Wildflowers

Respect

Katelyn lay sprawled on the sofa, the soft hum of music filling the room as the TV flickered in the background. She was dressed in a loose, thin T-shirt that barely skimmed her thighs and very small black shorts. 

The afternoon sun cast a warm glow through the curtains, and her body felt pleasantly heavy and relaxed after a flare-up earlier that morning. She had taken her medication and now felt the world drift in and out, her mind in a hazy, dreamlike state.

The sudden whoosh of the Floo startled her slightly, and she blinked as Lucius Malfoy stepped gracefully into the room, his eyes widening just a fraction at the sight of her.

"Katelyn," he drawled, his tone full of amusement. "I wasn't expecting to find you home."

Katelyn smiled lazily from the couch, her voice soft but laced with flirtation. "Severus is at the estate, in his lab," she replied, her gaze drifting lazily up and down Lucius's figure. "Brewing potions for me. He should be back anytime now."

Lucius's eyes swept over her, taking in the sight of her lounging in her thin, clingy T-shirt and barely-there shorts. She looked utterly at ease, yet there was a playful energy about her, an undercurrent of mischief in her eyes despite the obvious signs of her illness.

"You're welcome to stay," she added with a grin, propping herself up on her elbows and giving him a lazy, flirtatious smile. "It's not like I'm going anywhere."

Lucius's eyes narrowed slightly, intrigued by her tone. He moved closer, the firelight from the Floo reflecting in his pale eyes as he took in the scene—music, the soft flicker of the television, the relaxed atmosphere. "Why are you home, young lady?" he asked, his voice laced with mock reprimand. "Surely you're meant to be at school."

Katelyn stretched languidly, her fingers lightly grazing her thigh as she smiled up at him. "Isn't it obvious?" she teased. "I'm sick."

Lucius's gaze swept the room, and his eyebrow arched as he took in the oddly cheerful atmosphere—the music, the soft flickering lights, and the altogether too comfortable-looking Katelyn. "You don't seem particularly... unwell," he remarked, his tone full of skepticism.

"Oh, I am," Katelyn replied, her voice dripping with playfulness. She pressed the back of her hand dramatically to her forehead. "I'm on my deathbed, Lucius. Didn't you know? Severus wouldn't let me go to school because I had a fever earlier. But now..." She let her hand drop, her lips curling into a mischievous grin. "I'm feeling much better."

Lucius smirked, stepping closer, clearly entertained by her theatrics. "Ah, a miraculous recovery, I see," he said, his voice smooth as silk. His eyes lingered on her, noting the way her shirt clung to her curves, the way her shorts rode up her thighs as she shifted slightly on the sofa. "And here I was, genuinely concerned for your health."

Katelyn laughed softly, the sound light and carefree. "Well, I'm still a bit... under the weather," she replied, her gaze locking with his, her voice lowering ever so slightly. "But nothing a bit of rest—and maybe some company—won't fix."

Lucius's smirk widened, his eyes gleaming with interest. "Oh, I see. Well, I certainly wouldn't want to intrude on your recovery," he said, his voice teasing.

Katelyn shook her head slowly, her grin never faltering. "You're not intruding. In fact, Severus should be back soon, and I'm sure he'd love to see you. Why don't you stay?" she suggested, her voice carrying a hint of something more as her fingers absentmindedly played with the hem of her shirt.

Lucius's gaze flicked to her hand, his smirk deepening. "You're quite the temptress, Katelyn," he remarked, his tone half-amused, half-admiring. "But I've actually come to invite both of you to a party this weekend."