Chapter 2
Of Tutors and Giving Up
"Black!" Kate declared loudly. "How did that pinbrained idiot get top grades?! Surely you must realise he is a cheating scumbag!" Kate added on in a louder voice.
"Now, now Miss Laurent there is no need to be rude. Mr Black is surprisingly good at charms, excellent in fact. He would be a good help to you in charms I think and I also think I will ask him personally to help you since you are so keen to get better." Flitwick said.
"No don't!" Kate ssaid distressed at the thought of Black helping her with her homework.
"No, but didn't you say you would take anyone?" The professor replied.
"Well... yes...but…. him?" Kate said.
"That's settled then, I will ask Black next time I see him for you. I will expect you in the library every Tuesday and Thursday evening at seven for a two hour session." He said.
"But sir..." Kate said.
"No buts. Goodbye Miss Laurent." The professor said before ushering his student out of his office. Kate couldn't believe her unbelievable luck. She knew it must be some cruel joke but the professor, evil little man that he was, had seemed insistent. She stomped huffily back to her dorm in search of Lily for comfort and a trip to the kitchens possibly. But she realised she had little to no time before having to head off to her first lesson which was transifiguration. She knew Black would be in that class but she also knew Flitwick had not yet told him of his future in tutoring Kate so Kate knew she could at least avoid that embarassment for this lesson. She arrived with a minute to spare so she walked in and sat at the spare chair next to Lily.
"Hey," Kate said grumpily dumping her bag on the floor next to her chair.
"Hey, whats up?" Lily asked innocentely, she smiled like an angel. Kate knew the look well, it was Lily's I am innocent face, which meant Lily had done something bad.
"Just that I have the stupidest most annoying tutor ever." Kate said.
"Oh really? Who is it?" Lily asked. Kate looked at her skeptically.
"Don't play dumb with me. I know you know Evans. I know you know Sirius was ahead of you and so you therefore lied to me so I would end up getting tutored by that monkey brained twat." Kate said annoyed. "I just don't know why you would do it." Lily looked guilty.
"Well... I just thought if you spent a bit more time with him he would... grow on you. I mean me and James are together. I realised after time that James was only doing all those stupid things to get my attention and after spending time alone with him I realised he's actually very sweet." Lily rambled.
"Yeah whatever." Kate said sulking for her friends betrayel. Lily just shrugged as the teacher put the instructions on the board for the class. Sirius and James were in front of the girls and were talking in low whispers. Kate didn't pay attention though as she copied notes down and worked quietly in her private sulk. Though afterwards she did think it strange that Sirius hadn't taunted her at all in the lesson. But afterwards she figured he and James were probably only planning something mean to do to her in the lesson after. Kate went through the rest of the day quietly though silently dreading her supposed tutoring session with Sirius. She got all the way to ten to seven though without seeing him. She knew it was strange but she suspected a silly prank was going to await the session so she just awaited the humiliation with uneasy angst.
Seven o'clock struck and she was waiting in the library at the table nearest the door, so she could make an easy get away if needed. She waited for ten minutes then just as she had had enough waiting she heard her name called. She turned and instead of Sirius she was surprised to see Remus. He was panting slightly from running it seemed but he stopped in front of her.
"Hey K, I just have a message from Sirius," He took a breathe. "Yeah, so he said he's sorry but has quidditch practise and couldn't make it, but he says he will talk to you to organise a better time for next week. That okay?" Remus spouted off. Kate was just a little surprised. Never had Sirius ever passed up a chance, to torture, harass, or ask out Kate. But she just put on a relieved face.
"Thank good, I was dreading our two hours of torture. Want to escort me up to the common room?" Kate asked jokingly. Remus just held out his arm and they walked up whilst having a chat.
"So why do you actually hate Sirius so much?" Remus asked whilst they were walking.
"Why shouldn't I? He's so full of himself and thinks I will just fall into his arms." Kate said straight away.
"I know he's confident, but that's just his way of being. He acts confident to hide his insecurities. I think your constant rejection of him is starting to get to him a bit to be honest. I mean he is my friend and I worry about him." Remus said.
"I know its difficult being my friend and his. But you know I would never make you choose. But I do think you should give him a break. To be honest, I think he's given up on his idea of you and him being together now so I think your safe in that respect." Remus said.
"He's given up?" Kate asked confused.
"Well yes, he hasn't said anything but he seems to have moved on finally, I guess a guy can only take so much rejection," Remus said, he looked at her face to see her reaction and she immediately smiled broadly.
"Well good, it's about bloody time." Kate said as strongly as she could manage, Remus continued to convey her face as they walked back to the common room. They chatted though about school and Remus' part time crush on a pretty polite girl called Sarah, who he claimed he liked simply for the reason that she always smiles and says hello in a friendly way, which made Kate laugh at her friend. He always made her smile with his silly crushes and sayings to go along with it. When they finally travelled up the four stairs cases, eight corridors and two secret passage ways (only known by very special people) to get to the common room they were in full chat about things and they generally couldn't stop once starting. They entered the common room but barely anyone was there apart from a couple of second years playing chess. So they took their seats up by the fire and chatted quietly.
"You know, I always wondered why you and Sirius didn't get on better. I mean you two are quite alike you know," Remus said.
"What?! No we aren't!" Kate said outraged.
"But you are. I mean just cause you aren't that bad at school doesn't mean you don't take part in your own bad behaviour just like Sirius. I mean you have been arrested four times for bad behaviour! I mean last summer when I was at your house at that party you through remember all the things you got up to...." Remus said smirking.
"God don't remind me, and it wasn't four time, it was fifith technically, but the fifth time doesn't count because..." She was interruped by Remus.
"You still claim that that guy kicked himself in the balls. I know I know. But whatever I still think you are just like Pad'. I mean you both have great senses of humour, though you sometimes hold yours back around others. You both would do anything for your friends. You are more alike than you realise you know." Remus said.
"Well whatever Remus, it doesn't matter, he's hurt me too many times for me to care how alike or compatible we are." Kate said. Just as she said this Sirius entered sweaty and dripping from Quidditch practise, it was clearly raining outside as his clothes were soaking. He had his broom slung over his shoulder and the look on his face made it clear that he had heard the last thing Kate had said, Remus and Kate hadn't seen him though and so Sirius went upstairs and out of sight. He felt weird from what Kate had said, had he really actually hurt her feelings? He had always thought his prayful pranks were only there as what they were, playful pranks, nothing more. He did actually like her but he never liked to show it with girls, he was very popular with the ladies, they flocked him, but he didn't actually know how to get a girl who didn't want him back. But clearly he was going to have to learn.
The next day came with a sunny day which dried up all the rain from the day before. By lunchtime it was nice enough for Kate and her friends to go down to the lake and eat the lunch they had swiped from the hall. The marauders were all there minus Sirius and Lily also. It made Kate wonder why he wasn't there, he usually spent every waking moment at his friends sides, or at hers making her life a misery, maybe Remus had been right, maybe Sirius had given up.
