Chapter 14: Back to normality... for now.

After Sirius had finished updating Remus and Ali, he and Kat disapparated back to their place. Sirius immediately turned to go and sulk in his library but Kat grabbed his hand and forced him to look at her.

"Sirius, you have apologised and I have forgiven you so please don't act all disconnected and sad"

Sirius smiled and rested his hand on Kat's shoulder but Kat took his hand in hers and placed it against her bruised cheek. Sirius carefully traced the outline and Kat didn't flinch once. Satisfied that Kat was no longer hurt, Sirius returned to his normal happy self.

Over the next few days, Sirius acted extra sweet to Kat and he also made an effort to keep in touch with Harry more. A week later, Sirius was making dinner when a small brown owl zoomed in through the window and landed on the table, a letter clamped in its tiny beak. Sirius took the letter and the owl immediately zoomed up and perched on a wooden beam. Sirius opened the letter and began to read as best he could because the writer had been rushing and the writing was messy.

"Dear Padfoot,

The last task is in 4 days and we have now been told what we are doing. We have to find an object that's been hidden in a maze. It sounds harmless but I know it won't be. Who knows what else will be hidden in there? Anyway, there's another letter in the envelope from Dumbledore explaining about something which I'm not allowed to know about. Hope you and Kat are ok.

From Harry"

Sirius picked up the envelope and pulled out a larger piece of parchment.

"Dear Mr. Black,

This letter is in regards to the last task of the Tri-Wizard Tournament. A maximum of five relatives of each contestant will be allowed to come along and support said contestant. I await your owl containing how many people will be coming and which contestant you will be supporting by tomorrow.

Many thanks,

Albus Dumbledore"

Sirius grabbed some parchment and tore it in two. On the first he filled out the requirements for Dumbledore with a footnote asking him to pass the second letter onto Harry and on the second he wrote,

"Harry,

Well done for making it this far in the Tournament. They will put all sorts of things in the maze, some of which you may have never come across before but don't let that stop you. The object they have hidden will be the Tri Wizard Cup (it's the same object used in every last task). Me, Kat, Ali and Remus will be there to support you. I don't want you worrying about people's reactions to me being there and remember: if you don't win know that you tried your best and that in itself is just as good as winning.

Padfoot"

Sirius sent off the two letters (which took some time as the owl wouldn't come down from the beam) and called Kat downstairs.

"Yes Sirius?"

"Harry sent a letter. It's about the last task"

Kat read both letters and then helped Sirius with dinner.

"Who did you put down for going?"

"Me, Cornelius Fudge, Snape and Kreacher"

Kat looked at Sirius with an eyebrow raised.

"Duh, who do you think I put down? Me, you, Ali and Remus!"

Kat started to laugh but couldn't stop and soon tears were running down her face. Sirius smiled to see her so relaxed and suddenly had an idea. He filled a large glass with water and tipped it over Kat's head.

"Argh! Sirius you ... Urgh, I'm gonna kill you!"

Kat grabbed a vase full of water and with flower in and threw the contents all over Sirius who had tried to avoid her attack by jumping behind the table. Sirius stood up, soaking wet and with flowers in his hair and a cheesy grin across his face. He put his hands up to surrender but then grabbed Kat from behind.

"Argh! You're soaking wet! Let ... go!"

Kat was giggling as Sirius shook his head like a dog, spraying Kat with water.

"Now I see why James told you to make the change permanent. You act like a proper dog sometimes, you really do!"

Sirius gave a sarcastic smile.

"Woof"

"Meow... why are you looking at me like that? I am Kat after all"

Sirius laughed and they both sat down to dinner, soaking wet but spirits running high. After dinner they called Ali and told her about the invitation. After a rather loud conversation (mostly on Ali's part), Kat went to get changed for bed and decided she would go to the library, which was basically a room filled with shelves of books and two chairs in one corner. Kat chose a book and sat next to the crackling fire. After an hour she felt herself nodding off but was determined to finish the chapter of the book. When Kat woke up the next morning, she was in Sirius' room, not hers, and she was alone. She shoved the covers off and went to the kitchen to start breakfast.

"Morning gorgeous"

Sirius was already at the table eating some toast and reading the Daily Prophet.

