Just for Easter, another chapter!
YAY! Easter Sunday. Isn't a beautiful phrase? Especially when you've spent the last forty days (yes, *forty*) without chocolaty goodness or biscuits for sustenance. So I've just eaten an Easter egg and Cadbury's Creme Egg. Ah, chocolate...
Also, I'm posting up another fic, an AU Buffy/HP crossover called 'Of Heroes and Heroines'. If you like, read that too.
As for this story... Next chapter, here it is...
Chapter 22 – Yule and Christmas
"C'mon, Kat, hurry up!" Lily pounded on the door of Kathryn's walk-in wardrobe.
"Just a sec!" Kathryn replied.
Today's ball had been changed somewhat. The teachers had informed everyone it was going to be informal and, even better, Muggle clothing was the only dress code. Consequently, the Muggle-borns had been getting a lot of attention and begging for advice on Muggle clothing. Enchanted (plus Alice) and the Marauders (plus Frank) of course, hadn't needed it – they wore Muggle clothing in preference to wizarding, another thing, Sirius had revealed, that his parents had hated about him.
"Okay." Kathryn pulled open her door and walked out.
She looked great, wearing low-waisted, boot-cut sparkly jeans (she always went for twenty-first century styles), black, strappy, heeled sandals with diamanté, and an elegantly cut crimson top of a Chinese style, complete with phoenixes. Her hair was loose, a cascade of curls, and she wore her usual ruby jewellery. Her make-up was simple and she was a firm believer in 'less is more' when it came to make-up.
"Nice." Lily grinned.
"Thanks, you too. Now let's go." Kathryn smiled.
Lily was wearing her usual emerald-green in the form of blouse, tied up to reveal her midriff. She wore plain black trousers and dressed them up with silver sandals. Her hair, too, was loose and curly.
Sirius grinned as he saw his girlfriend.
"You look great." He informed her.
"Of course I do." She smiled flirtatiously. "So, you ready to rock and roll?"
"Certainly, my love." He fluttered his eyelashes.
She slapped him playfully, admiring his outfit of dark jeans and white shirt. As always, he wore the golden salamander.
"You look good." She told him.
"Naturally." He mimicked her flirtatious reply.
When they entered the Great Hall, they were stunned. It looked amazing, with tables round the edges, muted lighting and a stage at one end. In fact, it looked a lot like a Muggle club, except for some of the clearly magical features such as the enchanted ceiling showing the clear night sky and stars, and the numerous sparkling lights in various shapes, which proved to be very real live fairies.
"Cool." Kathryn murmured.
"Yep." Lily agreed as she and James entered behind her. "Your idea worked really well, you two."
Kathryn and Sirius blushed. "Thanks. I had no idea it would look this good." Kathryn explained.
"Of course you did, you and I did it." Sirius grinned egotistically. "C'mon, we need to find out when we're on."
They checked the schedule of the performances. And blanched.
"Lily, James, we're the opening act!" Sirius snarled. (A/N: Ah, I love alliteration... carry on!)
"Yeah, what about it?"
"But... well... it's... us!" Kathryn stammered.
"Uh huh, once everyone's here, which it looks like they are, you're singing, after a brief introduction from us, having organised this and everything." James explained. "C'mon."
The couple tried to protest, but the Head Boy and Girl overruled them.
James and Lily stepped up on stage.
"Sonorus." They muttered, pointing to their throats – minus a wand.
"Hello, is everyone here?" James asked.
A cheer went round.
"Looks like it." Lily smirked. "We'd just like to welcome you to the Great Hall for the Yule Ball, or, as our friend Kathryn calls it, the Club of the Midwinter Solstice."
Kathryn scowled as she Sirius lingered in the darkness of the stage. She had said that that was what she reckoned the Great Hall would look like.
"Without further ado, we'd like to introduce our first act of the night." James grinned. Something in his voice suggested that he was going to do some weird introduction. Kathryn and Sirius exchanged looks. "It's a song for all you couples. Straight from the Gryffindor Head Tower, because they live in our rooms, not their own, I give you Kathryn and Sirius, with 'All I Ask of You'."
James and Lily muttered, "Quietus." And left the stage with wicked grins.
Kathryn and Sirius stepped onstage, to give a song rather different to other ones they'd performed.
Sirius: "No more talk of darkness,
Forget these wide-eyed fears.
I'm here, nothing can harm you,
My words will warm and calm you.
Let me be your freedom,
Let daylight dry your tears.
I'm here, with you, beside you,
To guard you and to guide you."
Kathryn: "All I ask is every waking moment,
Turn my head with talk of summertime.
Say you need me with you now and always,
Promise me that all you say is true.
That's all I ask of you."
Sirius: "Let me be your shelter,
Let me be your light.
You're safe, no one will find you,
Your fears are far behind you."
Kathryn: "All I want is freedom,
A world with no more night.
And you, always beside me,
To hold me and to hide me."
Sirius: "Then say you'll share with me one love, one lifetime,
Let me lead you from your solitude.
Say you need me with you, here beside you,
Anywhere you go, let me go too.
Kathryn, that's all I ask of you."
Kathryn: "All I ask for is one love, one lifetime,
Say the word, and I will follow you.
Share each day with me, each night, each morning,
Say you love me!"
Sirius: "You know I do."
Both: "Love me, that's all I ask of you.
(Big instrumental)
Anywhere you go, let me go too.
Love me, that all I ask of you!"
The song was so grand and heartfelt that it earned an incredible round of applause. James and Lily, who appeared to be emcees for the night, clapped along with the rest as Sirius and Kathryn bowed and left the stage with over-dramatic gestures of kisses and bows. They were then shooed offstage.
"Okay, that was great! Now, straight from the floor, we have Angela Cuthbert, singing her own song, 'Going to Pay'." Lily grinned.
