I ran. I didn't know where I was going, but I kept running. I heard James and Remus calling after me, but I still didn't stop. I didn't stop until I was at the far edge of the lake, far away from everyone. I looked into the black surface of the water. I was angry at myself for not listening to everyone's warnings. I walked towards the water. It all looked so peaceful, so perfect, but I knew darkness and terror lived below the surface. There was an image of calm that was shattered as soon as you ventured out of your comfort zone. I was suddenly overcome with fury as I grabbed a stone and threw it across the water as hard as I could. I managed three skims before it tumbled into the water. There was something therapeutic about throwing rocks at an image of perfection and seeing the water ripple at my hand. I continued throwing rocks until I heard footsteps behind me. I turned and saw the last person I wanted to see. Knowing there was a heavy rock in my hand, I was reassured that I could beat him to a pulp if I wanted to.

"You're a pretty good skimmer."

"Shut up Sirius." I said, only just resisting the urge to show his head how good of a skimmer I was.

"Listen-"

"No." I tried to walk away, but he grabbed my arm and twisted me around to face him.

"Kate, please." His eyes were pleading, making my icy heart melt. But only slightly.

"Fine. What do you have to say? It better be good, because if you haven't noticed, I have better things to do." I said, indicating the lake.

"I'll make it quick. Kate, I know that what I did was wrong, but you have to believe me when I say that I never wanted to hurt you. For years I've always been the womanizer, but I don't want to be that guy anymore. I just want to be with you."

"I guess you messed that up then." I said, turning back to the lake.

"I hope I can get another chance." And with that, he spun me around and planted his lips on mine. I tried to fight, but after a few seconds I knew it was hopeless and gave in. We stood there for what felt like hours, until the moment was shattered by the ringing of the bell for afternoon lessons.

"Walk with me to Defence?" Sirius said, offering me his arm.

"I guess so." I said, feigning annoyance. "But you do realise I still don't forgive you yet."

"Yet." He said, smirking at me.

We arrived at Defence Against the Dark Arts only a few minutes late, and the initial relief on James' face when he saw me was instantly replaced by a look of deepest hatred and loathing as he saw Sirius behind me. I hurriedly settled myself in one of the only remaining seats which was just in front of James. I could feel his eyes burning into the back of me. As the professor hadn't arrived yet, he leaned forward and asked "Why was Sirius with you?" But I was saved answering by the arrival of Professor Corvi.

"Good afternoon, class." He said, his voice surprisingly high and squeaky. "My name is Professor Corvi and this year I will be your teacher, and guide you through the infinitely grand world of Defensive Magic." I heard James' audible sigh behind me and settled my head onto my desk, ready for a boring two hours.

"Can you believe that guy?" asked James at the end of the lesson. "That was bordering on History of Magic boring, and he had the nerve to give me extra homework!" He kept up a string of complaints all the way to dinner. And all through dinner. And all the way up to the common room. Until Remus finally poked his head up from behind his book and said "For Merlin's sake Prongs, some of us are trying to read!" James was about to retaliate before he spotted Sirius climbing through the portrait hole. I could see that James was going to start off on me again, so I ran up to my dormitory as fast as I could. Then I went back down the stairs so I could eavesdrop.

They stayed out of each others way for a while, but when the common room was nearly empty, and Sirius was just about to head to bed, James stopped him. "Padfoot, you need to listen to me. I want you to stay away from Kate, and this isn't about the bet anymore. At this point I couldn't care less about the fifty galleons. I'll give them to you now if you'll stay away from her. I just care about her and want her to be safe and happy." I felt a surge of sibling love for my brother, but also a surge of annoyance that he was trying to pay Sirius to stay away from me. "James, I know you care about her, but I actually do too, and I'm trying as hard as I can to change for her, and be the guy she deserves, because I know that she deserves so much more than me. She deserves someone who is dedicated and loyal and loves her more than anything in the world. And I intend to become that guy even if it kills me." And with that he strode upstairs.

A/N I'm SO SORRY I haven't uploaded anything in a while! :( I've just been really busy this summer and I haven't had Wifi a lot of the time, so hopefully this is a chapter that was worth the wait! I'll really try to upload a lot more often! I LOVE ALL YOU GUYS! THANKS SO MUCH FOR READING!