Another one up! This one's shorter but I hope to post another one soon. I also would like to thank to those who had post a review so far, you guys are great.

Next week was spent in bliss for both Sirius and Natalie. Although they were still both very alert to the things going on out there, they were enjoying each other's company even more than before (if it was even possible). Now they knew how stupid had they been for not getting together sooner and they were trying to compensate every minute.

Right now, they were sitting in the small cozy living room which was decorated by Natalie's meticulous hand. Sirius was seated on the sofa, thoughtfully staring at a chessboard while Natalie was sitting cross-legged on the small table on the other side of the board and she was now grinning wickedly. It wasn't every day that someone beat Sirius in chess and although she had a suspicion he was letting her win, she was enjoying it immensely.

"Don't know?" she asked in sing-song voice but Sirius didn't answer, he just raised his hand to silence her. But then his eyes lit up.

"A-ha. Bishop on H3." he ordered to the chess-man who immediately did as he was told, although grumbling and threatening with riot. But when he got to H3, he shut up because he had to fight with Natalie's knight, who, after a long struggle, finally went down. "Now, this calls for a reward." Sirius smirked and tipped his lips. Natalie just rolled her eyes mockingly and gave him a kiss. They were playing a chess-variant of Spin the bottle – when someone's chess-man was killed, they had to kiss the opponent and the winner would get a back rub. Suddenly, their kiss was interrupted by scratching on the window. Sirius and Natalie quickly pulled away and Buckbeak lazily raised his head, all of them wondering about the source of the sound. But immediately, the couple saw a snowy white owl behind the window.

They both sprung up from their places and made their way to the window. As soon as they got up, all of the chess-men on the board left their places and rushed away from the board.

"Hey! That's a revolt! Get back, all of you!" Natalie cried when she noticed the riot but none of the tiny men listened to her. Natalie gave up and rather joined Sirius, who had just untied the parchment from Hedwig's talon.

"What's he saying?" Natalie asked, curious to know the content of their Godson's letter.

Sirius sat down to the table, unfolded the parchment and read aloud, a crease appeared between his eyebrows as he was worried what the answer would be.

Dear Sirius,

I reckon I just imagined my scar hurting, I was half asleep when I wrote to you last time. There's no point coming back, everything's fine here. Don't worry about me, my head feels completely normal.

Harry

"Poor boy, he's worried about you." Natalie noted.

"Yeah, I guess when I wrote to him last time I might have sounded a little bit-"

"Scared?" Natalie offered with a smile.

"Concerned." Sirius corrected her "But you're right, he surely sounds as if he's trying to keep me out of the way."

"Out of harm's way." Natalie said and wrapped her arms around his neck from behind, giving him a soft kiss in the process. At that, Sirius tilted his head so the kiss was planted on his mouth instead. From what Nat had ment to be just a short sweet kiss became a long heated making out session, during which Natalie moved to sit on his lap and buried her fingers into his longish black hair.

"Hey." she said after a while but she was cut off by another kiss and who was she to resist? But when the need of oxigen was inevitable and they finally parted, she put a finger over his lips when he wanted to kiss her yet again "you should answer to Harry. He's expecting you to answer him immediately."

"Do you think he would mind five more minutes?" he asked.

"Maybe he wouldn't but Hedwig would." Natalie nodded to the big owl which was still sitting at the same spot and was looking at us with yellow expectant eyes.

"And what do I get if I do that?" he asked with a flirty look.

Natalie just smiled mysteriously and leaned closer so she could whisper her answer into his ear "a nice walk around Hogsmead, I'm tired of just sitting aroun all day long." she whispered, then chuckled and got up abruptly.

"You're mean." Sirius pouted mockingly but took a quill and a piece of parchment. In the meantime, Natalie gave Hedwig water and some Owl treats. Every now and then Sirius' muttering could be heard.

