(Disclaimer; I own nothing but my Genius)

Katrina's date had abandoned her for Molly Parker in fifth year; she was sitting near the dance floor, feeling forsaken. She noticed Lily slow-dancing with James and talking animatedly at the same time, and smiled. ::Well, that turned out just peachy:: she mused contentedly. ::And here's lil' 'ol me stuck here all alone..:: She decided to do something about it, and went to find Sirius.

She finally rooted him out in a dark corner, entwined with a tiny blonde who she could only assume was his Ravenclaw date. Katrina pulled him to his feet, ignoring the girl, and linked arms with him.

"Like to dance?"

It was a rhetorical question. They were already halfway towards the dance floor.

"My pleasure…but in public…?" Sirius was cautious, if enthusiastic; so far, they hadn't given any indication of their 'little agreement' to anyone other than their closest friends. "Are you sure?" he asked guardedly, hoping she was.

"Firstly, I've already danced with everyone else apart from James, Remus and Pete. Secondly, I want to dance with you." She put her arms up around his neck and began to play with the hairs at the nape of it. "Is that a problem?" she asked in her flirtiest voice.

Sirius, to his credit, managed to keep his cool with the girl of his dreams pressing herself up against his chest. "No problem," he said casually, drawing her closer.

"Good," Katrina murmured, her lips brushing his cheek.

Sirius planted a kiss on the corner of her mouth, then pulled slyly away as soon as she tried to move in closer. Katrina tried again; Sirius dodged her lips skilfully so that the kiss landed on his cheek.

"Tonight," he informed her teasingly, "is take-it-slow night."

Katrina groaned dramatically. "Merlin, no!"

"But yes!" Sirius cooed gleefully. "You want a kiss?"

"No, I think you're the ugliest person I've ever met and I can't bear to have your lips near mine," Katrina informed him, half exasperated, half-laughing. "Of course I bloody want a kiss!"

"Then earn it," he said simply.

It was all part of his grand plan for the night – make her work to get his attention, for a change. It had occurred to him over the last few days that mooning over Katrina and attending vigilantly to her every whim was hardly going to endear him to her; in fact, that way she would probably lose interest faster. How many times had he had girls pining over him, as he did over her, and ignored them simply because they lacked the thrill of the chase?

::Speaking of the chase…:: He smiled with quiet pleasure as Katrina nestled her face into his neck, planting kisses here and there.

"Come on Siri…" she complained, and for once he didn't mind the nickname. "You're being boring," she murmured, nibbling on his earlobe. (A/N; Yes, right there on the dance floor.)

"Can't say the same for you…"

Katrina, laughing quietly, looked up adoringly into his face…only to see the same expression reflected back on her, ten times over and more.

Sirius was falling into her eyes…

"I love you," he muttered indistinctly.

::Oh, shit:: Her look had changed from admiration to disbelief. ::No!:: Sirius thought frantically. ::Not now…please not now…::

Katrina made a tiny, shocked noise in the back of her throat, then let go of him abruptly and hurried out of the Hall, one hand pressed tightly over her mouth.

"Kat…hey, Kat!" Sirius shouted, striding after her. She broke into a run; Sirius followed at a distance, determined to get his word in.

Katrina turned in at a door that he recognised as the Room of Requirement; the Marauders had found it in second year, realised what it was in third and at the moment used it for privacy with girls, and for discussing any matters too…delicate for their dormitory's ears.

Sirius opened the door that Katrina had just slammed shut to find her sitting straight-backed on a pile of cushions, shaking uncontrollably.

He closed the door.

"I'm sorry," he murmured, bending down and brushing her hair back from her face. Katrina sniffed.

Sirius took her in his arms, full of guilt. "Oh, babe…don't cry…I'm sorry…we can break it off," he promised. "Whatever you want-"

He stopped.

She was shaking her head.

Hope rose in waves inside his chest; he fought it down with an effort. He had to get this straight…

"No?" he asked carefully.

"No," Katrina confirmed quietly.

