A/N- Heya. First of all, I would like to let you know that I have revised the first and second chapter. I have re-read them, and realized that I have found some spelling mistakes....so bear with me. In the revised versions, I go into more detail about the appearances of the characters, and the more personal history of them as well. It would be really good if you read them, since I have also changed some things. I am also not really happy of what Cat went through......now it seems a little to much. Cat does show emotion, she just doesn't cry in front of everyone.

Chapter 11- The Rules of Cat's

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It was snowing again, much to Lily's dismay. The banks were piled 6 feet high, and towered over the teenagers. Away in the distance, Hagrid could be seen with a giant shovel, tossing snow this way and that to clear a path for the rambunctious school children. The frost lingered on the trees, sparkling like beacons on the pale sky.

On the insistence of Madam Pomfry, Cat was bundled up with two jumpers, three pairs of socks, a coat and cloak over her normal clothes.

"It's so hard to walk," Cat was grumbling to Ari who was walking beside her.

"Poor, poor Pussy Cat," Lis crooned.

"Shut up!" Cat exclaimed.

James and Lily were walking ahead, talking about something or other. Lily was smiling a lot, and laughing her head off. Peter, Remus, Torii, Lis, Ari, Cat and Sirius were walking behind them.

Sirius was obviously happy. He bounced back and forth, from Cat to Remus and Peter. At this particular moment, he was discussing something with Remus and Peter in a hushed voice, but then he suddenly bounded back next to Cat.

"Look! I see a Cat!"

"Where?" Cat, Ari and Torii inquired, looking around.

"Right here!" Sirius said, grabbing Cat by the shoulders. "It's my new pet. Isn't it cute?"

Cat rolled her eyes for probably the fiftieth time that day. Ari giggled and fell back so she was walking beside Remus.

"Nope. Your my pet. It's the rules," Cat said solemnly.

"What rules?" Sirius stopped and crossed his arms in front of her.

"The Rules of Cats, of course." Cat replied. By this time, James and Lily had returned to the group.

"James, have you ever heard of the Rules of Cats?" Sirius asked him.

"Oh yes." James said airily. He exchanged a grin with Lily.

"How come I wasn't told?" Sirius said with mock outrage.

"Come along Doggy, time to go," Cat was saying with a very posh accent.

Sirius complained, "This is so not fair.............."

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After Mac came to take Lis away to some secluded place and Torii was claimed by Jack, the final six came to the conclusion that they had to figure out where they were going to go because it was already 11:00 and they wanted to be back at the castle by 3:30.

"I've got shopping to do," James announced brightly. "Me too," Lily said absently. Her mind was full off thought on what to get James. Something Quidditch? Gryffendor like? Lily had no idea. Something from Zonkos? Honeydukes?

"Um Hello? Earth to Lily," Ari said suddenly. "I think we've decided to split up, girls and boys."

"Oh," Lily said blinking, "Yeah, that's fine." Sirius was scowling. "No it isn't, how am I supposed to spend time with Cat?"

"The Ball, silly. I'm going with you. We'll be there for like five hours. Then it's Christmas day. Then Boxing Day." Cat put a hand on his arm. Sirius still looked put out.

"Besides. I haven't got any presents for any of you boys yet, and I can't get you one if you with me."

"Why not?" Sirius said cheekily. "This is another Rule of Cats." Was Cat's only reply.

"We'll see you Boys later!" Ari said as the girls split up.

"I am a Man, I'll have you know," They could hear Sirius faintly from behind them.

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"I can't find anything!" Lily was exclaiming. The Three girls had been looking for about an hour, and only Cat had been able to get presents. Ari had got all of hers with Remus the last few times they had gone shopping. While Lily was raging about the poor selection, Cat was calmly returning from the counter with some mysterious parcels.

"What are they Cat?" Ari asked. Cat smiled mysteriously. "Nothing much. Now I only need a present for Remus and something for my 5 Turkish cousins now."

Ari raised her eyebrows. "You've got five Turkish cousins?"

"Yeah. They are really my second cousins once removed or something. You see, my Dad's uncle's cousin Steve and his American wife, Tiffany had three girls, Linda, Lisa and Lynn. Linda married a Spanish man, Juan, and they have two boys, Enrico and Alfonso. Lisa married a Russian, Nicolas, and they have one girl so far, Anastasia. Lynn, married a Turk, and they have 5 kids, Joshua, Jane, Jason, Jeremy and Janet. And Lynn is pregnant with twins now."

