Part One

"HOW DARE YOU BEFOUL THE HOUSE OF MY ANCESTORS? DISGRACE! SCUM! TRATIOUROUS FILTH!"

"Oh, how I love my mother," grumbled a disheveled Sirius Black as he trudged down the dark staircase of the old Number Twelve, Grimmauld Place. The black trench coat he wore swooshed against the dusty floor as he brushed a strand of dark hair from his face.

"DONG!"

"Almost as much as I love visitors at two o'clock in the morning," he growled under his breath.

"DONG!" the doorbell sounded again.

"I'm coming!" Sirius shouted to the ringer.

"FILTHY HALF-BREEDS! SCUM! MUDBLOODS!"

Sirius sneered as he swung the door open. When he saw who was calling on him, his heart stopped for a second. The screeches of his mother no longer rang in his ears. The snow blowing into the house from the open door was not what chilled him to the bone.

It looked like a dementor, but was shorter. He recognized the long, black robes and the hood that hid the guest's face. His guest stood there, watching Sirius for a few moments.

"Katarina…" he muttered with a sigh of longing.

Katarina moved under her robes. Her tiny, pale hands reached out and pulled the hood down to reveal a beautiful, young woman. She was pale as the moon, with an exotic flare, and icy blue eyes that complemented her crimson hair, which framed her face as if it were attempting to protect it from some unseen force. She smiled slightly at the look on the escaped convict's face.

"Hello, Sirius," she said with a honey-like voice rich with an Italian accent.

"It's been a while," he said once he found his voice.

She nodded. An awkward moment of silence passed between them before Sirius broke it with a strong embrace. She hugged him back and smiled. When they broke away, Sirius stared at her in awe. "What- Why- How-"

"Can I come in and warm up before I explain?"

"Oh! Right!" He moved from the doorway and let her in.

"Do you have a fire or something?" she shivered.

He jumped and nodded. Sirius led her up the dark stairway up to the living room he had fallen asleep in before she came. On the opposite wall was a fireplace roaring with a dancing flame. Katarina plopped down on the rug in front of the fire and rubbed her hands together to warm herself up.

After she had placed herself from the rug to a chair next to Sirius, he asked her: "What are you doing here?"

"Albus sent me," she answered. "Told me he wanted me to come to the school four days from today. I just came back from Greece and your house is closer to Hogwarts than mine and it's not being surveyed by the Ministry of Magic all day."

Sirius looked puzzled. Why would the Ministry watch her house? She had never been suspected of defying them or of being involved in the Order of the Phoenix. In fact, Cornelius Fudge was quite fond of her, since she was beautiful and young.

Kath recognized his confusion and explained. "The Ministry suspects my father of being one of 'Dumbledore's men,' whatever that means. That, and I think they're worried I'm hiding you. Thought that since we used to be in love, I might be helping you."

"That's idiotic. You hate me."

"I don't! I never could! What gave you that idea?"

"We haven't spoken since…"

"I know. But I don't hate you. I was busy. I became an Auror."

"Like your father?"

She nodded. "Like my father."

"A psychic Auror? How perfect," he mused to himself.

She smiled. "I suppose. Now, do you have any food? I'm starving!"