"A dad?" Cat’s eyes grew wide at the thought "Gheez Harry, give me a break, I’m only just getting used to this mom stuff....." She said as she began to blush "Hey... wait a minute.. You have someone in mind?!....... NO wait... forget it, I don’t even want to know" she laughed as she kissed his forehead goodnight. "I’ll see you in class tomorrow sweetie, be good."

As Cat walked back to her room she was caught between laughter and curiosity. "So he already has someone in mind.... What have I gotten myself into?" she said to herself as she made her way through the staircases and twisting passages.

"I’m honestly not sure my dear. What *have* you gotten yourself into" a gentle voice spoke from the shadows near the kitchen entrance.

Cat almost jumped out of her shoes at the sudden sound of another voice. "Albus Dumbledore why do you do that to me?" She whined as she held her hand over her heart "You just made my heart skip a few beats.. Do you know that?"

"My most sincere apologies, Kitty" Albus said cheerfully as he walked along side of her "So what, exactly, have you gotten into this time?" he asked.

"Nothing.... at least I don’t think so. I simply asked Harry what he wanted as a present for Christmas." Cat explained

"And his answer was?" Albus asked more curious than anything else.

Cat paused for a moment, she looked Albus square in the eyes and told him "A father... he said he wanted a father" she sighed as she threw her hands in the air. "And it gets better, he apparently has a suggestion or two......"

Albus stood there with an amused grin on his face "Did he indeed. And whom, may I ask, did he recommend?"

"I didn’t stay around to find out. I beat a quick and well timed retreat, thank you very much." Cat said as she bowed to Albus "There are some things I really don’t think I’m ready to hear, much less deal with. And being set up by my 15 year old would fall into that category."

"I’m surprised at you Kitten, I would have thought your curiosity would have gotten the better of you." Albus said as he winked playfully at her.

"I and my curiosity were just discussing that when you scared her dead away" Cat quipped, she smiled as she saw Albus chuckling at her "You’re really enjoying this aren’t you?"

"In all honesty... Yes, very much so" Albus smiled "though not nearly as much as Remus and I enjoyed your little game of Quidditch with the rest of the Gryffindor team." He paused waiting for her reaction.

"And how much of that game did you see?" she asked as she quickly formulated how much trouble she would be in for not using a wand, again.

"Not much unfortunately" Albus replied "Severus, Remus and I were discussing security issues at the time."

"Speaking of discussing things....Harry told me he heard you and Minerva discussing my adoption request..... care to add anything?" She asked somewhat tersely, "I was really hoping to tell him myself when I heard back from the Ministry."

Albus looked absolutely stunned "Oh my dear, I don’t know what to say.. I had no idea he was anywhere near us. I do hope we haven’t ruined anything." he said sincerely.

"I just didn’t want him to know Albus. Especially when the Ministry declines my petition" Cat sighed deeply "Its just going to crush him."

"Are you so certain they will deny it?"

"Yes, after all this is me we’re talking about. The MOM didn’t want me here as a student and they don’t want me here now." Cat replied "The last thing they would do is let *the boy who lived* be adopted by the Sidhe bitch".

"Catri MacLeod!!" Albus said harshly "I will thank you not to speak like that"

"Albus you know that’s what they call me as well as I do" Cat sighed as she shook her head "I’m under no delusions, I know they hate me, or fear me.... maybe a little of both." she said as she hung her head. "Its something I’ve learned to live with, it could be worse after all."......

Sirius stretch luxuriously on his bed in the small caravan, he smiled as he realized he would be able to walk as a free man among the Roma. They had no idea who he really was, or his history, he smiled widely as he went to wake up Dimitri, who was curled in a ball under several blankets.

"Hey, sleepy head" Sirius said playfully "come on.... get up" Sirius lifted up a corner of the blanket, only to see Dimitri stare at him painfully as the bright sunlight fell across his bed. Quickly putting the covers back down, Sirius chided himself for being so stupid. "Are you alright Dimitri? I’m sorry... I wasn’t thinking" Sirius felt relief flood over him as Dimitri softly murmured. Taking special care, Sirius made sure all the windows were covered with the blankets from his own bed before he left the caravan.

