I made the decision that I didn't want anyone to know that I was singing at the ball. I didn't need people coming up to me either complaining or complementing my songs all the time.
Snape is still acting weird with me since the bathroom dream thing about a month ago.
Reia is still trying to convince me to confess my un-dying love for him, but every time she tries to, I would change the subject.
To my surprise I had a lot of boys ask me too the ball. All I could do it laugh awkwardly and tell them I already had a date.
"You should just say yes, and just stand them up" Reia said after yet another boy came up and asked Reia to go to the ball with them.
"You should just post a sign on your back saying 'Not Going To Be Here For the Ball, So Stop Asking Me!'" I joked.
"We both have horrible advice" Reia laughed.
We walked into the Library to get some homework done. We found an empty table near the back.
"Ugh, I hate History!" Reia whined.
"Do you think kids in the future will be reading about us?" I asked Reia putting in one of my headphones.
"No, I don't think they're going to want to read about a boring witch like me" Reia giggled.
"Reia, you are far from boring" I complimented.
A good song came onto my Ipod.
"Oh my god, I love this song" said as I stood up.
I started dancing in the middle of the library. Reia grabbed the other headphone and put it in her ear.
"Oh yeah! I love this song too!" Reia exclaimed dancing with me.
I happened to look up from dancing and saw Moody standing there, looking at us. I nudged Reia. She looked at me all weird and then followed my gaze.
"Sorry Professor" Reia giggled.
Moody didn't say anything. He turned around and walked away.
"Creepy" Reia commented.
"I know" I replied back.
Reia gave me one last hug before she Disapparated in front of the Three Broom Sticks. I didn't believe that she was leaving me for three whole weeks.
I sighed and started walking towards the caves on the hillside near Hogsmeade. I saw a black figure in the distance as I approached a near by cave. It came bounding for me at top speeds. It jumped up on me knocking me to the ground.
"Sirius!" I cried out.
Sirius licked me in the face and then got off of me.
"Calm down" I said wiping my face.
Sirius stood there wagging his tail.
"Okay lead the way" I sighed.
I followed Sirius to this one cave on the outskirts of town. I walked in and I saw this hippogriff lying in the corner. It stood up and started flapping his wings.
I slowly bowed in front of him. It took a couple of minutes, but it finally bowed back.
While I was with the hippogriff, Sirius transformed into a human.
"Kate!" He smiled.
He walked over to me and gave me a hug.
"How are you Sirius?" I asked gently hugging him back.
"Oh, I'm all right" Sirius said releasing his grip on me.
"I hate the idea that you're in a place like this" I commented, looking around the cave.
"I'll be in my own house soon enough" Sirius replied.
I looked at him and crossed my arms
"And who would sell the infamous Sirius Black a house?" I questioned.
Sirius laughed
"No one I know" Sirius smirked
"Well then, where are you staying?" I asked.
"My mother's house" He said still smiling.
"Well good, at least you won't be in a dump like this" I commented.
"It's better than Azkaban" Sirius replied back.
I changed the subject; I didn't want to get into the whole prison thing.
"I'm sorry that I can't be here for Christmas" I sighed.
"You being here now is all I need" Sirius replied grabbing my face lightly and looking into my eyes.
It felt easy for me to bond with Sirius. After my mother died when I was 12, I haven't had anyone to care about me.
"So I brought you something" I said digging into my backpack.
"You didn't have to Kate" Sirius replied.
"Nonsense" I said pulling a loaf of bread out of my backpack.
Sirius smiled and took the loaf of bread.
"Sorry, that's all I could swipe from the breakfast table" I smirked.
I woke up on Christmas morning to find a couple of gifts on top of my desk. Chance rubbed his body against my arm.
"Merry Christmas Chancey! I got you something" I said to Chance.
He looked at me and let out a soft meow. I got out of bed and pulled out a little gift from my nightstand.
I opened his gift for him seeing is how he doesn't have thumbs.
I pulled out a bag of cat nip. Chance started purring loudly and meowing and climbing all over me.
"Okay, just give me a second!" I giggled as I tried to pull Chance off of me.
I sprinkled some cat nip on his scratching post. Chance started rolling in it, and sniffing it and twitched his tail.
I opened two gifts from Sirius. He got me a new Ipod, and an awesome new pair of headphones. I beamed at the gifts; I didn't expect Sirius to send me anything.
I laughed when I opened my gift from Reia. She sent me a pair of black and pink, sexy looking underwear and bra set.