"What, then? You want to just pretend it never happened, go on like before?"

"No…I…" She took a deep breath, and tried to explain. "When you…said that, at first I thought it was too much, you know? I thought we'd have to stop."

Sirius nodded. He knew.

"And then," Katrina carried on. This was the hard part. "And then…I was sorry. I didn't want it to stop." She met his eyes hesitantly. "And that must mean…that I…I got attached too. Without meaning to."

"So…?" Sirius prompted. He wanted to hear her say it.

"I like you too," she rushed, to get it over with.

Sirius smiled. It wasn't love, but it was as close as Katrina could get. "Do you want to go out with me then?"

"Yes."

Sirius let out a whoop of delight and crushed her to him. Katrina, elated at having got it off her chest, snuggled closer. "We've been together for ages," she realised aloud.

"How do you mean?" Sirius was intrigued.

"Well think about it, have you kissed anyone else? Slept with anyone else?"

He smiled mischievously. "There was my little Ravenclaw…kidding, kidding," he added hastily because Katrina was preparing to attack him with the nearest cushion. "I didn't sleep with her. She kissed me, and only just now. I needed rescuing…"

"Did I do the job?"

"You did great. My little knight in shining armour," he teased.

Katrina ignored the perfect opening for a put-down; her head on one side, she was contemplating more important things.

"What about that kiss? Have I earned it…?"

"I think so, just about..." He set about giving her her reward with his usual enthusiasm for all things female.

"Excellent." Katrina smiled against his mouth.

Things were definitely looking up.

(dramatic minor chord. Yes, another. You know you love them.)

"James?" asked Remus, trying and failing to get his friend's attention.

James lifted his head dreamily from where it rested on top of Lily's own.

"Hmm?" he greeted Remus vaguely.

"Don't forget that prank," Remus reminded him urgently. "The Snape one. In an hour."

"Sure," said James without really paying attention.

After a while, he noticed that Remus had gone…but that didn't matter; he was falling. He was revelling in Lily's warmth; her voice, laughing in his ear; her hands, gripping his waist with shy determination.

He planted a soft kiss on the top of her head, and felt her grow still beside him. Her arms, firm around his waist, tightened – almost possessive. She turned up her head uncertainly to meet his eyes with typical Lilyish hesitation.

James, filled to the brim with a sudden surge of affection, dragged her close and kissed her, hard, by way of venting his feelings. He was pleased to find her kissing him back - if a little tentatively. When they broke apart both were gasping for air, and James with surprise; Lily was better than he had expected.

She checked her watch, reminding James of Remus' message; they only had an hour, an hour and a quarter if he pressed it (Sirius was always late, and generally turned up with a girl or two in tow).

It wasn't a pleasant reminder; it would take James at least another hour to get Lily into bed, which left no time for fun, and he'd been aiming to have her tonight. (A/N; God the arrogance!)

There'd be no time after, either; it was Marauder tradition that there were no girls allowed after a prank – it was strictly male time, reserved for boasting about their exploits and planning new ones.

"We've only got an hour," said Lily softly, very dejected.

James smiled at her disappointment. ::Nice to feel wanted…::

He gave her another kiss to make up for it and tried to settle into the idea of No Sex With Lily Yet.

It was difficult. Very, very difficult.

Katrina shifted lazily onto her side to face Sirius, who gave her an equally languorous kiss then glanced at his watch.

"Oops," he muttered guiltily, getting up and reaching for his robes. "Got to go, babe. Prank on the Slytherins."

Katrina's face, which had fallen, filled up again with mischief. Sirius eyed her thoughtfully.

"Like to come?" he offered slyly.

Katrina laughed. "You know me too well!" she exclaimed, pulling her dress robes down over her head and checking her hair in the mirror, which made Sirius laugh.

"Right, where are we going?" she asked, when she was satisfied.

Sirius leaned down and kissed her softly, then took her hand and led her out. Katrina followed him, flushed and smothering a smile, whilst in front of her Sirius smirked.