Taming the True Fire (HP)

The exam results were out and not before long, the suitcases were packed, the pets were caged, and students were running around, looking for lost quills and books before the end of term feast. Catherine was sitting on her bed with a grim expression. Going back home was not something she was exactly looking forward to. A heavy sigh escaped her lips while she was thinking about the two long months ahead of her. Summer was a busy season for the aristocrats and her parents were rarely home. In addition, there was this annual grand party attended by every main family, taking place in Sandbanks, near the sea. It was a three-day affair and now that Greg was older, he would have probably started attending those as well. In the past the foreseen solitude would have been welcomed but now Catherine realised she was dreading it. She got used to the company of her friends and she found out she actually enjoyed being around people. 

'I've always thought I was an introvert. Who would have known it was just because I had never been exposed to people.' – the young witch reflected silently. 

"Are you all packed?" – Lily's voice startled the other girl. 

"Yes, I was about to go to the feast." – Catherine said and jumped from the bed.

"Wait! I wanted to ask you about your phone number." – Lily stopped her, smiling – "We can call each other during the summer."

Catherine froze. They did have a telephone at home, but she had never used it, mostly because nobody has ever called her, and she had nobody to call either. As a result, the young witch had never bothered to memorise her phone number. 

"I don't remember it by heart." – she said, blushing – "How about I send you my number by Orion?"

"Oh! Okay, no problem. I'm also going to the feast, but I'm not sitting next to your boyfriends. They are all really annoying, especially Black and Potter." – said Lily, laughing.

"They're not my boyfriends!" – shouted Catherine.

"My God, relax! I'm just joking. Let's go!"

The two girls left the Dormitory and walked to the feast in silence. Catherine immersed herself in the atmosphere – the stone, drenched in old magic; the portraits on the walls, watching their every movement while pretending to sleep; the distant whisper seeming to emanate from the very core of Hogwarts. The first-years entered the Great Hall, lavishly decorated in green and silver. Catherine thought she might have felt irritated if her attention was not currently occupied by the sight of the pale Remus, sitting between James and Sirius, smiling gently at her. She waved to Lily, who went to sit with Gwyneth Jones and Mary MacDonald, and joined the boys, placing herself next to Peter, who jumped a little bit.

"How do you feel?" – Catherine asked Remus.

"I'm fine." – answered the boy – "Sometimes it's more difficult than others, but it was not the case this full moon."

"I wish I could make it better." – mumbled Catherine.

"I appreciate it, but there's nothing to be done." – sighed Remus.

"Don't underestimate us, mate." – chimed in Sirius – "We're the smartest people in our year. We're going to think of something."

Remus smiled gratefully, and all of them tried to enjoy their last meal together as first-years. The food was excellent as always, and despite Slytherin winning the House Cup, they had a good time together. Catherine tried to ignore Snape's triumphant smile. Internally, she vowed she was going to erase this loathsome, smug smirk from his face. 

On the next day, the students boarded the Hogwarts Express in a chatty, colourful crowd. Catherine considered sitting in Lily's compartment, but after spotting Snape heading in the same direction, she quickly changed her mind. Sliding the glass door at the end of the couch, she plonked herself next to James. 

"Troubles in girls' paradise?" – smirked Sirius. 

"Yeah, a greasy, slimy one." – Catherine sighed.

"This all happens to you because you're trying to run away from us, you know?" – asked James. 

"First of all, I just wanted to spend some quiet time with a girl for a change."- the young witch answered, frowning – "Second, what do you mean running away from you? We're together all the time. It's good that I'm going to get some rest from you during the summer."

"You'll choke on those words before the end of August." – teased her Sirius.

"For one, I'm going to miss all of you quite a lot." – said Remus softly.

They all went quiet. Finally, Catherine decided to break the silence. 

"Do you think that we can visit you, Remus?"

