“Do you know what happened to Calli’s parent’s Harry?”
“I know they died recently, but that’s all I heard. No one really talks about it or anything.” Harry replied truthfully.
“Yes, but they didn’t just die Harry, they were murdered, like James and Lily were.” he placed a comforting hand on his godson’s shoulder as the darkness passed over Harry’s eyes. “Then even killed her puppy, that’s why the boys decided to find another one just like hers instead of giving her a border collie or grim like your other cousins have. They wanted her to have something that reminded her of the good times with her family. Cat and I had a very long, very serious discussion about a lot of things the other day Harry.” Siri explained as he looked Harry squarely in the eyes. “And now I have to ask you a few questions, and I need to hear honest answers from you.”
“Your Mum asked me if I thought I could handle ‘suddenly’ becoming a father to ‘several’ children.” Sirius started to smirk, until he saw the look of grief and horror in Harry’s eyes, “What is it Harry? What’s wrong?!”
“Several children?” Harry all but wailed, “Please tell me she’s not going to have twins… not by HIM…. I want you to be our father, not Snape.. I won’t go with them Sirius, I won’t… I’ll stay in Fernglennis, …”
“Harry, stop.” Sirius said quickly, cringing as he realized Harry knew what everyone else seemed to be thinking. He blinked a few times before being able to continue “It has nothing to do with that Harry. And no one knows for certain whether or not she’s with child, according to Orpha she won’t know for sure for a few more weeks. But if it makes you feel better, I think I’ll be ‘daddy’ to them,… him,… her,…. as well” he stated, brightening up considerably as he thought of raising a child, a family with Cat and Harry.
“When she asked me about becoming a father, she was referring to children that we already know, one of whom is Callista. Orpha and the other crones may ask her to take in Calli and raise her as her own, our own.” he explained, waiting patiently for Harry to process this information and reply.
“So that would make her my sister?” Harry asked, a smile slowly crossing his face as he realized what that would mean to him. “That would be wonderful, we’d never have to be stuck alone, we would always have someone to talk to, and help, and…..and…ugh.” Harry gulped as he suddenly realized why Sirius was unhappy to find he and Calli kissing. “I just kissed my ‘sister‘?” he asked as his face contorted.
Sirius laughed loudly, he didn’t mean to but he couldn’t help it, the look on Harry’s face was absolutely priceless. “No, no Harry…. Well, yeah, maybe, … but.,...that’s not what….” Sirius gave Harry a long, hard look “You are NOT going to make this easy on me, are you?” he laughed, a goofy grin spreading across his face as he watched Harry break into a fit of laughter too. “Alright lover boy, just don’t let your Mum find out about this, and no more kissing Callista, understand?”
Wiping the tears of laughter from his eyes, Harry nodded. “Completely, but does Calli know about this? I mean about being adopted by us, has anyone told her?”
Sirius shook his head, “No Harry, I don’t think so. If I remember correctly, they want to see how Callista does with the clan on the whole first. She seems to like your Mum well enough, and Cat is planning on bringing her back to Hogwarts with us. But it’s a very, very big step for her, for both of them, actually, for all of us. Nobody wants to rush it and make a mistake, it may turn out Calli would be better off staying in Fernglennis with Siobhan or maybe going to Avalon with Luke and the twins.” Sirius noted how crestfallen Harry seemed to be when he realized Callista was not definitely going to stay with them. “Hey, don’t worry Harry.” Sirius said softly, “one way or another, you are going to be a big brother soon, I promise.” …….
Cash could feel the blood coursing through his veins as his ancient, undead heart pumped harder and harder, a very rare and truly exquisite feeling to the most ancient of all Gangrels. Lifting his head just enough to scent the air, Cash grinned as he easily caught the foul aroma of the Tremere “You’re getting slow in your old age, Gustavas” he taunted, “even wounded you should be doing better than this. Did my little girl do more than simply take a limb from you? Is the poison of her anger and pain slowly killing you?” he asked, grinning evilly, feeling a strange sense of joy at the thought of the Tremere suffering slowly, dying a little more each day in constant pain and torment. “You never should have attacked the ones she loves, especially her son. After all, you know what they say about a mother protecting her young.”
