Severus seemed slightly stunned, he knew after Cho’s behavior Catri would not be fond of her, but he certainly never expected a response like that. “I am surprised Catri, she seems the type of girl you would like, a good family, Ravenclaw, intelligent…” he stopped as he saw Catri glaring at him “fine Catri, I know my place in this discussion,” he teased as he raised his glass to her. “I have seen enough of your temper, I know when to retreat.” he grinned as he saw a small smile appear on her lips.

“You turn one office into a swamp once, just once, and no one EVER lets you live it down.” she whined as they all laughed. “Severus, I know you want me to come inside, but Remus and I really do need to talk a few things over, particularly regarding my Gangrels, the Garou and those blasted Tremere. I need to make sure everything is taken care of, or I’ll never be able to relax and enjoy myself.”

“Then by all means Catri, take as long as you need.” he said softly as he kissed her cheek. “I will keep and eye on Harry until you get back. He is, after all, used to me watching every move he makes.”

“Thank you Severus, I’ll be in shortly” Cat assured him as she turned to talk to Remus, who was grinning like a madman. “Something funny Lupy?”

“I just find it remarkable” he chuckled as he shook his head “I have never seen anyone handle him like that. It is quite astounding really.”. . .

Sirius had to agree on that, although he’d agree more if Snape would simply sink into whatever pit he came out of. Sensing his chance to pester Cat a bit more, Sirius silently slipped to her side opposite Remus. He and James used to tease her and Lily like this constantly, however this time, Sirius decided to push the envelope a bit further. He waited until she and Remus were deep in conversation before he started his torment. Very carefully, he touched her hair again, delighting as he saw her skin pucker into tiny goose bumps as she gasped.

“Lupy, I swear something or someone is out here with us.” Cat insisted as she gave herself a shake, trying to dismiss the feeling of someone’s hands on her body.

Sirius chuckled silently, ‘you haven’t seen anything yet gra’ he thought as he artfully avoided Remus’s searching hands. He watched as Remus shook his head and started talking to Cat again. Sirius got as close as possible to her and gently blew a soft, warm breath into her ear. He smiled with satisfaction as he watched her turn bright pink, he remembered all too well her reactions to his playful affections when they were dating.

“Kitty? What is it?” Remus asked concern evident in his eyes as his arms immediately wrapped around her, both protecting and comforting her. “Maybe we *should* go inside.”

“No, Remus, its alright,” Cat insisted “besides we can’t exactly discuss these things in front of the students.

Remus frowned slightly as he looked around the courtyard, they seemed to be the only ones out there, “Alright acushla, but if anything else happens I’m taking you back inside. I don’t like it when you get jumpy like this, it makes *me* nervous.”

Cat smiled thankfully at Remus, leave it to him to worry about everyone else’s comfort. But they needed to talk before she left, she needed to be sure he wouldn’t hate her for what she was going to do, that he would be able to understand. “Remus?” Cat asked softly as she placed her hand on his chest, “there was something specific you wanted to talk to me about, isn’t there?” . . .

“Quite a lot actually” he admitted as he steered her towards one of the benches by the rose bushes. Remus sat facing her, their knees almost touching each other as he held her hand gently “Kitty, I don’t want to make you cry, but I need to know the truth. I need you to give me some honest answers to some very hard questions.” . . .

Sirius’s hands were poised to undo the laces of Cat’s dress, but froze when he heard Remus’s words. He took one look into Remus’s eyes and knew he was going to try and explain everything to her. Sirius hung his head and offered a silent prayer that she would understand and forgive him for not telling her about everything. Walking to the other side of the bench, Sirius sat on the cold ground and huddled as close to them as he dared. His hands were wrapped around his legs, his chin resting on his knees as he watched Cat intensely, waiting desperately to see what her reaction would be. . .

Harry smiled at Cho as she stood up to dance with him again. “I was wondering if I was ever going to get the chance to dance with you again.” Cho joked as she placed her hand in his and followed him to the dance floor “You’re certainly very popular this year.” She looked studiously at him “Hmmm, I wonder if it’s the new robes or the fact that you’ve learned to dance?”

