Chapter 69: The Song of the Little Bird (4)

"There you go!" – said Lily, while adjusting Catherine's honey-blond wig in the third-years girls' dormitory. Their peers had left for the Halloween feast a while ago and the two witches had plenty of fun doing their makeup, hairs and dressing up.

Lily had crafted a pair of beautiful silver wings coupled with a modified Glitter Spell that transformed her into a true forest fairy. This enchanting effect was complemented by her delightful knee-length green dress and matching ballet flats. Eager for a more whimsical appearance, the red-headed girl insisted on employing a Hair Curling Spell. Catherine, however, firmly refused to practice an unfamiliar spell on her friend's lavish hair. Undeterred, Lily bravely attempted it herself, achieving mixed results. While the hair did curl up, the locks looked somewhat artificial, disturbing the overall natural aesthetic the witch aimed for. In a last-ditch effort to salvage the costume, Catherine gathered Lily's hair into a bun, leaving a few curls out, and surprisingly, the outcome exceeded expectations.

Thanks to the wig, the black-haired Gryffindor avoided a similar experience. While it was peculiar to see herself as a blonde, the novelty of pretending to be someone else for the night brought certain enjoyment. The dress her mother had made for her also played a significant role. Lily took a good fifteen minutes to calm down after glimpsing the bag from Sorcerié. Once Catherine donned the dress, she acknowledged that her friend had a point. Louisa McMahon's interpretation of Christine Daaé's attire featured a white, form-fitting sleek bodice with lace details and V-shaped neckline which flowed seamlessly into a floor-length, A-line skirt, creating an ethereal silhouette. The dress boasted several sheer panels and subtle cutouts along the sides and the back, offering a hint of contemporary flair without compromising the overall gracefulness. A pair of lace boots completed the look, though Catherine sincerely regretted not asking for flat shoes, as the boots had a heel of at least seven or eight centimetres, making walking very difficult for the inexperienced third-year.

"You look stunning!" – Lily complimented her friend while Catherine was focused on placing the blue contact lenses into her eyes.

"Thanks, Lils, you too… ouch! I think I'm ready!" – the young witch concluded, looking critically at her reflection in the mirror.

The two Gryffindors headed towards the Dungeons, following a luminous path, framed with orange and black candles which started from the Entrance Hall. Catherine glanced at the Great Hall, full of noise and laughter and briefly felt unhappy for not being there with her classmates, enjoying the food and feeling at ease, instead of plotting how to trick the Potions Master and navigate among people she couldn't stand and who pretended she was not even there.

'It's all for Moony's sake! Get yourself together!' – Catherine scolded herself, took a deep breath and entered the biggest dungeon, festively decorated for the occasion.

In the dimly lit chamber, living bats dangled from the ceiling, their presence accentuated by the elaborate cobwebs that adorned the space. Countless candles, bathed in signature orange and black hues, clung to the walls, casting a flickering glow that painted the room in an eerie ambiance. It seemed Slughorn had secured some of Hagrid's praised pumpkins, as a pair of impressive specimens, intricately carved, stood sentinel on either side of the long table. The table itself groaned under the weight of a tantalising array of dishes, ranging from delectable pumpkin pastries to the fiery allure of Dragon Dumplings. House-elves, donned in whimsical costumes, wondered among the students, presenting an assortment of beverages on silver trays.

Professor Slughorn stood majestically by the entrance, draped in luxurious indigo robes adorned with intricate golden embroidery. Atop his head, a grand turban showcased a sparkling opal at its centre. Completing this extravagant ensemble, silk slippers peeked out from beneath the flowing robes, adding an extra touch of opulence to his exotic appearance.

"Welcome, my dear girls!" – exclaimed the Potions Master upon spotting the two Gryffindors – "What a beautiful fairy you make, Lily! And Catherine looks completely unrecognisable as… um… Queen Guinevere?"

"Christine Daaé." – Catherine corrected her teacher dryly.

"Oh, but of course! Silly me! Lacking your Phantom, aren't you?" – Slughorn chuckled at his own joke – "You know, there's a piano somewhere around here. I ordered it for Miss Malfoy, who had informed me she would be dressed as a Siren and wanted to sing for us, but you should also honour your costume and perform as Christine! They say she had an enchanting voice!"