Gustavas snarled as Cash’s taunting words rang in his ears. His only mistake was not killing them fast enough, he NEVER should have trusted Lucius Malfoy or the rest of those pathetic death eaters to keep the Gangrels occupied, much less that wretched Sidhe witch. She would pay for what she did to him, first with the blood of her son and everyone else she had ever cared about, and then with her own. He would savour her screams of horror and grief, all of her tears and every last drop of blood he took from her.
But first, he had to avoid this trap. He stopped just long enough to determine where the Gangrels were, smirking as he realized Cash hadn’t brought them all with him. The Methuselah’s over confidence would be his undoing, that much was certain. Now all he had to do was to find the weakest link….
Cash nodded and signalled to Angus and Roel to continue herding the Tremere towards Brutus, the one vampyre that Gustavas feared above all others. His own mortal brother, embraced by Cash’s great-great-great-grandfather, for the sole purpose of destroying Gustavas the Tremere. Cash watched with cautious excitement as Roel and Angus executed their parts flawlessly, each of them splitting off to either side of the beast, forcing him straight down the middle, into Brutus’s waiting arms.
“Come on Cobryn, time to back the boys up.” Cash stated as he waved his hand in the air, producing a large, gleaming sword seemingly from nowhere. He turned to give the Caitiff hunter one last grin before running after his clan, but paused momentarily as he saw the shadow of final death hanging over the young Caitiff’s head. “Maybe you should wait here, you don’t look so good.”
“Not a chance. That beast is going down one way or the other, and I intend to be there to see it. Just do your best to keep up with me, old man.” Cobryn growled darkly as he sped off after the others, leaving the saddened Cash behind.
“Damned fool childe, he intends to kill you, and you’re running towards him” Cash sighed as he quickly closed the distance between himself and the others, wondering if there was anyway to avoid the angels of death that seemed to be hovering over them tonight. ……
“My husband, you will have our grandchildren spoiled before you are done with them.” Maighdeann-mhara sighed, holding her arms open for the twins who ran quickly to her. “Honestly, giving them seahorses as pets. I’m willing to bet our daughter Banag hasn’t been consulted about this.” she said knowingly.
“As if she would deny me the joy of making my grandbabies happy.” Mac Lir huffed, “And speaking of children, where are the others, particularly Leumadair and Krystal. I hope they have prepared for Catri’s visit tomorrow,….. she is still planning to present her son to me, isn’t she?” he asked, raising a snow white eyebrow as his youngest wife laughed softly.
“Yes, in fact I’m told she’s quite beside herself. She’s very proud of him, and deservedly so, if Orpha’s tales are even close to being true.” Maighdeann-mhara smirked as she saw the satisfied gleam in Mac Lir’s eyes. “Oh, and one other thing you should know, husband. It appears both she and the clan are actively looking for a father for the boy, and a husband for her.” she stated, smiling sweetly as she gracefully swept out of the room with her grandchildren in tow, chuckling to herself over the look of shock on Mac Lir’s face…..
“Hurry Angus, cut him off now!” Cash bellowed as Gustavas attempted to avoid the clearing where he had so brutally murdered Olia. He watched as Angus’s blade pierced the Tremere’s side, drawing a thick, foul smelling fluid from the creature. “Roel, hold up your end!” he instructed, smiling with satisfaction as Roel used the blunt edge of his lance to crack several of Gus’s ribs, sending him spiralling towards the small clearing were both Brutus and Olia’s spirit awaited him.
Honestly, Cash was surprised to still feel Olia’s presence, especially here, at the place of her death. Perhaps around their Haven, or lurking about one of her clan mates, or even Fang, but why here? Why in a spot so full of anger, pain and desperation? What could it be that still kept her earth bound. “Cobryn, stay back!” he yelled as the Caitiff struck out at the Tremere, narrowly avoiding being caught in the talons of the monster. “I told you to keep to the rear Caitiff” Cash growled, pushing the young vampyre to the ground with one hand as his other effortlessly slide through the flesh of Gus’s wounded arm.
“I know how to fight, I am a hunter, the Prince’s hunter” Cobryn snarled at the Methuselah, both angered and wounded by the man’s lack of faith in his abilities.
