Disclaimer: I don't own what JKR does. If JKR doesn't own it, then I do, unless otherwise mentioned.
A/N: I apologize for taking so long to update, but I was moving and working and also had no internet for a while. But, nonetheless, here it is again. I hope you enjoy it.
Katarina was sitting on the grass near the Forbidden Forest, trying to compose herself. She couldn't let anyone at the feast see her this way. Her cheeks were tear-stained and her nose was running. She knew a spell that could get rid of both, it was the same spell she used when she didn't want her parents to know she'd been crying, but she needed to compose herself first. She took a few shaky deep breaths, and started to stand up when she heard a twig snap behind her. She turned around quickly and saw a large black dog walking towards her. He stopped when she looked at him, sat down, and stared at her.
"Hello puppy." She said, walking towards him. "You seem to know your way around, you must belong to Hagrid." She scratched him playfully behind the ears, before sitting down beside him. "There's a feast going on inside, you know. But I can't go inside. There are too many people. I don't want to be around people right now." The dog barked in agreement. "You certainly are a friendly fellow; I wonder why I haven't seen you around before." She glanced at her watch. She'd been out for half an hour. The sorting would be over by now. She sighed. "Alright puppy, it was nice sitting with you, but I have to go." With that she stood up, brushed her robes off, and headed back to the great hall to eat. She didn't notice the dog run behind a tree and disappear. Nor did she notice Sirius Black come out from behind the very same tree that the dog had run behind. Katarina didn't notice much as she made her way to castle. She quickly cast a spell on herself to get rid of the puffiness and redness around her eyes.
Katarina managed to get to the Great Hall just as the last of the first years were being sorted. She decided to wait until they were finished, before going to sit down. She was standing in the doorway waiting, when Sirius Black arrived.
"Why aren't you in there?" She asked snidely.
"Why aren't you?" He retorted.
"I asked you first."
"Well, I was, uh…"
"Ugh, whatever, I don't care. They're done sorting now, so I'm going in. You can do whatever it is that you need to do." Katarina said disgustedly before heading over to the Ravenclaw table and sliding into the seat that her friend Seliina had saved for her.
"Where were you?" Seliina whispered.
"I was feeling nauseous after the train ride, so I went to see Madame Pomfrey. She gave me some chocolate and I felt much better." She vaguely heard Dumbledore clear his throat and turned towards him so she could see and hear him better.
"I have an announcement to make." He began. "As many of you may already know, one of your fellow students has passed away this summer." As soon as Dumbledore said this Katarina immediately felt ill. She looked around frantically, seeing if she could make a run for the door without being seen, but it was impossible. "Piotr Ivanov was a fine student and an excellent person. He will be sorely missed by all." Dumbledore paused for a moment and looked at Professor McGonagall, who nodded in response. "There will be a memorial in Gryffindor tower Friday evening for all who wish to attend." He finished softly. As soon as he said this, Katarina felt a stabbing pain in her chest and began having trouble breathing. Her mouth went dry and she tried to stand up, but found she couldn't move.
"Why didn't you tell me?" Seliina asked softly.
"I…I mean…My…my parents wanted me to wait." She finally choked out. "They thought…that it would be easier that way." She looked back at the table and saw that the food had appeared. "When did that happen?" She asked, changing the subject.
"Oh, just a moment ago." Seliina replied quietly.
"I see." Katarina picked up the bowl of mashed potatoes and spooned a small amount onto her plate. She also took a small piece of turkey and some carrots.
"Not hungry?" Seliina asked.
"Not in the least bit." Katarina replied, prodding her piece of turkey with her fork. She dropped her fork with a sigh. The smell of the food was repulsing her and she was beginning to feel ill. She wondered if maybe she could pretend to faint and then get carried out of the dining hall to the hospital wing. That way she wouldn't have to walk across the room alone while everyone stared at her. "No, that's a stupid idea." She mumbled under her breath.
"What was that?" Seliina asked quietly.
