CATHERINE was standing outside the steel door of her final examination room. She will only know what question and skill she will be tested once she's inside. She prayed that the examiner would be kind enough.
Greg was standing in the room next to her and he gave her a sad smile. He decided not to join the fight, but will help and coordinate the Healer's tent, much to Gabby's relief. Catherine mouthed to him, last one and he replied with a good luck.
With the loud blaring sound of the bell everyone knocked on the door and entered the room. As soon as she saw the examiner, she couldn't help but smile.
"Good morning, Professor."
Professor Smethwyck let out a bark of laughter, "Well well this is a nice way to end the day. Good to see you, Catherine."
She walked towards the table and knew instantly what the next task was. There was a very realistic looking mannequin that had a trace of a scar.
"Patient is a 35 year old male who was caught in a battle with a slicing charm." Professor Smethwyck gave her the instructions and finally started the clock. Catherine flinched because the memory of Draco bleeding and pale flashed before her. She had 15 minutes to save this life. "Do me proud, Catherine. You may begin."
And that was her goal. He was the one who taught her how to perform this sealing charm and he was going to be the one to determine if she passed at the end. She focused all the power on this final test. She directed all her passion into it, wanting nothing more than to succeed, to become a Healer. To make her parents proud.
Once she finished closing the wound and gave final touches along with the additional medication. Professor Smethwyck looked like he was about to cry.
"You're going to be an amazing Healer." Professor Smethwyck leaned back on his chair. "I will be honoured to work with you in the future."
The final bell rang, this time with a more sparing tune.
"The honour is mine, Sir."
———
"Congratulations Healer Catherine." Blaise placed a cup of black coffee right in front of her. Their final meeting had turned into a feast. Mountains of food and pastries piled the silver plates. It was their last supper.
"The results take a few months, Blaise, I don't even know if I passed." Catherine swirled the coffee in her hands, looking around to see if there was milk or cream.
"Well, since I have personally watched you do your magic, they would be a fool to fail you."
Catherine offered a soft smile. As they talked about things other than what was going to happen tomorrow, Blaise's eyes tend to wander towards a particular someone. Her short black hair was neatly brushed and she wore a silver bandana. His eyes turned hard when Pansy made a move to place her hand on someone else's shoulder, laughing along at his jokes.
"You should really tell her." Catherine caught him off guard.
"Tell who about what exactly?"
Catherine ignored his question, "Before you run out of time and she gets snatched up by someone else."
His fist clenched hard on the table. He never took his eyes off her, "She deserves better."
"Oh that's bloody shit. You should know better than to judge people on what they do and don't deserve. What matters is what she wants."
"She does not want me."
Catherine rolled her eyes, "Are you blind or just plain stupid? Then again you were going to feed a chocolate dragonball to a dog."
"I did not know there was chocolate in it!"
She placed her cup of coffee with a loud thud, zeroing her eyes at him, "They had labels and a fucking chocolate drizzle on the outside!"
A hand softly caresses her hair and moves down to her shoulders. "Simmer down you little chimaera... and Blaise fuck off you're in my seat."
"No." Blaise even went to stick his tongue out at him and Draco sighed. He took Catherine's coffee in his hands, "When I get back you better be gone."
Pansy's laughter rang again and this time Neilson was edging closer to her. He was looking down with lust in his eyes, no doubt focusing on her chest instead. Blaise wanted to say something but stopped dead, when Neilson began to place a hand on Pansy's hips.
"Not on my watch." He muttered and left her side.
Catherine chuckled and watched the scene unfold. Blaise flicked his wand and Neilson was sent a few feet away, which made him spill his wine onto his white dress shirt. He slid his hands around Pansy's waist and no one could miss the redness on her face. A few banter of words were exchanged and the offender left.
"What did you do?" Draco sat on the chair that Blaise once occupied.
"Nothing, it was all Neilson." Catherine pointed to the poor man who was searching for clean napkins.
Draco handed her the perfect blend of milk coffee with a splash of cream. She sipped on the warm drink slowly, savouring the taste. Coffee was indeed ruined. Even the same blend would taste different if it was made by someone else.