A surprisingly timid-looking sixth-year Ravenclaw stepped onstage and began belting out a fast, upbeat, surprisingly sad song (A/N: Think 'I Will Survive'!).
"That was great!" Radella grinned, hugging Kathryn as she stepped offstage.
"Really?"
"Totally."
"Yeah, Padfoot, where'd you learn to sing like that?" Remus asked.
"Kathryn gave me private lessons." He grinned wickedly.
The others rolled their eyes.
Kathryn shrugged. "C'mon, let's go get some food."
"I knew there was a reason I love you." Sirius grinned, hugging her from behind.
"I know how to eat properly and still keep in shape." Kathryn smiled, kissing his cheek.
"Uh huh."
They proceeded to pick up plates and some food and sat at one of the tables surrounding the dance floor.
"I feel sorry for Lily and James. They don't get a break from emceeing." Kathryn sighed.
Sirius shook his head. "I don't think we need to worry about them." He gestured his head towards the couple, who – a shimmering ray of light briefly revealed – were kissing in the stage's shadow.
"We won't disturb them then. Shame, this cake is great." Kathryn took a bite from a Victoria sponge.
"Have you got anything savoury on your plate?" Sirius asked, brows raised.
Kathryn began searching her plate. "Um, no." At Sirius' look, she complained. "Aww, c'mon, Sirius, it's not like I don't eat healthily every other day of the year anyway!"
He nodded gravely. "Very well. I will not complain. But only..." He paused for dramatic effect, "...if you give me some of that cake."
Kathryn grinned and held some out for him to bite, then tore it away to eat the rest herself.
"Aww, Mystique..."
"What, Padfoot?" She asked. She had decided to use the Marauders' term for him, since he had two nicknames for her, and she had only had the one.
"More."
"Oh, alright."
On the dance floor, Frank and Alice swayed in each other's arms as someone sung 'Love Changes Everything'. (A/N: I don't know many songs at the actual time, so just use your imagination, okay?)
"I love you." Frank whispered.
"I love you too." Alice replied.
"We can be Aurors together then." He smiled.
"Uh-uh. We worked it out. James and Kathryn, Lily and you, and me and Sirius. So there's no distractions when we're working." Alice grinned.
Frank laughed. "You girls are so sensible. But there's always other times."
Alice smiled wickedly. "Definitely."
Lily and James were talking quietly, now, waiting for the current song to finish.
"This is great." Lily smiled. "Our Christmas – Yule Ball, rather, has turned out so well."
"It has. Who'd've thought with Kathryn and Sirius on decorating?"
"I still can't believe their own reaction. They seemed too stunned to actually realise they had done it."
"Silly idiots." James remarked fondly.
"Oh, and both those idiots are beating you in Potions?" Lily raised a brow.
"Aww, Lils, you know..."
"It's not your best subject, DADA is, and Transfiguration, Kat's only beating you in that because of her magic, yeah, yeah." Lily kissed him softly to prevent further complaint.
Damion and Alura didn't do a lot of talking from their position. In fact, they were outside, in the snow, talking, having created a Warming Charm around the seat where they had placed themselves. It was hidden away and they didn't really want to be disturbed...
Remus and Radella were dancing happily, just talking easily. Finally Remus took a deep breath.
"Della, there's something you have to know about me." Remus told her.
"Yes?" Radella asked, though she had an inkling of what it was.
"I'm a..." He lowered his voice and whispered in her ear. "I'm a werewolf."
She kissed him softly and whispered into his ear. "I know."
Remus smiled as she realised that his girlfriend had no problem with it... at all.
In a distant corner, alone, sat Peter Pettigrew, trying not to feel angry. All his friends had someone – he had no one. They seemed to be ignoring him... He tried to push that feeling away, after all, they always looked out for him, they were still his friends. But still...
An observant watcher in the crowd of people smiled viciously. The weakling was feeling angry, lonely, ignored. That feeling would grow, if carefully played. Maybe his Master could find a way to them after all...
---
"Where's Alura, it's our song next!" Kathryn suddenly realised, as she swayed in Sirius' arms.
"I think she's outside with Damion..." Sirius grinned.
"Well, we need him as well. C'mon." She pulled Sirius outside, where snow lay sparkling under a half-moon.
They found Alura and Damion in a, er, slightly compromising position.
"Ugh, you two, get inside, our song's in a minute." Kathryn scowled, covering her eyes.
"Next time, get a room." Sirius advised, his own eyes closed. (A/N: Oo- er! What have they been doing? Ha, ha, ha! Imagination rocks!)
Alura and Damion appeared in the Great Hall, looking only a little dishevelled until they performed a spell to straighten themselves out.
James and Lily had asked Peter to emcee this particular song, something he did surprisingly well.
"And now we have Enchanted with 'It's Raining Men'! Oh yeah, their respective boyfriends are dancing with them. Since three-quarters are the Marauders, I suggest you watch out!" Peter grinned and left them.
Kathryn: "Humidity's risin'
Barometer's getting low.
According to all sources
The street's the place to go."
Lily: "Cos tonight for the first time (Alura and Radella: first time)
Just about half past ten (Alura and Radella: half past ten)
For the first time in history
It's gonna start raining men."
Kathryn, Alura and Radella: "Start raining men."
All: "It's raining men
Hallelujah, it's raining men, Amen
It's raining men
Hallelujah, it's raining men, Amen
Kathryn: "Ow!"
Alura: "Humidity's risin'
Barometer's getting low
According to all sources
The street's the place to go."
Radella: "Cos tonight for the first time (Kathryn and Lily: first time)
Just about half past ten (Kathryn and Lily: half past ten)
For the first time in history
It's gonna start raining men."
Alura, Kathryn and Lily: "Start raining men."
All: "It's raining men
Hallelujah, it's raining men, Amen
I'm gonna go out, I'm gonna let myself get
Absolutely soaking wet
It's raining men
Hallelujah, it's rainin' men,
Every specimen."