"What an idiot, what was I thinking" Sirius murmured to himself as he walked across the snow to see Magda and Fallon "Cash specifically said he was too young to face the sun"....

"Talking to yourself wizard?" Fallon asked as she walked up to him "and where is your friend today? Sleeping late?" she asked cheerfully.

"He’s not much of a morning person" Sirius replied, not sure how much he should share about Dimitri, especially considering his weakened state.

"Ohhh... of course not, how thoughtless of me." Fallon replied as she realized what she had said. "Tell me wizard, you slept in the same caravan with him, weren’t you afraid of what he might do?"

"Dimitri?!" Sirius asked sounding surprised "Never. We travelled the whole way together, he had never given me a moment’s reason to doubt him." He assured her "Besides Cash would never forgive either of us if anything happened to the other."

"Are you one of them also?" Fallon asked as her bright, glittering eyes searched Sirius with curiosity. "You don’t seem like one, you seem more......solid, more earthbound."

"True, I am definitely earthbound." he laughed, offering his hand to her he introduced himself "by the way, I’m Sirius. Very pleased to meet you....Fallon, right?"

Fallon smiled warmly "Yes, right. And very nice to meet you Sirius. My mother tells me you are well known to Albus Dumbledore and to Bean Uasal de MacLeod, is that really true?" She asked hopefully "My mother is rarely wrong."

"It is true" Sirius answered "But I tend to call her Cat, she doesn’t much care for titles" he smiled "she cares for people, especially her people, her clannad. I sincerely hope you will be joining us."

"My mother says she can offer us a great deal of protection" Fallon replied nervously, she wasn’t sure how much information she should trust this wizard with "It this also true?"

"Her clan is powerful, as is she. I have personally seen what they can do to their enemies. At this moment, she and some of her clan are protecting Hogwarts" Sirius paused as he saw her confused look "the school, Hogwarts..." then added "her son, Harry, attends the school. That is why Voldemort is constantly trying to attack it."

"This Voldemort attacks children!?" Fallon said, completely shocked at the thought

"Voldemort attacks everyone. Men, women, children.... babies... he doesn’t care. He simply wants power" Sirius said sadly as he remembered the last day he saw James and Lily, he had babysat Harry for a few hours so Lily and James could have some *quiet time* for themselves. "Trust me Fallon, I know how low he would sink"

Fallon could both see and hear the truth in his words. She made her decision then, she had to convince her mother to join with Clan MacLeod, she had seen a great war in her dreams, night after night. Her people would be wiped out if they didn’t find strong allies, and with Sidhe, wizards, vampyres and who knew what else on her side... Bean Uasal de MacLeod definitely seemed to be the best choice.........

Try as she might, Cat just couldn’t seem to relax, a nervousness had descended on her that simply would not let her rest. Maybe it was the fact that she couldn’t find Remus anywhere, or maybe it was fear of Harry’s reaction when the inevitable refusal came from MOM, or maybe it was Sirius’s words praying on her sub consciousness. Either way she knew she couldn’t just lay there, waiting for sleep to find her. Getting dressed Cat roamed the halls aimlessly, hoping to run into someone and maybe pass a few hours, she knew she needed to be around people when she felt like this. She needed to hear them laugh and to feel their touch, she needed to feel like she belonged somewhere, she dreaded the visions she knew were going to come. They always did when she started feeling empty and alone, it was the first sign.

As Cat wandered through the school, she surprised herself as she realized where she was headed, Severus’s office. It was only a few doors away, though she doubted he would still be there at this time of night. As she walked closed she saw the soft glow of candle light emanating from the gap where the door had been left ajar. Not wanting to disturb him, Cat quietly peered through the open door and smiled softly as she watched Severus.

Severus was sitting at his desk, mounds of parchments stacked in neat piles surrounded him. His head was resting on left hand as the quill in his right slashed the parchments with red ink. <pre final essays> Cat thought as she leaned against the door frame. Her smile widened as she got a better look at Sev, his shoes were kicked off and laying askew near his desk, while his legs were stretched out under the desk, his feet sticking out from the other side of the desk. She heard him sigh heavily as he continued marking several mistakes on the parchment.