“You’ll be a dead hunter if you’re not more careful” Cash snapped, still wondering why the spectre of death was hanging over the Caitiff’s head. He blinked quickly as he saw the filmy, charcoal shades fluttering in front of Cobryn’s face, giving him the blue-grey pallor reserved for the dead. “You need to learn to work ‘with’ the clan, to move as one. As it stands right now, you are a liability. You’ll have us all dead, if you don’t managed to get yourself killed first.” Cash quickly turned on his heels and followed after Angus who had taken up the chase once more, working in tandem with Roel, the two quickly had Gustavas the right path once more.
Brutus took a deep breath, steeling himself as he heard the trampling footsteps of his younger brother. A cold hatred burned within Brutus whenever thoughts of Gustavas invaded his mind, he had tried to love his little brother, he honestly had, but even as a child he was heartless and cruel. How many times had Brutus comforted his mother when Gus had reduced her to tears with both his words and actions. Even when his wickedness led to their father’s death, Gus didn’t care, he didn’t even have the decency to attend the funeral, although he didn’t seem to mind desecrating the grave from time to time. But tonight, if the gods were willing, would be the end of it. Both of their undead lives would finally be over, the curse would end and Brutus could finally go home to the ones he loved, the ones that had travelled on without him.
Grasping the Spear of Lugh tightly, Brutus narrowed his eyes, waiting patiently as Gustavas crashed through the winter-dead undergrowth of the forest. Just a few more feet and it should all be over soon, he thought as he pulled back his arm, taking aim at where he knew Gustavas would emerge. As the red headed vampyre emerged, Brutus threw the spear with all of his might, hitting Gustavas squarely in the chest.
For what seemed like an eternity, every creature in the forest fell silent, even Gus seemed mute with shock as he stared down at the thick, brackish fluid of his body covering the shaft of the spear which was now protruding from his chest. Looking up at his older brother, Gustavas let out a roar of pain and anger as he ripped the spear from his chest. “You missed, brother dear, just like every other time.” Gus turned just in time to see the Caitiff hunter lunging at him, a heavy Russian sword in the hunter’s hands. “Fool, do you think you can kill me?” he snarled as he used the spear to deflect the blow, “My loving brother has provided me with a very useful weapon, the Spear of Lugh. No mortal made weapon can destroy or defeat it.”
“Good thing Uncle Mac Lir made ours then, isn’t it” Angus grinned as he and Roel appeared behind the Tremere, “Although I really wish Angel was here with us, I’m sure she’d enjoy watching your final moments, considering what you tried to do to our clan.”
Gus eyed the Gangrel carefully, they weren’t lying, all of their weapons were enchanted, made of the same material as the spear was. Slowly turning his head, he looked into the eyes of his would be victim, the Caitiff hunter. His was the only weapon of the mortal world, the only one the spear would be useful against. “Well hunter, it looks like I’ll have you yet.” he growled, artfully avoiding Angus’s blade as he spun the spear quickly in his one good hand.
Cash narrowed his eyes as he and Brutus surveyed the scene, they had seen this before, he was going to channel the power of the enchanted weapon into an energy sphere, only this time Angel wouldn’t be here to deflect it. “Come on Brutus, time to make the beast pay for his deeds. Let‘s just hope your Caitiff friend has enough sense not to try and take him on again….oh bloody hell, never mind” Cash grimaced as he saw Cobryn attempting to attack Gustavas and the quickly growing sphere. “So much for listening and working as one.”
“He’s a Caitiff, Cash, a lone hunter, did you really think it would be ‘that’ easy?” Brutus deadpanned as he pulled out the sword that once belonged to his sire. “Let’s go before this gets any worse.”………
What is it Raul? Can you see anything?” Minerva whispered as she kept a watchful eye on the handful of students littering the Great Hall.
“No, but I can feel it. And it’s taking far too long.” he groused, “The Tremere is injured and presumably weak, we haven’t found any bodies, so we are under the assumption he hasn’t had the chance or ability to feed since Angel’s little outburst.”
