Authors Note: GAAAAAHHH! I am so late updating! But the last week before Christmas break was so busy! I had to get in ALL my missing assignments! Anyway, so now I've updated! I think one of the reasons why I took so long to update it was because I found this chapter hard to start for whatever reason. And I know I said at the end of this chapter there would be an, "OMG" "WTH" "OHMYBABYJESUS" cliffhanger, but I lied. I didn't mean to! Let me explain:
The goal was to end this chapter at the end of the ball, but since I added a lot more to this chapter than I originally expected, it ended up being super long! So I decided to split it up! But the next chapter WILL be up hopefully by tonight or no later than tomorrow evening.
Anyway! I hope you enjoy this chapter, oh, and THANKS FOR THE REVIEWS! :D
I do solemnly swear that I am up to no good :)
Disclaimer: I own nothing but my fantabulous OC's as well as all the fluff about Katherine's badass past!
Chapter 8: A Change of Circumstance
It was the week before the Ball, and things around the castle and Hogsmeade were hectic. Everyone was last minute shopping for costumes; Katherine has seen girls in class looking through magazines so they could order their costumes.
Katherine hasn't celebrated Halloween since before she went to the institute. Because she has the Vis Vires marking on her wrist, she is able to remember almost everything since she was young. Her earliest memory was from her and James' 1st birthday.
On her first Halloween she wore a pink fairy costume (similar to the one Lily tried on; but smaller of course.) And James and her went to a Muggle neighborhood to go trick or treating. Their parents wanted their children to grow up understanding Muggles, and respecting that they've made all they have without the use of magic. This is why Katherine was so fascinated when she was told Xavier's father was a Muggle.
Katherine's train of thought was cut off by the screeching sound of Lily's voice.
"Katherine! Are you paying attention!?" Katherine looked up like a deer in headlights.
"Uh, yup." Katherine lied. It was 2am on a Friday night and they had been sitting there, per Lily's request, for hours; not exactly how most people want to spend a Friday night.
"Right, I'm sure. So then what's your job the night of the ball?" Lily asked.
"I'm… Suppose to party my brains out?" Katherine guessed.
Everyone in the room laughed with the exception of Lily.
"No. You're suppose to make sure we don't run low on drinks!"
"But isn't the point of the ball to enjoy it? Not to stress over all the little things?" Katherine asked confused.
"It's the little things that do make the ball enjoyable." Lily explained.
Katherine nodded in defeat and they continued planning until about 3am when James spoke up.
"Lily dear? Why don't you and I retire to my dorm room? We can have a little alone time." James said suggestively.
After James tried to half drag, half carry Lily upstairs; she decided we should all get to bed. "Our own beds." Lily forcefully clarified when James' eyes lit up at the thought.
As they walked groggily upstairs to their rooms, all Katherine could think about was Xavier; It's been almost 2 months since she's heard anything from him, and she was getting worried. They'll tell me if anything happens to him, Katherine tried to convince herself. Or will they? Those last 3 words seem to float over her head as she drifted into sleep.
Katherine woke up at around 12:30pm, and looked around her empty dorm room. This past week Lily has been working everyone to pieces trying to prepare for the ball next weekend, and Katherine was beat. After about a half hour of contemplating whether or not she should risk getting up to face Lily and her clipboard, she decided she was starving and needed food.
She threw her covers off and threw on sweat pants and a tank top with her robe thrown over top of it, and then headed down to the Great Hall.
As Katherine walked to the Great Hall all she could think about was how fast life changes. It's been about 2 months since she left the institute and she has already adapted to her new life; she made friends, which had seemed impossible to her, and she is excelling in all her classes with the exception of Transfiguration.
Even the dynamic between her and Sirius has changed dramatically; they were always incredibly awkward around one another and now they were very good friends; they would joke and laugh together all the time, although he still acted odd around her sometimes. For example, whenever he was with Lavona and Katherine walked into the room, he was make an excuse for him and Lavona to leave, or on a rare occasion, he would get up and leave without her. This seemed to frustrate Lavona quite a bit.
Katherine walked into the hall only to see Lily yelling furiously; the hall was almost empty, with the exception of their group of friends, so luckily no one would see the scene she was making. Although even if they had, everyone had grown accustomed to Lily and James' bickering.
"Potter! You are a foul, disgusting toad! If you ever come near me again I'll hex you into oblivion!" Lily screamed as she began violently shaking.