Harry laughed at her comments “A little of both I guess. I never realized dancing could actually be fun, but after watching Professor Lupin and mum dance together, I don’t know” he shrugged his shoulders “besides, it was worth the lessons just to watch Cash dance with her. He’s a real jokester, I thought she was going to curse him before we were done. She swore she’d never ask him to help again.” Harry smiled brightly as he recalled how Cash had kept spinning her around and throwing her over his shoulders and walking off with her, all just to aggravate her.

Cho shuffled nervously as they danced “You spend a lot of time with MacLeod and Cash don’t you?” she asked softly “He has Jamie convinced he’s some sort of cursed angel. She thinks he’s *dreamy*, I think he’s trouble” she added as she avoided Harry’s eyes. “I know you like them Harry, I just don’t want you getting hurt again.”

“What would make you think they would hurt me?” Harry asked, truly confused as to why anyone would think such a thing.

Cho sighed “Harry, you’re just too trusting sometimes” she lowered her voice and added “they’re not like us, I mean, they’re not even human for Merlin’s sake.”

“And that makes them bad?” Harry asked irately , it sounded like something a Slytherin would say. “Cho, would you answer me please.”

“Not bad Harry, just. . .different” she tried to explain “I mean, what do we really know about them? What do *you* know about them.” she saw Harry about to argue with her “Before you tell me I’m being silly or ignorant, just think about it. Cash is a vampire, he *needs* blood, so do his friends. How can you trust them not to turn on you for your blood?”

Harry took a deep breath and thought of the best way to explain to Cho, he wondered if this is what Cat had meant when she referred to the Ministry’s idiotic teachings. “Cho, I know Cash, Tris, Raul, Hamish, Angus, Rick, Raul, Dimitri, Josh, Fang, Kara, Regeanne, . . .all of them, and I would trust all of them with my life. They have been watching over us all day and night to keep Hogwarts safe. Don’t you remember the night the deatheaters and dementors showed up? It was mum and Remus that did most of the fighting. Cash and Raul patrol every single night to make sure nothing gets into the school. How can you think they would harm us.”

“Harry, they’re vampires they need”

Harry cut her off “First of all, its vampyres, not vampires, there is a difference, several in fact. And if you had been paying attention to my mum’s lecture you would know that.” He saw Cho winced when he called Cat his mum. “Something else Cho?” he asked softly as he felt his stomach turning.. . .

Severus’s eyes narrowed in on Harry, judging by his expression something was wrong. Scanning the room for any other signs of trouble and finding none, Severus stealthy made his way to Harry to see what was causing the boy such obvious pain.. .

Cho looked Harry in his deep green eyes and whispered “Harry, she’s no more human than they are. How can you possibly think she’s your mother?” She shook her head “Don’t you have any sense? Don‘t you have any pride? She could very easily kill you, for all we know she could be working for Voldemort.”

Harry’s legs stopped moving, he couldn’t believe she had just said that. “You think she would, . . .Cho you don’t know how much she’s risked, she almost died. . .” Harry dropped his arms and took a step back. “I don’t feel well” he muttered softly “excuse me”

“Harry no, don’t be like that.” Cho insisted as she grabbed his hand “I’m just worried about you. I don’t want you to end up like. . .” she became suddenly quite as Harry stared at her.

“Go on, say it” he told her “like Cedric, isn’t that it?” Harry felt as if he had been punched in the stomach. He never would have expected her to bring that up, not tonight. Harry had had such high hopes for tonight, he was sure it was going to go so well, he had even learned to dance for her. He had practice with Cat and Cash, and even Remus had helped him. He wanted tonight to be perfect, and instead it was turning into a nightmare.

“That’s not how I meant it Harry” Cho said softly “But you need to know the truth about them, about her. As it is Snape won’t be coming back to the school alive, everyone knows she’s going to. . .”

“Going to what?!” Harry asked, a bit more harshly than he meant to. “I’m thirsty, I’m going to get some punch” he said as he walked away, leaving Cho to stand alone amongst the dancing couples.

Severus knit his brow, judging by the Chang girl’s reaction and Harry’s walking off, something horrible must have happened. Severus was going to intercede, but thinking better, decided it would be wiser to get Catri, she would know what Harry needed, she always did.. . .

