Severus froze when he heard Catri call his name from downstairs, apparently she had heard his yell after all. After assuring her everything was fine, he quickly finished dressing and dashed down to the living room to meet her. Sev felt as if his breath had been taken away when he saw her sitting on the couch waiting patiently for him, even in his dreams, she had never looked so radiant. “My dear Catri” he said softly as he walked to her side and took her hand in his “you look positively enchanting.” Kissing her hand, he sat down next to her, delighting in the way she looked up at him, a faint blush on her cheeks and an uncharacteristic shyness in her eyes.

Cat could feel herself turning pink as Sev looked at her, she was taken aback at the tremble in his voice as he spoke. Looking into his eyes, she could plainly see the longing and tenderness burning in his soul. She smiled warmly as she touched his cheek “Thank you Severus. And you look very handsome, I don’t think I’ve ever seen you wear that color before. It looks very nice on you.” she said as she tilted her head to kiss him. She sighed softly as their lips met and his hand moved to her face, caressing her cheek as he deepened the kiss. She felt his tongue wrapping around hers as he tasted her, his passion becoming more and more evident as the kiss continued. Pulling away to catch her breath, Catri gave him a puzzled look as she noticed Sev knit his brow, as if waiting for something else.

“Is something wrong Sev?” Catri asked hesitantly

“I am not sure.” he paused as if listening for something “Amazing” he whispered “no students, no friends, no teachers. . . .my dear, I think we may actually have managed to find a few moments alone.” he said as he smiled widely at her.

“Now Severus” Catri admonished him “You know very well its not that bad, I mean we have managed a few hours alone from time to time.”

“Hours?!” Sev replied dryly “Minutes perhaps, surely not hours. As it is I am almost expecting Lupin to walk in on us at any moment.”

“Now you’re just being mean.” Catri teased as Severus chuckled softly at her reaction. “Although I’m sure I could manage to apparate Remus here if it makes you feel safer.”

“Thank you no” Severus drawled, “and what do you mean. . .safer?” He raised an eyebrow at her as he continued “Is there something you want to share with me Miss MacLeod? Or do you intend to tease me all night?”

Catri’s eyes sparkled mischievously as she answered “Yes, . . .to both.” before quickly kissing him. She felt her heart melt as she watched his response to her affection, she could never remember him seeming so vulnerable, or so tender as he did at this moment. “Should I even ask you about this surprise of yours?” she asked as she placed her hand on his, “or are you going to tease me all night.”

Severus smiled happily “Not at all, in fact we should hurry along, or it will not be much of a surprise”

“Hurry along? Where are we going?” Cat asked as she stood up and followed Sev who was still holding her hand.

“You will see soon enough my dear” Sev replied as he wrapped a warm cloak around Catri’s shoulders before putting on his own. “Are you ready?” he asked as they walked towards the fireplace. Seeing her nod, Severus took a handful of Floo powder and tossed it into the flames, taking Catri’s hand once more, they walked into the green flames as he spoke clearly “Arbor of the Moon’s Enchantment” . . .

Harry saw Ginny standing at the far corner of the main entrance hall, wringing her hands nervously and muttering to herself. Harry hesitated for a few moments as he tried to figure out what to say to her. He didn’t want to embarrass her, and if the truth be known, he rather enjoyed her kissing him, not that he would *ever* let Ron know about that.

Taking a deep breath, Harry decided to take the bull by the horns. “Uhm, Ginny. . .about what just happened” he stammered, feeling his face growing as red as hers. “Not that I’m not flattered, but,. . Well. . .”

“You don’t like me that way” Ginny offered, trying to make this as painless as possible “its all right, I understand.” she said softly, blinking back her tears as she felt her heart breaking.

“Its not that Ginny, its just. . .well” Harry faltered “you’re Ron’s little sister. I mean, . . I just can’t think of you like that” he explained “it’s just too weird.”

“So if I wasn’t Ron’s sister things would be different?” Ginny asked tersely “Ghee, thanks Harry, that makes it all so much easier.” she said as she turned her back to him, more to hide her tears than anything else.

Harry groaned as he brought his hand to his head, “No, Ginny I didn’t mean it like that. Please, don’t be angry with me.” he pleaded “I mean, I think you’re really nice, and pretty and everything, but.. .” Harry became quiet as he heard Ron and Hermione approaching.. . .

“Ginny, what did you think you were doing?!” Ron yelled as he ran up to her and Harry. “Honestly, what went through your mind? You know very well Harry has enough problems, he doesn’t need you pulling a stunt like that. You’re just lucky Fred and George. . .”