Sensing a rare opportunity, Cat quietly slipped into Sev’s office, it wasn’t like him to be so unguarded and she simply could not let the chance pass her by..... Cat slowly circled around Severus, who was concentrating intently on the parchments before him. Cat nearly screamed when he suddenly stretched his arms into the air and gave a loud yawn. She was positive he would realize she was there, luckily he rubbed his eyes and continued grading parchments. Cat was standing directly behind him now, waiting until he had completed one parchment and was reaching for another she firmly placed her hands on his shoulders and yelled " BOOO".....

Severus sighed as he looked at yet another dismal attempt by a 3rd year student. <It is going to be a small wonder if any of them make it through the year without killing someone> he thought as he marked mistake after mistake. It was turning into a much longer night than he had anticipated, he had actually hoped to spend some time with Catri tonight, though considering the time, that was no longer an option. Sev laid down his quill as he stretched out, trying to stay wake long enough to finish these accursed essays. You would think at least one of the hundred or so students he taught could manage an interesting one, just once. He gave his tired eyes a rub as he went back to the tiresome task of grading. Suddenly he had the feeling he was being watched, reaching over for his wand, he realized it was too late as he felt a pair of hands on his shoulders and a voice in his ear......

Severus thought his heart was going to stop. He could not stop himself from yelling out as he turned, preparing to fight ......... He stopped as soon as he heard the giggling..... Catri. ..... How did she get past him? Looking over to his desk, he made sure the letter he took from her room was securely inside the drawer. Severus smiled wickedly at Cat "So think that was funny do you?"

"Just a little" Cat replied as she tried to stop laughing "Planning on attacking me with that quill?" she asked as she touched his cheek.

Severus grimaced as he set down his quill "Very funny Miss MacLeod. And what has you out and about so late?" he asked as he felt the delicious heat of her hand against his face. "I would think even you would be asleep by now."

"I tried, can’t seem to fall asleep" Cat replied, "so I thought I’d go looking for adventure" she winked as she saw Sev roll his eyes.

"As much as I enjoy your *sense of adventure* I do have a great deal of work to finish" he told her as he turned back to the parchments, waiting to see what she would do next. Maybe tonight would not be a complete loss.

"So I see" Cat walked behind him again "essays I assume. Rather dry reading from the look of it." she placed her hands on his shoulders and began to gently knead the muscles "Wow! Severus you’re really tense" she said as she began to massage his muscles more deeply.

Severus did not know what to do, he had never had anyone touch him like this before. He closed his eyes and relaxed against her magical touch. He had never felt anything like this before, it both hurt and felt wonderful at the same time. He winced slightly as he felt her manipulating the already sore muscles of his shoulders and back, only to wonder as they immediately soften and relaxed under the pressure of her gentle hands. He was positively lost in the experience of being completely in her hands, he sighed as he felt her moved to the back of his neck. Tilting his head down gently, he felt her fingers coax the knots out of his muscles, allowing him a sense of relief he had not felt in years.

Severus smiled as his mind wandered to what he hoped would be their future together, he imagined the many intimate moments they would share, ones just like this. He wondered if she felt the same way he did, she had certainly been very receptive to his advances so far. He smiled as he remembered taking her in his arms and kissing her, every time she had responded with enthusiasm and warmth. He was becoming more and more relaxed as she continued, Severus felt his head nodding as he drifted off to sleep. ..

"Poor baby" Cat said "you really need to get some rest. You’re falling asleep in your chair." she laughed softly as Severus jerked wide awake, feeling slightly embarrassed and rather mischievous….

Feeling quite invigorated, Severus swivelled his chair around and grabbed Cat by her wrists, pulling her towards him as she squealed with surprise. Twisting her as she fell towards himself, Severus managed to have Cat land squarely on his lap. The shocked look on her face said it all, Severus smiled deeply as he slipped his arm around her waist. "Are you always so affectionate?" he asked as he pulled her close, nuzzling against her.

