Wiltshire - 29 June 1994 - Tea Time
Wiltshire - 29 June 1994 - Tea Time
29 June 1994
The summer morning in Wiltshire was stifling. The sky was clear, and a faint breeze rustled the trees surrounding Malfoy Manor. Katya stepped out of the taxi that had taken her directly from Trowbridge to the Malfoy estate. She had opted to travel to Trowbridge by train, as her apparition permits had not yet been approved by the Ministry. She wore a simple light blue dress with buttons down the front and a wide-brimmed hat to shield herself from the sun. In her hands, she carried her briefcase and her work laptop case. She had received an invitation to discuss the Malfoy family's finances with the lady of the house, something out of the ordinary. Katya assumed Narcissa had questions or concerns regarding the family's money.
A house-elf, dressed in nothing but rags, opened the door and bowed its head without meeting her eyes.
"Miss Borislova," the elf said, bowing so low that its pointed nose nearly touched the floor. Katya felt a pang in her chest; she recognised the same elf who had served cocktails at a Malfoy gala, though on that occasion, it had been dressed elegantly.
She wondered whether the Malfoys were cruel masters to the poor creature and was reminded of how her own brothers treated the house-elves at their mansion in Rostov.
The elf led her to the main sitting room, where Narcissa Malfoy awaited her beside a small white marble table. Narcissa was impeccably dressed in a cream linen ensemble that accentuated her aristocratic poise.
Katya noticed the measured coldness in Narcissa’s expression, something typical of pure-blood families, but also a hint of curiosity that seemed at odds with the reserved demeanour of the Malfoys. The woman extended her hand slightly.
"Miss Borislova," Narcissa greeted her with a faint smile. "I hope the journey wasn’t too troublesome. I noticed you arrived in a Muggle vehicle."
"Not at all, Mrs Malfoy," Katya replied with a formal nod. "Yes, I am… I am currently staying in a Muggle neighbourhood, and my apparition permit for England hasn’t been approved yet."
"Oh, I thought Lucius was taking care of that," Narcissa said dismissively. "Well, I shall remind him to ensure you don’t have to endure such an inconvenience again." She gestured towards the chair, inviting Katya to sit at the table. "I’d like to go over the reports here."
"Of course, Mrs Malfoy," Katya replied, taking a moment to place her belongings on the adjacent chair and retrieve the folder containing the family's property records. "I’m not sure which of the assets you’d like to start with..."
"I’m also curious to know more about you," Narcissa said with a pleased smile. "After all, Lucius returned from Russia quite fascinated after his meeting with your father, and we haven’t had the opportunity for a woman-to-woman conversation to properly introduce ourselves. Besides, it’s rare for us to host someone so… distinguished around here," she added, her words cutting off any chance for interruption.
Katya recognised the subtext in Narcissa's words. The woman was trying to gauge her, to learn more about her. Katya wondered if Narcissa might feel jealous of her husband and silently hoped that wasn’t the case. Lucius was simply a friend of her father’s, someone she had known since childhood and regarded with nothing but respect as an acquaintance. It could also just be a subtle attempt to assess her stance or character. If there was one thing she had learned from the tedious galas and gatherings at the Borislov mansion, it was that everyone wanted to know everything about everyone else. But Katya had been taught discretion from a young age. As a member of a Russian pure-blood family, she was used to such tests of character. She offered a polite smile as she opened her briefcase.
“Well… I’m not sure what you’d like to know, Mrs Malfoy, but I am here simply to serve… first my father, and then your family, to the best of my ability,” Katya replied carefully.
Narcissa nodded.
“Tell me about yourself. Lucius mentioned that you pursued a degree at a Muggle university,” Narcissa said, snapping her fingers. A small bell appeared beside her, floating in the air. She gave it a shake, and the house-elf appeared at her side. “Bring a glass of claret and… whatever Miss Borislova would prefer.”
The elf looked at her expectantly. Katya hesitated over what to drink.
