Chapter Seven: The Wind of His Sails
By the time The Order and the "juniors" made it in to the castle, Madam Pomfrey and Professor Dumbledore were there to greet them. But there was also someone they weren't expecting, The Minister of Magic, Cornelius Fudge. Dumbledore was smiling and he nodded at The Order. The members grabbed their brooms and started heading out the Oak Doors again. Hermione, Harry, Ron, Neville and Cat stood there staring back at them. Hermione's hair was a bushy mess (bushier than usual). Ron had a cut lip. Harry was filthy and pale. Madam Pomfrey went crazy at the sight of Cat's messiness.
"Poor child," she crooned soothing Cat's head.
Black winced and cursed colorfully. Harry smiled.
"Now, now Black. You will have to come with me."
"Not yet," said Fudge.
Cat looked up and frowned. Harry had a feeling that Catherina and the Minister had met before and it hadn't been a friendly gathering.
"Black," he said looking down at her with his nose sticking up in the air.
Black raised an eyebrow and tried to stand up as straight as her beat up body would let her. She flicked the strand of hair that was in her face away. Cat took a deep breath and winced.
"Fudge," she said using the same expression and tone as he did.
Fudge grunted.
"Very funny Black. May I say that even though, Professor Dumbledore here seems to be more than pleased by your performance, I however am not. I am not indeed. You took too many chances not to mention you recruiting the aide of students! I highly doubt they would have agreed in their right state of mind."
Catherina rolled her eyes and sighed.
"I asked for their assistance and they agreed. It was totally voluntarily. I did not force them or played games with them if that is what you are implying," Cat said coolly.
Fudge walked up to her and leaned his face down at hers.
"I am not impressed, Black. I wasn't with your mother and neither am I with you. I am watching you like a Hawk. You see Black?" He said breathing on her face.
Cat grimaced.
"Need a mint, sir?"
Fudge turned red.
"One mistake, Black. You slip up just once. And you're mine, understood? You belong to me!" He shouted.
Catherina didn't even flinch. He walked past her and nodded at Professor Dumbledore. He left. As soon as the door closed Cat collapsed on Harry. Madam Pomfrey let out a squeal. Harry steadied Cat and looked down at her worried.
"Cat?" He asked softly.
Her eyes fluttered open. She smiled at him weakly.
"Come on, Miss Black," said Madam Pomfrey recruiting Neville's aide. "Let's get you to the Hospital Wing."
Black looked back at Dumbledore and he nodded at her reassuringly.
"We will talk later, Cat."
Dumbledore sighed as Cat was being carried up the stairs. He smiled at the trio.
"You three: follow me."
The friends followed Dumbledore up the stairs and into his office. Dumbledore sat behind his desk and beckoned them to take a seat. Dumbledore closed his eyes for what seemed forever. Ron had even whispered that maybe he was asleep but then he opened his eyes to look at them. He cleared his throat. Harry thought he looked tired and sad. Poor Professor, thought Harry.
"Catherina," he said with a sigh. "Isn't like anyone you three have ever met. And no, Miss Granger, I highly doubt you read it in a book. At least not in one that could be available to you. She is special. Some may agree that she is blessed. Most do," he said, and then chuckled.
"She, however, thinks otherwise. But that is another story. You see Cat works for the Ministry," he said. "Whether by her own will or because of an obligation only she knows. That is why she was in charge of the battle today. Fudge's orders. He demanded that she be put in charge. I argued that she was too young but…I had no say in the matter. Neither did Cat," he said angrily.
Hermione frowned.
"If he wanted her to work on it then why was he yelling at her for?" Hermione asked frowning.
Dumbledore shrugged.
"I know that you, Harry, know a little more about Cat than Ron and Hermione do. I only ask you that you will be kind of enough not to tell them. If Cat has told you it's because she trusts you and…"
"And I wouldn't want to break that trust, Professor," finished Harry.
Professor Dumbledore smiled and nodded.
"That's a gentleman. I believe you have questions about Cat but if she hasn't told you it's because she feels you don't need to know…yet. Now go…go and rest. Madam Pomfrey wants to give you a sleeping draught. You will be excused from your classes."