"Hey"

Kat got breakfast and sat down to eat it but was distracted by Orion who was attempting to jump on her lap.

"Hey Orion, what do you want? Do you want to play?"

Kat forgot her breakfast and played Orion's favourite game: catch the sparks. Kat would shoot little balls of sparks from her wand and Orion would go mental trying to catch them. Kat played this for about an hour before Orion got bored and went to sleep on her lap. Kat turned back to Sirius who was staring at her.

"What?"

"Orion?"

"Yeah, what about his name?"

"It's my middle name!"

"I know"

Sirius looked at Kat with wide eyes before getting an incurable case of laughter. Kat was one of those people who laughed when other people did and they were both laughing so much that they were crying. Suddenly, there was a knock at the door and Kat answered it.

"Hey Ali, come in. What is it?"

"Well, Remus said he was taking me out on a date today but he left it up to me to choose where."

"Ok... cool"

Ali shook her head.

"It's a double date Kat"

Sirius had heard everything from the kitchen.

"WHAT!"

"You heard me Sirius. Double date"

Before Sirius could start wriggling his way out of going on the date, Kat stepped in.

"Sounds like fun. Where are we going?"

Ali smiled.

"Rock Climbing"

Kat giggled with happiness and clapped her hands.

"Cool, we haven't been rock climbing in ages. What did Remus say though?"

"He said it was cool, he used to go when he was little apparently"

Ali smiled and left, leaving Kat to deal with Sirius' whining. However, Sirius looked ok with the whole subject. Kat smiled but Sirius was fixated on her lips. Kat wondered why until she realised she was biting her lip again. She stopped at once and Sirius smiled.

"You look cute when you bite your lip and stare at nothing"

Kat smiled and gave Sirius a hug, his hand tracing her lip and making her stomach twist and plummet as it always did when Sirius acted this way towards her. Kat took his hand and they went to the library as it was the quietest room in the house. Kat was feeling tired even though it was only eleven o'clock in the morning. Sirius sat down on his chair and Kat sat on his lap, tucking her feet up and nuzzling against his chest just like she had done when he had stayed with her. Sirius wrapped his arm around her and within moments, Kat felt her eyelids drooping. At the sound of the clock chiming 12pm, she awoke, feeling much better. Sirius was sitting in the other chair holding a letter and smiling like he'd won the lottery.

"Hey baby are you feeling better now?"

Kat nodded and her gaze fell to the letter. Sirius chuckled and handed her the letter, even though it was addressed to him. Kat turned it round to find it open but the wax seal of the Ministry of Magic had been holding it together. Holy crap. Kat opened the letter nervously, wondering why Sirius would be getting a letter from the Ministry. However as Kat read the letter she went from scared to surprised to squealing with happiness in the space of a minute.

"You got a job?! Oh Sirius I'm so happy for you! When did you apply for it?"

"Couple of weeks ago"

"Why didn't you say?"

The corners of Sirius' mouth tilted up.

"I wanted to surprise you"

Kat laughed.

"Well mission complete"

Kat gave Sirius another big hug and went to sort lunch. Sirius closely followed and they ate lunch as peacefully as they could but Kat was so thrilled she was bombarding Sirius with questions he was only too happy to answer.

"What department are you in?"

"Department of Magical Law Enforcement. I deal with registering Animagi. Being one helped a lot" he added with a wink.

"When do you start?"

"September"

"So when me and Ali go back to teach at Hogwarts?"

Sirius raised his eyes.

"Don't you remember? Last year when we left, Dumbledore had given us a year's leave"

"Oh yes"

They continued lunch and as soon as Kat had put the plates away there was a knock at the door. Ali and Remus were there.

"Ready to go?"

"Yeah"

The four crossed over into the park and apparated. They landed behind some large bins and slipped out carefully.

"Here we go!"

Ali led the way inside and after checking in they got ready. Kat and Ali were excited, Remus happy that he was getting to rock climb for the first time in ages bit Sirius was holding back a bit, looking rather wearily at the wall. Kat took his hand, jolting him out of his day dream.

"You ok?"

"Yeah, I just don't get the whole concept of rock climbing"

Kat tried to suppress the giggle threatening to escape as she calmed him down.