“Those are dangerous assumptions, Raul.” Minerva stated, her face pinched with worry for her clan. “I don’t like how this is beginning to sound, not in the slightest. Perhaps we should call Kitty and Albus back, and I would feel better if Professor Snape and Rick were with us. If what you said about this Tremere is true….”
“It is true Minerva, that is why Rick and the Professor must be kept separate from the rest of the school. So far, it is the only thing Cash and I agree on,…there is no need to risk everyone’s life, if he comes, he’ll come for Snape. Rick knows this and is more than willing to protect the Professor, with his own life in necessary. Although much like myself, he would rather be with his brothers, in the thick of the battle, not here, waiting helplessly.”
Minerva nodded, she understood how difficult waiting could be, but they each had their duties to perform, they had to protect the school and its inhabitants, they needed the students to feel safe. She felt Raul’s eyes on her as she chuckled softly, “Sorry, I just never thought I would find a use for the Weasley’s boys dung bombs, or for Peeves.”
Raul smirked and nodded, “Yes, that was a stroke of brilliance on your part. I just hope he doesn’t make too much of a mess.” taking a deep breath, he looked around the hall at the students playing games, reading, doing homework and just plain talking. “But at least none of them are any the wiser, the last thing we need is panicked students.”……..
Cobryn screamed in pain as he felt the ball of energy touch his flesh, the sphere continued to push him back towards two large, misshapen trees. He still could not drop his white-hot sword, it seemed to have become attached to his flesh the moment he pierce the sphere with it. Screaming obscenities at both the Tremere and his own pain, Cobryn fought fiercely to free himself but only found himself becoming more entangled by the ‘threads’ of the sphere. He looked around himself, wondering why no one seemed to be coming to his aid, after all Cash’s talk of teamwork and clan loyalty, he at least expected them to attempt to help him.
“They can’t do a thing about this” Gustavas sneered as he lurched slowly towards the Caitiff. “Look at them, they can’t even get inside of here to help you, not that it matters.” he added as saliva dripped off of his yellowing fangs. “Did you really think it would be that easy to trap me? I’ve survived for centuries, feeding off of arrogant guttersnipes like yourself and anything else that happens to come my way.” Seeing the hunter’s eyes focus in on something behind him, Gus quickly turned around to see Cash and Brutus attempting to force their way into the sphere. “Not in this lifetime” Gus growled as he grabbed a fistful of powder out of one of the pouches on his belt and strew it across the path of the Gangrels.
Within seconds, ghost like demons snaked their way into the air, coiling themselves around Cash and Brutus while snapping large, tooth filled jaws at the vampyres. “Now, back to the business at hand” Gus said lowly, his eyes narrowing upon Cobryn as he lurched closer and closer to the hunter. “Aren’t you even going to scream? Maybe beg for your life?”
Cobryn sneered at the beast, “Unlike you, I have no fear of death, even as a mortal man I never wavered, never flinched from my duty or my fate. And I will fight you with the last drop of my blood Tremere, even if it means having to kill you from the inside out.”…..
Brutus slashed at the demon snakes that were attempting to restrain he and Cash, “What are these things? And how are they stealing our strength?”
“They’re called, diabhol cnuimh, and they aren’t actually stealing your strength, Brutus, just your hope, they feed on despair and pain.” Cash explained as he held his sword high above his head, not bothering to waste his time fighting them off one by one. “Just keep your heart full of hope and love, remember why we are here, who we protect, what we fight for.” Cash continued, doing his best to encourage his clan as he gathered his energy, focusing it on the task at hand.
Cash felt the energy of the Earth filling him as soon as he opened himself to the power of the Green Man. The power that had been his as his birth rite, the power no one could ever strip from him. He was the male counterpart of creation, it was his love and strength that allowed the female part of the world to conceive and flourish, he protected, she nurtured, he died so that she could live. It was the age old ebb and flow of time and tide, it would never change, and he would never tire of watching it.
