Harry grinned widely, he knew she didn’t mean a word of it, she loved Cash dearly and everyone knew it “Just make sure whatever it is isn’t alive, or Fang will probably eat it. I can’t believe how much he can put away, even Ron was impressed, and he lives with Fred and George.” Harry said as he rolled his eyes.

Cat hugged Harry as she laughed “Too true sweetie, that boy can eat his own weight daily, and he never puts on a pound… ugh… its so irritating. So, are you ready for that dance?” she asked happily as she took his face in her hand and beamed proudly.

“Definitely” Harry replied as he took Cat’s hand in his and began to waltz with her, counting out ‘one, two, three, one, two, three’ as they started. Harry could feel himself relaxing more and more, it was much easier to dance with his mum than it was with Cho. He knew he wouldn’t be embarrassed if he stumbled or stepped wrongly with her, after all, she had been the one teaching him, she knew how much he had improved over the past three weeks. He looked at her face and returned her smile “I guess I’m doing all right, you’re smiling.”

“Harry, you are doing wonderfully.” Cat replied as she smiled tenderly at him “I didn’t get the chance to tell you how handsome you look, and how proud I am of you. I hope you won‘t mind me showing you off to everyone at home?”

Harry felt his heart burst with happiness, he had never had anyone who ever wanted to show him off, it was always “stay in the closet, be quite, don’t embarrass us, don’t let anyone know you live with us’. He couldn’t even begin to tell her how much it meant to him. He looked into her eyes and he could feel the pride and love pouring out of her, Sirius was right, he was her son, he finally had someone who he knew loved him more than anything else in the world. Trying not to cry from the pure happiness he felt, Harry smiled “I can’t wait,” then, impulsively throwing his arms he hugged her tightly “I love you mum”

Cat wrapped her arms around Harry and hugged him back as she kissed his head “I love you too Harry.” she said softly as she felt the tears spring to her eyes. “I know you’re going to love it at home, and I know everyone is going to love you as much as I do.” She pulled herself away from him as she wiped her eyes, noticing Harry’s were moist as well, she gently brushed her fingers across his cheeks “Come now Harry, it won’t do to start this up again. What will people think if I can’t dance with my own son without both of us being reduced to tears?” she smiled as Harry grinned at her. . .

Sirius gave a heartbreaking sigh as he watched Harry and Cat together, he could feel their love all the way in the cold shadows were he was hiding, still wrapped in Harry’s invisibility cloak. He closed his eyes as his tears ran silently down his cheeks, he never really thought she would turn her back on him, not really. Certainly not over something like Azkaban, he had always thought she would assume he was innocent, insist on being told everything and then fight over who got to burst into the MoM and demand things be put right. He shuddered as his thoughts returned to Azkaban, he had been forced to live with the pain and sorrow so long it had become part of him, only Cat and Harry seemed to be able to bring light and hope into his world. Now, even that was gone, Cat would be taking Harry home to Fernglennis, and he had his doubts as to whether she would bring him back. She had told him once that she would never deny his bond with Harry, but that had been before she had learned of Azkaban.

“O Kitty, why didn’t you come talk to me? Why don’t you remember how much I love you?” He shook his head, he knew why. “Why wasn’t I brave enough to tell you when I had the chance?”

Sirius looked back at Harry and Cat as she wiped away his tears and her own. He felt a pang of desperate longing in his heart as he tried to accept the fact that he was alone once again. Making his way towards the courtyard, Sirius pondered his future. What was the point of staying at Hogwarts and torturing himself? Surely Harry would be safe in Fernglennis, even Voldemort had never dared to attack Cat’s clan directly. They would both be safe at home, her home, far away from the MoM, and from him.. .

Harry and Cat twirled around as the waltz ended, much to Albus’s pleasure and amusement. “Well Remus, she has certainly made quite an impact on young Harry’s life. I dare say I have never seen either of them so content, or so happy as when they are together.”

Remus nodded “Without a doubt, I can’t wait to hear how it goes over the holidays. Harry is going to be besides himself when he realizes exactly how huge his family really is.” he chuckled slightly as he pictured Harry’s delighted face when he walked into the kitchen to see his new clannad. “By the way Albus, Kitty tells me she’s bringing a few guest back with her. Is that true?”

It was Albus’s turn to chuckle now “Yes, indeed it is. I fear Hogwarts shall never be the same. Although I am not sure how well Severus is going to take to this, as it is several members of her clan are not very fond of him.”

Remus grinned “Yep, can’t imagine why they feel like that.” he rolled his eyes “After all, he’s such a fun-loving fellow and all.”

“Now Professor Lupin” Albus chided gently “as much I understand your reluctance to accept Kitty’s emotional attachment to him, he does have several admirable qualities.”

