Chapter 2 The Mistake

©Love Will ALWAYS Find a Way©

By Allie-2003

The next day Cate was down in the Great Hall when Lily and Beth came down.

          "Morning C-c-c-Catie" Lily yawned out as a greeting.

          "Catie? The only person who ever called me that was my big brother before he got involved with the Dark Arts. Connor was and still is a donkey." She said grinning as the others laughed.

          "Donkey another word for jackass." Beth said and Cate nodded.

          "Who's a donkey?" James asked coming over to sit next to Lily probably to ask her out again.

          "Your best friend." Cate said frowning at the thought of the boy in question. James laughed.

          "You really hate him don't you? Why?" He said

          "Really James do you have to ask? Why do you think I hate Sirius Black?" she asked.

          "Because I'm the biggest git this side of the universe?" Sirius said coming to sit next to Cate as she jumped. Remus and Peter came in and sat down next to Sirius and James.

          "YOU! Why do you like to irritate me ALL the time?" Cate asked. Sirius frowned in thought as Remus spoke.

          "Good morning Cate." He said causing all of the people in that group to look at him. Sirius frowned at him.

          "Oh! Morning Remus. Morning Peter." She said. Suddenly she knew Remus knew that she liked him (confused? I am to big grin).

          "Mornin' Caitlin." Peter said grinning. There was a silence as the other girls looked at Cate.

          "Here are the schedules for the year." Cate said breaking the silence. She passed out them to the others. For once Sirius was polite.

          "Thank you Caitlin. I'm sorry for tripping you last year." This time he was the one being stared at by the rest of the group.

          Wha- oh thank… I mean apology accepted Sirius. Excuse me I want to get to class early." She said caught off guard, getting up. This guy confused her.

          "Why? We have Kinyo first and it's a double period. Potions who in their right mind want to go to Potions early." Sirius asked good-naturedly looking at his schedule.

          "Are you suggesting that I am mental? Oh! You are aren't you?" Cate spun around and left the room.

          "Wait Catie! Wait for us!" Lily said giving Sirius a fierce look before she and Beth hurried after Cate.

          "B-but Caitlin? Wait I-I'm sorry."

          "Why do you keep doing that? She's never going to go out with you if you keep doing that. In fact you know what she told me on the train? She said and I quote 'it will be a cold day in hell when Sirius Black asks me out.' As for yesterday on the Platform why the hell did you tell her you hated her because she was born?" Remus asked looking at Beth's retreating back.

          "Cold day in hell? She actually said that did she? Why does she think so below her?" James asked.

          "Yea she did. Why does she think that way? Probably because her family has cut her down so much over her life she doesn't take much to get upset. She also said that yelling at Padfoot here made her feel good." Remus concluded. He wouldn't tell the others that she liked him. That was between him and her.

          "Come guys its time to go to class." Peter said breaking the silence. The guys got up and walked towards the Entrance Hall to head to Potions.

~*~*~*~

Cate was sitting on the stairs when Beth and Lily came up to her.

          "Why didn't you tell us you like Remus Lupin?" Lily asked coming to sit next to Cate.

          "Lily we became friends yesterday. In the afternoon mind you. So when could have I told you? Last night? You were in bed when I came up." She told Lily.

          "H-how long have you liked him?" Beth asked as the others looked at her.

          "For 5 years Beth why do you like him too?" Cate said.

          "Yeah I do. But Remus Lupin wouldn't give me the time of day." Beth said sadly.

          "Me either Beth but I'll get over it. Are we still on being friends?"

"Of course we can. Hey we can even start a club." At the look Lily and Cate gave her she said laughing, "It was a joke. Come on lets go here come the gits." Cate looked up and saw the Maurders, Sirius in the middle of the group.

          "Yea lets go. I know how big a jerk Kinyo is but I want a good table away from the gittlings and the king of gits." She said as they walked down the stairs to class laughing.

~*~*~*~

          "Today we are going to fabricate a potion that is bound to be in O.W.L testing. It is called the Strengthening Potion. I will be grading you the way the tester grades you. You know where the instructions are begin now." Professor Kinyo said as the Gryffindors and Slytherins got to work. Kinyo was an oriental wizened wizard who had been at the school for almost 25 years. As Cate was chopping up her Gilly Weed  James came over along with Sirius.

          "Caitlin? I'm sorry for the scene in the Great Hall." Sirius said with a sincere look on his face. Cate ignored him. After five minutes Sirius gave up and went to finish his potion. James however spoke to Cate rather then Lily who was busy chopping a flobber worm as he had asked to use half of it.

          "Caitlin you know how much Padfoot likes you? I know he can be an idiot."

          "Not just an idiot, James he's a total ass who doesn't have the faintest clue how to treat a woman. Tell him for me that the day I go out with him is the day he grows up and treats a woman right."

"Alright just this once I'm not going to be a messenger for either of you." To Lily he said ever so politely.  "Will you go out with me Evans."

"I'll take a page out of Catie's book. The day I go out with you is the day I fall in love with you."
            " Very well. Great Merlin you women are as stubborn as mules. Thanks Evans for the worm." James said leaving as Kinyo walked past frowning at James and the girls.

"Back to work Potter. By now  your potion should have turned purple. Only if you haven't been talking you your women."

By the end of the double potions everyone was tired of Kinyo's ranting and raving for the year. The old geezer was let me put it frankly ANNOYING. Next the Maurders and Beth had Divination, Lily had Runes. Cate had Arithmancy. It was another double period and after classes ended for the day Cate could be seen in the library. Studying as usual.

          "Wilding, what the hell are you doing here?" It was Snape. This time he was alone.

          "Well Snivelers long time no see. What has it been since you've talked to me two years?"

          "Yea so your what is point? No, I'm here to ask you for help. I need you to help me with the Defense Against the Dark Arts essay." He said.

          "You  mean do it for you. I don't think so Snape. I'll give you references but you do your own essay."

          "Fine go get the books. So I can do and get out of here. Looking at you makes me sick." At that Cate stood up and looked like she wanted to slap or slug him. However, Sirius chose that moment to interfere.

          "Take that back Snivelus. Or I swear to Merlin I will hex you."

          "Sirius! Don't he's not worth the scum on your shoes. Please don't, please?" she said.

          "Alright you are lucky this time Snape if I wasn't doing this for Caitlin you would be mince meat." Snape took the book Cate was holding and left. Cate however turned to Sirius and slapped him hard across the face.

          "Don't you EVER do that AGAIN!   Do you hear me Sirius? I know you hate him but I can take care of my own cousin! I know you meant well but I can handle Snape."

          "Sorry I cared Wilding. I won't bother with it again. And you will pay for that slap." He said turning to leave.

"By the way Caitlin, your welcome." With that he left and Cate sat down and cried silently until the library closed. She walked back to the common room.

          "Password?" the fat lady said.

          Bertie Botts Every Flavour Beans." She said with out looking up from her feet. No one was in the common room except Sirius but when he saw her he went to her room. She went to bed thinking about how Sirius Black stood up for her. You know he really isn't so much a git. She thought as she went to sleep.

~*~*~*~

Meanwhile Sirius thought of a way to get Cate back. He thought about the way she perked up when Remus spoke to her. I know the perfect way. And as for Caitlin Wilding I'm over trying to win her. It's time to plan and to move on.

A/NOHH  what is he going to do? Tune in next time for the details.