Cori blushed “Is it that obvious? I only told Al two weeks ago, and yes, I want a little girl in the worst way.” she added as she smiled brightly, thinking of all the fun and joy she could share with a daughter.

Cat smiled back at her “Don’t worry, its far more obvious in your eyes than your belly” she winked. “But I wouldn’t count on it staying that way for long” she teased. Placing both hands on her abdomen and closing her eyes, Catri opened herself up to the unborn child. She opened her eyes and stared deeply into Cori’s “Will you be disappointed if it’s a boy?”

Cissi practically jumped into the air “It’s a boy?! Really, are you sure?” she asked as she clasped her hands together happily.

“Well, as sure as one can be with such matters” Cat said softly as she watched Cori rub her belly.

“A boy? A son?” Cori replied quietly as a soft smile crossed her face “Al is going to pass out when he hears this”

Cissi wrapped her arms around Cori and Cat “I have a feeling we are all going to get on wonderfully.” she said as she smiled widely. It felt so nice to be around people who were happy, who still had hope in their hearts. People who were oblivious to her husband’s political aspirations, or more particularly, the lengths to which he would go to obtain his goal. Cissi felt her stomach cringe as she recalled the screaming and beatings she had suffered under Lucius’s hand, the children she would never have due to his cruelty. She had always hoped to give her poor Draco a brother or sister, but those hopes had long vanished, along with any love she may have had for her husband. . . .

Cash grit his teeth as he lurked through the darkened halls of the school. He still hadn’t found Sirius, and worse still, he was getting a terrible feeling something was about to happen. He tried reaching out with his mind once more and noticed he was having trouble reaching Raul and Angus. He tried again, this time attempting to reach Hamish, “Something is so wrong” Cash whispered to himself “Raul I can understand, but Angus and Hamish are blood to me, why can’t I feel them either.” He narrowed his eyes as he scanned the dark corners of the foyer. Something was out there, something predatory, something evil. . . .

“Well, I was beginning to wonder if you were ever coming back” Severus said dryly as Catri kissed his cheek and took her seat next to him “And why such a wide smile? Is there something in the washroom I should know about?” he teased.

Cat rolled her eyes at his teasing “Do you think I would tell you if there was?” she teased back, thoroughly enjoying watching Sev smile as his eyes twinkled mischievously. “And for your information, I’m smiling because I just met Al’s wife Cori and her friend Cissi. They both seem very sweet.” Cat paused as the smile immediately left Sev’s face. “Severus? What is it? Is something wrong?”

“Cori’s friend Cissi?” he repeated flatly. “Cissy who?”

Cat shrugged her shoulders “I don’t think she mentioned her last name, why?”

Severus closed his eyes and rubbed his temples, “Is this Cissi still here Catri? Can you point her out to me?”

Looking around the dais, Cat quickly honed in on Cissi and Cori “Yes, she and Cori are over by the bar. But Severus what is it? Why does she upset you so much, she seems very fond of you.”

Severus quickly turned to look at the bar, he felt himself cringe when his worst fears were realized “Catri, my dear, that woman. . Cissi” he said as he turned towards her, a strange look in his eyes “Cissi is Narcissa, . . Narcissa Malfoy. . .”

Cat’s eyes grew large as what Severus said sunk in. “Narcissa Malfoy, as in Lucius Malfoy” she choked as Sev nodded “They’re related?!”

“She’s his wife” Sev replied softly as he took Catri’s hand in his own. “I am not sure what she will tell him Catri. I know they are not on the best of terms.” he added as he winced. It was a lie and he knew it, saying they were not on the best of terms was a kin to saying the ocean was a puddle of water. It had always bothered Sev to see the way Lucius treated Narcissa, he had always hoped Malfoy’s cruelty would not extend to his own family, but he already knew how wrong he was. Narcissa had come to him on several occasions, asking for potions to heal broken bones, bruises, cuts. He knew what she wanted them for, and it tore at him that he was helpless to stop it from happening. The only thing he had been able to do for her was promise to watch over her son, to protect him from his own father if he could, and help mend him if he could not.

Severus startled when he felt Catri’s warm hand on his cheek, she alone understood his torment, she understood the nightmares that woke him night after night. The thought of what Malfoy would do to Catri if he ever got his hands on her tore at Severus’s soul, he would truly do anything to keep her safe. Looking into her deep green eyes, Severus wondered if he would ever be able to face a day without the chance of seeing her smile, or feeling her hands reach out to touch and comfort him. “Catri” he whispered as he placed his hand over hers.

“You worry too much Sev” Catri had said softly “She doesn’t have Lucius’s anger or cruelty in her.” Turning back to look at Cissi, Catri added “In fact she seems quite kind, . . Injured, but kind.” She watched as Sev smiled weakly back at her, apparently not convinced “Why did she marry Lucius, does she love him?” Catri asked sincerely.

Severus hung his head, “No, it was an arranged marriage. . .like mine.” he barely whispered “She had no idea what he was like, only that he was pure blood, and I am sure you know how important that is to our families.”

Cat was about to say something when Al came dashing up to the table. He took Catri by the hand and pulled her to her feet. He looked at her intently and then hugged her tightly, much to Severus’s shock. “A boy? I’m having a son. .” He hugged her again and turned to Professor Snape who had risen to his feet “Did you hear Professor. I’m going to have a son.” Severus’s eyes nearly popped out of his head when Al hugged him tightly, completely overjoyed by the news. “A son, I have to call my parents” Al gushed as he dashed back to the kitchen a huge smile on his face.