Remus hesitated momentarily “So you think she *should* marry him? Albus, you cannot possible mean a word of that. I know Severus is a brilliant man in his own right, but he’s not the man for Kitty. Being with him would crush her spirit. . .and what about Harry? Harry would never…”

“Remus, please” Albus said softly as he placed a fatherly hand on Remus’s shoulder “I did not say anything about him becoming her husband. In fact I sincerely doubt it will ever come to that, Cash is quite adamant on that point. But he does love her, and that is not something to be carelessly brushed aside. In truth, I fear what may happen when she leaves him, whether by her choice or her clan’s insistence.” Albus shook his head sadly “A man can only suffer so much in one lifetime.”

Remus snorted softly “Tell that to Sirius, he’s still suffering.” He crossed his arms over his chest as if defying Albus to raise any sympathy at all within him for Snape. “He never did anything to deserve this; to be imprisoned for half of his life over something he didn’t do, to be abandoned by his friends, to have to run and lurk around as if he’s . . .” Remus sighed deeply “It’s just not fair, he’s lost his entire life, Albus. I can’t accept he has to lose Harry and Cat as well.”

Seeing the unblinking look in Albus’s eyes, Remus looked down and shuffled his feet. “Don’t you understand Professor Dumbledore? James and Lily had everything. They had love and friendship, a family, everything. . .and they didn’t make it. Peter isn’t even worth talking about, and I can’t ever hope to have a family or any real happiness, not without waking up in a cold sweat, scared senseless that I’ll transform and kill the ones I love. Sirius is the last of us, he and Kitty need to carry on where Lily and James ended. They need to be together, *I* need them to be together. I need to know all of our sacrifices, everything we’ve had to give up, everyone we’ve lost” Remus looked into Albus’s eyes, trying desperately not to cry “Albus, I need to know it wasn’t in vain. I need at least one of us to have a family, I need to know there is hope for the future.”

Albus squeezed Remus’s shoulder “I understand better than you might think Remus. Do not forget how important you all are to me. I want you all to be as happy as possible, and I sincerely hope Kitty has enough sense, or perhaps enough faith, not to make any hasty decisions.” He looked over to Cat and Harry, just as Ginny Weasley had walked up to them. “She is a kind hearted creature Remus, she can forgive almost anything, she simply needs to be asked, she needs to know.”

Remus suddenly perked up “You know something, don’t you?”

“I know her father allowed her to come here to prevent her clan from arranging a marriage for her. I know she is terrified of raising children in a loveless marriage. I know she still loves Sirius Black.” Albus looked at Remus, his eyes suddenly twinkling brightly “And I know her cousin has every intention of sending Sirius along with Harry and Cat to Fernglennis, he seems to think its wrong to split up the family.”

“Cash?” Remus asked as he grinned madly.

“Who else would tempt fate.” Albus chuckled “Go talk to her Remus, she needs your friendship and advice. Don’t let her lose faith, don’t let Sirius give up.” . . .

Cat walked away, smiling happily as Ginny and Harry began dancing. She saw Remus walking toward her and waved at him “Don’t they just look too cute?” she gushed as she wrapped her arms around Remus and hugged him. “You alright Lupy? You look like you’re going to cry or something.” she asked as she cupped his face in her hand.

“I’ll be fine Kitty, but I really need to talk with you. Think Severus will let you out of his sight for a few minutes?” Remus asked “I need to talk to you alone. Kind of a heart to heart.”

Cat nodded and accompanied Remus to the courtyard, unaware that both Severus and Sirius were watching them. . . .

Ginny couldn’t stop smiling, the way Harry was dancing with her, she felt like she could fly without her broom. “Wow, Harry. You really have been practicing, haven’t you?” she asked as he held her waist tightly, twirling her as the violins swirled and sighed around them. She felt her knees go weak as Harry smiled at her, he was so handsome and brave. Ginny’s thoughts flashed back to the day she nearly died in the chamber, if it weren’t for Harry’s heroic efforts she wouldn’t even be here to enjoy the ball, or his amazing green eyes. She sighed softly, holding Harry a little tighter as they waltzed by Remus and Cat.

Harry blushed brightly “Yea, mum’s been letting me practice almost every day. I was kind of nervous. . .you know, with Cho and all.” he added shyly, blushing even more when Ginny turned her bright, blue eyes on him. He couldn‘t believe this was Ron‘s little sister, she just seemed so grown up all of a sudden. “You look really amazing tonight” Harry stuttered as he felt his face go quite red “I bet Neville’s beside himself.”