“Dry sherry?” she asked, and the elf nodded.
“Interesting choice. As I said, I want this meeting to be entirely relaxed,” Narcissa said with a faint smile. Katya, on the other hand, wondered if it was normal to drink mid-morning. “Now, you were about to tell me about your academic experience.”
Katya nodded.
“Well… I hold a master’s degree in Economics from Lomonosov Moscow State University, along with accountancy certifications from RANEPA. I also had the benefit of my father’s mentorship and gained practical experience managing the Budget Department at Borislov Enterprises,” Katya explained, feeling like she was in a job interview as she outlined her academic achievements. “In fact, I submitted my thesis last year, so I’ve only recently graduated.”
The house-elf quickly returned and placed a tall glass in front of her without so much as glancing up, before doing the same for its mistress. Katya took a sip as Narcissa nodded thoughtfully.
“What made you decide to study alongside Muggles?”
Katya drew a breath and took another sip of her drink.
“Well… my family’s business has a close relationship with the non-magical market in Russia. It would be… unwise for both me and my brothers…” Katya hesitated, trying to be discreet about mentioning her brothers, “to be unprepared to step into my father’s shoes.”
“Did it not bother you? Studying alongside them?”
Katya clasped her fingers beneath the table.
“We all have to make… sacrifices for our family,” she said, carefully keeping her position on certain ideals neutral.
“An incredibly astute answer, Miss Borislova,” Narcissa said with a smile before taking a sip of her drink for the first time. “Now, could you tell me how many properties we own in England?”
Katya nodded and presented the family’s property folders. Over the next few hours, the young woman explained the fluctuations in the Malfoys’ investments and suggested adjustments to certain financial arrangements, such as selling off properties in less profitable neighbourhoods and acquiring others in London’s most prestigious areas to improve the family’s capital.
Narcissa listened attentively, though she occasionally steered the conversation towards personal topics, which Katya answered with poise.
“Tell me, are you currently in a relationship?” Narcissa asked, now smoking elegantly from a silver cigarette holder.
Katya, slightly taken aback by the question, took a moment to consider her response.
“No,” she replied honestly. “If I’m being truthful, I haven’t had the time for such things.”
Narcissa nodded, smiling again with evident satisfaction. After a while, following an intense discussion of both professional and personal matters, Mrs Malfoy suggested a break while they awaited lunch.
“Perhaps you’d like to visit our library while I attend to a few matters,” she offered. “It’s a space that reflects our… family history. I’m sure you’ll find it intriguing.” Narcissa led her to the library. “You might even run into Draco there—he enjoys reading in solitude.”
Katya nodded and accepted, grateful for the opportunity to explore and gather any kind of information from the library that she could later add to her notebook and use to provide her father with useful data about the British.
The Malfoy library was impressive, with towering shelves of dark mahogany and thousands of volumes, many of them ancient and clearly valuable. However, in her mind, she couldn’t help but compare it to her family’s library in Rostov, which was much larger and had a more diverse collection, including works in Latin. As her fingers traced the spines of the books, a sound pulled her out of her thoughts.
Turning, she saw a pale-haired boy with grey eyes watching her from a nearby table. His hands were on the laptop she had left on the table when she entered, and the charger lay on the floor. His expression was one of pure scepticism. She had crossed paths with the boy before when he and his father had visited her at the Gringotts bank office.
“What is this?” the boy asked, his tone slightly haughty, as was characteristic of his family, though he couldn’t entirely mask his curiosity.
Katya stepped forward slowly, studying the boy. She had heard of him—the Malfoy heir—but had never met him in person.
“It’s a laptop,” she explained, offering a faint smile. “I use it to work for your parents.”
The boy nodded. Draco stared at her intently, studying her, and then nodded again.
“I’m surprised you’ve never seen a laptop before.”
