Well, my hopes for weekly updates have been squashed in the face of school deadlines and working way more than I'd like but here's Chapter Two - Strange Magic! Thank you for the lovely reviews on the first chapter and I hope this one doesn't disappoint. As the holidays get closer and the semester ends, I will likely have more time on my hands to write, edit, and update. Wish me luck!
How to Be a Heartbreaker Soundtrack
Track 2: Strange Magic by Electric Light Orchestra
You know I got a strange magic.
CHAPTER 2
September 2nd, 1977 - Strange Magic
Despite it being after lunchtime when Katie left the castle the next day, Hogwarts and it's inhabitants were still getting a sleepy start when she made her way across the grounds to join Professor Kettleburn near the greenhouses. She'd received his note at the Welcome Feast asking her to meet him just before one o'clock and his excitement had been evident even on paper. A truly wonderful surprise, he'd promised. Considering the man had lived with dragons in Romania and raised doxies for fun, Katie imagined whatever new creature he'd acquired was sure to be special.
When she rounded the corner behind Greenhouse 4, Kettleburn was already waiting for her and nearly dancing with anticipation in front of the barn.
As a man in his fifties, it was easy to see that at some point he had been handsome. But after years of field work with dangerous creatures he'd since transformed from ruggedly handsome to mostly just rugged. Still, Katie thought, when his eyes lit up with excitement over some rare creature or new discovery she could sometimes see the young man that he'd been.
"Ah, Katie! Right on time, right on time," he gave her hand an enthusiastic shake and slapped her affectionately on the back. "Knew you would be. How was your summer, then?"
He turned and led her into the warm darkness of the barn. Katie smiled, knowing his interest was genuine, "It was uneventful, to be honest. But all things considered, I'm not complaining."
In the months after her parents' murder, Kettleburn had been a quiet but steady support at school. When she hadn't been able to face anyone else, he'd given her the solitude of his barn and kept her mind busy with creatures and potions and research. He'd never pushed her and never asked for more than she was willing to give. In hindsight, she thought it was likely that he'd experienced a similar grief in his own life because he had always seemed to know exactly how to handle her moods.
He glanced back at her with a small smile, "I'm glad to hear it, Katie. Now, let me show you how I spent my summer."
He stopped in front of what could loosely be called a horse stall except that the door to the stall was barred with heavy iron bars and a shimmering protection spell hung in the air around it. He looked down with a gleeful grin and following his lead Katie discovered two juvenile hippogriffs curled up together, fast asleep.
"Where in the world did you find Hippogriffs? They're beautiful!" she exclaimed and stared in fascination. Hippogriffs weren't extremely rare but due to the laws around both their capture and taming them, seeing them in captivity was less than common.
The two hatchlings were beautiful, all silky feathers and fuzzy bodies and currently only the size of newborn horses. One was coal black and the other was a golden brown so light he almost appeared gold. Even as juveniles, Katie saw that their beaks came to a threatening point and tucked beneath their bodies she could just make out the lethal talons on their front paws. Why was it that the more beautiful a magical creature was the more dangerous it tended to be?
"I am hoping to breed them," Kettleburn informed her proudly, beaming down at them like a proud father. "I was visiting my brother in France this summer when we found the herd's nesting ground. Poachers had killed or taken most of the herd but these two little ones managed to survive. I convinced the French Ministry to let me take them back to Hogwarts for educational purposes. Aren't they wonderful?"
"Just stunning, sir. Have you given them names yet?" she asked and stood on her tiptoes to get a better look into the stall.
"The girl is Artemis, and boy is Apollo," he replied and reached down by his feet to grab a bucket full of chopped, raw meat. "Would you like to meet them?"
"Do Bowtruckles live in a tree?" she asked excitedly and Kettleburn chuckled appreciatively.
"They are still fairly gentle but cautious," he warned. "So you must have patience. Apollo is more likely to trust you."
Swapping the bucket into his left hand, he waved his wand to release the protection spell. When he started sliding the iron bars off the door, Artemis lifted her fuzzy black head and eyed Katie with bright blue, suspicious eyes.
