Chapter 9 - spring-tide dance
It was the Easter break before they even knew it and much to all their enjoyment Dumbledore had decided to arrange a spring-tide dance all the years were invited. Kathy was really looking forward to it, well to tell you the truth everyone was (except Hermione because she had to go home for the Easter holidays but she pretended it didn't bother her,).
As they were sat in the common room Ron seemed deep in thought.
"Heh what'a'ya thin' 'bout" Harry asked through a mouthful of biscuit
"Huh" Ron said drowsily "Oh I was just wondering who I should ask to the dance"
"Oh yeah I totally forgot about that" Harry answered, after finishing his biscuit then turning to Kathy he asked, "Wanna go wiv me?" he grinned broadly
"Yeah sure" She replied and also grinned. Harry leaned over and kissed her on the cheek. Ron screwed his face up in disgust. Ginny just giggled at him and then said.
"So.Ron... Who are you gonna ask" she smiled mischievously then Ron seemed to go into a deep thought.
"Hummmmmmmmmmmmm," he mused "I'd like to go with Lavender but I don't know if I can ask her, well you..GINNY" He practically yelled this last word, for at the mention of Lavenders name she had gone trotting over to ask Ron started to go bright red and tried to hide behind Harry. Lavender looked over in his direction a look of shock on her face then catching Ron's eye gave a smile and came towards them.
"I'd love to go with you" she smiled then added rather suggestively "Got anything planned this evening only I was thinking of taking a walk."
"Oh" said Ron getting up and heading towards the portrait hole after her.
**
The dance arrived quickly and they were all getting ready to go down to the great hall the 6 friends made their way out of gryffindor tower together, Harry and Kathy, Ron and Lavender, Ginny and Neville Longbottom (she's developed quite a crush on him over the past couple of years.)
Once they reached the hall they were taken aback by the fantastic decorations spring flower garlands draping from the walls and pretty flowers floating in mid-air. The evening seemed to go like a flash and before they knew it, it was time for the last dance. As they spun around on the dance floor to a slow romantic tune Kathy and Harry became aware of a great deal of people stopping. They moved over towards the centre of the dance floor to see what all the fuss was about where they met Ron and Lavender (both looking a little flushed). The whole crowd had stopped now and were circled around one lone dancing couple that seemed to be dancing very romantically.
Kathy stared wide-eyed at what she saw before her both her mum and professor Lupin dancing together, totally unaware of the whole hall watching them. Harry whispered into Kathy's ear just before the song finished.
"That's not exactly discrete is it now!" Kathy just gave him a stupefied look before the hall erupted into waves of applause. The dance had finished and Lupin was holding McGonagall's back over in a sweeping motion.
That's when he did it; he didn't know why (but he knew he'd regret it later) it just felt right. Harry opened his mouth and virtually bellowed, "Kiss her!!" Kathy looked at Harry with shock before seeing his entire mind's thoughts in his eyes. And she too took up the shout. Ron began egging them on and even Ginny started to shout until Lupin finally did. The hall erupted into cheers once more. As soon as it was all-calm Dumbledore announced that the dance was at last over but had been such a success that they'll repeat it next year and dismissed the students to their common rooms.
On the way out Harry was Grinning at Kathy while Ron was talking very fast and uncleary into his ear. "You four!" Harry's heart stopped, it was professor McGonagall and she sounded furious. They turned around and she told lavender and Neville to get back to their common room. Kathy peered at her red flushed (through both embassement and exhaustion) and then into her eyes and realised she meaned business. Lupin was gingerly walking up behind her.
**
Harry, Kathy, Ron and Ginny were escorted to her office with Lupin bringing up the rear. They all exchanged worried glances but neither Lupin nor McGonagall noticed.
Once inside they were instructed to sit down while Professor McGonagall settled herself behind her desk and glared at them Lupin was now stood in the corner very quietly.
"Never, in all my life, have I been so embarrassed, I don't know what you think gives you the right, that should not have happened, I..I don't even know what to say, I.'ve never been through anything so...humiliating ever." McGonagall was fuming all right Harry thought to himself, well what the worst that could happen expulsion, 1000 points from gryffindor, she wouldn't would she. Harry didn't even notice at first when Kathy started talking next to him until he heard what she was saying.