Alura: "Tall blonde,"
Kathryn: "Dark and mean."
Lily: "Rough and tough,"
Radella: "And strong and lean."
All: "God bless Mother Nature
She's a single woman too
She took over heaven
And she did what she had to do
She taught every Angel
To rearrange the sky
So that each and every woman
Could find the perfect guy
It's raining men
(Kathryn: Go get yourself wet girl, I know you want to!)
I feel stormy weather moving in
About to begin (Kathryn: about to begin)
Hear the thunder, don't you lose your head
Rip off the roof and stay in bed (Kathryn: Rip off the roof and stay)
It's raining men
Hallelujah, it's raining men, Amen
It's raining men
Hallelujah, it's raining men, Amen
It's raining men
Hallelujah, it's raining men, Amen
It's raining men
Hallelujah, it's raining men, Amen
It's raining men!"
(A/N: Use your imagination for the dancing. Don't know if I actually said what colour hair Damion has, but he's blonde now. Okay?)
The crowd was very impressed.
And as they left the stage, there were huge cheers for them to continue.
And then the boys had a go.
They sang a medley of Elvis Presley songs that were equally well received.
"That was great, Sirius." Kathryn smiled at her boyfriend as he came from the stage.
"So was yours." He smiled back, and then claimed a kiss.
Hours later, after James and Lily had sung a very unexpected song from them, 'Mungojerry and Rumpleteaser', which was hilariously funny, the ball came to a close.
"Hey," Kathryn murmured as they proceeded to the Gryffindor Tower, "We didn't have any visits from previous hosts."
Sirius grinned. "Nope, we didn't. Thank Merlin."
As they entered, the four Elemental Guardians progressed into the Head Tower, where Sirius and Kathryn had joined their best friends, mainly from Dumbledore's suggestion. It had worked well, though the two girls frequently tiptoed to talk to their friends in the other dorm.
"Goodnight." The four friends said to the others at the door.
"Night."
Drake and Paige, the witch and wizard guarding the entrance to the Head Tower, smiled at them.
"Good night?" Paige asked.
"You betcha." Kathryn grinned.
"Solstice." Sirius grinned, giving the password.
The portrait swung open.
"We heard that your performances went down well." Drake grinned.
"Violet?" Lily wanted to know – the Fat Lady's gossiping friend seemed to get everywhere.
"Yes. Anyway, goodnight."
"Night." The two girls and two boys headed up the stairs.
"Goodnight, Sirius." Kathryn smiled saucily.
"Goodnight, Kathryn." Sirius grinned, pulling her towards him.
At the other side of the common room, James and Lily did much the same thing.
They then separated and entered the dorms, all grinning, happy in the knowledge that they could have fun for the rest of the holidays.
* * *
"Kat, wake up!" Sirius' voice broke through her slumber.
Kathryn's eyes snapped open. "Sirius, what are you doing in here?"
"Waking you up. Like you, I hate being woken up. So, like you, I inflicted the same pain on someone else."
"Where are Lily and James?"
"In the Common Room being despicably perky."
"Want to kill them with me?"
"After breakfast. The house elves put some out in the Head Common Room." Sirius grinned.
Kathryn quickly threw on some clothes and brushed her hair. She followed Sirius downstairs to indulge in a breakfast of pancakes, sugar, and cinnamon, washed down with orange juice and milk.
"Oh, Merry Christmas." Sirius smiled as Kathryn went to brush her teeth.
In the Gryffindor Common Room, the friends were talking happily about their families. They, funnily enough, were the only ones left, since most had gone home after the ball.
"Hi." Kathryn and Sirius grinned as they entered.
"Hey guys." Alura smiled. Damion, as expected, had appeared, his own presents with him.
"Y'all okay?" Sirius asked in a bad American accent.
"Sure." James replied.
"Good, because Kathryn and I are going to kill you." Sirius replied, grinning.
"What? Why?"
"For waking us up, before nine o'clock, on Christmas morning!" Sirius bellowed.
The next half hour comprised of Kathryn and Sirius chasing James and Lily round the room, evidently trying to murder them.
By the time they had finished, the friends had only unwrapped a few presents each before going for Christmas Dinner in the Great Hall, where all the students sat at one table, since other than the Marauders, Frank, Alice and Damion, there were only two Hufflepuffs and three Ravenclaws left, and they invited them over.
"Well, it seems we have few guests here for Christmas, but all I can say is Merry Christmas and enjoy!" Dumbledore smiled.
Instantly the marvellous Christmas spread appeared and the friends were pulling crackers and squealing with delight at the gifts in them. By the end of dinner, Kathryn had gained a pack of non-explodable, luminous balloons in varying sizes, a Colour-your-hair-for-a-day kit, a fake Galleon that had a truth spell on it so it would become hot if the person being questioned lied and a small book full of wizarding jokes that Sirius had threatened to steal. (Most of the jokes weren't much good, but were great for clearing a room.)
They dragged themselves back upstairs, laden with cracker-gifts, preparing to unwrap the rest of their presents that afternoon.
"Okay, ya gonna do the present handing out, James? Being Head Boy and all?" Kathryn asked as they all gathered round the Gryffindor Christmas Tree. She was sat on a giant floor cushion, her back leant against Sirius' chest, his back leant against one of the chairs, his arms around her waist.
James grinned. "If you insist, Lady Mystique." And pulled out a present from under the tree. "Sirius, from Peter."
Peter – who was at home sharing Christmas with his family – had given Sirius a Zonko's gift voucher, which Sirius loved.
"Great man, is Peter." He wiped an imaginary tear from his eye.
'Too bad he'll betray Lily and James, frame you and cause me to run,' Kathryn thought, but kept it from her face. She was getting more and more skilled at not letting her face betray her thoughts.
Lily, however, frowned at the wave of bitterness, anger and mistrust from Kathryn as Sirius said Peter's name.