"I never asked how you knew how I liked my coffee."
He placed an arm on the back of her seat and leaned closer, "Trial and error, or maybe it tastes good because you're drinking it with me."
"Don't push it." She threatened and he smiled. There was a hardness on his face today, on everyone's faces for that matter. A gloomy fog has settled upon them all, making each conversation dull and difficult. No one would laugh for too long and the smiles were partially forced.
Catherine won't lie, she had been feeling the extreme dread since early morning. At first it was the nerves for the test but when she saw Draco waiting for her outside the Hospital, instead of feeling better, the dread only multiplied.
She could lose him. She could lose everything tomorrow. Something just doesn't feel right.
Gabby told her it was just her anxiety, but what if it was more than that?
"Alright everyone let's make this quick and brief." Harry used his wand to magnify his voice and everybody shuffled to their seats. "We will run through our plans one last time."
He cleared his throat before continuing, "Protocol A. Catherine, you will be placed right outside the Mansion territory and Klaison will accompany you. You will only need to tap into the stone's power, enough to lure them out. Then Klaison will apparate you to the Clock tower located at the far Southern border. You cannot be in that building when Protocol B starts, or else they could use the stone's powers. Are we clear?"
"Crystal." Klaison chipped in.
"Right then, Protocol B. We have divided you all into three main lines. Each will enter upon my signal. We wipe the whole Mansion clean and obtain the stones. Kill whoever is in your way, disarm when you can and take in willing prisoners. Whenever a stone is in our possession a signal will be released as well. Protocol C, is the destruction of the whole Mansion, that is my responsibility."
The room was eerily quiet and Catherine felt the air getting too stuffy. Draco's grip on her knees was getting tighter with each second.
"Now that is our original plan." Catherine hated this part the most, it reminded them that failing was still an option. IT was still possible that tomorrow, everyone in this room would be dead and Lucius Malfoy would rule the wizarding world.
"If their numbers were way more than expected, and there was no chance at all, we pull back at the start." Harry swallowed hard and spared a glance at Catherine and Draco's way.
"Last... If everything that could go wrong went terribly wrong. We destroy the stone."
Draco's jaw clenched hard and Catherine clasped his hand. She looked at him, begging for him to look at her too, but he didn't.
"And we won't let it come to that." Theo added from across the room and gave her a subtle nod.
After a few more announcements, Harry dismissed them all.
Here it is. Their final moment as a team. They tried their best, and now only Merlin knows what would happen next.
———
Draco, Theo and Blaise had been practicing in the mirror room ever since they got back from the meeting. Catherine had spent her time with the women. Astoria had been the most anxious, followed by her sister Daphne. Somehow Pansy was the calmest of them all.
Catherine knocked softly before opening the heavy doors to the room. Draco was alone, still in his dark black dress pants he wore to the earlier meeting. His tux discarded at the railing. He's sporting his usual unbuttoned top look with the sleeves of his dress shirt rolled up to his elbows, gracing her with the view of his muscles as he worked to further mutilate the dummy.
"You're going to tire yourself and you need rest." She called him and he looked up to see her. Gone was his tense fighting stance and his shoulders sagged a little. She wished she could capture the twinkle in his eye every time he looks at her.
"It was my last practice." He walked forward to press a kiss on her forehead. Catherine hugged his waist and he returned the embrace, placing kisses all over her head and face making her laugh.
"Are you scared, for tomorrow?"
His expression shifts. "For you, yes." He pressed his hand on her cheek, his thumb making circles just the way she likes it.
"Draco, you're the one going into battle. I'm just going to dangle the carrot in front of them then hide and relax until you guys finish."
"I'm third in line, Catherine. It means I will just be there for the final seconds and clean up. I don't even want to kill my father anymore, I just want it all to be over."
"Then don't worry about me."
He gave her a peck on the lips. "You are not to leave the tower, you understand? Keep close to Klaison and the guards in charge. Don't try to be a hero and pull some Gryffindor shit just stay put."