“My parents say Muggle things are… unnecessary,” Draco replied with a dismissive wave of his hand, though his eyes remained fixed on the lit-up screen now resting on the table. “Although… it looks interesting,” he admitted, sitting down in front of the laptop.
Katya leaned forward to sit beside him, pressing a button to wake it up. The screen flickered to life, displaying graphs and documents she had been working on. The boy’s eyes widened in astonishment.
“It’s a very useful tool. Muggles don’t have magic, so they invent things like this to solve their problems. You can perform complex calculations, store information, and much more.”
“And can wizards use it too?” Draco leaned in closer, fascinated by the graphs on the screen.
Katya regarded him seriously.
“Of course, yes.” She gestured for him to move the cursor. “It’s not easy at first. Many of these devices don’t work well in areas with high magical concentration. But if you’re truly interested, I can teach you how to use it,” she said. The boy looked at her, a small frown forming on his forehead, before shaking his head.
“Understanding the Muggle world doesn’t mean accepting it, but it does make you… more functional, you know?”
“My family has always said Muggles have nothing to offer us, so I don’t see how a machine like this could make me more functional.” Draco frowned, clearly puzzled by her words.
“Well, it would keep you from falling behind compared to non-magical people, especially if all your family’s assets will one day be yours,” Katya said, offering him a kind smile. “You should have a judicious mind and learn to navigate both worlds.” She held his gaze, carefully choosing her words. “Your parents can tell you what to think, but in the end, it’s you who decides what to believe.”
Draco now watched her intently. “You’re young, Draco. You can form your own ideas.”
Katya felt deeply conflicted about the poor boy, trapped in ideals and a worldview that were not his own but had been instilled in him by his parents. It was as though he had been moulded within a gilded cage, with every thought and reaction shaped to fit a legacy he had not chosen. She couldn’t help but see a younger version of herself in him, caught in an endless cycle of parroting the hollow words her father used to proclaim with authority—words that glorified the purity of magical blood while ridiculing Muggles and half-bloods as little more than blemishes on a lineage that must be preserved at all costs.
She remembered how, at his age, she too had believed those tales. She had blindly admired her father as he boasted of his influence and power. But over time, Katya had begun to understand what lay behind those grandiose claims: a mixture of insecurities and unchecked ambitions, wrapped in a façade of supremacy. She recalled the secret meetings he held at the family mansion, where applause echoed as he closed million-Galleon deals with other wealthy wizards, always with the same coldness with which he dismissed anyone who didn’t share his ideals.
It had been painful to realise that she was nothing more than a pawn in her father’s game. Everything he had built, every lesson he had taught her, was nothing more than a tool to perpetuate his worldview—a vision that excluded anyone who did not meet his strict standards. And now, seeing that boy trapped in a similar fate, Katya felt a pang of compassion mingled with deep anger. No one deserved to grow up under the weight of such oppressive ideals, nor to be reduced to a mere instrument for fulfilling the grand ambitions of others.
Katya wished she could shake him, open his eyes before it was too late. But she knew she couldn’t force an awakening. Like her, he would have to come to his own conclusions, go through his own process of questioning and rebellion. All she could do was plant small seeds of doubt, offer him a different perspective, even if silently. After all, she herself had needed someone to show her that there was a world beyond the walls her father had built around her, and she was grateful to Wudan and Nikita for that.
Before Draco could respond, the library door creaked open, and a tall figure, draped in a black robe, stepped through the threshold with measured, deliberate strides: Severus Snape. Katya felt a barely perceptible jolt, though it was enough to send her mind racing with unsettling questions. What was he doing there? Was he following her? His presence, as always, seemed to darken the atmosphere, making even the sound of his boots against the floor echo with an authority that could not be ignored. Yet what unsettled her most was the effect he still had on her—a whirlwind of conflicting emotions she could not dispel.
From where she sat, she observed him carefully as he crossed the room with that piercing gaze of his, the kind that seemed to cut through to the deepest thoughts. For a moment, it occurred to her that he might have overheard her conversation with Draco. The idea made her uneasy. If Severus knew what she truly thought, if he had caught even a glimpse of the doubts she so meticulously concealed, he could unravel the fragile façade she had constructed.