His eyes glowed brightly as he finally opened them, casting them towards the darkening sky and allowing his spirit to flow beyond the bounds of his body. Turning to look at the diabhol cnuimh, he saw them for what they really were. They had been created out of the suffering of Gaz and Olia, out of their pain and sorrow. Cash felt a horrible rage inside of him when he realized why Olia had not been able to travel on to her final rest as he thought she had. “I won’t let him do this to you Olia, you were one of us, and I swore to protect and guide you after I killed your sire, I still keep my promise to you, we are Gangrels, loyal in life, death and beyond.” he stated as tears filled his eyes. “Gangrels!!!!! Look through my eyes, see them for what they are!” he yelled loudly. “She was one of us, she died for us, she cannot, she will not harm us. Give her your love and set her free.”……
“Damn him” Gus screamed as he heard Cash’s words. “He’s not supposed to know these things, he’s a warrior, not a wizard, he knows nothing of magic.”
“Obviously he knows far more than you think” Cobryn sneered, ignoring the painful throbbing of his broken jaw. “It’s all over for you Tremere, Cash and Brutus are nearly free, Angus and Roel are right behind them, even if you kill me, my blood won’t be enough to save you.”
“Maybe not to save me, but it will sustain me. And I’ll have the added pleasure of knowing I’ve destroyed another one of Cash’s little friends, it will eat away at him, it will slowly drive him mad.” Gus grinned with sadistic pleasure as he heard the muffled groan of pain as he twisted Cobryn’s head, brutally tearing at his throat and slurping the life giving blood of the Caitiff hunter. He heard the angry screams of the Gangrels as they watched him consuming the young hunter, but they were too far away to do anything to him now. Only Cash had broken completely free, and it wasn’t as if he would abandon his own clan to help a Caitiff.
Without warning, Gustavas felt a sharp pain echoing through his body, as if he had been stabbed though his chest. Reeling backwards, he dropped the Caitiff hunter and looked around him. Cash was still pre-occupied with helping his Gangrels to their feet, but something had changed drastically, Gus could feel it just as surely as he felt the hairs on the back of his neck rising. Turning back to the Caitiff, Gus saw the reason for his pain.
There in front of the wounded hunter was another vampyre, or at least she ‘had’ been a vampyre, a Gangrel, one of Cash’s ilk. “I’ve killed you once girl, this time I’ll destroy you completely.” He felt his temper rise as the girl stood there, doing nothing more than smiling serenely at him while she shook her head sadly. Raising one hand, she pointed her finger at him and sent him flying backwards, closer to Cash and Brutus.
“Pathetic shadow of a ghost,” Gus screamed as he clawed at the ground, trying to stop himself from being thrust into Cash and Brutus’s reach “you don’t have the power to do this to me. I own you, I killed you - I control you, you do MY bidding.” he roared as he pointed towards the ground, opening a pit-like hole near his feet……
Angus and Roel stared at each other, watching the drama unfold before them. “Olia” they whispered, smiling from ear to ear as they realized she was the one stopping Gustavas from killing the hunter. “Come on,” Roel grinned, “she’d never let us live it down if she’s the only one fighting. We’ve got to uphold the honour of the men.” he added, winking as Angus ran along side of him.
“I agree completely brother. I’ll get behind the Tremere and distract him. You get behind Olia and get the hunter out of the way. Cash and Brutus will do the rest.”
As Angus slid to a stop several feet behind Gustavas, he smiled brightly and winked at Olia whose shadowy form grew solid for a split second as she smiled back at him. “Still trying to prove you can fight like a man, huh darling?” Angus teased, “Well consider it proven, you win…this time.” he added, blowing her a farewell kiss as he ran towards Gustavas, splitting the Tremere’s shoulder as Brutus came up besides him.
Roel quickly made his way to the nearly unconscious form of the Caitiff hunter, hoisting him over his shoulder as he kept a close eye on the battle surrounding them. Angus and Brutus were keeping Gustavas occupied for the moment, and Cash was finishing destroying the last of the demon’s bodies the Tremere had been using to hold Olia’s soul captive. Roel winced as he realized Olia’s was not the only soul held captive, that the former Garou leader, Gaz, was also bound in the serpent like bodies. However, it seemed that Cash had neither time nor mercy for the traitorous Gaz, as he wasted no time in destroying the demons with her soul still inside of them.
Hearing the hunter mutter softly, Roel turned his attentions back to the wounded Caitiff, “Come on Cobryn, time to get you somewhere safe and let the old boys have at it.”
