Sirius stealthily made his way towards the door that led to the courtyard, pausing every now and again to watch Harry and make sure Snape was no where near. He was just passing Ron and Hermione when he heard Hermione gasp Harry’s name loudly. Turning quickly to see what had happened, Sirius nearly laughed out loud as he saw what had caused Hermione‘s outburst. Apparently Ginny had decided that patience was NOT a virtue, and had stolen a kiss from Harry. Right there, on the middle of the dance floor, on his lips, and then froze, completely unsure of what to do next. Sirius watched as Ginny stared at Harry for a split second before making a mad dash for the door, dew drops and butterflies trailing behind her as she ran. Meanwhile, Harry just stood there, beet red and eyes wide, slowly he turned his head to look at Ron, whose jaw was hanging open, a look of complete disbelief on his face.

Sirius clamped his hands over his mouth to stop from bursting out right there. He wished with all his heart he could walk up to Harry and help him out of such and awkward situation, maybe have *that* talk with him. But Harry was on his own for now, and Sirius just had to be the one to tell Cat, he could picture her face already. Silently, Sirius made his way into the chilly night air and quickly found Cat, she was staring at the stars again. Walking up behind her, he followed her gaze and realized what she was staring at. She was gazing on a particular star, their star, the Dog Star; Sirius.

Sirius felt an immediate flood of memories hit him. He vividly recalled having a picnic with her on the roof of the garret, he had been holding her hand and had finally convinced her to cuddle against him for warmth. He had told her the same stories about the star his father had told him as he tried to reassure her she was more than just another date to him. He had lost track of all the nights they had gone up to the roof after then, talking, kissing, cuddling. It was all the proof he needed, she remembered their love, she still cared about him, and his heart was breaking for her. Sirius moved closer to her and noticed the sad look on her face, as if her heart was breaking as well. She had a far away look in her eyes, as if she were lost in a memory of her own. He reached out and gently touched her cheek, relishing the softness and warmth of her skin, even as she startled out of her reverie. He almost died on the spot when she turned towards him and whispered “Sirius?” He reached out once more, with a trembling hand he caressed her cheek as he watched her eyes grow soft with unspoken emotion. He was close enough to feel her warm breath against his chest when she placed her hand over his invisible one and closed her eyes.

“I’m dreaming” Cat whispered softly as she rubbed her cheek against the warm phantom hand. “I’ve finally lost my mind”

Sirius felt his body crying out for her, he wanted to hold her, to stop her pain “No mo gra“ he whispered softly bending his head toward hers as he lifted her chin “not a dream.” Kissing her tenderly, Sirius watched as she gasped softly, causing her breasts to rise provocatively from under her shawl. “Talk to me ceadsearc” he pleaded as he watched her eyes flutter open “Don’t turn from me, please”

Cat gasped as she felt a pair of warm lips pressing against her own, she recognized the kiss immediately, opening her eyes, she expected to see Sirius, but there was no one there. Then she heard the voice begging her to talk “Sirius?” she whispered as her hands searched blindly for him, only to have her hand clasped tightly between his. “Sirius, it is you, isn’t it? Why are you here?”

“I saw you watching our star. I know you still love me Kitty, please, don’t give up on me, not now.” Sirius begged as he pressed her hand against his chest, allowing her to feel the beating of his heart “It still beats for you, it always has, it always will. Nothing can change that.”

Cat felt her body tremble as the beating of Sirius’s heart throbbed against her palm, it still matched the beating of her own heart. “I don’t deny I care for you Sirius, but your not free to be with me, I know that now.” she closed her eyes to stop her tears from falling “Please, let me go. Let me move on, let me live my life just as you have lived yours.”

Sirius winced “You call this living? I can’t even show my face, I don’t dare take you in my arms and dance with you for fear of being found.” he shook his head “I lost my life the day you left me Kitty, you took my heart with you. The rest of it. . . .it just happened, I want to explain everything to you Kitty, I *need* to tell you. Please, come with me, right now. We can go to the garret and talk, just like we used to do.”

Reluctantly Cat pulled her hand away from him “What is there to explain Sirius? It seems pretty clear to me” she winced “you chose your path, let me choose mine.”