"Oh Lily, I love it when you scream at me like that! You're so… feisty." James added suggestively.
As Lily reached for her wand, Remus stepped in.
"Lily, why don't we go to the library? Hmm? Get a little bit of afternoon studying in?"
Lily took a deep breath to collect herself and then agreed to go. As she left with Remus, James called after her.
"Lily! As always it was a pleasure to talk with you! Tonight, The Three Broomsticks, seven o'clock, see you there!"
"In your dreams Potter!" Lily retorted, not even looking back.
"Oh but Lily! In my dreams we do much naughtier things!"
As Lily was about to turn around, Remus pulled her out of the Great Hall.
"Oh James! Why don't you leave the poor girl alone?" Katherine asked as she sighed and took a seat.
"She wants me," was all Katherine got as a response.
Sirius looked up, almost as if he hadn't realized Katherine was there until that moment.
Katherine could feel Sirius' eyes on her, and apparently so could Lavona because at that moment she cleared her throat and scooted closer to Sirius. Sirius snapped back into reality and gave Lavona a weak smile as he put his arm around her.
The rest of the day was spent lounging around, and goofing off. But every time Sirius and Katherine would be chatting, about anything from Quidditch to school, Lavona would force her way into the conversation. After a certain point Katherine gave up and left them alone.
I wonder if most girls are like that with their boyfriends? Katherine wondered, oh well.
The rest of the week dragged by with heaps of homework, everyone seemed to hate it, except Lily, Katherine and Remus.
Katherine was so honored that she was able to attend Hogwarts that she didn't mind the homework; for her it was just another experience, it apart of the Hogwarts lifestyle.
It was Friday night, the night before the ball, and the atmosphere in the Great Hall was buzzing. Everyone was ecstatic for the ball; even the Slytherin's, and that was saying something!
They all ate their dinner talking and laughing, although, the Marauder's seemed to be acting off; Sirius kept looking at the Slytherin table, smirking, and James was peering around the Great Hall, as if looking for somebody and Remus was looking worried.
That's when Katherine realized Peter was missing. She began looking around the Great Hall when she saw a little lump of a boy running in the Hall panting. He half ran, half stumbled onto the Gryffindor table, and took a seat.
"Everything, er, good Wormtail?" James asked.
"Ah… Goo…t…eh…..ooon." Peter wheezed; clearly exhausted from the run.
"We can't understand you Wormy; thumbs up or down?" Sirius asked.
Peter gave him a thumbs up and began loading food onto his plate.
Sirius and James looked at each other and exchanged cheeky grins.
"What are you two up to?" Lily asked the three boys suspiciously.
"Lily, my dearest lady, why must you always assume the worst out of us?" James cooed.
Lily ignored the question and turned to the very exhausted Remus. As Lily began to ask what was going on, Remus cut her off.
"You'll see." He muttered in clear annoyance.
A moment after that, screams erupted from the Hall, to be more specific, the Slytherin table.
Katherine turned around and gasped along with everyone else in the Great Hall.
The Turkey, Chickens and fish, that had only moments ago lain cooked on a platter, had now sprung back to life and began pecking and flopping on the Slytherin's.
Everyone began laughing at the looks on the Slytherin's faces; Bellatrix squealed and began shooting spells left and right trying to rid themselves of the beasts. After a moment Dumbledore came down from the teachers table and put the animals to rest.
He then stepped up to the podium and said, "Sorry to cut dinner a little short this evening, but I believe you all must head back to your Dormitories so this mess can get sorted. We do apologize, I suppose the food was slightly, hmm, should I say, undercooked?"
Everyone chuckled at Dumbledore's pun and began heading out of the Hall, before a voice boomed from the podium, "Everyone, please head back to your dormitories with the exception Mr. Potter, Mr. Sirius Black, and Mr. Pettigrew.
The girls and Remus sat awake until Midnight in the Common Room, waiting for the boys to return from Dumbledore's office.
"I hope they don't get into too much trouble!" Lavona said worriedly. She then gasped and added, "What if they get expelled!?"
"Blondie, calm down, okay? They've pulled worse stunts and haven't gotten expelled; the worst that will happen are a few detentions." Lily said, being the voice of reason.
"Yeah I guess." Lavona muttered.
About a half hour later, they heard the door of the Common Room swing open, and after it came loud, angry voices.
"I cannot believe this is happening!" Sirius' voiced boomed.
"This is complete and total rubbish!" James added.
