Of Greatness and Grandeur

Chapter 7

Charles and Victoria were absent from the Slytherin table at dinner that night, perhaps still occupied by their earlier disagreement. The result was that the seating arrangement, normally firmly dictated by Slytherin hierarchy, was thrown into disarray. While Adeline, Orion, Antonin and Thaddeus took their normal seats out of deeply engrained habit, Celeste moved to sit next to Thaddeus, and Katherine occupied Victoria's usual spot next to Riddle.

While the boys began piling their plates high with roast beef, Adeline leaned across the table towards Katherine. "Katherine, would you mind showing me how you did Celeste's lipstick after dinner? It looks so good!"

Celeste pursed her newly cherry red lips. "You don't have to copy everything I do, you know, Addie."

Adeline pouted in response, looking down at a platter of steamed vegetables.

Katherine gently lifted Adeline's chin. "I don't mind at all. It will be a symbol of our friendship," she proclaimed.

Quietly, so that only Katherine could hear him, Riddle muttered, "I didn't take you for the type to be interested in makeovers."

Katherine poured herself a glass of ice water, her eyes remaining forward as she responded. "You're right about that. But I am interested in politics, and gaining supporters is an important part of that fine art. Everyone knows that I'm the one who started the trend; girls with red lips will be showing a visible sign of allegiance to me."

She took a sip of her water. "It's a lipstick army," she said with a soft laugh.

Riddle looked sidelong at her. "And what, pray tell, do you need an army for?"

Katarina turned to look at him, flipping her dark hair over one shoulder. "Like I said earlier, I'm not sure yet, but I intend to find out what you're up to, and I may need friends when I do."

Riddle gave her a withering look. "These are my people, Katarina. Lipstick and charm won't be enough to win their allegiance from me."

With a little shrug, Katherine turned back towards the table, reaching for a roll. "We'll see about that."

Katherine looked pointedly towards Celeste, who was giggling loudly at something Thaddeus had said. Thaddeus smiled broadly, looking both surprised and pleased at Celeste's enthusiastic response.

"Seems like they're hitting it off," said Katherine, smiling slyly at Riddle, who rolled his eyes in response.

"Hey, Kat, Riddle! Does either of you know when Professor Blishwick wants that essay on the major battles of the Giant Wars?" asked Orion.

With that, the conversation turned back to homework and Quidditch for the rest of the meal.

Arriving back in the dark common room after dinner, Katherine spotted Avery moping in one of the plush green armchairs. She meandered her way around younger students towards him, carrying a brown paper bag.

"Here," she said, dropping the bag on his lap. "I snuck some food out of the Great Hall for you."

"Thanks," he said moodily.

"You mind if I sit?" asked Katherine. He shrugged, which Katherine took as permission to plop down in the chair next to him.

"How did things go with Victoria?" prompted Katherine.

"Extremely poorly. Sometimes I swear she's got mental issues," he said, pushing his forehead into the palm of his hand.

"She just cares about you," she said gently. "And it's not hard to see why she does."

He looked up at her, eyes wide, and then shook his head in frustration. "Victoria hates you, you know. She doesn't want me to talk to you at all. She's so bitter, and you're so goddamn sweet, Kat. You brought me food, and now you're complimenting me…" He trailed off.

Katherine smiled. "It's not flattery, Charles. It's just the truth. You're a very talented wizard. I can tell that you have a higher purpose in this world; something great to accomplish." She leaned towards him, placing a hand lightly on his knee.

"I doubt it," muttered Charles, slouching deeply in the chair.

Katherine rubbed her thumb comfortingly on his knee. "There must be something you're working on. Maybe something to do with Riddle? He thinks very highly of you, you know."

Charles straightened in the chair, and looked sharply at Katherine, as if seeing her there for the first time. "What does this have to do with Riddle?"

Katherine feigned confusion. "I've no idea, I simply thought you might be collaborating on something, since the two of you are both such intelligent wizards."

"Well, we aren't," said Charles darkly. He grabbed the paper bag and stood up sharply. "Thanks for the food," he added, before heading up the stairs to the boys' dormitory, leaving Katherine sitting alone in the common room.

At the top of the stairs to the girls' dormitory, Victoria stood with a murderous expression on her face. She stormed down the hall to her room, entered, and slammed the door behind her.

Riddle sat at the desk in his room, finishing up the last few paragraphs of an extra credit assignment for Ancient Runes, when he was interrupted by a knock at the door. He picked his wand up off the desk, and gestured casually at the door, which unlocked and swung open, revealing Charles Avery standing in the hallway.

"Yes, Avery?" said Riddle.

"My Lord, I felt I should tell you…Katherine spoke to me in the common room just now. She was asking about whether you and I were working on something together. It didn't sound like she knew much about our…erm…activities, but she seemed like she was trying to find out more," said Charles, shuffling his feet nervously.

Riddle nodded, unsurprised. "You did well to tell me, Avery."

"Thank you, My Lord," said Charles. "Would you like me to do anything about it?"

"No, I'll handle it myself," said Riddle, twirling his wand absentmindedly in his hand. "Goodnight, Avery."

Charles retreated into the hallway, closing the door to Riddle's room behind him.

The next morning, Katherine woke with a start to the sound of a knocking on her door. Groggily, she sat up in bed, covers twisted around her legs. "Just a minute; I'm not decent," she called.