“That’s enough Ron” Harry said softly as he placed his hand on his friend’s shoulder. He could see Ginny was trying desperately not to cry in front of them, but Ron’s tirade had been the last straw. “Ron, come on, she didn’t mean anything.” Harry assured him as Ron turned to glare at him, only to turn to Ginny again when he heard her sniffle quietly.

“oh, come on Ginny” Ron whined “don’t start up with that again. I didn’t mean to yell at you, honest.” Ron turned to Harry, a look of confusion and helplessness on his face. “What am I supposed to do now?” Ron whispered “she’s been like this for days. I think she’s lost her mind Harry, I really do.”

Hermione, who had been standing behind them, sighed deeply and shook her head “Men” she huffed. “Ron, why don’t you and Harry take a walk, talk about Quidditch or something.” she suggested as she walked to the tearful Ginny and placed a sisterly arm around her.

Sensing his opportunity, Ron quickly agreed and walked across the foyer with Harry, casting nervous glances at the girls and shaking his head.

“So, do you want to talk” Hermione asked after the boys were a safe distance away “I don’t know how much it will help, but I suppose it can’t hurt.” Hermione offered a handkerchief to Ginny as they spoke softly to one another.

“I just don’t want to go through what Cat is” Ginny sighed “I can see how much she cares for Professor Snape, but I know she loves Mr. Black more. She still has his pictures on her dresser, and when she looks at him.” she shook her head “I don’t want to be sad like that, I don’t want to be afraid to be with someone I love. I don‘t want to regret not taking a chance.”

Hermione stared at Ginny, she had known about her crush on Harry, almost everyone did. But right now, she was far more interested in what Ginny knew about Cat “She told you she’s afraid to be with Sirius?”

“She told me she was afraid she couldn’t be with Sirius anymore, no matter how much she wanted to be.” Ginny replied as she wiped her eyes “Why?”

Hermione shook her head as her mind buzzed “She told me she still loves Sirius, but that she couldn’t be with him because he wasn’t free. Ginny, she’s making a huge mistake.” Hermione looked over at Harry and Ron “We have to stop her Ginny, I just know if we can get Sirius a trial, or catch Pettigrew. . .anything, anything at all.” Forgetting about the stolen kiss for the moment, the two girls looked at each other and quickly dashed to where the boys were.

Hermione and Ginny ran over to Harry and Ron, who were commiserating in a corner. “Harry, Harry” Ginny gasped breathlessly “Where is Sirius, or Remus, or Cash. . .anyone? They have to stop Cat from going with Snape.”

Harry jumped up and grabbed Ginny by the shoulders “Why?! What happened? Is he setting her up for Malfoy?” he asked as the terror began to creep into his soul. As much as he hated to admit it, the thought of Snape setting his mother up had been praying on his mind for weeks now, ever since Sirius accused Snape of participating in her mother’s murder.

“NO” Hermione said quickly “but she’s still in love with Sirius, she told me so when I asked her, she said the same thing to Ginny. She just can’t wait for him to be cleared, she said he’s not free to marry her and she can’t wait.” she explained “Harry, she’s terrified her clan will force her to marry a stranger by this spring if she doesn’t find a husband of her own before then.” Hermione shook her head as she placed her hand on Harry’s arms “I could see the fear and pain in her eyes Harry. She told me she was afraid she would end up like her sister Wanda.”

Harry nodded, he was well aware of her fear of an arranged marriage “So if we clear Sirius, Cat will leave Snape and marry Sirius?” Harry asked hopefully “She told you that?”

Hermione shook her head no, “Not in so many words” she watched as Harry closed his eyes and turned away from them, it was simply one too many disappointments for one night. “Harry. . .wait” she pleaded as she looked to Ron and Ginny for assistance “Her exact words were ‘I couldn’t exactly go walking down the street with Sirius and a baby carriage on a Sunday afternoon’ if we can convince the Ministry to at least give him a trial, or if Dumbledore could do something. .”

“What about Esmeralda?” Ginny asked quietly, as everyone turned to look at her.

“Esmeralda?” Harry repeated “Why does that name sound familiar to me? Ginny who is Esmeralda?”

Ginny shrugged her shoulders “I don’t know, but when she was doing my hair, I asked her if she was coming to the ball with Mr. Black or Professor Snape. She said she was going with Snape because even if Sirius were free to come he would bring Esmeralda instead.”

“Oh no. . .” Harry said softly as his eyes grew large with realization, “She doesn’t think he’s not free because of Peter or Azkaban. She thinks he’s with Esmeralda, that’s the woman Sirius was telling me about. The one that made he and Cat break up.” he turned to his friends “We have to find her. . .NOW ! Before its to late.” . . .