What is it with Kat and Peter? There's something she knows, and she won't tell us. Something that causes her pain. Something about Peter. Lily told James.
I know. But, I mean, what would Peter do? He's our friend, and, yeah, okay, so he's not the brightest star in the sky, but he's loyal and thoughtful to the last. James frowned.
Loyal and thoughtful. Those words described Peter perfectly. *Now*.
"Okay, Lily, your present from your parents." James grinned, handing it to his girlfriend, who was sat very close.
The present unwrapping continued.
Privately, Kathryn wondered where Leila was, then remembered that she was going to her friend's house for Christmas. Jack was having the rest of the family over to his, but Kathryn knew her father was working, even at Christmas. Certainly Voldemort didn't stop for the holidays. In fact, he seemed to rather enjoy destroying people's lives at this time of year. It seemed to give him a 'happy'.
And as the present wrapping ended hours later (there were a lot of them, a lot of presents and a lot of exultations), they were all content and happy, having eaten more than enough at Christmas Dinner – which, as traditional, was actually at lunchtime.
"There's too much to carry." Lily remarked dreamily from her position in her boyfriend's arms.
"Locomotor prezzies." Kathryn incanted and sent them to the Heads' common room.
"That's an idea." Alura murmured sleepily. She did the same to her own.
The others followed suit, though Damion did laugh, wondering if they'd get past the guard to their common room.
No one wanted to move.
"C'mon, Kat." Sirius ordered, moving out from beneath her.
"Aww, no." She tried to pull him down.
"Uh uh. Time for bed." Sirius grinned. "I'll even tell you a story if you're very, very good."
"But what if I'm very, very bad?" Kathryn asked, still sleepily.
"Oh, I'm sure I can think of something."
James frowned. "Does anyone else hear the innuendo here?"
"You only hear what you want to hear." Sirius grinned, dragging his girlfriend up.
"Do I have to?" Kathryn complained.
"Fine!" Sirius rolled his eyes and swept Kathryn up into his arms.
The others laughed as Kathryn sighed dreamily.
"You really are tired, aren't you?" Sirius asked, opening the door to the Heads' Tower.
"Mmhmm." Kathryn replied, nodding, her head buried in his shoulder.
"What's up?"
"Nothing. It's just nice to have a ball and a Christmas where we don't have resurfacing hosts and terrifying visions." Kathryn explained.
Big mistake. (A/N: Did anyone else think it wasn't going to be?)
Kathryn's head snapped back and her eyes closed.
Sirius began to run, shouting the password at Paige and Drake and running up to put her on her bed in Lily and her room. Kathryn had been sharing with her since Hallowe'en.
"Kathryn?" Sirius asked, cupping her face in a hand.
------------
A woman sat bolt upright in bed. Kathryn stared, the woman could easily be her, just a few years older. Sweat was pouring down her face, tears crowded her eyes, unshed.
"No." She murmured, pressing a hand to her heart. And then she stared at a ring on her left ring finger. It glowed.
"Oh God, Sirius." She sobbed.
"I should have known. Selene's just completed her OWLs."
The woman stumbled out, pressing a hand to small panel. It lit up and she walked into the room it revealed. A bathroom. She stood in front of a mirror.
"He's dead." She admitted. Then she looked up, glaring into the mirror. "I suppose you think this pain is suitable, Kali? Just as your own bigoted spiritual descendant would think it is. My blasted mother-in-law. Who is now dead, thankfully. God knows how I bore a name so similar to hers. Katrine Black, Sirius' mother. She'd be glad he is dead, as would that damned house elf. Well, too bad, Kali, because I only have another week or two to wait. And then Sirius is coming back. And he's bringing friends."
Kathryn gasped. "It's me." She realised. "After Sirius..."
She was dragged back to the world of the living.
------------
"Kathryn?" Sirius asked.
She pulled herself up, fastening her arms around his neck tightly.
"Oh God, Sirius." She murmured. "It was *me*, I know what I'm going to do, and the pain I'll feel in the meantime, breaking the curse..."
"Shh, relax, Kat. You're fine. Was it urgent?"
"No, it just... it was upsetting." She explained, still holding him tightly.
"Are you okay?"
"No."
"Is there anything...?"
"Just hold me."
That was how Lily found them an hour later, fast asleep in each other's arms.
"James." She murmured softly.
"Hmm?"
He came over. "Even I can't wake them." He gave a slight sigh.
"We'll leave them. Night." Lily smiled, and kissed her boyfriend softly.
"Night." James replied and retreated to his own room.
And neither of them stirred as Lily left, showered and got into bed, sleeping in the quiet contentment of love.
* * *
A/N: How sweet? How fluffy? Yeah, just a little. Okay, I think the next chapter going to be another skimmer over the next few months and then Graduation. I really want to get into the bit where they're adults. And then, even better, when I skip forward fifteen years. Surely you'd guessed I was going to do that?
To reviewers (even though it's only two days since I last posted):
Rhinemjr: I'm glad I answer most of your questions automatically! Keep reviewing, and how do you review so quickly after I post it?
Tina: See, I updated soon for you! Well, it's Easter Sunday as well and I am in a good mood......... Glad to know I'm keeping you insane... oops, I mean *sane*... ;)
Sk8erWitch: Yeah, does put a damper on things, doesn't it? Check my bio, I've posted up a BtVS/HP crossover!
Lenorathetrekkie: You don't actually have to review every chapter, y'know, but I appreciate it! You like Star Trek then?
Angel of Oblivion: Twisted does seem to be a watchword for me! I am twisted, that's a bit twisted and according to Lobo Diablo, Kat's a twisted Mary-Sue. I've told her if she doesn't stop saying that, I'll pelt her with something *less* desirable than cookies!
Anyway, ta-ta for now!
Lol, Tanydwr
P.S. Happy Easter!!!