However, before panic could take hold, Katya forced herself to take a deep breath and regained her composure. She could not afford to falter. Her freedom depended on it.
With practised calm, she adopted a relaxed posture, as though the man’s presence meant absolutely nothing to her. She turned her attention back to the laptop in front of her, pretending to study it with interest, though her senses remained attuned to Snape’s every movement.
"Professor Snape," greeted Draco, standing up immediately as though he had been caught doing something improper.
Severus glanced at Draco, then at Katya. His expression was unreadable, but his dark eyes seemed to assess the situation carefully.
"Draco, your mother is looking for you. Perhaps you should attend to her."
Draco muttered an apology to Katya and quickly left the library, leaving her alone with Severus.
"What are you doing here? I didn’t expect to see you again," said Katya bitterly, breaking the silence. Her tone was sharp with irritation.
"Mrs Malfoy has a particular talent for arranging unexpected meetings," replied Severus, his deep voice dripping with sarcasm. "I suppose you didn’t realize that your presence here is also part of her… strategy."
"Obviously not. I’m here to work. I had no idea you’d been invited as well," Katya retorted with a wry smile.
"Curious. I thought you’d been invited for lunchtime" the man murmured, emphasizing the words "lunchtime" with a hint of disdain. Katya arched a brow, sensing he was playing some sort of game, and Severus, feeling the pressure, averted his gaze to the grand library. "Narcissa is usually more… discreet. She must be quite intrigued." He crossed his arms, studying her closely.
"Intrigued?"
Severus let out a dry scoff.
"I believe she may have seen us a few weeks ago in London," he admitted, avoiding her gaze. "She likely thinks that Lucius’s and her desperate attempts to pair me off with someone have finally borne fruit."
Katya gave a quiet snort of laughter, and he looked directly at her, no longer holding back. She was wearing a light blue linen dress, modestly cut but subtly fitted around her hips and chest. The blue hue was striking on her, almost mesmerising. Severus tried not to look for too long; it would only prove counterproductive.
Yet, for the briefest of moments, he couldn’t help but picture what it would be like to grab her by the hair and revisit the position they had so thoroughly enjoyed in Vienna nearly a year ago—except this time, atop the desk of a library.
Stop it. Control yourself, he ordered himself sternly.
The silence that followed was tense. Both knew there were many unsaid words between them, yet neither was willing to take the first step. On one hand, Severus desired her fervently but also wanted to yell at her to leave him alone, to stop haunting his nights with her infernal presence in his dreams. Yet, another part of him didn’t want her gone. Those dreams were proof they had once been together, and at present, he’d rather dream of her than anything else.
As for Katya, she wanted to plead with him to leave her alone, to stop distracting her, to stop abruptly crossing her path while she was in the country. She had a mission and couldn’t afford to fail.
Finally, Severus averted his gaze to the laptop.
“So, you’re corrupting young Malfoy with Muggle contraptions?” he asked sarcastically.
“No. I was merely answering his questions. He’s a curious boy,” Katya replied, holding his gaze. “Is he one of your students?”
“Yes.” Severus kept his eyes fixed on her, though her grey eyes no longer looked at him with seduction—they were watchful, alert. “In fact, I’m also his godfather.”
Katya let out a laugh, breaking the staring contest between them.
“Poor boy,” she said sarcastically, hastily packing her belongings.
Katya’s comment brought a faint smile to Severus’s face. He found it amusing that she could jest about him—it reminded him of the Katya he once knew. But then he realised that his Katya no longer existed. She might have been his once, but he hadn’t allowed it.
A sudden urgency gripped Severus—he wanted to warn her again about the Malfoy family, to ask her to stop torturing him in his dreams, or simply to beg for a chance to discuss what lay between them. To tell her he couldn’t stop thinking about her. But before he could utter a word, a house-elf appeared beside him with a small bow.
