The May Festival:

It's the day of the May Festival today. There's going to be a big party in The Three Broomsticks. I do like events where you get to dress up. It's even better to be going with someone.

I have a green dress for the festival. Mum chose it. I don't usually like the dresses she chooses, but this time I did like it. It's mostly green, with traces of aqua blue (my favourite colour). It's one of those dresses you can spin around in, and it floats around like a parasol; but this one is an enchanted gown! When I tried it on, I found out that when I spun around, it floated me up into the air; and when I stopped spinning, it gracefully deposited me to the ground. That's going to be fun when we do the dancing!

I went down to the common room to show off to Anita. She wasn't impressed. That kind of thing doesn't interest her at all. Also she's too young to go to the festival - or Hogsmeade, I suppose.

"THAT'S quite interesting,"she remarked, as I twirled around and was lifted into the air,"but you can do much better than that on a broomstick."

"You're missing the point,"I said.

"What point exactly?"Anita said, rolling her eyes.

I wished I could show Lotty. I was just on my way back to my dormitory, when I heard a sudden laugh.

"Cathy! What are you wearing?"it was Jared.

"Never you mind!"I said, running away.

"Is that so you can go to the ball with Antonius?"Jared said, in a voice full of irritating amusement.

"None of your business, Jared,"I said, as I dashed off.

"Cathy's excited because she's going on a date with Antonius!"Jared teased me before I could get out of hearing distance of him.

I was excited for the May Festival. I couldn't wait for the evening to come, at first; but then I realised that if the evening happened too quickly, the evening would be over too quickly too. No, it's better to be at the beginning. When the beginning is about to begin! The last time I went, I was in the 4th year. I'd mostly just wandered around by myself, observing the festivities and eating food. That was when I'd first met Sheila Hunter, and our whirlwind friendship began. She'd been at the festival by herself too. All of the connections I have with people that are not my siblings or close relatives always end after a short time. That got me thinking about Antonius.

I'm not sure how I feel about him right now, there are still a lot of things I dislike about him. I'm certainly not in love with him, or anything like that. My feelings for him largely consist of new-found admiration and curiousity. I don't think I know what it's like to 'fall in love' with someone.

But I'd rather not think about that for now. Times like this are meant for living in the present, and being aware of the moment.

Later:

I went to Hogsmeade with Ed and Jared. I asked them if they had any 'dates' in a teasing kind of way.

"Yes, I've got dates! Plenty of them,"Jared said, pulling a paper bag out of his pocket,"want one?"

"Ah, yes, I could do with a few of those,"Ed said, grabbing the bag off Jared.

"Tuck in!"said Jared,"I've got plenty more where those came from."

So we walked into the village of Hogsmeade eating dates. There were decorations all around and The Three Broomsticks was lit up brightly.

I suddenly felt a wave of anxiety wash over me, but it was more of an excited anxiety, like when you're about to dive into a pool that you know is going to be freezing cold at first impact, but you really want to swim in it.

"Technically, we shouldn't have given you any dates, Cathy,"Jared said to me,"because you've already got one."

"Yeah - these are for all us single people at the party,"Ed said.

"Well, I can't exactly eat Antonius, can I?"I said.

"I bet you would if you could, you greedy pig!"Ed said, looking into the now-empty paper bag, after I handed it back to him.

"Ed!"I replied, horrified.

"Please don't put those images into my mind!"said Jared.

"I'm getting away from you weirdos!"I said, hastening towards the back door of The Three Broomsticks; which was open, and an inviting light poured out from it. Ed and Jared went around to the main entrance, which is down the hill, around the corner.

I walked in, onto the staircase and made my way down. As I did so, I saw Antonius standing at the foot of the stairs. He didn't notice me at first, but Regulus was with him, and tapped him on his shoulder.

Antonius turned around and smiled at me as I descended the staircase. Now that I'm not constantly deciding to hate the very idea of him, I'm actually able to appreciate how attractive he is. He actually has a very nice smile. Though if he looked at me like that just a few weeks ago, I would have wanted to slap him. I certainly didn't want to slap him now. I suddenly felt extremely nervous for a moment, and I didn't know what to say, as I reached the floor from the stairs.