Peter followed in suit and quietly nibbled on what looked like a chocolate frog.
"What happened?" Katherine asked.
"McGonagall is what happened!" James answered.
"McGonagall?" Belladonna asked, "I thought you guys were talking to Dumbledore."
"We were! And things were actually going pretty well; he was saying that we shouldn't have done what we did, but 'boys will be boys'" Sirius quoted.
"Yeah, and we were actually thinking we would be let off pretty easily; ya know, a detention here or there." James added.
"Yeah, and then McGonagall storms in." Sirius added.
"And she goes off saying how we are a disgrace to Gryffindor, and that she is ashamed to the head of the house we're in." James said.
"And how we need to be severely punished so that we will finally learn our lesson." Sirius added.
"And then she went on to say that we are prohibited from going to the Ball!" James finished.
A chorus of 'what's swept over the Common Room.
"After all the hard work we put in," Sirius started.
"To make the Ball perfect!" James finished for him.
"Anyone else find it odd that they always finished one another's stories and sentences?" Lily asked.
Everyone ignored her as Lavona spoke up.
"That's such BS!"
"I know love, I'm sorry." Sirius said as he wrapped his arms around her.
"It's fine. But it's just so stupid that they won't let you go."
"I know, but it will be alright. You and I can do our own thing; maybe nick a broomstick or something and go for a ride. Or…" Sirius added with a sly grin, "We could forget the broomstick, and just go to the storage room" He bent his head down and brushed his lips against her neck.
"Wait," Lavona said leaning back from Sirius, "What do you mean, 'we'? I'm still going to the Ball."
"Even though your date isn't going?" Sirius asked in astonishment.
"Yes. Just because you got banned from it for playing a stupid prank, doesn't mean I have to suffer as well." Lavona explained matter-of-factly.
"Who are you going to go with then?" Sirius challenged.
"Noah Blackwell asked me a few days ago and I said no because I already had a date, but since I no longer do I'll go with him." Lavona said after a moment of thought. Sirius gave her an exasperated look so she added, "just as friends."
Sirius' face-hardened, and after a moment of thought he said, "fine. Do whatever you want with whomever you want. I don't care." And with that he stormed out of the Common Room.
Lavona stared after him with a solid look on her face before she shrugged and went up to her dormitory.
The room held an eerie silence before Katherine said, "Well that was awkward."
James looked over and his sister and smiled before he walked over to embrace her in a hug.
"I'm sorry you were banned from the Ball," Katherine muttered into James' shoulder.
James sighed and said, "It's alright. Have fun for the both of us, okay?"
Katherine pulled away so that she could look her brother in the eye, "Do you want me to stay back with you?"
James smiled and said, "No Kat, it's fine. Go have fun with your friends."
"She'll be having fun alright, with her daaaate!" Belladonna said winking at Katherine.
"Date?" James said on alert. "Who're you going with?"
Katherine sighed and shot Belladonna a look of frustration; James is not going to like her going with Severus.
"Please don't be mad, okay?" Katherine pleaded.
"Tell me who it is Katherine." James growled.
"You have to promise that you won't get mad."
"Ugh!" James said as he ran his fingers through his hair in frustration, "Fine, I promise."
"Okay," Katherine paused and inhaled, "Severus."
There was a deafening silence for the first few moments after Katherine told James.
"What about Xavier? Did you guys…" James trailed off.
"Break up? No, of course not. Severus didn't have a date, and neither did I so we decided to go together." Katherine explained; her eyes not leaving her brothers face the whole time.
"Fine." James said.
Katherine stood there, shocked for a moment. "Really?"
James sighed, "Yeah, you know what you're doing. But if he tries anything, I'll beat the snot out of him."
"You won't time to beat the snot out Snape; you'll be too busy getting the guy Lily's going with." Belladonna laughed.
James' head snapped up, "Lily has a date?"
The rest of the night was spent with James interrogating Belladonna on the guy Lily was going to the ball with.
At about 1:15am, Katherine noticed Sirius wasn't back yet.
Maybe I should go after him. Katherine thought eyeing the door. No, you don't care about him that way, he's fine.
Katherine decided to go to bed, hoping to take her mind off Sirius.
She said goodnight to her friends and went up to her dormitory.
After about a half hour of tossing and turning, her mind went back to Sirius;
I'm sure he's okay; he knows the Castle like the back of his hand.
But is he okay? What if the Slytherin's get him?