"Nah, that sounds lame." he grumbled and crossed the last sentence he had just written. Natalie giggled at how precise the always-reckless man could get.

"Got it." Sirius said finally and put his quill down. Natalie leaned over his shoulder to read his answer.

"Sounds good. Now, come on, send it and let's go out." she nudged him and went to get her cloak.

Before they left Sirius, who went a little reluctantly, turned into his Animagus form so it was looking as if Natalie was walking her dog. They were going out quite often and Sirius was grateful that he didn't have to be stuck inside all the time. As always, they got newspaper to be posted on everything and then some food as well – Natalie just couldn't do without a chocolate from the Honey Dukes.

The wetter was getting worse and worse as it was nearing the end of October. One week Natalie even went down with a nasty case of cold. She was lucky to have Sirius to take care of her – she was and always had been a horrible patient. But luckily, she managed to get back to her old-self before 30 October. On this day, the students of Durmstrang and Beauxbatons were supposed to arrive at Hogwarts. Professor Dumbledore had come from time to time to talk to them, especially to tell her about her new responsibilities. From this day on, she was to be patrolling the corridors at Hogwarts every night. At Dumbledore's request however, she was not to be seen by anyone, except Mad-eye Moody, who would be patrolling the hallways as well. So every evening, Natalie took her Animagus form, not feeling like walking the whole distance between Hogsmead and Hogwarts, and at nights she was patrolling the dark corridors of once-so-familiar castle.

Natalie had always hated Halloween. Well, not always, but since certain Halloween 1981, when her life had crumbled around her, she despised this evening. On this day, she was always grim and sullen, so much different from her usual-self. Usually she closed herself at her house, not caring of whatever job or friends were expecting her, and wouldn't talk to anyone. This year, however, she couldn't. Not that she was merry or cheerful (right the contrary) but she couldn't just avoid people. For one, Sirius was there as well, and he was the person that you just couldn't very well avoid, for he seemed to be everywhere. He himself was grim as well and didn't even need to ask Natalie about her sudden change of demeanour. He knew better than asking. And then, Natalie had her responsibilities to attend. Of course, she wouldn't meet anyone during this task but she just couldn't spend the night isolated. Not surprisingly, this Halloween didn't do much for her to like it better. Right the contrary.

During the Halloween feast, Natalie was secretively standing in the darkest corner of the Great Hall, not noticed by anyone but Mad-Eye Moody, who gave her one of his slightly scary grins; but since he had been her mentor, Natalie was used to them and just grinned back. No matter the circumstances, she was ecstatic to be back at Hogwarts. When she was watching the cheerful chattering students, she remembered her own years at school yet again. How had she loved these feasts, especially the wide variety of ice creams. But now she didn't have time to reminisce, she had to be alert. Once again, she looked to the staff table and found Karkaroff there. She grimaced when she saw his unsincere smile and icy look as he was talking to Ludo Bagman. Then she slid her look to another seat and for a while watched another wizard with greasy black hair, dressed in a dark robes. Severus Snape. Her eyes flashed at the look of him, she couldn't stand him even before the "incident" with Sirius and Remus a few months ago. But as she was watching him, he suddenly looked up and their eyes met. Immediately, he got a nasty sneer on his face as he rolled up his upper lip to show his yellowish teeth to the whole Great Hall. Even Natalie persisted with her look, silently challenging him. But then, as suddenly as he had looked at her, he moved his look and looked a few seats from him, where Albus Dumbledore was sitting. The old wizard was also looking at him, giving him a warning look. Dumbledore had informed all the Hogwarts teachers about Natalie's presence at school and told them about the importance of noone else knowing about her. If Snape was giving his murderous look to someone else than his unfavourite students, she could be revealed.

