Chapter 12: Sirius' Birthday

When Kat woke up, it was half past eleven at night and she was starving. She sat up and got changed into her pyjamas before going to find something to eat. As she sat in the kitchen eating toast and drinking a cup of tea, she started to think how she hadn't had such a good sleep in weeks. After eating, Kat felt wide awake. She went back to her room, opened the curtains and sat on the window sill, attempting to draw the night sky but couldn't concentrate. She hadn't had a good night's sleep in ages and all of a sudden she got the best sleep ever. Her gaze travelled to the draw beside her bed and noticed an empty vial on the top. She checked the box of full ones and saw there was one missing.

Kat smiled before tiptoeing to Sirius' room. She carefully opened the door and crossed over to the bed where Sirius was fast asleep. She snuggled next to his body and somehow fell back asleep. The next morning, Sirius woke up first and was surprised to see Kat next to him. He gave her a gentle kiss and her eyes fluttered open.

"Hey beautiful, did you sleep well?"

Kat smiled. He was being so innocent but two could play at this game.

"Yes I did. It's funny. The last time I slept that well was when I was on the full dose of sleeping draught"

His eyes widen like a rabbit caught in a headlight.

"Never, under any circumstances unless I am like a full time zombie or I'm hysterical, do that again"

Sirius looked guilty so Kat smiled and gave him a kiss and a huge hug.

"Happy Birthday darling"

"Thanks"

"Now, not that I want to start the day with boring stuff but if I'm to make your breakfast, I need you to get some bread while I prepare"

Sirius sighed and pulled Kat closer to him.

"Do I have to?"

Sirius was trying to sound fed up but Kat could see the cheeky glint in his eye.

"Yes otherwise no breakfast for you"

Sirius smiled and got dressed before apparating out of the room. Kat rushed downstairs and grabbed her wand off the table.

"Expecto Patronum"

A silver dragon shot out and disappeared through the open window. Kat got dressed and started flying back and forth setting up the table. She heard a knock at the door and opened it gingerly. To her delight, Ali, Remus, the Weasley's and Harry were there.

"Hey guys come in!"

Kat finished setting the table before getting everyone into place. Five minutes later, Sirius apparated back into the hallway holding a loaf of bread.

"Hey, I got you this"

"Thanks"

Sirius walked down the hall and everyone else jumped out from their hiding places.

"SURPRISE! HAPPY BIRTHDAY SIRIUS!"

Kat walked up behind Sirius and put her hand on his shoulder.

"Happy Birthday Sirius"

Sirius wrapped his hands around her waist and looked at the girl that he could call his.

"Did you do this?"

Kat smiled and nodded.

"With a little bit of help from Ali and Remus"

"So modest Kat. Thank you"

An awkward silence hung in the air until Ali muttered something under her breath that sounded a lot like "For the love of Jashin" and jumped forward and pushed Kat and Sirius together. They kissed and everyone else cheered and clapped.

For the next few hours every one ate the breakfast that Kat had set out and the amount of talking and laughter was incredible. At 10 o'clock, Kat and Sirius said goodbye to everyone and as soon as they were alone again, they both collapsed onto the sofa. Kat rested her head against Sirius' chest and was almost asleep when she remembered something.

"Sirius"

"Mm?"

"I've got your other present here. Happy Birthday"

Kat pulled a photo album out from behind the pillow. It looked similar to hers except for the colour and there were different pictures inside. Sirius flicked through the filled pages and when he had finished he felt like the happiest person on the planet. He laid the book on the seat next to him and pulled Kat into a hug before murmuring in her ear.

"I've just realised, we haven't been on an actual date yet. I can't really count the secret meetings in the Shrieking Shack so go upstairs and get changed and then we can go"

Kat looked at Sirius curiously.

"Go where? And what's wrong with what I'm wearing?"

Sirius smiled.

"Nothing, you just have to look sexy for ballroom dancing"

Kat smiled and ran upstairs to her room. Laid out on her bed was a midnight blue dress that stopped just below mid-thigh with black heels. Kat hastily got dressed and found Sirius in the hall wearing a suit and tie. Sirius took her hand and they disapparated out of the house and into a small alleyway. Sirius led the way out and Kat found herself in front of a proper ballroom dance hall. Kat could hardly contain her excitement as she followed Sirius into a large hall that was pretty much pitch black apart from a soft spotlight in the middle. Sirius turned around and offered his hand to Kat.

"May I have this dance?"

"Yes"

A romantic tune began to play and to Kat's surprise, Sirius turned out to be a pretty good dancer. Kat had had a couple of years learning ballroom dance and soon she and Sirius were twirling around the hall without a care in the world.

"You know Sirius, when you said ballroom dancing; I thought you meant lessons in a small hall with other people, not this. It's perfect"

"You're welcome Kat. I can be a romantic at times you know, plus, other people on our date would kill the mood"

Kat laughed and at 2pm they left the dance hall and headed over the road to a small pub. Kat chose a seat in the corner and Sirius ordered some drinks.

"Sirius, Remus told me that you loved me ever since the second year. Is that true?"

"Yes it is. Kat, I have to ask, when did you first realise you loved me?"

"Fifth year. When Abigail Mason kept on flirting with you and sending you love letters in class, I realised I didn't like it and I was jealous of her confidence to show you how she felt when every time I found a tiny bit of courage to tell you how I felt, as soon as I saw you it would go away"

Sirius gave such a hearty laugh that a few people started to stare but Kat didn't care.

"You know when Jacob Knight asked you out to the Yule Ball? At first I was ok with it, a bit annoyed that I hadn't asked you sooner as I had been planning to, but when I was watching you dance and laugh, apparently I got so jealous that I started transforming into my animagus form. Remus told me."

"No way, you're making that up!"

"No, unless Remus was winding me up"

Kat was laughing so much that tears were rolling down her face and the fact that she was drunk didn't help. When the clock in the pub struck 6, they both left with Kat stumbling along after Sirius. They arrived home at twenty to 7 and both fell asleep almost instantly on the sofa. When she woke up, Kat was feeling much more sober and it was 1 o'clock in the morning. Sirius was awake and obviously more sober.

"Sirius, I keep meaning to ask you, this morning when you were talking to Harry, were you talking about the Tournament?"

Sirius was silent for a moment.

"Yes. Apparently the tasks are getting harder. The last one, four people that were close to the contestants were charmed and put at the bottom of the Black Lake. Ron and Hermione were two of them, also a girl called Cho Chang who Harry likes a lot and a girl's sister from Beaxbaton's Academy. Anyway, this girl from Beaxbaton's had to withdraw from the task early because she was attacked so Harry had to break the rules and save the girl's sister as well as Ron. He didn't make the time limit but because he saved two they gave him second place"

Kat had sat up properly and her eyes were wide with shock.

"Oh. Was there any other news?"

"Yeah. Barty Crouch is dead"