“Masters! Mistress Malfoy and young Master Draco are expecting you in the Greenhouse for lunch,” the elf announced in a hurried voice.
Katya raised an eyebrow, slightly surprised, while Severus looked at her with resignation. It seemed they had no choice. Narcissa was testing them both. He felt deeply uncomfortable with the notion that Mrs Malfoy could further disrupt the fragile connection between them, but they were already here.
“Let’s not keep Narcissa waiting,” said Severus curtly, beginning to walk towards the Greenhouse.
As they walked through the halls of Malfoy Manor, Katya glanced at Severus from the corner of her eye, her expression contemplative.
“I’m curious,” she said. “Have you explained the nature of our relationship to them?” She spoke in a low but clear voice.
“Relationship?” Severus raised an eyebrow, and Katya scoffed.
“You know exactly what I mean, Severus. Have you told your friends… what happened between us?”
“I owe them no explanation,” he responded quietly as they followed the elf. In a voice even lower, meant only for her ears, he added, “They are not my friends. At least, not in the way you and I once were. Don’t trust them.”
Severus glanced briefly at her, a slight tension visible on his face. Katya frowned, startled by his response. If they weren’t his friends, then why was he allowing this situation? She was losing patience, but something in his demeanour suggested he couldn’t share the full truth—just as always.
“What do you mean by that?” she asked, stopping for a moment. Severus sighed, stopping as well to meet her gaze. He knew his earlier response had been vague.
“You can’t mention anything about the last Assembly. You cannot mention my early departure,” Severus said, almost pleadingly.
Katya stared at him, uneasy with the urgency in his tone. Did this mean she would have to lie for him? What was he hiding from the Malfoys?
She knew he didn’t want to discuss their friendship or what had happened between them before he disappeared without a trace last year. But explicitly asking her to keep things hidden implied something more. It was clear he didn’t trust the Malfoys, so why was he pretending to be one of them? Katya couldn’t help but think back to their meeting in Vienna, where they had been intimate, where she believed their relationship might bloom—only for him to abandon her and break her heart.
“I understand,” Katya finally replied. “But if it comes to it and I have to lie for you, I’d like to know why. You owe me that much.”
Severus scowled at her.
“No, you don’t need to know,” he said coldly. “Just stay out of trouble, please.”
Katya frowned, unsatisfied with his answer.
“I don’t understand. Are we in danger?”
He thought for a moment before shaking his head.
“No. We just need to be careful, Kat.” She felt a flicker of comfort at hearing him use her old nickname. She decided not to push him further—for now. There would be time to talk later, assuming they ever did. “And close your mind. She knows Legilimency as well.”
Katya nodded, now even more on edge.
“You know this is all very strange, don’t you?” Katya pressed. “You’ll have to tell me something.”
Severus let out a resigned scoff.
“I know. And I will… eventually.”
When they arrived at the Greenhouse, Narcissa greeted them with a self-satisfied smile, clearly pleased with herself for orchestrating their paths to cross once more. She observed them curiously, eager to know everything about them: how they met, when they met, what had transpired between them, and what sort of relationship they now shared.
Since the gala, Narcissa had found it both highly amusing and entertaining to see the usually composed and controlled Severus Snape visibly shaken by the presence of the young foreigner. It was strange for her to witness how the professor, so accustomed to his stoic demeanour, momentarily lost that air of poise that had always defined him.
Upon learning that they had known each other previously, both Lucius and Narcissa couldn't help but feel intrigued. The idea of uncovering the details of this concealed connection between Severus and Katya seemed fascinating, almost like a pastime that provided a refreshing contrast to the graver concerns always looming over the Malfoys’ lives—especially those related to the Dark Lord and his impending return. The mere prospect of having something else to talk about, something other than the dark future that awaited them, was a welcome distraction.