YAY! Easter Sunday. Isn't a beautiful phrase? Especially when you've spent the last forty days (yes, *forty*) without chocolaty goodness or biscuits for sustenance. So I've just eaten an Easter egg and Cadbury's Creme Egg. Ah, chocolate...
Also, I'm posting up another fic, an AU Buffy/HP crossover called 'Of Heroes and Heroines'. If you like, read that too.
As for this story... Next chapter, here it is...
Chapter 22 – Yule and Christmas
"C'mon, Kat, hurry up!" Lily pounded on the door of Kathryn's walk-in wardrobe.
"Just a sec!" Kathryn replied.
Today's ball had been changed somewhat. The teachers had informed everyone it was going to be informal and, even better, Muggle clothing was the only dress code. Consequently, the Muggle-borns had been getting a lot of attention and begging for advice on Muggle clothing. Enchanted (plus Alice) and the Marauders (plus Frank) of course, hadn't needed it – they wore Muggle clothing in preference to wizarding, another thing, Sirius had revealed, that his parents had hated about him.
"Okay." Kathryn pulled open her door and walked out.
She looked great, wearing low-waisted, boot-cut sparkly jeans (she always went for twenty-first century styles), black, strappy, heeled sandals with diamanté, and an elegantly cut crimson top of a Chinese style, complete with phoenixes. Her hair was loose, a cascade of curls, and she wore her usual ruby jewellery. Her make-up was simple and she was a firm believer in 'less is more' when it came to make-up.
"Nice." Lily grinned.
"Thanks, you too. Now let's go." Kathryn smiled.
Lily was wearing her usual emerald-green in the form of blouse, tied up to reveal her midriff. She wore plain black trousers and dressed them up with silver sandals. Her hair, too, was loose and curly.
Sirius grinned as he saw his girlfriend.
"You look great." He informed her.
"Of course I do." She smiled flirtatiously. "So, you ready to rock and roll?"
"Certainly, my love." He fluttered his eyelashes.
She slapped him playfully, admiring his outfit of dark jeans and white shirt. As always, he wore the golden salamander.
"You look good." She told him.
"Naturally." He mimicked her flirtatious reply.
When they entered the Great Hall, they were stunned. It looked amazing, with tables round the edges, muted lighting and a stage at one end. In fact, it looked a lot like a Muggle club, except for some of the clearly magical features such as the enchanted ceiling showing the clear night sky and stars, and the numerous sparkling lights in various shapes, which proved to be very real live fairies.
"Cool." Kathryn murmured.
"Yep." Lily agreed as she and James entered behind her. "Your idea worked really well, you two."
Kathryn and Sirius blushed. "Thanks. I had no idea it would look this good." Kathryn explained.
"Of course you did, you and I did it." Sirius grinned egotistically. "C'mon, we need to find out when we're on."
They checked the schedule of the performances. And blanched.
"Lily, James, we're the opening act!" Sirius snarled. (A/N: Ah, I love alliteration... carry on!)
"Yeah, what about it?"
"But... well... it's... us!" Kathryn stammered.
"Uh huh, once everyone's here, which it looks like they are, you're singing, after a brief introduction from us, having organised this and everything." James explained. "C'mon."
The couple tried to protest, but the Head Boy and Girl overruled them.
James and Lily stepped up on stage.
"Sonorus." They muttered, pointing to their throats – minus a wand.
"Hello, is everyone here?" James asked.
A cheer went round.
"Looks like it." Lily smirked. "We'd just like to welcome you to the Great Hall for the Yule Ball, or, as our friend Kathryn calls it, the Club of the Midwinter Solstice."
Kathryn scowled as she Sirius lingered in the darkness of the stage. She had said that that was what she reckoned the Great Hall would look like.
"Without further ado, we'd like to introduce our first act of the night." James grinned. Something in his voice suggested that he was going to do some weird introduction. Kathryn and Sirius exchanged looks. "It's a song for all you couples. Straight from the Gryffindor Head Tower, because they live in our rooms, not their own, I give you Kathryn and Sirius, with 'All I Ask of You'."
James and Lily muttered, "Quietus." And left the stage with wicked grins.
Kathryn and Sirius stepped onstage, to give a song rather different to other ones they'd performed.
Sirius: "No more talk of darkness,
Forget these wide-eyed fears.
I'm here, nothing can harm you,
My words will warm and calm you.
Let me be your freedom,
Let daylight dry your tears.
I'm here, with you, beside you,
To guard you and to guide you."
Kathryn: "All I ask is every waking moment,
Turn my head with talk of summertime.
Say you need me with you now and always,
Promise me that all you say is true.
That's all I ask of you."
Sirius: "Let me be your shelter,
Let me be your light.
You're safe, no one will find you,
Your fears are far behind you."
Kathryn: "All I want is freedom,
A world with no more night.
And you, always beside me,
To hold me and to hide me."
Sirius: "Then say you'll share with me one love, one lifetime,
Let me lead you from your solitude.
Say you need me with you, here beside you,
Anywhere you go, let me go too.
Kathryn, that's all I ask of you."
Kathryn: "All I ask for is one love, one lifetime,
Say the word, and I will follow you.
Share each day with me, each night, each morning,
Say you love me!"
Sirius: "You know I do."
Both: "Love me, that's all I ask of you.
(Big instrumental)
Anywhere you go, let me go too.
Love me, that all I ask of you!"
The song was so grand and heartfelt that it earned an incredible round of applause. James and Lily, who appeared to be emcees for the night, clapped along with the rest as Sirius and Kathryn bowed and left the stage with over-dramatic gestures of kisses and bows. They were then shooed offstage.
"Okay, that was great! Now, straight from the floor, we have Angela Cuthbert, singing her own song, 'Going to Pay'." Lily grinned.