The trio started walking out the door.
"And children," called out Dumbledore.
Harry, Hermione and Ron turned around.
"Please don't tell anyone about what you saw and did. The students only know that there was a fight going on. Not who was involved."
The friends nodded and headed towards the Hospital Wing in silence. When they got there they saw Cat jumping from bed to bed, trying to get away from Madam Pomfrey.
"No!" Shouted Black. "I'm not drinking that. Just bandage me up. I'll heal. I'll be fine."
"Your ankle is broken, Miss!" Shouted Madam Pomfrey.
"It is not! It's just sprained!" Black jumped but since she didn't see Harry standing right below her she ended up falling on top of him.
Harry fell with an "oof" and looked up at Cat's surprised face framed by her black hair. Harry smiled at her.
"Isn't this a nice surprise," he whispered to her.
She blushed and hid her face on his chest. Harry heard Hermione and Ron laugh. They said good night to Harry and took something from Madam Pomfrey. Harry looked at the top of her head and scratched her behind the neck. She giggled and quickly got off him. She was still blushing when Harry got up from the floor. She muttered an apology and then sat down on the bed. Cat took the bottle of skele-gro from Madam Pomfrey and peeked at its insides with one eye. Harry sat down on her bed, eyeing her curiously. Hermione and Ron had already taken their sleeping draught. Harry was surprised at how fast they had fallen asleep.
"So are you going to drink it or not?" Harry asked her lying down on her bed since she was just sitting at the edge.
"I'm going to bleed in the inside," she said still peeking at its inside.
Madam Pomfrey took the bottle from her and poured a little into a glass.
"It's just a little bit," she told Cat reassuringly.
Cat took the glass, sniffed it and grimaced. Harry laughed from the pillow.
"Just pinch your nose and swallow," he suggested.
She looked at him as if he was asking her to cut herself.
"Well go on," he said sitting up on the bed and laying his chin on her shoulder. "Or do you want me to feed it to you?"
Cat started to turn her head but found her face too close to Harry's for comfort and jumped up. She screamed out in pain.
"Ow, ow, ow, ow," she said as she lay down on the bed.
It was Harry's turn to sit on the edge.
"Oh come on, Black! Stop being such a baby. If you drink that I'll…"
"You'll what?" Cat asked feeling that a deal was about to be made.
Harry shrugged. He looked up and his heart started beating fast again. She was looking at him with those bright, violet eyes. Her black hair fanned out behind her on the pillow. Harry leaned his elbows on the bed next to her head. He unconsciously tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear.
"I dunno," Harry said. "What do you want?"
Catherina seemed to think about it and stared at the ceiling. Madam Pomfrey looked at them dubiously from the other side of the Hospital Wing.
"I believe a kiss is in order," she said.
Cat eyes opened wide and Harry laughed a little.
"What!" She asked.
"Well, when a hero saves the day a beautiful maiden always gives him a kiss."
Catherina frowned.
"I'm not kissing him. I didn't see him do much except stand by the lake," she muttered.
Harry blinked and flicked her. Madam Pomfrey chuckled
"No, in this case, we have a heroine. And I think that a heroine deserves a kiss just as much as a hero does," finished Madam Pomfrey as she fluffed Harry's pillow. She poured something into a glass and walked towards Harry.
"Here you go Harry," she said and handed him the glass. "The Sleeping Drought."
Harry shook his head.
"No thank you. I don't need it."
It was Madam Pomfrey's turn to shake her head.
"Dumbledore's orders."
Catherina smiled at Harry.
"What are you afraid of, Potter?"
Harry shrugged. Nothing really. It was just that he was actually enjoying the dreams he was having lately. Then a thought occurred to him. The kiss wasn't such a bad idea after all. He could prove to everyone, and himself, that he didn't like Cat. Simple as that.
"I drink this, and you drink that disgusting thing you got there," Harry said pointing at Cat's glass.
Catherina gagged and held the glass away from her.
"And I'll give you the kiss."
