It wasn't until Kate saw Snape in the Potions office that she realized a person's face really could turn as black as the bottom of a cauldron.
"Miss Shafiq," he said, flicking his black robes and fixing her with a sour glare, "have you spent so long among those idiotic animals that their stupidity has rubbed off on you, to the point where you can no longer manage even the most basic logic in your behavior?"
Same old flavor of insult. How nostalgic.
Kate waited until he'd finished the string of barbs that followed, hardly one repeating another, and then bowed obediently. "Sorry to trouble you."
Seeing her stand there and take everything without a word of backtalk, Snape narrowed his eyes and studied her.
Even after leaving the Headmaster's office, he still didn't know what exactly Kate had done to earn a month of detention from Dumbledore, who had always favored her.
But judging by her attitude now, it had to be no small offense.
He gave a cold snort and strode into the office. "All of this term's ingredients are yours to prepare. If you say one extra word during detention, I'll throw you into the Forbidden Forest."
"Yes, sir!" Kate followed close on his heels and answered loudly.
Snape turned around and shot her another dark, frosty glare.
Kate snapped her mouth shut at once and trailed meekly in after him.
By the time the detention ended, she hadn't been killed by Snape's venomous tongue, but her hands were so sore and weak they trembled.
Heaven only knew why Snape needed so many Potion ingredients prepared. Even someone with Strength far beyond her peers had nearly had her hands ruined.
When she finally got out, there was barely half an hour left before curfew.
Kate had meant to head straight back to the dormitory to rest, but the moment she stepped out of the office, she spotted a blond figure crouched on the steps in the dim light.
"Luna?" she called out on instinct, since she'd taken a nap with her that afternoon.
But after two steps closer, she saw that the figure's build was nothing like Luna's small frame.
"Malfoy?"
She approached hesitantly, and found Delar sitting there in her boy's disguise, those pale gray eyes giving nothing away as they stared quietly at her.
Come to her this quickly, once she'd thought it through?
That wasn't like the young lady's usual awkward self at all.
Kate stopped a few steps in front of her, cleared her throat, and asked with her hands behind her back, "Were you waiting for me?"
"You said Luna just now?" Delar stood up. Whether it was the effect of the alchemical item or not, in her male form she was actually an inch or so taller than Kate.
Overpowered by the height difference, Kate backed up two steps and explained helplessly, "I mistook you for someone else, that's all. Did you need something?"
"Hmph!" The young lady gave a soft snort and looked off to one side. "Don't flatter yourself. I came to see the Head of House."
"Oh," said Kate, and turned to leave. "Suit yourself, then."
She'd only gone a couple of steps when she thought she heard someone behind her mutter a curse.
She looked back uncertainly. Delar was still standing in the same spot, staring at her in silence.
This girl obviously wanted to talk to her.
Sighing inwardly, Kate walked back and held out a hand. "Want to go back together?"
Delar froze for a moment and reached out on instinct, then remembered she was still wearing the mask. At the very instant her fingers were about to touch Kate's palm, she snatched her hand back.
Kate grasped at empty air and blinked. Then she shook her head with a self-mocking smile and turned to go.
"W-wait for me!"
Her robes were caught from behind. Kate stopped short and looked over her shoulder at a certain young lady whose face was burning red, yet who still gripped her hem and refused to let go.
This girl...
Kate tried tugging the fabric back and was yanked right back again, with all the stubbornness of a puppy guarding its food.
After a moment of silence, she decided to just let her have her way.
If they actually started a tug-of-war here, these wizard robes would be beyond saving.
The two of them walked single file down the pitch-black passage. As she went, Kate wondered why Slytherin had ever built its Common Room in the dungeon.
Never mind the lack of fresh air and light. There wasn't even a lamp along the way. Any student afraid of the dark would probably be scared out of their wits every time they came back.
It took seven or eight minutes to reach the Common Room entrance. Kate spoke the password and let Delar go in first, while she herself halted at the sound of voices inside.
As a rule, whenever she finished a private talk with Delar, they went back separately so no one would see them.
It wasn't that she feared anyone would misread her relationship with Delar. After all, everyone agreed the two of them were rivals. She just worried that if they returned together, people would assume they'd gone off somewhere to beat each other up.
But Delar had stopped.
Kate watched her in confusion, and before she could react, she was dragged inside along with her.
The commotion at the entrance was considerable. The little snakes who'd been playing around in their own groups all turned to look, each face showing a different degree of astonishment.
"What are you doing?" Kate muttered in a low voice, pulled in so suddenly.
Delar said nothing. She simply took out a handkerchief with a gentle air—the very same one she'd swiped from Kate last time.
Holding it, she softly dabbed at Kate's forehead, then smiled at her.
The whole room sucked in a breath.
The sky was falling! The sun was rising in the west! These two were actually walking together, and acting this close!
Just as everyone, Kate included, stood there utterly dumbfounded, Delar affectionately reached up and ruffled her hair, her tone indulgent. "Get some rest early. Good night."
Even Kate's eyes went wide.
Had this girl lost her mind?
Right there before everyone's eyes, Delar calmly tucked the handkerchief away, took Kate by the arm, walked her to the door of the girls' dormitory, and thoughtfully saw her inside.
Then she turned, serenely faced the crowd of gossiping, astonished, and probing stares, said nothing at all, and headed straight for the boys' dormitory.
In an instant, the Common Room filled with whispers.
"How did those two end up together? Did they just finish a brawl?"
"Idiot. What sworn enemy wipes the sweat off the other person after a brawl? He's insane!"
"Then does that mean they've... fallen for each other?"
"The Shafiqs and the Malfoys... if those two families join forces... No! I have to tell my family right now!"
Before long, the onlookers were looking on and the messengers were sending messages. The whole Common Room was buzzing, with none of Slytherin's usual quiet elegance left.
And Kate, hiding at the door of the girls' dormitory, watched the scene with a tortured expression.
Well. She was doomed.
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