A surprisingly timid-looking sixth-year Ravenclaw stepped onstage and began belting out a fast, upbeat, surprisingly sad song (A/N: Think 'I Will Survive'!).
"That was great!" Radella grinned, hugging Kathryn as she stepped offstage.
"Really?"
"Totally."
"Yeah, Padfoot, where'd you learn to sing like that?" Remus asked.
"Kathryn gave me private lessons." He grinned wickedly.
The others rolled their eyes.
Kathryn shrugged. "C'mon, let's go get some food."
"I knew there was a reason I love you." Sirius grinned, hugging her from behind.
"I know how to eat properly and still keep in shape." Kathryn smiled, kissing his cheek.
"Uh huh."
They proceeded to pick up plates and some food and sat at one of the tables surrounding the dance floor.
"I feel sorry for Lily and James. They don't get a break from emceeing." Kathryn sighed.
Sirius shook his head. "I don't think we need to worry about them." He gestured his head towards the couple, who – a shimmering ray of light briefly revealed – were kissing in the stage's shadow.
"We won't disturb them then. Shame, this cake is great." Kathryn took a bite from a Victoria sponge.
"Have you got anything savoury on your plate?" Sirius asked, brows raised.
Kathryn began searching her plate. "Um, no." At Sirius' look, she complained. "Aww, c'mon, Sirius, it's not like I don't eat healthily every other day of the year anyway!"
He nodded gravely. "Very well. I will not complain. But only..." He paused for dramatic effect, "...if you give me some of that cake."
Kathryn grinned and held some out for him to bite, then tore it away to eat the rest herself.
"Aww, Mystique..."
"What, Padfoot?" She asked. She had decided to use the Marauders' term for him, since he had two nicknames for her, and she had only had the one.
"More."
"Oh, alright."
On the dance floor, Frank and Alice swayed in each other's arms as someone sung 'Love Changes Everything'. (A/N: I don't know many songs at the actual time, so just use your imagination, okay?)
"I love you." Frank whispered.
"I love you too." Alice replied.
"We can be Aurors together then." He smiled.
"Uh-uh. We worked it out. James and Kathryn, Lily and you, and me and Sirius. So there's no distractions when we're working." Alice grinned.
Frank laughed. "You girls are so sensible. But there's always other times."
Alice smiled wickedly. "Definitely."
Lily and James were talking quietly, now, waiting for the current song to finish.
"This is great." Lily smiled. "Our Christmas – Yule Ball, rather, has turned out so well."
"It has. Who'd've thought with Kathryn and Sirius on decorating?"
"I still can't believe their own reaction. They seemed too stunned to actually realise they had done it."
"Silly idiots." James remarked fondly.
"Oh, and both those idiots are beating you in Potions?" Lily raised a brow.
"Aww, Lils, you know..."
"It's not your best subject, DADA is, and Transfiguration, Kat's only beating you in that because of her magic, yeah, yeah." Lily kissed him softly to prevent further complaint.
Damion and Alura didn't do a lot of talking from their position. In fact, they were outside, in the snow, talking, having created a Warming Charm around the seat where they had placed themselves. It was hidden away and they didn't really want to be disturbed...
Remus and Radella were dancing happily, just talking easily. Finally Remus took a deep breath.
"Della, there's something you have to know about me." Remus told her.
"Yes?" Radella asked, though she had an inkling of what it was.
"I'm a..." He lowered his voice and whispered in her ear. "I'm a werewolf."
She kissed him softly and whispered into his ear. "I know."
Remus smiled as she realised that his girlfriend had no problem with it... at all.
In a distant corner, alone, sat Peter Pettigrew, trying not to feel angry. All his friends had someone – he had no one. They seemed to be ignoring him... He tried to push that feeling away, after all, they always looked out for him, they were still his friends. But still...
An observant watcher in the crowd of people smiled viciously. The weakling was feeling angry, lonely, ignored. That feeling would grow, if carefully played. Maybe his Master could find a way to them after all...
---
"Where's Alura, it's our song next!" Kathryn suddenly realised, as she swayed in Sirius' arms.
"I think she's outside with Damion..." Sirius grinned.
"Well, we need him as well. C'mon." She pulled Sirius outside, where snow lay sparkling under a half-moon.
They found Alura and Damion in a, er, slightly compromising position.
"Ugh, you two, get inside, our song's in a minute." Kathryn scowled, covering her eyes.
"Next time, get a room." Sirius advised, his own eyes closed. (A/N: Oo- er! What have they been doing? Ha, ha, ha! Imagination rocks!)
Alura and Damion appeared in the Great Hall, looking only a little dishevelled until they performed a spell to straighten themselves out.
James and Lily had asked Peter to emcee this particular song, something he did surprisingly well.
"And now we have Enchanted with 'It's Raining Men'! Oh yeah, their respective boyfriends are dancing with them. Since three-quarters are the Marauders, I suggest you watch out!" Peter grinned and left them.
Kathryn: "Humidity's risin'
Barometer's getting low.
According to all sources
The street's the place to go."
Lily: "Cos tonight for the first time (Alura and Radella: first time)
Just about half past ten (Alura and Radella: half past ten)
For the first time in history
It's gonna start raining men."
Kathryn, Alura and Radella: "Start raining men."
All: "It's raining men
Hallelujah, it's raining men, Amen
It's raining men
Hallelujah, it's raining men, Amen
Kathryn: "Ow!"
Alura: "Humidity's risin'
Barometer's getting low
According to all sources
The street's the place to go."
Radella: "Cos tonight for the first time (Kathryn and Lily: first time)
Just about half past ten (Kathryn and Lily: half past ten)
For the first time in history
It's gonna start raining men."
Alura, Kathryn and Lily: "Start raining men."
All: "It's raining men
Hallelujah, it's raining men, Amen
I'm gonna go out, I'm gonna let myself get
Absolutely soaking wet
It's raining men
Hallelujah, it's rainin' men,
Every specimen."