"Here now, here now," Kettleburn soothed. "Katie's only here to feed you." He reached over and let Artemis see the chunks of meat he placed in Katie's waiting hand and moved to the side. Sensing the other creature's interest, Apollo also raised a sleepy head and catching the scent of meat let out an excited squawk. Both of them scrambled to their feet but it was only Apollo who took a few cautious steps forward.
"Now," Kettleburn said softly. "Give him a bow and wait for his in return. Be sure to keep eye contact. Don't blink."
Keeping her eyes up, Katie offered the meat and bowed low. Artemis shook her head anxiously but Apollo almost immediately bent one of his front legs in a bow.
"Wonderful, wonderful!" Kettleburn exclaimed. "Throw him a piece of meat and we'll slip this collar and lead over his head."
Katie tossed a piece of meat into the air and watched Apollo snatch it enthusiastically from the air. He chomped it down and, with what she could only describe as the playfulness of a puppy, came straight at her to bump his head affectionately against her hip. Laughing, she threw a few more pieces into the air for him and was surprised when he sat patiently munching on them while Kettleburn slipped a collar over his head and handed her the lead.
"Why don't you let him stretch his wings while I coax this lovely girl from her stall," Kettleburn suggested. "He's used to flying with the lead on. He won't try to get away from you. I'll be out in a moment."
Katie nodded, still somewhat in awe. With a gentle tug, Apollo fell into a trot next to her and willingly followed her out behind the barn where she could see the large circle Kettleburn had been walking each day while the babies got their exercise. Used to the routine, Apollo immediately took flight when she stepped onto the well worn path and swooped and glided silently above her head as she walked.
He was really magnificent to watch, she mused. She'd read about them in books, of course, and even seen one from a distance during a demonstration at the Magical Creature Exhibit she'd attended in New York as a child. But none of it compared to being up close and personal to the real thing. She could see now why people tried to tame them. They were incredible.
They had just finished a second loop around the circle when voices floated down the hill from the castle. Apollo lifted his head in curiousity but didn't seem interested in anything other than keeping an eye on the source of the noise so Katie kept up her pace around the circle. It was likely just students heading down to the pitch to watch the Gryffindor Quidditch tryouts anyway, and they would have no reason to head towards the barn or greenhouses.
"Hey! Is that a Hippogriff?" someone shouted as if purposely contradicting her thoughts.
"Why is this school full of idiots?" Katie groaned and an answering shout went up. It quickly became obvious some of the students were, in fact, heading towards the barns. Figuring it was better to be safe than sorry, she gave a gentle tug on Apollo's lead to head back but, before she'd taken more than a step, two students came barreling around the corner at the same time Kettleburn was leading Artemis out the back door.
Startled, and immediately terrified, Artemis reared back and jumped into the air over Kettleburn's head whipping him around so fast that he lost hold of her lead and fell hard to his knees. With a screech, the ebony Hippogriff flew straight up and, to Katie's horror, headed directly toward the Quidditch pitch.
"Quick, we've got to warn them," Kettleburn shouted at her, climbing painfully back to his feet. "She'll be attracted to the broomsticks in the air. Go! Get to the field as fast as you can."
She could already see the poor thing panicking, swooping down to circle and then flying straight back into the air towards the stands. She'd never be able to get there fast enough, Katie thought desperately.
Nevertheless, she sprinted towards Kettleburn to hand off Apollo's lead and then shoved past the students that had stopped to stare as she took off towards the Quidditch pitch. With fear hammering in her heart and a certainty that either the creature or a student was going to get hurt, she prayed desperately that James Potter and his team were good enough on their brooms to outfly a terrified Hippogriff.
A bludger went whizzing past Marlene McKinnon's ear with a shrill whistle and had her cursing prettily over her shoulder as she nearly dropped the Quaffle.
"Bloody hell, Black! Do your job already!" Marlene shouted over her shoulder. Turning back, she feinted past James' defense, pulled back her arm, and sent the Quaffle neatly through the closest goal post.
"That'a girl!" James shouted and slapped her hand with his midair. "Those poor sods trying for Keeper today don't stand a chance."