Black frowned at him. Her face was flushed. Harry smiled. She could pretend to be angry all she wanted but he knew she was blushing.
"What makes you think I want to kiss you, Potter?"
Harry smiled wickedly at her.
"It's just a kiss, Black. Right? It doesn't mean anything. Correct?"
Cat looked at him with an expression of amusement in her face.
"Fine," she said finally and swallowed the contents of her glass.
Catherina gagged and coughed. Harry patted her in the back a couple of times and smiled at her. Harry drank the Sleeping Draught and turned to Cat quickly before he felt sleepy.
"Ok, Black," he said with a one-sided smile. "Pucker up."
Cat's eyes widened and Harry laughed.
"Relax. I'm not going to bite you."
Harry noticed that Cat was breathing a little faster now. Her cheeks were so red Harry could feel the heat coming from her face when he leaned in. He tried to focus on how she was feeling instead of how he was feeling. Because deep down inside he knew this kiss wasn't just a kiss. He leaned closer to her and his heart was beating so hard and so fast he could hear it in his ears. He stared at her eyes for a while. Harry had never seen anything like it. Cat closed her eyes. Harry stroked her cheek with his finger softly and pressed his lips gently against hers. His heart did a flip, up through his throat and then back down. He held his breath and kissed her again then pulled away quickly. He jumped into his bed and threw the covers over his head.
"Good night!" He shouted from the safety of his covers. His lips were tingling.
He heard Madame Pomfrey chuckle.
"Miss, you can breathe now," whispered Madam Pomfrey to Catherina.
"I'm breathing," said Cat quickly.
Harry sighed. At least he wasn't the only one who had been affected by the "just a kiss" kiss.
"Really? And why does it look like you're about to faint?"
"Because I was dealing with Dementors and you didn't even bother to offer me some chocolate. And don't ever let me kiss anyone again."
Madam Pomfrey laughed softly.
"I am sorry. It won't happen again."
Harry smiled and felt his heart expand in his chest until he couldn't breathe anymore. It wasn't just a kiss…. it wasn't just a kiss. Harry couldn't breathe. His lips were still tingling. He touched his lips and thought about Cat's soft ones. Finally it had happened. She had knocked the wind out of his sails.
Harry woke up the next morning. He slowly opened his eyes and stared at the vast ceiling of the Hospital Wing. Harry realized he had slept for a whole day. He heard voices and laughter coming from the curtain from his right. It was the first time that he was in a Hospital Wing and the visitors weren't for him. Harry glanced at Ron's and Hermione's beds and saw that they were empty. He figured they were behind the curtain with her. Oh God, with her! Thought Harry in hysterics. The curtain started to draw back and Harry threw the bed covers over himself as quickly as he could.
"Yeah, better luck next time Potter. I know you're awake," she said cheerfully.
Harry groaned and dared to peek at her from behind the covers. Cat was sitting up in her bed. Her black hair was lose and wavy. She raised her eyebrows at him. Hermione and Ron were sitting on her bed also looking at him expectantly.
"Harry," said Ron smiling. "Come with me up to the dormitory. I need to get something."
Harry thought about it. He guessed he could hide underneath the covers for all eternity safe from Black but then she will realize how pathetic he was so he decided to go with Ron. Harry sat up on his bed and stared at his feet. He put on his shoes and walked up to Ron.
"Good Morning, Harry," said Hermione rather bored with him.
She then turned to Cat and smiled.
"So, what are you going to do? I personally think it's a good deal."
Cat stared at her from behind a big notebook, or that's what it seemed to Harry. Cat started doodling on it with a pencil.
"I will choose a gruesome and inhuman torture followed by a slow and painful death before I agree to do it."
Hermione scoffed and rolled her eyes. Harry frowned.
"What are you talking about?" Harry asked.
"Professor Dumbledore volunteered Cat for assistant of Head of School Activities in exchange of all the time in Detention that she has to spend," answered Hermione.
Harry raised his eyebrows.
"Seems like a good deal to me," Harry said peeking at what Cat was drawing on the sketchpad.
She scowled at him and hid it from his view.