"It's easy, you're put into a harness so if you slip you won't fall and all you do it climb the wall. The guys over there will pull the rope to keep you still. You'll be fine, just watch what we do and try to copy"

Sirius seemed a bit happier but Kat and Ali volunteered to go first so he could get the idea. As they were getting ready Ali turned to Kat a small glint in her eye. Kat rolled her eyes, knowing that Ali would no doubt have some sort of bet in mind.

"Race you up there?"

"You're on"

The two girls set off. Kat got ahead at first, being a natural at climbing and her long legs helped but Ali was waiting for the right time. Just as Kat reached half way Ali came rushing past, also being a natural at climbing, and within a matter of minutes had reached the top, a few seconds before Kat did.

"I win"

Kat smiled as they abseiled down again.

"Fair game"

She landed on the ground first and waited for the guy to unhook the harness. They went over to the guys who were clapping quietly.

"Well done Ali. Nice try Kat"

Kat smiled at Remus as he and Sirius got ready. Kat gave Sirius some last minute words of encouragement and he was off. After a bit he relaxed and even beat Remus to the top. Then it was Kat and Sirius' turn to go up and then Ali and Remus. As Kat and Sirius were climbing Ali called out and they turned around. She was holding up a camera and they paused for a moment while Ali took a picture. They climbed the rest of the way up and Kat side stepped over to Sirius to give him a small kiss. They were on a date after all.

"Hey! We're in public ya know!"

Kat laughed and she and Sirius abseiled down. After Remus and Ali had gone up and Kat had taken a few pictures, the four left and went to a little pub on the corner. Remus ordered some drinks and they all sat in a corner seat. Kat tucked her feet up and leant her head against Sirius' shoulder, his arm wrapped around her back. Ali jumped in to do the same and when the waitress came back with their drinks she couldn't suppress the little 'aw' that escaped her lips. However, Ali couldn't help but notice that she kept on directing her gaze at Remus from behind the bar. Ali felt her blood begin to boil and nuzzled against Remus further, making him squeeze her a little and bend down to give her a kiss. When Ali looked back, the waitress had stopped staring and even looked a little rejected. Good.

"Hey Ali, I was wondering when you and Remus were planning your wedding. Me and Sirius have been talking about it. We've got the invites ready and we've planned the date for the 21st of February next year, during half term so we could invite Harry and the others"

Ali smiled.

"Well, we have been discussing it and we were thinking the 14th of February next year! I know I know, it will be Valentine's Day but the funny thing is, neither of us realised until we'd written the date down in the diary. We were just focusing on having it sort of in the middle of half term because of it having to be in-between full moons so Remus is his usual handsome self," she added with a cheeky grin, "We've got everything sorted apart from sending the invites and ... dresses"

Kat smiled. Ali was a proper tomboy and not too keen on dresses but this was a huge exception.

"It's the same for us. So, it's the ... 23rd of July today so we have plenty of time to go you know what shopping, yeah? What's the name of the place?"

Ali thought about this for a very long time before nodding.

"Yeah. And we're getting married at that little church a couple of streets away. Um... St. Jordan's Chapel"

"No way, we chose there too! Oh this is going to perfect!"

Kat smiled and hastily scribbled some details in her notebook. Sirius laughed to see her so concentrated and when she was done he guided her round to face him and kissed her hard. A few hours later the four went back to Grimuald Place. Sirius and Remus began a game of wizard's chess while Ali and Kat got to work on putting both invites into envelopes and writing addresses. All by magic of course.

At eight o'clock Remus and Ali left but not before she and Kat had asked possibly the most nerve wracking questions they ever had. Kat nervously spoke first.

"Well, me and Ali were talking, since our parents are, um, passed away, I was wondering if, Remus, you would give me away?"

Remus smiled and nodded.

"Of course Kat, I'd be honoured to"

"And Sirius, um, would you give me away?"

Ali spoke so quietly it was a miracle that even Sirius had heard her but he nodded.

"Course I will Ali. I'm already going to be Remus' best man so I'd be more than happy to"

Kat and Ali both smiled ear to ear smiles and the four separated for the night, all feeling very happy.