“No, I’m a hunter, this is what I do.” Cobryn insisted as he tried to wrench himself from Roel’s grasp. “Let me go, I’m the one he attacked, I deserve the right to battle him…”
“No one is denying you anything,” Roel soothed, “you are simply injured and need to rest first. Come on, I see a spot near the trees were you can gather your wits, provided you had any in the first place.” he grinned, hoping to get a chuckle out of the Caitiff. Seeing nothing but a scowl, Roel shrugged his shoulders, “Tough crowd, how about ‘a rabbi, a priest and a cowboy walked into a bar’…..”
Cobryn sighed deeply as he looked pointedly at Roel, “Don’t you ever get tired of cracking jokes? We are in battle, a serious battle.”
“So let the battle be serious” Roel stated, “Life is serious enough for me, I see no point in making it any more sombre than it already is. A little laughter goes a long way to making things better Cobryn. It seems that’s a lesson you have yet to learn, but I’d be more than happy to help teach you.” he explained, flashing a wide smile as he sat the hunter on the ground, bracing his back against one of the large, sturdy trees.
“Just go and join the others, please.” Cobryn said wearily, “I’ll join you in a few minutes.”
“You’re assuming it will last that long.” Roel winked as he ran off to join his clan mates……
Albus walked slowly through the halls of the Ministry of Magic, how sad every thing seemed now. Once these halls were polished and bright, full of life and hope, young wizards and witches full of excitement and vision working together for a positive future for all of their kind. But now these halls were as dark and empty as the hearts of the men who used to occupy them. He wondered how long it would be before someone traced them to Hogwarts, how long before Lucius Malfoy found some way to create misery and havoc for everyone else while evading punishment for his part in the tragedy.
“Albus?”
“Hello Arthur, I was wondering what had happened to you.” Albus said quietly, the corners of his mouth turned up slightly as he realized not everyone in the Ministry had sold out or forgotten their dreams. “Have you found anything?”
Arthur shook his head, “Not much I’m afraid, but its obvious someone else got here first, almost every office has been gone through. Several files are missing, books have be wiped blank, and it seems the same can be said for several of the cleaning staff.”
Nodding his head and stroking his beard thoughtfully, Albus continued to walk down the hall, “You realize Lucius will do everything in his power to seize control of the Ministry. Quite possibly, even become Head Minister himself.”
Arthur bowed his head, as if in defeat, “Yes I know, Cat and I were discussing this when she came to visit. She had an interesting suggestion, but to be honest, I don’t like it.”
“An interesting suggestion you say?” Albus asked, smiling knowingly. “Dare I hazard to guess what it was?”
“I have the distinct feeling you already know. And as I’ve told her, it is impossible. It simply will never work,…”
“You seem very sure of that Arthur, can you tell me why you are so certain that her idea is so impossible. After all, she does tend to have a sixth sense about these things.” Albus stated, staring pointedly at Arthur as the middle aged wizard shuffled uncomfortable under his gaze. “Do you feel you are incapable of running the Ministry the way it was meant to be run?”
“I ‘feel’ YOU are a better choice Albus.” Arthur snapped, “I don’t have the backing or the experience to even run for the position. Its been offered to you on at least two if not three separate occasions. You are well know, well respected, and to a point, feared, at least by You-know-who’s followers. And I have my children and Molly to think about, you know as well as I do what Malfoy would do to them if he thought it would get him what he wanted.”
‘Yes, this is true Arthur, but I dare say Kitty has already offered your family the safe-haven of her own home should it come to that. In fact, unless Fred’s letters to Cash and the others are, shall we say ‘exaggerations’,” Albus paused, his eyes twinkling as he saw the smirk on Arthur’s face, “your families seem to be getting on splendidly. In fact, I‘m told that even Molly is actively encouraging Charlie and …. Meg, I believe.”
“Point taken” Arthur admitted, a wide grin shining on his face. “But that still doesn’t help with the rest, I’m not qualified, and I don’t have the backing of powerful families like Malfoy does.”
“True, true, but you have something much better. Your own good name,” Albus reminded him as he placed a fatherly hand on Arthur’s shoulder. “Add to that my support, and the support of Clan MacLeod.”