Marlene grinned, "You don't have to sweet talk me, Potter. I'm already here, aren't I? Just make sure you get your Beaters in line. I'm not taking a Bludger to the nose again."
"Well maybe if you didn't fly straight at the Bludger next time I could actually do my job," Sirius flew up to hover next to them in front of the goal posts and gave Marlene an exasperated look.
"I didn't fly at the Bludger, you git," Marlene snapped. "It's that arse, Belby, sending them straight at my face. Some lovely Captain decided it was a brill idea to give my ex-boyfriend a bat today."
"Oh come off it, Marley," James rolled his eyes. "He wasn't purposely trying to take you out. It's how the game works and I told you I was more than clear with him about this rubbish between you two."
"Yes, but he's not a Beater and you know he hates me-"
"Would you two shut up for a second?" Sirius suddenly was looking curiously out over the pitch towards the greenhouses. "Am I mental or does that thing flying towards us look way too big to be a bird?"
James and Marlene both turned to look over their shoulders. James frowned, "If that's a bird, then I'm a troll. What the hell is it?"
"No idea, but I think we should get out of the air," Sirius replied suddenly uneasy. "I've got a bad feeling."
"I think," Marley began and squinted a bit. "I think it's a Hippogriff."
"You're barmy, the both of you," James disagreed but was starting to look concerned. "Why would there by a Hippogriff flying around the grounds?"
"Mate," Sirius tried again. If it was a Hippogriff and it caught them in midair they were in trouble. "Let's not find out the hard way. We should get back on the ground. Now."
"Dear Merlin," Marlene breathed as the creature got closer. "That's really a Hippogriff. It's heading straight for the pitch."
"It's seen us," James said and watched the creature angle towards them. "Let's go!"
He turned to shout a warning to the rest of the team, "Everybody on the ground now!"
Brooms across the field stopped and turned but the looks of curiosity quickly became panic as the creature's black shadow sailed over the top of the stands and let out an angry screech. It circled once before diving directly toward James, Sirius, and Marlene.
"Go!" James bellowed and they each tucked the nose of their brooms down towards the ground just as Katie burst onto the field.
"You've got to get everyone off the field, James," Katie gasped trying to catch her breath as they landed next to her..
"What the hell is a Hippogriff doing flying around the grounds?" Sirius demanded. "Is it another one of Kettleburn's barmy pet projects?"
Offended, Katie opened her mouth to inform Sirius that none of Kettleburn's work was simply a 'pet project', but Artemis chose that moment to swoop down on them and all she could yell was, "Duck!"
All four of them hit the ground and they heard others screaming and run to take cover.
"Well?" James looked at Katie in irritation. "Aren't you, like, Newt Scamander's biggest fan or something? How do we stop a rampaging Hippogriff?"
"I don't know!" Katie exclaimed angrily as she got back to her feet. While it was true Newt Scamander was an expert whose mother had bred the creatures, Katie hadn't studied Scamander's works extensively enough to know what, if anything, could calm one down. She looked around at them defensively, "It's not like I deal with them on a daily basis, for Merlin's sake! And she isn't rampaging, she's afraid. She's just a baby. We have to corner her somehow so I can knock her out without harming her."
"Right," Sirius muttered sarcastically. "Let's not hurt the incredibly lethal, wild animal. She's only a baby after all."
"Shut it, you," Marlene snapped and turned back to Katie. "Tell us what to do."
"Um," Katie sat up and watched Artemis soar up and then loop back around. "If we can surround her and trap her under one of the canopies I might be able to get a clear shot and she won't have far to fall."
"How are you on a broom?" James replied skeptically, ducking as Artemis made another pass over their heads.
"We don't have time to find her a bloody broom," Sirius said flatly. "She can fly with me. James, you're the best flyer here. See if you can head it off. Marlene and I will hang back and try to follow your lead, just pick a canopy and once she's under I'll get Prewett in close enough to knock it out
"We're going to have to get really close," Katie informed him. She watched anxiously as Artemis nearly flew back out of the pitch again. They had to hurry before she got away and headed toward the castle. "They're fairly resistant to magic. It'll need to be a pretty short range hit to knock her out completely."