Catherine murmured, "Bossy."
Draco attacked her again with kisses this time going all the way to her cheeks and neck. She shrieked as he began to tickle her hips. It was a distraction that they both needed.
"Do you think it will go as planned?" She hated that his face was too uptight. The slight pinch at the centre of his eyebrows and the ghost of a frown never leaving the corner of his lips.
"It has too." He pulled her tighter into his body. "So I can start making our future a reality."
She gave him one of her smiles, "You and your words, Draco Malfoy. Some may say I have you wrapped around my finger." She dragged her finger across his jaw then back to run it through hair.
"Well there would be absolutely no shame in that. Others would be jealous that I have you all to myself." He dipped and tilted his head, capturing her lips again for a simple peck. His hands now cupped both her cheeks, as if he's holding his whole world in his hands.
Catherine walked to the middle of the room. She never really took a good look at this place, not when Draco was bleeding to death the first time she was here. All the four walls are covered with mirrors and they all have been repaired.
Draco placed his hands in his pocket. "I have trained here since I was a little boy. I even had fencing lessons with Goyle and Blaise."
Catherine looked at him and he gave her a shrug. It still blows her mind sometimes that they grew up in totally different households and conditions. Yet the universe aligned them to meet.
"Are there any other interesting rooms in the Manor?"
"Not really." He thought about it for a while, "we only have a pool, a stable for the horses we used to keep, a ballroom-"
"You have a ballroom?" She asked. Then again why the hell not.
"We have two actually." His face smug, "One for the formal grand events, the other roughly the same size but we never really use it."
Right, he was rich.
"You want to see?" He extended his hand and Catherine intertwined their fingers.
She nodded and he led the way
———
The first thing Catherine noticed was the grand chandeliers hanging from the extremely high ceiling. Lavish white sticks of candles perching on gold ornaments with diamonds hanging from it. Draco pointed his wand to light them all on. When the light illuminates the whole room she was taken aback by its majestic grandness. There were few similar structures of candles decorating the sides. The walls were made of glass so they could see the complete scenery of the Manor's gardens. Not to mention the moon and the stars making the room glow.
There were tall green and grey curtains lining part of the walls. The floor was made of sleek mahogany and Catherine could hear the clicking of her shoes as she walked to the centre. The ballroom was absent of furniture and empty of life. But if she closes her eyes she could imagine the extravagance of the orchestra and the clatter of silver plates mingled with the conversations of rich and posh society.
"I can't remember how many times I would come up with a plan to sneak out of those boring balls." Draco had his hands in his pockets as he walked towards her.
"Oh yes. The food, the drinks, the company... must be so unbearable." The sarcasm dripping from her lips.
Draco chuckled, "When it happens once a month and when people only talk to you because they know you're father is rich, it gets tiresome."
This time her smile was more of sympathy. She took her time to scan around the room and took it all in. Catherine imagined him growing up in this big cage that was filled with luxury, like this grand cold ballroom. But deep inside all he wanted was a big warm hug and attention.
"So where would you go and escape?"
"There used to be a small hidden door by the corner there," He pointed towards the farthest end where there was a transition on the transparency of the glass walls, "We would slither it open and run off to swim or just go to my room. Blaise would just sneak out and go to the kitchens. Mother would catch us sometimes and usher us back in."
Catherine linked her arms around his, "I've only been to one ball my entire life and my favourite part was the dancing."
"You mean the fundraiser gala?" He was just too smug sometimes. "Love, it means your favourite was not the dancing, it was all me."
Catherine elbowed the side of his ribs and he groaned. She forgot about his injuries and felt guilty afterward.
He broke away from her and took three steps backward. One hand tucked behind him, he gave her a short bow, like he had done it a million times. He extended his hand with his palm facing open.
"A dance, Ms. Ariendra?"
The heat that crept to her cheeks was almost unbearable. She slowly took his hand and she placed the other on his shoulder. His other hand pulled her closer as it perched on her hips. The rush of the golden memories from the gala played in her mind and she couldn't help but smile. It was the first time they finally let in their feelings.