“You mean with Snape?” Sirius replied hurtfully “How can you turn to him Cat? How can you forget everything we shared?”

“I could ask you the same thing Sirius” she reminded him, “I’m not the one who walked away, I’m not the one who . . .” she shook her head “At least Severus doesn’t need to hide when he’s with me. He isn’t ashamed or afraid to be seen with me.” she said as she turned to walk away.

Sirius felt her words as if they had been physical blows, when would she ever forgive him for betraying her. It had been a stupid, thoughtless mistake, one he had regretted from the moment it had happened. As her words sunk in, Sirius realized something, “Ashamed? You think I’m ashamed to be seen with you?” Reaching up, Sirius lowered the hood of Harry’s cloak so Cat could see his face, he needed her to see the sincerity in his eyes, she had to know he love her, he had never been ashamed of her. Reaching out, Sirius caught her by her arm and pulled her to him, making her face him “How can you think I would be ashamed to be seen with you? Cat? Answer me. . .please. . .what makes you think I’m ashamed of you?”

“You mean besides the fact that you only ever seem to show up at night, usually in my bedroom. You keep hinting that you needed to tell me things, but you never seemed to manage to tell me anything, well now I know.” Cat replied, her voice more full of hurt than anger “And as for Esmeralda. . .”

“Esmeralda has nothing to do with this Cat” Sirius insisted as he wrapped his arms around her, forcing her to stay with him. “she’s not even a consideration in this.”

Cat stared at him with disbelief in her eyes, how could he not care about his own wife, after all, he *had* married her “Oh isn’t she?” she asked as she pushed herself out of his embrace. “I have the distinct feeling she would. . . “

Sirius clamped his hand over Cat’s mouth as he heard voices approaching them. “No, not now” Sirius whined as he quickly covered his head with the cloak. He cringed as he saw Flitwick and Hagrid approaching them, he needed to talk to her, to make her understand, but he couldn’t talk now, not with witnesses. He just couldn’t risk the Dementor’s kiss, not even for her, he needed to survive for Harry’s sake, and for Cat’s. He cast an unseen look of love at Cat as he quickly leaped over the balustrade and crouched among the plants, waiting for his opportunity to steal Cat away and talk to her one on one.

“Ello Kitty” Hagrid smiled happily “Now don you look the site” he grinned as Flitwick agreed. “Sa’prise yer no dancing with perfesser Snape. ‘E’s been looking fer ya.”

“I’m not surprised, he probably thinks I’ve gotten cold feet and disappeared on him.” Cat replied softly, as she wondered if Sirius was still near her. Looking back at Hagrid and Flitwick, it became obvious they had been partaking of some holiday spirits themselves. “Well you two look quite. . .happy” she teased “don’t suppose you can tell me where to find some holiday cheer. I could really use some right about now.”

Hagrid held his finger to his ruddy lips and looked around like a small child who knew he would be yelled at if he was caught. Seeing no one else in sight, Hagrid produced a flask from a pocket of his coat. “’Er ya go Kitty” he said softly as he winked conspiratorially at her “Barley bree”

“Good heavens Hagrid” Flitwick stated “Are you sure that’s a good idea? Whiskey is a bit strong for a lady.”

“Actually, I could probably use something a bit stronger” Cat winked as she took a deep draught from the flask. She shuddered as the whiskey hit her stomach “Thank you Hagrid, I needed that” she smiled as she handed the flask back to him, and tried not to giggle as Flitwick stared at her. “Don’t worry, ‘tis the Celt in me” she teased the Charms Professor as he laughed at her. “And I’m still lady enough not to spill a drop.”

“So, what er ya doin out ‘ere Kitty?” Hagrid asked, concern showing in his sparkling black eyes. “Tis a bit chilly fer ya to be out ‘n about” he watched as Kitty looked over her shoulder, out across the garden “Is someone out ‘ere with ya?” Hagrid asked as he walked up to her and placed a large protective hand on her shoulder.

Cat looked up at Hagrid and back to the garden again “Just a ghost Hagrid, nothing to worry about” she replied softly “He’s been following me for a few weeks now. I’m sure he doesn’t mean me any harm.” she gave the garden one last heartbreaking gaze as she turned and walked back inside the hall with Hagrid and Flitwick.