Remus squeezed Cat‘s hand, “So. . . you really don’t like Cho? he asked, trying to break the awkward silence following his repeated requests that she not leave with Severus, until she spoke with Sirius. It was obvious something else had happened, something that had wounded her deeply, he wondered what Sirius had neglected to tell him *this* time.

Cat winced as she spoke softly, “She doesn’t like me, she looks at me and sees a filthy non-human dirtying the blood, she’s appalled Harry accepts me at all, much less as his mother” she said painfully “She’s so young to be so full of lies, the MoM has certainly been keeping themselves busy ruining the name of my people.”

Sirius grimaced as he heard the pain in Cat’s voice, he knew this went deeper than simply stumbling over the fact that he had been in prison, deeper than the Ministry‘s lies. He felt the depression and unending sadness of his past rising up against him, he didn’t want to lose her and Harry, they were his family, they were his world. And why wouldn’t she answer Remus’s questions, had he hurt her so deeply she couldn’t even talk to Remus about it? He couldn’t stand to see the emptiness creeping into her eyes any more, he had to do something to distract her, he understood how easy it was to get lost and overwhelmed by the pain of your past.

Sirius looked around for something to catch her attention, but found nothing he could use. Looking back at her, his eyes immediately fixed on her bosom. He smiled wickedly to himself, he knew exactly how to snap her out of her depression, and maybe his own as well. Standing up, he walked to her side and, leaning over her silently, let his nimble fingers unfasten the brooch that was helping to hold up her shawl, causing it to drop off of her shoulder and onto the ground. He smiled as she bent over to pick it up, giving him a full view of what he had missed over the passing years. A soft sigh escaped his lips as he remembered how she had always reacted to his caresses, her responses had always been passionate, almost to the point of abandon. He remembered the first time he had really touched her breasts, she had gasped loudly as he cupped them in his large hands, only to sigh deeply as he tenderly stroked them, kissing and fondling them gently as her back arched towards him. It had taken all the self restrain he possessed not to take her then and there, as it was he had erupted when he took her breasts into his mouth, teasing her tender pink nipples into hard points of pleasure as she sighed and squirmed beneath him. Sirius waited until she had the shawl in her hands and was about to turn back to Remus before he stepped in front of her and playfully squeezed her breasts in his hands then quickly took several steps back.

He fought off his laughter as he saw her eyes become very wide and her cheeks flash crimson. The echo of her gasp playing over and over in his mind as he wondered if he should try his luck once more. . .

“Now that is quite enough of that” Cat insisted, the hand clutching her shawl went to her breasts as Remus stared at her, confusion written on his face. Thinking she meant his questioning, he hung his head sadly. Realizing Remus was taking her reactions personally, Cat quickly explained “Apparently our new ghost is a bit high spirited” Cat said as she blushed brightly “and * very* free with his hands.”

Remus sighed as he gently pulled her to his side, he didn’t need these distractions, he needed to get to the truth. “Kitty, just look me in the eyes and tell me you don’t care about Sirius anymore, or at the very least convince me you don’t love him.” He watched as she turned her face from his, he placed his hands on her narrow shoulders as she sighed deeply “I thought so.” Remus said softly “So why are you doing this Kitty? Why have you given up on the marauders? How can you turn your back on Sirius like this?”

“I haven’t given up on anything Remus. I’ve just realized I can’t keep holding on to my dreams, not anymore” she looked into his soft hazel eyes with her own large, heart-breaking, emerald eyes “I’m running out of time, my friend, and out of choices. Sirius chose to follow a different path, I cannot join him. My family would never accept my carrying on with someone who’s . . .”

“Catri!” Severus interrupted, striding quickly towards Remus and Catri. He barely noticed the hateful stare Remus was giving him as he took Catri’s hand into his own.

Bristling with anger and frustration, Remus reminded him coldly “We ARE trying to have a conversation Severus. Or is there some other reason you keep. . .” Remus paused as Severus raised his free hand, his eyes still intent upon Catri.

“Catri, something just happened to Harry, I think you were correct about Miss Chang” he said quickly as he squeezed her hand gently “At first they were dancing, then Harry got a horrible look on his face. He has left her alone in the middle of the dance floor, he was heading towards the main foyer.“

Cat nodded hastily as she gathered her skirts in her hand and quickly headed towards the foyer, hoping desperately that Severus was mis-reading Harry’s reaction.