Behind These Eyes – Chapter 11
I own nothing…
A/N – Wow the updates are coming faster again! Now if you review this chapter I have a question for you – should I do a chapter from a different POV? I've been thinking about it since I started writing this again, and I think it might be fun. It won't be from Sirius's POV because I don't want to know what he's thinking, if that makes sense, but it might be from Lucy's or James's. Vote in your review!
Oh, and hugest thanks to my lovely, gorgeous reviewers. You guys are the best – But extra special thanks go to XLinzX. I think you've reviewed every chapter so far – and I love you!!!
"Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells…"
Kat couldn't help but smile. She knew that clanking singing. Clearly the castle had already undergone its usual Christmas decorations. Kat couldn't see them, but as she stepped into the Great Hall she could smell the fresh green scent of the Christmas trees, and the sweet smell of the holly.
The buzz in the Hall was always louder in those last few weeks of term, and for Kat it was just a little too loud and a little too busy. She contemplated turning around and heading back out, but the rumble of her stomach reminded her that she had already missed lunch that day. Besides, she could smell steak and kidney pie, her favourite.
She grabbed her usual seat and carefully started loading her plate.
"Hungry?"
She jumped. Why, all of a sudden, had people started moving so quietly around her? But then, Remus always seemed to move so quietly. She was about to reply to him when there was a screech from further down the table.
"Tell me you are joking?"
Kat twisted in the direction of the screech. She could hear everyone else shifting their seats. Every eye must now have been fixed on the Gryffindor table.
"You…you…" Rita's voice was rising in octave. "I can't believe you…you complete cow."
"Rita…" Lucy's voice was low and pleading, and Kat knew that the quiet welsh girl must have been horribly embarrassed. "Calm down."
"Calm down? Calm down? You said yes…I can't believe you told Sirius you'd go to the party with him. I can't believe he even asked you!"
Kat's fork dropped out of her fingers. So she had been right. It had been Sirius that Lucy had been expecting to invite her to the party. A lead weight seemed to have dropped into her stomach.
"Kat? Are you ok?"
She felt Remus's warm fingers close around her shoulder. She forced herself to nod and smile. "Of course I am. I…I bet Lucy is happy."
Kat could almost hear the smile on Remus's face. "I think she was…until she told Rita."
Meanwhile down the table Rita was still screeching about the betrayal of friends. Interspersing Rita's rant, were pleads from Lucy to sit down, but Rita was having none of it.
"You are supposed to be my friend. I'll never speak to you again!"
Kat heard a wrenching sob and then running feet. Beside her Remus let out an explosive breath.
"Poor Lucy." The bench creaked. When he spoke next Kat realised that he had sat down next to her. "But listen, I didn't come to talk about Lucy. I actually wanted to talk to you about this party…"
"I'm not invited," Kat said quickly, anything to stop thinking about Lucy and Sirius.
"I know…I mean, I heard…" He coughed a little nervously. "But, I know Lily is invited, and James and Sirius obviously. And now Lucy is going with Sirius. And Rochelle is going with that Ravenclaw Dawkins…"
Kat tried to smile. "Wow, sounds like everyone in our year is going…"
"Pretty much…which is why I wanted to ask you to go with me."
The fork clattered back onto the plate again. Kat felt her cheeks flush. "Are you…"
"Just as a friend," Remus said a shade too quickly. His warm fingers closed around her forearm, but she could feel them trembling slightly. "I mean, I think we'd have a laugh together…and I wouldn't want…well it's not fair that you have to miss out just because…" He stopped talking suddenly and Kat heard him swallow hard. "Anyway…what do you say?"
Kat hesitated for a moment. She'd never been to a party. Not once. There would be music, and Kat loved music…but then there would also be dancing, and she certainly didn't dance.
"I'll look after you…I promise."
The memory of Lucy's laughter, and of Rita mockingly pointing out that Kat never went anywhere, flooded into Kat's mind.
"I'd love to go with you, Remus."