"Oh, nothing. Just talking to myself." Katarina replied, picking up her fork again. She poked at her potatoes a couple times before dropping her fork and standing up. "I feel nauseous." She told Seliina before beginning her walk across the Great Hall. Most people were too busy eating to notice her hasty departure, but there were a few who watched her as she went.
"Hey, Ivanova's leaving." James Potter noted, elbowing Sirius before reaching for some more mashed potatoes.
"So?" Sirius snapped in reply.
"Just passing the information along, no need to be so testy." James retorted.
"Fine. Next time, don't." Sirius replied. He pushed his plate away from him and stood up. "I'm going for a walk." He announced.
"I thought you didn't care." James said edgily.
"I don't. I'm just going for a walk." Sirius answered, before stalking off across the dining hall. He didn't really know where he was going to go, only that he needed to be by himself. He scowled. It was stupid really, beating himself up over a girl who couldn't stand him. He knew why, of course. He was cocky, surly, and generally full of himself. She was also a girl who'd just lost her brother under rather mysterious circumstances. Well, mysterious as in he, Sirius Black, was not privy to them. It was only natural that she'd be surly and unpleasant towards anyone who reminded her of her brother. Yet at the same time she always had a good word to say about Moony. He and her brother had been good friends. If his theory that she'd be unpleasant to anyone that reminded her of her brother was true, she would have been as surly towards Moony as she had been towards James and him. Well, it would be true unless she had a thing for Moony. At this thought Sirius scowled angrily and looked about for something to hit. He saw Snape exiting the dining hall and smiled. Getting an early start on torturing Snivellus would certainly make him feel better. He drew out his wand from his pocket and tried to think about the best curse to use. However, before he could, someone pushed him from behind knocking him off balance.
"What the…?" He began, whirling around to see who had pushed him.
"Sirius Black, I may not be a prefect, but I can tell you that you are not going to start that today!" Katarina said angrily. Sirius noted that she looked furious. Her face was flushed and she was shaking.
"Don't push me." He snarled.
"Then don't start fights with my friends." She retorted.
"Maybe you should pick your friends a little more carefully." He replied icily.
"What, and pick the likes of you and James? I don't think so." She returned haughtily.
"Piotr didn't seem to think we were so bad." The instant the words left his mouth Sirius knew he'd gone too far. At first Katarina didn't respond. She just looked so unbelievably angry that Sirius imagined that she was too mad to make a coherent sentence.
"How dare you say that to me!" She exploded finally. "How dare you bring my brother into this! Have you no respect for the pain that my family and I are going through?"
"Ivanova, I'm sorry, I didn't mean it like that." Sirius apologized. He reached out to touch her shoulder, but she recoiled.
"Don't you touch me." She said, her voice trembling.
"Ivanova, don't…" He began.
"I said don't touch me." Her voice was low and eerily calm, yet Sirius could feel the anger radiating from it. At that moment Seliina came out of the dining room and came over to where Sirius and Katarina were engaged in their standoff.
"Hey there, what's going on?" She asked slowly.
"Nothing." Katarina replied. "I was just leaving." With that she turned on her heel and stalked off towards the Ravenclaw dormitories.
"What did you say to her?" Seliina asked, looking shocked.
"How do you know I said something?" Sirius protested.
"Well, whatever it was, you pissed her off pretty bad. I'd watch it for awhile if I were you." Seliina replied before heading off after Katarina. Sirius waited until she disappeared from sight before spinning around and kicking the wall as firmly as he could.
"Strike out again, eh Padfoot?" James asked, coming over to him. "Though I thought you'd be going after Ivanova and not her friend. Either way, it looks like you came up empty-handed again."
"James, for once in your life, do me a favour and please shut-up."
"Alright, I yield. But I did just see Snivellus down the hallway. If you're still mad, maybe a little fun would boost your spirits." James said, grinning like a maniac.
"You know, dear Prongs, I believe it would." With that James and Sirius stalked down the hallway, wands ready to cause some trouble.