She hopped out of bed and grabbed her bra from the top of her dresser. She quickly put it on and fastened the clasp, then pulled on her uniform skirt. As she was shrugging on her white blouse, the door to her room swung open with a loud bang.

Riddle stood in the doorway with a look in his eyes reminiscent of a threatening storm. Katherine looked up at his imposing figure, eyes widening before narrowing again in annoyance.

"What the hell, Riddle?" she chastised, turning her body away from the door as she worked on buttoning her blouse.

Riddle swaggered into the room and closed the door behind him with a flick of his wand. "I'm not here to steal your virtue, if that's what you're concerned about," he said sardonically.

She glared at him, turning back to face him now that her shirt was fully buttoned. "What did you knock for, if you were just going to barge in here anyways?"

He shrugged. "You took too long."

Katherine looked questioningly at him, eyebrows slightly furrowed. "How did you manage to get in? I must have put a dozen warding spells on that door."

Riddle smirked, picking up and examining a piece of parchment on Katherine's desk. "I'm bloody brilliant, that's how."

She snatched the parchment out of his hand, placing it back on the desk. "What do you want, Riddle?"

Suddenly, he stepped in front of her, forcing her back against the desk. He stood so close to her that she could smell his scent, a blend of pine needles, parchment and something uniquely him.

"I want to give you one last warning, and I do mean that it's the last one I will give. I'm not usually this generous with those that cross me, but you warned me to leave Grindelwald's party early, and I do not forget my debts. I now consider that debt paid," said Riddle evenly.

"What's your warning?" breathed Katherine, her golden brown eyes looking up at his dark green ones.

Riddle leaned in even closer, his lips brushing her ear. "You have three options, Katarina. The first is that you leave Hogwarts. The second is that you keep your head down, and mind your own business."

She shivered. "And what is the third option?"

In a voice like polished steel, Riddle continued. "The third option, which I do not suggest you take, is that I cause you so much pain that you wish you were dead, and when you can take no more, I kill you."

Quick as a flash, Riddle stepped back and drew his wand, pointing it at Katherine's throat. He held it there, pushing gently against her pulse. The tip of the wand began to glow fiery red, burning at Katherine's skin.

"Make no mistake," he said, "If you cross me again, there will be consequences."

Katherine gulped, her throat pushing against Riddle's wand, flesh sizzling painfully. "I don't doubt that for a minute," she said quietly.

As quickly as it had come, Riddle's anger dissolved away. He dropped his wand, and took a step back. His usual charming smile reappeared on his face, and his posture became more relaxed. No indication remaining of the threats he had delivered a moment earlier, save an angry red welt on the side of Katherine's neck.

"I'm glad you understand. I'll see you at breakfast, Kat," he said, delivering the nickname with a cheeky wink.

She nodded unsteadily, one hand rubbing tentatively at her burned neck. As soon as he'd left her room, she grabbed her wand and began casting a healing spell. The welt remained however, seemingly impervious to her efforts.

"Why won't this work?" she hissed in frustration, trying several alternate charms."Bloody curses."

Glancing at a clock above the desk, she realized she had only a few minutes before breakfast. Giving up on healing the wound, she instead cast an illusion similar to the one she used earlier on Celeste's lips. The wound remained painful, and could be located by touch, but was otherwise completely invisible.

"Hey Kat!" called Orion. "We were afraid you wouldn't make it to breakfast."

Charles sat glumly in his usual spot next to Victoria, poking unenthusiastically at his scrambled eggs. Celeste was sitting next to Thaddeus again, with her sister on her other side.

Katherine took her usual place at the table, looking as beautiful as usual, if perhaps slightly paler. "I slept in," she said apologetically.

"You should really get up earlier, Katherine," said Riddle cheerfully. "I find one can get a lot done in the morning before breakfast."

"I'll try to remember that, Riddle," she said, pouring herself a cup of tea.

"Did you forget about helping me and Addie with our makeup this morning?" asked Celeste, sounding a bit annoyed.

Katherine looked up from her tea, smiling but flustered. "I must have! I apologize; this is very unlike me." She pulled her wand out of her book bag. "Can I do it now?"

Celeste and Adeline nodded enthusiastically, giving Katherine the go-ahead to perform the charm. The twins looked admiringly at each other's cherry red lips, not needing a mirror.

Victoria was looking sullenly at the twins out of the corner of her eye.

"Would you like me to do your lips, as well, Victoria?" offered Katherine warmly, one hand rubbing absent-mindedly at her neck.

Victoria scoffed. "Certainly not. I think red lips look vulgar and unladylike."

Celeste shot her a furious look, while Adeline brought her fingers uncertainly to her lips. "Thanks a lot, Victoria. You're as sweet as vinegar this morning," said Celeste.

Victoria took one last sip of her tea before placing her cup on the table, arching a sly eyebrow at Celeste, and quipping "I'd rather be vinegar than a tart."

With that biting remark, she promptly left the table and stormed out of the Great Hall.

Abraxas clapped a hand on Charles' shoulder. "I pity you, my friend."

Charles shrugged him off and stood up, walking out after Victoria.

"Never a boring day in Slytherin," chuckled Orion.

He checked his watch. "We should head to Transfiguration."

The rest of the Slytherins shoveled a few more bites of food in their mouths before grabbing their bags and heading to class.

AN: Will Katherine heed Riddle's warning, or keep digging? What is it that she hopes to find? And will Victoria get over her dislike of Katherine, or will it continue to grow?

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