"You have a huge family!" Ari exclaimed.

"Yeah....I guess if comes naturally if you are a pure blood. Then you are related to everyone. Anyway, It is traditional to get everyone gifts, so I think I will stop by Zonko's get then some Dungbombs, or Stinkpellets or something. They don't get those imported in Turkey."

"........Insane! I mean, I've got to find something good for James because he's taking me to the ball and everything....and he saved me and is acting all sweet......" Lily was ranting.

"Ah Ha!" Cat said triumphantly. "You do so like James!" Lily blushed a deep red.

"We knew it!" Ari said grinning evilly.

"Don't tell him. Please don't tell him!" Lily pleaded.

"Why not? He likes you too!" Cat exclaimed. "That's all it is all summer. Lily this, Lily that....."

"Please?"

"We promise." Cat and Ari said, exchanging grins.

"Now....." Cat said thinking. "I think I know of a shop that we could go too...."

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At exactly three thirty, the girls were waiting at the Three Broomsticks for the boys. Who were late.

"They better get here soon!" Lis was ranting. "The Dinner and Ball starts at 7:00! And it's almost 4:00 now!"

"You guys need three hours to get ready? That is insane!" James said angrily. "James, James, James...." Sirius said shaking his head.

"You see James..." Sirius went on. He placed his hand on James' shoulder. "I maintain the fact that.........the longer a girl takes to get ready, the better she looks." Both he and James grinned suddenly.

"You idiots." Cat muttered and they struggled up the snowy hill and back towards Hogwarts.

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Back in the girls dormitories, chaos reined. Dress robes had been laid out on the bed, shoes were being hunted for, make up was all over the floor and Cat had managed to drop her mirror on the floor twice in the 7 minutes they had been up there.

"Bad luck if it breaks." Ari said to Cat. Ari had been the first one in the shower and she was now wearing her underwear and drying her hair. Ari was like that. Rarely bashful or embarrassed in front of her friends. Especially since they had shared a room for 7 years and were practically sisters. Cat was sitting on the end of her bed with her towel and shampoo.

"How many years? 7? I can wait that long," Cat said shrugging and fingering the long crack in her hand mirror.

Tori was a wiz at managing to play music in their room, and since it was Christmas, well, Cat and Ari had out ruled all the usual songs and made Tori play a bunch of Christmas songs. Which they would sing at the top of their lungs.

And so that was how things went.

Lis was in the shower now, and she would probably be in their for half an hour. Cat had her clothes hung on the wardrobe door and was bouncing on the bed like a maniac sings, 'Have a Holly, Jolly Christmas."

"Have a holly, jolly Christmas;
It's the best time of the year
I don't know if there'll be snow
but have a cup of cheer
Have a holly, jolly Christmas;
And when you walk down the street
Say Hello to friends you know
and everyone you meet"

"I Love Christmas!!" Cat said.

"Looking at you makes me sick," Torii muttered under her breath as she tried various hairstyles out in front of the mirror.

"How are you wearing your hair, Lily?" Ari asked. Lily, who had been reading, put down her book and sighed. "I have no idea. I was going to ask Lis."

"Ask me what?" Lis had come out of the shower.



"Oh
ho
the mistletoe
hung where you can see;
Somebody waits for you;
Kiss her once for me
Have a holly jolly Christmas
and in case you didn't hear
Oh by golly
have a holly
jolly Christmas this year" Cat sang. Lily ignored her.

Torii dashed madly for the shower before anyone could object.

"How I should wear my hair." Lily put the book under her pillow and stood up. "I think you should put it half up." Cat said mildly.

"No one asked you," Lily retorted. Lis preformed a simple drying spell and looked reproachful.

"She's right you know. You've got the right length, and it will look really pretty!" Lis began to comb her hair with deft fingers. "And I know just what you need to go with it. I sparkly white clip."

"You can borrow my white barrette Lils," Cat offered. With nothing else to do, she pulled out several large shopping bags and began to wrap various parcels with bright red wrapping paper and write long letters on pale parchment that trailed along the floor.