Alura: "Tall blonde,"
Kathryn: "Dark and mean."
Lily: "Rough and tough,"
Radella: "And strong and lean."
All: "God bless Mother Nature
She's a single woman too
She took over heaven
And she did what she had to do
She taught every Angel
To rearrange the sky
So that each and every woman
Could find the perfect guy
It's raining men
(Kathryn: Go get yourself wet girl, I know you want to!)
I feel stormy weather moving in
About to begin (Kathryn: about to begin)
Hear the thunder, don't you lose your head
Rip off the roof and stay in bed (Kathryn: Rip off the roof and stay)
It's raining men
Hallelujah, it's raining men, Amen
It's raining men
Hallelujah, it's raining men, Amen
It's raining men
Hallelujah, it's raining men, Amen
It's raining men
Hallelujah, it's raining men, Amen
It's raining men!"
(A/N: Use your imagination for the dancing. Don't know if I actually said what colour hair Damion has, but he's blonde now. Okay?)
The crowd was very impressed.
And as they left the stage, there were huge cheers for them to continue.
And then the boys had a go.
They sang a medley of Elvis Presley songs that were equally well received.
"That was great, Sirius." Kathryn smiled at her boyfriend as he came from the stage.
"So was yours." He smiled back, and then claimed a kiss.
Hours later, after James and Lily had sung a very unexpected song from them, 'Mungojerry and Rumpleteaser', which was hilariously funny, the ball came to a close.
"Hey," Kathryn murmured as they proceeded to the Gryffindor Tower, "We didn't have any visits from previous hosts."
Sirius grinned. "Nope, we didn't. Thank Merlin."
As they entered, the four Elemental Guardians progressed into the Head Tower, where Sirius and Kathryn had joined their best friends, mainly from Dumbledore's suggestion. It had worked well, though the two girls frequently tiptoed to talk to their friends in the other dorm.
"Goodnight." The four friends said to the others at the door.
"Night."
Drake and Paige, the witch and wizard guarding the entrance to the Head Tower, smiled at them.
"Good night?" Paige asked.
"You betcha." Kathryn grinned.
"Solstice." Sirius grinned, giving the password.
The portrait swung open.
"We heard that your performances went down well." Drake grinned.
"Violet?" Lily wanted to know – the Fat Lady's gossiping friend seemed to get everywhere.
"Yes. Anyway, goodnight."
"Night." The two girls and two boys headed up the stairs.
"Goodnight, Sirius." Kathryn smiled saucily.
"Goodnight, Kathryn." Sirius grinned, pulling her towards him.
At the other side of the common room, James and Lily did much the same thing.
They then separated and entered the dorms, all grinning, happy in the knowledge that they could have fun for the rest of the holidays.
* * *
"Kat, wake up!" Sirius' voice broke through her slumber.
Kathryn's eyes snapped open. "Sirius, what are you doing in here?"
"Waking you up. Like you, I hate being woken up. So, like you, I inflicted the same pain on someone else."
"Where are Lily and James?"
"In the Common Room being despicably perky."
"Want to kill them with me?"
"After breakfast. The house elves put some out in the Head Common Room." Sirius grinned.
Kathryn quickly threw on some clothes and brushed her hair. She followed Sirius downstairs to indulge in a breakfast of pancakes, sugar, and cinnamon, washed down with orange juice and milk.
"Oh, Merry Christmas." Sirius smiled as Kathryn went to brush her teeth.
In the Gryffindor Common Room, the friends were talking happily about their families. They, funnily enough, were the only ones left, since most had gone home after the ball.
"Hi." Kathryn and Sirius grinned as they entered.
"Hey guys." Alura smiled. Damion, as expected, had appeared, his own presents with him.
"Y'all okay?" Sirius asked in a bad American accent.
"Sure." James replied.
"Good, because Kathryn and I are going to kill you." Sirius replied, grinning.
"What? Why?"
"For waking us up, before nine o'clock, on Christmas morning!" Sirius bellowed.
The next half hour comprised of Kathryn and Sirius chasing James and Lily round the room, evidently trying to murder them.
By the time they had finished, the friends had only unwrapped a few presents each before going for Christmas Dinner in the Great Hall, where all the students sat at one table, since other than the Marauders, Frank, Alice and Damion, there were only two Hufflepuffs and three Ravenclaws left, and they invited them over.
"Well, it seems we have few guests here for Christmas, but all I can say is Merry Christmas and enjoy!" Dumbledore smiled.
Instantly the marvellous Christmas spread appeared and the friends were pulling crackers and squealing with delight at the gifts in them. By the end of dinner, Kathryn had gained a pack of non-explodable, luminous balloons in varying sizes, a Colour-your-hair-for-a-day kit, a fake Galleon that had a truth spell on it so it would become hot if the person being questioned lied and a small book full of wizarding jokes that Sirius had threatened to steal. (Most of the jokes weren't much good, but were great for clearing a room.)
They dragged themselves back upstairs, laden with cracker-gifts, preparing to unwrap the rest of their presents that afternoon.
"Okay, ya gonna do the present handing out, James? Being Head Boy and all?" Kathryn asked as they all gathered round the Gryffindor Christmas Tree. She was sat on a giant floor cushion, her back leant against Sirius' chest, his back leant against one of the chairs, his arms around her waist.
James grinned. "If you insist, Lady Mystique." And pulled out a present from under the tree. "Sirius, from Peter."
Peter – who was at home sharing Christmas with his family – had given Sirius a Zonko's gift voucher, which Sirius loved.
"Great man, is Peter." He wiped an imaginary tear from his eye.
'Too bad he'll betray Lily and James, frame you and cause me to run,' Kathryn thought, but kept it from her face. She was getting more and more skilled at not letting her face betray her thoughts.
Lily, however, frowned at the wave of bitterness, anger and mistrust from Kathryn as Sirius said Peter's name.