"But there's no music." She was just scared of her two left feet that would make it even more awkward without the melody helping her. Draco snapped his fingers and there were small trumpets descending from the ceiling. It hovered near the chandeliers and started playing a familiar instrumental tune.
"La Vie en Rose? I didn't peg you for a cliche." He started to move them slowly to the beat. Their bodies pressed close together, the side of his cheek touching the side of her head.
"Because it took your kisses to reveal that I was wrong and love was real." He recited a line of the song and it took everything in her not to melt.
They glided across the room. There were no rules nor mistakes, they were just Draco and Catherine. Enjoying the way their bodies sway with the music. She loved how he was the lead but let her move to express herself at the same time. He was in his usual tux and she was in her usual sweater and jeans. If there was a definition of a perfect moment, Catherine would fight to put this in history.
"Ready?" he asked and Catherine had to suppress her excitement.
Draco pulled back and spun her around. She let herself imagine that she was wearing her golden ball gown and it twirled beneath her fingers. He let her arms open wide before pulling her back in.
"I love it when you do that." She whispered.
So he did it again, this time twirling her twice before grabbing on tight and dipping her down. He brought her back up and their eyes met. Both panting slightly but the smiles on their faces was evident enough of how enchanting this moment was.
After a few turns around the room Draco guided her to the middle and spun her again, this time lifting her up in the air at the end. Both of her feet were above the ground, but her heart felt like it was above the clouds, soaring through heaven
She placed both hands on his shoulders and he slowly placed her back down on earth.
The tune became softer and more mellow. Their foreheads were now touching each other and Draco Malfoy started singing. To her. With his voice low and husky. Catherine did not understand those words but the conviction in his voice proves just how much he meant every word.
"Quand il me prend dans ses bras. Il me parle tout bas. Je vois la vie en rose." Catherine forced her weak knees to stand up right from his voice. Gone was all the dread in her stomach, she would not let anything ruin this moment. Their moment.
"Il me dit des mots d'amour. Des mots de tous les jours. Et ça m' fait quelque chose." It was true what they say, when everything around her melted into oblivion. What was there was only her and the man who was serenading his love accompanied by the invisible orchestra of their hearts.
They were going to get through with this. Even if she had to tear apart the very essence of this world. She would do it just to see him come through.
"Give your heart and soul to me." He sang, "And life will always be-"
He did not have to finish. Her hands skimmed upwards to the nape of his neck and pulled him for one breathtaking kiss. Their lips sent sparks into her whole body and she was sure fireworks must have exploded somewhere. It was not a kiss of lust but rather one of passion.
For she did not need to see life through rose-coloured glasses. Life with him was more beautiful than it can be.
———
"They will attack tomorrow."
Lucius Malfoy didn't have to turn around to see who the voice belonged to. He waited for this confirmation for far too long.
"Are you sure?" His voice made everyone in the room shiver.
"Without a doubt."
His numbers were low but with the four stones, he would win. But he would need one crucial ingredient.
"And the girl? What about Draco?" No one dared to cross him. The man who was relaying the information stilled. Lucius stood and motioned for the dementors to hover near him. "You don't know, do you?"
"No confirmation on both matters, Master."
"Then you are worthless to me." With his instructions, the dementors sucked his soul until his eye sockets were hollow.
His son was his first target. He wanted him alongside his army or dead. But now he has a bigger fish to fry.
If Ariendra's daughter was nowhere near the building, they wouldn't stand a chance. But something deep inside told him that she would be tucked somewhere far away. Somewhere Draco won't be placed, because that would have been too easy. He raised his hands and let the dementors do their job.
"We need the girl. Bring her to me." He growled to his inferiors. "Only when her blood is spilled, then we will taste true victory."
"Are you sure we will be able to?"
The man who spoke was dead within seconds.
"Anyone else?"
I'M SORRY IF ITS CHEESY BUT URGH! I have been imagining the La Vie en Rose scene over a thousand times in my head and I wanted him to sing to her! I love you all! Hugs and Kisses, Genevieve 🌻