“Clan MacLeod?!” Arthur gasped, “What do they have to do with this? Her kind has refused to even sit down and talk with us. I’ve seen the records, they won’t even acknowledge us as equals, as anything.”
“And as long as the Ministry continues to run the way it has, they never will. But Kitty has made it very clear to me that if someone she could trust, someone like you, Arthur Weasley, were in control of the Ministry, she would not only authorize talks, but insist upon them.”
“She would insist? Who is she that she could insist that the Sidhe do anything?” Arthur asked, completely confused by such a strange statement.
“Come Arthur, this is not the place to discuss such things. To many years of paranoia have created an oppressive atmosphere in these halls. Besides, I have a peculiar urge for ice cream, butter rum I think.”…….
Harry laughed deeply as Cat continued to harass Sirius for leaving her waiting for him for so long. She had him ‘almost’ convinced that she was truly upset with him, in fact, if it hadn’t been for the sly wink she had flashed at Harry, he himself would have been worried that it was over between them. But all things considered, Harry had to admit, it was pretty funny to see Sirius trying to apologize to her and still maintain his pride. Not that Tris or Remus were helping him much, in fact, they seemed to be enjoying the teasing almost as much as Cat was.
Harry tried to choke back another laugh as Sirius turned to him and sighed, “You know, you’re supposed to be helping me, not encouraging her.” Sirius seemed so sincere, so truly concerned that Harry couldn’t stop himself from signalling his godfather that it was all an act on his Mum’s part. He regretted it immediately as he saw the look of disbelief on Sirius’s face.
“So, Cat…” Sirius said as he crossed his arms over his chest and narrowed his eyes at her. “I’m going to ask you this once more and never again.” He waited as Cat paused and turned to face him, he had to hand it to her, she had a great poker face. If it weren’t for Harry’s wink and hand signal, he never would have been certain she was only pulling him along. “Do you forgive me, or should I just go back to Hogwarts now and be done with it?”
Cat insides twisted as she heard his words, he couldn’t be serious, he wouldn’t just walk away from her, not again. She faltered but only for a moment, it looked like this was it, the line in the sand as it were, the moment she had been dreading since she realized the true reason he had been lurking through the school. “I don’t know Mr. Black, I would have to say it was entirely your choice to make.” she held her breath, waiting for him to make the next move, silently praying it would be the right one.
Now it was Sirius’s turn to freeze, he knew that look, more to the point, he knew that edge in her voice, she wasn’t teasing anymore. And to make matters worse, Remus and Tris obviously knew it as well. They had immediately stopped their ribbing and laughing, growing silent as every pair of eyes fixed on he and Cat. “Would you miss me if I left?” he whispered as he took a step towards her, taking her hand in his own and squeezing it gently. He relaxed slightly as he saw the shimmer in her eyes, he knew immediately she didn’t want him to leave. Now all he had to do was figure out how to get himself out of the hole he jumped into, all with both feet in his mouth.
“Now or never Miss MacLeod… Forgive me for leaving you alone so long this afternoon, or face my wrath.” he stated, flashing her his most charming, yet goofiest grin as he did so.
Turning around to look at Harry, Sirius winked, reassuring him that everything was fine now. “Do you hear this Harry, she’s threatening me with bodily harm. Tsk, tsk, tsk,.. .and her a mother. What ever shall we do?” He smiled widely as he heard Harry and the others laughing once more. “Well Cat, what’s your answer?”
“I’m still waiting to hear what your ‘wrath’ is - exactly.” she smirked, crossing her arms over her chest, mimicking his former stance as she waited patiently. Then without warning, Sirius ducked down and easily threw her over his shoulder, much to the amusement of the children. “Sirius Onior Black, you set me down.” she gasped as she tried to squirm off of him.
“Nope, not a chance, I gave you the opportunity to do this the nice way, but you insisted on playing rough. Now you have to pay the fiddler, gra.” Sirius stated, laughing deeply as she tried to escape him. “Now you just stay still or it will only get worse, gra.” he warned.
“Being manhandled in front of my own Clan and carried like a sack of potatoes… how much worse can it get?” she asked, only to yelp as Sirius gave her bottom a sharp smack with the palm of his hand. “Sirius!!!!”