"One, it's not a good deal. And two, you can't look because it's not done yet."
Harry frowned again.
"What are you doing anyways?"
"She's drawing. They're really good. You should ask her to show you her drawings once she's done."
Madam Pomfrey entered the Hospital Wing and smiled at Harry mischievously.
"Where are you going, Mr. Potter?"
"Ron and I are going to get some things from the dormitory."
Madam Pomfrey frowned. She walked up to Cat and pulled the sketch pad away from her. She placed the pad on top of the bed and started to inspect her face. Harry leaned forward and picked up the pad. He smiled. Cat's drawing was pretty good. It was him fighting off a Dementor with Emmeline Vance slumped beside him with the lake as a background. Harry noticed she had just started drawing the forest in the background and the fog all around. Catherina frowned at him from behind Madam Pomfrey's hands. Harry smiled.
"You two hurry on back, you hear?" Madam Pomfrey said. "Professor Dumbledore hasn't said you can leave just yet."
Ron and Harry hurried out of the Hospital Wing and walked down the empty halls. They talked about the battle they had fought the day before. Ron continued to insist that he seriously thought he was going to die. Harry just laughed. Ron had a tendency to exaggerate everything. Finally, they reached the Gryffindor Common Room and it was empty. Harry glanced and saw Luxor sitting on the armchair next to the fireplace. He stopped.
"Your mistress is in the Hospital Wing. Just thought you should know," Harry told him and went up the stairs to the dormitory.
Ron stared at him weird and laughed. Ron and Harry sat on their beds for a little while. Ron finally broke the silence.
"So, what is this kiss that I'm hearing about?" Ron asked.
Harry blushed. She wouldn't, he thought. Then it occurred to him that of course it wasn't Cat who told him. It was someone else. He already knew but felt the urge to ask anyways.
"Who told you?"
Ron raised his eyebrows.
"So there was a kiss!"
Harry groaned.
"Just tell me."
"Madam Pomfrey."
Harry sighed and started looking for clothes in his trunk. Ron did the same.
"Tell the whole school why don't you, Madam Pomfrey," muttered Harry.
Ron laughed.
"She just told me and Hermione," Ron said. "She was teasing Cat about it."
Harry looked up. Teasing? She was teasing Cat? Interesting…
"What did Cat say?" Harry asked curiously.
"What do you care?" Ron said. "It was just a kiss, right?"
Harry looked up at Ron. What was his problem?
"Of course," said Harry softly.
He knew it wasn't true. Just a kiss was very far away from the truth. He couldn't tell him how her lips touch still lingered in his. Harry cursed at himself for being such an idiot. Ron slammed his trunk shot and frowned.
"What's the deal, Harry? Do you like her not?" Ron shouted.
Harry blinked. Yes, Ron had serious problems. Harry started folding the clean clothes he had taken out from the trunk and pretended to think about it.
"Yes, I'm sure I don't," he managed to murmur.
"Good," said Ron and sighed. "Because I'm asking her to the Halloween Bash."
Harry coughed. Ron looked at him worried and clapped him in the back a couple of times.
"You're alright mate?" Ron asked worried.
Harry nodded and waved him off.
"The Halloween Bash?"
Ron nodded.
"Yeah, that's what they're calling it."
The boys headed towards individual showers. They showered, got dressed then left to the Hospital Wing. Harry realized the girls had done the same but were still on the bed discussing the dance.
"It'll be fun, Cat!" Hermione said.
Catherina scowled doodling on her blue jeans with a blue pen.
"No it won't! Stupid party. Now I'm required to go because I'm part of the committee," protested Cat.
Harry then realized that Cat had taken the deal. And she wasn't too happy with the outcome. Ron glanced at Harry and swallowed.
"Wish me luck," he whispered to him and walked up to Cat.
"So Cat about this dance…" Ron began turning red.
Cat looked up from writing "Hell Hath No Fury Like A Pissed off Teenage Witch" on her jeans.
"Do you want to go to the dance with me?" Ron asked quickly in one breath and turning scarlet.
