Chapter 77: Silver Tongue (4)

"All set!" – announced Catherine as she emerged from the girls' dormitory, adorned in the splendour of her velvet red dress, and carrying the bottle of elf-made wine her brother promptly provided, having requested no briefing on its usage. 

"You look treS chic, as the French say!" – Sirius attempted a compliment.

"Well, that's not exactly what they say, but nevertheless, thank you!" – Catherine smiled graciously.

"Did you put you-know-what inside?" – asked James, scanning the nearby students.

"Yes! Let's hope I'm charming enough to do the rest!" – said the young witch – "Lily's coming. Wish me luck!"

The two girls departed from the Gryffindor Common Room, making their way towards the Dungeons where the Christmas Party was underway. The festive atmosphere permeated the castle, even reaching those not invited to the infamous Slug Club party, stirring up early Christmas cheer.

"Why are you carrying this bottle of wine?" – Lily asked curiously as they crossed the Entrance Hall.

"I thought I should bring Slughorn a Christmas gift since he was so kind to give me one for my birthday." – the other witch replied with a twinkle in her green eyes, although her friend didn't seem to notice.

It appeared that the Potions Master had spared no effort for the Christmas Party. The largest dungeon had been transformed into a dazzling ice cave, with living fairies fluttering around, their delicate wings reflecting the silver light emanating from dozens of luminous orbs suspended in midair. A clever spell released a flurry of snowflakes every half an hour, adding to the enchanting winter ambiance.

In place of the usual house-elf servers stood beautiful ladies, wearing elegant silver robes, their long blonde hair gleaming with an ethereal glow. 

"Are these Veelas?" – gasped Lily in awe.

"Highly unlikely," – answered Catherine, attempting to get a better look at one of the enchanting servers passing by with a tray of brie and cranberry filo parcels – "I believe they are just regular witches whose appearance had been altered to resemble Veelas."

"How can you be so sure?" – asked the red-headed girl, her suspicion evident in her tone.

"Firstly, Veelas wield fire magic; they are not very fond of snow. Besides, convincing them to serve at Slughorn's party would be a challenge." – explained the other witch, choosing not to mention the fact that if they were indeed Veelas, all the men around the dungeon would have gone insane by that point. 

"They're still stunning, though, aren't they?" – insisted Lily, helping herself to a chocolate-dipped orange slice offered by another 'Veela' passing by. 

"True." – agreed Catherine – "Slughorn has certainly spared no expense. I imagine it's because of all the esteemed outside guests he's invited."

The party was indeed unusually crowded, thanks to the Head of Slytherin's invitation of numerous successful former students. From high-ranking Ministry of Magic officials to renowned singers and internationally recognised inventors, it was clear that Slughorn had a knack for identifying and collecting those with exceptional talents, integrating them into his Slug Club family.

"I'll go find Slughorn to give him the present." – declared Catherine, attempting to navigate her way through the throng of chatting and laughing wizards and witches. 

Finally, she spotted her teacher who was talking with a few wizards clad in expensive-looking robes. Steeling herself, the girl took a deep breath and approached them with a warm smile.

"Ah, Catherine, my dear girl! How delightful to see you! - Slughorn exclaimed, his voice filled with genuine enthusiasm - "Gentlemen, allow me to introduce one of my brightest students, Catherine Plantier—a Muggle-born, if you can believe it!"

As the Potions Master proudly made the introductions, Catherine scanned the faces of the men before her. "Horatio Yaxley, Head of the Goblin Liaison Office at the Ministry of Magic; Barnabas Rowle, Head of the International Magical Trading Standards Body; and Silas Greengrass, soon to be appointed as Deputy Head of the Department of Magical Accidents and Catastrophes. All esteemed alumni of mine, of course!"

"Now, now, Professor, that's still a confidential information!" – Greengrass interjected with a chilly smile – "But I suppose Miss... Plantier, was it? She doesn't pose any threat, considering her bloodline. Don't misunderstand—I have nothing against Muggle-borns. I simply mean that there's no one for her to spread this information to..."

Catherine maintained her composure, focusing on the task at hand despite Greengrass's offensive remark and the disdainful glances from the other men. With a polite smile, she nodded to each of them in turn. 

"Pleasure to meet you all. Sir, I want to express my gratitude once again for the invitation, and I'd like to extend my best wishes for the holidays. I hope you'll accept this small token of appreciation. It's elf-made wine from the cellar of Duke Edward McMahon. Acquiring this bottle was quite a challenge, but I knew you'd appreciate it."