"If this will make you happy, I'll gladly sing for you, Sir!" – Catherine replied with a charming smile, earning a questioning look from Lily. 

"It's going to be perfect entertainment for the evening! It's always so much fun when students fully embrace their characters! I simply adore Halloween!" – gushed the professor. He waved at one of the house-elves and began providing detailed instructions on where to place the piano and how to arrange the lights around it.

"What are you doing?" – Lily whispered – "Do you even sing well?"

"I'm not sure. I've never sung for anybody." – the other girl replied, smirking at the utter shock on her friend's face. 

'It doesn't matter if I am a good or a bad singer. All that matters is that Slughorn's going to be pleased with me, fulfilling his request.' – thought Catherine – 'Plus, I don't think I'm that bad. Mom has a beautiful singing voice and often perform for guests at her parties. Dad plays the piano, so how bad could I be at singing? It's enough if I'm decent, and unless I'm completely deaf, I think I can sing well enough.'

"Are you going to be singing, oh blond girl I would have never recognised?" – someone asked behind Catherine's back. She turned around to find a raggedy wizard, wearing black makeup and long black hair, his hand casually toyed with the strings of a decidedly badass-looking guitar. Only his smile was vaguely familiar.

"Frank? Who are you supposed to be?' – laughed the girl, relieved there was at least someone around she could talk to, besides Lily. 

"Are you kidding me? I'm Rigel Stormrider, the lead guitarist of Nebula Nexus! I thought all the witches were crazy about him" – said Frank, sounding a bit disappointed. 

"I'm sure most of them are. I'm from a Muggle background, that's why I didn't recognise him." – Catherine tried to console the gloomy musician – "You know Lily, right?"

"Yeah, of course. I've spent many delightful hours being demolished by this Fairy Queen in every game they have ever invented, from wizard chess to Spellbound Bazaar." – chuckled the fourth-year Gryffindor. 

"You're exaggerating, Frankie!" – said Lily and her wings fluttered, spreading glitter around the floor. 

"Not in the slightest!" – Longbottom refused to give up – "Between you and Greg, I appear like a complete loser. Speaking of the devil…"

Greg had finally managed to make his way through the guests in the dungeon and spent a good thirty seconds staring at Catherine's dress. 

"Close your mouth, pal! We're all impressed by Plantier's outfit!" – giggled Frank, patting his classmate on the back and winking at Catherine.

"Who are you dressed as?" – the young witch asked, attempting to defuse the uncomfortable situation. 

"I'm dressed as a Muggle." – answered Greg, frowning at Frank, who appeared to be completely clueless regarding his friend's irritation. 

"How very convenient." – commented Catherine, glaring at her brother's ensemble - blue jeans, Ralph Lauren t-shirt and grey YSL blazer, combined with Converse sneakers. The girl had to admit he did look dashing in a very casual way, evident by the many glances directed their way. 

"I must say, you pull off the Muggle appearance quite convincingly." – smiled Lily, delicately removing some glitter that had landed on Greg's sleeve. 

"And the two of you look remarkably similar now with the matching blond hair and blue eyes!" – laughed Frank, shifting his gaze between Catherine and Greg who stood side by side.

"Nonsense!" – the two of them exclaimed simultaneously, exchanging quick, panicked looks. 

"All this eye makeup might blind you, Frankie." – chuckled Greg somewhat forcefully. – "Come, Lily, I wanted to introduce you to Amelia Abbott. She's one of the most gifted Arithmancy students in years. I told her you also found the subject fascinating! Please excuse us."

"Jeez, he's so weird these days!" – sighed Frank, watching Greg walk away – "Not to mention he disappears somewhere once a week and refuses to tell me where he goes."

"Unless you aim to become his girlfriend, I don't see why he should tell you." – Catherine remarked mercilessly. 

"See? You're both so snappy!" – moaned Frank dramatically – "But, for your and Lily's peace of mind, I want to make it clear that I'm not into him in that way. I prefer someone a bit more light-hearted, and if possible, without beard stubble."

