Chapter 12: New Term, New Year.

By next week, the snow had started to melt revealing fresh green patches of grass underneath. Kat watched from her window as the students who went home for the holidays returned, babbling away about their Christmas break.

Kat slowly got dressed and pulled out her timetable. She had a lesson with Hagrid in the morning and then the rest of the day to herself. Kat awoke Ali who was not amused at being woken up early.

"Ungh, Kat, why are you waking me up?"

"It's the new term; we have classes to help teach. Also, Happy New Year"

Ali's eyes flew open when she heard those words. She sat bolt upright and looked at Kat, her ice blue eyes widening comically.

"It's the new year?"

Kat nodded slowly until she realised why Ali was so excited. Every year Ali would go hyper on 'Rainbow Drops', a Muggle sweet that Kat detested, her reasoning behind it being that it's 'Happy New Year' so you have to go totally crazy to make it so.

Ali quickly got dressed and grabbed the bag of brightly coloured sweets from behind her pillow. Tipping it back, she emptied the bag into her mouth until she looked like a chipmunk who had over stuffed its cheeks.

Kat laughed while Ali stood in concentration, slowly chewing the sweets until they turned to mush in her mouth and swallowing it bit by bit until it was all gone. She then brushed her teeth, grabbed Kat by the hand and bounded down the stairs.

Kat was quite out of breath by the time they got to the bottom and then there was the flight of stairs that lead to the great hall. Kat had gotten fed up of running and walked calmly down the stairs however Ali, who was so jumpy, tripped over her robes and fell down the stairs. She landed on her back and a painful 'ow' escaped her lips. Fortunately, only the teachers and a handful of students had arrived. However, everyone burst out laughing much to Ali's embarrassment. Remus couldn't suppress the laugh escaping from his lips but he also couldn't stop himself from pitying Ali. His girl was terribly clumsy at times but made up for it with her huge heart and sense of humour.

Kat hid her face in her hands, muttering the inaudible words:

"Every year"

Kat picked up Ali and brushed the dirt off her shoulder. They walked to the teachers table, Ali hiding behind Kat and Kat trying not to look too embarrassed. They sat down next to Remus who immediately pulled Ali into a hug.

"Are you ok? You always were the clumsy one"

Ali laughed nervously and blushed bright red.

"I'm fine Remus, but I think my dignity took a slight hit. Especially with the greasy overgrown dungeons bat sitting right there"

Kat told Ali not to be rude.

"You may have called him that when we were kids but it's inappropriate now you're, well, grown up, to a certain extent"

Ali smiled but then said in a voice that could have fitted a 5 year old,

"Sorry Kat"

Kat smiled – whenever Ali said sorry like that, Kat knew she meant it and would try to tone down a bit. Remus kissed Ali on the cheek and went to class. Kat also meant to leave for class but Ali grabbed her hand.

"What Ali?"

"Please, please, please don't leave me here with Snape! I have Potions now and he's made a habit of following just a few paces behind me. It's really annoying"

Kat sighed. This could well be true but coming from Ali, it was also code for 'I'm too embarrassed'.

"Ali, you have to do your classes. Just ignore Snape and show him you're not bothered. It'll die down quick enough"

Ali got up and stomped from the hall. Kat then noticed Snape getting up to follow so she rushed over to stop him.

"Snape, fancy meeting you here!"

Snape looked at Kat with a cold and piercing stare.

"What do you want Miss Smith? I have a class to go to and am I right in thinking you have one too?"

Kat nodded and let Snape past, smiling as his long cloak flapped behind him, giving the impression of a bat, but also in knowledge of the fact that he would not be able to follow Ali as closely. Kat then rushed to her own class and made it just in time to walk down with Hagrid to the clearing. Hagrid left Kat in charge momentarily while he went to get something. Kat just sat on the tree stump and watched as the class came down the hill, counting them to see how many were there.

"Ahem, can anyone tell me where Draco Malfoy is?"

Just then, Malfoy came stumbling down the hill yelling something un-intelligent.

"Dementors! Dementors!"

The whole class became uneasy, some letting out gasps and every one looking round for the hooded creatures. However, none came into sight. Kat fixed Draco with a cold stare.

"Draco, Dementors are not something to joke about"

Draco ignored Kat and Hagrid came back holding a large box of Nifflers, some food and a handful of shiny objects. Hagrid handed the Nifflers to Kat before setting out the food in one place and then telling the class to each take an object and hold it in their hands, making sure a part of it is visible.