Jingle bell, jingle bell, jingle bell rock
Jingle bells swing and jingle bells ring
Snowing and blowing up bushels of fun
Now the jingle hop has begun

New music began to play, but you could barely hear it as Ari had begun to sing with drastic enthusiasm.

"I Love this song!" Ari cried.

"Jingle bell
jingle bell
jingle bell rock
Jingle bells chime in jingle bell time
Dancing and prancing in Jingle Bell Square
In the frosty air" Ari continued to sing while the others fiddled around.

By now, Torii had come out of the shower and was fixing her hair too. Lily took Cat's barrette and went into the bathroom.

"You should leave your hair down Torii, it's so long and pretty," Cat commented.

"How come you are suddenly Miss Knowledgeable." Torii quizzed. Cat smiled. "Even I am surprised by my own inner talents," She said grandly, sweeping her arms to the side.



"What a bright time
it's the right time
To rock the night away
Jingle bell time is a swell time
To go gliding in a one-horse sleigh
Giddy-up jingle horse
pick up your feet
Jingle around the clock
Mix and a-mingle in the jingling feet
That's the jingle bell"

Ari swung her hands from side to side and danced off across the room.

"You haven't changed in 7 years," Torii said affectionately. "You are, were, and always will be the same, hyper and happy Cat who doesn't cry in front of others."

"Especially boys," Lis and Ari said from the other side of the room.

That's the jingle bell
That's the jingle bell rock


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It was now 7:25 and the boys were waiting just below the girl's staircases.

James paced nervously. "What if I mess it up?" He moaned. He had deep red robes on that shimmered slightly in the glow of the fire and hung the right way, accenting his muscles and build through the folds. His hair was as messy as usual, though James was making a vain attempt to flatten it. On the whole, James look extremely desirable and handsome.

"You won't mess up," Remus assured him. Remus was wearing black robes made of velvet and something, (may be it was the fact that he was going with Ari,) made him look not washed out and pale at all. He looked just as hot and manly as James did. All the other couples looked on jealously. The girls, for not getting to go with a infamous Marauder and the boys for the looks the Marauder's were getting.

Sirius looked slightly amused. His hands were crossed and he had a maddening air of unusual patience. He was wearing dark, dark blue robes the made his deep brown eyes look endless. By the way his hair hung casually into his eyes, the stunning smile he had on his lips and the way his shoulders and chest filled out the robes, you could tell that he, along with Remus and James, were going to get a lot of attention.

"They better get down here soon," James said, wringing his hands. "What if she decides not to come? What if she's got another date and hasn't told me? What if I look like a total fool?"

"Relax." Remus said again. "Where are you going Wormtail?"

Peter looked back and shrugged. He looked ok, with grayish robes and neatly combed hair. "I'd better go get Melinda."

Remus and Sirius nodded their consent. "We'll meet you down at the great hall, ok? Save us some seats, enough for everyone." Remus called. Peter waved slightly, nodded and disappeared out the portrait hole with most of the other people in the common room.

"Oh where ARE they," James said anxiously.

"Oh why don't you just ask Torii?" Remus said, losing his patience.

Torii had appeared and was coming down the stairs. She looked beautiful. Her dark purple robes hung around her, showing her figure nicely. Her hair hung down over her shoulders and her eyes where rimed with a faint violet color.

"Jack is going to be lucky tonight ," was Sirius' perverted whisper. Torii smiled at the sight of them.

"The others are coming. I'd wait, but Jack is waiting. And don't worry James, Lily is really happy, yet nervous as well." Torii waved and set off with the last group of 5th years.

Cat's voice rang out in the silence the was left. "For God's sake, Lis. Let go of my hair. It's fine."

Lis and Ari came out through the door, Lis in shocking fuchsia and Ari in a pale periwinkle.

"I'd love to stay," Lis said eyeing the boys, "But I've really got to go. I expect the feast started 10 minutes ago!"

Remus was staring at Ari. "You....look.....wonderful," He stammered. Ari smiled. Her hair was let down, though she had some tiny woven plats on each side of her head that were attached to pale blue clips. Her caramel eyes shone slightly, set off by her pale indigo eye shadow.

Her smooth, creamy pale pink lips parted as she formed a simple question. "Shall we go?" Taking her hand, thin blue bangles jingled as Remus led her outside the portrait hole.