Catherine nearly burst into laughter, but it caught high in her throat as Narcissa Black entered the room. Adorned in all black with dramatic dark makeup, a generous array of accessories transformed her into a truly convincing Queen of Spades. However, the Gryffindor girl was taken aback by the person leading the Slytherin witch under his arm. Narcissa's escort was a tall, slender blond wizard, draped entirely in black, his face obscured by a pristine white mask. Even from the other end of the dungeon, Catherine could discern the piercing eyes and the commanding aura that defined Lucius Malfoy.

'Why, in Slytherin's name, is he the one to dress up as the Phantom of the Opera?!' – thought the young witch, frustrated. She quickly excused herself before Frank and headed to the snacks table, where she grabbed a cauldron cake and a glass of fruit punch from the tray of a passing house-elf.

"I'm sorry!" – Catherine apologised to the handsome 'vampire' she accidently bumped into while trying to get away from the crowd – "Sirius?"

"He wishes!" – retorted the boy, his voice far less melodious than Sirius'. Upon closer inspection, the Gryffindor girl realised the 'vampire' was also shorter than her friend, and his longer hair turned out to be a wig.

"Oh, you must be Regulus!" – the young witch exclaimed, hesitant about how she should behave toward a Slytherin who also happened to be her best friend's brother.

"I don't know if I must be, but I most certainly am." – the boy replied with a completely serious expression, further confusing Catherine. However, her confusion was short-lived as someone roughly pushed her aside. She would have fallen to the ground if it weren't for Regulus, who promptly seized her arm, steadying her with a firm grip.

Lavinia Nott, dressed in a green medieval dress and wielding a long staff adorned with carved snakes, cast a disdainful gaze upon the Gryffindor girl and let out a condescending huff.

"Regulus Black, I thought that at least you had some common sense not to engage with the likes of this!"

The younger of the Black brothers blushed and immediately let go of Catherine's arm. Cursing her shortsightedness for not practicing walking on high heels before the party, the Gryffindor girl collected herself and attempted to leave, but Lavinia used her staff to block her way.

"I am not done talking to you, Mudblood!"

"Too bad because I am done talking to you. Now, kindly remove your cane." 

"It's a staff, you idiot! I'm Morgana le Fay!" – shouted the Slytherin witch. 

Catherine burst into laughter – the irony of the situation being a little too much for her to handle.

"I'm not sure if there are any portraits of Morgana left in the world but I'm certain she didn't look like a dyed Bichon Frisé." 

Lavinia hissed angrily while Regulus covered his mouth, trying to disguise his laughter as a coughing spell. This distraction worked long enough for Catherine to escape. She squeezed through the crowd and found a relatively dark and empty corner where she could finally finish her cake. 

The young witch had just taken another glass of punch when she noticed something dark in her peripheral vision. Severus Snape, dressed entirely in black, and wearing a simple, hand-made domino, was standing right next to the Gryffindor girl, and, for her horror appeared as he wanted to speak with her.

"I'm sorry but my daily limit of tolerating up to three Slytherins had long been exceeded." – Catherine said, attempting to leave. However, Snape was having none of it. He quickly reached out and caught the girl's wrist.

"I am not in a mood for your smart mouth, Plantier! I want to speak with you about something important." – the boy declared, his black eyes burning behind the mask.

"Aww, how could I refuse such a polite request!" – Catherine smirked, snatching her hand away from Snape's surprisingly strong hold – "What would you like to talk about? The weather? Our latest Ancient Runes assignment? Or perhaps how many of your Slytherin pals would not limit their hatred toward the Muggle-borns solely to words?"

"Oddly enough, the third option." – answered Snape, causing Catherine to raise her eyebrows in surprise – "I want to know what happened between Lily, Volumnia Travers and Tullia Parkinson."

"Oh? I'm sorry to disappoint you, but this is a bit of old news, since it happened more than a year ago." – said Catherine, taking a sip from her glass. While she sounded confident, there was something about Snape's proximity that unnerved her. It could have been the fact she didn't have her wand in her hand or perhaps the heat radiating from his glare. Regardless, the young witch wanted this conversation to be over sooner rather than later.