There was one gift left. There was no name tag on it or no note saying who it was from.
I opened it slowly and almost jumped back in shock.
It was a very rare potions book
"The Mastery Potions - An Experts Guide to New and Challenging Potions"
I looked all over the packaging to see who sent this too me, but came up empty.
Chance looked up at me taking a break from his cat nip and meowed
"Wow is right Chaney" I muttered still in shock.
After lunch I went for a walk around Hogwarts. I couldn't believe that this was going to be my last Christmas here.
I climbed the stairs to the top of this tower I've never climbed before. How did I miss this tower in all of my seven years at Hogwarts? I stood on the balcony facing the frozen lake and let the small snowflakes land on my head and nose. I took a deep breath of the winter air. I was going to miss Hogwarts with all my heart.
"Merry Christmas " I heard someone say from behind.
I turned around and saw Snape standing at the opening of the balcony.
"Merry Christmas Professor" I replied back with a smile
Snape walked out on the balcony and stood next too me.
"What are you doing all the way up here?" Snape asked me
"Enjoying my last Christmas here, I guess" I sighed turning back to face the frozen lake
"It doesn't have to be the last one" Snape commented.
I looked at him
"I'm sure Dumbledore could use an extraordinary potion's mistress such as yourself" Snape said
"But Professor, that's your position, I wouldn't dare take that from you" I replied
Snape smirked
"One day Dumbledore will give me the Defence against the Dark Arts position that I've been asking for" Snape said
I couldn't be this close to him anymore; I felt like I was going to say something stupid and make myself look incredibly dense.
"Well, I have to go get ready for the ball." I quickly said
I turned to leave.
"What?" Snape asked
"Yeah, the ball, it's tonight. Dumbledore asked me too…" I started to say before Snape cut me off
"But you haven't had a dream this month, and it's approaching the end. I will not have you risk having one of these dreams at the ball. Not in front of everyone" Snape demanded
"But, Professor, this is a once in a life time…" I started to say again before he cut me off.
"Enough, You are not going. Tell your date that you're not feeling well" Snape demanded walking past me heading back into the tower.
"I am going Professor!" I shouted at him
He turned back sharply
"I forbid you as your Watcher" Snape said in a stern voice.
"You don't even care, do you?" I hollered
Snape walked up to me so that we were almost face to face. His dark eyes burned threw me more than usual. His eyes flickered as if there was really a flame in his eyes.
"How dare you tell me that I don't care" Snape growled.
I felt horrible, I shouldn't have said that.
"I'm sorry Prof…" I started to say and he cut me off once again.
"I have done nothing but care!" Snape shouted at me.
"I know, I shouldn't have…" I said
"FINE! Go to the ball. Risk everything we have tried so hard to keep a secret" Snape spat.
Tears were fighting to escape my eyes. We just stood there, starring in each others eyes.
Snape finally took a step back and reached into the front of his robes. He took out a small green pendant on a chain, the twin to mine. He took it off from around his neck and dropped it in snow in front of me.
"I'm finished" Snape whispered.
A single tear fell down my face. Snape turned around and walked back into the tower and down the stairs. I quickly wiped my tears away from my face and bent down to pick up the pendant from the cold snow. I held tried to hold my tears back. I was moving on from Snape. I had a big night ahead of me and I couldn't let him ruin it for me right now.
I took a deep breath. I need to pull myself together. I shook my head and took one last glimpse at the frozen lake. I put the pendant in my pocket and headed back to my room to get ready for the Ball tonight.
I went to the dressing room behind the stage with all my stuff. I didn't need to be seen walking through the Slytherin common room only to have my identity known.
If Snape didn't want me to risk this secret of mine, than I wasn't going to. If I randomly pass out, they won't know who did it. I changed into a medium green dress that went down to my knees. It puffed out at the bottom so it wasn't so skin tight like the rest of the dress. I sat in front of the vanity and put on my makeup - Green eye shadow to compliment the dress and my eyes. I sprayed a bit of perfume on my neck, it smelt like candy with a slight hint of roses.
I held my pendant in my hand for a couple of minutes before taking it off and leaving it on my vanity.
I used a charm to turn my short/medium hair from red with blonde to a long dark raven black. I added curls to my newly longer hair.
I looked at myself in the mirror.
My green eyes stared back at me. The gleam in them distracts everyone from the secrets that lie behind them. Distracts everyone, but Snape.
I picked up a mask that would cover around my eyes and nose, placed it on my face and tightened the strap. I didn't even recognize myself.
Perfect.