Chapter 9: A letter and secret meeting

Kat hastily opened the letter and gave a cry of delight. It was from Sirius! The letter read:

Dear Kat,

It was so nice to hear from you again. How are Ali and Remus? I just wanted to let you know that I'm OK.

Love from S.

Kat read the letter once or twice but noticed as the sun shone through the parchment, there was a line of writing on the other side. She turned over the letter and on the back in scrawled writing it said:

Shrieking Shack, 12pm.

"Kat, what's that?"

"Oh, it's a letter from Sirius saying he's ok and is wondering how we all are"

Both Remus and Ali smiled.

"Oh that's great news!"

They all watched the rest of the sunset before going back to the castle. Kat could hardly contain her excitement about tonight. Why would Sirius want her to go to the Shrieking Shack? It didn't matter. Sirius was ok and Kat was thrilled.

At 11:30pm, Kat got up and got dressed. She quietly snuck out of the room and made her way to the Whomping Willow with Remus and Ali following. Ali had talked to Remus about feeling that there was something Kat wasn't telling her about the letter and so they had decided to see if she went anywhere.

"Immobulus"

Kat waited for the tree to freeze and then slid down into the tunnel and along the passage way and up the stairs. Remus and Ali followed but stayed hidden behind the door way where they could not be seen.

Kat entered the upstairs room and to her utmost surprise, there sat none other than Sirius. Kat was speechless. The guy she saw on the front of the paper all those weeks ago had gone. Sirius had clean clothes on and had no dirt on his hands or face.

"Sirius! What are you doing here? It's far too dangerous. What if someone sees you? You'll go straight back to Azkaban and it was bad enough you being sent there once for something you didn't do let alone a second..."

Kat had had more speech but she didn't get the chance to say it for Sirius had taken her hand and pulled her into a kiss. Kat was hesitant at first but soon found her arms wrapped around Sirius' neck and his strong hands around her back. Meanwhile, Remus and Ali had seen the whole thing and were gobsmacked. Remus could see Ali was just about to yell so he grabbed her by the hand and pulled her down the stairs, through the tunnel and out into the open before she could.

"OH MY FREAKING GOD!"

Ali's legs gave way and she collapsed onto the floor from shock. Remus sat on the grass next to her and pushed her hair out of the way of her face and calmed her down. Meanwhile, Kat and Sirius were still locked in the same embrace. Sirius eventually pulled away and looked into Kat's shining green eyes.

"You have no idea how long I've been waiting, just wishing I could see you again. And now I'm here, I can tell you, I never stopped loving you since I realised I did in second year. You were the thing that kept me going while I was in Azkaban – the thought of when I eventually got out of there, I'd be a free man and I could find you and tell you how much you mean to me"

Kat ignored the single tear sliding down her cheek. Sirius wiped it away with his sleeve and rested his hand on Kat's shoulder.

"You mean everything to me Sirius. I missed you so much and every night I would think about you"

Sirius smiled and leant down to give Kat another kiss. Kat gently took Sirius' face in her hands, felt his arms around her, lifting her slightly off the floor. Kat was the first to pull away this time and she rested her head against Sirius' chest and whispered the words,

"I love you"

"I love you too"

Sirius broke their hug and picked up a broomstick from the corner of the room that Kat had not noticed before.

"I have to go now Kat. It'll be morning soon and as you said, I can't risk being seen"

Sirius' words sunk in and Kat grabbed his hand.

"No, please don't go Sirius. What if I never get the chance to see you again?"

Sirius placed the broomstick back and pulled Kat into a warm hug. Kat curled her fingers around his t-shirt, holding onto the hope she could stop him from leaving.

"You will Kat"

Kat was in danger of crying now. She had just found Sirius; she didn't want to lose him again.

"I'll come with you. I could help you get away from the Ministry"

Sirius smiled and gently brushed Kat's hair from her cheek and wiped away her tears.

"Kat, as much as I want you to come, I can't let you. It's far too dangerous. I wouldn't want to put you in danger. I promise we'll meet again. I don't know when, but I'll come back"

Sirius stroked Kat's cheek again and gave her one final kiss from which neither of them wanted to part.

"I'll write whenever I can Kat, ok?"

"You promise?"

"Hand on heart"

Sirius let go of Kat's hand and he kicked off and flew through the window, his silhouette getting smaller and smaller. Kat was now feeling very happy as she walked back to the tower. As she entered, the first thing she noticed was Ali asleep in her bed with Remus lying next to her, his arms wrapped around her and his hands resting on her back, her head resting on his chest and her fingers curled around his t-shirt.

Half of Kat was like ok… but the other half was so happy about seeing Sirius again she didn't mind. She crossed over to her bedside cabinet and got out her photo album. She got changed and then found the picture of Sirius in 5th year. Kat smiled as she started to fall asleep, the picture album pressed against her chest.