"I don't give a damn when it happened!" – hissed the Slytherin – "I want to know if Lily was hurt and how!"

"I don't know what had happened to her before I entered the girls' bathroom. By the time I appeared, they had taken her wand and locked her up in one of the cabins. I haven't witnessed anything but verbal abuse." – Catherine explained drily.

"How dare these wenches touch her?!" – growled Snape in a manner the Gryffindor had never heard before – "I explicitly warned them to stay away from Lily!"

The girl had to admit that the young wizard did look scary at that moment, and she certainly wouldn't want to be in Volumnia and Tullia's shoes. That's why Catherine was also surprised when she heard her own low chuckle.

"I don't see anything funny!" – snapped Snape furiously – "Is it that amusing for you that someone you claim is a close friend of yours had been mistreated because of her blood status?"

"No, what's amusing is your complete descent into delusions, Snape." – said the witch, her currently blue eyes locked into Snape's black ones – "Even if we disregard the simple fact, you behave the same way as your classmates towards everyone who's Muggle-born but Lily, I had at least hoped that your analytical mind would not allow you to be such a bloody hypocrite!"

Snape opened his mouth to protest, but Catherine wasn't holding back any longer, her eyes flashing despite the contact lenses.

"You've asked if I found what happened to Lily amusing?" – continued the Gryffindor girl – "I can't quite recall if I did because your friends beat the shit out of me as if we were common Muggles! They split my lip, gave me a black eye and a few bruised ribs, and eventually left me to writhe on the cold wet floor! Does this answer your question?"

Snape lowered his eyes. While he was more than certain he hated Catherine Plantier, the tone of her voice troubled him greatly for some reason. Frantically thinking about what he should say, their conversation was abruptly interrupted by the slightly tipsy Professor Slughorn.

"Ah, Catherine, there you are! Severus, my boy, what a wonderful surprise to see the two of you together! Unfortunately, I would need to steal your lovely lady for a while!"

"She's not…" – Snape tried to protest while the Potions Master was practically dragging the fuming witch across the room towards the grand piano, placed on a little podium. The young wizard sighed and looked around, his mind busy with planning a suitable payback for Volumnia and Tullia, until his gaze stopped upon Lily, stunning in her sparkling fairy outfit. Seated on a small ledge in the wall, she was laughing heartily, clearly enjoying herself, accompanied by Greg McMahon of all people.

Snape ground his teeth, enraged. He couldn't stand the aristocrat. For him, the fourth-year Gryffindor represented everything Snape was not. Greg was handsome, athletic, and rich. Everyone loved him and competed for his attention. To add insult to injury, his blood was purer than anyone else's in the school, and the worst part was that Lily seemed to enjoy spending time with him quite a lot.

A sudden gust of wind knocked back a few chairs and a house-elf, causing some commotion. Still, Professor Slughorn was quick to appease the guests, cracking a joke about naughty ghosts and grumpy poltergeists fancying this particular night for their shenanigans. He then motioned everyone towards the improvised scene, where Catherine was standing in her astonishingly white dress and golden hair, bitterly regretting her ill-conceived decision to trade her public humiliation for the Potions Master's goodwill.

While she did try to engage him in a conversation regarding the subject he taught, it was impossible to make him focus for more than ten seconds. His main interest was providing entertainment for the party, and after he informed the Gryffindor girl that Valeria wanted to sing after her, the teacher swiftly busied himself with gathering his favourite students around and setting the enchanted piano, which played in synch with the singer without human interaction.

'The sneaky Valeria wants to make an impression by singing after someone mediocre.' – thought Catherine, glancing at the Slytherin witch wearing an airy pink robe, matching her enchanted coral hair and pink eyes, and finishing her Siren costume – 'I'll do my best to spoil her plan though!'

"Ladies and gentlemen, beasts and creatures, esteemed wizards and witches of old times, I'm happy to welcome you once again to our annual Halloween party! As always, let's revel in the magic of this special night with good food, drinks, and music!" – exclaimed Slughorn, standing up in front of the piano – "Before we immerse ourselves in the enchanting song of our Siren, Miss Malfoy, I'm pleased to announce that I've arranged for another one of our talented students to honour her chosen costume and perform as the famous Enchantress Christine Daaé! Lucius, my lad, you should promise not to steal her away before the end of the song!"