Cat rolls her eyes as she watched Al walk away “What is it with men and sons?” she asked as she laughed at the look on Severus’s face.

Grinning crookedly as Catri laughed at him, Severus replied “I just hope you are correct Catri, you will break his heart if it turns out to be a girl.” he sighed, “Although personally I adored my daughter,” he added softly as his eyes misted over “I would not have traded her for a hundred sons.” . .

Remus and the students split up in the hopes of covering more ground, Harry and the others went back towards the ball, while Remus headed towards Snape’s quarters, hoping to head them off. Not finding any signs of either Kitty or Severus, Remus headed off towards Snape’s office, hoping desperately he wasn’t too late. He just had to get to her before she left, she still loved Sirius, she couldn’t deny that - he had asked her point blank tonight and she couldn’t deny she still had feelings for Sirius. He winced as he thought of what the news of Cat’s leaving with Snape would do to Sirius.

“Hello my brother” Remus jumped as he heard a voice at his side, he had been so deep in thought he hadn’t been paying any attention to his surroundings.

“Hamish” Remus replied happily “just the fellow to help me out. I need you to contact Angel, it’s very important”

“Angel?” Hamish repeated “She left nearly an hour ago with the Slytherin” Hamish replied tersely “although I still find it hard to believe Cash has allowed this. . .”

Remus’s eyes grew wide “Cash has allowed her to leave with the Slytherin? Why??!!! He hates him, he would never willingly allow her to. .” Remus stopped when Hamish placed a firm hand on his shoulder.

“Cash is heartbroken and angry. Apparently there is concern over the sincerity of the man he had chosen for her husband” Hamish replied sadly “Cash is searching for him even as we speak. Although I must admit Remus, I’m worried. I haven’t heard so much as a shadow from Cash or the others for quite some time now. It‘s unnerving me.”

Severus tried to excuse himself when Al returned to the table, with a bottle of champagne in one hand and two glasses in the other. “But Professor, I was under the impression you would be needing this tonight” Al replied as Cat raised an eyebrow at both of them.

Severus stood up and nodded to Catri “Mr. Puck, must I remind you to control your enthusiasm, even now? I had hoped you would have outgrown that rather bad habit of yours. After all, you are going to be a father soon, you need to learn some self control.” Seeing the injured look on his former student’s face, Severus pulled him away from the table and added “It is meant to be a surprise Mr. Puck, as much as I appreciate your good wishes, Catri is not a stupid person, she already suspects far too much.”

“Perhaps I can leave it at the grove for you? For the right moment?” Al suggested, relieved that Severus was not truly disappointed in him.

Giving Al a quick smile, Severus nodded “That would be fine Mr. Puck”. Sev shook his head as he saw Cori rolling her eyes at her husband, she must have known what he was up to all along. As Sev turned to return to Catri, he saw Narcissa smiling at him from the corner of his eye. Taking a chance, he went to her and immediately pulled her into a dark corner. “Narcissa, what are you doing here? Is Lucius with you?” he asked, obviously disturbed by the idea.

Cissi shook her head “Lucius, of course not, you know he doesn’t care for socializing. Is something wrong Severus? Do you need me to get him for you?”

“Good heavens no” Severus gasped “Merlin’s beard woman, what are you thinking?” He immediately regretted his words as he watched Narcissa flinch as he raised his voice. Gently taking her hand in his Sev continued softly “Narcissa, you must promise me not to say a word to your husband about Catri. Please, I want your word, your oath.”

“Of course Severus, but why? What does Lucius have to do with this? Or her?” Cissi asked hesitantly, not sure that she really wanted to know.

Sev sighed “Narcissa, Lucius has wanted Catri dead since the moment he first met her. He tried at least twice when we were in school together.” He sighed deeply as he squeezed her hand, “I can not imagine my life without her Narcissa, you must never tell Lucius that you have seen her. Not here, most certainly not with me.”

Narcissi Malfoy stared at Severus, appalled at the thought that her husband would want to harm such a sweet woman. “He wants to kill her? But why? Severus, I don’t understand, certainly she’s no danger to him or anyone else.” Cissi looked past Severus to see Catri smiling and laughing with Krisandra and Al, “How could anyone want to harm her, look at her, she’s only just met them and you would think she’s known them her entire life.”

Severus turned to look at Catri and felt his heart skip a beat. She was laughing happily, a sweet-natured smile on her face as she spoke with Al and his sister. He watched as the flickering candle light caught the highlights of her hair as she turned to speak to Krisandra. Severus could hear her musical laughter floating above the murmur of the other patrons. “I am tired of being alone Narcissa” Sev whispered sadly “I want to have a family, I love her more than I could ever possibly explain.”

“You have my word Severus. I won’t say a word, I swear” Narcissa promised. Reaching up, she gently touched Severus’s face, causing him to startle and turn quickly to face her. “It is so nice to see you smile again Severus. I’ve missed your smile” . . .

Cash slowed down his pace when he heard the shuffling of feet several hallways over. “Sirius” Cash all but hissed as he recognized the scent of the wizard. Moving far too quick to be seen by the human eye, Cash made his way through the maze of passages just in time to block Sirius from entering one of the many hidden rooms contained within Hogwarts.

“Look who it is” Cash said flatly as he approached Sirius “You know, I was really hoping you would be part of the clan, I thought you were honorable. Guess I was wrong.” Cash remarked harshly as he stared coldly at Sirius. . . .