"That's Bullshit! You enjoyed it you stupid old cow!" Lupin opened his mouth in shock Kathy was normally a well behaved, polite girl she'd never address a teacher that way, Ron looked just as bemused but both Ginny and Harry just looked worried.
"Right young lady that is IT! You're going to have to get a detention and learn some manners you cannot talk to a teacher in that way." McGonagall went to open the top drawer of her desk to retrieve a detention slip but before she opened it Kathy raised her wand and muttered a spell, serpensortia, that Harry remembered from somewhere but couldn't lay his finger on it. She opened the drawer and leapt back screaming clasping her heart, as a large black snake raised up out of the drawer. McGonagall was almost in tears before Lupin managed to zap the snake away. 'Ahhhhhhh that's it Draco used that spell in the duelling club' Harry muttered to himself but was not heard by anybody as Kathy was off again.
"Why don't you just leave me alone? I don't like it here I don't know why you just couldn't have left me. I preferred being a muggle in any case so just just push off" Kathy finished and stormed out. Lupin looked even more shocked but as McGonagall was now in tears with her head in her arms he immediately tried to comfort her.
Looking up he caught Harry's eye and mouthed for him to go after Kathy before turning his attention back to the weeping woman.
"It's all my fault...I thought we were getting on alright!" she moaned through loud sobs. "I should've left her..Never told her...She wants to be muggle.." Lupin stopped a curious look on his face.
Lifting her face to meet his he asked softly "Now minny what's it got to do with you?" He gave her a gentle smile but was only met with her watery eyes.
"Because." she began "Because she's my daughter!" The stunned silence that followed was broken only by Ron's gasp. Ginny nudged him painfully in the ribs.
"You knew didn't you?" He whispered in her direction "You knew and you never told me?" Ginny just shot him a horrible look before replying
"Of course I knew I'm her best friend dipstick."
Lupin shot them both painful glances before ushering them out, then turning his attention back to the woman huddled in his arms who was again in tears.
It was the Easter break before they even knew it and much to all their enjoyment Dumbledore had decided to arrange a spring-tide dance all the years were invited. Kathy was really looking forward to it, well to tell you the truth everyone was (except Hermione because she had to go home for the Easter holidays but she pretended it didn't bother her,).
As they were sat in the common room Ron seemed deep in thought.
"Heh what'a'ya thin' 'bout" Harry asked through a mouthful of biscuit
"Huh" Ron said drowsily "Oh I was just wondering who I should ask to the dance"
"Oh yeah I totally forgot about that" Harry answered, after finishing his biscuit then turning to Kathy he asked, "Wanna go wiv me?" he grinned broadly
"Yeah sure" She replied and also grinned. Harry leaned over and kissed her on the cheek. Ron screwed his face up in disgust. Ginny just giggled at him and then said.
"So.Ron... Who are you gonna ask" she smiled mischievously then Ron seemed to go into a deep thought.
"Hummmmmmmmmmmmm," he mused "I'd like to go with Lavender but I don't know if I can ask her, well you..GINNY" He practically yelled this last word, for at the mention of Lavenders name she had gone trotting over to ask Ron started to go bright red and tried to hide behind Harry. Lavender looked over in his direction a look of shock on her face then catching Ron's eye gave a smile and came towards them.
"I'd love to go with you" she smiled then added rather suggestively "Got anything planned this evening only I was thinking of taking a walk."
"Oh" said Ron getting up and heading towards the portrait hole after her.
**
The dance arrived quickly and they were all getting ready to go down to the great hall the 6 friends made their way out of gryffindor tower together, Harry and Kathy, Ron and Lavender, Ginny and Neville Longbottom (she's developed quite a crush on him over the past couple of years.)
Once they reached the hall they were taken aback by the fantastic decorations spring flower garlands draping from the walls and pretty flowers floating in mid-air. The evening seemed to go like a flash and before they knew it, it was time for the last dance. As they spun around on the dance floor to a slow romantic tune Kathy and Harry became aware of a great deal of people stopping. They moved over towards the centre of the dance floor to see what all the fuss was about where they met Ron and Lavender (both looking a little flushed). The whole crowd had stopped now and were circled around one lone dancing couple that seemed to be dancing very romantically.