"I don't think this is a good idea." – he replied – "My parents are rather sensitive about my situation, and we… well, we do not live very lavishly to say the least. The stigma about being… you know what, is often transferred to your relatives as well." 

"I can relate to that." – mumbled Catherine.

"What do you mean, Flame?" – asked James.

"No…I meant I can understand how your actions and behaviour could have an effect on those close to you." – stammered Catherine, feeling heath radiating from her cheeks – "Excuse me for a moment." 

The girl hastily stood up and exited the compartment, striding down the corridor until she neared the end of the couch. There, she opened the window, allowing the cool air to refresh her.

Suddenly, someone seized her braid, attempting to drag her into the nearby compartment. Catherine screamed, her hand clutching the base of the braid in an effort to alleviate the pain. With her other hand, she struck someone's face, eliciting a distinctive groan, affirming her successful hit. The compartment door swung open, revealing more figures within. A scalding stream of white light singed Catherine's cheek and struck the person holding her hair. He tumbled, pulling the young witch down with him. Amidst the throbbing in her head, distant voices reached her, and she realised someone was aiding her to stand up. Finally focusing, she saw Remus' concerned face as he used a handkerchief to tend to her cheek, which pulsed slightly.

Glancing down, Catherine saw Marcellus Avery, a fourth-year Slytherin, unconscious on the ground. Next to him, his classmate Draven Nott was in no better condition, except his face was coated in some yellowish slime, the origin of which the girl had no desire to discover. The compartment door was now closed, but through the glass, a few older Slytherins gawked in complete shock. The young witch allowed herself to be led back to their own compartment, where her hearing finally returned, and she managed to respond to the agitated queries of the four boys.

"Flame, are you alright?"

"Does your cheek hurt? I'm so sorry!"

"Do you want some water?" 

"Did you hurt yourself when you fell?" 

"Okay, okay! One by one!" – Catherine finally answered – "I think I'm alright. I didn't hurt myself when he dragged me down, but the hex stunned me a little bit. What was it? Oh, and yes, Peter, I do want some water, thank you." 

"It was an Astra Drain Hex." – admitted Sirius guiltily – "I didn't expect it to be so strong, and my aim was complete shit. Let me see your cheek!"

He crouched down in front of his friend and gently removed the handkerchief from her cheek. The girl hissed in pain.

"It doesn't look too bad." – said the boy – "But, nevertheless, it might take a while to heal. I'm really sorry, Flame." 

"It's fine. It would have been worse if you hadn't come in time." – Catherine said, frowning – "What was their problem, besides being Slytherins, I mean?" 

"Who knows? Marcellus Avery is a cousin of Tarquin Avery." – said James contemplatively.

"I know Tarquin hates me like all Slytherins from our year do, but it's not like I've done anything to him in particular." - groaned Catherine, touching her swollen cheek. 

"I think it was more that they saw an opportunity and tried to take advantage of it, for one last warning sent before summer." – scowled Sirius.

"In any case, Flame is not going anywhere alone anymore." – concluded James confidently, while Sirius nodded enthusiastically. 

"Great, can't wait for us to go all together to the girls' bathroom!" – exclaimed Catherine and rolled her eyes.

"I've always been curious about this place." – grinned Sirius.

"Over my dead body!" – screamed the young witch, jumping to her feet – "We're already arriving anyway! See you in two months! Bye!"

"Wait! Flame?" – shouted both Sirius and James while the witch swiftly grabbed her luggage and barged out of the compartment, accompanied by the screeching sound of the Hogwarts Express arriving at Kings Cross station and the loud commotion caused by the students and pets, ready to be set free for the summer. 

"What happened to your cheek?" – heard Catherine while waiting for her cab's driver to load Orion and her luggage inside the car. She looked beside her and saw Greg, staring at her with his trademark disapproving look, she hated with passion. 

"Nothing worth mentioning." – she said blithely and got into the car, having the slight suspicion her brother won't let it go so easily.