For Lucius, the opportunity to unravel this "juicy gossip" had turned into a sort of game, a diversion that amused and entertained him amidst his constant quest for control over the situations surrounding him. Meanwhile, Narcissa continued to observe keenly, convinced there was more to this connection than what was immediately apparent. For now, however, the Malfoys would be content with gleaning whatever insights they could.
"Severus, Katya, how delightful that you've found each other!" Narcissa exclaimed with a courteous smile, gesturing elegantly for them to sit. They took their respective seats, the chairs arranged in such a way that they were placed next to each other. Draco, seated across the table, could barely hide the curiosity with which he watched them, as though anticipating something of interest to unfold between them.
"I had completely forgotten that we’d arranged for some Advanced Potions tutoring for Draco, Severus" Narcissa said with a feigned tone of apology. "I do hope you’ll forgive me and find the presence of Miss Borislova agreeable."
"I’m sure your schedule must be quite demanding" Severus replied in his characteristic tone, laden with irony, eliciting a light-hearted laugh from Narcissa.
"Oh, come now, Severus. You’re on holiday; indulge me by enjoying a family lunch and taking the opportunity to meet someone new," she responded breezily.
Katya, remaining silent, watched as the house-elf approached once again, offering her another glass of sherry. She smiled at the elf with genuine gratitude, and with practised skill, he deftly placed a series of drinks on the table: a traditional English tea for Severus, another glass of claret for Narcissa, and a glass of Coca-Cola for Draco. The scene carried an air of peculiar informality that Katya found oddly fascinating.
"Although... now that I think about it... you two already know each other, don’t you?" Narcissa remarked, a glimmer of amusement in her eyes as she turned her attention to Severus, raising an inquisitive eyebrow. "How did that come about, Miss Borislova? Has Severus been a gentleman?"
Katya picked up her glass and took a small sip, carefully maintaining her composure. Internally, the question struck her as so absurd that she almost laughed out loud. Instead, she opted for a measured response.
"Professor Snape and I have met at the European Potioneers' Assemblies" she replied in a neutral tone, meeting Narcissa’s gaze, which clearly sought more details. Katya paused briefly before continuing. "We’ve worked together for several consecutive years. It’s a highly prestigious organisation." Her eyes drifted momentarily to the glass in her hand, and she took another sip, her demeanour growing slightly tenser. "His work is admirable," she added curtly, avoiding eye contact with Severus.
"Ah, was it all purely professional?" Narcissa insisted, leaning slightly towards them, a mischievous glint in her eyes that clearly expressed her disappointment at the lack of drama.
"Obviously," Severus replied, his tone sharp, making it clear that there was nothing more to discuss. At that moment, the house-elf appeared with the plates of food, interrupting the uncomfortable conversation. Snape, grateful for the distraction, picked up his cutlery and began to eat with the same coldness with which he always handled such situations.
Katya, for her part, simply followed the conversation with an impassive expression, although internally she couldn’t decide whether what had just occurred was irritating or simply hilarious. Draco, on the other hand, didn’t quite understand why his mother was so interested in the family accountant and his godfather, but he didn’t miss the opportunity to ask a question that had apparently been on his mind.
"So, is it true what they say about the Borislov family?" he asked, looking at Katya. Katya feared which of the many rumours about her family he was about to ask. "They say they’re dragon hunters, that they use them to create curses. Is that true?"
Katya smiled faintly, relieved that it was that topic.
"Not exactly" she said calmly. "My family doesn’t hunt dragons. We breed them. We have four wild dragons in Rostov."
Narcissa, Severus, and Draco’s expressions changed instantly. Narcissa raised her eyebrows in astonishment, while Draco appeared almost unable to process the information.
"Four dragons?" Severus murmured, unable to hide his astonishment. This was something Katya had never mentioned before.
Katya nodded, noticing how disbelief surrounded them.
"Yes, Eastern dragons, with white horns." she explained. "They’re not easy to handle, in fact, they’ve never been ridden. But my family has learned how to care for them and keep them under control. They feed on the animals of the forest."