"Just act natural," Sirius whispered to James. A few second later, they heard Cat exclaim, "That's the stupidest thing I've ever heard. Come on." And down came Cat and Lily.

"Hello Gorgeous," Sirius said charmingly to Cat when they reached the bottom of the stairs.

"We'd better go, the feast has already started," Lily said hastily. Moving off, the two boys, oh, I'm sorry, Men, took their dates towards the great hall.

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Peter had managed to get them all a good table, and they were now broken off into groups. Melinda Whitney, Peter's date, had struck up a conversation with Lily. James, was participating loyally, but was really more fascinated with looking at Lily. Sure enough, her while silk dress robes and shining clip had really done her justice. The top half of her soft red hair was positioned in the middle of her head. Small red tendrils were escaping and drifting down her face. Her emerald eyes were sparkling and every so often, James was please to say, she would turn her head and smile at him. A plain gold chain hung on her neck, though James was careful not to look to long at that particular spot.

Remus, Ari, Peter and Jack were talking about Quiddich, as both Jack and Ari were on their respective teams.

"I'd be good if we can beat Slytherin and face each other for the cup!" Jack was saying nicely to the Gryffendors.

At the other side of the table, Mac and Sirius were competing for jokes, which they would tell with gusto. Lis and Cat were laughing with Torii, though every so often, Torii would sneak a glance at Kyle on the other side if the room. This did not go unnoticed. Cat frowned slightly as the plates were cleared from the tables. The ball was about to begin, though it was Lily, James and the prefects who were to open it.

"You ok?" Sirius asked Cat as they followed Lis and Mac because the tables were moving to the sides of the hall.

"Yeah. I'm just concerned about Jack." Cat answered.

Sirius raised his eye brows. "Your not going to go and cheat on me are you?"

"No," Cat said scornfully. "He's my friend though, and he's very sensitive. Especially when people tease him, or over look him because he has no idea of his lineage."

"How did you find that out?" Sirius asked.

Cat looked at him searchingly. Her pale silvery green robes showed off her fabulous figure. Her hair was done in a bun with two small pieces of hair to frame her face. Her eyes bored into him, seeming to look in his very soul. They were hazel, yet at the moment looked more green that anything.

"When you and James used to tease him about his guardian and stuff."

Sirius looked uncomfortable. "We stopped last year though," He said.

"Only because I asked him not to," Cat retorted scathingly.

Sirius looked slightly dejected for a moment, but he quickly hid it by turning into his usual charming self.

"Alrighty then, since you love him so much, I will personally see to it that the famous and sexy Marauders never tease poor 'ole Jacky again." He cocked his head and glanced out to the hall where the prefects and head students were beginning to dance.

"That depends on what kind of love or like you are talking about. I like and care for him I do Remus. As a close friend." Cat said vaguely. They were both watching Lily and James avidly.

"And James too I suppose." Sirius replied. Cat fiddled with the necklace that was around her neck.

"No, that is a bit different. I mean, I love James. He's family. And I love Lily, Ari, Tori and everyone as best friends, sisters almost."

"And me?" Sirius watched her carefully, so carefully that he could almost feel her lashes brush his own cheek as she blinked slightly.

Cat smiled softly and reached for his hand. All else seemed very far away.

"Now that's a very different type of love."

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Aks100- Glad you had fun in Spain. Can I call you Anna? I mean, calling you aks or 100 seems really weird, conversation like. And Christmas songs do so totally rock. I put in some more Lily and James moments with James telling her some of his memories in for you, since you like them so much. The next chapter will feature the rest of the ball and Christmas Eve. It will probably be much shorter, but who knows? I planned to put the Christmas ball and Christmas Eve in this chapter, but then it would be way too long and I wouldn't get this up as planned. Keep updating on your stories!! I love them. Especially Rhia, Emma and Ginny. They Rock!

Candidus-Astrum- Thank you, you really flatter me! I am definitely not at all like J.K though. All my stories need a little work. But, I guess that is what summer is for!

SOBs 4 Sirius 223 – I am glad you liked it! Thank you for reviewing, you are being really faithful!! I hope you like this chapter, and yes, I love Sirius too!

Thanks for being so great everyone, and don't forget to review!

Smile ;)

Rhia