Ice and Flame

Chapter 10

 Cath went for a walk to the yard of Hogwarts. She went along the path enjoying wonderful sunny weather. It seems that even nature decided to share her marvellous mood. Thoughts of Lucius made butterflies in her stomach wave their wings in happiness. She went and sang quietly.
Severus walked towards her song the path. He saw the girl and stopped. Attentive professor noticed her raised mood.

"Hi, rescue, where have you been? You must be sleeping off, didn't you?" he said.

Cath looked at Severus smiling mysteriously.

"You can say so. I'll go for a walk" she said.

Severus looked at her with suspicion. He wasn't  going to let her go without explanation for the reason of her mood rising.

"Stop" he said looking at her.

Catherine gave him a questioning look. She couldn't stop smiling.

"What's wrong?"she asked.

 Severus looked into her emerald eyes shining with happiness attentively. He felt warmth inside seeing her like this. 

"Why are you happy as a cat who just ate sour cream?" Snape asked.

Her smile became bigger.

"Just a good mood.Meow" she said with a smirk copying the cat sound.

Her reaction made Severus smile slightly. 

"You're shining like Lumos. Come on, give it up. What happened during the night?" he said looking into her eyes.

"Severus, I'm trapped. I'm head over heels in love" she whispered coming closer.

Severus guessed that something he feared will happen sooner or later. 

"That's it. Don't tell me that it's something I'm thinking about" he said.

He raised eyebrow and was looking at Kath waiting for her answer.

"Yes, it is. It's Lucius" she said smiling.

 Unfortunately his fears weren't futile. He didn't want Cath to suffer.

"And when did you understand it? In your sleep?" she asked sarcastically.

"Well, he visited me yesterday. That's why I didn't leave the room" she said blushing slightly.

"Wait...did you...?" Severus asked raising his eyebrows in surprise.

Cath looked at her friends crossing her arms on her chest.

"Marilyn! Yes, we had sex" she replied.

Severus rubbed the back of his head in confusion. Cath smirked. His reaction seemed funny to her.

"Cath, you're crazy. He's wrong person to have relationships with. It's Malfoy. You've lost your mind" he said.

Cath arched her eyebrow sceptically.

"Well, I don't know. He's nice when he switch off his inner peacock. Severus, let it be. I'm tired of being afraid. I will be happy even if it won't last long" she said dreamy.

'Silly girl' he swore in his thoughts.

"Cath, I can say a lot of things to you. But I don't wanna you to be cheated on again and cry" he said and took her hand.

  Cath smiled. Severus became a true friend to her. He always took care of her and stopped from silly actions. But she wasn't going to surrender now. 

" I hope it won't happen" she said looking into his black eyes "Severus, don't be such a grumpy little bat. Wish me good luck instead."

  Cath hugged potions master making him confused. He hated being touched.

"Hey, touch your Malfoy. And I'm not a bat" he said slightly hugging her back and pulling away.
Kath pouted like a child making Severus smile.

"Beech" she said showing him her tongue "Why can't I hug you? Well, I'll go now. See you soon".

 Severus held his smile. This little redhead witch was incorrigible. But he loved her for who she was.

"You know I don't like this. See you" he said.

"Bye" she smirked.

 Cath walked to the opposite direction from Severus. He watched her walking. 

"Be careful, girl" he said quietly.

Severus came back to his office to check students' works.
                                  ***
                Later at Malfoy manor

  Lucius was sitting in his office sorting out his papers. Flashbacks of the last night and morning doesn't leave his head. Hot pictures distracted him from diving into the papers. He couldn't believe that this wild kitty melted in his arms. First he thought his obsession will end as soon as he get her body. But when she opened to him, Lucius understood he felt more than lust towards her. It was passion and tenderness, wish to take her rude and caress at the same time, to protect her and never let anyone offend her. He needed her like an air. He wanted to see her, to be with her, to speak to her, breathe the same air as her, wake up next to her and have breakfast together.

'Congratulations, Lucius. At your age you feel in love like teenager' he thought and smiled widely.

  Even at teenage age he didn't feel such a wide range of emotions. Now he wasn't sure if he loved anyone at all. Definitely as strong as Cath - never. Lucius smiled at his thoughts. It was a new feeling for him. Yes, he loved Narcissa in his own way. But it was something platonic. It faded and drowned into scandals. Now he felt like he was born again. He felt hot thinking about Cath. He started looking through papers thoroughly to distract himself from his thoughts and finish his work.
  This day Draco came home. He went into his father's office. 

"Hello, father" he said.

"Hello, Draco. How are you? How is your studying?" Lucius asked.

"It's ok. Mum says hello to you" Draco replied.

"Say hello to mum too. She should visit me more often" Lucius said.

"Ok. I'll tell her. By the way, dad. I have higher points in Potions" he said proudly.

"Well, son. Glad that you finally got yourself together and started studying" Lucius replied patting Draco on the shoulder.

  Draco was surprised by his dad's reaction. Usually he was rather cold. 

 "Thanks to Miss Wilson, new assistant of Snape. I wouldn't cope with it without her" he said.
Lucius coughed. 

"Are you ok?" Draco asked surprisingly.

"Yes...Assistant, you say. What about assistant?" Lucius asked curiously.

"She always helps us. She could give us extra classes if we need to. And she manage to soften Snape's anger. She calms him down or something" Draco smiled "She's so cool."

Draco's eyes sparkled when he talked about Cath.

"Calm him down you say" Lucius said jealously "She's good indeed."

"Huh?" Draco asked looking at him confused.

  Malfoy understood that he said too much. He should find the explanation quickly.

"Well...she helps you to study better. It means she's a good teacher" he said moving on his chair.

" Do you like her, dad?" Draco asked with a sly Malfoys' smile.

  Lucius knew that his son was right. But he wasn't going to confess now.

"Draco Malfoy. You ask inappropriate questions" he said.

"I just wish happiness to you and mum. Even if you're not together" Draco said shortly looking at father.

It seemed he understood his reply without words. 

"Thanks, son. We also wish you only happiness. Despite I was a bad father" Lucius said.

  Lucius hugged his son for the first time in many years. Draco was pleasantly surprised and hugged him back. They finally managed to find the lost connection again.