Kat walked down the hall in a daze. This couldn't be happening, not now. Sighing she put her mind back to the task at hand. She was on her way to the kitchen to meet with the man of her dreams, from where they were going to go on a picnic and talk. She sighed again, but a much happier sigh as she thought of him. He was perfect; to her he could do no wrong.

'Well, not any since she had gotten to know him.' She thought with a smile.

"Katia, you should watch where you are going." his husky voice reached her ears. She smiled at him.

"True, but then I wouldn't be able to hear you pull me out of my thoughts now would I?"

He laughed then turned to tickle the pear. The two snuck inside, where Aniee stood waiting with a basket at her feet.

"You were really prepared." she said with a laugh as he picked up the basket. She said goodbye to Aniee and the two made their way out the front door, only stopping to say hi to Mrs. Norris.

A few minutes later they stopped by the edge of the forest where no one could see them unless they were purposely looking for them. He pulled out a blanket and set it on the ground then helped her sit down. After they were both sitting comfortably, they ate and talked about their week and other subjects, both just enjoying hearing each other talk.

After they were done, they packed the dishes then he sat leaning against a tree and she sat down in front of him, leaning against his chest.

"So, what did you want to talk about?" she asked, knowing he would know she meant the letter.

"Will you go with me to the Yule ball?" he asked softly.

She looked up at him, his face was like that of a little boys, so eager, yet he's eyes showed that he was afraid of her answer, that she might say no. She smiled softly, "Of course, I would love to go. I can't think of anyone I would rather go with."

He sighed, visible relaxing.

"But love, you may not want to go with me." she said slowly looking towards Hogwarts.

He looked at her, waiting for her to continue. He knew she was keeping something from him, something that he often thought she really wanted to tell him.

"I'm not all I seem to be. There's more about me than just being the youngest ever to start Hogwarts and being Snape's daughter and a Granger. Something that I have never told anyone." she trailed off.

He felt her tense, and gave her hand a squeeze. "You don't have to tell me."

"I want to." she said slowly turning to look up at him.

He was blown away by the emotion in her eyes. They were the true windows to her soul, as that saying use to go. She was afraid, sad, happy, and deep in her eyes he saw something he had never seen before, she was terrified about something, yet determination shown through.

"I want to tell you so much, but I can't." she trailed off once more, looking away from him, but not before he saw the shame in her eyes.

"Katia listen to me." He began, turning her face towards him so she would have to look at him. "It doesn't matter, whatever it is, it doesn't matter." He reinforced.

"Someday you can tell me if you're able, but I don't need to know. I love you regardless of who you are to the world, I love you, the girl hidden under all those faces." He finished, brushing a stray hair that had escaped from her braid behind her ear.

"You....you love me?" she asked in small voice, completely in shock. He had never said that before.

"Yes." he smiled, seeing her surprise.

"Oh. I love you too." she said with a smile, giving him a kiss. "We better get back though, classes start soon."

He smiled as she got up, then he followed her. Gathering their things they made their way back to the castle, hand in hand.

~*~*~*~*~

Hermione stood outside the DADA room waiting for her cousin, who had been conspicuously missing from lunch. She looked up as she heard footsteps running down the hall to see Kat rushing towards her.

"Am I late?"

"No. Where were you?"

"I fell asleep in my room." she replied as they walked into the classroom.

"Oh, that explains why your door was locked."

"Yeah, I guess I lived in America too long, became a habit to always lock the door."

Hermione smiled as they pulled out their books. "Anyway, who was the letter from this morning?"

"My aunt. One of her brothers died." She replied slowly, not sure which letter she was being asked about. But something told her it wasn't the one she was telling Hermione about.

"Oh Kitty, I'm so sorry. How did he die?" Hermione asked immediately knowing how bad Kat must feel. She knew how important family was to Kat.

"It's ok Ony, he was murdered." She continued as they walked into the room, her voice dropping to a whisper so no one could hear.

Hermione looked at her cousin in shock, Kat's voice was dead, no emotion whatsoever. "How can he be murdered?"

Kat looked at her knowing what Hermione was really asking, how can a fairy be murdered, they were immortal. "There are a few ways, none known to those outside of the Dark Arts."

"Oh Kitty." Hermione replied and was going to comment further but Snape walked in.

Everyone may now know that he was her uncle, but that wasn't going to change her calling him Snape. He was still a terribly mean person to most of the world, especially Harry and Ron.

Kat silently thanked the gods that her father had arrived. She really didn't want to talk about what had happened. The last thing they would need today was a lightning storm because her emotions were out of control.

She turned towards her father only paying half attention as he talked about the creature of the day. Most of her thoughts were centered on the wonderful lunch she had just had. Luckily she already knew all about today's topic, and could easily continue her daydream with no problem.

She never even noticed five people in the room were watching her. Hermione was watching her to make sure she was ok, and Harry and Ron kept sneaking glances at her. Snape looked over once, and saw she wasn't paying attention, but he didn't say anything as he knew she knew all about the subject, and he had heard about Nadine's brother.

The other person watched her out of the corner of his eye, worries about her. Something seemed to be bothering her that day.