Draco, astonished, looked at Katya with admiration.
"That... that’s incredible" he commented. "Can we visit Russia someday, mum?"
Narcissa, meanwhile, was thoughtful, her eyes glowing with renewed interest.
"We’ll see" she murmured. "To be honest, I didn’t know the Borislovs had such creatures." She said this in her soft tone, but with palpable curiosity. "You attended Koldovstoretz Magic School, right?"
"Yes, for seven years" Katya replied. "I specialised in Potions, which allowed me to become a Master Potioner, a year later."
"Ah, just like Severus," Narcissa remarked casually. "I see you have a lot in common. You must have been excellent laboratory partners." She took another sip of her drink.
Severus and Katya both nodded.
"Is it true you play Quidditch with trees?" Draco asked, now intrigued again.
"Yes, it's not a sport I’m particularly fond of, but yes, uprooted trees are used instead of brooms, unlike in the West."
"Unbelievable!" the boy exclaimed. "It would be fascinating to try it at Hogwarts."
Katya burst out laughing.
"Oh, no. Many students die every year; it’s a rather dangerous sport" she replied.
After several hours of interviews, sarcastic comments from Severus, and several glasses of Sherry consumed by Katya, Narcissa finally allowed them to leave. The lady of the house, with her usual elegance, gave them a smile as she bade them farewell.
"I hope to see you both at the Quidditch World Cup" Narcissa remarked casually, almost as if talking about something trivial. "Lucius can get you tickets. We’ll be in the front rows, next to the Prime Minister."
Katya nodded, although the idea of attending the championship was the last thing on her mind. The last thing she wanted was to run into her dear brothers at such a public event. The very thought gave her a bad feeling, and she preferred not to comment on it.
Narcissa, with a look that reflected her usual intuition, seemed to anticipate the slight inconvenience. She moved towards the door, already ready to say her goodbyes, and turned to speak to Severus again.
"Severus, would you be so kind as to Apparate Miss Borislova to her neighbourhood? She still doesn’t have permission to Apparate in the country" she said as she took a final sip of her drink.
Both Severus and Katya exchanged a brief look, sharing an unmistakable discomfort. A tension that seemed to grow with every word. At the same time, they both opened their mouths to respond, but did so simultaneously, which only added to the awkwardness.
"It’s not necessary, I can borrow the phone and call a..." Katya started to say, but Severus interrupted her.
"I’m not sure that’s the most appropriate..." he said, almost defensively.
Narcissa watched in silence, but with her usual perceptive gaze. Something was happening between them, a tension that could not be ignored. There was more to their interaction, something she didn’t fully understand, but knew could be interesting. Something had occurred, and she was determined to find out what.
"Oh, we don’t have a phone" Mrs. Malfoy lied, a satisfied smile forming on her lips.
Severus and Katya exchanged another look, now even more uncomfortable. Katya let out a sigh, defeated, and looked at Severus, expectantly.
"Fine, well..." Severus lowered his gaze, as if there was no other option. It was evident that he didn’t like the idea of doing something so... personal; he didn’t want to invade Katya’s space, not after Vienna. "In that case, I suppose we have no choice, Miss Borislova."
His voice was lower than usual, as though part of him wished to avoid this interaction. Katya, though still hesitant, understood the message. They looked at each other, and in an act that seemed more like a formality than a gesture of closeness, Severus extended his hand to her. Katya took it, her heart racing.
"Perfect, then. Have a good afternoon!" Narcissa waved them off with her usual smile, leaving behind a sense of intrigue, as if there was something unspoken between them. The door closed softly behind her, leaving the couple in the hallway.
Severus and Katya exchanged one last look, both uncomfortable with the situation. The atmosphere between them was thick, heavy with memories. It was Severus who broke the silence with a practical question, but one laced with a hint of tension.
"Where to?" he asked, without looking up from her figure.