Kathy stared wide-eyed at what she saw before her both her mum and professor Lupin dancing together, totally unaware of the whole hall watching them. Harry whispered into Kathy's ear just before the song finished.
"That's not exactly discrete is it now!" Kathy just gave him a stupefied look before the hall erupted into waves of applause. The dance had finished and Lupin was holding McGonagall's back over in a sweeping motion.
That's when he did it; he didn't know why (but he knew he'd regret it later) it just felt right. Harry opened his mouth and virtually bellowed, "Kiss her!!" Kathy looked at Harry with shock before seeing his entire mind's thoughts in his eyes. And she too took up the shout. Ron began egging them on and even Ginny started to shout until Lupin finally did. The hall erupted into cheers once more. As soon as it was all-calm Dumbledore announced that the dance was at last over but had been such a success that they'll repeat it next year and dismissed the students to their common rooms.
On the way out Harry was Grinning at Kathy while Ron was talking very fast and uncleary into his ear. "You four!" Harry's heart stopped, it was professor McGonagall and she sounded furious. They turned around and she told lavender and Neville to get back to their common room. Kathy peered at her red flushed (through both embassement and exhaustion) and then into her eyes and realised she meaned business. Lupin was gingerly walking up behind her.
**
Harry, Kathy, Ron and Ginny were escorted to her office with Lupin bringing up the rear. They all exchanged worried glances but neither Lupin nor McGonagall noticed.
Once inside they were instructed to sit down while Professor McGonagall settled herself behind her desk and glared at them Lupin was now stood in the corner very quietly.
"Never, in all my life, have I been so embarrassed, I don't know what you think gives you the right, that should not have happened, I..I don't even know what to say, I.'ve never been through anything so...humiliating ever." McGonagall was fuming all right Harry thought to himself, well what the worst that could happen expulsion, 1000 points from gryffindor, she wouldn't would she. Harry didn't even notice at first when Kathy started talking next to him until he heard what she was saying.
"That's Bullshit! You enjoyed it you stupid old cow!" Lupin opened his mouth in shock Kathy was normally a well behaved, polite girl she'd never address a teacher that way, Ron looked just as bemused but both Ginny and Harry just looked worried.
"Right young lady that is IT! You're going to have to get a detention and learn some manners you cannot talk to a teacher in that way." McGonagall went to open the top drawer of her desk to retrieve a detention slip but before she opened it Kathy raised her wand and muttered a spell, serpensortia, that Harry remembered from somewhere but couldn't lay his finger on it. She opened the drawer and leapt back screaming clasping her heart, as a large black snake raised up out of the drawer. McGonagall was almost in tears before Lupin managed to zap the snake away. 'Ahhhhhhh that's it Draco used that spell in the duelling club' Harry muttered to himself but was not heard by anybody as Kathy was off again.
"Why don't you just leave me alone? I don't like it here I don't know why you just couldn't have left me. I preferred being a muggle in any case so just just push off" Kathy finished and stormed out. Lupin looked even more shocked but as McGonagall was now in tears with her head in her arms he immediately tried to comfort her.
Looking up he caught Harry's eye and mouthed for him to go after Kathy before turning his attention back to the weeping woman.
"It's all my fault...I thought we were getting on alright!" she moaned through loud sobs. "I should've left her..Never told her...She wants to be muggle.." Lupin stopped a curious look on his face.
Lifting her face to meet his he asked softly "Now minny what's it got to do with you?" He gave her a gentle smile but was only met with her watery eyes.
"Because." she began "Because she's my daughter!" The stunned silence that followed was broken only by Ron's gasp. Ginny nudged him painfully in the ribs.
"You knew didn't you?" He whispered in her direction "You knew and you never told me?" Ginny just shot him a horrible look before replying
"Of course I knew I'm her best friend dipstick."
Lupin shot them both painful glances before ushering them out, then turning his attention back to the woman huddled in his arms who was again in tears.