"Oh," Cat said sweetly (or at least Harry thought it sounded sweet) and blushed.
She glanced quickly at Harry. Harry felt his heart beating quicker. Ron was going with Cat to the dance. They can't go together! His heart screamed. Sure they can! His brain shouted. But…but…you like her! His heart shouted back. What! That's an abomination! She's your godfather's daughter! His brain argued. She isn't family, hisheartsaid. So? His mind asked. So, you're letting her go because you're afraid and an Idiot, his heart accused. I am an idiot, thought his brain. Harry wanted to scream out but it was too late. Catherina was already nodding and smiling. Ron blushed even more and grunted and ok.
"Well that's settled," said Hermione pleased.
She turned towards Harry and frowned.
"Harry, are you all right?"
Harry nodded without taking his eyes off Cat. Catherina held eye contact with him. She turned from him to smile at Ron. Harry bit his tongue until it bled and felt something inside him dry up, shrivel and die. Harry turned towards Hermione determined to make this work.
"Hermione," he said.
Hermione looked at him over her shoulder. She was sitting on the bed in front of Cat who was cross-legged showing Ron her drawings. Ron showed a genuine interest them. Harry didn't blame him. They were good. He smiled to himself. You can look all you want, Ron, he thought. There is none about you.
"Do you want to go to the dance with me?" Harry asked tonelessly.
Hermione smiled.
"You see? I'll say yes because at least this time you didn't leave me as a last resort. Unlike some people," she said shooting a look at Ron.
Ron didn't notice because he was too busy being bedazzled by Cat's smiling face. Catherina pushed Ron's red hair away from his eyes and winked at him. Harry sighed and bit his tongue again.
"Good," said Harry out loud. "Now we are all happy."
Although he said it the words didn't reach him. They weren't true. Harry wasn't happy. And he knew that Cat wasn't happy either. She looks happy to me said the voice in his head. Well, she isn't! All right? He shouted back at it. No need to shout, it answered back. Harry sighed. Damn you Catherina Black. Damn you a thousand times. She looked up at him and smiled shyly.
"Hey Harry," she said softly. "I finished."
Harry walked towards her and took the pad from her outstretched arm. She had finished the drawing. It was just pencil. No colors and no fancy animation that most young wizards and witches liked to cast on the drawings. Harry noticed that she hadn't drawn any horns on his heads or fangs in his mouth. He shook his head. I know I would have, he thought. Harry looked up and saw her looking at him with those eyes he found so painfully beautiful.
"I'm sorry. You weren't just standing by the lake," she whispered and smiled at him.
Harry just stared back at her. He could feel something growing in him again. He didn't want to like her. It would be so much simpler, so much less painful. He knew he should smile even though what he wanted was to kiss her again. So he did neither. Professor Dumbledore came walking in the Hospital Wing. Harry handed the sketchpad back to Cat without looking at her face. He could feel her eyes on him. Dumbledore smiled at them. He walked towards Cat and looked at her worried. Madam Pomfrey waved his worries away and he smiled again. Dumbledore stroked Cat's head tenderly before turning towards the trio.
"Well, how all of you are feeling."
Hermione smiled broadly and so did Ron. Harry smiled but didn't really felt it. Catherina was looking at him sadly so he decided to stare at the wall behind her and Dumbledore.
"That's good to know. Tomorrow you can begin taking your lessons once more. So Cat, I hear you accepted the deal I made."
Cat groaned and rolled her eyes. Harry glared at her.
"Cat has been accepting a lot of invitations lately," said Harry through clenched teeth.
Cat blinked and gazed at him with a look that Harry could only describe as hurt. She opened her mouth but looked around her and bit her lip instead. Dumbledore looked from Harry back at Catherina. She took the sketchpad and got up from the bed. Cat tucked the two loose strands of her hair behind her ears.
"I have to go to Professor Trelawney's office," she said looking at Harry coldly.
Ron shifted and walked up to her.
"I'll walk you," he said looking down at her with affection.