What is it with Kat and Peter? There's something she knows, and she won't tell us. Something that causes her pain. Something about Peter. Lily told James.
I know. But, I mean, what would Peter do? He's our friend, and, yeah, okay, so he's not the brightest star in the sky, but he's loyal and thoughtful to the last. James frowned.
Loyal and thoughtful. Those words described Peter perfectly. *Now*.
"Okay, Lily, your present from your parents." James grinned, handing it to his girlfriend, who was sat very close.
The present unwrapping continued.
Privately, Kathryn wondered where Leila was, then remembered that she was going to her friend's house for Christmas. Jack was having the rest of the family over to his, but Kathryn knew her father was working, even at Christmas. Certainly Voldemort didn't stop for the holidays. In fact, he seemed to rather enjoy destroying people's lives at this time of year. It seemed to give him a 'happy'.
And as the present wrapping ended hours later (there were a lot of them, a lot of presents and a lot of exultations), they were all content and happy, having eaten more than enough at Christmas Dinner – which, as traditional, was actually at lunchtime.
"There's too much to carry." Lily remarked dreamily from her position in her boyfriend's arms.
"Locomotor prezzies." Kathryn incanted and sent them to the Heads' common room.
"That's an idea." Alura murmured sleepily. She did the same to her own.
The others followed suit, though Damion did laugh, wondering if they'd get past the guard to their common room.
No one wanted to move.
"C'mon, Kat." Sirius ordered, moving out from beneath her.
"Aww, no." She tried to pull him down.
"Uh uh. Time for bed." Sirius grinned. "I'll even tell you a story if you're very, very good."
"But what if I'm very, very bad?" Kathryn asked, still sleepily.
"Oh, I'm sure I can think of something."
James frowned. "Does anyone else hear the innuendo here?"
"You only hear what you want to hear." Sirius grinned, dragging his girlfriend up.
"Do I have to?" Kathryn complained.
"Fine!" Sirius rolled his eyes and swept Kathryn up into his arms.
The others laughed as Kathryn sighed dreamily.
"You really are tired, aren't you?" Sirius asked, opening the door to the Heads' Tower.
"Mmhmm." Kathryn replied, nodding, her head buried in his shoulder.
"What's up?"
"Nothing. It's just nice to have a ball and a Christmas where we don't have resurfacing hosts and terrifying visions." Kathryn explained.
Big mistake. (A/N: Did anyone else think it wasn't going to be?)
Kathryn's head snapped back and her eyes closed.
Sirius began to run, shouting the password at Paige and Drake and running up to put her on her bed in Lily and her room. Kathryn had been sharing with her since Hallowe'en.
"Kathryn?" Sirius asked, cupping her face in a hand.
------------
A woman sat bolt upright in bed. Kathryn stared, the woman could easily be her, just a few years older. Sweat was pouring down her face, tears crowded her eyes, unshed.
"No." She murmured, pressing a hand to her heart. And then she stared at a ring on her left ring finger. It glowed.
"Oh God, Sirius." She sobbed.
"I should have known. Selene's just completed her OWLs."
The woman stumbled out, pressing a hand to small panel. It lit up and she walked into the room it revealed. A bathroom. She stood in front of a mirror.
"He's dead." She admitted. Then she looked up, glaring into the mirror. "I suppose you think this pain is suitable, Kali? Just as your own bigoted spiritual descendant would think it is. My blasted mother-in-law. Who is now dead, thankfully. God knows how I bore a name so similar to hers. Katrine Black, Sirius' mother. She'd be glad he is dead, as would that damned house elf. Well, too bad, Kali, because I only have another week or two to wait. And then Sirius is coming back. And he's bringing friends."
Kathryn gasped. "It's me." She realised. "After Sirius..."
She was dragged back to the world of the living.
------------
"Kathryn?" Sirius asked.
She pulled herself up, fastening her arms around his neck tightly.
"Oh God, Sirius." She murmured. "It was *me*, I know what I'm going to do, and the pain I'll feel in the meantime, breaking the curse..."
"Shh, relax, Kat. You're fine. Was it urgent?"
"No, it just... it was upsetting." She explained, still holding him tightly.
"Are you okay?"
"No."
"Is there anything...?"
"Just hold me."
That was how Lily found them an hour later, fast asleep in each other's arms.
"James." She murmured softly.
"Hmm?"
He came over. "Even I can't wake them." He gave a slight sigh.
"We'll leave them. Night." Lily smiled, and kissed her boyfriend softly.
"Night." James replied and retreated to his own room.
And neither of them stirred as Lily left, showered and got into bed, sleeping in the quiet contentment of love.
* * *
A/N: How sweet? How fluffy? Yeah, just a little. Okay, I think the next chapter going to be another skimmer over the next few months and then Graduation. I really want to get into the bit where they're adults. And then, even better, when I skip forward fifteen years. Surely you'd guessed I was going to do that?
To reviewers (even though it's only two days since I last posted):
Rhinemjr: I'm glad I answer most of your questions automatically! Keep reviewing, and how do you review so quickly after I post it?
Tina: See, I updated soon for you! Well, it's Easter Sunday as well and I am in a good mood......... Glad to know I'm keeping you insane... oops, I mean *sane*... ;)
Sk8erWitch: Yeah, does put a damper on things, doesn't it? Check my bio, I've posted up a BtVS/HP crossover!
Lenorathetrekkie: You don't actually have to review every chapter, y'know, but I appreciate it! You like Star Trek then?
Angel of Oblivion: Twisted does seem to be a watchword for me! I am twisted, that's a bit twisted and according to Lobo Diablo, Kat's a twisted Mary-Sue. I've told her if she doesn't stop saying that, I'll pelt her with something *less* desirable than cookies!
Anyway, ta-ta for now!
Lol, Tanydwr
P.S. Happy Easter!!!