Chapter 146: Truth or Dare (3)

"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.'