Too Late?

The next Hogsmeade trip was scheduled for February 14th; Valentine's Day. Chloe and James walked hand in hand through the snow talking and laughing just a head of Sirius, Lily and Lupin. The five of them all walked to The Three Broomsticks for a butterbeer. The Three Broomsticks was packed full with students seeking warmth. The five grabbed a table and they all fought over who went to get the butterbeers.

'No chance am I going,' Sirius told them and as he glanced over to the bar he noticed Katie talking to Madam Rosmerta. 'Ok! Ok! I'll go!' Sirius told them and got up from the table and headed over to the bar. He looked over at Katie and gave her that sly smirk of his. She kept a straight face and nodded in acknowledgement. He could see a hint of her wanting to smile by the small sparkle in her eyes and the corners of lips starting to edge upwards but she didn't smile. Madam Rosmerta came over with Katie's butterbeers, Katie paid and thanked her and then walked off.

'Hello Rosie,' Sirius greeted the barmaid.

'Sirius,' she said smiling, 'what can I get for you?'

'Five butterbeers,' Sirius told her laying the money on the table. Sirius walked back with his hands full and carefully placed the drinks on their table. James and Chloe were in a deep conversation and Lily and Remus were talking. Sirius pulled his seat around so he could see Katie from where he sat and then began to talk to Lily and Remus.

'What are you two talking about?' Sirius asked while taking a swig of butterbeer.

'Potions class,' Lupin told him.

'Ah schoolwork, what a fun conversation indeed.' He pushed all the butterbeers so that one would be in front of each person. The door flew open and Kaycee Handley strutted in. She eyed Sirius and then went over to talk to him. She pulled a chair up in between Lily and Sirius,

'Hey Baby,' she told him and then leaned in to kiss him. Sirius kept his eyes open and could see Katie out of the corner of his eye. She was laughing with her friends and as she turned slightly she caught sight of Sirius and her face went pale and she stopped laughing immediately. He pulled away quickly and Kaycee asked him to get a butterbeer. He watched his table as he ordered another butterbeer and saw Lily get up quickly with an angry expression on her face. Lupin scowled at Kaycee and he got up and followed Lily out the door. Chloe and James moved to another table leaving Kaycee sitting there, she shrugged and looked over to Sirius.

'You horrible girl!' Chloe yelled out to her, 'How dare you say that!' James had his wand out and ready.

'Hey Rosie,' Sirius called out. 'Get the next person who comes to give it to Kaycee.' Sirius watched Lily and Lupin through the window and saw what direction they were heading in.

'I'll give it to Kaycee, no problem' Katie told Sirius. He hadn't even noticed that she came to his side.

'Uh, thanks' Sirius told her and then headed for the door. Katie grabbed the butterbeer and walked over to Kaycee,

'Sirius told me to give this to you,' and with that Katie poured the butterbeer over Kaycee's head. The Three Broomsticks erupted in cheers as Katie sat down with her friends.

Sirius ran to catch up with Lily and Lupin. He could hear Lily's voice,

'and if she calls me "Mudblood" one more time!' Lily was getting mad.

'She called you that?' Sirius asked Lily when he finally caught up.

'Your girlfriend is sick you know that?' Lily asked him clearly outraged, 'She is the most fowl girl I have ever met!' Remus looked up at Sirius with a bit of disgrace in his eyes and he nodded. Sirius remained speechless.

'What about Katie?' Remus asked.

'She said it's too late,' Sirius told them.

'It's not too late but she treated you like crap,' Lily told him.

'You treated James like crap and he never gave up on you!' Sirius exclaimed. Lily looked up, she wasn't expecting that retort.

'Yes he has,' she told him. 'In case you didn't notice he's in there with my best friend.' Remus looked over at Sirius and they nodded.

'Lily,' Remus said holding her arm and steering her into the street, 'Let's go for a little walk.' They started walking down the main road in Hogsmeade. Sirius and Lupin began to tell Lily all about James and his feelings for her.

'So you see Lily, he asked Chloe to the ball to make you jealous.' Sirius told her.

'But ended up falling for her,' Lily told them. This part was true, James liked Chloe a lot but that didn't keep Lily out of the back of his head.

'He still cares for you Lily,' Lupin told her, 'I'm not sure if he'll ever stop.'

'Well it's too late now,' Lily told them both.

'If it's not too late for me, it's not to late for you.' Sirius told her.