Taming the True Fire (HP)

Catherine's suspicions turned out to be justified. Greg was firmly determined to receive a satisfying answer, and since his sister refused to provide one, Duchess Louisa McMahon was swiftly involved in the 'investigation'. 

She was even less happy to see the burn mark on her daughter's cheek. The witch used a minor healing spell, but it proved to be insufficient; therefore, a thick layer of oregano balm was applied, completely covering one side of Catherine's face. In addition, Louisa prescribed a generous dosage of Epidermis Elixir to eliminate the possibility of any scars being left on the ivory cheek of her girl. 

After the treatment concluded, a good amount of scolding followed. Catherine endured the entirety of her mother's tirade with a stone face, mentally plotting her response to Greg. Finally, Louisa sent her to her room with a prohibition to leave until specifically allowed for the evening. The young witch moved slowly to the first floor, dragging her feet and sinking deeper into a sense of dread for the upcoming two months. 

"Still not going to say a word?" – asked Greg, annoyed. 

"Waiting for a thank you for snitching on me?" – hissed Catherine.

"Really? Do you think Mom wouldn't have noticed a burn mark on your face?" – countered the blond boy. 

"It was still none of your business." – exclaimed the girl stubbornly. 

"I want to protect you but it's very hard to do it when you constantly provoke Slytherins and follow Black and Potter's lead. They're clearly a bad influence. Think about it! You don't want to attract unnecessary attention! Can't you just be friends with Lily Evans and the other girls and enjoy your school life?" 

Catherine looked at Greg's sincere face. He genuinely believed every single word he had just spoken, which was the most infuriating part. The blood rushed in the girl's head, muffling all sounds but her speeding heartbeat. Looking at her brother, rage became visible on her now pale face, and a tingling sensation of raw magic spread through her entire body.

"I don't need your protection!" – she shouted – "Who do you think you are to decide who's a bad influence on me or who should be my friend? Is it that hard to let me have a life? A life that's not planned and predetermined by someone else… Do you know why I like Sirius, James, and Remus so much? Because when they look at me, they see only me – Catherine. For them, I'm someone they genuinely like, not a monster in disguise, as I am to the rest of you."

"This is not true, Flame." – said Greg quietly.

"Is that so? Then why are you stepping back, Greg?" – asked the young witch, smiling sadly – "Do you think I don't see the fear in your eyes? You don't need to answer me; I already know."

With that the girl turned back abruptly and sprinted to her room, slamming the door behind her. Collapsing onto the bed, she tried to steady her breathing. Her magic was running wild, and she knew that if the conversation lasted a few minutes longer, she could have lost control. Staring at her hands in the dark, she wondered if she was going crazy or if her skin was emitting a faint amber light. Closing her eyes, she tried to focus on the past year—the laughter, jokes, and the faces of her friends, the castle of her ancestors, and the song of the Forbidden Forest floating freely above the Black Lake.

The young witch woke up with the sun playing on her face and the distant chirping of birds in the garden filtering through the open window. After washing up her face and teeth, she changed into a fresh set of clothes. Upon arriving at the downstairs dining room, everyone was already seated at the table, enjoying breakfast. Ignored by the others, she shrugged and opted to take a bowl of cereal to eat in the garden. 

"Sit down, Catherine." – ordered Louisa McMahon, finally casting a glance at her daughter. 

Obediently, the girl took a seat across from Greg and started eating in silence. 

"When we decided to send you to Hogwarts, we hoped it would help you socialise and learn how to better control your emotions." – said the Duchess coldly – "Do you believe returning home with what appears to be a scar from magical duelling and shouting at your brother shows any progress in that regard?"

"Is that the purpose of sending me to Hogwarts, mother?" – asked Catherine softly. 

"Pardon?" – said Louisa, confused, locking her green eyes with her daughter's identical ones. 

"I asked if that was the reason for sending me to Hogwarts? Wasn't it more for your own sake, so I could become Dumbledore's problem and you all could be free and unafraid in your own house?" 

"What are you talking about?" – shouted the Duchess angrily, knocking over her cup of coffee.

"You've never once asked me how I felt in Hogwarts. You've never cared if I was doing well with my classes or get along with my fellow students. You've never been interested in what I needed to endure because of 'having Muggle parents.' All you gave a damn about was whether I controlled myself and kept quiet regarding who I was." – said Catherine without the slightest change in her tone, savouring the effect her words produced on her mother's beautiful face, now on the verge of tears.

"Catherine Margaret McMahon!" – shouted the Duke, finally setting aside his newspaper and staring furiously at the breakfast battle unfolding before his eyes – "You know perfectly well that none of this is true. Why do you keep torturing your mother?" 

"Well, it's such a rare opportunity." – answered Catherine with an ironic smile – "Considering how seldom I see or hear from you, it's ever so often I can spend some quality mother-daughter time."

"Enough!" – roared Edward – "You're grounded. You're going to stay in your room for a week! Maybe this way you can concentrate in improving your abilities to control your temper." 

"Prisoner once more!" – laughed the girl bitterly – "I wouldn't have spent so much time being detained in my room even if I were a werewolf." 

"Werewolves are only dangerous to humans." – snapped Louisa, standing up and tossing her long blond hair – "You, on the other hand, are dangerous to everyone! We are also taking Orion away as a punishment. You'll get him back at the end of the summer." 

Catherine pushed aside her half-eaten breakfast and left the room, avoiding the pity in Greg's eyes that drove her crazy. Locking herself in her room, she settled on her bed. Her anger had melted away; instead, something her mother had said occupied the girl's attention. Werewolves were only dangerous to humans! Did that mean they were not a threat to animals? If that were true, maybe they could help Remus feel better during his transformations. If only they could…

"Betty!" – the young witch exclaimed suddenly.

The old house-elf appeared with a loud pop and bowed so low that her long ears touched the carpet. 

"How can Betty serve the young Mistress?" – asked the creature with a squeaky voice. 

"Go to the library and find what books we have on Animagi." – the girl ordered.

Half an hour later, Catherine was flipping through the pages of the Metamorphosis Mastery: Understanding Animagi in the Wizarding World. It seemed like an interesting book, exploring the origins, historical significance, and the unique magic behind the Animagi's transformative abilities, but there was not a single line, written about how to become one. Frustrated, Catherine closed the book. If there was a more detailed manuscript on the subject, it was likely in her father's study, a place she and Betty couldn't enter without his permission. The young witch could sense the magic spells, surrounding the room, even from her own bedroom, two floors below. Maybe Sirius or James could find more from their parents, but was it safe to write to them about such a delicate matter? Catherine knew enough about Sirius' family to avoid leaving any paper trial they could apprehend. She wasn't sure about James' relatives, though. Eventually, she decided and left the parchment she had grabbed unconsciously. 

'It's better if we discuss this in person.' – she thought – 'But, Merlin, it's going to be a long summer.'