"Merlin! What a splendid gift!" – Slughorn exclaimed, eagerly reaching for the bottle – "This is an incredibly rare find! I can hardly wait to taste it! Silas, we must raise a toast to your new position! Catherine, please, join us! You need to tell me how, in the name of Slytherin, you managed to get this bottle!"

"It's a truly fascinating story!" – the black-haired replied with a smile – "I'd be happy to share it with you, Professor, but for now, please enjoy the wine! I'll be nearby, and we can chat later."

With that, the Gryffindor witch made her way back to where she had left Lily, a smirk playing on her lips as she observed the disbelief etched on the faces of the Ministry officials.

'I suppose they'll also get to experience the effects of the elixir, but there's nothing I can do. The goal justifies the means!' – determined the black-haired girl, casting a last glance at the Potions Master who was engrossed in pouring himself a goblet of Duke McMahon's wine.

At this moment someone bumped into Catherine, and she ended up practically falling on top of the person, sitting in one of the plush silver armchairs, strategically placed around the dungeon. This allowed for more private conversations, shielded from the rest of the room by light muslin curtains adorned with delicate snowflake patterns.

"I'm terribly sorry!" – she apologised, hastily standing up and fixing her dress whose colour was now matching the young witch's face.

"You could stay a bit longer if you'd like, Little Bird!" – purred Lucius Malfoy, a playful smile gracing his thin lips.

Catherine's jade-green eyes widened with a mix of astonishment and an instinctual urge to flee. Yielding to that instinct, she turned on her heel, intending to leave, but found her escape thwarted as the Slytherin's strong grip seized her wrist and pulled her back, nearly forcing her onto his lap. 

"Not departing so soon, are you?" - Malfoy's tone held a hint of amusement – "Cissy's occupied with one of her cousins, attempting to garner support for his upcoming re-election to the Wizengamot. It's bound to take some time; poor Graffias has never been much of a charmer."

"I wasn't aware we were on such friendly terms." – the Gryffindor girl retorted coldly. 

"I wouldn't exactly call it friendship." – Malfoy replied with a smirk – "More like a master-and-pet relationship."

A tremor passed through Catherine's lower lip, her complexion paling as anger simmered in her eyes. Even her hair seemed to crackle with static electricity from the magic building within her. Slowly, she reached for her wand, freezing in place when she heard the Head Boy's hearty laughter.

Standing up, he approached the young witch, forcing her to look up to maintain eye contact. His smile appeared genuinely intrigued. 

"You're quite the source of entertainment, Little Bird! However, I must warn you that my Slytherins may not heed my wishes to leave you be for much longer. Stay vigilant, as I can't control them indefinitely, especially after incidents like the one in Hogsmeade."

"Firstly, I don't recall asking for your protection!" – hissed Catherine – "And secondly, what do you mean 'incidents like the one in Hogsmeade'? It wasn't me who cursed Volumnia and Tulia!"

"That I know. Unlike my fellow Housemates, I'm also aware of the identity of the real perpetrator." –Lucius replied calmly – "But I have no intention of revealing it, and even if you do, they wouldn't believe you."

"I'm not afraid of a bunch of snakes!" – the girl exclaimed, lifting her chin defiantly. 

"And I thought you were smart." – Malfoy shook his head – "Only fools and Gryffindors fail to recognise when fear serves as a good surviving mechanism. But I suppose there isn't much difference between the two. The world is changing, Miss Plantier! Choose wisely who are your friends and who are your enemies, if you wish to have a place in it!" 

The seventh-year strolled past Catherine and melted into the crowd, disappearing in an unknown direction. After a brief moment of reflection on what had just occurred, the black-haired girl resolved not to let the Slytherin's words bother her. 

'He's clearly trying to get under my skin! I can't decide if he's simply deranged or some sort of twisted sadist... I'd better find Lily before he shows up again!'

However, things didn't go as planned. Lily was indeed found, however, she was no longer alone. Catherine immediately recognised the lanky silhouette next to her, therefore she swiftly changed her direction and headed towards the podium where a few witches and wizards were playing violins and Sylvan strummers - a guitar-like instrument crafted from enchanted wood found deep within the boreal forests. 