Cat smiled softly, "My people are more *open* with our affections if that’s what you mean. But it wasn’t meant to be * affectionate* in the way you mean" Cat explained, she hesitated when she saw Sev’s smile falter "I am very fond of you Sev, you know that." she said as she saw the softness return to his eyes "but I’m also a healer, and I saw you were in pain," she cooed as she touched his cheek "the affection is just a bonus" she winked.

Severus sighed deeply as he stroked her hair, it was not often that she wore it loose, he relished the feel of it against his skin. "And are your kisses meant to heal me as well?" he asked "or are they an expression of your affection." he added after a long pause "I hope you do not regret them now." His eyes filled with a pleading gaze as he waited for her answer.

"Never" Cat replied softly "I never regret showing love ......" she never got the chance to finish her sentence.

As soon as Severus heard her response an overwhelming relief flooded through him, embracing her tightly he kissed her tenderly, enjoying her warmth and softness. Sighing as he pulled away, he looked at her fondly, "My dear Catri" he whispered as he let his lips brush against her cheek "do you realize how fond I am of you?" he smiled as he saw her blush. Sev could feel the heat flushing across her cheeks as he kissed them, the pleasure he derived from it was indescribable. "Please tell me you intend to spend the holiday break with me, at my house."

Cat could feel the heat creeping up her face as Severus showered his attention on her. She loved the way he whispered his affections to her, it made her feel warm and safe. It made her feel wanted. Cat was amazed at how playful he could be when he finally let his guard down, she certainly would never have expected him to be so mischievous as to pull her around like that, and to place her on his lap.... well she wasn’t really sure what to make of it. Although she did have a sneaking suspicion this was all leading up to something. ......

Cat almost choked when he asked her about staying with him over the holidays. She thought they had been through this already, "Severus, you know I intend to take Harry with me, to spend time with family." She sighed, only to regret her words as she saw the hurt in his eyes.

"I know. I was simply hoping we would be able to spend some time together as well" He couldn’t meet her gaze, he did not want her to see the disappointment or hurt in his eyes. He had so hoped they would be able to spend even a day or two together, uninterrupted by students or other teachers.

"Severus?" Cat said gently as she lifted his chin "please, don’t hide from me....." she could feel the tears behind her own eyes as she looked into his. Not knowing what she could say to relieve his pain, Cat pressed her lips against his. Severus had returned her kiss softly at first, but quickly grew more passionate, Cat wrapped her arms around his neck as he deepened the kiss.

"Please, reconsider..." Severus said breathlessly as he guided her head to his shoulder, he smiled as he felt her nuzzle against his neck. "You do not have to answer me now. All I ask is that you think it over, even if it is only for a day or two." He asked softly.

"Alright, I’ll think it over......" Cat said hesitantly as thoughts of Harry’s first true holidays with his family danced through her head, she would never deny him the joy of family. And more to the point was the thought of Sirius’s last words to her before he left to see Magda. She just couldn’t get them out of her head. "I love you Cat MacLeod, keep our little boy safe."the words kept echoing through her mind. Cat sighed deeply as she held onto Sev a little tighter than before, it was probably her imagination, old habits die hard they say. Besides Severus was the one who was pursuing her, doing everything possible to make his intentions know. Meanwhile, for the most part, she was the one who had to hunt Sirius down, not exactly a good sign of things to come. Cat felt Sev’s hands on her once again, they were warm and gentle as they stroked her face. She sat up and gave him a peck on his cheek.

"You can be awfully sweet Severus" she said as she smiled happily at him "I wish I could see this side of you more often."

"You can my dear, you seem to be the only one who can bring it out of me" he told her as he smirked "Can you imagine the anarchy, Professor Severus Snape goes soft" he rolled his eyes as Cat began to giggle. "It is not *that* funny" he told her as he gave her a quick wink, causing her to laugh even harder.

"Well as pleasant as this conversation has been, it is still very late, and *YOU* my dear Severus, still have mounds of essays to grade." Cat said as she kissed him on the cheek. She felt Severus reluctantly release her from his embrace as she moved to stand up, only to falter and stumble.