"Get on," he replied shortly.
Katie scowled. He was acting as though she had done something wrong. It wasn't like she and Kettleburn had purposely let the damn beast off its leash. Feeling irritated and defensive, she silently threw her leg over the broom behind Sirius as James kicked off the ground and flew directly into Artemis' path. Sirius looked over his shoulder once more, "Ready?"
Katie gave a jerky nod of her head and they pushed off the ground with Marlene just as Artemis screeched at James and headed directly for them.
"Get behind her!" Katie shouted leaning around Sirius to get a better view. "I'll try to make enough noise to frighten her towards James."
"Head toward the blue canopy," James pointed and Sirius and Marlene nodded and came up underneath the Hippogriff.
"It's working," James yelled and put on a fresh burst of speed to corner Artemis between himself and the seats under the blue canopy. "Get ready!"
Sirius instinctively leaned into his broom and came up on other side. He glanced back briefly at Katie, "If you have a shot, take it. She's going to hurt herself anyway if we don't get her down."
Katie nodded, biting her bottom lip, "Get as close as you can."
To her surprise, he took her at her word and immediately followed Artemis under the canopy at the exact moment the Hippogriff realized she was trapped.
"Do it!" James exclaimed.
Katie whipped out her wand and exclaimed, "Stupefy!"
The spell hit it's mark and, like a wounded bird, Artemis instantly folded her wings and crashed into one of the poles holding the canopy up. With a loud crack, it split in two and suddenly the canopy and supports were falling down around them.
"Hold on!" Sirius shouted over the crashing wood.
Katie didn't have to be told twice. All sense of irritation gone, she threw her arms around his waist and buried her face in his back as he just managed to maneuver under a falling support beam and out of harm's way.
"Merlin, I thought you two were goners," Marlene breathed as she and James followed Sirius and Katie to the ground. By this time, a large group of students and teachers had gathered in the center of the pitch.
"Katie!" Kettleburn's anxious voice reached her from the crowd and he quickly detached himself from the crowd as Sirius touched down on the grass. "Is she alright? Did she make it? Did she harm anyone?"
"Everyone's fine," Katie assured him and glanced up at the demolished canopy. "She might be injured but she's alive."
"I've got to get up there. Quickly," he replied and looked around a bit crazed for a spare broom.
"Silvanus! What has happened?" Professor McGonagall fought her way through the growing crowd of students approaching with a stern look on her face. "Is a student hurt?"
"No, no, Minerva," Kettleburn assured her. "It's only one of my new Hippogriffs."
McGonagall looked suspiciously at Sirius and James, "Did someone set it loose?"
"Oh no, Professor. It was my fault for not warning off the students headed toward the barn," Katie interjected and remembered Sirius' crack about Kettleburn's pet projects. The last thing she wanted was for anyone else to start thinking Kettleburn was just a hair short of barmy. "They surprised us, you see. And Artemis was frightened."
"I see," McGonagall muttered and shot one more suspicious glance at the boys standing behind her. "Miss Prewett, you are bleeding. And so is Mr. Black. You should both head to the infirmary while I help Professor Kettleburn here. I will be with you both shortly to sort out what happened."
She turned back to Kettleburn in a clear act of dismissal, "Now what must be done, Silvanus?"
Katie took a deep breath as she took stock of the cuts and bruise on her arms. She was still shaking slightly from adrenaline and realized that she hadn't even felt the wood splinters that had caused them.
"You'd better go," Marlene said touching Katie's arm gently. "McGonagall isn't happy, as it is."
Katie nodded and turned around catching sight of Sirius for the first time since they'd landed. His right eye was starting to swell and was already an ugly shade of purple, there was a cut on his forehead, and his arm was bleeding through his practice uniform.
Katie winced and felt slivers of guilt slide into her chest.
"Don't worry about it," Sirius replied crisply when he saw her flinch. "Let's just go before McGonagall decides this was somehow my fault. C'mon."