The next morning, Ali and Remus awoke first. Ali started to get up but Remus still had his arms round her and he easily pulled her back down. Ali fell slightly on top of Remus and they both started laughing but ceased when Kat stirred in her sleep and sighed. Remus lent over to give Ali a kiss which she accepted. Kat then woke up fully but didn't move. She stayed in bed for a while, tracing her finger around the picture of Sirius in the album. She then sat up properly and looked over at Ali who was still kissing Remus.

"Ali what is Remus doing here?"

The two broke apart. Remus started blushing while Ali tried to think of something.

"Oh, um, you see…"

"I was wandering about the castle when…"

"When I bumped into Remus on the way to the kitchens. He'd got locked out of his room by Peeves so I said he could sleep here"

Kat raised an eyebrow. "Why were you going to the kitchens?"

Ali dropped her jaw in mock horror.

"Did you seriously just ask that? You know how I get when I'm hungry"

Kat shrugged it off and got changed, swung open the windows and sat on the sill. Ali got dressed and accompanied Remus to his room so he could also change. Kat was still sitting on the window when a dark tawny owl flew next to her and dropped a letter into her lap.

Kat hastily opened it.

Dear Kat,

I found this picture and thought you would like it. Also, Boxing Day is in a week's time. Fudge will be joining in with the festivities so it should be safe. Same place, 10pm.

Love S x

Kat cried out with delight and put the letter in her pocket. She could not wait. Breakfast was good then Remus had to go to a lesson and so did Ali. Kat also did but noticed that Hagrid was not at the table. Maybe he was down at the hut prepping for the lesson. Kat decided to ask Dumbledore where he was.

"Albus, where's Hagrid. I have a lesson with him this morning so I figured he may be preparing but it's not like him to miss breakfast"

"Oh Kat, didn't you get my owl? Hagrid had to go away for a while. Another teacher is taking his place. I asked if she wanted you to assist but she was adamant that she could do it herself. Hagrid will be back at the start of the Christmas Holidays you will have no more classes until next year"

Kat was happy yet sad at the same time. Finally some free time but she could not help wondering what had happened to Hagrid. Kat went down to the hut and grabbed the bow and arrow from inside. She went into the forest and an hour later came out with 4 rabbits. She stashed away her weapon and went back up to the castle and made her way to the kitchen.

"Hey house elves. I brought you some food again"

Five or six house elves came into sight and took away the rabbits, thanking Kat for her services. Kat smiled knowing she was helping and also knowing what the main course would be for dinner tonight.

She was just about to go back to the tower when Ali came rushing towards her, out of breath but wild with happiness.

"Whoa slow down Ali, what happened?"

"Well… I basically hung up a load of funny pictures of Snape and hid behind the door and when he came into the class I yelled out 'see ya' grease ball' and when he yelled out for me to get back I called him 'Pinocchio'"

Kat's jaw dropped.

"What were you thinking?! Do you want to get fired or something?"

"I'm sorry Kat but it was my last lesson and by the time Christmas hols are over he would have forgotten it"

Kat sighed.

"Ok"

The two walked back up to the tower. Kat took out Sirius' letter and found the picture. On the back it said 'I love you' and on the front was a picture of her and Sirius at Christmas in their seventh year kissing under some mistletoe. Kat smiled as she remembered that day. Ali had been chanting 'kiss! kiss!' and before Kat could object Sirius had kissed her and Ali had taken a picture.

Kat grabbed some parchment and a quill and replied to his letter.

Dear S,

Thank you, I loved the picture. I can't wait for Boxing Day.

Love Kat x

She sent off the letter with the tawny owl and then stuck the picture in her album.

"What's that Kat?"

Kat held up the photo album and Ali laughed as she remembered that day. Kat settled down with a book and at lunch the two girls walked down to the great hall. Afterwards, Kat asked if Ali wanted to go to the tree but Ali declined.

"I'm going on a walk with Remus"

Kat smiled and went back to the tower to get changed into normal clothes and went to the tree anyway, along with her familiar which she had decided to call Orion. She spent half the day in a tree drawing different pictures, most of them were of Orion or Sirius.

At dinner, Kat went to the Great Hall and sat next to Ali.

"How was your walk?"

"It was fine…"

Ali had a glint in her eye but it was the way she trailed off that made Kat think something was up.

"What happened?"

Ali looked like she was about to spill but it was Remus who spoke up.

"We went on our walk and it was fine but we were kissing under an old oak tree near the lake when Snape saw us. So, um, yeah"

Kat's eyes widened.

"Oh, now I know why you were quiet. She slightly pranked Snape earlier by…"

"I know Kat, she told me. I thought it was quite funny until I saw him watching us"

Kat patted Ali's back but could not help thinking that Snape was smirking at them from the other end of the table.