Catherine, engrossed in selecting her song, looked up and noticed Lucius Malfoy, a smirk playing on his lips, positioned beside Narcissa at the forefront of the small crowd encircling the piano. Biting her lower lip, the Gryffindor girl stepped ahead. Her head swam with dizziness, her feet ached mercilessly, and the sole source of her faint confidence rested in the dress she was wearing, which everyone in the room was gossiping about.

Catherine drew in a deep breath and began to sing. The enchanted piano gracefully followed her gentle, clear, and childlike voice, still reflecting her tender age. It was an old-fashioned, slow, and gentle melody that touched people's hearts. Titled 'Cage of Gold,' the young witch had always cherished the profound meaning and genuine emotions embedded in this musical piece.

Wings of enchantment, in the cage confined,

A yearning for the heavens, in every beat entwined.

Golden bars conceal, the magic deep within,

A bird in golden silence, where freedom dreams begin.

The final chords reverberated, sparking a torrent of applause and a jovial pat from Professor Slughorn. Wiping away tears with a silk handkerchief, he couldn't help but snuffle appreciatively. The flushed singer quickly bowed and exited the stage, leaving the disgruntled Valeria to try to surpass her performance.

Yearning for a breath of cooler air, Catherine wandered into one of the corridors leading deeper into the dungeons. The girl eventually halted, making an effort to compose herself by pressing her face against the cool stone wall in an attempt to find solace. Suddenly, she felt a warm breath gently caressing the bare skin of her neck, causing her to jump, and her entire body to break out in goosebumps.

"This was quite a performance, Little Bird! You really tempt me to lock you somewhere so you can sing only for me."

Startled, the young witch spun around abruptly, only to find herself uncomfortably close to Lucius Malfoy—much closer than she ever intended to be. She stood there, hypnotised by his grey eyes, glinting behind the Phantom's mask.

"You're taking this game a little too seriously, Malfoy." – she mumbled, trying to create some distance between the two of them.

"I take all the games I participate in extremely seriously, Little Bird." – the Slytherin chuckled, effortlessly closing the gap once again.

"I'm certain Narcissa Black is wondering where you disappeared." – Catherine almost whispered, her hand reaching under one of the layers of her skirt where her wand was.

"She should learn to share my attention." – Malfoy smiled indifferently – "On the other hand, it has been way too long since I had the chance to play with you and that wand of yours, you're so desperately trying to reach."

"If you're in a playful mood, Malfoy, I'd be more than happy to show you what my wand is capable of." – an angry voice, cold as ice, prompted both of them to jolt and look at Greg McMahon, standing just a few metres away, his wand pointed directly at the Head Boy. The initial rage on Lucius' face quickly transformed into a frozen smile as he bowed formally.

"Lord McMahon! What a pleasant surprise to finally see you attending one of the events, organised by our little circle!"

"It seems that I'd need to become a regular." – hissed Greg without lowering his wand.

"There's no need for such hostility, my Lord!" – Lucius' smile got wider, but it never touched his eyes – "It's a private joke between Miss Plantier and me, and I can assure you that it's perfectly innocent."

"In that case, you won't object if I take my fellow Gryffindor back to our Common Room?" – said the fourth-year, finally putting his wand away – "I'm afraid it seems that all the excitement exhausted her."

"Not in the slightest." – Malfoy replied, his lips pressed into a thin line – "I need to return to the party before Valeria finishes her song - the heavy duties of a big brother!"

Catherine didn't wait for the Slytherin to disappear from her sight but dashed upstairs, ignoring the pain caused by her boots. Greg sprinted after her and managed to grab her arm just before they reached the Entrance Hall.

"Don't even think about walking alone!" – he hissed in her ear – "Why do you always manage to get yourself in trouble?! I told you to stay away from Lucius Malfoy!"

"And I did!" – protested Catherine, while her brother was dragging her upstairs – "Unfortunately, the more I try to avoid Slytherins, the more I encounter them! I do start to feel like a tasty bird being constantly watched by a hungry snake!"