Without waiting for her to reply, he turned and strode off the pitch toward the castle. Torn between wanting to support Kettleburn and doing as McGonagall had asked, she finally gave up and jogged after Sirius.
As she fell into step beside him, she again looked guiltily at his injuries. She hated seeing anything hurt, especially when it was her own fault. She bit her lip, wanting to soothe his hurts and her conscience, but the scowl on his face told her it was probably better left alone.
"Um," she began looking for something to fill the silence. Despite his obvious lack of enthusiasm for Kettleburn's work, he had not hesitated to help her and she was grateful. "Thank you for what you did. You were brilliant."
"I'd say anytime," he replied and glanced darkly at her. "But I'd rather not repeat the performance."
"I'm sorry," she apologized and tucked her long brown hair nervously behind her ear realizing suddenly that she'd never been alone with Sirius Black before. Somehow the thought did nothing to ease her anxiety. "Erm, does your eye hurt much?"
"I've had worse," Sirius replied with a shrug but was plainly annoyed by it. "Pomfrey won't be pleased to see me before term has even started."
Katie frowned. She couldn't imagine Madame Pomfrey as anything but sweet, "Why?"
"Let's just say I had one too many mysterious injuries last term," he turned his head to actually look at her as they entered the castle and saw her look of concern. "Don't worry. She won't shout at me for too long."
"That's terrible!" Katie exclaimed before catching the flash of the grin on his face. She started to berate him for being an arse but stopped short as he winced in pain.
"Been awhile since I've had a black eye," he admitted and touched it gingerly as they started to climb the staircase up to the third floor.
Now completely swamped with guilt, Katie couldn't help it and she placed a hand on his arm to make him pause. She cleared her throat, "Um, just wait a minute okay? If I show you something will you promise not to tell anyone about it?"
She didn't often share her gift with people, and had, in fact, been instructed not to share it with anyone since the War had begun. Having particularly strong magic these days apparently came with a death sentence, or worse.
He raised a suggestive eyebrow, "Can't say I'm in good enough shape for anything too exciting at the moment, love, but I'll admit you've got me curious."
She made a face, "Merlin, does that sort of thing actually work with girls?"
"I can be charming when I want to be," he chuckled but sighed when she only looked annoyed. "Alright fine, Prewett. I'm assuming it's going to make you stop blaming yourself for this, so what is it then?"
"Close your eyes," she replied and looked quickly around the corridor to make sure they were alone.
"I thought you were only going to show me something," he teased but did as she asked.
Taking a deep breath, she closed the distance between them and placed gentle fingers around his swollen eye. "Keep your eyes closed," she whispered when he flinched. "I'm not going to hurt you."
"That's what they all say," he muttered.
She ignored him and, concentrating on the feel of his skin under her fingertips, she closed her own eyes and began imagining a cooling sensation making it's way down her arms and into her fingers. The buzz of magic quickly filled her chest and with a gentle push, her magic released and she actually felt the coolness come off her fingertips to be replaced by a warmer sensation that meant the skin under her hands was healing. When she opened her eyes again, Sirius' eye was no longer swollen shut and the bruising had receded considerably. It was also open and staring at her intently.
"Thanks," he said quietly and the look he gave her made her insides feel uncomfortably warm.
She quickly dropped her hands from his face and turned away to continue up the corridor again hoping it would calm the butterflies in her stomach. She should have known it would be awkward with someone like him, she thought miserably as he came up behind her. And he wasn't likely to just let it go.
"Wandless magic is pretty advanced stuff," he noted, catching up to her with long, easy strides. He watched her with a disconcerting intensity. "How did you learn to do that?"
Katie shrugged. It was always troublesome to explain her gift, "I didn't. I've always known."
He frowned, clearly skeptical, "No one is born knowing wandless magic."
"It's not just the magic," she corrected and took a deep breath. "It's the healing. I've always been able to heal people, living things. It even works on plants."
"No shit?" he replied and looked, Katie thought, genuinely impressed. She imagined that was something Sirius Black wasn't very often. Impressed.
She shrugged off the small feeling of pride, "I've been doing it all my life. It's nothing really."