Sirius stood alone in the garden as a cold wind blew around him, he had waited too long to explain his past to her. He had no one to blame but himself, he should have told her the first night he had her alone, even if she ended up hated him, it couldn’t possibly feel any worse than this. In fact, the knowledge that she still cared for him only made his grief that much worse. Sirius watched her leave his world and return to the light and warmth of the ball, pausing only long enough to look for him one last time. His heart panged as he stared longingly after her, fearing he had lost her forever . . .

“Well Miss MacLeod, I was beginning to worry you had left without me.” Severus purred as he came up behind her. “I have been trying to find you all evening,” he added as he nodded to Hagrid and Professor Flitwick before staring at her quizzically. A faint smile flickered across his face as he saw Catri roll her eyes; apparently she was just as anxious to leave as he was. “You will excuse us,” Sev told Hagrid and Flitwick “I believe this dance is mine.” So saying he took Catri by the hand and escorted her to the dance floor.

Catri smiled thankfully at Sev as she he placed his arm around her waist “Bless you Severus” she teased “I was afraid Hagrid would ask me to dance again. I don’t mind doing jigs and reels with him, but waltzing becomes a dangerous activity in his hands, or feet as the case were.”

Severus looked intently at Catri for a moment “Are you sure that is the only thing disturbing you Catri? You look upset, has something happened?” he felt himself cringe as she averted her eyes from his. His self-doubt reared itself as he took a deep breath and asked “Have you changed your mind about tonight?” he asked softly, praying feverently that she had not.

Catri’s eyes immediately met his, it was now or never. Part of her wanted to say she had in fact changed her mind, grab Harry, and literally run back home to the hills. The other part of her wanted to fling herself into Sev’s arms and forget she had ever met Sirius Black, she wanted to burn his memory from her heart and soul. As she wavered between choices, she noticed the pleading look in Severus’s eyes. She all but melted as she saw the intense love he held for her, she knew it would break his heart if she ran away from him, not that she had anything to run to, except of course a forced marriage with a man she didn’t even know.

Catri’s eyes softened as she smiled “No Sev, I haven’t changed my mind. I guess I’m just nervous is all.” she replied quietly, “And tonight’s been far more eventful than I would have liked.” Catri sighed as she felt Sev pulling her closer, allowing her to draw upon his strength as he comforted her. . . .

“What the, what were you….why did you kiss my sister?” Ron finally got out, his face as red as his hair.

“I didn’t kiss her, she kissed me” Harry replied, his hands held in front of him defensively “Honestly Ron, I have no idea what she was thinking.” Harry looked to Hermione for help “Hermione, tell him.”

Hermione sighed deeply as she placed a gentle hand on Ron’s shoulder “Honestly Ron, what are you thinking? You know Harry would never do anything to Ginny.” she reminded him “And I honestly think Harry was just as shocked as you were.”

“REeeaallly,” Ron replied “then why did she take off like that? Why did she run out of the ball?”

“Maybe because she knew how you’d react Ronald Weasley” Hermione said tersely. Turning to Harry, she asked “So, should we go look for her? Or should we ask your mum to talk to her?”

Harry groaned loudly “No, please. . . Don’t tell mum” he pleaded “I would die of embarrassment if she found out about this. Let’s just find her and . . . I don’t know, let’s just find her.” Harry replied glumly as he made his way toward the foyer.

Hermione stared pointedly at Ron “Don’t you dare make this any harder on either of them” she admonished “You know Ginny’s had a crush on him since the day she met him. Besides, we have more important things to talk about.”

“More important than my little sister?” Ron replied tersely “Well it better be good”

Hermione glared at him for a moment before replying “Ghee Ron, I don’t know, do you think Cat marrying Snape is a bit more important?” she asked, and immediately turned on her heels and followed Harry.

Ron sighed deeply and shook his head “And I thought the forbidden forest was a danger, ha! Like to see Aragog survive one of these stupid balls. At this point I think I’d rather be out there with him.” He turned to see Cho Chang looking after Harry, a terribly sad look on her face. “Hang on Hermione. .” Ron yelled out as he decided dealing with his sister would be much better than having to explain anything to Cho. . .