"Look at this,"I said, wanting to break the awkward silence.

I twirled around in my dress and allowed it to lift me up into the air. As it did so, I found myself elevated above everyone else, and it seemed like everyone was looking at me. I stopped spinning around, and allowed myself to be gently deposited back on the ground, suddenly feeling really embarrassed.

"Beautiful, Catherine,"Antonius said, reaching out his hand.

I hesitated before taking it, I tried not to think of it as an invitation to the darkness, but more as myself inviting him into the light.

Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

I couldn't help but notice a lot of people were still staring at me and Lauren Golding had accidentally spat a mouthful of butterbeer into Kenneth Brass' face, and he was not happy about it! Silas was looking at me too, and I quickly looked away.

I took Antonius' hand, and he lead me over to a table. I still didn't know what to say. He went to get drinks, and while he was gone, I was trying to think of something to talk about, but my mind was completely blank.

"Thanks,"I said, nervously, when he returned.

"Catherine,"he said, sitting down next to me with a concerned look on his face,"I couldn't help but notice,"he went on,"this scar on your back."

"What?"I said, taken by surprise,"I have a scar on my back?"

"Yes, it looks fairly recent too,"Antonius observed,"quiet nasty, though it's healing. How did that happen?"

My hair was up in a bun, the dress I was wearing was a backless dress, but when I'd looked in the mirror as I tried it on, my hair had been down and must have been covering the place he said he saw the scar.

I suddenly felt worried, how could I get a scar on my back without knowing about it? I remembered the time I'd suddenly got a wound on my arm, and had no idea how. Well, now I had no idea where I could have gotten this.

"I'll show you,"Antonius said, taking me over to a mirror on the wall.

A long, diagonal scar, like a lash from a whip ran along the whole length of my back (though fortunately it wasn't very deep). It appeared to be healing already. I remembered the time Lotty and I had attempted to explore the secret tunnel. I'd been hurting all over after that incident, but I could have gotten it then...

"May I?"Antonius asked.

I nodded.

He ran his fingers along the scar,"does it hurt?"he asked.

"No, not really,"I answered, shivering.

"How can you not remember how you got something like this?"he asked me.

"I don't know,"I responded,"it's not the first time. I've been having issues with my memory lately, for the last year, and - well, I got a wound on my arm one time, and I don't know how I got that, even though I was with Lotty and Anita, but they didn't know either."

A strange look came over Antonius' face, almost an angry expression, I noticed him glance over towards Silas as if he thought he might possibly have something to do with it.

"I don't think he's got anything to do with it,"I said.

"Oh no,"Antonius said quicky,"no, of course not, but you really should be more careful."

When the dancing started, I enjoyed it a lot more than I'd though I would. It was thrilling and new! There was a lot of floating involved, with Antonius spinning me up into the air and catching me as I came back down. At one point, everyone else stopped dancing and crowded round in a circle, watching us. Some were clapping, some were cheering, some frowning and scowling. Max Castellanos was among those clapping and cheering. I was surprised to see this, but then I remembered how he'd suddenly taken our side at the Courthouse. I smiled over at him, as Antonius caught a hold of me and pulled me towards him, before spinning me around again.

This time, suddenly filled with a burst of happy energy, I spun myself right up to the wood beams of the ceiling. There were gasps from around. Pale aqua-blue petals began to flake away from my dress, along with tiny, sparkling green stars, sprinkling the room and following me in a train as I descended back into Antonius' arms.

I hadn't been expecting that!

Then the dancing stopped, and we got more food and drinks. Antonius asked to be excused for a few minutes and went off somewhere.

"Well, then,"I heard a familiar voice, and saw Ed holding a plate full of cakes, sandwiches and pies,"I always knew you were a showoff, Cathy, but that was the most cringe thing I have ever seen in my entire life! I've decided to disown you as my sister. You are no longer related to me."

"Well, you're sitting next to me now,"I said.

"That's because I can't deal with sitting at any other table, being judged by a bunch of people thinking I have something to do with you,"Ed went on, stuffing a cake into his mouth,"I'm comfort eating now, just to deal with it,"he said, quickly, as he gulped it down,"oh, crap! Probably should have the sandwiches first! Do you want a sandwich, Cathy?"