Katya turned towards him, trying to stay calm. She had already spoken about her plans earlier, but now she wasn’t sure if her answer would be sufficient for him.
"You can take me to Wiltshire Station and..." she began, but Severus interrupted before she could finish.
"Katya, just tell me where you live, and I’ll drop you off there. I... I don’t mind." He added, his tone firmer, though the irritation in his voice remained. There was something in the way he offered to take her that suggested he wanted to finish the situation quickly.
Katya looked at him for a moment before replying, nodding slowly.
"Mount Row and Charles Place, Mayfair" she said at last.
Severus nodded, and within seconds, both disappeared with a snap of air. Instantly, they materialized in the interior of Grovenor Square park, where the crowd of Muggles had yet to notice them. Katya walked ahead, saying nothing, and Severus followed at a prudent distance. He could see that the neighbourhood was extremely exclusive; her home was in a luxurious location, much like her flat in Moscow.
Upon reaching the building's door, Katya stopped and turned towards him. Her face, despite the day's awkward moments, brightened with a warm smile.
"Thank you" she said, her genuine gratitude evident in her voice, though her expression still carried a sense of distance.
Severus nodded his head, a slight movement that made it clear he understood. However, he couldn't help but comment, his tone low and slightly sarcastic:
"No need. I hope today wasn’t too... terrible."
Katya smiled faintly, as if the joke lightened the situation.
"Oh, I’ve had worse days," she replied, and Severus couldn’t help but nod, as though understanding what wasn’t being said.
"Thank you, for today," Severus added, his tone more serious, though no less grateful. Despite everything, there was something in Katya’s attitude that he valued. He knew that, even though Narcissa hadn’t asked anything about the Assemblies, Katya would have lied for him if necessary, and that was something he appreciated more than he cared to admit.
Suddenly, he noticed Katya was staring at him intently, discreetly inspecting his body, her eyes reflecting curiosity, but also a hint of amusement, as if...
Was she going to ask him if he wanted to come up to her flat? Severus could only fantasize about the idea of feeling her again, and he let out a scoff.
"Well, I’m pretty sure we’ll see each other again. Looks like the wizarding community in this country is quite small."
Severus laughed, as if something so simple had made him smile for the first time in a long while. He remembered that the last time he had laughed like that was exactly a year ago, with the same person standing before him.
"Indeed, it is. Quite small" he confirmed, with a glint of irony in his eyes.
Katya let out a soft sigh. She would have liked to say that playing at flirting came easy to her, but it didn’t. Sadly, she still cared about Severus and couldn’t ignore the fact that they were standing at the door of a building, a flat, alone, with a clear tension between them. She let out a small laugh, relieved by the change in the tone of their conversation, as if they could finally be the same as before.
"Kat..." he said, his eyes locking onto hers.
"What?" Katya felt him hold his breath.
"I really am sorry, I hope you know that."
"I know, but everything is different now" she explained, and with a final gesture of farewell, she turned towards the door. "See you."
Severus nodded and felt something inside him crack. Damn, this witch had truly cursed him.
"See you" he replied, his voice now slightly softer, as if the heavy air between them had started to clear, even if only for a moment.
Katya entered the building, and the door closed behind her, leaving Severus alone at the threshold of that awkward moment, knowing that, somehow, this encounter wouldn’t be the last, but there would be no turning back. Katya had changed, and so had he. He couldn’t condemn her to danger, not when Voldemort might return.
But, with one last look at the building, he imagined what might have happened if, a year ago, he had ignored Dumbledore and pursued a relationship with Katya. He probably wouldn’t have been as unhappy as he had been this past year. He liked to think she wouldn’t be the cold woman she was now with him, but sweet and seductive as she had been in the beginning, and neither of them would be miserable, doing things neither of them wanted, like teaching, in his case, or working for her father, in Katya’s. But Severus had to be logical, that life made no sense if Voldemort’s threat still loomed