Ice and Flame

Chapter 16

  Next morning Cath and Severus headed to the railway station and she left. Severus came back to Hogwarts and was getting ready for the trip home. Somebody knocked at his door. He opened the door and saw Lucius.

"Lucius? What are you doing here?" he asked surprised.

"Severus, I can't find Cath anywhere. Is she here?" Lucius asked worriedly.

"No, she isn't here. She left and not going to come back. Because of you" Severus said looking at Lucius with his black eyes.

"Where did she leave? When?" Lucius asked desperately.

 In his thoughts Severus saw the fear of losing his love.

"She went home. I'm not gonna tell you where. It's enough suffering for her. She told me everything" Severus said in a cold voice.

"You know, Sev, it's none of your business.  It I'll tell you. There is no my fault in that situation. This rotten walked into my room and tried to hang on me. I expelled her. That's all" Lucius said irritated "If you know where is she, please, tell me."

 Severus was genuinely surprised. Malfoy and please. That's opposite things.

 "I see you're not lying.But how to persuade Cath" Severus said looking at his hands concerned.
"Just give me her address. I'll go and explain everything to her" Lucius said.

Severus wrote Cath's address on the peace of parchment and gave it to Lucius.

"But Lucius, I don't think going to her right now is a good idea. Let her calm down. Wait for a few days" Severus said.

"I'll try to wait. Thank you, Severus" Lucius said and put the parchment into his pocket.

"Don't thank me. It's for Cath" Severus replied.
                                 ***
  A week passed. Cath came back home. In her parent's house she calmed down a bit and distracted. She felt like she was in her childhood again. She ate delicious cakes her mum cooked, went fishing with her dad, went swimming to the river and went for a walk to the forest.
That day Cath went for a walk like she used to. The weather was warm and sunny. She was in a good mood. She was wearing elegant black dress with white polka dot. She went to the van with ice-cream and has been choosing her hat to buy.

"Cath" she heard familiar voice behind her back.

She turned around meeting with grey eyes.

"What...are you doing here?" she asked surprised.

"I came here for you. We need to talk" Lucius said.

He took her hand and lead her aside from the van.

"We have nothing to talk about and...I decided to come back to my ex husband" Cath said avoiding his gaze.

Lucius's eyes sparkled with anger.

"What?" he asked.

He turned her face to him holding her chin.

"You're lying. You just want to hurt me, right?" he hissed.

"You can think whatever you want. He came to me. We had a talk and decided to start our relationships again" Cath said looking down.

"Is it so? Well, after everything you've told me you give him a second chance. And I'm not allowed even explain? Good girl, I have nothing to say more. You know, Katherine? If you don't wanna be with me, just say it directly. Why are you lying? Maybe the case in manor was just a reason for you to leave me?" he said.

Lucius stepped back from Cath.

"Maybe" she said still looking down.

"Well, be happy then" Lucius said.

   He turned away and left quickly.
  Cath came back home and locked in her room. She said to her parents she had a headache. Now she regretted about what she said to Lucius and that she didn't let him explain himself.

"Marilyn, what should I do? I saw everything. But why my heart and my intuition keep screaming I should listen to him. But now he will never forgive me. I hurt his pride. I'm such a fool" she said to herself slapping her forehead.
                                                                                                     ***
                                                                                At Snape's place
  Lucius came to Severus. He didn't stop thinking about Cate's words. He didn't want to believe it. He knew she was lying. And it made him angry even more. He refused to believe that a woman he truly loved for the first time could betray him. It couldn't be true.

"How's your trip?" Severus asked pouring fire whiskey into two glasses and handing one to Lucius.

"Nothing" Lucius said drinking his beverage in one gulp "She said she come back to her ex. I give up."

He was sitting on the sofa holding his cane and looking down.

"What? Did you believe in this bullshit? Silly girl!" Severus said arching his eyebrow.

"I don't know. She sounded persuading. Why do you believe it's a bullshit?" Lucius said looking at Severus with hope.

"Lucius. She wouldn't come back to her ex even if he was the last man on this planet. When she's angry she can tell even worse things than that. I wouldn't hurry up to believe this" Severus said.

" I felt she's lying. But why are you sure so much?" Lucius said.

Severus stood up, took a letter from his drawer and handed it to Lucius.

"Read. Got it this morning." he said.

Lucius looked at him surprised rising his eyebrows.

"Why should I read your letters?" he asked.

"Just read. It's from Cath. And it concerns you" Severus replied.

Lucius felt familiar smell on the envelope.
He opened the envelope and read the letter.

"Hi, Sev! How are you? How are your holidays? You know, I need to tell you something. I remember you told me not whining. But I have to share it or I'll lose my mind. I trust only you. I'm idiot. I'm such a fool. Lucius came to me. I didn't listen to him. But the worst thing is that I told him I'm coming back to my ex. Cool, right? How could I say that? I'm damn psycho. He will never forgive me now. Well, now I'm a free bird if I can say so.
Come to visit me, we'll have a chat. I miss your grumbling. I'm going to our family vacation home this weekend. My family can't come with me. And your company would be good for me.
Cath."

Lucius held the envelope in awe.

"I knew she told something wrong. Fuck, I'm an asshole!" he said.

"You both act like a young assholes. And now I should solve your problems" Severus grumbled "Emotions doesn't help to make the best decisions."

"That's a fact, no doubts" Lucius said.
Severus looked at him mysteriously.

"I have one idea" he said.