The whole evening passed rather uneventfully for Natalie, but the rest of school was excited about the pronouncing of the three champions. Natalie was rather reserved to this whole action. She thought the same as about the Quidditch World Cup – the officials should tend to things of more importance than the Triwizard Cup (like the recent appearance of Death Eaters). That was until the Goblet of Fire lit up for the fourth time, which got even Natalie's full interrest. And finally, when Dumbledore read the name of her friend's son, she was completly stunned, as well as the rest of the school. At that time, she decided that there was a point in hating the Halloween. With wide eyes, she watched as her fourteen-year-old Godson, (still with the same thin and short figure, she noted) made his way to the staff table and then to the adjoining room. The whole Great Hall was now buzzing as the teachers, together with Crouch and Bagman went to the adjoining room as well. After a short look at Moody, who was getting up himself, she decided to join him.

"Bloody curious events, huh, Crane?" he huffed when she joined him, still not noticed by anyone of the students for they were excitedly talking to each other.

"Certainly." she answered nervously.

"We'd better stay out o' things for now, you especially, Crane." he said when they arrived to the door so Natalie followed the example of her mentor and stayed with him in the doorway, just watching the course of events. The whole talk between the teachers was so predictable it was almost riddiculous. Almost. The two foreign teachers were claiming for it to be an injustice, then blaming Harry (who else than Snape), then Dumbledore, then Harry again and finally Karkaroff threatened to leave with his champion. At that, Moody finally stepped in but Natalie listened to her mentor's "order" and stayed away. When Moody expressed his thoughts that Harry's name had been put into the Goblet by someone who intended to kill him, she took in a sharp breath. Of course this was her first thought but hearing it said aloud made it much more real. When it was cleared, that Harry would be competing as well, her heart sank. She still hoped that he would somehow get out of it, although she knew that it was impossible. No one could avoid competing once his name was chosen by the Goblet of Fire. Then she just listened to the instructions which Crouch gave to the champions, made a mental note when the first task would be taking place and then decided to leave before the others did and spotted her. But just as she was about to leave, her look fell on Harry one last time and to her utmost shock, he just flew his look around the room, over her as well. He didn't seem to register her but she didn't wait for him to do so and she quickly fled.

Harry was a little absentmindly listening to Crouch's instruction. Of course, the informations about the first task were important but at first, he was taken aback by Crouch's ill looks, and then his thoughts turned to Moody's words. Was someone really trying to hurt him? Well, someone definitely, but how could Voldemort manage to get his name into the Goblet of Fire? Well, he could, Harry thought gravely. But with Dumbledore in school and now even Moody… once again he slid his look to Moody. He looked scary as always but wait- was it… he took a double take at the door but then he shook his head. For a while, he thought he saw a strange woman standing there but when he looked there again, he saw no one. Probably just tired…he thought and turned his attention back to Crouch.

Natalie didn't want to linger more than she had to, she desperately needed to talk to Sirius, but first she had to wait to talk to Dumbledore. She hid in the darkest corner in the Entrance Hall; the rest of the students had already gone to bed, and she just had to wait until the champions would go as well. Finally, Harry and Cedric appeared in the Entrance Hall and after a short talk, they parted their ways, both heading to their common rooms. Natalie just watched Harry disappear on the staircase before she went to find Dumbledore. The talk was very short. Basically, Dumbledore told her that now she couldn't do anything to protect the young Potter and that he would let her know when she was needed at school. With that, he bid her goodnight and sent her home.

Natalie listened to his order immediately and quietly she slid out of the heavy door. After she made sure no one was watching, especially a certain Drumstrang Headmaster, she turned into a crane and flew away in direction of Hogsmead.