Catherina smiled at him and linked her arm through his. She leaned her head briefly on Ron's arm. Cat handed Hermione her sketchpad and walked out with Ron. Harry watched them leave feeling a little more than just jealousy. He grunted and kicked at the foot of the bed. Hermione looked at him surprised. Dumbledore, however, gazed at him knowingly. Harry felt like punching him right now. He always knew everything and yet he never told everyone what he knew.
"You know Harry," said Dumbledore calmly. "Sometimes the best words are the unspoken ones."
Dumbledore nodded at Madam Pomfrey and left too.
Harry and Hermione headed for the Great Hall for lunch. There he was bombarded with questions about what did he think happened the other night. Apparently no one knew that Harry and his friends were involved in the battle.
"So, Harry," said Hermione. "Now that you're the Gryffindor Quidditch Team Captain: what's your first decision?"
Harry stared at her for a second not knowing what to say.
"I mean, you need to start practicing but you're still missing a Chaser. What are you going to do about it?"
Harry swallowed and sighed.
"Hold try-outs obviously," he muttered.
"Yes," scoffed Hermione, "But you need to book the pitch first."
"Hermione," spat Harry through clenched teeth, "stop it."
"Stop what?"
"You're nagging."
"Am not!
"Yes, you are."
"I'm just saying that you need to get a move on if you want to win the Cup this year."
"Hermione, please," whispered Harry rubbing his temples.
Hermione went on to pick at the food on her plate, every once in a while daring a glance at Harry.
"I could help you, you know," she announced.
"I don't see how," said Harry.
Hermione blushed and shook her head.
"I can be your book keeper," she pointed out. "Keep track of the points each chaser scores, what games we win or lose, watch over the other team and write down their weak points…stuff like that," she exclaimed excitedly.
"That sounds like a good idea to me," said Catherina Black sitting across from him.
Ron sat next to Cat and nodded.
"What do you think Ron?" Harry inquired.
"It couldn't hurt," he answered with a shrug and loading some food onto his plate.
"So when are you holding the try-outs?" Cat asked before biting a piece off her turkey sandwich.
"I don't know," informed Harry without looking at Cat. "I haven't booked the pitch yet."
Catherina spit out the pumpkin juice she had just taken a sip of.
"What?" She shouted. "What are you waiting for? Slytherin is starting practice tomorrow and you don't even have a whole team!"
"Don't badger me, Black!"
Hermione glanced at them skeptically and with a wave of her wand the spilt juice disappeared.
"Badger? Badger! I am not badgering you, Harry. Just because I have the guts to say what's on my mind and you don't like what I have to say doesn't mean I badger you!"
"What's that supposed to mean?" Harry yelled.
"It means you're a coward Potter!"
Harry shook with anger.
"Look Black, why don't you go with Ron somewhere, have yourself a little snog-a-thon and leave me alone. What I feel has nothing to do with you."
"Does it, Harry?" She said raising her eyebrows.
Catherina was nearly in tears.
"It has nothing to do with you!"
"Why don't you just say what you really feel? No one likes a liar," she hissed and stormed out of the Great Hall.
"That was a little harsh don't you think, Harry?" Ron stated and left the Great Hall after Black.
Harry got up to leave and Hermione followed him. The two friends walked outside to the grounds and sat underneath the oak tree in front of the lake. Neither said a word for five minutes. Hermione sighed and turned to Harry.
"Harry, do you…" began Hermione but stopped abruptly when Harry turned to glare at her.
"Can we not talk about it, Hermione?"
"Harry, shut up and listen to me. If you like Cat then you should say so before all of this gets tangled up," she murmured as she blushed and tucked a strand of her brown hair behind her ear.
Harry noticed that she had straightened it and couldn't help but think that Hermione was looking rather lovely.
"You see Harry, Ron really likes Cat and I…"she said looking up at Harry and biting her lower lip.
Harry shook his head and kissed her. Hermione blinked and stared at the lake. Harry did the same. Hermione glanced at Harry and smiled. She reached over and grabbed his hand. Harry squeezed her hand without taking his eyes off the lake.
"It's okay, Hermione," he whispered, "Everything will be fine. You'll see."