Coming from anyone else, Sirius would have considered that last comment a bit arrogant but he could see from her face that it was actually just a fact of life for her. Then he noticed the bruise.
"Hey," he said and grabbed her arm to stop her as they approached the Hospital Wing finally. "You didn't have that bruise near your eye before, did you? What does this healing trick cost you?"
Surprised at his perceptiveness, Katie's eyes widened, "How do you know it cost me anything?"
"Damn it," he looked genuinely angry for the first time since she'd ran on the field that afternoon. "Do you have to take some of the injury into you? Is that how it works?"
She nodded, "It is."
His face only darkened, "You should have told me first."
"It's not a big deal," she muttered, embarrassed, and pulled her arm from his grip. "It's my fault you're hurt and I could help. Plus, I heal fast. Really it's fine."
Sirius only stared at her. It was rare that anyone surprised him these days. In fact, he had learned to set his expectations low enough that people usually bored him most of the time. But she had surprised him and that was not only rare but...interesting. He'd always known Katie Prewett was a little different but, being from a Pureblood family, he'd also expected her to have some of the carelessness and lack of empathy that so many of his Pureblood classmates wore like badges of honor. A badge he'd worn himself until recently.
But she was clearly different. And embarrassed, he thought with some amusement.
He could see from the stiff way she held her shoulders that she was expecting more questions, was used to the prodding that came with sharing her secret. And despite the fact that he didn't feel much for anyone these days, he was uncomfortably aware that something inside him very much wanted to make her feel better. Never mind that that simple fact had the opposite effect on him.
"Well thank you," he finally replied and she relaxed slightly. "But next time, don't."
Katie frowned, sensing discomfort under his nonchalant dismissal and quick change in mood. She wondered if it had something to do with wounding his pride. She hadn't expected Sirius to be the classic male hero type - i.e. boy saves girl, not the other way around - but he seemed bothered by the fact that she'd tried to help.
"And keep a leash on those animals," he added shortly as he paused just outside the Hospital Wing.
Her temper flared, his pride be damned. He was a right git.
"Maybe you should keep a leash on those animals trying out for the Quidditch team! They were the ones carelessly running up on a defenseless Hippogriff," she snapped and glared hotly at him.
"Oh they're beasts too. No arguments there," he smirked coolly and glanced toward the door of the infirmary. "Anyway, send Pomfrey my love, will you?"
Caught off guard by the sudden change in topic, Katie simply stared, "What, you're not coming in? But McGonagall-"
"Knows where to find me," he replied with a shrug, the smirk lifting the left side of his lips again. "I'll take my chances. Don't let Pomfrey bully you, now."
And just like that, he turned on his heel and strode away to leave Katie staring after him completely baffled. Sirius Black, she decided, was completely and totally mental.
Walking away from Katie Prewett, Sirius wasn't entirely sure what had made him poke at her temper and then run like a coward. He only knew that he was feeling distinctly unsettled and didn't appreciate being indebted to someone for something he hadn't asked for. He also didn't enjoy the feeling of wanting to soothe the hurt he'd seen in her eyes.
Grumbling under his breath, he knew he would have to do something about it.
The blasted sense of loyalty James Potter had ingrained in him since first year could be incredibly annoying in that way. His conscience wouldn't rest until he'd done something he felt made up for the pain she'd physically taken from him. And more than that, something about her pulled at him and whether he liked it or not. He would have to put a stop to that. Women, in Sirius' mind, weren't meant to stick in your brain and when they did there was usually a cure for it.
Considering the wounded, almost haunted look in her eyes he imagined it was only a general sympathy he felt for her recent loss, having known the loss of family himself. But just in case, he'd find a way to call it even between them and leave it all behind. He wasn't a romantic like James. He knew that females only made things complicated.
But as he climbed the staircase to the Tower, he was still thinking about the cool, gentle feel of her fingers on his face and warm brown eyes that tried too hard not to be sad.
By the time Katie collapsed onto her four poster later that night, she was exhausted and dreading the actual start of classes on Monday. If the Hippogriff, Sirius, and McGonagall's interrogation earlier were any indication of what the rest of term was going to be like, seventh year was going to be a doozy.
