Behind These Eyes – Chapter 3
A/N Wow - been far too long since I last updated, so this chapter is a bit short and a bit plotless, I just wanted to keep it going as best I could whilst I work on the rest of the ploting. Hope you all enjoy.
Massive thanks to all those who have reviewed, and to the other who've added me to either thier favourite stories or author. I love you all :)
Three turnings, right, left, right again, two staircases, twenty-two steps each, then the third door on the right. The Muggle Studies classroom.
Kat had walked that route so many times over the last few years that she did it now without thinking and only when she reached the door did she stop to catch her breath. She was certain that she must still be scarlet in the face, despite having put two floors between herself and the rest of the school. She lent against the smooth door and then with a sigh pushed it open.
"Katherine," the soft female voice greeted her as she entered the room. "Early as always! Well sit yourself down. Have you got your dictata-quill to hand?"
Kat smiled in response to the bubbly Muggle Studies Professor's breathless greeting. "Prepared as always Professor Huntley." The Professor was like honey and lemon in Kat's mind.
The woman patted her gently on the shoulder and Kat made her way to the back row of the classroom and her usual seat. She took a roll of parchment out and smoothed it out on the table, and then felt around in her bag for her quill. She turned it around in her hands until it was point down and then balanced it carefully on the parchment. The quill wrote in Braille and had been designed especially for her.
"How did you do that?" Came a sudden voice from her right and she jumped slightly in her chair. She hadn't heard him approach which was rare for her.
"Do what?" She asked cautiously. Then she frowned. "What are you doing here anyway?"
She felt a slight warmth against her arm as Sirius Black lent in close to her.
"Um...Metcalf…I've been in this class with you since third year…"
She turned towards the sound of his voice with a frown deepening, "No you haven't…I think I'd have noticed…you and Potter cause enough trouble…"
There was a moment of silence followed by the sound of Sirius shifting in his chair. "Well, James doesn't take this class, neither does Remus…it's just me so I tend to keep my head down."
"Why do you take this class though?" Kat asked a little too curiously. "Most people think it's boring…"
"It is boring," Sirius replied with one of his sharp laughs. "But it drives my parents nuts…which makes it all worthwhile." She felt the soft pressure of his fingers on her arm. "Anyway Metcalf, since when were you so interested in my life?" He had lowered his voice to little more than a growl and there was a suggestive tone to it that made Kat blush.
"I'm not interested in your life…you're the one who keeps talking to me," she snapped back suddenly defensive. "You've not spoken to me in this class since third year…why start now?"
The pressure on her arm vanished and she could almost feel the sudden coldness from Sirius. "Maybe I was just trying to be nice Metcalf…maybe I felt sorry for you…" And then there was silence.
*
Kat was still fuming six hours later when she returned to the common room after her last class. How dare he? She didn't need anyone's pity, and least of all his. She pushed through the portrait hole and nearly sent someone flying on the other side as she barged past.
She snapped out a quick apology and then carried on up into her room. Once there she flung herself across her bed, her eyes closed tight and her jaw clenched. She wasn't sure if she wanted to scream or cry. Why was he suddenly tormenting her? And that's what it was, she was sure of it now. This was just like another one of his and Potter's stupid pranks. He wanted to wind her up. Well he wasn't going to get a reaction out of her that easily.
"What did that first year ever do to you?" The door opened and Lucy's welsh lilt broke into her thoughts.
"Huh?"
"You nearly killed her…well ok, slight exaggeration…but I've never seen you in a mood like that." Kat felt her bed descend a few inches as Lucy sat down at the foot. "Want to talk about it?"
Kat shook her head and said nothing.
"Oi!" Lucy smacked her arm. "You always tell us off for just nodding or shaking our heads around you. Same rules apply to you, so spill!"
"Really, it's nothing," Kat replied keeping her voice carefully under control. "Just a rough day…"
Lucy giggled, "Well…it certainly didn't start well…I saw you crash into Sirius at breakfast…Rita was green with envy…"
"Rita is welcome to him…" Kat frowned slightly. "What is it about him? Why is she and almost every other girl in this school so crazy about him? From my experience he's an arrogant little sod…"
"A gorgeous, arrogant little sod…" Lucy corrected her. "He's not my type but even I have to admit to that…I guess it must be different for you…"
Kat sighed, "Everything is different for me Lucy…I'd have thought you'd have realised that by now."