Panic coursed through her body.
They already hated him, but after the stunt they pulled at dinner, they'll be furious. The Castle is not safe for him right now.
Katherine got out of bed and threw off her nightgown and threw on a pair of black sweat pants and matching jumper and crept out of the dormitory.
Katherine peered over the railing and noticed that everyone had gone to bed, good, Katherine thought, increases my chances of not getting caught.
She slinked down the staircase soundlessly due to her training. As she got to the Common Room door she stopped.
What if I get caught? Sure, James and the rest of them do worse without expulsion, but what if the Ministry finds out? Will they decide to pull me out of school because they're afraid there are bad influences here?
After a moment of thought, Katherine had made her decision; I can't be selfish, Sirius is worth the risk.
With that she opened the Fat Lady's portrait, and stepped out.
Katherine slunk soundlessly around through the corridors.
If I were an upset Sirius Black, where would I be?
As Katherine continued to walk around, she began hearing unnervingly familiar voices.
"That stupid cousin of yours Bella!" A voice hissed, one Katherine knew belonged to Lucius Malfoy.
"I have it in my right mind to kill him and that Potter." Bellatrix growled.
"He's always has to mess things up! Even at home! We can never have a peaceful day without him reeking havoc." A voice said angrily.
Regulus.
She could hear the voices coming closer so she looked around and saw that she was trapped.
She could see their shadows coming around the corner as panic flooded through her. She reached to her waistband, but was disappointed when there wasn't a wand there.
Katherine just saw the bottom on Bellatrix's robe flicker around the corner when she was grabbed from behind.
She was being dragged away.
She tried to scream, but when she tried a hand covered her mouth. Before she could retaliate, she was thrown into a broom closet, her assailant following suit.
She tried to scream again when the hand returned to her mouth. She looked up and realized she knew her kidnapper; Sirius Black.
"If you don't stop screaming they're going to find us." Sirius hissed into Katherine's ear. He removed his hand from her mouth after a moment when he was assured that she wouldn't scream.
The broom closet was tight, and Sirius' body was pressed against hers.
"I wouldn't have screamed if you hadn't had dragged me away like a rag doll."
"If I hadn't, you'd probably be dead right now." Sirius replied softly.
They heard voices coming closer and Sirius got tense. He pressed one finger to her lips to shush her.
The footsteps stopped right outside their door.
"It must be so difficult for you, Regulus," Bellatrix comforted, "Having such a disgraceful brother as him."
Sirius' face-hardened.
Katherine could tell all of this was hard for him; having is family hate him. She knew that she would be nothing without her family, and she couldn't imagine not having them.
"It is. It's so humiliating. Whenever we have guests over, we always have to say he's away or something because he always says the wrong thing."
Sirius shifted uncomfortably, and when he did a bucket was knocked over; they froze.
"Did you hear that?" Bellatrix hissed.
"Who's there?" Lucius snarled.
They heard the Slytherin's creep closing to the door, and as they heard the doorknob turn, a voice sounded.
"It's McGonagall! She's coming!" Regulus hissed.
They heard the three Slytherin's scramble to get away. The two of them stood frozen for a few moments, expecting to hear McGonagall's voice, but nothing sounded.
They both took a sigh of relief before they realized their proximity to one another.
Katherine's heart began beating faster, and she suddenly felt very warm; she was blushing.
A slight smile tugged at the corners of Sirius' mouth as he brought his thumb up and brushed it against the flush of her cheek.
Katherine felt intoxicated by something she's never experienced before, and before she knew it Sirius was leaning forward, towards her lips.
As their lips were only a centimeter apart, Katherine foot slipped on some of the water that had fallen from the bucket earlier.
As she was thrown to the ground Sirius caught her. They both sat there in the murky water for an instant before Katherine abruptly stood up.
"Thanks for um, helping me with the, er, Slytherin's. I uh, should probably get going." Katherine said out of breath. Before Sirius could reply, Katherine was out the door.
Authors Note: So there it is! What do y'all think about the whole Sirius and Katherine thing? And the Lavona thing? Just to clarify; Lavona and Sirius are NOT BROKEN UP. Lavona is just going with a friend to the Ball. I'm not sure what you guys are gonna think about what happened in the Chapter, but let me know! But please, be nice! :) Like I said, the next chapter will be updated soon!
Oh, and follow me on my Harry Potter fan account on Instagram: tomriddles_diary
Mischief Managed ;)