Never in her life had she flown as fast as she had now, as if she was racing the time to be at home before sunrise. It was still dark when she finally arrived to Hogsmead, immediately heading for their house. As a child, she had always wondered how it was possible for birds to crash into windows or walls but now, in her speed, her wings just couldn't stop flapping even as she started to descend. Only by a sheer luck, she stopped right before her beak collided with the wooden door of their cottage and for a crane, she landed a bit ungracefully. Not wanting to turn into her human shape outside, altough she was covered by darkness, she tapped with her beak onto the door a prearranged signal, knowing Sirius would be very much awake. These days he had been having trouble sleeping (just as she had), and very often they just didn't turn into bed at all and instead they stayed in the living room, sitting on the sofa and staring into the flames in the fireplace. She knew that was the place he would occupy tonight, waiting for her to get back from her patrol. Almost immediately, she heard heavy footsteps behind the door and in a while, the door cracked open, letting her in. She got in, still in her Animagus form. As soon as Sirius closed the door behind her, she turned back but she stayed sitting on the floor with her back leaning against the door and she was breathing heavily.

In a matter of seconds, Sirius was at her side, sensing something was wrong.

"Nat? Nat, what happened?" he pressed on but Natalie couldn't speak because she was still short of breath.

"The Goblet-" pant "he's- he's" pant "the-" pant "fourth champion" she managed to breathe out.

"What? Who's the- NO!" he exclaimed when it dawned on him. "How- how- he can't be-"

"He is." Natalie said curtly, attempting to get up. Sirius, seeing her trouble, gently lifted her onto her feet and led her to the sofa. In a while, he fetched a glass of Firewhisky for her and only after Natalie drained it she was able to talk again in full sentences.

"The Goblet of Fire chose four champions, Sirius. Harry now has to compete."

"I don't get it." Sirius said with a frown. "Dumbledore talked about precautions, how could Harry's name get into the Goblet of Fire?"

„No one knows. But acording to Mad-Eye someone threw Harry's name into the Goblet in order to hurt him during the Triwizard Cup, knowing he will have to participate."

"I agree." Sirius snarled and got up and began pacing around the room while Natalie was just staring into the flames and absentmindly swayed the now empty glass in her hands. "My first guess would be Karkaroff."

For a while Natalie didn't even seem to hear him, she actually seemed lost in her own world, but after a while of contemplation, she finally replied deliberately. "Maybe…strange, I would consider him to be too much of a coward to do such a thing right under Dumbledore's nose…but who else could get into the castle?" she pondered.

"There are ways, you know that." Sirius pointed out.

A frown creeped into Natalie's face more and more. It was almost strange to see her frowning, at least for Sirius. He didn't remember her to do often; she used to be like sunshine at school. Then he noticed that her hands were shaking and she was bitting down her lip.

"Nat? What's wrong?" he asked her and came over to the sofa but she didn't even looked up at him.

"What's wrong? You're asking what's wrong?" she asked in emotionless voice "What's wrong is that there's most likely a Deat Eater in Hogwarts with our Godson and we can't do a thing about that."

A frown came over Sirius face as well and his tone hardened.

"I know that. I ment what's wrong with you?"

"What do you mean?" she asked dully and Sirius snorted.

"Come on, I know you well. You were an Auror, you would be able to keep your head cool."

"In case you forgot this is about our Godson." Natalie said, still looking at the floor and Sirius now wondered that a blood wasn't trickling down from her lower lip from how hard was she bitting into it. He was just taking a breath to answer when her expression suddenly changed; her face contorted and gave one big sob as a few tears fell out of her eyes. As Sirius saw her, his expression softened and he quickly sat down next to her and pulled her close. As if this motion was a cue for Natalie, she began sobbing harder and clung to his shirt.

Sirius had never been good with crying women; he had always thought of women's sensitivity as their only negative and had never been comfortable around crying women. But this time was different. Not that he was uncomfortable with crying Natalie in his arms but it was literally ripping his heart out to see her like this. In the same time, however, he found out that he knew what to do and for a good half an hour he was whispering sweet nothings into her ear until she calmed down a bit.

"It's- It's all my fault." Natalie sniffed when she calmed enough to speak.

"No, it's not. Don't think like that." he said and wiped another tear from her cheek.

