Her green eyes sparkled with rage, and her soft skin radiated a heat that hinted at the inferno she was suppressing. 

"I'm not particularly worried about my hands." – he murmured, his grey eyes scanning the young witch's thin frame, his voice almost tender – "But I'm quite worried about you."

"I'm fine." – Catherine replied sharply, though confusion flickered across her features as she avoided Malfoy's piercing gaze.

Lucius tilted his head slightly, his expression momentarily unreadable. "You've truly started to resemble a little bird since I last saw you." - he said, almost to himself - "So thin, so fragile... as if the slightest force could shatter you."

Before Catherine could react, he plucked a chocolate-coated strawberry from the tray of a passing house-elf and abruptly pushed it into her mouth. His fingers lingered for a brief moment, savouring the warmth and softness around them as her eyes widened in shock. Stepping back, he licked the remaining chocolate from his fingertips with a deliberate slowness, his gaze never leaving hers.

"You'd better take proper care of yourself, or you'll see a very different side of me, Miss Plantier." – the blond wizard declared with a smirk. Turning on his heel, he strolled toward the Greenhouses, calling back over his shoulder – "Good luck tomorrow. You'll need it if you want to beat Slytherin."