There, the young witch enjoyed some peaceful alone time, immersing herself in the excellent music and sampling the various delectable treats being circulated by the faux Veelas. 

"Ah, there you are!" – the sudden, ecstatic voice startled the girl, who turned around to see the beaming Professor Slughorn, his eyes strangely unfocused and dreamy.

'I suppose he consumed enough of the Bacchus Bliss. Now or never!' – Catherine thought, putting on her most charming smile.

"I was just enjoying the wonderful entertainment you provided us with, Sir!" – she said, motioning towards the musicians – "I hope you were able to have some rest and enjoy the evening after all the hard work for organising such a remarkable event!"

"It was indeed a lot of work!" – sighed the Potions Master – "But seeing my dear students together makes it all worthwhile! These gatherings also give me the chance to catch up with those who have already flown from Hogwarts. They've all become highly successful witches and wizards, and it means the world to me that they took the time to attend my little soirée!"

"You're too modest, Sir! You're everyone's favourite teacher, and if I may say so - an inspiration to many of us!" – Catherine said, fully immersed in her role, even managing to coax a tear down her cheek.

"You're such a sweetheart!" – Slughorn exclaimed – "And so thoughtful! That wine was the finest I've ever tasted, but of course, one would expect nothing less from the cellars of a prominent aristocratic family! I must remember to send my regards to the Duke through Greg. But I'm simply astounded you managed to acquire such a rare gift!"

"The most challenging part was sneaking it into the school, if I may confess to bending the rules, Professor." – the young witch remarked, flashing a mischievous smile.

Slughorn giggled, thoroughly entertained by his student's confession. "I'll pretend I didn't hear a word of it. After all, it wasn't intended for you or your classmates, so technically, it doesn't quite breach the rules if we consider their spirit rather than their letter." 

"I knew you'd understand, of all people!" – Catherine choked back a bit, her expression one of utter adoration – "That's why I have such a passion for Potions! Not only do you teach us the practical skills we need in everyday life, but you also encourage us to be adventurous and pursue true knowledge. It's a shame not all teachers share your open-mindedness!"

"Some of my colleagues do adhere to a stricter curriculum, indeed." – nodded the Professor – "However, remember, you can always come to me with any questions you may have! I'll do my best to answer them to the fullest extent of my knowledge. I like to think I have a broad understanding of various fields, if I may say so myself."

"Truly, Professor?!" – Catherine gasped a bit theatrically, though Slughorn was too enchanted by the elixir's effects to notice – "That means the world to me! Especially after this week, Professor McGonagall nearly gave me detention for inquiring about the properties and ingredients of the Animagi Potion! We were studying animagi transfiguration, and I wanted to grasp every detail, not just fragments!"

"Oh, my! You likely struck a chord with Minerva!" - Slughorn chuckled knowingly – "She's quite sensitive when it comes to animagi, likely because of her own hardships with the transfiguration. From my experience, she might not fully appreciate a naturally curious mind."

"Exactly, Professor! Despite her being my Head of House, I feel a closer bond with you" - Catherine agreed with a bright smile - "In hindsight, I should have sought your guidance from the outset! Undoubtedly, your theoretical knowledge surpasses even that of Professor McGonagall, notwithstanding her firsthand experience."

"Well, I'm not one to boast, but I did happen to write an article for the Journal of Magical Potions Research on the properties of the Animagi Potion." – the Potions Master proclaimed proudly and added – "However, it's a rather controversial subject. For instance, there are no books containing the potion's instructions in the Library. Fortunately, I had a volume with the recipe in my personal collection."

"I wish I could read it!" – sighed the girl, her gaze pleading as she looked at her teacher – "Would it be too much if I ask if you could lend me the book and discuss how to properly make it! It would be a true Christmas present!"

Catherine noticed a slight change in Slughorn's expression, as if his mind was wrestling with the decision. He recognised that this wasn't an ordinary request, nor was it information a teacher should readily share with a third-year student. However, the effects of the Bacchus Bliss Elixir were too potent, and after a few moments, his smile returned, and he chuckled merrily. 

"What an excellent idea! It would be my pleasure to assist one of my brightest students. Let's head to my office, where I can find the book and explain a few key points during the brewing process. But let's keep this between us. Severus would be furious if he discovered you were conducting such advanced research, especially given your already turbulent relationship."

"Of course, Professor!" – Catherine assured him as they made their way to his office – "This is going to be our little secret!"