I took a sandwich, but I didn't feel like eating much at that moment. I also remembered I'd promised to bring some of the food back for Lotty and Anita.

"You alright?"Ed asked, maybe he noticed I was looking a bit overwhelmed; I imagine I was, anyway, because that's how I was feeling,"fancy going outside for some fresh air,"he added.

This seemed like a good idea. We decided to walk around a bit outside, to calm down and breathe. Ed said he wanted to get out of that 'stuffy place', that all the people around and loud music had been giving him a headache.

"Ah,"he said, munching a pie,"food savoured in peace, is most sublime."

I was sipping a glass of water.

"Where's Jared?"I asked, suddenly.

"Ah,"said Ed,"he started acting mysterious and went off somewhere by himself, like he usually always does. You know what he's like. He's probably got a secret date, and not the edible kind either."

"Or maybe he just wants us to think that,"I suggested.

"Yeah, he's probably chilling somewhere alone, getting away from all the noise,"Ed said,"then he'll come back later and hint at being off on all kinds of secret adventures that he can't tell us about."

As we were strolling through the village, I suddenly thought, at a glance, that I saw something odd. It looked like Antonius and Silas were standing in an alleyway, talking. I glanced back over my shoulder, trying not to look like I was looking. It really did seem as though Silas and Antonius were talking.

"I think we should head back to The Three Broomsticks now,"I said, suddenly feeling uneasy.

We turned around, and were heading back, when I saw Antonius walk out from the alleyway, he looked angry. He was going back to The Three Broomsticks. Then I noticed Silas come out of the alleyway, he was heading in our direction, he looked startled to see Ed and I.

I found Antonius in The Three Broomsticks.

"Would you like another butterbeer?"I asked.

"Uh? No thanks,"Antonius responded.

"Are you alright?"I asked.

"Yes, I'm fine,"he replied.

He didn't look fine.

"Why were you arguing with Silas?"I asked.

Antonius looked annoyed,"I was what? You saw that!"

"Yes,"I said,"I noticed you were arguing with Silas when I went out with Ed for some fresh air."

"Did you hear..?"Antonius began, but stopped himself quickly,"you weren't spying on me, were you?"

"Of course not! Why would I do that?"I said.

"Anyway - it's none of your business,"Antonius snapped.

I'm not used to him acting like this. It was quite alarming. But then I remembered how, just recently, he'd been ruthlessly tortured at the hands of Silas' gang.

"Antonius,"I said, in a softer tone, placing my hand on his shoulder gently,"would you like to come outside for some fresh air?"

He followed me outside. By now, it was the deep blue of twilight. We kept walking until we reached a place where there was a bench by a wide stream surrounded by willow trees, and no one else seemed to be around. We sat down.

Antonius was looking distracted and troubled. I moved closer to him.

"It's ok,"I said,"you don't have to tell me anything."

Antonius sighed and looked down at the ground. I put my arms around him, and he embraced me in return. Then when we let go, I looked into his eyes and saw a deep sadness. Then, in a flicker, the sadness was gone, as he regained his composure, put on a smile and said,"what are you thinking, Catherine?"in a voice that sounded a lot more cheerful than he seemed.

"I was just thinking about..."I began, feeling my cheeks burning red,"I was thinking about how... how ... I'd... how I'd like to kiss you."

Antonius didn't say anything, he pulled me towards him and kissed me. I held him tightly and kissed him again. He ruffled my hair. Then, when I tried to kiss him yet again, he pushed me back and said,"come on, let's go back now, Catherine, before people start looking for us."

He stood up and held out his hand to me, I took it in mine and we walked together back to The Three Broomsticks.

I noticed Ed and Jared standing outside the entrance to The Three Broomsticks as we entered. Jared raised his eyebrows at me and gave me an annoying look that meant I was going to be bombarded with questions and teasing later, but right now, I didn't really care. Ed was looking at me judgingly.

Eventually the party was over, and we returned to the castle.

I couldn't stop thinking about the evening, as I lay in bed. I didn't want to go to sleep, I just wanted to remember those moments; the dancing, the floating, the petals and the stars - my first kiss. I wanted to remember it all over and over again. Then I fell asleep, a lot quicker and easier than I usually do.