"It is. I was supposed to see that nothing like this happened, that's why Dumbledore wanted me to be here in the first place. I haven't done a good job so far considering it's only the first day of the Cup."

"You were doing what you could. You were there, patrolling and I know you did your best."

"Oh Merlin, I'm so stupid." Natalie sniffed again. "I just thought that with Moody roaming around, the Goblet of Fire would be safe enough so I went patrolling into another corridors, especially around the Griffindor tower. I met him and he said he would watch out for the Goblet."

"See? If even Moody didn't manage to keep it safe, it wasn't your fault. I would have done the same." Sirius tried to soothe her but it didn't help much because she began sniffing again.

"Oh my, I'm such a bad Godmother. First I leave Harry with Muggles just because Dumbledore says I'm not fit enough and that Harry won't be safe anywhere but with his relatives, then I haven't even written him any letter and now I got him into danger-" she was sobbing again but Sirius cut her off by lying his fingers over her lips

"Shhh. None of this, did what you thought was best for Harry, that doesn't make you a bad Godmother. And for the second time – today it wasn't your fault. If it was someone's fault than Voldemort's."

At that, Natalie didn't answer, she just nodded and sighed but at least she wasn't crying anymore. She was too exhausted to cry so she just sat there, still snuggled into her lover's chest and stared into the flames.

"I'm sorry." she said then quietly.

"What for?" Sirius asked, gently took her chin and made her look at him.

"For...you know, losing it like that. Usually I don't bury myself in self-pity."

"I know don't. Are you alright now?"

"As alright as I can be, considering the situation." she answered and Sirius nodded. Then he kissed her forehead tenderly.

"Come on, let's get you to bed." he said and helped her onto her feet and with his arm around her shoulders he led her to her bedroom. But when Natalie entered her bedroom and saw that Sirius was about to leave, she suddenly caught his hand to prevent it.

"Stay with me." she said and Sirius raised his eyebrows. As astonishing as it sounded for Sirius Black, the former Hogwarts playboy, he and Natalie had never done more than making out on the couch. Although they knew they had lost a lot of time they could have been together, they just hadn't taken this step yet, maybe because they had been friends for such a long time and it would change their friendship into something irreversible.

"Nat, you- you're sure you want to-"

"Yes, I need you tonight." she whispered and pulled him back into her room and it didn't take her much effort. As soon as the door closed behind them, which was rather useless since they were the only one living in the house (not counting Buckbeak), they began kissing and slowly making their way to the four poster bed, parts of their clothes landing on the floor in the process.

"Blossom?" Sirius said between kisses and tried to pull away as they were lying half-naked on the bed, but Natalie kissed him hungrily again. "Blossom, wait." he whispered when he pulled away again, although very reluctantly. Natalie now pulled away slightly as well and questioningly looked into his eyes "You know, it's- it's been a while since I-"

"Shhh" she cut him off with a quick kiss "It's been a while for me, too." she said and caressed his cheek. It was very strange to see him this fragile, stuttering over words.

Sirius closed his eyes and leaned into her touch. It had been too long since someone touched him like this, indeed. He sighed and then kissed her palm and then he progressed down her arm until he got to her bare shouler and neck.

"You're sure about this?" he asked again. At that, Natalie took his face into her hands and brought his head up so she could look into his eyes.

"I've never been so sure about anything like this. You're not?"

"Blossom, you have no idea how I want you." he said and got back to kissing her neck…

"That was weird Halloween." Natalie said, when in the morning they were lying in her bed, just wrapped in the blankets. She had her head on Sirius' chest and enjoyed the feeling to be wrapped in his arms.

Sirius snorted a bit "Even though the events, it still was the best Halloween in thirteen years."

"Certainly."

"Blossom?" Sirius asked.

"Hmm?" Natalie was almost asleep.

"I love you"

"I love you, too." Natalie said in the same sleepy voice and immediately fell into deep slumber.

So, that's about it. Sappy, huh? Review please:)