Ginny rolled her eyes “With Neville it’s really hard to tell, he doesn’t talk much. And now every time he looks at me he goes completely red. He’s hardly danced with me at all.” she complained. “I don’t get it Harry, I’ve had boys I’ve never even met before come up to me and ask me dance tonight, and Neville just sits there and stutters at me. I mean I know he’s not my boyfriend or anything, but he is my date.”

Harry grinned widely “Well Ginny, I think the dress and make-up may have something to do with that. I know Ron practically fell over when he saw you and Hermione walking down the hall. We honestly didn’t recognize you.” He started laughing as Ginny narrowed her eyes at him, pretending to be offended. “Come on Ginny, you have to admit, this is quite a change from your usual look.” he teased playfully.

“Does that mean you like it?” she asked hopefully as her cheeks turned a soft pink hue.. . .

Sirius pulled the invisibility cloak tightly around him as he peered into the great hall. His face was bittersweet as he watched Harry and Ginny dance with each other, it reminded him of he and Cat when they first started dating. It was amazing how a little smile could make him blush so much. “I wish you better luck than I ever had Harry, with whomever you chose.” Sirius pressed his hand against the window, as if trying to touch a world he was no longer part of. Closing his eyes against his heartbreak, Sirius let his head rest against the cool glass as he tried to convince himself it was all for the best.

As Sirius stood in silent contemplation, he heard the soft voices of Remus and Cat drift across the courtyard. He held his breath as they walked towards him, oblivious to his presence as he pressed against the cold stones, attempting to avoid having them walk into him. “Come on Remus, I want to talk to you too, but I want to see Harry and Ginny dance together. Oh I wish you still had your camera with you.” She sighed as she rushed to the window, standing on her toes to peer in through a piece of clear glass.

Cat sighed softly as she watched her little boy dance, they looked perfect together. “Harry just seems so grown up suddenly” she said wistfully “I wish I could keep him young forever, I don’t want him to grow up so fast. I missed so much of his life as it is.” She felt her eyes go moist as she watched Ginny and Harry dance in the hall, the butterflies circled their heads as they smiled and laughed with each other. Cat noticed Remus watching and smiling as well, he even chuckled a little when Ginny laughed and swatted Harry, causing the dewdrops to shimmer as they swung daintily with her movements. “I wish I could take Ginny home with us, she and Sara got on wonderfully, I know she’d fit right in.”

“Sure she’d fit in, she treats him as badly as you and Lily treated us” Remus teased “Although I must say, looking at them is like looking at you and Sirius, even down to those dewdrops.” he added as he winked.

“I was just thinking that myself” Cat sighed as she bowed her head “oh, and when did Lily or I ever treat the marauders badly?”

“I was wondering if you were going to let that slip by without a comment.” Remus said as he placed his hand on her shoulder “about you and Sirius. . .”

Sirius grit his teeth as he heard Remus talking to Cat about Harry, he wanted to say something to them, he wanted to take Cat in his arms and beg her to stay at Hogwarts, to stay with him. Sirius reached out to touch Cat, she was only inches away from him, so close that he could feel the heat radiating from her body. He paused as he looked around, nobody was there except the three of them, maybe he could talk to her, explain why he was in Azkaban, beg her to stay if that’s what it took.

Sirius took a step closer to Cat, he gently stroked her hair, causing her to gasp loudly. She spun around, her eyes opened wide as she reached a hand to the back of her head where his had just been. “Cat?” Sirius whispered softly in her ear, she slowly turned to look towards him, searching the air for the cause of the seemingly disembodied voice.

“Kitty? What is it acushla?” Remus asked, his voice full of concern “you look as if you’ve just seen the bloody baron or something.” Just as he wrapped his arm around her shoulder, Remus heard an all too familiar voice.

“Catri, my dear, is something wrong?” Severus asked as he glared at Remus, or more particularly, his arm “If you are cold, perhaps it would be best to come back inside.” he added as he handed her a warm cup of mulled wine. His thin smirk quickly turned to a warm smile when Catri smiled back at him.

“No, I’m fine Sev, honestly. It was probably just one of the ghosts having a laugh at my expense.” she explained, as she waved her free hand, as if dismissing the whole event. “But thank you for the wine, I was getting a bit chilly.”

The look in Severus’s eyes softened as he caught Catri peering back through the window, he realized she had been watching Harry the whole time. “One would think you would be more comfortable watching him from inside Catri.” he suggested gently.

“Of course I would, but then he’d be too self-conscious to enjoy himself. How would you like it if your mum watching every move you made when you were trying to impress the girls” she teased “besides, Remus and I need to discuss a few issues before I leave tonight. He’s promised to look after Harry while we’re gone.”

Severus nodded as he turned from the window and looked at Catri “so what do you think of Miss Cho Chang?”