"What's with you?" Alice asked curiously as she started changing into her pajamas. "You were awfully quiet when we were planning the party tonight."
"Nothing," Katie lied and didn't look up as Alice walked over to her bed. "Just tired."
"Hmmm," she replied and raised an eyebrow. "Tired and a liar. What's going on, Prew. Spill it."
Katie groaned, "Too tired. Can't."
"Budge up," Alice replied and plopped down on the bed next to her. "Is it about the thing with Kettleburn this afternoon? McGonagall said you weren't in trouble and everyone was talking about how brilliant you and Sirius were at dinner tonight. So everything's fine, right?"
Katie nodded silently but when she didn't offer up another explanation for her mood, Alice decided to give her a little push.
"Sirius was a bit off tonight, too. Any particular reason he was so keen on avoiding you?"
"Er," Katie mumbled staring up at the canopy above her bed. "Well I sort of showed him my healing thing today. And he got a bit wonky about it."
"You healed him?"
"I couldn't help it," she moaned and threw an arm over his face. "You know how I get. He helped me catch the Hippogriff and then he got hurt. I couldn't just let him be in pain."
Alice laughed, 'Alright, calm down. I'm sure it's nothing. This is Sirius Black we're talking about, after all. The man's a bit daft."
"Understatement of the century," Katie replied and remembered how quickly his moods had changed. And more than once. "The thing is he didn't react like everyone always does. You know, the whole 'Ooo, show me more!' reaction like I'm a bloody circus act. He got all moody and uncomfortable, like he was angry with me for healing him."
"Well that's ridiculous," Alice protested and waved her hand through the air. "So he wasn't impressed and his male ego was a bit bruised. Sounds fairly typical."
"But didn't you see him down in the Common Room tonight?" Katie demanded. "It was like he was watching me the whole time but I could never catch him. But I could feel it. It was, I dunno, unsettling?"
In fact, the only time he'd actually met her eyes the whole night was when James had decided he would be the one to help her and Alice move furniture and decorate the boys' dorm for the party. And he definitely hadn't been pleased about it.
"You're being paranoid, Katie," Alice said with a sigh but knew from the wrinkle between her best friend's brows that it was something that was going to continue to bother her. She never could stand someone being cross with her. "But if you're that worried about it - ask him."
"Are you mad?" Katie huffed. "You should have heard him today at the Hospital Wing. All arrogant and smirking. Like, thanks for the heal mate but I'd rather just be in pain. I'm sure he won't respond well to my wondering about his being moody and being upset that he doesn't like me."
"Ah, and the truth comes out!" Alice exclaimed triumphantly. "I knew you were worried he hated you."
"What? Of course I'm not! That wasn't what I meant at all," she argued, instantly regretting her choice of words. "I simply meant that he won't appreciate my bothering him just to satisfy my conscience. We tried that today, remember? And it's the reason he's angry to begin with."
"Mhmm, whatever you say Protesting Polly," Alice replied and hopped off the bed to head to her own. "But you're going to have to talk to him eventually and I know you. You'll poke and prod until you feel like you've fixed everything."
Alice turned her bedside lamp off with a snap, ignoring the dark scowl from the other bed, "Goodnight."
It was a curse and a blessing to have a best mate that knew you so well, Katie admitted to herself as she changed into her own pajamas and got under the covers. Because ultimately Alice was right. If Sirius was genuinely mad at her, it would sit like a fire in her brain until she'd fixed it. Unfortunately, fixing it would mean being alone with him again and she wasn't quite sure she could handle his mental mood swings. Maybe if she let it lie for a few days she'd get over it, she mused doubtfully. And maybe the Giant Squid in the lake would learn to tap dance.
Whatever the case, she only had to get through the party and she could happily avoid him the rest of term. It was only two weeks. She could handle two weeks.
That's it for this chapter. Preview for the future: Katie gets some one on one time with Eddie Bones (her current crush), Sirius finds a way to make things even between him and Katie, and somehow they keep ending up alone together! It's a mad world out there for a seventeen year old witch...
Thanks for reading!
ASiriusObsession