"Alright Kat, let 'em out"

Kat gingerly opened the box and the Nifflers jumped out, immediately going to the food but not before long, one noticed the golden watch in Harry's hand and rushed up to him, snatched it and placed it with the food. Soon the other Nifflers caught on and one by one the students were emptied of the objects in their hands, even some of their own items: a watch or a bracelet. One girl, Luna Lovegood, was wearing a silver headband and a Niffler actually climbed up onto her head before taking it and running down her back, making her laugh.

Hagrid then whistled and all the Nifflers came back to him.

"Kat, could you put 'em back in the box please?"

"Yeah"

While Hagrid gave the class their homework and their own items back, Kat placed the Nifflers back into the box one by one. Surprisingly, they didn't jump out again as Kat was expecting and she was becoming quite confident until one grabbed her locket and she had to fight for it back.

Eventually the Nifflers were back in the box and Kat was carrying them back to Hagrid's hut when she noticed Draco showing off the handful of coins he had taken from the pile of objects. Kat put down the box and cast 'Accio' towards Draco's outstretched hand. Suddenly, all the coins came flying into Kats hand and a bewildered Draco stalked off towards the castle.

Kat returned the Nifflers and raced up to the castle before the black cloud that had appeared overhead could soak her.

Up in the tower, Ali was sitting on her bed playing with her familiar who she had decided to call Kurama. Kat flopped down onto her bed, exhausted from running up the hill and from wrestling the Niffler. She held the locket tight in her hand but that didn't stop Ali from managing to pry it from Kat's hand and jump out of the way before Kat could grab her.

"Aw, this is sweet, who sent this?"

Kat blushed before muttering,

"Srus"

"What?"

"Sirius"

Ali's eyes widened comically before closing the locket and giving it back. Kat bit her lip, wishing she hadn't said anything. But instead of being cross, Ali broke into a smile.

"Aw, that's so sweet. Kat and Sirius sitting in a tree K-I-S-S..."

"I saw him last week"

Ali came up short and slowly turned on her heels, her eyes wide with shock. She stared at Kat who was sort of shifting from one foot to the other and biting her lip.

"You, you saw him?!"

"I did want to tell you but I couldn't. Just, just in case. He sent me a letter telling me to meet him at the Shrieking Shack at 10pm. This was on Boxing Day and a week before that he had sent a letter telling me to meet him there at midnight. I did want to tell you Ali but I was scared to because I didn't know what..."

Ali placed a hand on Kats shoulder.

"Kat! I know about the first meeting. Me and Remus, we, I wasn't sure you were telling me the whole truth about that first letter you got so we followed you when you left the tower. We, we didn't see much, only when Sirius kissed you and I nearly yelled so... Kat, where are you going?"

Kat had left the room and was making her way to the third tower. She climbed to the top and knocked on the door. Remus opened it and smiled when he saw the two girls but quickly stopped when he saw Kat was mad. He scratched the back of his neck nervously before saying,

"Hey Kat, what can I help you with?"

"Why did you and Ali follow me the first time I went to meet Sirius?"

Remus gestured for the two to come inside. Kat stalked inside while Ali quietly followed. She gave Remus a kiss that plainly said: be careful what you say, she's mad.

"Well? I'm kind of waiting for an answer here. Why were you two following me?"

Remus and Ali broke apart and turned to face Kat who was standing in the middle of the room, her once light brown hair turned to a flaming red.

"Ali wasn't sure if you were telling all about the letter and wanted to see so when you left the tower she came and got me and we followed to see where you could be going as it was half 11 at night and there aren't many places to go at that time"

"And asking me the following morning wouldn't have worked? Even if I had lied about where I went, we still wouldn't be in the situation we are now!"

Ali looked at the floor while Remus smiled nervously, trying to work out what to say next but before he could speak Ali suddenly interjected.

"You're right Kat, we shouldn't have followed you. We're so sorry Kat and we promise not to do it again, if there is an again" she added with a wink.

Kat blushed and Remus looked confused until he caught on.

"You mean you've seen him again! When?"

Kat shot a dark look at Ali before telling Remus about Boxing Day.

"So that's why you were dressed up!"

Kat blushed yet again and nodded. She was still mad with them for following her but she didn't hesitate to give Ali a hug.

"I forgive you, you too Remus"

"It's ok Kat. Now I have to go and see Snape, he has something that belongs to me"

Remus left the room followed by the girls. They went back to their room and played with Kurama and Orion, unaware of the events beginning to take place.